Full moon in the woods (first part)

I. 夏 [Summer]

               “雲 折折 人 を やすむる 月見 哉”

               (Clouds, sometimes,

                give us some rest 

                from admiring the moon...)

Matsuo BASHŌ (芭蕉)

In the mountains , as far as the eye can see — sunny weather

  For almost an hour, Kazuō had been straying from his route. Unaware that he was leaving the paths reserved for walkers and cyclists, he kept venturing into those woods... The young hiker had gotten up before dawn, as he did every morning out of habit, but now he noticed that the sun had finally caught up with him on his journey... The heat was almost oppressive. It felt safer to leave the plain awash in harsh sunlight for the shade of the trees, so dense but somehow more welcoming. Dressed in simple denim and a light jacket, he walked briskly.

  Kazuō Kurokumasaki (黒熊崎一雄) had recently turned twenty-four, and he was already appointed as first-class surveyor, recruited by the third office of the commission established by the Ministry of Water and Forests for topographic surveys and studies of natural resources in the northern prefecture of Ishikari (石狩国).

  Strong-willed, ambitious and dynamic, he was the youngest employee in the office and his colleagues called on him to take on all these jobs into the field, whose files they then processed to present them in a more favorable light in order to be better rated by their superiors. As a result, Kazuō spent most of his days outdoors, away from his hierarchy, and his career in the administration already looked like a dead end.

  He then realized that he no longer knew where he was. His phone rang, but it was no incoming call.

– "Almost no battery, already?" Kazuō surveyed the surroundings. "And there's no signal under those big trees..." he muttered worryingly.

  He no longer ran, and he felt the slope of the mountain rising little by little under his feet. The sky was rumbling ominously, with the sound of a recent storm dying away... As he turned to try and find his way, he suddenly stumbled over some root. Losing his balance, he only got up after a long slide over wet rocks and large banks of moss.

  Sitting in the tall grass, a little dazed and sore, Kazuō couldn't find his phone in the inside pocket of his jacket, as it was torn off. His wallet must have fallen too, now lost among the grass and stones. He couldn't even find the keys to his home...

– "I'm definitely out of luck today."

  A shimmering stream meandered below. A small wooden bridge curved over it to span accross the water to the other side, even deeper into the forest. Kazuō finally straightened up and stepped forward cautiously. The ground was soaked with rain. After a moment of hesitation, he chose to take off his shoes and socks to walk with a little more confidence.

  His shirt was all muddy and torn. He removed it and made sure he had not hurt himself in his fall... He found no blood on his clothes or on his hands. Kazuō let out a sigh of relief. His body was bruised but he hadn't cut or skinned himself.

  On the other side of the bridge, on a small eminence of the ground at the edge of the forest stood a small abandoned shrine of which only the shinmei torii [神明 鳥居, the straight and monumental gate of a Shinto shrine] remained, of a very beautiful red, and at the end of a small path with a few disjointed stone steps, the heiden [幣殿, a building for receiving offerings from the faithful], rather small, was falling into disrepair despite the presence of several dishes filled with vegetables, fruits, and gifts in front of the saisen bako [賽銭箱, literally the "offering box"]. For the locals, this modest temple bore the sonorous and solemn name of Ōkami Daimyōjin [大神大明神, the "Great Temple of the Greatest Spirit of the Earth"] — Kazuō almost laughed at such a stark contrast.

  But he wasn't in the mood to joke. Barefoot, he appreciated the solidity of the bare stones, but he was not reassured. The forest surrounded him only in silence and the sun was beginning to set. He then realized that he could no longer find his shoes... Where had he left them? His shirt seemed to have vanished too, like a tattered cloud.

  Sitting against a bollard, Kazuō wrapped his arms around his knees and began to cry. He couldn't hold back his tears much longer...

  He pricked up his ears as he heard a strange sound. Wiping his cheeks with his hand, he stood on his guard and listened. It was a steady breath — like a mighty, wild beast groaning. Such a deep and raucous sound was enough to make anyone shake and shudder with fear.

  Kazuō shuvered but he wasn't afraid. He couldn't explain why as he knew that the creature was getting closer. It had to be immense, and he already saw its spine bristling with spikes, but he found himself disposed to fight for his Life like a fierce warrior.

  It wasn't a wild beast but a woodcutter from the vicinity, who carried a heavy load on his back — and there were no quills or spikes but large branches of dry wood, mixed with long twigs and held in a bundle with coarse ropes.
  Upon closer observation, Kazuō thought that this tall man was about his age. He clenched the ropes in his fists so he could carry all that wood to his cottage. Two large, heavy baskets filled with fresh vegetables, ripe fruit and provisions hung on either side, his elbows holding their handles tightly against him... Loaded to the point of staggering, he struggled and huffed and puffed with every step.
  Kazuō gave him a polite greeting, but the young woodcutter looked so unusual that he didn't know how to approach him. He wore the short kimono like a peasant from the ancient times, showing his bare, slender and muscular legs, with simple waraji [草鞋, sandals made of rice straw ropes] alreday worn out by walking so much in the mountains.

  Not without difficulty, the woodcutter raised his head to look at Kazuō, not letting his heavy load collapse. Kazuō blushed when he felt his gaze on him... He couldn't be more than three or four years older than him — and he was a handsome man with youthful features, perfect blue eyes, brown hair just a little lighter than his own and a full beard.

– "I'm wearing old slippers, that's true..." he said, smiling. "But it's not smarter to go barefoot for a walk in the forest. What were you thinking?"

  They burst out laughing, like two friends happy to be together after staying apart for a long time. However, neither of them had introduced himself so far.

– "My name is Kazuō..."
– "Hajimemashite [はじめまして, "Nice to meet you"]."

  The young woodcutter bowed, then he puffed out his chest as he stood straight.

– "My name is Tarō... Tarō Ōkamiyama (狼山 太郎)."
– "It's fortunate that we met like this. To tell you the truth, I'm lost..."
– "I'm glad I've found you, then. Where did you think you were going?"
– "I was looking for my way across the creek before that bridge."
– "Huh?" Tarō asked, shaking his head. "There are many streams on the slopes of these mountains, and many bridges all along these streams, but I couldn't say that there are paths in these forests, where one only goes back and forth aimlessly..."

  Kazuō was too embarrassed to answer him.

– "What happened to your clothes?"
– "Torn to shreds, when I fell... I just lost them."
– "What about your shoes?"
– "I lost them too..."
– "And you didn't carry anything else with you?"
– "Huh... That is to say..."
– "Have you lost them as well?"
– "Yes..." Kazuō whispered, blushing.
– "Kimyo na [奇妙 な, "It's strange"]..." Tarō muttered.

 
  Taking a few steps to one side, the woodcutter took off his sandals.

– "That's a lot of stuff lost in one day..." he said. "And it looks like you’re not used to walking on such steep slopes or slippery rocks. I'll lend you my sandals so you can follow me."
– "This is very generous of you. I couldn't possibly..."
– "Come on..." Tarō said, softly but firm. "I can't wait to get home. Then you can wear more comfortable komageta [駒下駄, "pony sandals", with wooden soles]."
– "Okay... Thank you," Kazuō whispered. "Thank you, really."
– "And then, when we're at home and we sit down, you can rest and share our meal... I don't have much to offer you, not even a pair of new sandals, but a good meal is always welcome."

  Kazuō followed the young woodcutter as he took long strides, with his bundles of dry wood and baskets of provisions. He seemed accustomed to carrying heavy loads on his back, and doing hard work.

– "How long have you been lost in this forest?"
– "I honestly don't know anymore... Since this morning."
– "You must be hungry!"
– "Huh..." Kazuō didn't want to impose himself. He was only too happy to find such a simple and warm welcome in a shelter for the night, but his stomach responded for him — crying out for food.
– "Nothing is heavier and more painful to carry than an empty stomach", Tarō said with a smile. "When we get to our house, we'll have to serve you a good meal so you can regain your strength!"

■ ■ ■

In the forest, near the top of the mountain — sunset

  The atmosphere remained quite oppressive in the shade of those tall trees. The heat rose from the ground and vegetation, which was covered by long banks of mist, spreading slowly, heavily, like a dance of ghosts. Kazuō followed, as best he could, the young woodcutter who went straight ahead without worrying about the darkness or the stifling torpor of the end of the day.

  While the slope became really steep and dangerous, even for intrepid walkers, the view finally cleared as they approached the summit.

  The sounds of the forests became more familiar and Kazuō looked up to gaze at a beautiful waterfall that outlined the rocky side with a silver line, up to a small lake bordered by huge cedars.

  Behind this expanse of more sleepy waters, a low house with a thatched roof, all along the front spanning the entire length of the house stood pillars as massive as the trunks of hundred-year-old pine under cover of the thatch, as if nestled against the face of the mountain. Tarō soon made his way across the bridge, straight and flat with its solid well-adjusted planks, to a small shed where he deposited his heavy load of logs, twigs and baskets.

– "You'd better take those clothes off. They're soaked."

– "I know, but... I don't have any other clothes."

– "It'll be fine like this..." Tarō replied with a shrug. "We'll lend you a kimono for the night, and Jirō will clean your clothes tomorrow morning."

– "Jirō?"

– "He's the one who does all the laundry, and the cleaning. But right now..." Tarō smiled mischievously. "He must be busy in the kitchen!"

  Seeing the young woodcutter take off his kimono before entering the house, Kazuō could only admire his impressive physique.

  About as tall as Kazuō but with broad, round, vigorous shoulders, thick arms and forearms, meaty pectoral and abdominal muscles glistening with sweat, his waist was slender and well-proportioned to his resolutely masculine flanks, on top of powerful thighs and calves... Tarō was only dressed in a thin kuroneko fundoshi [黒猫褌, an undergarment made of fabrics, very light, usually worn for bathing] now, very close to his body.

  As he kept following him, Kazuō only had to take a look down to feel aroused as he could only admire such beautiful firm and meaty buttocks, so prominently on display. Certainly, this young man must be used to all kinds of hard work, even the most demanding!

– "Tadaima [ただいま, "I'm home"]!" Tarō loudly announced.

  A clear, warm voice answered him from the kitchen.

– "Okaeri [お帰り, "Welcome", or "Good evening"]!"

  The main room was organized around the ro [炉, a small hearth built into the floor to carve out a square-shaped, shallow space, lined with black cast iron and partially filled with ashes to maintain a cooking pot]. Kazuō was going from surprise to astonishment. The façade and the long balcony of the house overlooking the lake were modest but perfectly clean, and welcoming. The interior was even more attractive, carefully maintained and tidy. There were two large wooden chests in a corner, and no other piece of furniture, but the rooms exuded calm and order with a deep breath of fresh and well-being.

  A young man came out of the kitchen and almost pounced on Tarō to kiss him and hug him tightly as some sort of personal welcome. He was also scantily clad, and surrounded with a cloud of vapors that smelled so good it immediately whetted one's appetite.

  Seeing them in each other's arms like this, Kazuō understood a lot of things right away. Jirō was a few years younger than his companion. He was shorter but strongly built and more massive than him. His whole body bulged with generously thick muscles, looking naturally heavy but somewhat "overfed" — which made him look slower and less agile than Tarō, especially since his midsection was noticeably plump. One could only guess the presence of strong abdominal muscles buried under a healthy layer of fat around his navel, which seemed to invite one to poke and rub around it.

  Tarō was feeling the stomach and sides of this young man, who was whispering something in his ear before kissing him on the cheek. Jirō had a beautiful beard too, but he was blonde. Above the nape of his neck and down to his temples, his hair was a beautiful light brown then a shiny, light gold, down to the tips of his long, carefully raised locks. His eyebrows, also blonde, enhanced the charm of his luminous green eyes, with a soft and irresistibly seductive gaze.

– "You haven't eaten anything today, again..." Tarō said.

– "I was waiting for you. I've prepared a nice, big meal for us."

  Kazuō suddenly felt uncomfortable, like an intruder in this house, in the presence of such harmonious, cuddly and astounding intimacy. Tarō roused him from his reverie by introducing him to his companion.

– "We have a guest tonight."

– "No way! I should have known..."

  Then, at first glance, Kazuō understood that he wasn't only welcomed as a distinguished guest in their modest cabin: it was just as if he had come back home. Jirō took him in his arms so tenderly and so sincerely that the thought immediately occurred to him that they were not going to "become the best friends in the world", as the saying goes, but that they had always been the best of friends!

  He couldn't understand this. There was no explanation for it. However, Kazuō was no more interested in being told how he was feeling right now than he felt the need to understand his feelings. There he was, and it was true. He felt right at home, welcomed and comforted like a brother by these two beautiful men.

  There was no question regarding the nature of their relationship. Kazuō saw nothing wrong about it... He understood that these young men had chosen to live in seclusion, deep in the mountains — living Life the hard way, with none of the perks associated with modern comfort but free to be themselves together, safe from the prejudice and cruelties they would suffer on a daily basis, in a big city.

– "You must be tired," Jirō suggested. "You need to take a good shower, then a long hot bath to really relax..."

■ ■ ■

Under the waterfall and in the hot bath — twilight

  Kazuō was immediately given a large bath towel, a smaller towel and a big, thick natural sponge... Tarō opened one wooden panel after another to lead him to the waterfall, at the other end of their small house. Some of its stream flowed inside, where it was warmed over some large indoor fire, then poured into a very large round basin, encircled with planks of light wood with benches of smooth stones. The only light in the room came from a few paper lanterns, while the atmosphere was almost pure steam... All that hot water kept flowing into the kitchen, where Jirō was watching over dinner in the boiling, cooking pots.

  As he had invited Kazuō outside to get some fresh air and chill under the waterfall, Tarō whispered in his ear.

– "Jirō is very... affectionate, you'll see. I hope you don't mind. He never really misbehaves, but... Well, that's just the way he is. He will definitely ask to rub your back and chest, for instance."

– "Oh... Sure, why not?" smiled Kazuō. "How about you?"

– "Me? I'm more into massages. Deep, long massages..."

  Tarō's look and smile told a lot more than words could tell, which made Kazuō feel a little embarrassed. If he wasn't already blushing, his face flushed a deep red when he saw Jirō join them — as he suddenly found himself in the presence of the two young men fully naked, ready to dive under the waterfall and just so happy to enjoy this moment together.

  What was now in plain sight for him far exceeded the promises from what he had previously guessed about these boys' bodies, both so well proportioned, so generous, so supple and heavily muscular... Tarō looked more dexterous, slender and more agile. On the other hand, Jirō looked a little clumsier and more than a little thicker, but just as vigorous and probably more enduring than his companion.

  Seeing them splash and wash each other so innocently, so happily, Kazuō threw caution to the wind, dropping his underwear as he dived in to join them under the waterfall. They had to move constantly in order to stay in such freezing waters.

– "You've spent a lot of time out in the woods today..." Jirō said as he rubbed his companion's back with his sponge. "You really needed a good shower like this."

– "So do you!" Tarō suddenly grabbed him in his arms so he would make him lose his balance, and plunge him into the eddies of the waterfall.

– "Watch it! You're the one who's all sweaty."

– "You spend all day in the kitchen..." Tarō teased him like a child. "Your thick skin and tangled hair smell like fried veggies, grilled meat and rice cooked in cream and coconut milk. Just so... appetizing!"

– "You can talk! You smell like damp tree trunks and moss all soaked with rain, like golden foliage dripping with morning dew, like fresh and ripe tasty fruits..." Jirō hugged him back in a cuddle. "You're soaked in all that wild Nature and you're sweating... so much!"

– "You sweat at least as much as I do! You're like this lump of sponge..."

  Kazuō was quite amused as he watched them fighting like this, lovingly.

– "You're drenched with your own sweat because you keep working too much, in the hot blazing sun... But me?" Jirō added with an adolescent, mischievous smile. "That's because I'm chubby!"

  When they felt clean and fresh, the three young men took their places in the large bathtub to catch their breath and get some rest. Kazuō faced them as he was given half the space in their pool so he could stretch out his arms and legs. Tarō held Jirō close to him so he could massage his shoulders, then he let him rub his back and chest... While they were still in each other's arms, they went on teasing and encouraging each other before dinner.

– "You must be hungry." Jirō suggested.

– "You're hungry too!" Tarō insisted. "You're so hungry..."

– "You are going to eat really well tonight."

– "You have to eat well too, Jirō... And eat a lot!"

– "There's a big, tasty meal ready for us. You're going to eat so much..."

– "You're going to eat more, a lot more... You have to eat a LOT!"

  Kazuō didn't understand why Jirō would need to eat so much, when he had just commented on the fact that he was rather "plump". He was fully aware of it but he kept talking about food, all the delicious food he had prepared for his companions. He was obviously focused on the most common and modest pleasures in Life — like an opportunity to sit down, lean back, drink a lot and eat large amounts of food. Everyone's stomach began to growl as they listened to him describing their coming feast !

  The atmosphere in the bathroom, warm and steamy, invited them to daydream. Even though they were all naked, Kazuō felt comfortable and had no desire to get out of the water. He had no desire to leave that little house in the mountains. He suddenly remembered his new apartment in town, cluttered with moving boxes: there wasn't enough room to open them so he could store his belongings!

  Just as Tarō had announced, Jirō soon turned to Kazuō to offer to scrub and clean him with his sponge and rub him with his bare hands. A deep feeling of well-being invaded him under such carefree, soft and caressing rubs. He felt like his body was melting in the slowly flowing, hot water.

– "You too, Kazuō... You need to eat, of course."

– "And eat well..."

– "Eat a lot!"

■ ■ ■

Inside the house — night, storm in the distance

– “Itadakimasu !” [いただきます, “Bon appétit !”]

  Sitting in front of the cooking pot, Kazuō filled a large bowl of broth with nice pieces of fried chicken breasts, noodles, fried onions, cabbage, carrots, and other well-seasoned vegetables... Everything was just so delicious as it looked.

  Jirō, who kept coming and going from the kitchen to the fire, served him bowls of rice to go with the broth, long plates of sashimi [刺身, fish served raw], duck skewers, and a fair amount of gyoza [餃子, pan-fried dumplings]. Every new plate looked more appetizing than the last.

  The whole meal was remarkably tasty, and filling, washed down with craft beer served in tall mugs of thick glass... Kazuō had already helped himself twice, but Tarō invited him to dive in for more helpings, again and again. When he wasn't serving his friends himself, or coming back from the kitchen with more white rice, thickly sliced sashimi or hot and spicy omelets, Jirō was too busy eating to talk... He didn't look like he would go for long speaches anyway.

  The two young men ate with a good appetite and at a remarkable pace, which naturally caused Kazuō to hurry up so he could follow them.

  Tarō swallowed large mouthfuls of rice and bit into the duck skewers, with a voracious grin that showed such sharp and perfect white teeth! As for Jirō, he positively gorged himself on everything that was within his reach, loud and crude, as if he was determined to swallow as much food as possible before going to sleep...

– "The weather's been muggy all day..." Jirō finally said, between two greedy mouthfuls of fried fish. "We'll have another storm tonight."

  Tarō shrugged. He wasn't afraid of the storm, lightning or thunder.

  Kazuō felt comfortably full. Jirō had just served him another rich dish of sashimi with beautiful river white fish, marinated and perfectly spicy, a sumptuous mushroom omelet and another large bowl of rice... A few minutes earlier, he had dipped the ladle into the pot of broth and served him again for the sixth time! While eating for two or three, at least, Jirō looked eager to share all the food he cooked so generously. Kazuō was truly enjoying himself, but he needed a break to catch his breath...

– "What do you guys do for a living?"

  The two young men exchanged a look — silent and a little surprised, as if they didn't quite understand Kazuō's question... They were only busy eating, at the moment. When he was done with his roasted meat, Tarō answered.

– "I chop wood... I hunt... I've caught these delicious ducks that we're feasting on tonight. I work in a small field on the side of the mountain, and I go to the market so we can get some rare products like those incense sticks we burn in the room, and chicken and eggs. As for Jirō..."

  His companion was almost done with his bowl of thick, creamy broth.

– "Jirō hunts with me, but he does a lot better when he goes fishing. He caught all the beautiful fish he's served as sashimi tonight, but he also loves a good deep-fry dish. He tends to our small vegetable garden, and that's about it. He does all the cooking..."

– "And I wash the dishes..." Jirō added, drinking his beer in one long sip.

– "He does all the housekeeping."

– "And the laundry."

– "You keep the fire running, so this place stays warm and toasty..."

– "Tarō takes care of all the tools in our house. He sharpens the knives and the arrows that we use when we go hunting."

  Kazuō had every reason to be impressed. Nothing they had described felt like anything he would call a normal "job" or it amounted to so many deals, sports and hobbies that could never be counted as "business"... Tarō and Jirō didn't seem to realize that their lives were devoid of any kind of comfort — even the most obvious little things, such as electricity.

  And yet, the light of the candles in the paper lanterns felt so warm and so simple, so comforting...

– "How about you, Kazuō?"

– "Yes?"

– "I hope your work provides you with enough good food."

– "Huh... I don't know." Kazuō was rather reluctant to comment on his situation. "I didn't have time to work my way up into the ministry, or make much progress with my colleagues... They spent all their working hours at the office, while they sent me out on the field, but I've noticed that most of them got fat and obese by the time they turned forty."

– "How did they do it?" Jirō asked, filling his bowl again.

– "They must be eating really well!" Tarō suggested.

  They looked more interested about this than anything else.

– "I don't think so... To be honest, I think they ate quite poorly."

– "Then I hope you never eat like them!"

  Obviously, Tarō made sure that he and Jirō always had something ready so they could "eat well", and Jirō was redoubling his efforts so they would always eat plenty, in an almost endless stream of healthy, tasty dishes — served in such generous, heavy helpings, washed down with local beer and whole milk...

  Kazuō thought about what he used to eat before he met them. A few slices of dust dipped in a bowl of smoke? No, thanks! Not anymore... Considering the beautiful assortment of fish that Jirō had laid out in front of him, with a huge bowl of white rice and another huge bowl of stir-fried noodles, he suddenly grabbed them and started feasting on all that food without restraint.

  The handsome fair-haired young man smiled when he saw him eat with such a healthy appetite, and he looked eager to follow his example.

– "I'm glad that you find this creamy broth to your liking."

– "It's delicious! I swear, I've never eaten anything so good..."

– "Jirō just loves to cook," Tarō said. "He's a pretty talented cook, and he does his best to prepare large meals for us, every day, wholesome and tasty..."

– "And fattening!" Jirō added, feeling his bulging, plump and bouncing stomach after he was done with his ninth bowl of broth.

  Kazuō had also just emptied his own large bowl of noodles and fried chicken. With his mouth full, he looked at his new friends with a puzzled look on his face.

– "It's tasty, but why does it have to be... fattening?"

– "Because..." Tarō replied. "Jirō needs to grow nice and big!"

– "Jirō?" Kazuō whispered, as he tried to follow their logic.

  The handsome blonde boy suddenly let out a deep, loud and booming belch, after a long gulp of beer.

– "BUUUUUURRRRRRRP..."

  He was already pouring himself another big bowl full of fried fish, with a satisfied smile on his face.

– "We want Jirō to put on weight!" Tarō laughed.

– "You also need to gain weight..."

  Kazuō still didn't understand.

– "Tarō is a wrestling champion, the best in this whole country! We have a small gym where we train every day, but he needs a worthy opponent to challenge himself and get even more physical about it."

– "Jirō is quite strong. He's stubborn and resilient. He may be a bit too clumsy to fight and he lacks flexibility, but he can lift me off the ground anytime and he can take a mean punch!"

– "I keep trying but I haven't been able to beat him yet, not even once."

– "As if you could beat me, when we wrestle!" Tarō laughed. "Our only problem is that we have both reached our limit... I can't make much progress anymore, unless I get to train with a significantly heavier partner." He felt the need to insist, as he told Kazuō. "Much heavier!"

– "That's why I have to stuff myself, so I can grow... much bigger."

– "And rounder!"

– "Yup..." Jirō could hardly answer, gulping down on large mouthful after another, looking a bit flushed at this point. 

– "And fatter!" Tarō almost roared, enthusiastically.

– “BUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRP...” 

  That last belch was loud and crude, but it didn't feel so rude. Jirō had been drinking a lot, and he looked like he couldn't eat another bite. He smiled as he slapped his round, hefty belly.

– "Phew! I'm stuffed. I'm full. I'm going to sleep well..."

  Tarō came over to rub Jirō's stomach, tenderly.

– "Come on. You know how much you have to eat to put on weight!"

– "It's a good thing that we have all those desserts ready..." The young man responded, slowly standing up with an irresistible smile.

  While Jirō was busy in the kitchen Tarō returned to his seat and took Kazuō into his confidence.

– "My poor little Jirō..." he said, so as not to be heard from afar. "He's so sweet and he really likes to eat a lot, but he never gains much weight. He keeps doing what it takes to grow massive, and fat... but even when he stuffs himself silly, I have to stuff him really forcefully or we'll never make any progress!"

– "That's so sad..." Kazuō whispered.

  As a matter of fact, Tarō ate a lot less than his partner but he still consumed large amounts of meat and fish, noodles and rice, vegetables and starchy foods. He had to work hard and work-out harder in order to remain so slender, both thick and trim — just as he was determined to pack on more and more muscle mass...

– "You know, Kazuō..." Tarō suggested softly. "Jirō goes to great lengths to cook such delicious vast pots of broth, and I think he'd rather move on to desserts and sweets now... but with only two or three ladles, you could finish this. Besides, your bowl is empty again. What if you made the effort to clean this large pot with the rice I have left? It would make him so happy."

– "Really?"

– "Oh, definitely. You'll see..."

  Kazuō grabbed the heavy cast-iron pot, and poured the contents directly into his bowl. The broth was really rich, with so many small pieces of boiled chicken, fried fish crumbs and a mass of onions and vegetables at the bottom. It looked thicker than cream but it smelled so good. In a few large gulps, shamelessly greedy, he was done with that huge pot.

– "Subarashii [素晴らしい, "Magnificent"] Kazuō!"

  For their desserts, Jirō had prepared cups of fresh fruits and berries with ice-cream, bananas, mangoes, roasted pineapples and fritters, as well as various kinds of mochi [餅, rice-based cakes] and dango [団子, skewers of fragrant mochi balls].

  Coming back with large trays full of treats, he wondered why Tarō was applauding their guest. When he saw the heavy cast-iron pot completely empty, and all the dishes and bowls in front of Kazuō, he put down those desserts to wrap his well-muscled arms around him.

– "Omedetoo gozaimasu [おめでとうございます, Congratulations] Kazuō !"

  Heavily sated, the stuffed young man didn't know what to say.

– "BUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRP..."

  Kazuō blushed, suddenly understanding how rude he was with his hosts. He didn't expect them to react as they did: Tarō looked up with a smile and Jirō, also smiling, had tears in his eyes.

– "You have such a good appetite... That is so appealing!"

– "I'm not used to eating so much, but you cook so well..." Kazuō did his best to behave and sound more polite. "I'm sure the two of you can easily finish a pot like this anytime."

– "Oh, no... It usually lasts for two or three nights before we lick it clean, especially in this weather, at the height of Summer."

– "Even for you, Jirō?"

– "Me?" the young man replied with a hearty laugh. "If I had to gorge myself with the whole contents of such a cookpot overnight, Tarō would have to force me to gobble it down and feed me until dawn, like a duck! I'm really happy that you're eating so well."

  As expected, Jirō laid out an abundance of desserts and tidbits in front of his friend, inviting him to feast even more... Kazuō was amazed, but he couldn't get himself to feel hungry at the moment, not for quite some time. His stomach was full to the brim, groaning and rumbling almost as much as the nearing storm.

  Looking up, he met the eyes of his young blonde cook and suddenly felt terribly embarrassed... Tarō and Jirō waited for him to help himself first, so they could respond to his glutton's instincts like the naturally sloppy, greedy bad boys they were.

– "Can't you find anything to your liking in these desserts?"

  There was such sadness in those sparkling green eyes that Kazuō felt ready to devour all the desserts within his reach, right then — not only the ones that had just been served to him, but also those of his friends!

– "Everything looks so good that I don't know what to devour first..."

  He didn't want to rush but his hands grabbed the first bowls in front of him before he could made a decision. Tarō and Jirō watched him, smiling sympathetically, and the three of them ate so fast that they were done with all their desserts in no time. There was still a little more ice-cream left for him.

– "Hmmmph, so good!" Kazuō mumbled, stuffing himself even more.

– "Really, do you like it?" Tarō asked, as he was piling up plates, bowls, and dishes to be cleaned up in the kitchen.

– "It's delicious."

– "And rest assured, it's prepared with care..." Jirō laughed as he walked out of the kitchen, his bloated belly bouncing with every step. Coming back with one last plate of pineapple fritters, he gave him one while he was munching on another. "And it's fattening!" 

■ ■ ■

Before the bedroom — late into the night

  While Jirō was cleaning the dishes in the kitchen, Tarō prepared some green tea so that they could digest better during their sleep.

  Kazuō had feasted way too much. He was more surprised than anyone, that he had let himself go so much... His new friends congratulated him on his appetite, but he had never been such a glutton — he had never even had an opportunity to eat so well!

– "You must be tired, Kazuō."

– "I can't keep my eyes open..."

– "Jirō has already prepared your bedroom. It's tiny but tidy, and cozy... Then, if you don't mind the storm, you should sleep well enough."

– "Domo arigatoo [どうもありがとう, "Thank you"], Tarō."

  The room was modest, but Kazuō thought that his entire apartment could fit within these four panels... On immaculately clean tatami mats [畳, padded mats and checkered on the floor], there were two futons [布団, mattresses], one on top of the other, with various cushions and a light blanket. A much thicker blanket, made with furs, covered the lower half of his bed.

  An incense stick burned in a corner, on a resting place. The scent was restful and heady, in the dark... Tarō and Jirō would sleep in their own bedroom, on the other side of the wall, right next to him.

  Inviting him to use his room and bed exactly as if he were at home, Tarō confided in Kazuō again.

– "Our house must seem so small and so shabby to you... Jirō and I are not policed or civilized. We have no good manners, or education. No, we are crude and a bit wild, rough and rude... You could say we're dumb, to be quite honest."

– "I really have no complaints about your hospitality."

– "We're just poor. We don't have much to offer you, but we're always willing to share. I believe Jirō appreciates you as much as I do, and he'll be happy to cook all the dishes you want that whet your appetite."

–"That's really nice..." Kazuō blushed as he rubbed his full belly. "And I don't doubt it, but I don't think I could swallow anything for a while... If I had to bite on one more doughnut, I would burst like a bubble!"

– "You need to get some rest... Jirō needs to sleep well too, and digest. You'll feel better tomorrow morning, and you should be hungry!"

– "We'll see about that..." Kazuō sighed, suppressing another burp.

– "This is nothing, or almost nothing... but you won't want for anything."

  Before he left him alone, Tarō placed a kiss on his forehead.

– "Oyasuminasai [おやすみなさい, "Good night"] Kazuō."

■ ■ ■

In front of the house, by the lake — cloudy weather, coming rain

  Kazuō had no desire to leave Tarō and Jirō so soon when they seemed to want to get to know each other better. The storm had at last ceased — after a restless night, in which it had not ceased to rumble, fierce, shaking even the beams of the house, mingling with the rumours of thunder the roars of wild beasts, the crackling and whistling of fire, the furious echoes of earthquakes, and fantastic, dizzying cries, in the steady roll of cymbals of the foliage like immense waves tearing the sea — his new friends did not cease to furnish him reasons to stay.

– "It’s been raining all night. It's not safe to go on such steep slopes in this weather..."

– "The rain won't stop for a day or two. It's better to stay sheltered, and drink something warm."

– "Despite the rain, the weather is muggy. It's better to rest."

  For the next few days, Kazuō enjoyed their hospitality.

  Tarō and Jirō did not follow the advice they gave him, since one or the other was often away in the forest for a few hours, sometimes for the whole day, sometimes even all night long.

  As he had announced, Tarō was going to cut and collect wood to heat their house. He also went to market, from which he returned laden with vegetables and fruit, chickens, eggs, and other provisions. After three or four days, he would venture into the woods with his bow and hunt a few ducks or other fine pieces of game to enhance their daily stew.

  In the morning, almost every day, he would take his partner to the gym they had set up between the kitchen and the bathroom. It was quite spacious, the floor covered with a layer of sand deep enough to cushion their fall, framed by four plank paths. The room smelled of sweat and dried bamboo leaves.

  The only training equipment they owned were large stones of various weights, roughly rounded... Tarō and Jirō would lift them up and carry them in slow and careful moves or walks to test their strength. That was only warm-ups, then they were ready to move on to proper wrestling.

  Kazuō was pleased to just observe them, so far. They didn't need a referee. Jirō always lifted heavier weights than Tarō, but he was unable to hold his opponent during a fight. Tarō, lean and mean as he was, more spontaneous, never failed to escape his opponent's grasp and, in the same movement, grab Jirō by the waist to make him tumble down or push him, with a single swing, out of the circle in the sand.

  Their fights lasted only three or four minutes, and they kept fighting almost without a break. By the end of the morning, Tarō had obviously won — more than forty times in a row! At least Jirō was no sore loser. All dirty and out of breath, he was the first to laugh at his own clumsiness. His companion wrapped his arms around him to help him stand up and comfort him.

– "You’ll have to put on a little more weight, my poor Jirō!"

– "A little weight won't be enough... I still haven't managed to lift you off the ground, despite my best efforts, and you can do it so effortlessly."

– "You must be hungry! And you have to eat a lot to grow heavier."

– "Let's take a good shower, then I'll cook another large meal for us!"

  Despite his somewhat clumsy appearance, Jirō worked very hard. Cooking, washing and housecleaning kept him busy, as he wanted their home clean, tidy and relaxing at all times... Kazuō was surprised, when the weather was still so cold with the wind and the rain outside, in the evening, as he felt the tatami mats warm and soft under his bare feet. There was a simple explanation.

– "All the water I use for the bath flows through a long set of pipes that snake their way under the floor. Then the heat comes from the ground. The water that flows back into the lake, under the threshold of the house, ends up almost as cold as when it was taken from the waterfall."

– "Huh... Ingenious."

– "It's nothing. I'm not very bright..." Jirō smiled and blushed. "It's just something I came up with. We find a use for the water we can heat up, as much as we can, even the water I use to cook our meals."

  As a matter of fact, Jirō showed some skills in the handling of natural resources or waste... With cooking fat, peels from various citrus fruits he served for dessert and the ashes of the hearth, he made his own soap to clean what little laundry they had, or he just made more scented candles for all the paper lanterns that he kept placing here and there.

  He did not always stay in the house, as he tended to a small garden. It provided them with plenty of potatoes, onions, and herbs... Sometimes, he also ventured into the woods and spent the night out, catching river fish and bringing them back in large baskets. Then he would fry them or cook them in coconut milk and cream for lunch.

  When he came back from fishing, before dawn, Jirō was soaked like a sponge and frozen to the core, but he always looked so happy with his catch... Tarō greeted him with a large towel to keep him warm and dry, then a green tea was ready for him with the breakfast he had prepared the night before.

  Tarō and Jirō had divided their activities equally. For an athletic and determined young man like Tarō, the prospect of winning a regional or a national championship had to be his top priority. Training hard every day with his faithful sidekick, as they did, he would have all the more merit.

  Obviously, Jirō supported him in this project, actively participating in his training and encouraging him as best he could. As a result, his main occupation was to work hard and cook for hours, from sunrise to sunset, and put huge amounts of very rich food on the table, in order to provide the extra calories they both needed so much on a daily basis.

  Tarō had to force himself a little to eat so much in the morning, around noon and late into the night. He showed a naturally healthy appetite, especially after a pretty intense workout or when he came back from one of his long days in the woods, chopping wood or hunting... Then he was quite a voracious eater!

  However, this was nothing compared to what Jirō ate during the same meals, as they always sat together in front of Kazuō. The blonde young man consumed about as much vegetables and red meat as his partner, but he devoured almost twice as much fish, and he put some serious effort into eating vast amounts of fried rice and noodles. He also drank a lot of beer to better put on weight.

  Their attitude was just so laid-back as ever. They would start eating sitting straight but Tarō seized the finest pieces of chicken or fried fish within his reach. He let out a loud burp when he swallowed too fast. That was nothing compared to Jirō, who kept stuffing himself as much as possible. After a dozen of plates and bowls, he would let out louder and longer burps with every long sip of beer.

– “BUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRP...”

  Kazuō smiled as he saw them eat like this and fill their bellies. He couldn't complain about anything, since he was served so generously that he ate twice as much fish and meat as Tarō did. Jirō also served him with almost twice as much rice as he ate. There was so much sashimi, duck skewers and stir-fried noodles with shrimp that he had his work cut out for him to eat along with them. Lucky for him, he was givenn even more beer than his two companions drank together, so he could wash it all down. It was always such a feast — when it was time to move on to desserts, Kazuō could barely get up from his cushion!

  It was still entertaining to watch Jirō gobble up mochi after mochi or tall glasses of mango milkshakes, trying to keep up with Kazuō at his own pace. Finally, when he declared himself "sated full", Tarō came to sit behind him and gently wrapped an arm around his shoulders. Then he would push a banana or pineapple fritters up to his lips, encouraging him to eat a little more — and a little more.

– "Come on, my little Jirō, pull yourself together... Eat!"

– "Hmmmph... Hmmmph..."

– "Another banana, Jirō..." One more bite... Again!"

– "Hmmmph..."

– "And a nice big doughnut, now! Open wide, and swallow..."

– "Hmmmph..."

– "That's good, Jirō! Once more, a little more food..."

– "Hmmmph..."

– "Another doughnut... Come on! You've got to eat, Jirō..."

– "Hmmmph... Hmmmph..."

– "You have to eat a lot, to gain weight and get fat!"

  Kazuō couldn't help but be captivated, even a fascinated, as he watched Tarō stuff his partner with thick donuts and bananas. Jirō did his best to keep up. He was absolutely right when he had told Kazuō that his companion was feeding him like a duck to make him fatter, thicker and heavier.

– "Eat up, eat up, Jirō! You should take a leaf out of Kazuō's book... He has such a good appetite."

■ ■ ■

Inside the house — bright, sunny weather

  Kazuō was taking a long nap, listening to the lazy semi [蝉, Japanese cicadas] rocked in the branches of the trees gently swaying by the wind, drinking the dew from the leaves and basking in the sun, singing from dawn to dusk.

  As he stretched out his legs and arms, he felt particularly pleased that he coudn't reach the edges or the sides of his blankets. They smelled good. Jirō had already cleaned and changed them a few times since the first night he had spent in his bedroom... He felt such a deep sense of well-being that it made him smile and sigh.

  The house where Tarō and Jirō lived was small and long, but laid out so well, and so comfortable that Kazuō wished he would never leave. He knew all the rooms except the kitchen and the fireplace next to it, carved deeper into the side of the mountain. The training room had also become his playground since he followed his friends during their warm-ups, every morning. He was still content to watch them as they wrestled, but Tarō seemed willing to take him on as an opponent in future fights, while Jirō would be busy preparing a hearty and abundant meal for them.

  Tarō encouraged Kazuō to practice and gain strength, to eat well, feast without restraint, drink plenty of beer and rest for long hours after every meal. One of his priorities was to sleep well during the night, despite the heat of those long summer evenings, despite the sometimes persistent rumors of thunderstorms and waterfall, and despite the cries of wild beasts that could prowl on the other side of the lake. When he was done with his training, he had no chores to do inside or no work waiting for him outside their home.

  How many days had gone by since he was their guest? Two weeks, maybe. Was it a month already? Or more? He couldn't say. Nevertheless, Kazuō felt that he had made remarkable progress in their company. And he felt happy and proud about his progress.

  Walking around the house, dressed in his short, freshly ironed kimono, lightly scented with essence of mandarine, Kazuō enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere of the main room, opened as it was onto that sunny lake. At this silent hour, Jirō must still be busy in the kitchen, or somewhere in the garden, and Tarō was gone to chop wood as usual.

  Jirō had arranged big cups filled with diced bananas, mangoes, and coconuts all covered with honey, roasted pineapples, and wild berry-flavored ice-cream. Kazuō was invited to help himself as much as he wished... Instead of the traditional bouquet of flowers, there was a large dish of the most appetizing doughnuts in the tokonoma [床の間, small decorative alcove, with a raised floor].

  Kazuō felt like a new man — the once frail and anxious ministry clerk lost in the woods was little more than a distant memory. His beard had grown, abundant and neat, darker than Tarō's. It seemed to him that he had grown a bit taller... He was noticeably thicker and stronger. Stronger than he had ever been. Stronger than he had ever dared to imagine. 

  In such a friendly and caring environment, training with his friends and eagerly encouraged by them, well-fed and only busy sleeping all night and pretty much all afternoon, Kazuō enjoyed his new Life to the fullest. He had steadily put on weight and muscle mass, without losing his agility. Even his appetite was growing stronger, day after day.

  His new life agreed with him so much, with his two comrades. Tarō would watch over him and massage his back in the shower after fighting all morning against each other, making sure he wouldn't get injured during these exercises. Then Jirō, who was always so sweet, treated him with all kinds of dishes — so much tastier and so much more nutritious than anything he had ever eaten before.

  Kazuō couldn’t complain, in this comfortable, healthy, dynamic and warm environment... He was admirably well treated! It was a pleasure for him to show his appreciation, both in the training room with Tarō and at the meals that Jirō prepared.

  Tarō was interested in his mass, and he sometimes enjoyed lifting him up and taking him in his arms to carry him around their wrestling room several times, in the sand or on the plank path.

  While Jirō had to stuff himself for lunch and dinner, forcefully gobbling up as much vegetables, fish, and meat as possible, up to a dozen bowls of stir-fried rice or noodles with sauce, and drinking six mugs of beer to improve his weight gain, Kazuō only enjoyed himself as he swallowed without making any effort — and yet, he was the one who kept growing larger, day in and day out. He already looked noticeably rounder.

– "How lucky you are, Kazuō! I wish I could do the same..."

– "I'm pretty sure that you've put on weight too, Jirō."

  Huffing and puffing, the young blonde man rubbed his healthy big belly.

– "This is nothing... I'm not round enough yet. I should push myself to stuff more food down my throat and into my stomach!"

– "You're doing fine. You eat as much rice as I do."

– "And I drink almost as much beer..."

– "Jirō is right," Tarō interrupted. "It's not enough! You have to finish your desserts before you go to sleep. Come over here, my little Jirō, so I can feed you."

  Smiling but sighing, Jirō came to place himself comfortably in the arms of his companion, surrounded by large dishes filled with fresh fruits and cakes... There was a whole assortment of tasty desserts for Kazuō, but Tarō stuck to heavily nourishing fritters and ice-cream for his partner.

– "Come on, Jirō... Eat!"

– "Hmmmph..."

– "Another doughnut... Yet another, Jirō... Again!"

– "Hmmmph..."

– "Just a little longer, my little Jirō! Another banana..."

– "Hmmmph... Hmmmph..."

– "You need to eat a lot, Jirō... a lot! If you ate like Kazuō, you would finally gain weight and become... really meaty!"

– "Hmmmph! I'll do my best..." Jirō smiled, his mouth full.

  Forcefed and stuffed to the brim, his belly rounder then a ball of mochi, he took all the empty bowls, plates, dishes and trays into the kitchen... Tarō was brewing black tea.

– "Jirō and I will rest for an hour or two, then we will go hunting in the forest when the moon is high..."

– "Tonight?"

– "Yes, we need to bring home the bacon, and red meat. Hopefully, we'll be able to kill a deer or a wild boar."

  Kazuō admired Tarō's determination. The wind had picked up. This night would be very cold, in the woods... The ominous rumble of the foliage mingled with the murmurs of the waterfall and running water, when they heard Jirō burp a very long, deep and satisfied belch, which made them smile. His companion had prepared two cups for tea.

– "Ignore these rumors and try to sleep well tonight. We won't be back too early. It's a full moon outside, and we need to bring back something big enough to eat for the next few days, but we must be cautious. There are wild beasts on the prowl... Above all, stay comfortably tucked up in your bed and don't worry about anything, even if we're away."

– "Okay."

– "Jirō and I feel better, knowing that you are safe inside. We never liked leaving our little home empty."

– "Wakarimashita [わかりました, "I get it"]."

  Well fed and satiated, Kazuō wanted nothing better than to go to sleep.

  Watching Tarō pour black tea for his companion, it occured to him that it must be a special mixture so they would stay awake all night... Then a thought occurred to him, which he did not expect to share with him.

– "Tarō?"

– "Yes?"

– "I'm eating well, wouldn't you say?"

– "Of course! And I find it really good."

– "Jirō eats well, too."

– "I should think so... He likes to stuff himself, but you know how much he has to eat. That's a lot more, a lot more, so he can grow thicker and heavier. It's sad that we are often reduced to feeding him so forcefully!"

– "Indeed..." Kazuō nodded. "But what if it happened to me? I mean, if I couldn't put on weight anymore, no matter how much I enjoy all these tasty dishes I get to eat. Jirō and you are so generous with your food..."

– "Yes?"

– "Would you feed me, like you feed Jirō?"

– "In a heartbeat..." Tarō replied, with a mischievous smile.

■ ■ ■

In front of the house — sunny morning

  Tarō was not kidding when he told Kazuō that their night would be restless. The wind in the trees howed and wheezed... It seemed to him that he had even heard wolves howling in the midst of that turmoil.

  Lying snugly under thick, silky blankets, resting against soft cushions, he had let his paper lantern go out and fallen asleep.

  All was quiet when he got up, in the morning... The lake shimmered under a lightly cloudy sky. The landscape was all green and grey. Alone in the house, Kazuō remained naked, coming and going as he pleased from one room to another. Somehow, he remembered only then that he had left his old clothes outside?

  His black pants and suit were hanging on the line but, much to Kazuō's surprise, they were in tatters, with traces of claws and fangs all over, as if they had been lacerated by some wild beasts...

– "Torn too? Now I have nothing left to wear!"

  Tarō had warned him about wolves that might lurk and come out of the woods. Kazuō shrugged his shoulders and picked up the first kimono he could find. He felt with satisfaction that the cloth tightened him a little around his arms and behind his back. Then he sat down in his place for breakfast.

  Jirō had done it again. There was more than enough food, so delicious and nutritious, to keep him busy until they came back from their hunt. Kazuō quickly started his breakfast, greedily swallowing large mouthfuls with satisfied grunts and sighs!

  He heard them come back, when the sun was already high in the sky.

  The night must have been really rough... They were all smeared with dirt, with blades of grass and leaves in their hair, and all glistening with sweat. Tarō looked like a warrior who would not stop fighting, alone against a troop of mercenaries armed to their teeth. He looked wounded, but the blood that covered him was obviously not his, and he had two pairs of ducks hanging from his neck.

  Jirō didn't have it any easier. With his muddy kimono, wide open, he looked like a wrestler, more imposing than his companion as he followed him, staggering a little and sweating just as much. He carried a large dead stag on his back, a truly heavy but magnificent beast!

– "We've been lucky..." he said, slowly catching his breath.

– "What a night!" Tarō sighed, hanging his bow by the threshold.

– "But what a great catch! When we have this deer butchered, I will cut it down carefully and simmer its meat for our next stews..."

– "Then there will be no need for us to hunt for a month."

– "And when we've eaten all this good meat, our bellies will be full!" added Jirō, smiling and running his tongue over his lips. "There's a tall, young male. Its flesh should be tender and marbled to perfection..."

  Kazuō had no doubt that he would receive a good share of it. All of Jirō's efforts to gain weight did not make him any less generous, or less willing to share all the food he prepared. He admired Kazuō's appetite, and he was always eager to treat him until he was absolutely full.

  Tarō didn't even have to insist or suggest that they serve their friend in abundance at every meal. Jirō was naturally kind and he was quick to invite Kazuō to show him how to make his belly grow bigger, round and thick. The young man forced himself to gorge until tears rolled down his cheeks, while Kazuō was stuffing his face and enjoying every bite.

– "BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRP..."

– "You eat so well, Kazuō! It's a pleasure to watch you."

– "It's a pleasure..." Tarō whispered with a mysterious smile.

■ ■ ■

In the wrestling room — quiet day

  Kazuō felt reassured when his friends took some well-deserved rest, as they rubbed their backs or gently embraced each other under the waterfall. They were already falling asleep as they stumbled back inside. 

  Jirō had a lot of work to do. For the next few days, he prepared a rich and filling stew on which they feasted like beasts, helping after helping, stuffing themselves full without any restraint. However, he had to spend a few more days and nights outside to catch fish, in the river and on the large lake in the heart of the forest. Their food consumption was higher than ever, since there were three large and healthy young men living under the same roof.

  In his absence, Tarō and Kazuō had plenty of time to train and fight. Every morning went through warm-ups, stretching and lifting weights, then wrestling for hours.

  Kazuō had made such progress that he could go against Tarō. He felt strong enough and heavy enough to make the first move and tease him.

– "Let's not go too fast." Tarō recommended, cautiously. "It's good that you are ready to fight. You've grown nicely thick and strong, but you don't want to get hurt."

– "What are you so scared of? That I could lift you up or crush you?"

  The thick stew left for them by Jirō must be working wonders, as well as the many small dishes on the side, so tasty and rich... Kazuō was beginning to feel quite heavy. He kept piling on weight, day after day, and he was clearly growing fatter. He was actually proud of his recent progress, looking more imposing as he faced his opponent.

– "If you don't even try to lift me up, I'll knock you out!"

  Tarō was always eager to challenge himself and play rough.

  After a few more fights, he was still on top of the game but Kazuō did not let himself be easily defeated and they resumed their exercises. Still carrying their heavy round stones at arm's length, they walked around the room like ducks a few times then carefully stood up.

– "You're lifting much heavier stones!" Tarō commented. "I'm impressed. In a few weeks, you'll be able to lift the ones Jirō uses for his training."

– "I should hope so!"

– "You're growing mighty heavy as well..."

  The two young men were huffing, puffing and sweating profusely, going for such tense moves, so exhausting and repetitive... Kazuō was hungry and thirsty. Around them, the heat and the humidity were stifling.

– "Yes, I feel like I've put on some serious mass."

– "And you carry it well."

– "I wasn't much into sports... I never did any kind of physical exercice. Certainly nothing like this. It's amazing that I get to feel more muscular and healthy, bigger, thicker..."

– "And fatter!"

– "Well, that too..." Kazuō laughed. "That's because you two feed me so generously. I feel like I'm growing a bit heaver every day!"

– "You know how happy it makes me, and Jirō loves watching you eat his food with such a good appetite. You can go for even more..."

– "The way he cooks is the reason why I'm getting fat!"

– "Yes..." Tarō replied with a sigh, letting his stone fall in the sand. "He's put in some real effort lately, too. He's put on weight, and he's grown a little thicker around the waist... I'm really proud of him, but he needs to grow a lot bigger. Then he has to eat a lot more!"

  Tarō wasn't wrong. For more than a week, Jirō had done his best to gobble up huge amounts of food and fill his belly as much as possible, following Kazuō's lead... And every night, by the end of his meal, Tarō kept force-feeding him like a prized pig — carefully but relentlessly, until his tummy looked ready to burst!

  That was the least they could do to make him grow fatter.

  At the end of a week, while following such a diet, Jirō stood tall on his legs, with his powerful thighs and meaty buttocks, caressing his belly with a sigh of relief... He felt rewarded as he found it somewhat heavier, thicker and softer in his hands. He sighed with a dreamy smile.

– "Thanks to you, he's managed to put on a little weight."

– "Thanks to me, really?" Kazuō laughed, not without a secret tickle of satisfaction, thinking that he may have played a part in it, after all. "I'd rather say that this venison stew he made is just so fatty as it is tasty! He cooks so well, he's right to enjoy it so much..."

– "Jirō is not one to brag. He has a knack for cooking meals that should make the three of us grow fatter and fatter... It feels like his body burns it all down into thin ashes! You have to encourage him too, push him to put on serious mass and sport a big belly, nice and round."

– "Okay, count me in!"

  Sitting in the sand, the two young men exchanged a look. They were so hot that they found themselves stewing in their own sweat... They were also thirsty — and so very hungry.

– "Are you thinking about him right now?"

– "Of course, I'm always worried about him."

– "Jirō can fight and take care of himself..."

– "I know, but I don't feel right when he's out in the woods without me. That's how it is... I can't help it."

  Tarō placed his hand on Kazuō's shoulder.

– "We should take a good shower. Then we have to eat a really large and wholesome meal, to regain our strength."

– "Yes..."

– "Then you should sleep on it, and sleep well, to grow bigger."

– "Yes... I'm exhausted but I'm hungry!"

– "Then, when you're in bed..." Tarō pressed his shoulder, gently. "What would you say if I joined you and massaged your back, to relax you?"

  Kazuō blushed as Tarō slowly wrapped his arms around him.

– "Yes..." He whispered without even thinking about it. "Yes..."

■ ■ ■

In the bedroom — afternoon, looming darkness

  Their abundant meal was quickly dispatched... Kazuō had never stuffed himself so quickly, so voraciously! Tarō had started massaging his back and shoulders under the waterfall — then the full body rubs didn't stop from the bathroom to the main room, and all through their meal. Greedy bites and hungry kisses followed at a brisk pace. Empty plates and bowls were thrown away as food vanished faster than snow thrown inside a boiler... Kazuō devoured absolutely everything within his reach, and each mouthful was absolutely delicious...

  Finally, Tarō sat behind him and stuffed him with desserts until there wasn't a crumb left.

– "It was so good, I wish I could eat even more..." Kazuō moaned.

– "You will, Kazuō..."

– "You were right, it feels good to be fed like this, but I feel so stuffed... I can hardly breathe."

– "You've been eating really well."

  Tarō whispered in his ear, making him shudder with a kiss on the neck. Then he stroked his big round belly, full to the brim.

– "And you're going to get fat!"

– "Yes..."

– "You're going to put on more weight... so much weight!"

– "Yes..."

  Kazuō let himself go with the flow... He felt perfectly satisfied — so much so that, when he closed his eyes, he was under the impression that he was light and floating in mid air like a cloud over the lake.

  It wasn't a dream. Tarō had just lifted him up in his arms, carrying him into the next room. Placing Kazuō gently on his bed, the handsome dark-haired young man let his fingers wander through his friend's beard and he leaned forward for a long kiss.

– "Dai suki da yo [大好きだよ, "I love you"] Kazuō..."

■ ■ ■

On the balcony, tree tops as far as the eye can see — moonlight

  Jirō had brought back four large baskets of fish. This beautiful fishing had required more effort and patience than he would have liked. He was pale, exhausted and still soaked. His lips were cold as ice. For their part, Tarō and Kazuō had not seen time pass.

– "I bet you two have been wrestling all day, without me."

  The two handsome, dark-haired boys blushed, hoping that Jirō wouldn't notice that they had abandoned their training for other, no less physical activities.

– "Then you must be hungry, and I need to eat a lot too!"

  In a short time, Jirō was back in the kitchen, and the meals resumed their course — tasty as ever, and more and more abundant. Kazuō was somewhat embarrassed, when he was served again, so generously and encouraged to go for another helping with a bright, broad smile.

  Tarō's attitude allowed him to take a break. Always calm and self-controlled, he had also resumed his place next to Jirō and treated him as if nothing had happened while he was gone... Kazuō was fed even better for it, and covered with gentle rubs all through his meals.

– "You've put on some good weight, Kazuō." Jirō admired, as he stuffed himself at an alarming pace.

– "That's right!" Tarō chuckled. "He's grown a larger, rounder belly, and he's been eating better and better, these last few days. Take a cue from him to grow and get fat, Jirō!"

– "Oh! I have every intention of filling my belly until I burst..."

  For a few days, Tarō took care of Jirō. He kept him warm with cuddles and good, invigorating massages. He always put strong demands on him during their warm-ups and stretching exercises, but he let him spend half the morning in the kitchen while he kept on wrestling with Kazuō... The complicity between them was remarkable.

  Above all, Tarō was pushing his companion to eat for four, more than ever! Jirō was a fun-loving, laid-back young man with a healthy appetite, naturally athletic and corpulent. He carried his weight admirably... It didn't take him long to grow nicely plump and gain back all the weight he had lost, spending his nights out fishing. He was doing his best to stuff himself with meat and fish in order to put on more and more weight and grow a really round and overhanging belly.

  At the end of every meal, Tarō wrapped his arms around him to comfort him and whisper a few words of encouragement into his ear. Then, when Jirō felt a bit more relaxed, he stuffed him silly with donuts and bananas until the handsome blonde boy couldn't possibly eat another bite. Kazuō was almost jealous of him, although he was put to a pretty rough test.

– "Come on, Jirō..." He coerced him. "Eat! Eat and get fat!"

– "Hmmmph... Hmmmph..."

– "One more banana, Jirō... And another big doughnut... Again!"

– "Hmmmph... Hmmmph..."

– "That's good... I'm proud of you. You have to eat a lot, to gain weight and force your belly to grow rounder!"

– "Hmmmph..."

– "Good. Now tell me, Jirō?" Tarō suggested. "You have cooked so much food, and Kazuō must have some room left in his stomach... How about we team up and feed him too? He should feel full and relaxed."

  As if suddenly struck by lightning, Jirō woke up from his haze.

– "Kazuō? I should have paid more attention... Please forgive me."

  Before he had time to figure out why or how, Kazuō suddenly found himself surrounded by his two friends and large trays of desserts. Taking turns, Tarō and Jirō spent the night feeding him and encouraging him to gobble even more with no restraint whatsoever...

– "Come on, my big Kazuō... Eat! Eat! Eat!"

– "Hmmmph... Hmmmph..."

  The night was remarkably clear. The full summer moon was shining. While Jirō was busy cleaning the dishes, Tarō approached Kazuō to feel his belly and take him into his confidence.

– "You eat so well, Kazuō."

– "I'm stuffed full... I feel like I'm going to burst!"

– "Jirō's been eating well, too... He should take some rest now."

– "Yes..."

– "Let's make him drink some more, then he'll sleep well."

– "Drink more? At this hour?"

– "In this gorgeous weather, with a full moon, he'll be all for it..."

– "You want him to drink more beer?"

– "A few good jugs of beer, at least!"

  Tarō only had to suggest to his companion that the night was clear, and how beautiful the moon was. Jirō put three large mats with cushions and a lantern on the balcony.

– "You're right. The moon is bright and beautiful tonight."

– "It's an occasion we should celebrate!"

– "I'm not hungry anymore..." Kazuō hastened to say.

– "Neither am I..." Jirō sighed as he stroked his painfully tight and round tummy. "I’ve been eating so much, I feel really full and heavy! I don't even think I could go for another cup of fruit tonight..."

– "You could always drink."

– "Green tea? If you want..."

– "No, not tea... I mean beer!"

– "Beer? Well, if you insist..."

  Tarō winked at Kazuō when Jirō brought three mugs almost overflowing with foam. In a short time, the young blonde man had already emptied his tall mug with a few long sips. Absentmindedly listening to his friend and throwing a few words into their conversation, he didn't notice how Tarō and Kazuō kept pouring the content of their mugs into his... When he was done drinking, Kazuō asked for a second round. Right on cue, Jirō went to the kitchen and came back with more beer for his friends.

– "That's good, Jirō... Now drink!"

– "Hmmmph..." the young man sighed as he drank.

– "Good beer like this should make you grow fat! Nice and fat..."

  The moon was high in the sky. Jirō held the liquor pretty well, but Kazuō could see him dozing off when he sat down after a third round of beer... The discussion was lively and cheerful. Then, out of the blue, the blonde boy straightened up and almost jumped on the balcony... He started moving in slow, smooth movements — like a sensual dance.

  He was quite tipsy and almost naked, but there he was, humming in a deep, warm and husky voice — sounding just so soft and smooth as he looked vigorously muscled and masculine. Jirō was ready to improvise a poem for his friend Kazuō, dancing and singing in front of him.

                                   In the Summer night,

                                I roll — filled like a balloon,

                                   bursting with delight —

                                the round belly of the moon,

                                fat and shiny — what a sight !

  Waching him dance like this, with no fans or veils, Kazuō didn't know what to say... As he tried to come up with at least one word of thanks or praise, he found himself reduced to burping loud and long.

– "BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRP..."

  Tarō couldn't help laughing. While he did his best to hide it, Jirō was still drunk but he seemed genuinely moved by this "call of the heart" — or this "cry of the belly". His green eyes sparkled like stars, with such a broad smile on his handsome face...

■ ■ ■

Inside the house — sunset

  The stew was more than enough for the three young men to stay well fed for a few weeks, but Tarō wanted to hunt more beautiful ducks for his friends to feast on well-grilled skewers, well-roasted meats, and good flesh that could not fail to fatten them up.

– "Do your best to eat well, in my absence..." he told them.

– "Don't worry about us!" Jirō laughed. "We're going to stay a little bit between the big guys, and binge on it."

  Kazuō didn't expect such peace and quiet, as soon as Tarō was gone... The warm-ups, stretching exercices and weight-lifting felt a lot easier, now that he followed Jirō's lead.

  Athletic and strong, with good balance, Jirō was able to lift heavy loads and carry them in his arms as he walked around the training room. He was only less agile and sprightly than Tarō, who often moved and pounced like a wild beast. On the other hand, he was more enduring than his companion. He also knew how to take a blow and stay standing or rise again courageously.

  Kazuō didn't expect him to wrestle like this... Jirō managed to grab and lift his opponent but he managed to avoid really hard, harmful blows. As a matter of fact, he never hit Kazuō, even while they fought.

  The heat was taxing to say the least. They were sweating profusely.

– "Kazuō? You must be so hungry."

– "Yes..."

– "I'm going to cook a real feast for us. Just for you and me!"

  As they went under the waterfall, Kazuō felt Jirō's hands on his sides. He felt himself shudder.

– "Kazuō..."

– "Yes?"

– "How long has Tarō been spending the night with you?"

  Kazuō blushed deeply. Jirō must have understood what was going on around him from day one. He wasn't so dumb as they thought.

– "I don't know anymore... Huh..."

  Much to his surprise, he heard Jirō burst out with laughter behind him.

– "Don't worry, you little rascal!" he said, slapping him on the buttocks. "I understand why you have such a hearty appetite!"

– "Aren't you... angry?"

– "Why should I? But since you have such a big appetite, I'm going to make you eat so much more! We have some serious weight to gain, you and me..."

  Inviting him to sit down in front of a magnificent pot of stew, Jirō served him one bowl after another, trying to eat as much as his friend to keep him company. Kazuō was still shivering, but Jirō was always so nice that he managed to put him at ease. In a short time, half of the pot was gone and the two young men were beginning to feel quite sated.

  Now that there were no secrets between them, Kazuō felt a little sorry for Jirō, who regularly spent nights outside and who had to sleep alone afterwards... This friendly blonde boy deserved to be treated better. After all, he was doing his best to grow thicker and curvier, but he didn't look much bigger or heavier than when Kazuō had met him... He may have even lost a little weight during his last nights by the lake and in the mountain streams!

– "You're eating well, Kazuō... Keep eating well, and enjoy yourself."

– "Oh! Yes, I'm enjoying all this!"

  Dusk was setting on the horizon but Jirō was determined to keep their meal going for a few more hours. He encouraged Kazuō to stuff himself, just as he was, serving him plenty of food from all the plates and bowls around them, over and over again! The stew pot was almost empty...

– "There you go, Kazuō! One more bowl of food..."

– "Hmmmph..." he protested, with his mouth full.

– "You have grown taller and stronger... Big, and fat!" Jirō laughed. "You could eat another dozen bowls like this one, and a dozen bowls of rice, so you gain a lot more weight!"

– "Hmmmph... Hmmmph..."

  Coming and going from the kitchen, Jirō kept surrounding him with large pots full of delicious food. Kazuō doubted that he could swallow another bite, but this handsome blonde boy showed uparalleled skills when it came to whetting his appetite...

  It was a cold, dark night outside. Kazuō, trapped in a heap of platters and bowls that they had licked clean, was slowly catching his breath.

– "I wish I could eat as much as you do, Kazuō."

– "Hmmmph..." the young man growled, exhausted.

– "Your belly is going to grow so much rounder... Lucky you!"

– "Yes..."

– "How about another pineapple cake with cream?"

– "Have mercy on me... I couldn't eat another bite."

– "If you can't eat anymore, I should feed you..."

  Even in his wildest dreams, Kazuō had never imagined that Jirō would come and sit behind him like this, to feed him cakes, bananas and donuts, holding him in a tight embrace to rub his belly in long, careful and sensual moves.

  It was beyond anything he could have hoped for. While Tarō was at his best in the training room, wrestling, Jirō had a natural gift for feeding his companion and making him want to devour even more food...

– "There you go, big Kazuō. Easy come, easy go... Again!"

– “Hmmmph... Hmmmph...”

– "Another doughnut... Yet another, Kazuō... Again!"

– “Hmmmph... Hmmmph...”

– "Come on, keep it going. I'm with you... I'm here to feed you."

– "Hmmmph... You're going to make me obese!"

– "Yes, Kazuō..."

  Jirō smiled as he whispered into his ear, but he sounded serious.

– "I'm going to feed you well and stuff you, my handsome fat Kazuō..."

  Out of breath and with his mouth full, Kazuō felt such a sense of comfort and well-being that he let Jirō feed him almost a dozen bananas, slow and steady, before encouraging him to finish the tray of roasted pineapple fritters.

  While he was feeding him so well, Jirō confided in him.

– "You're going to get bigger, Kazuō, and grow a huge belly."

– "Hmmmph..."

– "Your belly is already well-shaped... When you're wide and fat, I'd like to have a round, plump belly like yours."

– Hmmmph... Hmmmph..."

– "It's a beautiful belly like yours that I want..."

– "Really?" replied Kazuō. "Is it my big belly you want?"

– "Yes..."

  Jirō answered with no hesitation, not the slightest hint of shyness, as a sensitive young man in touch with his feelings, his likes and dislikes, and the choices in his Life.

  The last doughnuts had just been eaten. Kazuō saw Jirō slowly get up to stand in front of him... With a swift and sensual move, he took off his kimono and showed himself in all his naked glory, as if his body was part of the desserts.

– "This beautiful belly, well fed and round... That's what I want."

■ ■ ■

In bed — pitch black night

  Jirō was sweeter than honey, which he sprinkled so generously on all the fruits and doughnuts he made for Kazuō.

  Lying in bed, the tall and stuffed young man couldn't take his eyes off this delicious, handsome blonde boy who treated him even better than anyone should be for their own good — with so many treats as rubs, hungry mouthfuls of mango and passionate kisses...

  He could have lost his mind, now set on pushing his belly to grow!

– "Ai shiteru [愛してる, “I love you”], Kazuō."

– "Jirō..."

– "I'm going to bake a few more donuts for you."

– "Jirō, please..."

– "Are you not hungry anymore? I'm going to stuff you to the brim... You still have to fill your belly more! Trust me on this, Kazuō, you're hungry."

– "Yes... Yes, I'm hungry!"

– "Then you're going to eat..."

– "I'll eat... as much as you want!"

  Lucky for him, Jirō was no less eager to come back than Kazuō was eager to see him stay on top of him as long as possible. Even after such an extraordinarily rich and oversized meal — which had to be more than enough to make his stomach burst — desserts and cakes were still piling on by his bed, and pushed into his mouth... to keep him growing fatter.

  Jirō was so kind to him, with his gentle smile, so smooth and cuddly as he was naughty, Kazuō couldn't resist. The young man was sweating and almost sparkling with his natural charm... Stuffed but fascinated, Kazuō was amazed to find him even hotter than his partner Tarō!

– "Tasty, hot doughnuts for my big, sexy Kazuō!"

– "Hmmmph... Hmmmph..."

– "Keep eating. You eat so well!" Jirō purred. "I love you, Kazuō..."

– "Hmmmph... Jirō..."

– '"Yes?"

– "Jirō... I love you too... I love you!"

  As he whispered these last words, Kazuō nearly fainted in the arms of his young blonde friend, who held him tightly against his thick, plump and well-muscled chest. Jirō had just made him come for the fourth time since they were done with their early evening dinner...

– "We have all the time in the world, Kazuō... This night is ours."

– "Yes, Jirō..."

– "Kazuō, if you love me..." Jirō whispered, and almost growled. "If you love me, you're going to eat!"

– "Yes, Jirō... I'll eat as much as you want!"

– "If you love me, you're going to get fat..."

– "Yes, Jirō..."

– "I'm going to feed you, then you're going to grow much fatter."

– "As much as you want, my delicious Jirō!"

– "If you love me, you're going to grow... such a huge belly!"

– "I'll get as fat as you want, Jirō. Bigger than you could ever grow..."

  Kazuō smiled as he enjoyed another tasty doughnut.

– "After all, Tarō wants me to gain weight too!"

– "It's not the same, Kazuō..." Jirō whispered.

– "How? If I eat really well..."

– "Tarō wants you to gain weight, it's true... But I want you to get fat, and grow a big belly. A beautiful, round and massive belly!"

– "Okay, make my belly grow... bigger. Much bigger!"

  Jirō showered him with kisses, passionately, as a way to thank him.

  Before long, Kazuō had devoured the last doughnut. In the dying glow of the paper lantern, he could make out Jirō's sparkling green eyes as he covered his torso and stomach with long, sensual licks, gently pressing his well-rounded sides between his hands... He kept assaulting him with soft kisses, pinches and rubs to keep him awake. The bad boy's behavior was always quite alarming! 

– "I'm going to feed you so much, Kazuō! I'm going to fatten you up..."

– "Jirō..."

– "Let's feed you like a pig... Like a wild boar!"

– "Oink... Oink..." Kazuō growled with a broad smile on his face.

  The night grew deeper, more fiery, warmer and more fragrant, as Jirō took time to please his already painfully stuffed friend.

– "Jirō..."

– "Yes?"

– "Tell me, don't you think... Tarō will be jealous?"

– "Why should he?"

– "Well..." Kazuō blushed.

– "We'll cross that bridge when he comes back... I'm not going to lie to him, you know."

– "I had no doubt about it. This is all well and good, but..."

– “Hmmm?”

– "Honestly? I am your guest in this house... Tarō found me lost in the woods and he invited me. Now, I'm taking his partner away from him."

– "Excuse me?"

  Jirō laughed heartily, hugging his friend tight.

– "Jirō?"

– "Kazuō... What were you thinking? Tarō is my big brother!"

(To be continued...)

Note : In Japan, Tarō (太郎) and Jirō (次郎) are very common first names, meaning “first-born son” and “second-born son”. There should be no doubt, then, that Tarō is Jirō's big brother. 

A little Japanese practice : Suki desu [好き です] is the most common (and neutral) way to say “I love you” to someone, but there are so many nuances and other expressions... Tarō says Dai suki da yo [大好き だ よ] which implies stronger and more determined feelings. Finally, Jirō says Ai shiteru [愛してる],  which is considered the most intense and passionate way of saying “I'm in Love with you” to Kazuō. 

  One minor detail, not without consequences : Japanese young men like Kazuō, Tarō and Jirō would always use formal names, talking to each other, whether they are neutral (Kazuō-san : 一雄さん), affectionnate (Kazuō-chan : 一雄ちゃん), respectful toward an older brother or friend (Tarō-sempai : 太郎先輩) or more familiar toward a younger person (Jirō-kun : 次郎君), etc. There are so many possible nuances that it was better to ignore them altogether...