She seems calm about her weight gain, but in reality she is very worried.

“Did I gain weight? Yeah, I did. I’m up eight kilos compared to last month.

Summer break? I pretty much just lazed around every day. I never missed my two ice creams a day.

I mean, it was hot and they’re delicious, so can you really blame me?

Oh, I did go to the pool with my cousin. When she saw my stomach, she asked, ‘Is there a baby in there?’

I told her, ‘No, it’s just fat,’ and then she got kind of awkward and said, ‘It’s okay! Mommy has just as much fat too!’

Yeah… being comforted by a four-year-old really hit me. I felt so bad.

A diet? Well… yeah… I kind of tried jogging a bit. But it’s hot, you know?

And honestly, my belly fat jiggling every time I ran just made me want to give up.

Why are you giving me that look? Oh, the diet foods? I actually tried a bunch of them.

Meals? Of course I still had three full meals a day. I mean, that’s just normal, right?

…Those diet foods are supposed to work just by eating them, aren’t they? Aren’t they?

Wait, you’re saying I should seriously rethink my diet and actually exercise?

Can you not be so logical right now? You’re gonna make me cry.”

“I’m up ten kilos compared to last month… Something’s not right.

I did exactly what you told me—improved my diet, exercised more, tried to live healthier.

What kind of exercise? Well, I walk about one station’s worth. Once a month.

There’s this cake shop on the way, and on the 22nd of every month, they have a discount on shortcakes.

I mean, walking a station should burn off at least the calories of one cake, right?

As for my regular meals, I cut back a little. For starters, I stopped eating salad.

Vegetables? Of course I’m eating them.

I heard in some countries, rice and potatoes are considered vegetables, so…

Dark leafy greens?

Well, I also read that these days, leftover veggies are often used as feed for cows and pigs.

So if you think about it, I’m technically eating vegetables too… through them.

…You’re telling me to just admit I’m not exercising enough and I eat too much…?

Can you please stop being so rational? Seriously. You’re going to make me cry… for real this time.”

“Yeah. The skirt won’t close.

You can tell just by looking, right? How many kilos do you think I’ve gained?

I bought this right after I started school, so honestly, even if I hadn’t gained weight, it wouldn’t be that strange if it didn’t fit anymore.

Still, the fat under my chin is really getting in the way.

For a while, I wasn’t putting on any weight in my face, so I thought I was in the clear.

You know how in anime, even the chubby characters somehow don’t gain weight in their faces?

I really thought I was one of those types.

…But still—this hook doesn’t seem like it’s ever going to close.

That noise when the clasp popped off just now? It was intense.

For a second, I seriously thought something exploded nearby.

…Please don’t offer me a safety pin with that sad look in your eyes.

And handing me three of them? That just makes it harder for me to accept.

I mean, yeah… one probably wouldn’t be enough to hold this skirt together, but still…”