PHASE 61 - STEPPING ON THAT SCALE FEELS LIKE A LANDMINE

“There’s something off with you today…” Rikkun said.

“I-I-It’s just your imagination!” I stuttered. “I-I-I didn’t weigh that much!”

“No, I think you’re kind of pale.” Rikkun pressed his right palm to my sweaty forehead. The warmth of his hand made my face hotter.

“N-No, I’m not sick! I-It’s nothing!” I said.

“If you say so…” Rikkun said as he withdrew his hand. Then he immediately jumped to another topic. “Don’t you dare get sick this day, because I’m going to defeat you in a waffle-eating contest!”

“W-W-Waffle-eating contest!?” I shrieked.

“It’s Waffle Wednesday today, isn’t it?” Rikkun tilted his head. “You said that we will go on a date after school. And whoever loses will treat the winner to ice cream!”

Now that I think of it, I really did make some kind of promise to him! But… If we continue the date, my weight would go up. I can’t let that happen!

I gently waved my hand at him while giving a sorry smile. “I-I’m sorry, darling Rikkun… I-I have some errands at the shrine later. Maybe next week… or next month…”

“Huuuuh?” Rikkun is staring at me with disbelief. “Are you sure? There are bacon-flavored waffles there, you know?”

GUUUUUUURRRR!!!

My stomach responded after hearing the “bacon” word! To shut my growling stomach, I immediately punched it with full force!

“Guh!” I uttered a cry. I put so much on that punch that tears are already crawling out of my eyelids. Now I can’t stop shaking because of the doubled pain on my stomach.

“...A-Are you sure you’re okay?” Rikkun is now confused.

“I-I’m... okay…. honestly… don’t... mind... me…” I said like a dying girl.

Hang in there, Tiara! You only have to suffer for now. Just for now! Let that Waffle Wednesday, Burrithursday, and Fried Friday pass! I have to focus on my fasting!

Once I’ve lost those extra pounds, I can eat like I always did!

<>

This day is too terrible.

I can’t pay attention in class. Every ten minutes, my stomach would roar out loud. To cover it up, I would fake up a cough. Or sometimes, I would convince my classmates that there’s an earthquake.

Rikkun kept staring at me all day, checking my condition. So I had my arms hug my tummy for the whole day. I can’t have him notice my weight!

And so, nighttime came. I barely ate anything for this day, so I think I made progress with my diet. I stood in line as I wait for Key to get finished recording her own weight.

“Oh, I gained again.” Key muttered unimpressed. Then she wordlessly walked away from the weighing scale.

I sigh and calmed my heart as I stepped on the scale. I scanned my hands and feet. I look pale right now so I think I have lost a million pounds-

Wha-!!!

What is this!? I gained weight! And so much too! Impossible! Whyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!???

<>

The next day is hell for me.

The intervals of my stomach growls are now every two minutes. I’m too weak to fake out coughs anymore, so I let the whole class suffer from that rumbling noise for the day. I know Mr. Kent and Mrs. Noctis did notice my trouble too, and they asked me to go to the school clinic but I declined.

And so, lunchtime came.

I dipped my head to my desk. I decided not to eat anything at all today. But I’m exhausted and hungry. I no longer have any energy left to live. Maybe I’ll die of hunger before Helena comes.

“Hey, Darling.” Rikkun sat in front of me. “Are you sure you’re really okay? Is something bugging you these past few days?”

“...What...are...you...saying?... I’m...totally...fine…” I said weakly.

“There’s no way you’re fine with that speech pattern.” Rikkun coldly glared. Then he revealed two lunchboxes and put it in front of me. “Here, let’s eat.”

Drool ran from my lips as soon as he opened the boxes. It’s my favorite honey cured bacon! Plenty of them! And there’s so much rice too!

“W-Wooooooooooaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!” I cried.

“You have been giving lunchboxes to me, so this time, I’ll return the favor.” Rikkun smirked. “Since you don’t want to tell your problem, I think I’ll just cheer you up by cooking your favorite.”

Why did you have to give it to me now!? The holy grail is right before my eyes! I want to eat them all in one swallow! They smell so amazing, and I’m sure the sweetness of the honey would pair the chunky bacon!

I immediately grabbed a forkful of that meat and slowly drove it in front of my face like an airplane.

That’s my darling Rikkun! One look, and you can tell that his cooking is delicious! This is so special that he made them just for me!

Just one bite is enough, right? Right?

No, I can’t do that! I gained too much weight yesterday! Just a few calories more and my tummy would show up bloated!

B-But… Rikkun made all the trouble to make those for me… Am I going to put all his efforts to waste, just like how I rejected him back then?

“I...I’m sorry, Rikkun…” I said as I laid down the fork. “The truth is… I’m not hungry.”

“Huh?”

“I-I’m not hungry at all!” I cried as I rushed away from the scene.

I’m such an idiot! I wanted to eat them! They’re so cute and delicious! I’m such an idiot idiot idiot! What am I doing with my life? I ended up hurting Rikkun again.

I wonder if he’ll let me try those bacon one more time...

<>

It’s the end of another hellish class. My stomach is now numb and it’s no longer releasing weird noises. Maybe my stomach worms have been dissolved by my acids.

Rikkun escorted me again to my condo unit. He’s persistent. I tried making false excuses but he’ll just follow me like a master watching out for his pet dog.

We reached my home without me being able to drive him off. Key opened the door just before I can press the doorbell… but then Rikkun went inside as if it’s his own house.

“I’ll be coming in~” Rikkun slid in front of me and proceeded to the living room.

“R-Rikkun…” I sighed. Geez, he’s so pushy! Now that my boyfriend’s here at my house, I’ll be more self-conscious about my fats.

When I laid my bag down on the sofa, I saw Rikkun just beside the weighing scale. He glanced at me and then his mouth moved; releasing the words that I’m afraid of hearing.

“Tiara, step on the scale.”

“Wha-Wha-Whaaat!?” I shrieked.

“Step on the scale.” Rikkun coldly repeated.

Shimata!!! I’m dead!!!

“NO!!!” I shook my head like a kid in a tantrum.

“You stupid pup… Just step in the scale! It’s not like it’s going to explode or something.” Rikkun scolded me.

“No! Just noooo!!!” I cried. He’s clearly asking me to dig my own grave!

“Just step on the scale!” Rikkun immediately pulled my wrist. “I don’t care about your weight!”

My eyes immediately brightened upon hearing that last sentence.

“Y-You sure? Y-You won’t break up with me even if you found out that I got fat?” I gave a pitiful puppy-glare at him.

“Of course!”

“Y-You sure?”

“Of course! Now step on the scale, you idiot pup!”

I nervously stepped up and looked at the scale.

It went up. My weight went up again. I now weigh like a truck. It’s so impossible. And I didn’t even eat the whole day. So I stepped down immediately and curled in the corner, hugging my knees together with my crippling depression.

“Hmmm….” Rikkun held his imaginary beard.

…

There was a long silence.

…

“The scale is broken.” Rikkun said.

“H-Huh?”

“Key texted me to take a look at your weighing scale. I thought I can fix it, but now that I have seen it… I think buying a new one would be better.”

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!?????