أحبك أكثر من ماء جوز الهند.

You smoothed a hand over your stomach as you looked at yourself in the full-length mirror of your bedroom. Turning to the side for a final bodycheck before going out. Idia wanted to go on a date that involved being in public. You were both shocked and enchanted that he would ask you to join him on a quest outside of his bedroom. You weighed yourself, cringed at the numbers, and promised yourself to be mindful.  

He wanted to go to a maid cafe on the island and take photos together. Premo was having a collab with the cafe in question and were selling blind bag acrylics. Bringing you along meant it doubled his chances to get his oshis.  

This also meant you would have to order something to eat. Your goal is to get thinner. And extra carbs and grease aren’t going to help. 

You could have a small cup of fruit or a light salad. You could push things around on the plate and request a lemon water so you could get full faster. You walked over to your desk and grabbed a stick of sugar free mint gum. You already skipped breakfast this morning and were feeling light headed. But with a little water and getting your steps in; you would be allowed to eat once you got to the cafe with Idia.  

You left Ramshackle, looking down as you walked as Idia waited for you at the end of the long dirt path. He had a soft smile, and his hair was pulled back into a high ponytail. He was holding his broom in his left hand, and on his right shoulder was a black itabag filled with pins and acrylics of the idols from Precipice Moirai. He was dressed comfortably. A pair of peach colored crocs stuck out against his navy blue track suit, with a peek of a grey shirt underneath. You hastened your steps, your heart thudding as Idia grinned wider.  

The sugar free mint gum had done its job. Your stomach wasn’t growling anymore.  

“Thanks for coming with me. I would have died if I went alone.” He murmured as the tips of his hair turned pink. “Oh, it’s nothing! I would never say no to a date.” You giggled as he helped you onto his broom so the two of you could fly down to the Foothills. You held tightly to the dark blue sleeve of Idia’s jacket. The wind whipped at your face and hair as you felt woozier than before. You continued chewing, your jaw growing tired as the idea of eating made you grimace.  

As Idia slowed down, the bright pink building came into view. “Are you hungry? I’m sorry... It’s pretty early for lunch time.” Idia spoke as he lowered the two of you to the ground. You continued chewing quietly as your stomach rumbled. But you were unable to feel the pain anymore. “Uh, I’m a little hungry!” You gave your boyfriend a smile as he looked down at you with wide eyes.  

“Well, it sounds like you’re starving...” He trailed off as your face grew hot. There was a hint of tension and you watched Idia part his lips before a small group of guys left the maid cafe, one of them held the door open for you and Idia.  

He was silent again as he guided you inside and walked behind you. A cheerful maid with pink hair in a yellow uniform greeted the two of you and led you to a set of white, wooden, heart shaped chairs with soft pink cushions. She offered to put away Idia’s broom and the two of you were asked for your drink orders. Idia’s cheeks flushed with excitement, his hair turned pink again as he squirmed in his chair. “The Moe-Moe Premo-Tion Pink Soda...” His voice wavered as you eyed the calories printed in small grey numbers beside the drink. Way too much sugar for you. “Um... I’ll just have a lemon water.” You gave the ‘maid’ a smile as she nodded and walked off and left you with two laminated menus. 

You looked down before your eyes met Idia’s. He was frowning. “Lemon water? You don’t want a melon soda float..? Plain water is kinda lame.” A smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth as he attempted to tease you. Your face was hot again. “Oh! Uh, I just... Nothing looked good to me.” You were lying. You actually wanted the Kira Kira Aoi Sparkling Soda since it was blue and filled with little popping candy. But you just couldn’t afford to waste the calories on a giant drink. You grabbed a napkin from the plastic holder to throw away your now flavorless gum.  

Your eyes went back to the menu as you sank against the heart shaped back on your wooden chair. Everything looked too... Filling. You wrapped up your gum and left it beside you with a frown.  

Idia’s shoulders sagged as he parted his lips to speak. Before he could, the ‘maid’ was already back with a silver tray. It had your drinks and little paper coasters, along with six silver packages containing the acrylic idol stands. There were three girls in Precipice Moirai and Idia needed all three acrylics. “Were you two ready to order?” She asked and without looking up you answered. “The Cutie Fruit Bowl. That’s it.” You promised you would be mindful.  

Idia was quiet before awkwardly telling the maid he wanted the ‘Nyan Nyan Omurice’. She took your orders and menus, then walked away again, leaving you both with the blind bags to open. “Are you okay?” Idia asked and you quickly perked up. “Huh? Oh, yeah, of course. Why? Do I seem not fine? I’m fine.” You assured him quickly as Idia reached for one of the blind bags. “I feel like you’re not having fun that’s all.” He frowned as your heart began to sink.  

Then, your stomach growled. Your eyes darted around as you grabbed one of the blind bags as well to open. “I’m having a nice time Idia I promise.” You didn’t intend to ruin the mood. Maybe it was you feeling light headed that left you appearing uninterested in the date. “If you aren’t you can tell me.” You looked up at him as he assembled the group’s center. It was a chibi style acrylic that made her head comically large and her eyes big and sparkly. “I would tell you if the date sucked and I didn’t want to be here.” You pulled open the silver, plastic package and looked at the idol acrylic. It was the youngest member of the group who played as their Ace.  

You handed her to Idia with a smile. “I am fine. I would tell you if I wasn’t.” Your fingers brushed and you saw Idia start to relax. You took a straw and started sipping your water as he quickly took photos of his tiny idols to post later. 

Out of the six blind bags; he had three of the center, two of the ace, and one of the leader.  

You never remembered the girls names no matter how hard you tried. People in Twisted Wonderland had a language you couldn’t fully grasp, especially when it came to names. When the food came, your stomach almost roared at the scent of Idia’s omurice. He smiled wide at the site of the cat drawn in ketchup and he began to arrange the idols around the plate with happiness.  

You smiled to yourself as his hair lit up with joy. His cheeks pink and his smile wide and he began to take pictures. You just stabbed at a piece of fruit. “Can I take a picture of you too..? I won’t post it...” He asked as you shuffled in your seat. You didn’t think you looked pretty enough for a picture with his oshikatsu. But you couldn’t say no. “Just one.” You lowered your fork and grinned as Idia giggled to himself. “Uwehh, GF in Hi-Def posing with Premo... I’m okay with dying now...” He cooed as you rolled your eyes in amusement.  

When he lowered his phone you went back to poking at your fruit. The table was quiet again. 

“All you want is a fruit bowl?” Idia asked suspiciously and you nodded. “I mean they’re good for me. There’s nothing wrong with me eating fruit.” You didn’t mean to sound defensive. You knew that your diet was starting to make you irritable. But it’s a clear sign that it’s working. Slowly but surely, it’s working. “You didn’t eat this morning, did you?” Idia asked as his shoulders began to sag. His phone rested against the table, and the three acrylic idols surrounded his untouched omurice.  

You didn’t want to lie. It wasn’t his fault that your appetite wasn’t up to par. But anything more than fruit could be bad news. “I just wasn’t hungry.” You couldn’t bring yourself to look up and meet his gaze. “... It’s okay to be hungry.” He doesn’t get it because he’s already skinny.  

“Who cares about that stuff-”  “I do.” You didn’t mean to snap at him. You pressed your fork into the blueberry with a frown crossing your lips. “I just... I mean I care...” Your stomach started to growl again. You could feel tears welling in your eyes as you looked up from the colorful fruit in the pink ceramic bowl. You lingered on the plate of omurice covered in demi glace and decorated with a cat made of ketchup, then up to Idia’s worried face. “I don’t mean to sound like I’m telling you what to do,” Idia sank against his chair as he gently nudged the toe of your shoe with his peach colored croc. “but you can tell me when something is wrong. Especially this.”  

Idia kept his voice low as tears started to roll down your cheeks. “Ah- Wait- Don't cry! D-Don't cry! Do you wanna go outside?” He offered, reaching  for napkins and awkwardly fumbling with the plastic box. You didn’t want anyone to see you like this. You took the napkins and dabbed at your eyes, likely appearing a mess as you stood up with a sniffle. You just needed some air. “I-I’ll meet you outside.” Idia went to stand as you rushed out of the cafe crying. 

Everyone was probably looking at you. You ruined your date with Idia. He didn’t even get to enjoy his omurice. 

You sobbed and sniffled, shuffling towards a dark corner on the other side of the building. You wiped continuously at your eyes as your stomach growled again, and again. You wished you could remove it and kick it around. That way it would stop causing you so much trouble.  

“Hey.” Idia’s voice caused you to jolt as you looked up with a sniffle. He stood in silence before opening his arms. He was offering you a hug. Something he rarely did. More tears rolled down your cheeks as you moved in slowly. You whimpered and cried as you sobbed against his shirt. Sniffling and weeping weakly as Idia held you tight and rubbed your back. “Is there a reason you aren’t eating?” He asked softly and you nodded.  

You were too ashamed to talk about it. “I... I think I get it... Um... You don’t have to tell me everything but... As corny as it might sound I do care about you. I mean duh I’m your boyfriend obviously I care... I mean... I care about your mental stuff too.” His hold on you was firm as your tears wet his navy blue jacket. “I don’t care about that stuff so... I don’t really get it. But I don’t want you to feel insecure around me. I like eating together... I feel less alone...” He smiled as you looked up at him with wet eyes.  

You could see Idia was fighting back the urge to cry as well. “Do you want to share my omurice..? I promise it’s super good... Even if it’s a little cold now...” He suggested. You couldn’t help but to laugh as your world became a mix of watercolors.  

His flaming blue hair was filled with neon pinks. And the bright sky was adorned in puffy clouds. The yellow sun left your wet eyes swimming in little blotches of color that reminded you of konpeito candies. “You can have some of my fruit too.” You sniffled happily as Idia leaned down to kiss the top of your head.