160 Chapter two, 2016, school festival, madness beginning: 10 (1/2)

Kyoko flinched when a storm of applause and shouts broke over the music. 'And I'm not even on stage. Gods this is scary!'

It was her turn, and she almost fell over when she climbed the stage and made for the catwalk section. Spotlights blinded her and for a moment she stood frozen.

”Take my hand.”

Yukio had arrived from the other side and she felt his fingers around hers. That calmed her down somewhat, and with his hand in hers Kyoko finally dared the catwalk.

The shouts grew even louder and from the rows of chairs closest to them she heard one racy suggestion after another.

”Don't bother,” Yukio said. ”You're all mine. They're just jealous,” he added and screwed a forced smile onto his face.

'You really don't like it when others look at me that way?' It made her strangely happy. ”You're one to talk,” she said. ”Half of those comments are yours.” She gripped his hand harder, but when they came to the end of the catwalk she had to let go.

A few seconds followed before they agreed on how to walk back. She heard a few laughs, most of them friendly but at least one in the crowd shouted his displeasure.

Almost all the way back they met Urufu. He shook his head but Kyoko understood he only rued his own participation. He wore a suit just the way all the boys here wore their school uniforms. It was as if he didn't register how stunning he looked.

”You did just great out there,” he said when they were within earshot. That comment warmed her. ”Just watch what it means to make an arse out of oneself,” he said and gave them an ironic salute before they passed each other.

Behind her the shouts increased to a deafening roar. 'That's them thanking you for your hard work today. You deserve it.'

Kyoko quickly walked behind the curtains and stole a look. From the other side she saw Yukio doing the same. He gave her a thumbs up before turning his attention to Urufu's backside.

She followed that stare and watched Urufu pretend to play with an invisible soccer ball all the way to the end of the catwalk. Before he turned he picked it up and smashed it into the audience volley ball style. 'I bet that's Kuri-chan's instructions. Only Ryu would have the guts to do something like that without being told.'

When Urufu returned Ryu and Hitomi-chan took the stage.

The entire gym hall exploded in shouts drowning the music. Kyoko had to slap her hands to her ears. 'So that's what true popularity sounds like? I wonder what happens next.'

There was a difference. Both Ryu and Hitomi-chan walked with the grace of people used to being looked at. A packed gym hall only made them shine even more.

'I really wonder what happens next.'

Kuri-chan and Nao-sempai last. They planned the show that way. After everyone were done the two professional models would hit the catwalk every second display. Both Kuri-chan and Nao-sempai promised they could change a full set of clothes in under thirty seconds, and two make-up crews, one on each side of the stage, stood ready to do black magic during those seconds.

Ryu and Hitomi-chan returned to the sound of a thunderous chant. Both were visibly shaken. Used to being looked at was one thing, but none of them had experienced anything like this before.

'And now for the pros.'