PHASE 60 - I DON’T WANT TO BREAK UP!

Everything is getting well and fine now.

My eternal love has already forgiven my twin Diadem for killing his friends. His hatred is finally gone for good.

Now that there are no more personal problems between us, I can safely say that our relationship will be long-lasting. It will be forever.

Every day is maximum happiness for us.

Regular days came, and all of our times in school are filled with inspiration and love. No, we’re not that vulgar to publicly display of our affection. Just simple escorts before and after school will do. We shared our lunch break together as always, and after school, we would swing in the park to watch beautiful flowers and pigeons (Rikkun hates pigeons.) He would always treat me to any food I wanted, whether it’s jumbo burgers, meaty shawarmas, and spicy barbeques.

It’s Taco Tuesday today.

We bought some jalapeno beef tacos together with ice cream. Rikkun is no longer surprised when I managed to gobble the taco in one go. Then, I thanked my lover from the bottom of my heart.

“Rikkun… Thank you for forgiving my twin for the sins he has done to you. I know that it’s really hard because he killed Mister Chrisprel, Mister Ranley, and Mister Daughty. I thought it’s impossible for you to let go of that hatred for him.”

“You’re welcome.” Rikkun blushed as he scratched his scalp. “Those three idiots told me that I shouldn’t avenge them, and they are fine on what happened to them. I don’t know what made them think that way, but since it’s a request from my three dead friends, I should honor it. It will be troublesome if they haunt me if I didn’t do what they wanted.”

The last time Rikkun talked to his deceased friends was on New Year. At that time, he wasn’t sure what to do. I think he just forgave Diadem for the sake of my selfish wish.

Or maybe I’m wrong. Maybe Rikkun really pardoned my twin brother out of his own conviction, without any reasons whatsoever.

We continued to eat our meal.

I was about to chomp down the ice cream, but suddenly, a part of it fell down on my thigh!

“It’s cold!” I cried.

Rikkun laughed when he saw the melting flavored ice on my white thighs. “Wait, I’ll remove it for you.” He said as he drew a handkerchief.

His handkerchief landed on my soft thighs. His hand’s warmth is so calming like hot spring water. I know his dirty intentions of indirectly touching my legs, but I wouldn’t freak out or complain. If anything, I really wanted his bare hands to touch mine.

“Touch me more~” I whispered under my breath.

“W-What?” Rikkun tilted his head.

“N-No, Nothing! Ahahaha!” I made a fake laugh. I’m so embarrassing! I don’t have to be that desperate for him to touch me!

I’m so ashamed of myself. I punished my brain by swallowing the ice cream whole. But that is my biggest mistake. It made my brain froze, and now it hurts!

“Auuuu…” I cried as I held my forehead.

“There, there…” Rikkun rubbed my head in a form of a head pat. Because of the friction, his hand became the source of heat that melted my frostbitten brain.

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I looked at his face, and he projected an amused smile. He really enjoys hearing my cute puppy cries. I don’t mind because I really enjoy his headpats too.

“Hey, Rikkun… I wonder if you wanted to change how we address each other...since we’re now a couple…”

“Why, you want me to call you Megatron like in the first timeline?”

“I-It’s not like that!” I cried. Then I bloated my reddish cheeks as I gave him a serious stare. “Geez, stop teasing me…”

“Hahaha! Sorry, sorry.” Rikkun petted me again.

“I-It would be better if we call each other ‘Darling’, I guess…” I bumped my index fingers to each other. “Just like how you called me last time.”

“Fine then, my darling Tiara-chan~” Rikkun gave a hypnotizing smile. The way he delivered it, combined with his blushing cheeks and passionate eyes…

It made my nose bleed.

<>

After that date, Rikkun escorted me again back to my condo unit. He immediately left when I opened the door to my house. Now my day with him is over. But it didn’t make me sad. We will still call each other later at night until we fall asleep.

“Key-chan!” I raised the paper bag that contains our baby homunculus’ dinner. “I bought tacos for you!”

“That’s no good, Tiara. It will make me fat.” Key said in an expressionless tone.

I saw Key in the living room, standing on the weighing scale. She looks troubled. She’s glaring furiously at the weighing scale.

“Bummer. I gained weight.” Key said in a monotone. Then she sighed as she left the weighing scale. She immediately fetched the paper bag I lent her and proceeded to chow carelessly.

My eyes are fixated on the scale. I’m quite curious about how I weigh now. I’ve been eating a lot recently on my dates with Rikkun.

I stepped on the weighing scale.

“W-W-W-What is this…?” I muttered. This number…

It’s like the weight of a pig! I-Impossible! I didn’t look much fatter, did I?

I looked at my bare belly. It’s quite slender. It doesn’t look like I really became a pig… But why is the weighing scale saying otherwise?

“K-Key-chan… Do you think I got fat?” I asked worriedly.

“Hmmm?” Key-chan pressed her face forward and examined every inch of my body. She groped my soft biceps, my thighs, my buttocks, and lastly my boobs!

“Eeeeeek!” I cried when she touched my sensitive parts.

“I… I don’t know.” Key said. “But if the scale says so, then…”

“No!”

<>

It’s a new day once again. The sunlight is giving a gentle warmth and the birds are singing joyfully as they hop on the tree branches. It would be a perfect morning again if only I didn’t gain weight.

“Good morning, Darling~” Rikkun cheerfully greeted me. He fetches me every morning and we go to school together as always.

“G-Good morning, my darling Rikkun…” I replied back. My greeting to him is a lot less energy than normal.

It’s because I skipped breakfast today. I don’t want my boyfriend to know that I’ve been gaining a lot of weight. Because if he does… If he does…

<>

...I can imagine the two of us at a high cliff. The loud ocean waves roared as he released a new confession...

“Tiara… We need to break up.” Rikkun said in a serious tone.

“W-Why?” I held my aching heart.

“Because you killed the person I love…”

“I-I didn’t kill anyone!”

“You did.” Rikkun turned his back and sighed. “You killed your old self... You’re no longer the Tiara I know. You’re just a big fat bastard pretending to be the woman I love.”

“B-But darling-!!!”

“Don’t call me darling!” Rikkun shouted.

I fell down on my knees as I succumb myself to eternal sorrow. There, I watch the man I love disappear with my own very eyes.

<>

I DON’T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN!!!

That’s what I screamed inside.

I got to shred these pounds before he knows about my weight! Starting today, no more breakfast, no more sweets, no more bacon burgers, and shawarmas! I’ll sacrifice all of those to save our relationship!

We are on our way to school. There is an awkward silence between us because I’m trying hard to suppress my hunger. I feel weak, and my stomach acids are burning my insides.

Then… this happened.

GUUUURRRRRR!!!

It was a loud rumbling noise.

Rikkun was startled as he looked around, trying to find the source of the noise. “W-What was that?”

That’s… That’s my crying stomach…

When he glanced to me, I immediately uttered a fake cough.

“Gahoo! Gahoo! W-Well, what is that sound, I wonder? I-Is there an Eidolon nearby? S-Scary, isn’t it!?”

“Oh…” Rikkun answered me with a stare of disbelief.

Geez, why did my stomach has to growl now? I’ve never skipped breakfast like this before, but it doesn’t have to roar that loud!

Rikkun’s eyes slowly scanned my body down to my tummy. And then he released these words: “There’s something off with you today…”

[Days before Helena’s Return: 16]

[Days before Alaric discovers Tiara’s weight: 1]