Chapter 90

The room I was shown to was a twin suite, and it was well-equipped with amenities. As expected of a Tachibana Group hotel.

However, due to the fasting plan, the contents of the refrigerator were only water and tea. Ah, really, I can't eat anything from now on.

I relaxed on the sofa, sipping herbal tea. It seems that we will all take a walk in the garden after a while.

"Shouldn't you have invited Father for the fasting? I think he needs it the most in our family."

"Father has work to do. Besides, fasting won't make him lose weight."

She said it firmly.

"More than that, Rika, you've really caught Mr. Tachibana's eye, haven't you?"

Mother said happily. ...Well, it might look that way to others.

"You are truly your mother's daughter! After all, Rika is so cute. It's only natural to think that she would be a good match for Mr. Masaya!"

No, no, Mother, you're jumping to conclusions. Don't go overboard!

I tried to bring Mother back to reality and led her to the garden where we were supposed to meet everyone. While walking through the garden, which was guided by the staff, the ladies also talked about Mrs. Tachibana's attitude earlier.

"Rika is a young lady recognized by Mr. Tachibana. She has a different kind of grace."

"Oh, oh, oh. Everyone, please don't flatter me so much."

Mother, though denying it, seemed to be quite pleased. She was in a very good mood. The ladies continued with their social pleasantries, but I suddenly remembered that Yae, who was around my age, was also there, which made me a bit uncomfortable.

After that, we had our dinner in the plan-specific room, drinking fasting drinks together. This doesn't fill me up at all... I wish I could have a second serving. This is going to be tough for two days.

After that, I received a massage focused on my abdomen at the spa. It was an intestinal massage. Hehehe, ticklish! Ugh!

The next morning, my stomach was noticeably sunken because I hadn't eaten anything. Breakfast was only a drink. I want to eat something solid.

There are also a gym and a pool, but I can't move without eating. The most I can do is take a walk in the garden.

Mother, who seemed to have given up, went back to the room and went to sleep after drinking the midday drink. I was invited by the ladies to join them for yoga in place of Mother.

The yoga was for beginners and aimed at relaxation, so the poses weren't difficult at all. However, my stomach, which had only consumed water, made embarrassing gurgling sounds every time I moved. The ladies were chatting happily while doing yoga. They are so energetic... How do they have so much energy without eating?

The ladies asked me all sorts of questions about young people's love lives, like "Does Rika have a crush?" "You're in the same grade as Mr. Masaya from the Tachibana family, right?" "What about Shusuke from the Enjo family?" "Do you have a fiancé chosen by your brother?" ...They are so energetic.

Dinner was also a drink. I'm tired of it. The taste is different each time, but that's not the issue.

Mother was complaining to Father on her phone.

I was doing some tutoring work in the evening, but I couldn't concentrate because I was hungry.

Thinking I might go for a walk to change my mood, I left the room and ran into Yae.

...Ah, I noticed. The bag Yae was hiding behind her back was from the hotel's patisserie.

It was awkward...

I was considering pretending I hadn't noticed and parting ways, but Yae brought the bag to the front as if she had given up.

"I just couldn't stand being hungry anymore..."

"Oh, I understand. It's hard to be hungry, isn't it?"

I agreed with a forced smile. Don't smile with such a troubled face. It's not like we're in the hospital; if you want to eat, you can eat.

"Rika, can I talk to you for a moment?"

We went out to the garden.

The garden, lit up at night, was very beautiful. We sat on one of the benches there.

"From someone like Rika, I must seem like a weak-willed, useless person, right?"

"No, not at all!"

I thought I was the one with no willpower. "Three-day wonder" is a term that fits me perfectly.

"The more I think I shouldn't eat, the more I want to."

"...I understand."

I nodded in agreement.

The moment I decide to diet, I get hungry.

"I've been overweight since I was a child, and I've tried to lose weight many times, but I'm really no good... My name, Yae, is a disappointment."

No, no, my name, Rika, is also a disappointment. "Beautiful and elegant," right?

Besides, I snack all the time, and I'm so lazy that I get mistaken for a pregnant woman. So, please don't look so sad while holding a bag from the patisserie.

"Rika, you're so lucky. You're beautiful. I often hear about how Mr. Takaki takes his sister out. You must be his pride. I'm envious."

"Well, I don't think so..."

"...I have a brother too. But I'm so overweight and unattractive that he probably doesn't want to go out with me. We hardly ever go out together."

Hmm, it's more like I cling to him rather than him taking me out.

"You're even recognized by Mr. Tachibana. You're amazing, Rika. I hear that President Kishigenin often boasts about his daughter. It's wonderful to have a father who speaks so highly of you."

What are you doing, raccoon? I'll make you into a stew when I get home!

"Father is a doting parent. It's so embarrassing. I need to set him straight when I get home. Besides, I'm fat in hidden places. For example, my stomach. I guess I inherited that from Father, unfortunately. It's like a freshly pounded mochi."

"Freshly pounded mochi? Oh, Rika, you're so funny!"

Yae smiled gently. She is indeed plump, but that makes her more comforting. She doesn't need to be so hard on herself. She reminds me of Ukifune from "The Tale of Genji."

To cheer Yae up, I shared some self-deprecating stories, like "The time the button on my skirt popped off as soon as I sat down," "The time the zipper broke when I tried on a dress, and I had to buy it even though I couldn't wear it," and "The time I ate an entire cake by myself and got a stomachache."

Yae laughed, but she seemed to think I was exaggerating. But she was wrong. This is just the beginning. I have many more embarrassing stories that I haven't told anyone, like "The Tarzan incident" and "The time I was hit by a crow with garbage."

But it seemed that Yae felt a bit closer to me. "If you like," she offered me a leaf pie from the patisserie bag.

Leaf pie! I want to eat it! But I'm fasting! What a dilemma!

Seeing my dilemma, Yae laughed.

"But you know, I'm not the only one eating in secret. Most of the participants are sneaking some food."

"Really?"

"Only you and a few others are fasting seriously. The hotel staff probably know but turn a blind eye. Otherwise, you couldn't buy sweets, right?"

Mother, we were completely fooled.

No wonder everyone seemed so energetic despite fasting.

"...I'm so hungry that I can't think of anything but food."

"Hehe, shall we eat now?"

"No, I'll try to make it to the end. I feel a bit regretful."

"Of course, Rika. Good luck."

It was getting cold, so we decided to go back to our rooms. To hide the patisserie bag, I lent her my shawl. Yae smiled and thanked me.

I think we became a bit closer.

The final menu of the fast was porridge. Ah, it's so delicious... Mother next to me had a blissful look on her face. I understand how she feels. I understand.

With the staff's announcement that the fasting plan was over, everyone dispersed.

Let's go home. Let's go home quickly.

After saying goodbye to everyone, I got into the car that came to pick us up. Yae waved goodbye to me.

I'm home, our house!

Father and Brother had prepared a warm meal to welcome us.

Mother, who had been emotionally weak, hugged Father with tears in her eyes. It's like a beauty and a raccoon.

When I tried to hug Brother, he deftly dodged. Why!