Five Buns Full: Chapter 2 (Patreon)

Day 17

“Would you get your hands off my belly?!” Nino pleaded.

“Nope.”

She raised a hand and dropped it on her husband’s leg in a half-hearted smack. He didn’t even make a noise, just continued to rub her tummy beneath her lifted shirt.

She was sitting in his lap as they ate breakfast on the floor. They’d both decided that Nino’s diet was officially over, now that she was eating for two, and she reasoned that her calorie count should be at least a little bit higher.

What they didn’t talk about was how much higher. Over the past three days, Nino’s appetite was already growing, with plenty of comfort eating to get her through each day. She munched on the fat of a ninth strip of bacon, trying to focus on the food rather than how good the belly rub felt.

“Y-you should drink your coffee, it’s gonna get cold…” 

“I’ll get to it. What about you? Want anything more to drink?”

“No, I’m okay.”

She leaned back, looking down at her lap. She’d been wearing a simple pair of red and black jammies. He’d unsnapped the bottom three buttons and was gripping her from the lowest part of her belly, just holding her close. 

She leaned back into the crook of his neck and looked up at the ceiling. “What are we going to do?” she asked him.

“… Like… figuratively? Because I thought we had a plan for today at least.”

“No I mean like… like… ugh,” she dropped her hands to his, holding herself. “We’re gonna be having a baby…”

She cut herself off, feeling the fluttering in her food-packed belly. It was still weird to think about, felt like everything had changed but almost nothing was different. That made her irritated.

“We live in a four-room apartment!” she gestured. “Where is she gonna sleep, in our tiny bathtub?!”

He chuckled. “She, huh?”

Nino hadn’t realized she’d said it, but immediately realized it’s what she believed. She was blushing, tightening his hands on her. “It’ll... she’ll be a girl, I’m pretty sure about that.”

“Oh? Well what if I think it’s gonna be a boy?”

“You’d be wrong.”

“Yeah?”

“Mhmm.”

He was quiet for a moment, just rubbing her tum. “What are we gonna name her, then?”

Nino groaned. She shuffled back and forth, wiggling in his lap before rising up out of it. She grabbed his coffee, passing it back to him before sagging backward, looking at her syrup-soaked plate. “Let’s worry about now, first. Raiha and… Shoot, who else is it? Hina? Whoever, they’re opening today. I was thinking I co-”

“I’ll go,” he cut her off. “You’re busy. I’ll head down and meet with them, see if they need any help.”

Nino frowned, but she knew he was right. “Ugggghhhhh it wouldn’t be so bad if it was time already! Waiting is the worst part!!”

“It always is. But we’re gonna be doing a lot of that until…” he thumbed her belly button. Nino was uncomfortably aware that her clothes, that she worked so hard to fit back into, were already getting snug again. 

It made her nervous. She didn’t want to rebound… at least, not so much. She’d worked so hard to drop that twenty-five pounds! And then this… this…

“You jerk,” she mumbled without any heat, poking her nails into his thighs. “I can’t believe you forgot a condom.”

He snorted into his coffee mug. “You didn’t seem to be complaining when you pushed me over and got on top of me.”

“What are you talking about, idiot,” she leaned into his neck. “I was shouting at you.”

“Were you? I wasn’t really able to focus.”

“Moron,” she leaned up and kissed him on the cheek.

He glanced down at her with dangerous, hungry eyes. “Moron, eh? What does that make you? Who has sex without a condom?”

“I-it was making love!” she shouted indignantly. “And you’re the re-Aiee!!” she screamed as his hand suddenly seized on her sides. His fingers mashed into her, nails lightly dancing over her sensitive ribs. She flailed in his lap, struggling to get free but his legs wrapped beneath hers and lifted. “S-stop! What are you- Fuutarou! Ahahaha!”

She twisted, trying to turn around, batting at his legs and arms. He held her tighter, tickling her more intensely.

Her breathes came in gasps, tight tummy pushing out with unrestrained laughter. “Fuu-kun!!” she screamed. “Q-quit it!!”

The wolf’s lips were only inches from her ear as he whispered, “Make me.”

He bent forward, pushing through her hair and nibbling on her ear. 

She felt constrained, powerless, unable to escape.

She pushed harder, feeling the butterflies flutter, feeling her rabbit heart thump louder. She shoved with her legs, but his thighs held her tight and her gasping made it hard to think, hard to breath, before she was suddenly laying on the ground and her fingers dug into his shirt, pulling him onto her. 

She wrapped him in her thighs, felt the tension in his arms and chest as she clawed his shirt off. Their lips met, hungrily dancing over one another as he began to fumble with the buttons of her shirt.

A piercing ring halted the lovers in their tracks. Nino’s phone vibrated from the table, emitting a cheerful tune. 

‘From hate (from hate),

To love, (to love),

I can’t keep up,

With these emotions that change’

Nino’s hand slammed onto the phone with the force of a hand grenade. She drew it close, lips puckered tight… and then loosened as she saw the cheery strawberry haired portrait smiling up at her. Ichika Nakano had her eyes shut, short hair pulled into a pair of tiny pigtails braids, and a grin that took up almost her entire face.

Nino tapped the answer button, holding the phone up to her ear. Fuutarou jostled her, still stuck between her legs. She didn’t let him go.

“Hello?” she said into the phone.

“Baby sister!” a bright voice came back to her. “How are you?”

The voice actually shook Nino. It had been so long since she’d heard Ichika, since she’d heard any of her sisters’ voices. She’d have remained that way had Fuutarou not dipped his head lower and planted a wet kiss on her neck.

“Aha,” Nino laughed, putting a hand around his head, her legs tightening. “Ichika, hey! Are you in town?”

“Just touched down. I was thinking of getting some airport food, but I’m excited for lunch. Have you heard from the others?”

“Not yet.” Nino bit her lip as Fuutarou’s kiss strengthened, his teeth lightly biting her neck. She could barely keep herself quiet, tightening her fist in his hair.

“Ahh, I see. Well, I’ll be renting a car. Want me to stop by, pick you up or something?”

His teeth bit heavier, lips suckling harder. “N-no no, I’m okay really! It’s not too far from our house, I’ve already got a train ticket too. Yup.”

“You okay…? You sound nervous.”

“M-me? Ahaha,” Nino bent at the waist, tugging him back and then pushing him deeper. “I’ve never been nervous in my life!”

“Nino, you know you don’t have to hide nothing from your big sister. Tell me what’s up.”

She began to poke Fuutarou in the ribs with her knees, but that only made him more playful. His hand slid up her shirt, squeezing her softly. “Well, uhhah, I’ve got some stuff that I wanna talk to you guys about today is all. You know, cause it’s-” she cut off, teeth mashing down as he stroked her in a sensitive area. “It’s been so long! It’s nice to have the day off all together!”

“Yeah, I’ve been so busy working on projects. It feels like we’re hopping from one thing to the next these days. Gets confusing.”

And just like that, all the sexual tension shot out of Nino. She stopped struggling beneath her husband, which made him immediately take notice. “What do you mean?”

“Oh! You know, working! Involved in a contract phase with a team right now, and it feels like it’s just taking forever. There’s so much more paperwork.”

Nino held up her phone. She hit the home screen button and then tapped Instagram. “Oh really? What’s it for?” she asked as her account loaded up.

“You know, filming stuff. It’s nothing too big.”

Nino tapped in the search bar. Ichika Nakano: Last post four months ago. A picture of her sister wearing a white sweater and watering a pink flower. ‘Taking a mental health break from social media for a little while! You all stay safe! ♥♥♥♥♥’

Nino hummed, feeling put-off. “Well, if you need to talk about it-”

“Baaah, I’m fine!” And she could hear Ichika’s forced smile coming through. “Hey, hopefully this one better than playing a corpse being dissected right?” she laughed.

Nino frowned. “That’s not being fair to yourself. There’s a lot of big actors that started as corpses!”

“I don’t know about that,” she snorted. “And besides, I’ve been doing this for a few years now. I know what I’m about, but this one seems different is all.”

She sounded hesitant, anxious. Nino immediately assumed the worst. “It’s not… like… porn, is it?”

Fuutarou raised up above her, giving her an incredulous look. “What??” he whispered.

There was near silence from the other end until an explosion of laughter rocked Nino’s ear. “Ahahaha, why do you ask? Afraid someone’s gonna see my body and think it’s yours?”

“I-Ichika, that’s not what I-”

“Reeeelaaax, Mrs. Ue-su-gi,” she said broke the last name up as if she were bobbing from side to side as she said it. “I’m not gonna corrupt your image. Not that I haven’t gotten offered, but I was pretty sure you and Miku might try to kill me if I accepted something like that.”

“Well,” Nino shrugged. “You’re not wrong.”

“No way,” and now Ichika sounded more familiar, more sensual, and in a way, sleepier. “I only want one person to ever see me like that. You know? I’m jealous of you for that.”

Nino blushed, unsure of what to say.

A sigh came through the phone. “Not like… ugh, that came out wrong. Not over him, okay? Oh God, don’t tell him I said that.”

Nino blinked up at Fuutarou. “Can you hear her?” she asked out loud.

He smirked. 

From the other side she could hear Ichika starting to moan. “Noooo, not like that! Uesugi, you get your mind out of the gutter! You’re not even that handsome!”

“Hey!” Nino hopped in “He’s extremely handsome.” Then, seeing his cocky look growing wider she added, “When he wants to be!”

He chuckled. “Oh, thanks.”

“Is his baby sister still cutting his hair?”

“No, I do that for him now.”

“Oooof course you do,” Ichika snickered. “I’m sure that’s not all you tend to either.”

“Oh whatever!” Nino blushed. “I’ll meet you at the restaurant, jerk.”

“Love you too, ‘little rabbit!’”

Nino flicked the phone off, growling at the screen. She released her husband from her legs.

“Well, it’s good to hear she hasn’t changed.”

Nino frowned, remembering the anxiety. “Hmm… Maybe. Probably. It seemed like there’s something she was keeping back.”

“To be fair, so were you.”

“That’s not fair at all! I just want to tell them at the same time…” she took his coffee mug and placed it on the table, unconsciously concerned with knocking it over. “It’s been too long, there’s just so much to talk about now. And then everything with Papa too-”

“Hey, like you said. Let’s focus on the now, right?” He tilted his head toward the bedroom, leaning back on his haunches. “Want me to help you pick out an outfit?”

“Yes, please,” she intoned, holding up her hands and grasping for his. He struggled weakly to lift her up to her feet, causing her to look at his arms with taunting eyes. “What’s wrong? Am I too heavy for you?”

He squinted at her coldly. “No,” he said before walking to the bedroom.

She sauntered after him. “What’s gonna happen when I get further along? You’re not gonna be able lift me off of you anymore.”

“I’ll always be able to carry you.”

The way he said it was as solid as stone, and it alleviated a fear Nino hadn’t known she was holding. She pictured herself about twenty pounds softer around her tummy, surely near the end of her pregnancy, leaning happily on her husband’s moderately stronger arm as he flexed. It was a thought that comforted her immensely.

******************************************************************************

Nino sighed, walking through the turnstile at the train station. A part of her wished Fuutarou could have come, even though she knew exactly why he couldn’t. An unconscious hand fell to her tummy, rubbing it. If she didn’t know any better, she’d begin to think she was feeling nervous.

That worry was quickly quieted when her belly rumbled hungrily as the scent of food wafted up from the marketplace. She descended the stairs of the station and pressed along with the crowd, passing by a fast food restaurant before entering the main market street. Multiple open-air shops dotted the sides, but there were a small number of businesses that had fully accessible buildings. 

As she walked down the street, she was greeted with the enticing scent of freshly cooked pork and beef wafting up from a nearby stand. She spotted a familiar chocolate top hat, remembering what Dad had said about that new candy shop. She noticed a short, brown-haired girl and a serious faced boy exiting with large purple bags, realizing the store must now officially be open.

As they passed, Nino’s belly rumbled hungrily, picking up the scent of chocolate. She looked down and poked herself. “Would you be quiet?” she asked herself, then realized she really was talking to the baby inside. “N-not you… Sweetie… Um… Ugh, oh gosh…” her shoulders slumped and she allowed herself to glance around at all the delectable food. Her eyes caught on a very small café where a portly young woman was serving donuts to another pair of schoolgirls.

Other scents mixed into the air. Fresh fish, several spices, and a hint of barbeque. She scowled at herself, feeling bad for feeling so hungry. What was happening to her?! A breakfast of six pancakes and nine strips of bacon should have done more than satisfy her, but now she felt as if she hadn’t even eaten.

Nino slid her thumb into her skirt, skating along the curve of her middle. She was feeling more than a tad upset with how poorly the loose garment now fit. “So much for staying at a size five…” she grumbled to herself. 

Her phone buzzed from inside of her purse. She moved the bag, withdrawing the device and swiping her finger along the unlock screen in the shape of the number two.

The family group chat instantly opened. At the top of the screen ‘The Nakano 5!’ was displayed. For some reason, the group’s picture stood out to her now. Perhaps because she was going to see each of the girls within it so soon.

It was a photograph taken at Nino’s wedding. She wondered if it was the last time they had their picture taken together, and that slight worried flutter returned to her lungs.

Ichika Nakano writes: ‘Hurry up, slowpokes! I’m getting bored!’

Nino sighed, looking up for her destination. She spotted it down the street and typed quickly.

Nino Uesugi writes: ‘I just got to the market. I’ll be inside in a moment.’

She then swiped up on the phone, pulling out the camera function. Her dark red cardigan mixed appealingly with her dark red hair, contrasting with a blue shirt and skirt combination that matched her pretty blue eyes. Her makeup was all good, her long lashes looked fine and well cared for. Her hair was held in its familiar pigtails, simple and easy to care for, looking nice with her colorful black and blue braid… except maybe it was just a little too long now? Not really pigtails anymore, as it reached past her chest. She would need to get some length chopped off in the back if she were going to keep tying it off to the sides.

“Ugh,” she grunted, tapping the home screen on her phone with her newly painted nails. “Why does this have to be so difficult? Just… go in.” 

She didn’t move.

Instead she opened her phone back up, trying to figure out what was bothering her so much about the idea. She opened the group chat and supposed that Ichika must be the only one there given the lack of responses. 

That made Nino feel better, and she demanded to know why. She tapped the profile picture of their group and saw them up close.

Ichika, Miku, Nino, Yotsuba, Itsuki. All arranged in a row, all wearing white dresses, all holding a bouquet of flowers, all with their hair done in exactly the same way. Most people would have issues telling them apart… well, except for Itsuki, who’d gained nearly thirty pounds before the wedding and caused them to hurriedly buy out a woman’s fashion department in hopes of finding substitutes.

The curviest quintuplet’s tummy showed through the dress, indenting into Itsuki’s belly button. She looked like she knew it did, glancing nervously away from the camera in a very bashful way. Nino remembered how she hadn’t wanted to take the picture, and how she had to threaten that she wouldn’t let her sister have any cake if she didn’t join them. Then she remembered berating Itsuki because she had folded so fast with the bribe to her sweet tooth. She hadn’t seen Itsuki in nearly two years. She hoped she was well.

Ichika, the eldest of the girls, was wearing hair extensions to try and match Nino’s length. She held her bouquet like a girl that was confident in holding a wedding arrangement, which immediately set her apart from everyone else. The girl was an actress, as relaxed as if she had just gotten a massage. When Nino looked at herself, she appeared as if she could barely stand. She hadn’t seen Ichika in nearly two years. She hoped she was well.

Miku… 

And there was the start. There was a strengthening of the flutter inside Nino’s tummy, a jump in the rabbit’s pulse.

Miku had her hair tied up into a deceivingly short bun. Unlike Itsuki, whose pudgy body meant they didn’t have to worry about everything else, Miku’s was close but not quite matching. What set her apart was her expression. Something was… wrong, with her eyes. To anyone else, Miku’s eye would have looked calm, but now Nino could see the effort in that gaze. It was a deceptive coolness that didn’t match the rest of her body, nor even her stance. A thousand-mile stare hiding something behind the icy blue stare. Still, she hoped she was well.

And then there was Yotsuba, and all the butterflies began flapping around Nino’s uncomfortable tum. The little bunny’s heart hopped along when she saw the stain of Yotsuba’s ear to ear smile, beneath eyes that looked as far away as Miku’s. It gave her toothy grin a false appearance. 

And that had been the last time Nino had seen Yotsuba. Nearly three years had gone by, and she hadn’t met with her most energetic sister at all. She’d visited the rest of her sisters a few times that first year. Sure, it had been quite some time since she’d seen them now, but at least they messaged every once in a while. The only sister she ever actually spent time around now was Raiha. Everyone else was just so busy, Nino included.

But Yotsuba… The day of her wedding was the last time Nino had even heard her voice. It made Nino stir uncomfortably, looking at herself in the glass windows of the restaurant. The idea that the first time she’d see her sister, she’d be telling her she was going to be an aunt.

She dropped her phone into her purse, banging on either of her cheeks rapidly. “Gaaaah!” she blushed, “Stop it stop it stop it! Shut up, you’re worrying over nothing! She’s your sister, and she’s coming, isn’t she?! She doesn’t…” her words cut off, her voice growing softer. “She doesn’t…”

Nino hoped that her sisters didn’t hate her.

Her phone buzzed. She opened it.

Yotsuba Nakano writes: ‘Sorry! I’m not too far, on the expressway!’

Without thought, Nino’s fingers mashed on the screen.

Nino Uesugi writes: ‘Put your phone down! Don’t text and drive, idiot!!!’

She slammed her phone into her purse and stomped towards the entrance.

A sign hung above the door proclaiming “Sumo Sushi!” in bright red, white, and blue. It had been Itsuki’s suggestion, lunch together at a sushi buffet. It was the first time Nino had even heard of the restaurant, but the thought of a buffet had excited her tummy more than she’d like to admit.

A picture of a fat man reminded Nino that her clothes wouldn’t even fit in another few months, and she’d have to invest in some maternity dresses. A haunting growl from her belly then made her worry it might only be another few weeks.

“You better be a girl,” she whispered down at her tummy. “That way, I can complain to you for making me fat… Eh?”

She noticed something else when she was entered the building. Pinned to the wall was a square of black paper, scarlet cursive written above five golden stars. ‘Rated Five Stars By Famous Food Critic May!’

Nino crossed her arms beneath her breasts. “What, is she just giving those out now?!” she demanded the corkboard.

“Ermm… excuse me, Miss,” a voice bade.

She turned around, arms still folded. Soft yellow lights hung on the walls, illuminating fine black wallpaper that was decorated with red cherry blossoms. A lucky cat greeted her from atop the stewardess station, where a young Korean woman now bowed. “May I please assist you?”

“Yes. Five, for Ues-” she broke off, closing her eyes in a grimace and feeling like an idiot. “Sorry. For Nakano.” 

The young girl jumped, “Oh, yes! Right this way, ma’am!” she said.

She followed the girl through a round opening into the restaurant proper. There was a soft chord of smooth music playing from a live band within, and a gentle hubbub of busywork as staff members dipped and moved through tables in the somberly lit room.

A group of businesswomen were hovering over the sushi bar. They were laughing far too drunkenly for an afternoon meal.

Nino instantly disliked the place.

She saw Ichika before her sister saw them, her short strawberry hair bright even in this gloom. She was wearing a simple black dress that came down to her thighs, along with a pair of black stockings that covered long pale legs. The tinted darkness made her look almost like she could shine.

“Here you are,” the girl presented the five chairs at the table, each placemat set simply with a napkin and a package of chopsticks. “Ma’am, would you like something to drink?”

The actress looked up from a black menu, her expression instantly turning into an easy grin. “I told you,” Ichika laughed, “you shouldn’t call a young lady ma’am. But yes, I’ll have a bottle of plum saké, please.”

“Y-yes, sorry ma’a-” the stewardess broke off. “S-sorry…” 

Ichika glanced over to Nino and winked. “I’ll forgive you, but my baby sister might not be so nice.”

“You’re like 30 seconds older than me,” Nino huffed, although she was unable to keep from smirking. “Which I guess would make you an old woman, wouldn’t it?”

“Ohoo?” her elder responded, showing her teeth. Then she rose up from her seat and came to Nino, spreading her arms wide for a hug. Nino responded, wrapping her arms around her reflection. “I missed you, little sister.”

Even Ichika’s perfume smelled pretty. “I missed you too,” she tightened the hug, feeling moderately more confident now. She sighed, releasing the hold, but finding her lips were still up at the edges. “How are things going?” she asked.

“Like I said, busy.” Ichika shrugged. “It’s mostly up to the agent, but I’ve got to sit around while he reads all these papers and talks with the lawyers.”

“Lawyers? What is this project even about?”

“*Ahehem* Umm, excuse me, sorry.” Both girls turned on the stewardess, who was swaying from side to side obviously uncomfortable. “Ma’am, would you like a glass of… oh, shoot!” she frowned. “Miss! Sorry, would you like a glass for the bottle too? I’m sorry.”

Nino lifted an eyebrow, breathing easily at the small girl’s cute display. It reminded her of some of her girls when they first started out, and was enough to make her finally stop comparing the establishment to her café. Ichika’s presence reassured her purpose.

An unconscious hand went to her tummy, motherly instinct protecting the baby inside. “Not for me, thank you. The others probably will, but I’ll just have…” she’d intended to say water, but a sudden craving tainted her taste buds, “Do you have any Mitsuya Cider?”

“The ginger ale drink? Yes, we do!”

“Ooo! I’ll have some of that too!” called a happy new declaration. Nino instantly recognized Itsuki’s voice and spun around to greet her sister with a grin.

The girl behind her was not Itsuki.

Sure, she was wearing tiny pink glasses and little golden stars in her hair, with a long ahoge strand curving up into the air. Just like Itsuki did. But this girl was not Itsuki. Itsuki was chubby.

This girl was fat. No, she was more than fat. This girl looked like she was a pillow that had been enchanted to walk. A mountain of marshmallow that was sculpted to look like Itsuki. Moisturized skin that looked practically sun-starved covered layers of jiggling fluff. Her tight red sweater clung over a tubby tummy and well-rounded hips as she approached the group. Her skirt embraced her waist, clinging around her plump bottom while flowing down to her ankles. Even with the looser clothing, very little of her figure was left to the imagination.

“Hooooly cow,” Ichika said, coming around Nino’s side as she tried to pick her mouth off the floor. “Itsuki?”

The marshmallow golem blushed. “G-geez…” she tapped her fingers together. “You two are looking at me like I’m a ghost or something, what?”

“N-not a ghost,” Ichika stumbled. “You’re just… Errm…”

Nino stepped forward, throwing her arms around her sister. She felt her arms tightening, unable to think of what to say as she took in just how soft the girl was. The marshmallow made a noise of surprise before hugging Nino in return, and then surprise became discomfort as Nino’s grip became stronger. “N-Nino…” she hissed. “Y-you’re hugging too tight!”

Nino took in a deep breath, smelling the scent of freshly baked cookies on the girl. She stepped back, put her hands on her hips and frowned. “How the heck did you get so fat?!” she demanded.

“Eheh… ehehhh. Right into it, eh?” the girl sweat, rubbing her hand through her long red hair. “W-well, umm, eating a lot, I guess.”

Ichika stepped forward, poking her tummy. The girl’s bright blush redoubled, but she didn’t say anything when Ichika pinched her stomach and jiggled it up and then down. “Are you really Itsuki?” she asked.

“Who else would I be? Stop messing with me,” Itsuki laughed. Even her laugh sounded huskier now, her neckline covered in unhealthy fat. “I saw you texted everyone. Where are the others?”

Nino blinked at her. She was looking over her sister’s body so rapidly that she felt like her eyes were spinning in their sockets, committing every detail to memory. Her bare arms were so fluffy that they each had their own roll of fat, while her tummy looked like she was smuggling feathers beneath her ill-fitting clothes.

“Oh, great…” Nino crossed her arms, pouting at her own belly, which now grumbled as the scent of cookies clung to her nostrils. “I can’t believe that that’s what I’m gonna look like. Unbelievable. I’m gonna kill him.”

“What??” Ichika asked, confused. “What are you talking about?”

Nino stomped her foot. “Nothing!” Her craving for comfort food drove her now. “Let’s just eat or something, I’m starving, okay?”

“Shouldn’t we wait for the others?”

“Well, it is all you can eat,” the tubby sister offered. “We can get seconds when they finally get here.”

“That you are agreeing with me is not encouraging! You’re lucky you’ll get firsts!” Nino leaned forward, jabbing her belly. “I can’t believe that you’ve put on so much. What are you, 100kg?”

“120,” came the heavy response with a heavier pout. “D-don’t bully me… I’m 25, I can eat what I want!” 

Their server popped out of a nearby hole with a platter of drinks. “Excuse me, ladies.” She set the table with five glasses and the bottle of saké, which Ichika immediately advanced on and poured into her cup, taking a sweeping shot. The waitress left two soda bottles in front of the spots obviously intended for the other two.

Ichika refilled her glass before handing it to Nino. Nino continued to frown at their portly companion, who was melting like gooey marshmallow beneath her intense gaze. Nino took the glass and offered it out, catching the surprised look of her sisters. “Here,” she instructed. “Drink this.”

Itsuki blinked down at the glass before taking it and nervously sipping at the top. She looked almost like she was shuddering from the bitter taste, and Nino felt herself reassured. 

“Alright, give me that you,” she held her hand out. “You never were good at handling alcohol.”

Itsuki blinked at her before her lips pulled into a deep pout. Almost rancorous, she tossed her head back and downed the shot completely. She came back up with a noise of disgust, covering her mouth with her wrist and blinking harshly. “D-don’t you have anything sweeter?” she asked the server.

“W-well, we have some Nigori-zake, but that’s a dessert dr-”

“That, please,” she handed the cup back to Ichika, and the server bowed before disappearing.

“I knew I never should have let you start eating out…” Nino sighed before moving forward and taking Itsuki by the arm. “Come on, fatty. Show me which dishes are the best.”

“I-I’m not that fat,” Itsuki mumbled, though she allowed herself to be pulled along.

“Yes you are,” Nino hissed under her breath as they neared the buffet. 

Nino took two plates, passing one to Itsuki. Each one was massive and more than a little bit heavy. Plenty of room to carry all of their bounty.

Smaller plates that were packed with sushi were divided in long rows along the bar. They sat atop of shredded ice beneath a plastic guard. Customers picked individual sets and loaded the contents onto their own plate, replacing the now empty one onto a rotating belt below. 

The pieces were, indeed, sumo sized. Or, as Nino harshly relabeled inside of her head, Itsuki sized. Some of the plates had up to six of the packages of rice and fish, each as wide as a stack of fat silver coins.

Nino’s eyes were as big as her sister’s stomach, her pregnant belly rumbling hungrily in a way that was entirely disconnected from her brain. She began loading her plate even as her instincts made her mouth work on automatic.

“Which only just makes me nervous for when Miku shows up,” she said as she loaded a pile of seaweed wrapped tuna onto her plate. Next was a pack of wild salmon and avocados, which she decked with a hearty helping of soy sauce.

“Miku…?” the other girl asked.

“Yup. You know her. Quiet girl? Works as a baker? If you got this fat, imagine what Miku must be like.” 

She noticed Ichika still back at the table, taking another shot of the saké before finally following them over.

“W-well… I’m sure Miku’s on her feet all day,” Itsuki was looking down at the buffet. “She’s probably not… that fat.”

“Oh no,” Nino said as she swiped up a plate of fried crab rolls. “She’s definitely huge. I’m sure she spends all day at work stuffing her face with cookies.”

She put a special emphasis on the last word and looked up from her loaded plate, glaring into Itsuki’s downward facing eyes. The girl was shuddering nervously, having not touched a single roll.

“What’s wrong, Itsuki? Aren’t you hungry?”

The girl swallowed.

Nino felt her eyes widen, her glare sharpening as she rounded the table towards her sister. “You know, I can understand putting on some pounds, sampling your own creations. Fact is, I only just lost the twenty-five pounds I gained after opening the café, and now I’m about to gain them right back.”

Itsuki was visibly vibrating now, doing everything not to look into Nino’s wide eyes.

“But pretending you’re someone that you’re not just because you’re nervous that you gained some weight? That would be absolutely pathetic, wouldn’t it?”

Itsuki finally looked over to her, sweat dribbling down the side of her round cheeks. Darker red hair was beginning to hang loose from beneath the deep red. She looked like she was about to bolt.

Nino sighed. She put her stacked plate down on the buffet table before wrapping her arms around her sister. She was light with her touch, nuzzling her cheek against hers. She swam in the enticing scent of baking. “Did you think I didn’t love you anymore?” she asked.

“No!” her sister stammered. “N-no… I-it wasn’t… I was…”

Nino reached up and pulled back on the wig.

Miku’s deep blush was covering her whole face, shame coloring her like a round cherry. 

Nino tried to give her a comforting smile. “I’m pregnant. Dummy.”

The words didn’t seem to register for a moment. Then Miku’s eyes suddenly went wide, then wider still, sharply turning on Nino’s and slamming into her gaze. They searched her, looking for the lie, looking for the hidden meaning, and then nearly collapsed as she raced forward and struck Nino like a steam train. The fake glasses fell off her face.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so, so sorry.”

Ichika had come up behind her and was now looking at them very nervously, a light blush coloring her cheeks. Nino smiled and nodded at her, trying to reassure her as Miku squeezing her. “H-hey, not too tight,” she chuckled.

Miku bounced back as if Nino were rubber. Her long straight hair was knotted from the wig in a few places, making it look a bit disheveled. “O-oh! Oh I’m sorry!”

Nino stepped forward, passing her fingers through Miku’s hair. “Miku,” she whispered, looking into her sister’s lovely blue eyes. “Never be afraid of who you are. And hey, like I said,” she giggled, patting her own belly. “At least you’re giving me a preview of things to come.”

Miku looked to be stuck between pouting, crying, and laughing. “I can’t believe how bad my skills have gotten…” she lamented. “I-I didn’t think… But it wasn’t t-to hide myself. I-I thought it’d be, umm… funny? B-because Itsuki and I… We… Umm…”

“Itsuki is what?” came a new cheerful voice.

The three girls turned around to see a fourth reflection, although this one was shaped by a funhouse mirror. A woman the size of a walrus standing in front of the table, wearing bright glasses that matched her long, long, long red hair. She wore a cherry red top with tiny noodle straps cutting into her fatty shoulders. A humongous belly was divided in two, tucked into a pair of black pants. A golden zipper strained down from her center. Fatter hips and chunky thighs billowed out on her sides.

She wasn’t a pear. She was a church bell. Larger than the fat man on the logo at the door, Itsuki’s body bounced as if thick gelatin had been piled onto her frame.

Ichika, who was now gazing drunkenly at her hand as if to make sure she wasn’t seeing double, looked almost miniature next to the fluffy woman. Itsuki looked like she could fit two of her sisters inside the circumference of one single thigh, her waistline as round as five normal girls! “Oh, good! You guys already started? I love this place!” she sounded excitedly and reached out to take Nino’s abandoned plate. “Is this one for me?”

Nino looked from the blubber-covered reflection back to the portly one, from the walrus back to the seal. She tried to say something but it caught in her throat, her eyes rapidly blinking, mind searching for a figure. At least 200kg, maybe more.

The blubbery baker gulped. “S-she’s my taste tester,” she said, not making eye-contact. 

“Huh? Ooo!” Itsuki trundled over, her body so fat that Nino could hear the girl’s thighs mashing against each other as she walked, the fabric of her jeans passing over itself as if attempting to start a fire. “Do you have something new for me to try, Miku? I can share it with the students and get more feedback!”

“You’ll just eat it all again…”

Itsuki laughed, unaffected. She had dimples from her fluffy grin, and a smooth double chin that was much heavier than her sister’s. “Maybe,” she admitted, tapping Miku’s belly. “But I’ll give your bake shop another review!”

“Bribery…”

Itsuki seemed unabashed. “How about you, Nino?” she asked. “It’s been a little while since I visited the café. Want me to stop in, give the blog an update?”

Nino swallowed before, at the top of her lungs, she screamed. “WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU TWO?!?”

Ichika coughed from behind. “Trust me, the view is worse from back here,” she said, looking at both obese girls’ butts.

“Very hilarious,” Itsuki scowled, hips waggling as she turned. In profile, her sagging tummy rolled over the tops of her legs, and Nino felt her own softening thighs tingle empathetically. “I’ll have you know that- hey!”

Nino swiped her plate back from Itsuki’s sausage hands and stomped back to the buffet. She doubled the contents, shoveling several pieces into her mouth as she went. She used nearly an entire container of soy sauce, muttering loudly at her belly about how she was going to go home and rip her husband’s throat out for not thinking to get condoms on her frikin birthday, and now absolutely positive that her three-week-old parasite was planning to turn her into a food balloon.

“Umm, is everything okay?” Miku turned to see that their stewardess had approached, looking nervously at Nino as she tore through the buffet, stacking her plate with roll upon roll.

“She’ll be fine… umm… did you get the Nigori-zake?”

“Yes, miss…”

“With garden shears!!” Nino smashed another handful of rolls into her mouth.

“Geez, what’s her problem?” Itsuki muttered.

“She’s pregnant,” Miku told the others.

“Really?!” Itsuki hugged herself, bouncing up and down. “We’re gonna be aunties?!?”

“No way!” Ichika beamed.

“O-oh… oh my,” the stewardess hurried away. “Umm, congratulations! If you need anything else, please ask!”

“Ibiot! ‘Oroon! Shhtoopd wolf!!!” She moved past them, stomping with Itsuki level weight and back to the table. She pulled her chair out, slammed down in her seat and clapped her hands. “THANKS FOR THE FOOD!” she screamed before she began shoveling food past her lips, not even waiting to finish one roll before moving on to the next, like cattle in human form.

Ichika coughed, the light suddenly fading from her grin. “I-I’m just… uh…” she looked down at Miku and Itsuki’s tummies, than at Nino’s ferocious eating. “I’m just gonna have the one…” she said, grabbing a tiny plate and heading back to the table.

Itsuki turned to Miku. “So, did you try the costume?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“And did it work?”

“I thought she was going to slap me. I don’t know if Ichika recognized me immediately, but she Nino right through it.”

“Oh…” Itsuki rubbed her thick chin. “I wonder if Yotsuba…” she waved dismissively. “Well, anyway, she can hardly blame us for testing them! She’s always so busy running her shop, and Ichika’s been out of town for so long. Maybe now those three will stop ignoring us and come help you cook Christmas dinner!”

Miku gave her the flattest, coldest stare she could manage.

“What??” Itsuki nearly melted into a pile of butter beneath the chill of that stare.

She then hopped, a great feat for a girl her size, as someone tapped her on her chunky shoulder. “E-excuse me, sorry,” a muscular girl with sunburnt skin greeted. She had huge blue eyes and wore a set of braids in her red hair beneath a dark ribbon tied at the front. “The receptionist sent me over here? I think she might have made a mistake… I’m looking for my sisters.” 

The girl stood up straighter as Itsuki and Miku looked her over for the first time in years. She grinned, poking her cheeks with both fingers. 

“Have you seen anyone that looks like…” The grin faltered, eyes suddenly becoming impossibly wide. “EHHHHHH?!”