Chapter Text
The afternoon sun filtered through the windows of the Crown Arcade as Usagi Tsukino slumped dramatically over the table.
“Ughhh, math is evil,” she groaned.
Across from her, Umino Gurio adjusted his glasses with practiced precision. “If you studied even half as much as you complain, Tsukino, your grades would improve significantly.”
Usagi puffed her cheeks. “Hey! I am studying… emotionally.”
“That's not a recognized method,” Umino replied dryly.
At the neighboring table, Rei Hino, Ami Mizuno, Makoto Kino, and Minako Aino sat in a suspiciously tight circle.
Minako leaned in, whispering urgently. “Okay, hear me out. You all remember what Ami told us about that party a few months back—Princess D taking off her glasses?”
Makoto nodded. “Yeah… she was gorgeous.”
Rei crossed her arms. “What’s your point?”
Minako’s eyes sparkled. “What if… Umino is the same way?”
Ami adjusted her own glasses thoughtfully. “Statistically speaking, facial symmetry can be obscured by eyewear…”
Usagi suddenly popped into the circle. “ARE YOU SAYING UMINO MIGHT BE HOT?!”
All five girls slowly turned to look at him.
Umino, oblivious, was lecturing Motoki about the economic implications of manga pricing.
Minako slammed her hands on the table. “There’s only one way to find out.”
The Plan
Later that day, the girls regrouped outside the arcade.
“Operation: Spectacle Reveal is a go,” Minako declared.
Rei sighed. “I can’t believe I’m part of this.”
Makoto cracked her knuckles. “So how are we doing this?”
Ami spoke calmly. “We need a distraction and precise timing.”
Usagi raised her hand. “I volunteer as distraction!”
“Of course you do,” Rei muttered.
Execution
Usagi ran toward Umino dramatically. “Umino! HELP! I don’t understand this question!”
Umino immediately snapped into tutor mode. “Let me see.”
As he leaned in, Ami subtly stepped closer.
Makoto whispered, “Now.”
Minako darted in—
SNATCH!
Umino blinked.
“…My glasses?”
There was a brief pause.
Then—
Everyone froze.
Umino looked up.
Without the glasses, his eyes were sharp and unexpectedly striking, his features refined, his expression suddenly far more confident-looking without the usual lens distortion.
A breeze swept dramatically through the street.
Usagi’s jaw dropped. “NO WAY.”
Makoto stared. “He looks like a completely different person…”
Rei covered her mouth slightly. “That’s… actually ridiculous.”
Minako clutched Ami’s arm. “I KNEW IT. I KNEW IT!!”
Ami, for once, looked genuinely surprised. “This exceeds my projections.”
Umino squinted slightly. “Could someone please return my glasses? My vision is severely impaired.”
The girls looked at each other.
A silent agreement passed between them.
Minako quickly hid the glasses behind her back.
“Glasses?” she said innocently. “What glasses?”
Aftermath
Ten minutes later, Umino sat at the table, still squinting, while the girls hovered nearby.
Usagi leaned way too close. “Wow, Umino, your eyes are… uh… very… eye-like.”
Makoto added, “Yeah, super… defined.”
Rei smirked slightly. “You should lose the glasses more often.”
Umino frowned. “Why is everyone staring at me?”
Minako sighed dreamily. “Because justice exists in this world.”
Ami cleared her throat. “Purely observational, of course.”
Umino crossed his arms. “This is highly suspicious behavior.”
From behind him, Usagi whispered loudly, “Don’t give them back yet.”
“HEY, I HEARD THAT!”
Final Scene
As the sun set, Umino finally retrieved his glasses after a prolonged and chaotic struggle.
The moment he put them back on—
The magic was gone.
“Well,” Rei said, standing up, “that was enlightening.”
Makoto nodded. “We’re never speaking of this again.”
Minako winked. “Oh, I am absolutely speaking of this again.”
Usagi grinned. “Next time… we try this with someone else!”
Ami adjusted her glasses. “Let’s not make this a recurring experiment.”
Umino sighed. “I’m surrounded by lunatics.”
Usagi laughed. “Yeah… but you love us anyway!”
Umino hesitated.
“…That is not entirely inaccurate.”
End.