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“I’m sorry, you want me to do what?” Furina was taken aback.
“I want you to fast for me,” Arlecchino restated her request.
“But why?” Furina set her slice of cake aside and reached down to pinch her belly, which had been noticeably filling out recently. “Is it because I’ve been gaining weight?”
“No, of course not.” Arlecchino gave her belly an affectionate squeeze, her fingers sinking slightly into its softness. “You look lovely, little droplet, and I’m very fond of this.”
Furina’s cheeks turned a light pink. “Then why do you want me to fast?”
“I have a certain… fascination with hunger. Whether it’s my own or someone else’s, I can’t help but find it… exciting.”
“Are you blushing?”
Arlecchino turned away. “No.”
“Aww, are you shy?” Furina threw her arms around Arlecchino. “That’s so cute!”
“I am not shy, I just…” She sighed. “I hope this isn’t off-putting to you. It’s certainly an unconventional interest, to say the least. I’ve never had a chance to speak of it to anyone before.”
“I don’t think it’s off-putting,” Furina assured her. “I’m just a little surprised, is all. Lumine has a thing for hunger too, and I wasn’t expecting someone else to be into it. Honestly, I really want to see what the appeal is.”
“Should I interpret that as you agreeing to my request?”
“Sure!” Furina flashed a smile. “As Fontaine’s most esteemed critic, I should approach everything with an open mind. Besides, it wouldn’t be the first time we’ve done some… unconventional things together.” She brought her hand to her face in an attempt to hide her blush.
“Wonderful.” Arlecchino grinned. “We need a safe word. ‘Downpour,’ as usual?”
“That’ll work. How long should we do this?”
“We’ll set a hard limit at one week.”
“A week?!” Furina shook her head. “Arle, shouldn’t we go with something more feasible? I can’t go that long without eating.”
“I know, and I don’t expect you to. I thought of a way we can make this more interesting, if you’re willing.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“During this week, you may eat at any time. In exchange…” Arlecchino sauntered up to Furina, lightly tugging at the collar of her shirt. “…I choose a piece of clothing for you to remove for the rest of the week.” She dragged her hand down Furina’s chest and settled on her waist. “We’ll see what you value more: filling your stomach, or maintaining your modesty.”
Furina felt a shiver of excitement run down her spine. She loved it when Arlecchino took charge, and the idea of being at her mercy to such an extent was thrilling. She could be her plaything for an entire week, completely vulnerable to her advances. Furina could already imagine herself on her knees, hands pressed into her growling stomach, begging Arlecchino for a scrap of food, only to be made to strip for the slightest bit of sustenance to take the edge off of her hunger.
‘Please, Arle…’ she would plead, her stomach rumbling desperately. ‘Can’t I just have one bite? I’m so hungry~’
Her heart fluttered at the mere thought.
“Y-yeah, let’s do that!” Furina stammered, her face flushing a deep red.
“I thought you would be interested,” Arlecchino smirked. “I look forward to seeing how you handle hunger.”
“Now that I think about it,” Furina reached for her slice of cake, “I don’t think I’ve ever really been hungry before. At most, I only ever missed a meal once in a while.”
“Furina.” Arlecchino pointed at the cake, giving Furina an expectant look.
“Wait, we’re starting now? It’s not even dinnertime yet.”
“You agreed to the rules, little droplet. Now, take your hat off.”
“Okay, okay.” Furina set her hat aside. “I guess I can just skip dinner tonight. I did have a pretty light lunch, though…”
“Surely, you’re not hesitating already? We’ve only just begun.”
“Oh, of course not. I’m just weighing my options. It’d probably be best if I just went to bed empty tonight. It’ll be more fun that way, anyway~”
“It certainly will.” Arlecchino poked Furina in the belly. “Let’s see how long you can endure.”
Day 1
Grrr…
Furina awoke to the sound of her stomach growling. She attempted to sit up, only to find Arlecchino resting her head on her belly, still asleep. Furina smiled, gingerly running her fingers through Arlecchino’s hair. She was just starting to get hungry, but she was content to lay in bed a while longer.
Furina focused on the empty feeling in her middle, where Arlecchino’s head was currently resting. It was a surprisingly enjoyable sensation, strong enough to demand her attention, but not enough to be painful. She delighted in the way her stomach tightened around the hollow spot in her belly, slowly building up, until…
Her stomach growled again, causing Arlecchino to stir. She slowly opened her eyes, and upon seeing Furina, gave a gentle smile.
“Good morning, dear,” she said.
“Good morning.” Furina gave a smile of her own. “Enjoying your new pillow?”
“Of course. Your belly is very warm and soft.” She laid a kiss just above her navel. “And I suspect it’ll get very noisy before long. I hope you’re anticipating that as much as I am.”
“You know I am.” She sat up and stretched, her shirt rising up to expose her belly. “What do you want to do to pass the time?”
Arlecchino hummed. “We can do whatever you like. Perhaps we could watch a play together?”
“Yeah, we can do that. There’s gonna be a show at the Opera Epiclese this afternoon that sounds interesting. It seems pretty avant-garde, but it’s quite popular.”
“Very well. Maybe we can go for a walk together afterwards.”
“That sounds lovely. Go on and get dressed, and we can head out.”
Furina dressed herself in her usual attire, save for her hat. While she waited for Arlecchino to get ready, she headed into the kitchen to pour herself a glass of water, and absentmindedly started munching on a small pastry, as she usually did every morning. There was nothing like a nice dessert to start one’s day~
“Furina.” Arlecchino leaned against the doorframe, her arms folded over her chest.
“Hm?” Furina looked at the half-eaten pastry in her hand and silently admonished herself. “Sorry, I’m just used to following my usual routine.”
“I understand, but rules are rules. Gloves off, now.”
“That’s it?” Furina was surprised, but removed her gloves nonetheless. “You’re starting things awfully slow.”
“It’s only appropriate to save the best for last, no?” She smirked. “Or would you rather walk around Fontaine half dressed? How scandalous…”
“N-no, that’s not what I mean at all!” Furina’s cheeks burned red.
Arlecchino chuckled. “Not to worry. I suspect we’ll get there eventually.”
“What a unique way of telling a story,” Arlecchino mused as she left the Opera Epiclese. “Not one word of dialogue or narration, and yet so much emotion was conveyed through body language alone.”
“I wish there was dialogue,” Furina groaned, crossing her arms over her waist. “My stomach was growling the whole time, and I’m sure everyone heard it. That was so embarrassing…”
“I almost found that more entertaining than the play itself.” Arlecchino put her arm around her. “I love to watch you squirm.”
“Arle, we’re in public—!”
“Ah, yes, how careless of me.” She offered her hand to Furina. “Shall we go for a walk? Perhaps to somewhere more secluded?”
“S-sure, let’s—” Furina flinched when her stomach sounded off again. She sheepishly folded her hands over her belly. “…let’s get out of here.”
“As you wish.”
Furina kept her hand pressed against her belly as she walked. The empty feeling in her gut had given way to a dull ache that gnawed at her insides. It had been roughly 24 hours since her last proper meal, so she was starting to feel her hunger in earnest. It was an entirely new feeling for her, and to her surprise, she loved it.
Despite the discomfort, she was quickly becoming very fond of the feeling of an empty stomach. She enjoyed everything about it, from the rumbling feeling that accompanied every plea from her belly, to the way her stomach clenched inside her in search for something to digest, to the incessant noises that erupted from her middle, embarrassing though they may be.
The two walked together until they were away from the crowd. Furina sat down on a bench, cheerfully kicking her legs out in front of her. Arlecchino sat down beside her.
“I’m glad I agreed to this,” Furina said, rubbing her rumbling tummy. “I didn’t think I’d like this so much. I might start fasting by myself once in a while.”
Arlecchino placed a hand on Furina’s stomach. “I’m glad you’re having fun, but make sure you eat properly once this is over. Your health is more important than anything.”
“I know, I know. Thank you for your concern, though.” She gave her a kiss on the cheek.
“I love to test your limits, but I hold your wellbeing in very high regard. I should be thanking you for always letting me indulge in my… particular interests.”
“As a critic, I have to give everything at least one chance to make an impression.”
“And how would you rate this experience so far, Lady Furina?”
“Five stars, of course! You have a perfect track record so far, Miss Knave.”
“Don’t be hasty, now. This is hardly the first act.”
Furina dragged a finger across her belly as it let out another low growl. “I’m sure I’ll enjoy the rest, too.”
Day 3
Archons, Arlecchino knew just how to torment Furina.
Feeling particularly wicked today, she chose to bring Furina to a renowned confectionery shop – Furina’s favorite, specifically. Arlecchino was never known for having a sweet tooth, but she seemed unusually interested in sampling some of Furina’s favorite desserts. This, of course, required her to be present to help her choose.
Furina winced when a sharp rumble tore its way from her stomach. Yesterday, she traded her overcoat for a small corner of a sandwich, which did little to satisfy the ravenous beast that was currently clawing away at her insides. And now, surrounded by the best baked goods in Fontaine, the beast was in a frenzy.
“So many delightful desserts to choose from…” Arlecchino pondered aloud. “Furina, dear, what would you recommend?”
Furina gulped down the saliva in her mouth. “The, uh… the chocolate cheesecake is simply divine.”
“It certainly sounds delicious. I’ll have a piece, then.” She continued to scrutinize the shop’s wares. “Any other suggestions?”
“How about a couple strawberry pastries?” For a brief moment, Furina forgot she wasn’t ordering for herself.
“Lovely.” Arlecchino turned to the Melusine clerk. “One piece of chocolate cheesecake and two strawberry pastries, please.”
“Alright! Just have a seat and we’ll bring it right out,” the clerk said.
Arlecchino and Furina sat down at a nearby table. Furina curled into herself when she felt a hunger pang forming in her belly – one that would no doubt be followed by a particularly ferocious rumble. There were so many people in the store. Surely, they would hear it. The thought was mortifying.
“Everything alright, little droplet?” Arlecchino gave a knowing grin.
“Y-yeah, it’s nothing, just—”
GrrRrrrRRrooOoowwWwlllLll~~~
Furina gasped in shock and slight pain, clasping her hands over her belly in a desperate attempt to muffle its cries. In doing so, she inadvertently pressed her shirt flush against her body, emphasizing how sunken her middle had become.
“…everyone’s staring at me, aren’t they?” Her voice was small, a stark contrast to her stomach’s demands for sustenance.
Arlecchino chuckled. “Relax, dear. If your face burns any hotter, you’ll evaporate right before my eyes.”
“I can’t help it!” Furina’s blush intensified. “Didn’t you hear that?”
“Oh, I did, and it was delightful. Your stomach is as grand a performer as you are.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re enjoying the show…”
“Here’s your order!” Their waitress placed two small plates in front of Furina.
“Oh, these are for my partner,” Furina gestured to Arlecchino.
“Oh, okay.” The waitress slid the desserts across the table. “Enjoy!”
Grrroooaaannn…
Furina clutched at her belly, her fingers sinking slightly into the soft flesh. She looked down at the floor, too shy to make eye contact.
“Are you alright, Lady Furina?” The waitress asked.
“Y-yes, of course! I’m just feeling a little peckish is all. It’s nothing to worry about.” Her grip on her belly tightened when another hunger pang formed. She silently begged it not to sound off again.
“I see. I’ll let you two be.” The waitress gave a quick bow before leaving.
“Oh, these look even better up close,” Arlecchino said. “Wouldn’t you say so, Furina?”
Furina nodded. “They taste as good as they look.” Archons, they looked so good.
Furina watched as Arlecchino ate her cheesecake at a slow, almost taunting pace. She could almost taste it herself. She imagined the rich, smooth chocolate on her tongue, the slight crunch of the crust, and the refreshing flavor of the strawberry that crowned each slice. It made her stomach twist in envy.
“You have excellent taste in desserts, Furina.” Arlecchino made eye contact while she stabbed the strawberry with her fork and ate it in one bite.
“Of course I do,” she laughed nervously. “Only the very best is suitable for my tastes.” She stared at the pastries on Arlecchino’s plate, saliva trickling from her mouth. She didn’t need it, she tried to tell herself. She didn’t need it.
Arlecchino took a bite out of one of the pastries. Again, she chewed it slowly, turning the flavors over in her mouth, and watching Furina the whole time. She paused for a moment to lick the icing off of her fingers.
“Delicious.” She finished the first pastry so very, painfully slowly, making sure that Furina had to watch every second. It was fun to toy with her~
Furina pressed a hand deep into her empty belly, desperately trying to massage away the persistent, gnawing pain that held her poor stomach in a vice grip. It grumbled softly under her touch, pleading for even the tiniest morsel to digest, anything to fill the barren pit inside her.
Her eyes locked onto the second pastry like a starving predator seeing its prey. It was a small thing, nowhere near enough to satisfy her hunger, but it was something. Her stomach acids bubbled impatiently, demanding the treat that was just within reach.
It would be so easy to reach across the table and snatch it. She could vividly picture it now – she would grab the sweet right from under Arlecchino’s hand and shove it in her mouth, eating half of it within seconds. It would taste so good, with its light and flaky texture, the delectable fruity filling that contained fresh strawberry slices, and the layer of icing on top that brought the whole thing together. She would delight in the way it felt when it slid down her throat and into her needy stomach, finally giving it something solid to digest—
“Furina.” Arlecchino’s voice shook her from her thoughts.
“Hm?” Furina looked down at the partially-eaten dessert in her hand. “Huh…?”
…No wonder she could picture it so vividly.
“I… I didn’t mean to—er, I was just so hungry—”
Arlecchino laughed. “It’s quite alright, little droplet. Frankly, I’m impressed that you managed to resist temptation for so long. Go ahead and finish it.”
Furina nodded silently, and sheepishly ate the rest of the pastry, taking great care to savor its flavor. She knew it would be some time before she got to taste it again.
“Well, I’m quite satisfied. I may have to visit this place again someday.” Arlecchino offered a hand to Furina. “Shall we depart?”
“Sure.” Furina took her hand and left the shop.
As the door shut behind them, Arlecchino pulled Furina close to whisper in her ear, “You’ll be taking your shorts off when we get home.”
The words sent a chill down Furina’s spine. She simply nodded in response.
Day 5
“Perish!” Arlecchino delivered a flurry of blows, her scythe wreathed in crimson flames. With a decisive rising strike, she cleaved the local legend Vivianne in twain, finally putting an end to a prolonged battle.
“Finally, we beat you…!” Furina exclaimed in triumph. She had attempted to fell this frighteningly powerful hydro eidolon ever since she received her Vision, but to no avail. At long last, she had vanquished her sworn nemesis.
“We? I don’t believe your Hydro abilities were able to inflict so much as a scratch on that monster.” Arlecchino gave a light laugh.
“I was still trying to help!” Furina crossed her arms with a huff. “I wouldn’t have needed any help if that thing were able to feel any pain at all.”
Arlecchino playfully ruffled Furina’s hair. “At least you can admit when you do need help. Perhaps next time, you could challenge a local legend that isn’t a being made of pure Hydro.”
“Yes, yes, of course.” Furina sat down on the ground, letting out a heavy sigh. “Let’s rest here for a moment.”
“Very well.” Arlecchino sat next to her.
GRRRoooOoowWWwwllLLll…!
Furina let out a shaky breath and crossed her arms over her waist. She had forgotten how much energy it took to cast her Hydro abilities. The battle had gone on for several grueling minutes, and she spent the entire time burning calories she never took in. She was beyond famished at this point.
“Are you alright, Furina? That sounded rather painful.”
“Yeah, I’m… I’m fine.” She couldn’t deny, it was painful. After days of subsisting on tiny scraps of food and a couple pastries, her stomach was positively barren, and it was very displeased. It took every possible opportunity to voice its complaints with fierce rumbles and harsh, biting pangs that were felt in her entire abdomen. She was hardly able to sleep last night because it was growling so loudly.
“Are you sure?” Arlecchino gently stroked Furina’s belly. “Remember our safe word, dear.”
“I’m okay, really. We only have a couple days to go, and…” She shyly tugged at the bottom of the oversized shirt she was wearing to conceal her panties – one of Neuvillette’s, which he graciously allowed her to keep. “…I still have some clothes left.”
“I admire your perseverance.”
Rrruummbbllee~
To Furina’s surprise, Arlecchino’s stomach was the one that spoke up. She patted her belly with a grin.
“It seems I’ve worked up an appetite myself.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small energy bar. “I’ve been carrying a few of these in case you used the safe word. But since you want to keep going, you wouldn’t mind if I had one, would you?”
“No, go ahead.”
Arlecchino bit into the bar with a satisfying crunch. Furina felt her tummy twitch as she watched her. Simply seeing something edible was all it took to send her hollow insides into a ravenous frenzy. Seeing something so calorically dense only made matters worse – she swore she could feel the walls of her stomach grinding against each other.
Furina pressed her hands into her rumbling belly in a vain attempt to ease her hunger pains. She felt her entire abdomen quaking against her touch as it begged to be fed. All she could think about was food, but even thinking about it seemed to make her stomach clench in desperation.
“Actually, Arle…” Furina’s belly let out a deep growl, eliciting a pained whine from her. “C-could I have one of those…?”
“Certainly. Of course, our rules still apply.” She eyed Furina’s chest. “You don’t typically wear a bra, so you’ll be completely topless when we get home.”
“I know, but I’m starving…”
“Very well.” Arlecchino handed her an energy bar. “You only have one item of clothing left to lose. Use it well.”
Furina nodded and quickly devoured the bar. It was as dense in texture as it was in calories. The taste was rather bland, but she didn’t care as long as it eased her hunger. If nothing else, it would tide her over until bedtime. Maybe.
She was really looking forward to having a full meal again.
Day 7
The smell of food roused Furina from her nap. She groggily opened her eyes, moaning when her stomach let out a weak growl. Shivering slightly, she pulled the blanket over her nude body, wrapping herself up tightly. She was too tired and hungry to get up now.
Grrrr…
Archons, she was so hungry.
GrrrrrRRoouuUUrrRRR…!
So, so hungry…
GrrRRroOoOOaAAARrrRR!
Furina whimpered softly. Now that she was awake, her stomach was too, and the neglected organ was being very vocal about its discontent. There was no way she was going to be able to sleep now. She threw the blanket off of herself, looking down at her starving body.
Her belly had practically gone concave, sinking in so deep that she swore her stomach must have been touching her back. The outline of her ribs and hip bones jutted out sharply from her skin. She traced a finger along the bottom of her ribcage, shuddering in pleasure at her own touch. She pressed a hand into her belly, pinching the soft flesh. She had certainly lost weight from this, but if Arlecchino hadn’t been exaggerating about the size of the meal she was cooking, Furina would no doubt gain it all back and then some.
But Arlecchino had been cooking for hours. Everything she made looked and smelled so good, it drove her crazy. That was why she took a nap in the first place. She hoped to sleep through her intense hunger pangs, but it seemed her plan had been foiled.
Arlecchino said she would be making all of Furina’s favorite dishes. She closed her eyes, imagining the meal that awaited her. The rich aroma of various meats and vegetables tormented her. She desperately wanted to start eating now, but Arlecchino had instructed her to wait until she was finished cooking everything.
GRrroOooOaAARrr…
Every second was torture. She was starting to wonder if she really had taken a nap, or if she simply fainted in her bed from hunger. She curled into a ball, arms crossed tightly over her hollow belly. Her stomach continued to painfully wring itself out inside her, releasing more forlorn cries for something, anything, to fill it.
The bedroom door suddenly opened, and Arlecchino stepped inside. “Furina, your meal is ready~”
“Finally…!” Furina climbed out of bed and bounded eagerly toward Arlecchino, but stumbled and fell into her embrace.
“Careful, little droplet,” she smiled. “I always forget how small and vulnerable you seem when you’re nude. How are you feeling?”
“I’m starving, Arle,” she whined. “I don’t care how much you made; I need to eat all of it right now.”
“Then I won’t keep you waiting any longer. Come.”
With her arm around Furina’s waist, Arlecchino led her to the dining room and gently sat her down at the table, where no less than a dozen freshly cooked dishes awaited. Arlecchino pulled up a chair beside her.
“That’s… a lot more than I was expecting.” Furina stared at the massive feast before her in awe.
“I was worried that our little game was starting to cause you more pain than pleasure,” Arlecchino said. “I wanted to apologize, and to make sure you were well fed at the end.”
“It’s fine, really,” Furina gave a smile. “Besides, I could always use the safe word if I—”
GRRrrRoOoaArROOAARRR!!!
Furina gasped and pressed her hands into her deprived belly as a harsh pang of starvation ripped through her insides, accompanied by a loud and sonorous roar. She could’ve sworn it was strong enough to cause her belly to visibly vibrate.
“I would prefer if you used the safe word if you’re in so much pain.” Arlecchino gave her a comforting pat on the back. “I’m sorry for making you do this, Furina.”
“You didn’t make me do anything,” Furina panted as the pain subsided. “I honestly enjoyed this for the most part. I just think a week is too long. Maybe just three days next time?”
“You’re willing to do this again?”
“Yeah! I don’t see why not, considering we both like it. We can experiment with it and find out what works best for me. I kinda wanna see you go hungry next time, though.”
Arlecchino grinned. “Very well. But for now, I want you to eat everything that’s in front of you. You’ve gotten thinner these past few days, droplet, and I want you to gain that weight back. And don’t worry, I was quite generous with the seasonings this time.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice!”
Furina reached for a garlic baguette and dug in immediately. The taste was divine. It was soft and buttery, with a delightfully crisp crust. She devoured the whole thing within a minute.
“So delicious!” Furina’s eyes sparkled with joy. She grabbed another baguette and tore into it.
“Eat a little slower, Furina,” Arlecchino advised. “You don’t want to make yourself sick.”
“Easy for you to say,” Furina retorted, her mouth full of bread. “You’re not the one who’s been starving all week.”
Furina quickly finished the second baguette with a pleased sigh. She patted her belly, which rumbled for more. She obliged, reaching for a plate of fish and chips. The chips were wonderfully crispy, and the fish fillets were fried to perfection. The dish was a bit oilier than what she normally ate, but at the moment, it was like sweet ambrosia.
Her next target was a plate of sweet crepes, garnished with fresh bulle fruit slices. They were light and thin, with a delicious jam filling. They were a lovely bit of sweetness among all the savory dishes Arlecchino had prepared.
As Furina ate, the gnawing grasp of hunger loosened its hold on her stomach. Her tummy was starting to fill out again – it didn’t look concave anymore, at least – but it was still far from satisfied. Fortunately, she had hardly made a dent in the food in front of her.
She moved onto a rack of barbeque ribs. Arlecchino was particularly gifted at cooking barbeque, and it showed. The meat was so tender it was practically falling off of the bone, and the sauce and seasoning made for an irresistible smoky flavor. Furina was quite disappointed with how quickly she finished the whole rack.
“I assume everything is to your liking?” Arlecchino spoke.
“Absolutely!” Furina smiled brightly. “Everything is perfect. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to finish all of this, but I’m certainly going to try.”
“Please do. I love to see you eat your fill.” She rested her hand on Furina’s belly, which was starting to show a gentle outward curve. “You’re always so adorable with a full belly.”
“Oh, I’ll probably be ready to pop after this.”
Arlecchino’s breath caught in her throat. “I don’t know how I’ll keep my hands off of you.”
“Just be patient, Arle~” Furina poked her in the nose.
Furina reached for a plate of duck breast in a bulle fruit sauce. The crispy skin gave way to succulent, tender meat that had a sweet tang to it. She took turns between eating the duck breast and munching on a leg. She didn’t care about keeping up appearances. She was still hungry, and now she wanted to put on a show for Arlecchino. She was completely nude, anyway – she didn’t have much pride left to lose.
Next, she dug into a pair of trout fillets that were sprinkled with chopped almonds and decorated with lemon slices. The fillets were a good deal thicker than any she had seen before; Arlecchino must have caught quite the specimens. They soon joined the ever-growing mound of food in Furina’s belly.
She leaned back in her seat, letting out a contented sigh. “Oh, that feels better.” She ran her hands over her belly, which gurgled happily under her touch. Her once-fierce hunger had finally abated, but there was still a lot of food left. Fortunately, she still had plenty of room in her stomach for more. She couldn’t let Arlecchino’s hard work go to waste.
Her next target was a plate of stuffed tomatoes. A single bite filled her mouth with the lovely taste of juicy tomato and ground meat, blending together flawlessly. She ended up shoving the last tomato into her mouth whole, and despite needing a few minutes to chew the thing, she didn’t regret it.
A bowl of tasses ragout was next. Potatoes, tomatoes, onions, and a variety of peppers all came together to form a magnificently savory dish. It was quite filling, too – the vegetables had been cut into rather large chunks that sat heavily in her stomach. Not that she was complaining. After being empty to so long, such fullness was deeply satisfying.
Furina’s pace was slowing down. She looked down at her belly, which had grown large enough to rest on her lap. She gave it an experimental slap, sending a shockwave rippling across its surface. She couldn’t help but smile. Arlecchino was right – she did look adorable like this.
After taking a moment to steel herself, Furina reached for the consommé in front of her. Thankfully, it was much lighter on her stomach than the ragout had been. Instead of bothering with a spoon, she opted to drink down the broth straight from the bowl. It was rich and flavorful, enough so that she found herself drinking the entire bowl in one go. She set it down on the table, breathing heavily. She felt her guts gurgle and slosh with their new liquid contents.
The next soup to fall victim to her gluttony was a classic Fontainian onion soup. As this one had some solid components, she used a spoon this time. Still, she drained the bowl of its contents rather quickly, savoring its warmth. After drinking down much of the broth, she used a slice of bread to sop up what remained.
The last soup on the table was a clam-based Poisson seafood soup. Despite her ever-growing sense of fullness, Furina eagerly devoured every last morsel of clam in the bowl. The broth followed soon after, though at a considerably slower pace than the previous soups.
“I’m…” Furina panted, “I think I’m starting to reach my limit.”
Arlecchino tutted. “Come now, Furina. There’s only one dish left. Surely you can handle that.”
“But it’s a whole sweet madame!” As delicious as it looked, eating an entire roast chicken was no small feat on an empty stomach, much less one as excessively bloated as hers.
Arlecchino noted the constant gurgling of Furina’s gut. “I think I know how to give you some more room.”
“What are you—ah!” Furina gasped in surprise when Arlecchino laid her hand against the bottom of her belly and firmly pressed in. Arlecchino worked her way up, applying even pressure to the entire expanse of Furina’s swollen gut.
“Arle, that hurts…!” Furina whined.
“Trust me, this will relieve some of the pressure you must be feeling.”
GrrrRrrgGGrrlLllEee…
Something stirred in Furina’s stomach, and it was swiftly rushing up her throat. Furina covered her mouth in an effort to keep it contained, but it was no use.
BoOooaAaAAuuUUrRRrP!
Furina let out a massive burp that seemed to shake the room. Her face immediately burned bright red. “E-excuse me…”
“Impressive, little droplet.” Arlecchino gave Furina’s belly a gentle pat. “Now, doesn’t that feel better?”
“I-it does, kinda…” It certainly seemed to open up some more room in her stomach. The sweet madame didn’t look so daunting now. Maybe she could finish it after all.
She took a deep breath and dug in. It was heavenly. Now she understood why Lumine seemingly ate one every day! The meat was sweet, tender, and juicy, and the skin was crispy and flavorful. She used a knife and fork to cut chunks of meat and unceremoniously shove them into her mouth. She ate quickly in the hopes of finishing the whole thing before her body realized how overstuffed she was.
Creak… Guurrgglgllgllee…
Furina paused for a moment to nurse the ache forming in her enormous gut. She had never eaten nearly this much in a single sitting, and she was quickly approaching her limit. If she kept going, her belly might actually burst.
But it was just so good…
She resumed eating. She was taking longer to chew, and taking longer between bites. Each piece of meat slid painstakingly slowly down her throat and hit her stomach like a stone. But still, she kept eating. She was already halfway done anyway.
Creeeaaakk… GRrrRrgGlgLlLlll…!
Furina whimpered when a harsh cramp seized her belly. She placed both hands on the roiling orb and gently rubbed it, breathing heavily. She was finding it hard to even breathe – it felt like her stomach was crushing her lungs with its sheer mass.
“What’s wrong, Furina? Eyes bigger than your stomach?” Arlecchino glanced down at the rumbling mass. “Well, there aren’t many things bigger than your stomach right now, I suppose.”
“I… I’m okay…” Furina panted. The pain had eased somewhat, replaced with a dull, throbbing ache that permeated her entire abdomen. “I can finish this.”
She stopped to rub her belly after every bite. It was gurgling angrily the entire time, pleading for her to stop. Her hunger had been satisfied long ago. Surely there was a happy medium between starvation and being filled to bursting?
Crrrreeeaaaakkk…! GrRRuUUmMMbBbBLlllElee!
Furina couldn’t keep eating anymore. Her stomach was so overwhelmingly engorged that it seemed ready to split open. If she ever stopped attending to her belly, the pain was simply unbearable.
“Arle, could—burp—could you feed me the rest…?”
“With pleasure.”
In contrast to Furina’s fast pace, Arlecchino chose to feed her slowly, with small pieces of meat instead of the large chunks Furina had cut. Arlecchino gently placed each piece into Furina’s mouth, and Furina chewed thoroughly before swallowing, the meat falling into her stomach with a roiling gurgle.
There wasn’t much of the sweet madame left, but with how stuffed Furina was, it seemed insurmountable. She clutched at her swollen gut like she was trying to keep it in one piece. She could feel it expanding with every bite she took. It hurt so much that it brought tears to her eyes. She couldn’t keep this up. She was far beyond her limit. She couldn’t manage another bite—
“All done.” Arlecchino affectionately caressed Furina’s belly. “I’m proud of you, little droplet.”
“I… ate it all?” Furina looked over the table in disbelief. Sure enough, every last plate and bowl was empty, the only remains of her gluttonous conquest being the bones of the sweet madame.
“You certainly did. I don’t suppose you have room for dessert?”
“No… no more…” Furina suppressed a deep belch. “For the first time in my life, I reject dessert.”
“Very well. Why don’t I take you to bed and help ease your stomachache, then?”
“You might have to carry me there.” Furina tried to stand up, but was held firmly in place by the weight of her burgeoning belly.
“Not a problem.” Arlecchino lifted Furina out of her seat and carefully walked her to her bedroom, cradling her gut the entire time, and laid her down on the bed. The movement caused Furina’s belly to shake and jiggle tremendously, its contents sloshing loudly inside her.
“Look at you, Lady Furina.” Arlecchino ran her hands along the expanse of Furina’s gurgling gut. “Fontaine’s most revered celebrity and former Archon, completely stuffed beyond measure. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were pregnant… and well past your due date.” She planted a kiss over her navel. “My lovely little glutton~”
“I know, I know…” Furina groaned. “My gut feels like a bloated geo slime. I think I’d explode if I ate another bite.” She patted her belly, eliciting a strained rumble from it. “But after being so hungry, this feels great.”
“That’s good to hear.” Arlecchino fingered Furina’s belly button. “I wanted to make up for the meals you skipped, so you can gain back whatever weight you lost.”
“I think I’ll be a couple pounds heavier once all this is digested. But you won’t mind, will you?”
“Of course not. I love every inch of you – especially the ones on your waistline.”
Furina giggled. “Neuvillette said the same thing.”
“Great minds think alike.”
“Lumine can’t help but touch my tummy whenever we work together. It would seem my belly is quite popular.”
Arlecchino laid her head on Furina’s gut. It was very warm, like a furnace powered by the processes of digestion. She listened to it rumble and churn as it struggled to break down the enormous feast inside of it. She continued to rub her belly, her hands guided along by the rumbles within.
She couldn’t help but smile when she noticed Furina had fallen asleep. Arlecchino felt her eyelids growing heavy, and soon succumbed to sleep as well, resting against Furina’s belly.