11. Memory (Nagisa x Reader)

“Please, please, pretty please (name)-channnnn!?” Childish pleas haunted you around the house as your slipper-clad feet shuffled around the house.

“Cut it out Nagisa. I’m busy.”

“But (Nickname)-chaaaaaan, I need you there!” The blonde’s voice hiked up to a higher octave and his cry pierced your ears.

Without even a glance, you answered him. “Those puppy dog eyes worked back in college, but in case you haven’t noticed, we’re nearly thirty now.”

The blonde’s legs attacked the hardwood floor as he threw his body on the ground. Yes ladies and gentlemen, he was on his knees. Begging.
Slender fingers grasped onto your jeans while you continued your rounds through the house, dragging your desperate boyfriend.

“You just don’t know when do give up now, do you?” You sighed and his eyes brightened.

“Is that a yes?”

“No!”
---
Let’s rewind a couple of days ago. Your boyfriend, Nagisa, was situated comfortably on the couch with his head resting on your lap. His innocent humming calmed you as he scrolled through his phone and you focused on the drama unfolding on your TV screen.

“Ah ha!” He screamed and sat up, nearly dislocating your jaw. “(Name)!!! Look at this!”

He shoved the bright screen in front of you as you blinked a couple of times and read the text: Swim Club Reunion.

“It’s going to be held in my old high school!”
“Sounds great, when are you leaving?”

Upon hearing this, his eyes shot to the side and he formed a sly smirk.

“We, as in the two of us, will be leaving in a week!”

“Very funny Nagisa. No.”
---
There was no particular reason as to why you didn’t want to go. However, you had never met his friends before seeing as how you met Nagisa back in your college days. You heard many stories about them but never personally interacted with them. Your presence there would only make the event awkward.

“I’ll do the dishes! I’ll clean the bathroom! I’ll do anything!”

Regardless, Nagisa’s persistence is a force to be reckoned with.

You dragged him into the living room and pulled out a thick book lined with gold letters along the spine. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

“Ow!” Nagisa released his hold on your leg as the book was harshly dropped onto his head.

“If you don’t know the definition of no then I’ll just have to pound it into you!”

“But (Nickname)…” His blonde locks knotted atop his head as he rubbed the sore spot. “I really, really want you to be there with me.” The once childish tone was replaced with a much more serious and sincere one. Even you were taken aback by the sudden change.

“…you’ll wash the dishes, right? Clean the bathroom…right?” You asked with a sigh of defeat.

His foolish nature immediately kicked back in as he hopped up and buried his head in your shoulder.
“Yes! Yes! Anything!”

And that’s how you were stuck on a three-hour train ride to the small town of his high school.
---
“Mako-chan! Haru-chan! Rei-chan! Even Rin-chan’s here too!” Nagisa excitedly called out to the four guys sitting near the pool. You were caught in a flurry of faces and names as your boyfriend introduced you to everyone.

“Oh Gou-chan, you made it too! Ah, you cut your hair~”

“It’s Kou!” A woman with shoulder length red hair retaliated angrily as her lips stuck out in a pout.

“(Name)-chan, here’s the infamous manager of the Iwatobi swim club! You know, the one who used her sex appeal to score us some new members!”

The blush on Kou’s face was near identical to her hair as she let out a shriek and stumbled over her words.

“Na-nagisa!”

The other members laughed and the tall one, “Mako-chan” as Nagisa had introduced, ushered the three of you over to the poolside.

“Hurry up and eat before the food goes bad.”
---
You suppose the reunion wasn’t too bad.

You learned that Rei, the quiet bespectacled dork who was your boyfriend’s best friend, works as a physics teacher in the same high school that he and the rest of the swim club attended. Rin swims competitively for the Japan national team, hanging out with all the big shots, while Haru gave swim lessons for little kids at a community pool. Though Nagisa burst out in laughter at the thought of the stoic man surrounded by little children. Turns out, Makoto also pursued a career with children, working at a local preschool. Lastly, Kou had quit her job and was about to get married in summer.
The topic switched from present day to the past as the group began to reminisce back to their high school days.

“Remember the time when Rei-chan nearly drowned in the Samezuka pool!?” Nagisa piped in with a grin.

“Or when he totally failed at that pole vault?” Kou chipped in.

“How bout that ridiculous butterfly suit that he tried on that one time.” Rin commented with a condescending glare.

“Hey, why are all these aimed towards me!”

Everyone laughed it off and you let out an empty chuckle. They all seemed to have fun however, you really couldn’t connect with them in the end. In the end, you took no part in their memories and were a mere outsider who could only listen and offer meaningless smiles.

As if he sensed your distress, Nagisa held onto your hand.

“Hey (Name)-chan, can you go into the locker room and fetch me a water bottle, please??” He requested and you nodded slowly. Leaving the area to catch a breather might be a good idea.

As you walked farther away from the pool, Nagisa and his friends huddled closer together and whispered suspiciously amongst themselves. You shrugged and anxiously walked to the deserted locker room.
---
You returned to the circle of people and they all stared up at you with a blank look.

“What’s…wrong…you guys?”

Pink petals exploded in your face as they showered you with faux cherry blossoms. Confused, you waited until the petals cleared away from your vision before you opened your mouth to speak.

Only to see Nagisa on one knee. With a black velvet box resting on one palm. The ring sat in the center and sparkled in the light. Oh. Wow.

“(Name)-chan, we’ve been dating for a really long time, huh. I know I act like a child but I’ll show you that I can be a responsible adult too! Let’s make more memories together, okay? I love you a lot so marry me!” He finished and thrust the box higher up.

You were at a lost for words as the other members looked at you expectantly.

You smiled and warm tears filled your eyes as you nodded.

“Yes, I’ll marry you Nagisa.”