Fat Stacks (Patreon)

Chai settled into the padded seat of her kitchen table, unfurling the paper bag. The scent of syrup wafted from it on the early morning breeze. She leaned forwards on the edge of her chair and inhaled the perfect aura of breakfast.

She began humming to the tune of the morning birds outside while she removed the contents in their wrapping. Two sandwiches, tightly wrapped with practiced hands, of sausage and egg between two buns filled with tiny pockets of syrup were the girl’s morning bounty. She curled her hands around her first, felt the warmth of the sandwich spread over her fingers, and smiled. She spoke, her sing song voice ringing like bells the fine air, “Itadakimasu~” before chomping down upon her morning meal.

A pocket of syrup gushed into her mouth and she tore the piece free with a fulfilled sigh. The egg and sausage were slathered in the fine maple syrup, creating the perfect sensation of warmth and stroking Chai’s appetite. It was hot, tangy, and oh so tasty. Her short legs swung like pendulums through the air, her mind simply lost in the taste of the meal.

It only took four more bites before the sandwich disappeared, sliding down her throat and into her waiting tummy. She placed a hand upon the small curve her figure gave her when she sat. Heedless of the slope of her pooching tummy, she focused on the warmth of the sandwich as it settled inside her. She felt a kickback of air in her belly and put a fist to her mouth, lightly coughing out a small burp.

She hummed to herself again, bobbing along as she unfurled her second sandwich. Her eyes darted to the nearby fridge, a desire for a large glass of milk taking her. She passed the thought for the moment, she was hungrier than she was thirsty, and she could get something to drink in just a minute. She wrapped her hands around her prize and bit down.

She finished half of the sandwich before the birds outside could be heard flapping away. Chai had been listening to them, and noticed when they took flight. She rolled off of her kitchen stool, her compact frame plonking down onto the ground, and approached her kitchen window. She could hear the sound of an approaching engine as she stood on her toes to peer over the counter and through the window and felt her heart flutter.

“Oh!” she said to herself, tossing the remains of her sandwich onto the counter and hurrying to the front door. She saw the shadow of a large dark vehicle pull up in front of her house and thought she might feel the engine shaking her body if she wasn’t shaking already.

Quickly, Chai dashed to a nearby mirror. She checked herself out, turning each side of her face. No marks, no blemishes, her face moisturizer was obviously working. She bared her teeth at her reflection, aware of the sudden silence as the engine cut off. No, no food in her teeth. She checked her outfit for marks, picking at her shoulders with her forefinger and thumb to straighten the decal of the kitten on her front. She pouted down at herself when she went to adjust her pants. She was wearing yoga pants today, she was going to look so lazy! Oh well, she huffed, there was nothing she could do about it.

With a last look over herself, Chai ran her fingers through her long silky hair. She adjusted her part, inspected it, decided it was too perfect, and messed it up, before rushing to the door and throwing it wide. She felt her cheeks perk upwards into an unstoppable grin while a man as large as a bear attempted to close her front gate behind him softly with his immense combat boot. The man’s head whipped towards the sound of the opening door and he nearly dropped the cardboard box he was carrying but saved it by stumbling and scooping it up.

“Emmet!” Chai shouted, hurrying down the step of her porch and onto the walkway.

She rushed the broadside of the guy as he fiddled with holding the box, which was bigger than even his muscular chest, and wrapped her arms round him in a hug. “Agh, hey,” he laughed, his deep voice shaking with a baritone chuckle. “Hey, hey, you’re gonna knock me over.”

Chai held tight, clutching her fingers into his gray tank top. She happily sighed, just holding him like that, and nuzzled against him when one of his paws came down to gently pet her head. She could smell his body wash, something his parents sent from America, and he was even wearing his cologne. It always made Chai feel so relaxed, just being near him made her want to lay down and cuddle.

“Hey there, little lady,” Emmet whispered his pet name for her. He reached down, wrapping his arm around her, and lowering his head onto hers. He squeezed her round her shoulders, and Chai laughed as she felt herself lifted a couple of inches from the ground as if she were light as a pillow.

Emmet’s chin had stubble growing, he mustn’t have shaved this morning, and its tickled Chai’s cheek. She giggled and pressed up to him despite it. “I missed you,” she said into his ear.

“I missed you too,” he said with a laugh. He stepped back, and Chai released him, looking up to her partner. “What are you doing here, though?” he asked through a smile. “I was bringing this stuff by to surprise you.”

Chai giggled at the man’s question. “I live here,” she said, stating the obvious. “Did your ship come in early?”

Emmet raised an eyebrow. “No?” he said, confused. “You told me you were busy this mornin’, so I got some stuff for you for when you got home.”

“Busy??” Chai asked. “Oh, wait… you brought me more Oreos, didn’t you…?” she said, trying to hide the hopefulness in her question.

Emmet laughed, tilting up the box to hide it from view. “Chai,” he said with his good-natured grin, “you do know you were planin’ on meeting Lilly for breakfast today, yeah?”

Chai stood there for a moment, as if frozen in time, before turning and sprinting into the house. “Crap!” she screamed. “Crap, crap, crap, crap!”

Emmet chuckled to himself, following the girl into her home. He had to squeeze himself down to get though the door, but he managed. Inside, Chai had torn off her kitten t-shirt and replaced it with a closer fitting white one, tossing a black shawl on top. Emmet had a choice opportunity to admire the short stack as she sped down the stairs, each sharp impact sending a rather pleasing effect through her soft smooth figure.

“Have you seen my necklace?!” she shouted to him over her shoulder as she raced into the front room.

“What? No,” Emmet guffawed, watching as the miniature woman tore her favorite cushion from her couch.

“Aha!” she said, scooping up a bit of silver chain. She unhooked it, scooped it around her neck, and re-hooked it, them hurried off, leaving behind the messy couch.

Emmet shook his head and went to straighten it while her heavy footfalls pounded on the hardwood of the kitchen.

Chai came hurrying back around the corner, jabbering quickly, “I gotta run, I’ll be back in a little bit! If you want, there’s some breakfast on the counter you can have!”

“Alright,” he grinned. “See you in a bit.”

Chai hurried to the doorway, stopped, and hurried back. She stood beneath Emmet, hands behind her back, pivoting. She raised her hand and gestured with her finger.

Emmet obliged, leaning down to her. Her amber colored eyes shined. “I missed you,” she said, and kissed him on the cheek.

Then she was gone, flying from the house like a woman half her size. Emmet shook his head and laughed again. That girl sure could be a handful. He palmed his box of treats, taking them into the kitchen and thunking it down on the counter. He began unloading it. He placed the three packages of Oreos side by side, one double stuffed, one vanilla cookies, and one regular. In front of them, he placed the package of ‘fine Arkansas chocolates,’ as his mom called the stuff she bought at Fannie May. He adjusted the ribbon on top and made sure his mother’s carefully written Japanese gift-tag was visible. It read, ‘For Miss Ti’. He unloaded a few gummy snacks that he’d picked up at the store as well, and scooped out one little Poké Ball that contained hard candy pocket monsters that he’d gotten for himself.

It was then that he noticed the ‘breakfast,’ Chai had left for him on the counter. One bite worth of her egg and sausage sandwich. Emmet rolled his eyes, chortled, and ate the morsel.

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Lilly sat at a table for two at Café Gram, gently sipping upon her tea. She hummed when she placed the now empty cup upon her platter and sighed back into her chair. She anticipated going home and taking her shirt off, it’d begun to feel rather tight around her middle. She’d knew she should have changed up her morning dresswear, but it’d been so long since she’d met someone for breakfast.

Well, she supposed, it had still been so long, as her companion hadn’t arrived. She reached down to her bag and perused through with her fingers until they found the familiar shape of her mobile. She took it from its pouch and pressed in the visual assistance button on its side.

“The time is eleven-forty AM,” the automated voice proclaimed. “You have no new messages.”

Lilly sighed.

“How was it?” the waitress asked.

“Oh,” Lilly turned. She hadn’t heard her approach. “It was lovely,” Lilly replied. “I was very excited to finally have your pancakes,” she went on, “they were featured on a radio piece for one of the stations I follow, and a stack of pancakes as thick as doughnuts… I simply had to try them.”

The waitress laughed, “Well, thank you. We should advertise more though, apparently. We managed to undersell today.”

Lilly tilted her head. “Oh?”

The waitress didn’t speak for a moment before she quickly spoke. “I’m sorry, I didn’t even think. It’s on the signs and I didn’t tell you, I’m very sorry.”

Lilly raised a hand to her cheek. “My, my, there’s no need to apologize. Many locations are not used to dealing with blind customers on a daily basis.” She folded her hands in front of her. “What’s on the signs, then?”

“Well, we only serve our premium pancakes three times a day, and only make a maximum of twenty servings.”

“Really? Goodness, that few?”

“Mhmm, but today we only served about four so far,” the waitress elaborated.

Lilly placed a hand upon her tummy. She could feel the tight pull of the fabric. Surely it was worse in her head, but three pancakes in such a tower had taken her nearly a half hour to manage. “Well, I can assure you,” she told the waitress, “the food will be more than worth it for anyone who comes.”

“Thank you,” the waitress said, and Lilly could hear her bow. Then, she asked, “Would you like another cup of tea? I’ll take your plate.”

“Yes, please. And here’s my card for the meal. Thank you,” Lilly said. She listened as the woman took the dishes from in front of her. “I wish my friend had come, she’d have loved this.”

“Hmm. Sorry,” the waitress said. “Maybe she couldn’t make it?”

Lilly nodded.

The waitress left and returned shortly, and Lilly heard her cup being refilled and her bank card snap as it was placed upon the table in front of her. She returned it to her purse.

Sitting back up, she inhaled a soft breath and felt the humidity of the drink as it met her nose, causing her to hum in content. “I do so love French Vanilla.”

The waitress left her, and Lilly sat alone at the table with her tea. She wondered if she could get away with rubbing her belly, as Hisao often did for her after a large meal. She tried to remember what color the clothing she wore was. She could remember she was wearing her floral skirt, since she’d been forced to wear it after finding…

She dismissed the idea from her mind. She’d meant to ask Chai for help with that particular issue, but she’d never came. Where on Earth could she be?

Lilly was playing around with the idea of calling her when she heard the electronic sensor of the shop door ding. She lifted her cup of tea to her lips and drank once more. She’s expected to hear another shopper asking the hostess for a table.

What she hadn’t expected was the heavy breathing and rapid footfall as someone rushed over to her table.

“Sorry! Oh my gosh, sorry…” Chai broke off into panting. “Oh gosh, my chest.”

“Miss Chai,” Lilly said raising herself up to her full posture. “It’s impolite to keep a lady waiting.”

“I’m sorry!!” Chai whined. “I-it was… umm… there was a whole… thing!”

Lilly, unable to keep the smile from her face, cracked. She giggled lightly, listening to Chai’s exertion. “I’m glad that you’re alright,” she turned to her. “I’d been growing concerned. Please, take a seat.”

Chai inhaled deeply before letting out one final paint as she collapsed into her chair. “It was such a far run to get here,” Chai said. “I’m sorry that I’m late. I’ll pay for your tea, oh and for breakfast too!”

Lilly opened her mouth to say something but faltered. She couldn’t tell Chai that she’d already eaten. The girl could be rather… fragile, at times, and likely would beat herself up all the more if Lilly just up and left on her because she was late.

It would be best to allow her to make up for it then.

Lilly nodded to herself, sure of her choice.

“Thank you, you’re gonna love this place,” Chai kept talking rapidly. “Sorry for making you wait.”

Lilly smiled, though she knew it was tight… like her shirt… “It’s not a problem,” she said. Trapped by social convections!

“Oh, hey, your friend showed up,” said their approaching waitress. She introduced herself to Chai, and Lilly cut her off before she could further speak.

“Yes, my friend and I were interested in having your special pancake towers?” Lilly prompted.

“Oh, umm, mhmm!” Chai said. “I’m starving, yeah.”

Lilly’s grin didn’t make it to her unseeing eyes. “I am as well.”

“Oh, umm…” said their waitress, seemingly slightly confused before making a noise of understanding. “I see, oh! Uhh…”

Lilly laughed into her hand. “Don’t change your speech on my account,” she said.

“I forget sometimes too,” Chai asided to the waitress.

Lilly pouted. “Don’t be so harsh. You’ve been markedly better, lately,” she told Chai.

“I’ve been trying really hard,” Chai responded.

Lilly laughed, and felt joy finally fill her tone. “You’re not supposed to tell me that!”

In the end, the waitress took the order for the two girls’ breakfast, two pancake towers and a Cappuccino for Chai.

Lilly, now drinking her fourth cup of tea and trying not to think about being served her second breakfast, was grateful that she’d thought to pay for her first plate before Chai had arrived.

“How’s the tea?” Chai asked her.

“It’s good, the ingredients are perfect, though I thought it strange there doesn’t seem to be a list to choose from.”

“Its French Vanilla isn’t it?” Chai asked.

Lilly paused. She leaned, curious. “What gave it away?” she asked.

Chai chuckled. “You didn’t put any sugar in,” she said, and Lilly could hear the nearby packets of sugar being crinkled. “You never put any sugar in French Vanilla.”

Lilly put her hand to her cheek, grinning. “My, my, you must certainly be paying attention to notice such a thing.”

She could hear the embarrassment in Chai’s voice. “H-hey, I just know my drinks.”

Lilly lightly laughed at the girl’s reaction before raising her cup to her mouth. She found Chai’s take on life so refreshing from so many people that surrounded her nowadays. Bills, bills. Work, work. Lilly was as dedicated as anyone to their job, but some people seemed only to live and breathe it.

Chai dreamed. She wanted more from life, was willing to put in the effort. She was trying to put funds away, trying to design her own clothing, and, perhaps most importantly, trying to find people who understood her. Lilly loved that sense of self-worth and ambition and was so proud every time Chai told her about the cosplays she’d made and her growing relationship with her boyfriend.

Speaking of which, Lilly wondered…

“So, how are things with Emmet?”

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Chai was trying not to sweat. The run from the train platform at Harajuku Station had certainly not helped, she was feeling much more nervous about the picture of the food she’d just ordered.

She’d never been here before, she’d only seen it online after Lilly had asked her to breakfast. The pastries hadn’t looked half as big as they did now, and Chai had already eaten breakfast. She was trapped, she knew, but it was a trap she’d have to bare.

Across from her, Lilly sipped at her cup of tea. Chai wondered how long she’d been waiting for her. Thirty minutes? An hour? She felt her lips tug downward, chastising herself for forgetting. Surely, Lilly was famished, and here she was stressing herself out over having more to eat.

Lilly replaced her tea on her saucer, and she slipped her opposing hand up the length of her left hand, bringing Chai’s attention to her wedding ring. “So,” the blonde asked, “how are things with Emmet?”

Chai felt herself bounce a little in her chair, twitching her legs into a short bob beneath her. She looked again to Lilly’s ring and felt a small bite of nervousness in her tummy. “They’re good,” she said, “Really good! He actually got in today and is at my house right now.”

Lilly’s expression concentrated. “Ahh, was he the reason you were behind?” she asked.

Chai hesitated. “O-oh. Yeah! Mhmm, I had to be there when he got there to let him in!” she laughed before squinting her eyes shut. Stupid! Why are you lying!

“I see,” Lilly said. She paused and sat up straighter in her chair. Chai’s attention was immediately drawn to her waist and, thereby, her outfit. She’d definitely gained more weight. Chai felt semi-guilty, inviting her out to eat and making free drinks for her when she came by her café, but Lilly had always been rather indulgent.

Chai noticed then what Lilly had apparently already, as her server suddenly appeared at her side with her drink. “Ah,” Chai said taking the drink. “Thank you.”

The woman bowed and left. Chai felt a twinge of envy for her. Her café made sure she had to wear an apron at all times, while this one apparently had a higher-class dress code. Though, she reflected, with how many times she’d lost a Frappuccino onto her smock…

“How does it look?” Lilly asked, interrupting her thoughts.

“Hmm?” Chai looked down to the cup. There was a disappointing amount of brown against the top. “Ugh, they didn’t use enough cream.” She turned and picked three creams and three sugars from the nearby offering bowl. “And if they don’t use enough cream…”

“Then they haven’t used enough sugar,” Lilly finished.

Chai chuckled, pouring her mix in. “One of the things you can do with cappuccino’s,” she explained as she began sculpting her drink, “you can use the cream to draw little pictures on top.”

Lilly clasped her hands atop of her belly. “Wouldn’t the cream mix into the drink?”

“Nope, so…” she paused, dripping the cream further, “what I’m drawing right… now, is a little… lily flower.”

Lilly put a hand to her cheek and laughed light-heartedly while Chai finished. In the end, Chai put a little extra length on the flower to symbolize her compatriot’s long hair, then began to add the sugars. She looked up when Lilly hummed. “It’s quite nice to see you enjoy working with drinks in your leisure as well. With Christmas approaching, I began to worry that the gift we’ve gotten you might remind you too much of work.”

Chai felt herself pause. She blinked twice. “D-did you get me a coffee machine…?”

Lilly stretched her back, causing her chest to push outwards and briefly reach past her belly. “Oh, no, I shouldn’t think something so small. Even on teacher’s salaries, we were able to get something… nice~”

“Nooooo,” Chai whined, “that’s not faaaair. How can I get you something as nice if you have your husband helping!”

Lilly giggled girlishly twisting in her seat. Her nose twitched and she let out a noticeable sigh that seemed… apprehensive? “Hmm, our food’s coming.”

Sure enough, their server came around the corner with their plates and placed each in front of the girls. Chai didn’t know weather to drool in hunger or whimper from her full belly.

Each plate carried the fluffiest, fullest pancakes she’d ever seen. Coated in powered sugar, the stack sat three high and came up to nearly her chin! The giant dab of butter on top resembled a scoop of vanilla ice cream, though already it was melting and dribbling down the sides. The plates also contained a cup of syrup and another of powered sugar, as if there wasn’t enough on the cakes already.

“Would you like the syrup?” she asked Chai.

Chai turned up from the mound to her, and hardly contained a whisper for help. No! she decided. Lilly had been kind to her, the least she could do was eat! “Yes, please.”

The urge to moan only intensified as golden-brown ambrosia tumbled from the cup onto the large stack. The server’s knee pressed to the table, and the stack jiggled in place. The flour was as firm as it was full, and it maintained the jostling while the syrup cascaded down its side.

The server went to Lilly’s plate and, oddly, didn’t ask if she had wanted the syrup. She simply took it and began to pour it over Lilly’s serving, dripping every drop from the container until the fluffy confections were soaked with sweet syrup. Chai looked to Lilly’s face and saw a reflection of her own mirrored.

“Now,” the server said, placing a hand upon Lilly’s shoulder, “I know these pancakes are quite a lot of food. If either of you need to take a box home…” she trailed off.

Chai nearly asked for the box now and admit to her secret before Lilly spoke up. “No no, that will not be necessary. We’re a pair of hungry gals, I’m sure we’ll be fine,” she grinned.

Darn you and you… darn goodness… Chai grit her teeth. “Oh yeah, I can’t wait to eat every last bite.”

She thought she could see Lilly wince, but the server left the girls to their meals. Chai was forced to action as Lilly took up her own fork and knife. “Where should we begin?”