Gift!

"It's great to meet you, Mrs. Winters," Tyson said with a friendly smile as he stepped into the house. He presented her with a bouquet.

"Oh, thank you, Tyson," Mrs. Winters said as she was pleasantly surprised. "That's very thoughtful of you."

Nancy smiled, yet there was a fleeting disappointment on her face. She looked at Tyson's empty hands. Did he forget to bring anything for me? she thought, pouting slightly. 

"Please come in," Mrs. Winters said, guiding him inside. "Dinner is almost ready. Nancy, why don't you give Tyson a tour of our house?"

"Huh? Yeah," Nancy mumbled nervously as she motioned for him to follow. "This is the living room."

Tyson caught her off guard by embracing her from behind, wrapping his arms around her waist. "I missed you," he murmured gently.

Nancy stiffened, quickly pulling away. "Hey! Mom's just in the other room," she protested, her cheeks flushed. "Behave! And don't forget—I'm still upset with you."

"Why?" Tyson asked, leaning in closer with a playful grin. "What did I do this time?"

"You brought flowers for Mom," she said, playfully pretending to be upset. "What about my flowers?"

"Huh? I thought you didn't like flowers," he replied, genuinely puzzled.

"I didn't mean it that way!" She playfully slapped his shoulder and turned away. "Forget it."

As they ascended the stairs, Nancy guided him to the balcony where dinner was arranged. The open area offered a breathtaking view of the city, and a small table with chairs was positioned beneath soft ambient lighting.

"There you are. Please, take a seat, Tyson," Mrs. Winters said, setting a salad plate on the table. "Nancy prepared tonight's dinner. She wanted to make something special for you."

"Mom!" Nancy almost shouted, her face flushing. "It was meant to be a secret!"

Tyson chuckled as he settled into his seat. "Well, it looks delicious. Thanks, Nancy."

"I-I didn't do it for you," she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper. "Just eat it."

The table was laden with various dishes that Nancy had carefully prepared after school. She had insisted on not resting until everything was perfect.

"So, Tyson," Mrs. Winters started as she took a bite of her salad, "how are things going for you?"

"Good," Tyson replied. "I've been training and studying constantly."

Nancy nearly sputtered her drink, trying to hold back a laugh. The thought crossed her mind: Studying? He hardly manages to keep his eyes open in class!

Tyson gave her a gentle warning glance and playfully nudged her under the table.

"Ow!" Nancy exclaimed, massaging her ankle.

Mrs. Winters glanced between them with curiosity but kept chatting.

As dinner was coming to a close, the three approached the balcony railing while the housemaids started clearing the table.

"It's been so long since I've seen the White Ranger," Mrs. Winters murmured wistfully. "Tyson, would it be okay to look at your Meta-bot?"

"Of course," Tyson said, glancing at Nancy, who appeared visibly saddened by her mother's words. He carefully took the triangular Meta-bot from his chest and handed it to Mrs. Winters.

Her hands trembled as she held it, the white light flickering softly. A smile crossed her face as she looked at it. Her late husband had worn and fought with the same Meta-bot. 

Tears filled her eyes. "Can you two?" She said, her voice breaking a little. 

Nancy swiftly took Tyson's hand and led him back inside. "Give her a moment," she whispered, her voice tense with emotion.

"Is she going to be okay?" Tyson asked softly.

"She'll be fine," Nancy responded, attempting to conceal her emotions.

Tyson understood this, so he decided to seek a distraction. His gaze landed on a door. "Whose room is that?" he asked, trying to lighten the mood.

Nancy realized that they were standing in front of her room. "I-it's mine," she stammered.

"Wow," Tyson said curiously. "Can I take a look at it?"

Nancy hesitated. It was the first time a boy would step into her personal space. "There's nothing to see... just my stuff."

"Like?" Tyson joked, a playful grin spreading across his face. "It's not as if I'd see my photos decorating the walls everywhere, right?"

Nancy's eyes widened with panic. Tyson stopped, noticing her response. "Oh my God!"

"Don't you dare—" she began, but Tyson had already slipped inside.

Her room was spacious, with a plush bed and a large desk. A lamp gleamed in the corner, illuminating the room. A large teddy bear rested on her bed, and a scent of lavender lingered in the air.

Tyson's gaze drifted, noticing a collection of framed photographs on a shelf. Most portrayed Nancy's childhood memories with her parents, but one stood out—a framed selfie of them taken on their first date.

"Did you frame our—"

"Shut up!" Nancy shouted, grabbing the photo and concealing it behind her back. "Ignore this one!"

Tyson burst out laughing, delighted by her embarrassment. He had never seen her shy and flustered side before, and it only made him adore her even more.

"What else are you hiding?" he joked, stepping closer.

Nancy bit her lip, her cheeks turning a sweet shade of pink. "You know, I enjoy making new memories," he said with a playful grin that lit up his face.

Her cheeks reddened as she kicked his foot. Tyson yelped and playfully collapsed onto her bed.

"Wow, your bed is soft," he said. He picked up a pillow and hugged it tightly. "And it smells just like you."

"You—!" she said, picking up another pillow and threw at him.

Tyson's eyes widened as he playfully dodged her strikes. "Alright, alright! I give up!" 

Suddenly, Tyson wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her down onto the bed with him. She flushed, feeling his body against hers, his arms and face close to her. She closed her eyes, trying to calm herself, waiting to see what he would do next. 

She nestled up to him, her head resting on his chest. Tyson gently brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. 

"You know," he started, "there's something I brought for you."

Nancy's heart skipped. "What do you mean?"

Tyson grinned mischievously as he reached into his pocket. He pulled out a small velvet box, and her eyes widened. She instantly recognized it.

"Wait… that's the box I saw the other day!" she exclaimed, sitting up straighter. She was excited and nervous. 

"I wanted to surprise you," he admitted as he sat beside her. He held out the box. "Go on, open it."

Nancy hesitated, her fingers brushing against the smooth velvet surface. Her heart raced as her imagination ran wild. Was this what she thought it was? She hoped it would be a ring, but again, was it not too soon? Still, she could not help but become more eager to see the gift.

When she finally gathered the courage to open the box, her breath caught in her throat. Inside was a delicate silver necklace decorated with a small triangular pendant—a miniature version of Tyson's Meta-bot. Her eyes widened in recognition; it resembled her father's Meta-bot, the one he used to wear when he was a Ranger.

"T-Tyson..." she whispered, her voice shaking as she lifted the necklace. 

"I figured you'd appreciate it," he said, observing her reaction. "Something to remind you of me… or your father. Or both. Honestly, it doesn't matter as long as it holds meaning for you."

Her eyes shimmered with tears, and a lump rose in her throat. She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him close. "I love it," she said, "Thank you so much, Tyson."

Tyson held her close as he rubbed her back. "Hey now, don't cry...I can't stand seeing you in tears."

She nodded against his shoulder, wiping away her tears. She pulled back slightly, meeting his gaze. 

"It's perfect," she said, holding the necklace close to her chest. "You're perfect."

Tyson smiled, gently running his thumb across her cheek. "I'm happy you like it," he said. You deserve it."

Nancy wiped away her tears with her sleeve. "You're so cheesy sometimes," she teased, though her voice held a warm affection for him. 

"Cheesy?" Tyson chuckled. "says the girl who hung our framed photo in her room."

Nancy gasped, her cheeks flushing once more. "Quit bringing that up!" she whined, playfully hitting his arm.

But deep down, Nancy's heart felt full—overflowing with gratitude, love, and something she hadn't reasonably identified yet, but she knew it was special.

A soft knock interrupted the moment, and her mother's gentle voice followed, "Am I interrupting something?"

Nancy quickly turned away, wiping the tears from her eyes with a shy smile.

Tyson responded immediately, "No, we're just chatting."

Her mother stepped further into the room. "Alright then," she said with a small smile, holding something in her hands. "May I come in?"

Nancy stood up quickly, "Yes, of course, Mom."

As her mother fully entered, Nancy's breath hitched. She saw a familiar Meta-bot and a small, weathered case. Nancy froze, recognition flashing in her eyes. That case—it had belonged to her father—the one she had been told not to touch or open, the one that had remained locked away for years.

Tyson furrowed his brow in curiosity, his gaze flickering between Nancy and her mother. "What's that?" he asked.

Nancy's voice was barely a whisper. "Mom... is that you...?"

Her mother nodded, "Yes, sweetheart. It's time."

Nancy took a hesitant step closer, her heart racing in her chest. "But... you said—"

"I know what I said," her mother interrupted, placing a comforting hand on Nancy's arm. "But your father left this for the future. I believe it's time for Tyson to have it."

"For me?" Tyson's voice pierced the silence. He turned to Nancy, searching her eyes for answers, but she also appeared clueless. 

Her mother glanced at him, her expression soft. "Yes. Your connection with Nancy, your role as a Ranger... I believe this is what he would have wanted. It's something he left behind... not just for our family, but for the next generation to uphold."

Nancy swallowed hard. She stared at the case; she wanted to reach out and see what was inside, yet a part of her told her not to. 

Tyson moved closer to Nancy, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "What's inside?"

Her mother placed Meta-bot and the case on Nancy's desk. "Why don't we find out together?"