"Rei-Chan!"

Nagisa screamed with delight

"Come into the picture with us! You're part of the team too!"

Rei lifted his head to look at Nagisa; he kept his fake smile plastered on his face.

"No," He chuckled, "It was your win! You should celebrate it."

Rei started backing away until Nagisa reached out and grabbed him by his shirt collar, pulling him into the picture. Rei did his best to smile, it was too late to leave the picture again, plus Nagisa held a strong grip on his collar. Once again, Rei was forced into an image.

Several weeks after being disqualified from regionals because they had an off team swimmer who swam for two different teams, Rei became quiet. Ever since Rei allowed Rin to take his place in the butterfly swim race, Nagisa, Haru, and Makoto never really did remember Rei was there.

"Rin-Chan! Let's eat lunch together!"

Nagisa said as he ran up and grabbed Rin by the arm, just like he used to do with Rei.

"Yea Rin, it would be fun."

Both Haru and Makoto added

Rin slowly nodded his head, flustered by all the attention. The four walked out of the club door, leaving Rei behind.

Rei sat back and watched them leave, they didn't notice that he didn't swim during club meet, nor did they notice that he never changed out of his school uniform. He sat there on the bench in the corner of the room and laughed, all by himself. He continually chuckled non-stop until it became unbearable.

"When did they start leaving me behind?"

Rei whispered to himself as he stood up, scanning the empty room with his eyes. He didn't dare linger any longer, Rei ran across the room grabbed his bag and quickly left the building.

"Was it a good idea to allow Rin to replace me?"
Rei discussed with himself

Seeing as he no longer had his friends to talk to, he could only discuss it with himself.

The more he talked to himself, the more depressed he felt. He was forcefully dragged against his will to join the Swim club, now he is no longer remembered. He was the shadow that lurked in the corner.

Constantly thinking and mumbling to himself, he heard voices gathering around him.

"Where do you guys wanna go now?"

"I don't know, where do you wanna go?"

"Ah! Let's go to the bookstore!"

"Fine."

Rei slowly turned around, which brought him face to face with his group of 'friends.'

"Rei!"

Nagisa jumped as he ran to grab Rei

"Where have you been? You don't show up for practice anymore."

Rei had a confused look drawn out on his face.

"What do you mean? I always come…I was there today!"

The smile Nagisa wore while he talked to Rei slowly faded, it started to twist into a face filled with guilt and confusion.

"Ah! Rei, I'm so sorry. I completely forgot!"

Nagisa immediately went to grab Rei's arm but he slipped away, leaving Nagisa even more confused and slightly hurt.

"Oi Rei," Rin appeared in the background behind Nagisa, bringing along the rest of the swim club, "Where've you been?"

Nagisa jumped onto Rei trying to stop him from talking, but it was to late.

Rei's face was no longer confused or angry. He was completely unresponsive as he noticed the others behind him nodding and agreeing. He moved his hands up to his face and pushed up his resilient red glasses.

"I see. No one notices me anymore."

"Rei-chan!" Nagisa continued to grab his arm before Rei could make his way past the group "Come hang out with us! We're going to go shopping and out for dinner."
Nagisa's voice shook with anticipation and guilt.

"Take it as an apology."

Rin spoke to Rei in the background.

Rei looked at them, analyzing every way this day could possibly go wrong. There were too many to fully calculate, the hunger to be noticed again fueled Rei as he reluctantly agreed to accompany the swimmers on their day together.