Okay so I think it would be like the middle of the final fest i think. I feel like during the sqare king arc(emperor arc) rhat Rider wanted to confess to Goggles after the tournament after they versed eavchother but he didnt win, and since after square king octo expainsion happens thats why Rider was looking for GOggles. But they both ended up being tramatised,not rixking it because of how much they loved eachother. But before we get to that,how did they found out? So for Gogglesd i like to imagine that he didnt know he had a big crush on him,and Team Blue actyuaally realised. I mean cmon,the dude nevr makes letters,he's always cheering for him and not to metion the fact he gotr serious during him verses empepor.

so yeaha, this scene is important,KEEP IT IN MIND!!

Okay so after this scene right,the very next day Goggles annouces he feels like and that he cant go to the tournament. Everyone is shocked and asked if he has fever or some5thing, he didnt check actually though so he checks and apparently not. They still are worried for him though and asked when did this happen. He says that its been happening ever since Rider'threatened' him, and ever since he''s been feeling all different. I headcanon him to be demi sexual which is why he's only feeling this now. He says that just thinking about it makes him feel funny. All members but Bobble Hat start realising this isnt sickness and Specs tells him he may be gay. Goggles because he's stupid doesnt know what that means though. ONce he's told though,he says he likes girls too though, and Headphones tells him he's bisexual then. specs face palms and just syas he'll have to find out on his own though,and eventually he finds out. Though,he hides he's feelings because he doesnt want to lose him. He's his first rival after all when it comes to tournaments so no,not yet. Its strange for him too because he's so open about things,but this is something he has to keep to himself because what if rider isnt this gay thing or whatever and what if he hates it? He cant risk losiing someone so special to him. As fpr Rider... After the Splatroon 1 hero arc he's accepted his feelings, but he orginally figured out he had a cursh on him during the time he lost to skull. If ypu read the book correctly HE CARES.. He acts like he doesnt,but he does. So much so to the point he starts a training sewssion with team blue. Something to note here too is the fact theses are the VERY vERY exclusive scenes where Goggles is seen heartbroken,defeated. The manga avoids it, but Goggles uses his happyness as a coping mech. Going off topic, I feel like if something bad happened in his life he'd become a alcoholic,thats really deep but shtu up. ANYWaY so after that scene, Rider questions himself a little but shales it off. Remeber the scene where Rider was gonna tell Goggles something but it got faded away? If not, check the book but I like to imagine thats when he was trying to get his feelings out of his mouth but he couldnt. And the scene where Rider tells him he's bound to win is what he thinks he feels. In the splatoon hero arc 1,Rider is very hesitant when it comes to being an agent,wanting Goggles to just leave and go too which is something to keep in mind. I like to imagine he doesnt want him to do som3ething stupidd, but putting it in a deeper note. Being stupid means your bound it gte hurt. YOUSEE WHERE IM COMING IWTH THIS??? Anyway, after the splatoomn hero arc ends, Rider realizes he's inlove, and as much as he hides it, he still wants to tell him. He's hesitant at first but eventually, he belives himself,and this is when "im gonna verse you in the finals" thing happens. He's fully confident,but he loses. But he doesnt care. He takes Goggles word,and thats what made him happy. After Goggles wins and the Octo Expainsion thing happebns, Rider is worried, espessially because he didnt even get the chance to tell him how he felt. So he keeps calling Goggles,no answer,keeps calling Team Blue. NOTHING. He thinks cuttlefish has to do someting about this and he's ticked off by it, asking where are they. Ono the future after seeing Goggles and Team Blue nearing dying and saving them, he ends up passing out like how agent 3 does in game. Because how can someone still be awake after breaking literal GLASS???

So yeah the gang is horrified. Goggles gets PTSD,and so does Rider. Rider realizes he rather not confess to him because he could lose him,and he didnt know how it felt to lose some he loved SO much. The costume party clearly shows his emotions for Goggles,and he even hints that he likes him. Why?Well,Goggles isnt ashamed anymore. AFter octoexpainsion, a truely tramatising event he knows that life is too shoirt to hide,and he's gotta be honest with not only himself,but others. Thats why he offers Rider a keychain your supposed to give to girls you like,its to show that he loves him. But anyway, thats actually the day he confesses to him. Rider cant tell if he's joking or not, so he slams him with his dynamo saying to stop being stupid,but Goggles tells him thats he's honest. They are alone by this point,. Rider pulls back up his weapon,in disbelif. WAs he being honeest? He tells him to give him a week to think for about it,and Goggles is okay with it. Though he is a little worried.. So after a week or so of overthinking and such, Rider finally tells him how he truly feels, he feels as if he shouldnt even feel like this, he's ashamed of himself, and concerded that mayb e Goggles was joking,or even backstabbing him. But Goggles doesnt mind it. He's happy to know now. Remeber when I said their first kiss was during the final feest of splatoon 2? Well thats the first one they did on piublic,the first place they actually kised was at arowana mall which is cute. But anyway,enough of me yapping.