Eyes Like Gold

Back in the middle of the amusement park, Teshii and Hikari's date continued as they stood in line for the Ferris wheel.

Teshii, holding Hikari's hand, looked up at the massive ride towering above them, its silhouette glowing against the fading dusk sky.

He blinked behind his crimson sunglasses, his gaze locked on the rotating structure.

The Ferris wheel… it's huge. But what's its purpose, exactly?

Then–

"Teshii."

Teshii turned his head toward Hikari, who was smiling brightly, her excitement practically radiating.

"So, Teshii? Are you excited to ride the Ferris wheel?" she asked, squeezing his hand gently.

Teshii gave an awkward smile.

"Y-Yeah…"

Hikari raised a brow.

"Are you okay, Teshii?"

Then – she gasped.

"Don't tell me… the great Teshii… is scared of heights?"

"What?! No! Of course not!" Teshii quickly defended. "It's just… this is my first time going on a Ferris wheel."

Hikari blinked, suddenly remembering something.

That's right! He's never been to an amusement park before…

"Oh yeah!" she said aloud. "You've never been to an amusement park."

"Yeah…" Teshii nodded, a little embarrassed.

"How about you, Hikari? Have you ever been on a Ferris wheel before?"

"Yeah, I have," Hikari replied. "With Hikaru… and mom and dad."

Teshii raised an eyebrow behind his crimson shades.

"Really? Just them?"

"Yeah…" Hikari nodded. "I've never been on a Ferris wheel with a boyfriend before. You're the first one."

Silence.

Realizing what she just said, Hikari blushed furiously.

"W-Wait, wait, wait – I mean you're the first boy I've–!"

Teshii grinned mischievously.

"I'm the first one, huh?" he teased. "So you already think of me as your boyfriend?"

"S-Stop teasing me, Teshii!" Hikari whined as she flailed and lightly hit his arm in embarrassment.

Teshii laughed softly.

Then – he turned around and froze.

His eyes widened behind the crimson lenses.

Standing just a few feet behind them in line were…

Mei. Rin. Mio. Atsuko. And Kayoko.

Hikari's teammates.

Teshii stared blankly as the girls stood in a poorly disguised group, awkwardly waving at him – each wearing some version of a "disguise." Mei gave a sheepish smile under her sunhat, while the others awkwardly tried to avoid eye contact… except for Mio, who didn't bother hiding her presence.

Teshii slowly turned back around, face frozen in a clueless expression.

Hikari tilted her head, noticing his weird demeanour.

"Um… Teshii? Is everything okay?"

Teshii turned to her with a strained smile.

"Yep! I'm okay, Hikari! I'm 100% okay!"

Hikari narrowed her eyes suspiciously, then looked ahead.

"If you say so…"

Teshii nodded rapidly and also looked ahead.

I'll just pretend I didn't see them…

And also – what the f@#k are they wearing?

Teshii and Hikari stood in front of one of the Ferris wheel carts as the ride worker opened the door and gestured for them to enter.

"Please, come in!" the worker said with a cheerful smile.

Hikari turned to Teshii, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Teshii! Let's go!" she said, still holding his hand.

Teshii nodded and followed her. Both of them stepped forward and entered the cart.

Then–

With a gentle groan of steel and gears, the Ferris wheel began to turn.

Slow.

Steady.

Like time itself was stretching into a quiet, intimate moment.

Teshii looked out through the window of the cart, blinking behind his crimson shades.

"Are… Ferris wheels usually this slow?" he asked, genuinely puzzled.

"Yes," Hikari nodded, clinging to his arm. "That's the charm of it."

"I see…" Teshii replied, turning his gaze back to the view.

The two of them had the entire cart to themselves, bathed in the warm colours of dusk, the city shrinking slowly beneath them.

But unbeknownst to either of them…

In the cart directly behind theirs–

Sat Mei and the rest of the girls.

Mei removed her oversized sunglasses and leaned close to the window, peering at Teshii and Hikari's cart just ahead.

"I hope they're doing okay in there," she muttered.

Mio and Kayoko nodded in agreement.

Then–

Sigh…

Rin let out a long, heavy breath.

Mei and the others turned to her in concern.

"Rin, what's wrong?" Atsuko asked.

Rin slouched in her seat, looking absolutely defeated – as if she's been caught red-handed.

"Let's face it, guys… We've been caught. That Teshii guy definitely saw us."

Mio, arms crossed and sceptical, spoke up.

"I mean… he didn't say anything. Maybe he didn't realize."

"Or…" Atsuko added bluntly, "he's just pretending not to see us."

The girls went silent for a moment.

Then–

"So, guys…" Mei asked suddenly, her voice curious and soft. "What do you think of Teshii?"

Everyone turned their heads to her and then glanced at each other.

"He seems like a really good guy," Kayoko said thoughtfully.

"Yeah…" Mio nodded. "And he's definitely handsome."

"He can fight too," Rin added. "He could definitely protect Hikari if something ever happened."

"I'm so jealous…" Mio sighed, dramatically slumping in her seat. "…I wish I had a man like Teshii."

The whole cart erupted into laughter.

As the Ferris wheel continued its slow, steady rotation through the dusky sky, the cart holding our favourite soon-to-be couple had risen high above the amusement park. Hikari clung gently to Teshii's arm, her cheek lightly brushing his sleeve. Teshii, meanwhile, soaked in both the stunning view and Hikari's warmth beside him.

Hikari tilted her head up, glancing at the familiar crimson sunglasses perched on Teshii's face.

Come to think of it… I've never seen Teshii without his sunglasses. I wonder… what do his eyes look like?

Then–

"Teshii?" she asked softly.

Teshii turned his head from the window and met her gaze.

"What is it, my queen?" he said playfully, his tone light but sincere.

"Can you take off… your glasses?" Hikari asked, her voice almost a whisper.

Teshii blinked behind his shades. "Huh?"

"I mean – if you don't want to take it off, that's totally fine!" Hikari quickly added, flustered. "I just… I've never seen your eyes before. I want to see what they look like."

Teshii stared at her for a moment, then sighed.

"You know, Hikari… there's a reason I wear these sunglasses."

Hikari raised an eyebrow. "A reason?"

Teshii nodded. "Yeah… I don't really like my eyes."

Hikari gently let go of his arm and placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Teshii… don't say that. I'm sure your eyes are amazing."

Teshii looked at her, momentarily stunned by her sincerity.

Hikari…

A small, almost shy smile curved across his lips as he slowly reached up and removed his sunglasses.

As the shades slipped down, his golden eyes were revealed – bright, warm, and glimmering even in the fading light of dusk.

Hikari's eyes widened in awe, and a blush crept across her cheeks.

They're… golden.

Teshii looked down, his own cheeks tinged pink.

"Y-Yeah… they're golden."

Hikari's blush deepened.

"They're beautiful."

Teshii blinked. "Huh?"

"Your eyes, Teshii… they're beautiful." She repeated, smiling.

Teshii looked into her eyes, his expression softening.

Without a word, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.

"Thank you, Hikari."

A Few Minutes Later…

The cart of the soon-to-be couple reached the very top of the Ferris wheel, gently swaying as it paused for a moment in the warm glow of twilight.

Teshii and Hikari both looked out the window, quietly enjoying the breathtaking view from above.

But… the view wasn't the only thing Hikari was admiring.

She kept stealing glances at Teshii – at his golden eyes, which shimmered with the fading sunlight. Every time she looked at him, a blush crept back onto her cheeks.

His golden eyes… they're beautiful.

Then, a though struck her.

I wonder what his parents are like…

But she hesitated.

I can't just ask him out of nowhere. I know he doesn't like talking about his family.

She glanced at him again.

Still… it doesn't hurt to ask. And if he doesn't want to talk about it… I won't force him.

"Um… Teshii. Can I ask you another question?" she asked gently.

Teshii turned his head from the window. His golden eyes met hers, making her blush deepen just from the way he looked at her.

"Um… I know you don't like talking about your family, but… I've always been curious. What were your parents like?"

Teshii's golden eyes widened slightly.

Hikari immediately looked away, regretting the question.

Then–

"Sure."

Hikari blinked, looking back at him. "Huh?"

Teshii gave her a warm smile.

"I don't mind talking about my parents." He paused, then added with a chuckle, "Besides… you said you'd listen if something was bothering me, didn't you?"

Hikari blushed.

That's right… I did say that.

Teshii took a breath and began.

"My mother… died when I was five years old. And my father… I never met him."

Hikari gasped softly and covered her mouth, guilt blooming in her chest.

"Teshii… I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have asked you that – I was really inconsiderate of me."

Teshii smiled gently. "No, Hikari. It's okay. You didn't know."

Hikari looked into his golden eyes, feeling a little bit guilty.

"Teshii…"

Teshii reached out and took her hand in his, holding it firmly but gently.

"I'll tell you about my mother. I don't really know much about my father."

Hikari nodded, curious and ready to listen.

Teshii turned his gaze back to the view.

"My mother was a single mom." His voice was soft.

"She was beautiful… and I really loved her."

He turned back to Hikari, his expression thoughtful.

"She raised me alone for five years. But she wasn't completely alone."

Hikari raised an eyebrow. "She wasn't?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "She had her two best friends helping her raise me."

Then, he chuckled.

"In a way… you could say I had three moms."

Hikari smiled softly.

"That must've been wonderful… to have three moms taking care of you."

"Yeah…" he murmured.

"Do you still keep in touch with them?" she asked gently.

Teshii's smile faded just slightly.

"Not really. I… want to connect with them again. I want to thank them - for everything they did for me and my mother."

Hikari noticed the subtle shift in his expression, but she didn't push. Instead, she gave him a gentle smile.

"Well… they must've done something right. You turned out okay."

Teshii blinked – then smirked.

"Only okay?"

"Hey! Don't push it, Teshii."

They both laughed inside the cart, their laughter echoing softly in the quiet of the sky.

As Hikari's giggle softened into a smile, she looked at him again.

"So… Teshii. Can you tell me their names?"

Teshii stopped laughing, his smile now more reflective.

"Honestly… I can' really remember. It's been nineteen years since I last saw them. But…" He paused, then smiled.

"I remember the nicknames I gave them."

"Nicknames?" Hikari repeated, smiling with curiosity.

"I guess it's a habit of yours – to give everyone nicknames, huh?"

Teshii chuckled and nodded.

"I call them… Yaya and Mimi."

"Aww… that's so cute, Teshii," Hikari said, her eyes shining.

Teshii blushed and laughed quietly.

"Thanks, Hikari."

Hikari looked at him a moment longer, her heart full.

Yaya and Mimi, huh…?

In the cart behind the soon-to-be couple, Mei and the other girls were all huddled at the window, peering through with bated breath.

"What are they doing?" Kayoko asked, trying to make out the silhouettes in the cart ahead.

"Not sure. Seems like they're talking," Atsuko replied, squinting her eyes for a better view.

Mei leaned in closer, narrowing her gaze at the two figures.

"Wait…" Her eyes locked on Teshii. "Did Teshii… take off his sunglasses?"

Mio squinted, then blinked.

"He did." Her face immediately flushed red. "He looks even more handsome without them. Look at those golden eyes!"

"Okay, I have to admit," Atsuko said. "He's really good-looking. Even I'm starting to like him."

All of them stared intently, glued to the moment unfolding in the cart ahead. Rin made a small smile – until her eyes widened in surprise.

"Guys! Look at them!" she exclaimed.

Everyone instantly leaned in closer to the window.

In the cart ahead, something magical was happening.

Teshii pulled a rose from the inside of his fleece and gently offered it to Hikari.

"Here you go, my beautiful queen. A present… from me."

Hikari blushed furiously as she accepted the rose, eyes lighting up as she looked at it.

"Thank you, Teshii…"

Teshii chuckled.

"That's not the only present. I have another one."

Hikari blinked in surprise.

"Another?"

Teshii leaned in slowly – then gently pressed his lips to hers.

The kiss was soft and effortless. The kind that made time freeze.

Hikari's eyes widened, her heart skipping a beat as her entire world paused in that single moment.

In the cart behind them, Mei and the others were frozen – mouths wide open in stunned silence.

"They kissed!" Mei squealed, her face turning bright red.

When Teshii pulled back from the kiss, a playful smirk danced on his lips.

"Your lips? Taste like strawberry."

Hikari remained speechless, still blushing, eyes down on the rose in her hands.

Then–

"Hey," Teshii said, drawing her gaze again. "You know Mei and your other teammates are in the cart behind us, watching everything, right?"

Hikari blinked and turned around.

Sure enough, five familiar figures were pressed against the window in the cart behind them – even in their disguises, it was obvious who they were.

She turned back to Teshii with a smile.

"I don't really care if they're watching."

Teshii's grin widened.

"So…do you want to go for Round Two?"

Hikari's blush deepened as she nodded shyly.

Teshii gently placed his hand on her cheek.

"I love you, Hikari."

Hikari smiled, her fingers clutching the rose he'd given her.

"I love you too, Teshii."

He leaned in again – and they kissed once more.

As the Ferris wheel began its gentle descent, the evening lights shimmered on. The wheel lit up in radiant gold, casting a warm glow across the sky.

From afar, it looked like a glowing golden eye slowly turning through the dusk.

And with that moment sealed under the golden light…

Teshii and Hikari were officially together.

TO BE CONTINUED!!!