Gate Guardian - Song of the Frozen Soul

PHASE 61 - STEPPING ON THAT SCALE FEELS LIKE A LANDMINE

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.