While Hikaru and the others were miles away in Tottori…
Teshii and Hikari were about to begin their date – at the amusement park.
The air was alive with sound.
Laughter echoed from every corner, blending with the clanking rhythm of roller coasters and the whimsical chimes of carnival music drifting from nearby stalls. Neon lights blinked in bright, candy-coloured hues – pinks, blues, yellows – painting the evening sky in a chaotic, flickering mosaic of joy.
The scent of buttered popcorn, fried sweets, and cotton candy clung to the breeze like perfume, drawing kids and adults alike toward food stands that never seemed to run out of indulgence.
All around, the park was a living machine of excitement.
Rides towered overhead – twisting steel beasts roaring through the sky, their passengers screaming in delight or terror. A massive ferris wheel turned slowly in the distance, each glowing carriage like a lantern suspended in the night.
Below, the crowd pulses with energy. Children darted between booths, couples trolled hand in hand, and friends shouted over one another to be heard through the noise.
Amidst the glowing lights and the endless sea of faces stood–
Hikari.
Waiting at the entrance.
She tries to keep calm. Her heart beat a little too fast, and every time someone walked by, her head turned – hoping it might be him.
Her fingers brushed over the two amusement park tickets tucked safely in her pocket.
Come on, Teshii… where are you?
But unbeknownst to her…
Mei, Rin, Mio, and a few others were spying on Hikari from a nearby corner of the amusement park – ducked behind a cotton candy stall.
"Um… Mei? Are you sure we should be doing this?" Kayoko whispered, glancing around nervously.
Mei nodded with determination.
"Yeah. Even though I already know Hikari and Teshii are cute together, I need to make sure Teshii is the perfect guy for her."
Mio raised an eyebrow.
"Teshii? The handsome red-haired guy?"
"Yeah," Mei said without hesitation.
Rin frowned slightly.
"But… why did we all have to come?"
Mei turned to them with a confident smirk.
"Because, Captain – we're all friends with Hikari, right? I think it's only fair that all of us judge whether Teshii is good enough for her."
Then–
"WOAH!"
The group froze.
Instantly, they ducked down behind the booth.
A small child nearby had pointed excitedly at Hikari.
"Mommy! Daddy! It's Hikari Nozomi!"
Her mother crouched down gently beside her.
"Now, dear, it's not polite to point at others."
The father chuckled and looked over at Hikari.
"As you can tell, our daughter's been idolizing you ever since your professional debut."
Hikari blinked, clearly surprised.
"Is… that so?"
The father nodded.
"If you don't mind – could she get a picture with you?"
Hikari smiled warmly.
"Of course she can."
The little girl hurried over and wrapped her arms around Hikari in a quick hug. Then she turned back as her parents prepared to take a picture with their phones.
From a distance, Mei and the others peeked out from behind cover.
"Awww, my best friend has a little fan," Mei whispered proudly.
After the photos were taken, the child turned back to Hikari, gazing up at her with awe.
"Thank you, Ms. Hikari!""
"You're welcome!" Hikari replied, still smiling.
Then came the inevitable question.
"C-Can I ask… what are you doing here, Ms. Hikari?"
Hikari immediately turned red as a certain red-haired someone popped into her mind.
"Oh… um…" She hesitated, fidgeting slightly.
"I-I'm going out with someone."
She gave a shy, awkward smile.
"A date?"
"Huh?" Hikari blinked.
"You're on a date with a boy, aren't you, Ms. Hikari?" the child's mother said, smiling knowingly.
"H-How did you know?" Hikari asked, flustered.
The woman shrugged.
"A woman's hunch."
The dad chuckled.
"C'mon, honey! Let's leave Ms. Hikari alone and let her enjoy her date."
"Okay!" the girl chirped. She turned back to Hikari and waved cheerfully.
"Bye-bye, Ms. Hikari!"
Hikari waved back.
"Bye-bye!"
As Hikari watched the little girl and her parents walk away, a sudden voice called out behind her.
"Yo!"
She turned.
Approaching her were three men.
The one in front had maroon ponytailed hair, sharp eyes, and a crooked smirk. Behind him stood two others – one with a spiked red mohawk and piercing green eyes, and the other, a chubby man with pale blue hair and matching eyes.
Hikari tensed.
"Who are you?"
The ponytailed man smirked.
"Doesn't matter who we are. What matters is – we know you, Hikari Nozomi."
Her eyes narrowed.
"…What do you want?"
"You," the main said bluntly, pointing at her.
"Excuse me?" Hikari snapped.
The mohawked man stepped forward, eyeing her.
"Are you alone?"
Hikari glared at them.
"No! I'm not alone. In fact… I'm on a date with someone.""
The ponytailed man looked around mockingly.
"Well… I don't see anyone. Meaning – you're all alone."
From a distance…
Mei and the girls watched the scene unfold.
"Are those fans too?" Mio asked, squinting.
"I don't… think so," Atsuko said cautiously.
Rin clenched her fists.
"Whoever they are… I don't like them."
Back near the entrance–
The ponytailed man suddenly grabbed Hikari's shoulder and shoved her back against a wall.
"Hey! What are you doing?!" Hikari snapped, trying to push him off.
The man leaned in with a twisted grin.
"Oh, you know… just having a little fun with you."
SNAP.
That was Rin from afar.
"HEY! What do those creeps think they're doing?!"
The mohawked man licked his lips.
"Can't wait for my turn."
The chubby one chuckled.
"I've always wondered what the great Hikari Nozomi is really like…"
The ponytailed man leaned in even closer–
And then–
POW!
BAM!
He froze.
Behind him, his eyes widened in disbelief.
His two lackeys – the mohawk and the blue-haired man – lay unconscious on the ground.
"G-Guys?" he stammered.
Then – he slowly turned.
Standing there, sleeves rolled up and crimson sunglasses glinting beneath the neon park lights – was Teshii.
Expression calm.
Aura deadly.
"Yo," Teshii said coolly. "Sorry I'm late."
Hikari smiled, her eyes gleaming.
"Teshii!"
The ponytailed man instaly let go of her and turned toward the newcomer.
He gritted his teeth – but his body was visibly shaking.
"W-Who are you?" he asked hesitantly.
From a distance, Mei gasped.
"It's Teshii!"
Rin let out a breath of relief.
"Finally, he's here. Let's see how good he really is."
Teshii flashed a wide grin at the trembling man.
"It doesn't matter who I am," he said, mockingly. "What matters is – I know you, Reiji."
Reiji's eyes widened in panic.
"H-How do you know my name?!"
Teshii smirked adjusting his crimson sunglasses.
"Because… I'm a man with skills."
That was enough to send Reiji over the edge.
"B@#TARD! he shouted, charging straight at Teshii with his fist raised.
"Teshii!" Hikari called out, eyes wide.
Reiji's punch came flying forward–
TCHK!
Only to be caught mid-air.
Teshii had effortlessly grabbed Reiji's arm before the punch could connect.
Then, with a relaxed expression, he reached out with his other hand…
…and poked the inside of Reiji's elbow with pinpoint precision.
"Aaagh!" Reiji cried out, stepping back.
His arm dropped – completely limp, like a puppet with its strings cut.
Before he could recover–
BAM!
Teshii uppercut him, sending Reiji flying through the air.
CRASH!
He slammed into the pavement and didn't move.
Completely knocked out.
Teshii looked at the three unconscious delinquents and smirked.
"Lightwork."
Then he turned and walked up to Hikari.
He smiled softly.
"Are you okay, my queen?"
Hikari puffed her cheeks.
"You're late!"
Teshii scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"I'm sorry, Hikari… I got caught up with something!"
15 Minutes Ago…
The clock on the dashboard blinked: 05:42 PM.
Inside Teshii's sleek black SUV, the air conditioning hummed quietly – a calm pocket of stillness amid the chaos of the city.
Outside, horns bladed. A scooter weaved dangerously between two lanes. Somewhere, someone screamed profanities at their GPS in desperation.
And yet–
Teshii sat perfectly still.
One hand rested casually on the wheel.
The other held a lukewarm cup of convenience store coffee he hadn't really meant to buy.
His eyes, hidden behind crimson sunglasses, were locked on the endless river of brake lights ahead.
He took a sip.
"Hm," he murmured, taking another sip. "So this is the taste of coffee, huh? I can see why you humans like this so much."
The car ahead moved exactly one mtre.
He moved with it.
Smooth. Silent. Suffering.
He glanced at the time again.
05:43 PM.
Hikari said to meet her at the amusement park at 06:00 sharp…
Knowing her, she's probably already there… waiting.
HONK!
Another horn screamed.
A man in the next car was now yelling at his navigation app – in three different dialects at once.
Teshii calmly rolled up his window.
He's too loud…
He looked out at the sea of unmoving vehicles and sighed.
Well… I really hope I make it in time.
I really don't want to make Hikari sad.
Back to the Present…
Teshii scratched the back of his head with a sheepish grin.
"So, yeah… I was stuck in traffic."
Hikari stood with her arms crossed, lips pushed into a pout, staring at him.
Teshii noticed her expression and chuckled softly.
He brought his hands together in a dramatic plea.
"Please forgive me, my queen."
Hikari stared at him for a moment longer… then finally sighed.
"…Fine!"
Teshii laughed, relieved.
"Well then…" he said, stepping forward and extending his hand toward her, "shall we begin our date?"
Hikari looked at his hand, her cheeks already turning pink. She exhaled gently – then smiled and took it.
Their fingers intertwined.
And just like that, the two of them walked hand in hand toward the glowing entrance of the amusement park, the neon lights painting their path in colour.
Behind them, the three delinquents lay unconscious on the pavement – completely forgotten.
TO BE CONTINUED!!!