The next morning, the sun streams through the kitchen window, casting a deceptive normalcy over the familiar scene. Ken watches Riko as she moves about, preparing her breakfast, her movements as graceful and precise as ever. She looks, to all outward appearances, as beautiful as always – her hair perfectly in place, her uniform crisp, her posture upright, her voice even and calm.
But Ken knows. He knows the secret that lies beneath that serene surface. He saw the photos, felt the visceral jolt of Hiro's private revelation. He knows that his Ice Queen sister is now melting inside, a forced, agonizing transformation happening solely for Hiro's pleasure. He doesn't understand the full extent of how it's happening, or why Riko is so utterly powerless to stop it, but he's utterly convinced that this isn't her true will. This isn't the Riko he knows, the fiercely independent and proud girl. A cold knot tightens in his stomach, a mixture of dread and an uncomfortable, illicit fascination.
Later, at school, the usual morning rush fills the hallways, a chaotic blur of faces. Ken scans the crowds, looking for Nana. It's unlike her not to be waiting at the school gate, or at least greeting him by his locker. They haven't properly seen each other all weekend, which is unlikely for them. A faint unease begins to stir within him.
He searches the common areas, checks near her homeroom, but he can't find her anywhere. Just as the first bell is about to ring, a nervous flutter in his chest, he sees her. Nana is coming down the hallway, not alone, but with Takashi, the one in couple photos with her, a guy with a reputation for being aggressively flirtatious.
Ken's eyes narrow. The sight itself is unusual enough, but then his gaze drops to Nana's uniform. Her skirt, usually adhering strictly to school regulations, seems... shorter. It rides higher on her thighs, showing more leg than he's ever seen her display at school. He doesn't know if it's just his thinking, if his mind is being warped by the dark truths Hiro has exposed him to, but the sight sends a peculiar jolt through him, a strange mix of recognition and a nascent, unsettling curiosity.
All through class, Ken's thoughts keep sticking to Nana. The image of her with Takashi, and that noticeably shorter skirt, replays in his mind, a nagging unease he can't shake. He tries to focus on the teacher's lecture, but his gaze keeps drifting to Nana's empty seat.
At lunch break, he makes a beeline for Nana, finding her at their usual table. "Hey, Nana," he starts, trying to keep his voice casual. "You okay? Haven't seen you around much this weekend."
Nana smiles, a little too brightly, he thinks. "Oh, yeah, I'm fine! Just really busy. I was actually in a photoshoot with Sumi all weekend." She describes it breezily. "It went fine, super professional and everything."
Ken nods, then drops the name he's been wanting to ask about. "Right. And... Takashi? What was that about this morning?"
Nana's smile falters, just a fraction. She sighs, a tired sound. "Ugh, him. He's been really persistent, you know? Always trying to approach me, asking for dates." She shrugs, a gesture of helplessness. "I'm trying to avoid him, honestly, but he just won't give up. So... I've had to accept some requests from him, just to keep him from being even more annoying."
Ken's stomach tightens. "Requests?" he asks, his voice careful. He doesn't want to push, but a cold dread starts to creep in. "Did you... did you actually go on a date with him?"
Nana looks down at her lunch, picking at her food. Her voice is barely a whisper. "Yeah, I did. But I really didn't want to. He's just... weird." The way she says "weird" sends a shiver down Ken's spine, suggesting something far more unsettling than just an awkward date.
Ken leans forward, his voice barely above a whisper. "What do you mean, 'weird,' Nana?" He tries to keep his expression neutral, but a cold dread is starting to spread through him.
Nana sighs again, her gaze still fixed on her plate, as if the food holds all the answers. "He's just... too pushy. We only just met during the photoshoot, you know? But he acts like we've been together forever." She shivers slightly. "And he's not... he's not hesitant to touch." Her words hang in the air, vague yet unsettling. "He just... puts his hand on my back, or my arm, all the time. Like he owns me."
Ken's jaw tightens. "And... dates?" he prompts gently, remembering her earlier admission. "Where did he ask you to go?"
She shrugs, a gesture of deep discomfort. "Always to places. Like, out of the way. Like a secluded park after dark, or an empty classroom after school hours. It just felt... creepy, you know? I always managed to come up with an excuse, but it felt like he was testing me."
A cold knot forms in Ken's stomach. "So... he made some strange moves, then? Even when you were trying to avoid him?"
Nana visibly tenses. She shakes her head, her hand unconsciously pressing against her sternum. "I... I don't really want to talk about it, Ken. It's nothing, really." Her voice is tight, a clear sign she's hiding something far more troubling.
He forces himself to maintain a calm facade, to be the steady presence she clearly needs. "Just... take care, Nana," he says, his voice a little rougher than he intends. He glances around the busy cafeteria, a new, unsettling awareness of the predatory eyes that might be lurking. "How about I walk you home after school today? Just to make sure you're okay."
Nana's face, still pale from her confession, brightens instantly. A genuine smile, tinged with relief, touches her lips. "Really, Ken-kun? I'd really like that. Thank you!" Her gratitude is a sharp contrast to the disturbing intimacy of her earlier revelation, solidifying his resolve.
"Okay," Ken confirms, relief washing over him that she accepted. "Wait for me in the classroom after the final bell, alright?"
Nana nods, then remembers something. "Oh! But we have PT classes in the afternoon, remember? Everyone's usually heading to the gym or fields right after."
Ken considers this. Right. PE. "Okay, then. We'll just meet after that, then. I'll see you again after PT." He needs to keep an eye on her, especially now that he knows what Takashi is capable of.
The afternoon descends, bringing with it the PT sessions – the most anticipated time of the school day for most boys, though for very different reasons than the teachers intend. The spring weather is warm, inviting, perfect for outdoor activities. This means the strict school uniforms are shed for lighter, more revealing attire: T-shirts and short pants.
As students begin to trickle towards the gym and sports fields, the atmosphere subtly shifts. For the girls, it's a chance to move freely, to engage in sports or club activities without the stiff confines of their skirts. But for the boys, it's a prime opportunity, a chance to feast their eyes. The short pants, designed for athletic movement, ride high on the girls' thighs, revealing smooth, toned skin that is usually hidden. Every bend, every stretch, every jump offers a tantalizing glimpse, a flash of leg, a curve of a calf.
Ken finds himself hyper-aware of it today, his gaze unintentionally drifting towards the groups of girls. He sees the casual exposure, the confident way they move in their athletic wear. He knows what the boys are looking at, what thoughts are running through their minds. It's an unspoken, collective lust, simmering just beneath the surface of the school's orderly facade.
Ken walks onto the sprawling field, the expanse filled with students in their PE gear, a sea of bright t-shirts and flashing shorts. He scans the groups, searching desperately for Nana. It's like finding a specific flower in a vast meadow; there are just too many bodies, too much movement. He pushes through laughing clusters of students, his eyes darting, a growing sense of urgency building inside him.
Finally, in the distance, near the edge of the running track, he spots her. Relief washes over him, but it's quickly replaced by a fresh wave of alarm. Takashi is already there, standing too close to Nana, his body angled towards hers in a way that feels possessive. And then Ken sees them – two senior students, older, bigger, lurking a few steps behind Takashi, their gazes fixed intently on Nana. Takashi is clinging to Nana like glue, his presence a physical barrier that seems to suffocate her.
Nana, despite the bright sunlight, looks distinctly inconvenienced. Her shoulders are slightly hunched, her hands clasped in front of her, and she shifts her weight from foot to foot. She's nodding along to something Takashi is saying, but her smile doesn't reach her eyes. Luckily, her friends are still nearby, a small group of girls laughing and stretching a few feet away, seemingly oblivious to the subtle tension radiating from Nana. Their presence offers a thin veil of protection, but Ken knows it's precarious.
Nana is wearing the standard PE outfit, a loose-fitting t-shirt and regulation short pants. Yet, on her, the simple athletic wear transforms. The fabric, designed for comfort and movement, seems utterly incapable of hiding her sexy body. The short pants ride high on her toned thighs, emphasizing the smooth, alluring curve of her legs as she shifts. Her t-shirt, while not tight, drapes over her frame in a way that shows her alluring body with its full assets. Ken's eyes, despite his concern, can't help but notice the way the soft cotton hints at the fullness of her breasts, the subtle curve of her waist, the tempting flare of her hips. Every movement she makes, every slight stretch, inadvertently highlights her natural, undeniable sensuality.
Takashi, oblivious or perhaps deliberately ignoring her discomfort, is openly checking her out. His eyes rake over her form, lingering on her exposed legs, on the way the t-shirt stretches across her chest. And the two senior boys behind him are doing the same, their gazes predatory and hungry, stripping Nana bare with their eyes. They whisper to each other, their faces etched with the kind of lust that makes Ken's stomach churn. The field, usually a place of healthy activity, suddenly feels like a hunting ground, and Nana, with her subtly revealed curves, is the unwitting prey.
Ken's gaze remains fixed on Nana, his stomach a tight knot of unease. He tries to stay close, lingering just within her peripheral vision, pretending to stretch or scan the field for a friendly face. He watches Takashi, his body language a brazen display of possession, and the two senior boys whose eyes seem to undress Nana with every glance. He just keeps checking out the situation, an anxious sentinel.
Then, a flicker of movement catches his eye, pulling his attention from the immediate threat. Beside the main field, near the far corner of the school building, he sees her. Riko. She's walking away from the main activity area, heading towards the secluded, less-frequented space behind the building. Her posture, usually so upright and confident seems subtly different.
And then he sees him. Hiro. He's following Riko, a few paces behind, his movements casual, almost imperceptible to anyone not specifically looking for him. But Ken is looking. He feels a prickle of strangeness, a growing sense of dread. He can't be wrong. He saw the photos, he knows what happened. The pieces click into place with a terrifying certainty.
He watches them, his heart pounding a frantic rhythm against his ribs. They disappear behind the corner of the building, vanishing from his sight, into the shadows. The thought of what might be happening, of what Hiro might be doing to his sister, sends a cold shiver down his spine.
He forces his gaze back to Nana. She's still there, still looking uncomfortable but thankfully, still safe, surrounded by her friends. The immediate danger to her seems to have stabilized. But the new, more insidious threat, the one involving Riko, pulls at him relentlessly. A desperate urgency takes hold, fueled by a sickening, forbidden curiosity about his sister. He needs to see, to witness what Hiro is doing to his beautiful sister, driven by a raw, lustful fascination that he despises but cannot deny. Without another thought, he decides to follow Riko, drawn by a horrifying blend of dread and an illicit hunger to understand the dark truth unfolding behind the building.