Chapter 2: The Festival Preparation

The air crackles with a nervous energy as Hiro approaches Ken's desk. Ken, absorbed in a book, barely registers the looming shadow until Hiro's voice cuts through the quiet hum of the classroom.

"Ken, my man," Hiro begins, his voice smooth as silk, "Got a minute? Need your expertise on something."

Ken looks up, a flicker of apprehension in his eyes. He knows Hiro's reputation. He'd seen the way Hiro looked at the girls, the way he lingered a little too close, the way his eyes seemed to devour them. And now, Hiro is here, singling him out.

"What is it?" Ken asks, his voice barely above a whisper.

Hiro leans closer, his smile widening. "It's about the upcoming school festival. You know, the one the student council's organizing? I'm leading the prep team, and we're putting together a killer promotional campaign."

Ken frowns. "Promotional campaign?"

"Yeah, you know, posters, flyers, the whole shebang. We're even doing a photo billboard with some of the school's, shall we say, most… visually appealing… students." Hiro's eyes glinted with a predatory light. "And that's where you come in."

Ken's stomach churns. He knows exactly where this is going. "What do you mean?" he asks, dreading the answer.

"Well," Hiro continues, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "I was thinking… Nana. She's perfect, right? Beautiful, popular, the whole package. She'd be a fantastic addition to our campaign."

Ken's grip tightens on his book. He wants to say no, to tell Hiro to leave Nana out of this. But the words catch in his throat. He knows Hiro wouldn't take no for an answer. He'd find a way to get what he wanted, one way or another. And besides, a dark, hidden part of him is intrigued. He wants to see what will happen.

"I… I don't know," Ken stammers, feigning reluctance.

Hiro claps him on the shoulder, his grip surprisingly strong. "Don't worry about it, man. Just put in a good word for me with Nana. Tell her it's a great opportunity to, you know, show her school spirit." He winks, the gesture sending a shiver down Ken's spine.

Ken nods weakly, feeling a strange mix of guilt and excitement.

Later that day, as Ken and Nana walk home together, Hiro's words echo in his mind. He glances at Nana, her auburn hair shimmering in the afternoon sun, her laughter echoing through the quiet streets. He takes a deep breath and begins, "Nana… you know about the school festival, right?"

Nana nods, her eyes sparkling. "Of course! I can't wait. It's always so much fun."

"Well," Ken continues, choosing his words carefully, "Hiro, the guy who's leading the prep team… he was saying they're looking for students to help with the promotional campaign. You know, like being in posters and stuff."

Nana tilts her head, intrigued. "Really? That sounds interesting."

Ken seizes the opportunity. "Yeah, he specifically mentioned you. He said you'd be perfect for it." He tries to ignore the pang of guilt that stabs him.

Nana's cheeks flush with pleasure. "He did? Wow, I'm flattered."

"So… would you be interested?" Ken asks, holding his breath.

"I think so," Nana replies, her smile widening. "It sounds like fun. And it's a good way to help out with the festival."

Ken nods, feeling a strange sense of accomplishment mixed with a growing unease.

The next day, Hiro approaches Nana in the hallway. He's wearing his most charming smile, his eyes sparkling with feigned enthusiasm. He exudes an air of confidence that belies his true intentions.

"Nana," Hiro begins, his voice smooth as honey, "I'm Hiro. I'm leading the prep team for the school festival, and I was hoping you might consider being part of our promotional campaign." He gestures towards a brightly colored flyer depicting smiling students enjoying various festival activities. "We're aiming to make this year's festival the biggest and best yet, and we need someone like you to help us spread the word."

Nana blushes, her eyes widening slightly. "Oh, yes! Ken mentioned it to me. I'd love to help out."

Hiro's smile widens, and he leans in a little closer, his gaze sweeping over her. He takes in the curve of her hips, the swell of her breasts beneath her blouse, the delicate scent of her perfume – a mix of sweet floral and something uniquely her. "That's fantastic," he says, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. "You're going to be amazing."

"So, what exactly would I be doing?" Nana asks, intrigued.

"Well," Hiro explains, his eyes gleaming with ambition, "our promotional campaign has two parts. We have a decorations team, who are working on making the festival grounds look spectacular, and then we have the promotion team – that's where you come in. We're going to be creating a series of posters, flyers, and even a large photo billboard that will be displayed prominently near the school entrance. Think of it like a mini-movie poster, but for the festival."

Nana's eyes widen. "A billboard? Wow!"

"Exactly," Hiro says, nodding enthusiastically. "And we want the billboard to feature the most recognizable and popular faces in the school. People like you, Nana. You're beautiful, everyone knows you, and you have that infectious energy that draws people in. You'd be the face of the festival, the one everyone sees and remembers."

He pauses, letting his words sink in. "Imagine it, Nana. Your face, larger than life, welcoming everyone to the festival. You'll be famous! Everyone will be talking about it. It'll be a great way to boost your popularity even further."

Nana giggles, a mix of excitement and a touch of self-consciousness. "I don't know about being famous," she says, but her smile betrays her true feelings.

"Oh, you will be," Hiro assures her. "And the best part is, we're going to have a professional photographer for the photoshoot. We've hired someone who's worked with magazines and even some local celebrities. He's incredibly talented, and he knows how to make everyone look their absolute best."

He continues, "The photoshoot will be at a studio downtown. We'll have stylists there to do your hair and makeup, and we'll have a range of outfits for you to choose from. We want to capture your personality, your unique style. It's going to be a fun and glamorous experience."

Hiro's gaze lingers on Nana's face, his eyes tracing the curve of her jawline, the fullness of her lips. "You're going to look stunning, Nana," he whispers, his voice laced with admiration. "Absolutely stunning."

Nana blushes again, her heart fluttering with excitement. The idea of being the face of the festival, of having her picture displayed on a huge billboard, is incredibly appealing. She can already imagine the buzz around school, the whispers of admiration, the increased attention from her classmates.

She glances at Ken, who's been silently observing the conversation. He gives her a small, encouraging nod. She smiles back, her decision made.

"Okay, Hiro," she says, her voice filled with newfound confidence. "I'm in. When's the photoshoot?"

Hiro beams, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Excellent, Nana! You won't regret this. The photoshoot is scheduled for next Saturday. I'll send you all the details later. We'll make sure you look absolutely perfect." He gives her another lingering look, his gaze lingering a little too long on her chest before he finally turns away.

Ken watches Hiro walk away, a knot of unease tightening in his stomach. He knows Hiro's intentions. He's seen the way Hiro looks at Nana, the way he looks at all the girls. It's not admiration. It's something darker, something more predatory. He feels a pang of guilt for putting Nana in this situation, but at the same time, a strange, perverse curiosity gnaws at him.

He looks at Nana, who is still beaming with excitement. "Are you sure about this, Nana?" he asks, his voice laced with concern.

"Of course, I'm sure," she replies, her eyes sparkling. "It'll be fun! And it's a great opportunity for me to do something for the school."

Ken nods, forcing a smile. He knows it's pointless to argue. Nana has made up her mind. And deep down, a part of him, a dark, hidden part, wants to see what happens.