As the train journey with Haru concluded, she greeted her uncle through the screen of her phone. "Ohayo gozaimasu, Ojisan! I hope I'm not late for our discussion about Big Bang Burger."
Haru's uncle, sitting in his office, smiled warmly at his niece. "Ohayo, Haru-chan! You're right on time. Let's delve into our plans for the expansion, shall we?"
"Absolutely, Ojisan," Haru replied, her tone polite and formal.
Her uncle chuckled softly. "Haru-chan, your formality is charming, but unnecessary between family. Let's just dive in and discuss our strategies." During their conversation about business strategies and expansions, Haru cautiously broached the sensitive topic. "Uncle, about the recent marketing decisions, specifically regarding Ann's contract—"
Mr. Okumura nodded thoughtfully. "Ah, Ann Takamaki. She fits the vision perfectly for our new marketing strategy. Young, relatable, and now, the face of our supersized Texas-style menu."
Haru paused, choosing her words with care. "But the before-and-after aspect, showcasing her weight gain... Is that really the approach we want for our marketing?"
Her uncle's gaze remained focused. "Haru-chan, it's about presenting a story. A journey of transformation. We plan to use Ann's before-and-after pictures to demonstrate the increase in our portion sizes."
"Using her weight gain as part of our advertising?" Haru sought clarification.
"Yes, precisely," Mr. Okumura confirmed. "Ann's journey from her initial appearance to a fuller figure showcases the effects of our new menu. It's about highlighting the increase in portion sizes and the satisfaction our meals provide."
As the weight of their decision settled in, Haru grappled with conflicting emotions. Loyalty to the family business warred with her concern for Ann's well-being. Meanwhile, Ann, oblivious to the discussion about her portrayal, navigated the complexities that the contract brought into her life.
Haru grappled with a growing sense of unease as the conversation progressed. Despite her reservations about withholding information from Ann, she found herself hesitant to disrupt the plan that seemed to bring contentment to both her uncle and herself.
As Mr. Okumura elaborated on the marketing strategy, emphasizing the importance of Ann's transformation in promoting the increased portion sizes, Haru's internal conflict intensified. Loyalty to her family and their business aspirations clashed with her ethical concerns about keeping Ann unaware of the true intentions behind the contract.
Yet, a sense of familial duty weighed heavily on her. Haru was not one to betray her uncle's trust or intentions. The desire to maintain harmony within the family and respect their decisions kept her hesitant about revealing the true motives to Ann, even though it tugged at her conscience.
That afternoon, Haru extended an invitation to Ann for lunch at Big Bang Burger, suggesting they try a variety of items from the menu. "Ann, how about lunch today at Big Bang Burger? I've been craving some of their specialties."
Ann, intrigued by the offer, agreed enthusiastically. As they settled into their seats, Haru encouraged her friend to explore the menu freely. "You should try one of everything, Ann! Who knows, maybe your modeling scout needs to see your reaction to the whole spread."
Haru's words were carefully chosen, aiming to steer the conversation subtly towards the recent contract without revealing its true intentions. Despite her inner turmoil, Haru maintained a composed exterior, striving to keep the atmosphere light and pleasant. As Ann sampled the variety of items on their table, Haru observed her friend's reactions with a soft smile. "You're really diving into these, Ann. Don't hold back, enjoy it all!"
Her words carried a subtle encouragement, aimed at supporting Ann's exploration of the menu. Haru's demeanor remained gentle and supportive, masking the conflict stirring within her. She watched as Ann savored each bite, a mix of admiration for her friend's gusto and discomfort for the situation vying for attention within her thoughts.
"Everything's so tasty, isn't it?" Haru remarked, masking her internal turmoil with a reassuring tone.
Ann, engrossed in her meal, nodded eagerly. "Definitely! I could get used to this."
Haru's encouragement held a deeper layer, a silent plea to fulfill the unspoken expectations of the contract while simultaneously hoping Ann wouldn't be affected negatively by it. The weight of the situation weighed heavily on Haru's heart as she continued to navigate the delicate balance between loyalty to her family and concern for her friend.
As they indulged in the array of items on their table, Ann's enthusiasm for the food was evident. Haru observed her friend's reactions closely, contemplating the weight of the situation. Her concern for Ann's genuine enjoyment clashed with the knowledge of the ulterior motives behind the meal.
Throughout their lunch, Haru wrestled with conflicting emotions, torn between her loyalty to her family's business strategy and her growing discomfort with the situation. As they finished their meal, she couldn't shake off the lingering guilt about withholding the truth from her friend. Haru, trying to ease the atmosphere, leaned in and shared with a warm smile, "You know, they say a true gentleman appreciates a young lady with a healthy appetite."
Her words were meant to lighten the mood, subtly encouraging Ann without directly referencing her eating. Haru hoped to support her friend in enjoying the meal without any underlying pressure.
Haru savored her cheeseburger, taking dainty bites and enjoying her milkshake with refined sips. Meanwhile, Ann approached her meal with fervor, savoring each bite with enthusiasm, her appetite seemingly boundless.
As Haru observed Ann's eagerness to taste everything on her plate, she couldn't help but contrast it with her own composed manner of eating. Ann's enjoyment of the food was evident in her swift bites and joyful expressions, a stark contrast to Haru's slower and more measured approach to her meal. Haru delicately navigated her meal, savoring the flavors and relishing each bite with a poised grace. Her refined mannerisms were evident in the way she held her burger, taking small, deliberate bites while occasionally pausing to enjoy her milkshake with measured sips. She embodied elegance in every movement, her poise unwavering even as she indulged in the delectable offerings.
In contrast, Ann's approach was vibrant and unreserved. She embraced the meal with an infectious enthusiasm, eagerly exploring each item on her plate. Her excitement bubbled over as she dug into the food, savoring its taste with an unrestrained delight. There was a vivaciousness in the way she devoured the cheeseburgers, her bites more sizable, her pace faster, and her enjoyment apparent in the hearty enthusiasm of each mouthful. As Ann finally finished her meal, the remnants of her feast were scattered across the table—empty milkshake cups and cheeseburger wrappers littered around. Her once-pristine lips were now adorned with remnants of ketchup and melted cheese, resembling a colorful abstract painting.
With a playful grin and a pat on her slightly bloated stomach, Ann exaggeratedly sighed, "I feel like I just swallowed a 16-pound bowling ball whole! My stomach's trying its best to figure out how to handle this."
Haru chuckled softly at her friend's humorous exaggeration, finding amusement in Ann's theatrical description. "That was quite the feast you conquered there, Ann. Your enthusiasm for food is truly impressive!"
Ann leaned back in her chair with a satisfied grin, albeit feeling a touch overstuffed. "You bet! Big Bang Burger didn't know what hit 'em. But hey, it was totally worth it!" Ann glanced down at her slightly snug uniform skirt, her belly peeking from under her shirt after the satisfying meal. With a mischievous grin, she quipped, "Looks like my skirt's about to burst open at the floodgates! I might need a bigger size soon. I swear, I look like I could be seven months pregnant."
Haru chuckled, appreciating Ann's humor. "All I see is a big, beautiful food baby in your belly and his beautiful mommy!"
Ann giggled in response, lightly patting her comfortably full stomach. "Absolutely! This food baby's growing faster than I expected."
Their banter continued in a playful tone, emphasizing the joy of the meal and the light-heartedness of their friendship without focusing on physical appearances or weight. The conversation remained spirited and fun, steering clear of any sensitive topics. Ann rubbed her big belly and let out a hearty burp, a sign that she had finished eating. "Oishi desu!" she exclaimed in Japanese, indicating how delicious the meal was.
Haru chuckled and playfully covered her mouth. "My, my, I never knew there was that much room in one girl's belly, Ann!"
Ann laughed, still rubbing her belly. "Well, Haru, you thought wrong!
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
More by this author
