Chapter 87

With the help of Ms. Shinrin, I somehow managed to get through the final exams. But I didn’t feel very confident. During my exam preparation, I realized I wasn’t doing well, so I signed up for the summer course at the cram school.

It seems that my weak-willed self isn’t suited for studying alone. There are too many temptations at home. When I encounter a problem I can’t solve, I end up wanting to do something else, like a bit of needle felting to change my mood, or rearranging my room.

If I fit in with the atmosphere at the cram school, I’ll continue attending from the second semester. So, teacher, please spare me the extra lessons...

The final day of the exams. The tests ended in the morning, so I went home to change. I had somewhere I wanted to go today.

It was the post office. I was going to deposit the money I had saved in a chest. At the same time, I would buy some stamps.

My small hobby is collecting stamps. Buying cute stamps is a secret pleasure of mine. I don’t have anyone to send letters to, though.

I especially like anime and character stamps. There are famous robot anime and picture book characters, and just looking at them is fun.

Among them was a stamp of Queen Rocco. Of course, I bought it. I bought a few extra in case I wanted to send them to someone. I don’t have anyone to send them to right now, though.

I was a bit embarrassed buying a vertical roll stamp since I have a vertical roll figure, and I was worried people might think I was cosplaying, but it became my favorite stamp, so I’m glad I had the courage to buy it.

I want to send a letter with this stamp to someone. I think Aoi would laugh and accept it, so maybe I’ll send one next time.

For the outfit, I chose a relatively casual, feminine dress with a ribbon at the bust. I have other places to go after the post office, so I didn’t want to look too much like a lady.

Actually, I want to go to a soba noodle shop for lunch today.

It’s my first time going to a soba noodle shop alone, so I didn’t want to stand out too much.

Ah, I’m hungry. I wonder what I’ll eat...

I went into a chain soba noodle shop in a complex building. Looking at the menu, I was indecisive. Mountain vegetable soba sounds good, but cold soba is nice too. Hmm, but I think I’ll go with tempura soba!

It has two shrimp and is really delicious. Yeah, I’m glad I chose this. The scallions make the blood flow smoothly.

It was so delicious that I drank all the broth at the end. Ah, I’m satisfied!

After a short break, I headed to a large post office nearby.

The reception was crowded, so I took a number first and then went to look at the stamps. I also like animal and classical stamps. Maybe I’ll buy one from the waka series.

I found some cute animal stamps, so I chose those this time. I’ll come back on another stamp day.

Feeling happy, I went to the savings window, but it seemed my turn was still a long way off. It was crowded, and there were no seats available. Well, I can’t help it. I’m young, so standing isn’t too bad.

Just as I was thinking that, a salaryman offered me his seat. What a gentleman!

It seems that the concept of ladies first is becoming more established in Japan. Thank you, kind stranger. I smiled and thanked him and took the seat.

Receiving such small acts of kindness makes me feel warm and happy.

But... the tempura soba I just ate is still a bit heavy. I drank all the broth, after all.

I absentmindedly rubbed my stomach, and the woman next to me asked, “How many months?”

How many months of what?

“?”

“Are you about five months along? I hope you have a healthy baby.”

“...”

...What?

Could it be... Could I have been mistaken for a pregnant woman?!

Why?! Because I was rubbing my stomach?!

No! It’s because my stomach is round!!

“...I’m not pregnant.”

“Huh?”

“There’s no baby in my stomach...”

I tensed my stomach and tried to pull it in, but it didn’t make much of a difference.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

The woman looked uncomfortable and moved to another seat.

Oh! Could it be! I turned around, and the gentleman who had offered me his seat quickly looked away. You too?!

That wasn’t ladies first; it was kindness to a pregnant woman!

What a disaster...

It seems that without my knowledge, a child has taken up residence in my stomach. An archangel will surely come to announce the conception. Child of the land of fat, be born soon. Otherwise, this holy mother Rika’s stomach will remain round forever.

...Just kidding. I need to face reality. This is just a tragedy caused by gaining weight.

And there’s another hard-to-accept fact.

Could it be that I’m aging? Could I be at an age where being mistaken for a pregnant woman isn’t surprising?

I’ve gained weight and aged.

Ah, the fluorescent lights are so bright. They’re making my eyes tear up...

The awkward atmosphere around me. My turn at the window is still a long way off...

I held back my tears and headed home. I locked myself in my room and spun a hula hoop in silence.

I did sit-ups. I did V-sits. I felt sick.

From the next day, I made my lunches vegetable-focused. “Maybe I have summer fatigue, I’m not very hungry...” I said, pretending to be a sickly main character. The kids eating with me said things like, “Oh, that’s tough,” but they definitely noticed...

At Pivoine’s salon, I only drank tea. There was a blueberry tart today, but I didn’t eat it!

When everyone offered me various sweets, I declined with, “I’m not very hungry...” I couldn’t look at them.

As I was doing this, Enjo passed by and smiled, saying, “Good luck.” He noticed too. Shut up, don’t say unnecessary things. I’m hungry and on edge right now.

When I emailed Sakura about my troubles, she replied, “Which is better, zazen or waterfall training?”

According to Sakura, I should first face my weak and indulgent spirit, which is why I can’t stick to a diet. She has a point. I am indeed strict with others but lenient with myself.

So, I ended up going to zazen with Sakura during the summer break.

But, Sakura, I fall asleep in three minutes when I close my eyes. Will that be okay?

And for some reason, my mother recommended fasting. I ended up going to a fasting retreat with my mother during the summer break.

It seems that this summer will be a summer of fat-busting training. Will my third eye finally open this time?!