Full moon in the woods (second part)

II. 秋 [Autumn]

             

            “L'âme du loup pleure dans cette voix

              qui monte avec le soleil qui décline

              d'une agonie on veut croire câline

              et qui ravit et qui navre à la fois...”

           ("The wolf’s soul weeps in that voice,

              rising as the sun sets down

              in an agony one would call cuddly,

              both delightful and saddening...")

Paul VERLAINE

Sagesse — III, 9

In the bedroom — first beams of sunlight

– "Kimi no onii-san [君 の お兄さん, "your big brother"]?"

– "Yes, of course!"

  Jirō couldn't stop laughing.

– "Tarō is my brother. He’s been taking care of me ever since we were kids... I was just a baby when our mother died. I don't remember, and Tarō only has a vague memory of our father. He had to be there to raise me, all by himself."

  Still confused and blushing, Kazuō didn't know what to say. Jirō gently lay on top of him with a broad smile.

– "That's why I’m such a low-bred brat, you see..." he whispered into his ear, rubbing his companion's full belly — naughty as ever.

  Perfectly sated, Kazuō enjoyed his young friend teasing him like this.

– "I understand... It's a relief, to be honest!" 

– "How?" 

– "I was under the impression that Tarō was... a lot more than a brother for you."

– "Tarō has always been everything to me." Jirō insisted, cuddlier than ever. "Without him, I don't know if I would even be alive today... And you wouldn't be here with us either."

– "That's true..."

– "We weren't cramped in this small house, and we are safe, but it felt sad when Tarō was gone hunting or looking for supplies... He's worried just the same when I go fishing for a few days. It's a good thing that you've joined us."

  Kazuō was still blushing. Jirō hugged him tight.

– "Is it so important to you and Tarō?"

– "Yes it is. Tarō really needs a worthy partner to progress, as a wrestler... That's his ambition. He wants to become really strong. Much, much stronger than he is now! He's been stuck for a while, I can hardly keep up with his plans."

– "You're doing pretty well."

– "That's the least I can do..." Jirō shrugged. "I wish I could put on a lot of weight, so he could train with a bigger, more imposing opponent. He would struggle to lift me up, then I'll help him fight better... Still a long way to go. He needs someone less clumsy than I am, someone bigger, stronger... and much, much heavier!"

  Jirō squeezed and pressed Kazuō's large hips. They were such healthy, athletic and shamelessly overfed young men... Nestled against his chest, the handsome blonde boy almost bit his hardening nipples with his lips.

– "I also need a bigger partner... and a much, much fatter partner!"

– "Jirō..."

  Covering him with kisses, Jirō barely allowed him to catch his breath.

– "In any case, I'm happy to stay and play with the two of you... Being brothers and all. That's a huge weight you've lifted off my chest!"

  Suddenly, Jirō straightened up — as if Kazuō had just pinched him.

– "What? Nuh huh... I want you to lift heavy, but keep packing on the weight. If I pulled weight off your chest, I have to feed you again... Stuff you full and more than full, so it goes straight to your waist!"

  With a mischievous smile, he brought a pineapple fritter up to his lips.

– "Eat, Kazuō. Please?"

– "Another doughnut? I can't! They're so big!"

– "There are only six doughnuts left... How about this, three for you and three for me? Trust me, you're going to eat these just to please me."

  Kazuō let out a sigh. He knew he couldn't resist him.

– "Hmmmph..."

– "Good. Again..." Jirō fed him with one hand, while greedily biting into another thick, juicy doughnut. "Come on, grab a larger bite!"

– "Hmmmph... Hmmmph..."

  Considering his friend's muffled protests and sighs, Jirō started rubbing his stomach and kept him going with a few words of encouragement. He took another doughnut and made him gobble it up in just a few bites... He did so well that his friend started moaning and ended up begging him for more. The blonde boy looked happy to tease him with the promise of a whole bucket full of ice-cream.

  The last doughnut was still in the tray by the bed.

– "There you go, Kazuō. You're a hungry boy... Keep eating!"

– "Hmmmph..."

– "Eat up, big boy! I'll make sure to please you now..."

■ ■ ■

In the house — sunset at the top of the mountain

  Kazuō was lazily basking in the sun, lying on the cushions and tatami mats, surrounded by all the bowls and dishes he had licked clean during his second lunch.

  After quite a few long, low and raspy burps, he heaved out a sigh.

  Jirō had spent the whole day inviting him to take part in exciting games and challenges of pure gluttony... He couldn't turn him down, just as he couldn't be more turned on right now. Since Tarō was gone to the village to buy food, he had barely left his room, only getting out of bed when Jirō dragged him under the waterfall, every morning, for a cold shower.

  After some physical exercises in their training room, without much effort on his part, followed by a long moment of rest in the bathroom, Kazuō spent all his waking hours eating with a healthy appetite, or he let Jirō feed him and wrap him in hugs... The young man was still working around the house and those meals kept them busy all day. Kazuō could hardly get a break! He was always full, but that exuberant, dumb blonde boy would appear before him at any time, naked, dripping and glistening with sweat, carrying a large tray of food in each hand.

  Kazuō felt numb, stuffed and hardly breathing, even after a long, well-deserved nap to let his stomach cool down and relax a little. 

  Their supplies of meat and fish were almost gone. Jirō prepared such huge feasts, with plenty of rice, rich stew with stir-fried vegetables and noodles, vast omelets with herbs, mushroom and potatoes, so much ice-cream, so many fruits and pastries. 

  Always focused and ever so playful, the boyish cook insisted on the benefits of a really abundant and starchy diet, naturally rich in carbs and sweets, all drenched in sauce... He also set an example, eating with a voracious appetite, without the slightest hint of "good manners"!

  Jirō behaved like an incorrigible bad boy, greedy and sloppy, but he served his tall companion so generously that the amounts of food he devoured looked modest, compared to what Kazuō feasted on — day in, day out — with no restraint.

– "Are you already working on our first dinner?"

– "Of course."

  Jirō kept coming and going to the kitchen, where he would clean the dishes to overload them later with more food. At the mere thought of his next feast, which would last long after the sun had set, Kazuō felt his stomach quiver, groan and protest.

– "I've been eating way too much again, today..."

  Jirō didn't just cook tasty meals that could go on forever. He arranged flowers and fruits in the tokonoma, and brought a third cushion by the fireplace to make his friend more comfortable.

– "Tarō will be back soon. He must be so hungry!"

  Tarō's return was most welcome. Kazuō felt relieved. He wouldn't have to stuff himself so much with both brothers around him... Jirō was a wet dream come true, and such a feisty, passionate lover. When night fell, it was almost another young man that Kazuō got to hold in his arms... Jirō never stopped teasing and pleasing him so much so that he felt dizzy all day — and force-feeding him to his limit to fatten him up even better.

  In just a few days alone with him, Kazuō may have piled on about as much weight as he had since the day Tarō had found him in the forest... His belly had grown heavier and gently rounded, much to the delight of his companion. After another long sigh of contentment, he stood up and slowly stretched out his arms. Jirō suggested that he take some time to rest in the bathroom.

– "You're right, I'm still covered in sauce and crumbs..."

– "There's also beer foam in your beard!" Jirō whispered, covering his neck and cheeks with sensual kisses and greedy licks.

– "Am I really that dirty?" Kazuō protested, laughing.

– "It's all for the best!" The handsome boy cooed and hugged him tight. "You're only growing more and more... appetizing."

■ ■ ■

In the bathroom 一 sunset

  Comfortably seated in the pool, dimly lit with paper lanterns in thick, fragrant steam, with hot water up to his shoulders, Kazuō was dozing off.

  He heard Tarō calling out to his brother from outside.

– "Tadaima [ただいま, "I'm back"]!"

  Then he heard Jirō almost running to open the door and greet him.

  Evidently, Tarō was returning laden with provisions and victuals. After hearing them lay the heavy burden in the kitchen, in the long silence that followed, Kazuō guessed that the two brothers were embracing, repeating to each other that the distance made them worry too much about each other and promising to never be away for long.

  He strained his ears to hear their conversation better.

– "You're all drenched in sweat!" laughed Jirō. "You must be cold..."

– "And you, you are all hot and covered with flour like a loaf." 

– "You must be so hungry!"

– "You too, Jirō! But, tell me..."

  Tarō's voice grew louder, more impatient. Kazuō no longer had to hold his breath to hear them clearly.

– "What does that mean, Jirō? You haven't gained weight at all!"

– "Not at all? Oh... a little, though."

– "Not at all." Tarō had to feel his brother's stomach. Kazuō heard what sounded like a loud slap. "You promised me you'd eat well while I was away..."

– "Yes."

– "And that you were going to gorge yourself with Kazuō..."

– "Yes."

– "Well, then? I was expecting to find you a little rounder and a little plumper, with a heavier weight. You've barely thickened a little, here and there... Nothing at all!"

– "Tarō..."

  Considering his answers, Jirō had to look quite sheepish right now.

– "You know what's in store for you, my poor Jirō... You have to go out and catch us some nice fish. You're going to spend all night outside, half-naked in the cold water of the lake and the streams... You won't last long if you don't maintain a good weight, and a good layer of fat!"

– "Yes, Tarō."

– "And I was hoping to train with a slightly bigger, heavier partner!"

– "Oh... Don't worry about that."

– "What do you mean?"

– "When you see Kazuō, you'll thank me... You couldn't wish for a better partner. Much bigger, heavier..." Jirō added with a mischievous smile. "And delisciously fat!"

■ ■ ■

Inside the house 一 misty night

  Tarō's impatience or anger at finding his brother almost the same as he had left him, alone with Kazuō, turned into shared rejoicing when they joined him in the bathroom.

  The evening meal was ready, but Jirō spent a few more moments in the kitchen to add more food and season it with lots of sauces. When he sat down next to his companions, they shared the pleasure of stuffing themselves or each other, generously, loudly and eagerly — happy to be together and behave so bad...

  Above all, Tarō had ordered Jirō to help himself three or four times as much as usual, and to fill his stomach quickly, as much as possible. Eager to do so, the young man found himself eating as much as Kazuō, who always enjoyed himself with no apparent effort... Tarō kept an eye on the two of them, even as he ate his share always so voraciously.

– "Come on, Jirō! Eat faster... Eat!"

– "Hmmmph... Hmmmph..."

– "And drink more beer... Bottoms up! Again!"

– "Hmmmph..."

– "You really need to grouw thicker and rounder, my little Jirō..."

  After about forty bowls of rice, four huge potato and mushroom omelets, twenty bowls of creamy broth and eight large mugs of beer, Jirō could hardly swallow another bite. His stomach looked ready to burst...

– "Another mug of beer!" roared Tarō.

  Already quite tipsy, Jirō agreed and drank in long gulps, greedily.

– "BUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRP..."

  Tarō seemed satisfied. He came closer to his brother.

– "Come on, my little Jirō, let's move on to desserts... Eat!"

– "Hmmmph... Hmmmph..."

– "Another big doughnut... Again... Again!"

– "Hmmmph..."

– "A few more bananas, now! Open wide..."

– "Hmmmph..."

– "That's good, Jirō! One more effort... Swallow!"

– "Hmmmph..."

– "Another beautiful pineapple fritter! You have to eat a lot, Jirō..."

– "Hmmmph... Hmmmph..."

– "You have to eat well and pack on weight!"

– "Hmmmph... Hmmmph... Yes, Tarō. I need this."

– "And get fat!"

– "Hmmmph... Hmmmph... Yes, Tarō."

– "Stuff yourself, Jirō! Again..."

– "I want to get fat... like Kazuō!"

■ ■ ■

Inside the house 一 sunrise

  When he woke up, Kazuō felt himself gently held back by Tarō, who wanted to hold him in his arms a bit longer... They had spent the night together in his room.

– "Did you sleep well?"

– "Thanks to you..." Tarō replied. "I can go without a comfortable bed for a few nights, but I won't be able to sleep without this big, soft cushion if you keep growing so well."

  They could hear Jirō sleeping and snoring, still drunk as he was lying by the terrace after he was so heavily fed and force-fed unreasonable amounts of food. The dumb boy had to devour another dozen pastries and drink two mugs of beer, then two larger mugs of chocolate milk, teased by his brother and Kazuō, finally falling asleep on a really full stomach.

– "My poor little Jirō..." Tarō whispered. "I need to take better care of him and his weight gain."

– "You mean our little Jirō!" corrected Kazuō. "We agree on this. Now, it's up to us to take care of him."

– "Yes, Kazuō... What makes me happy is to see how well he took such good care of you too!"

  Tarō caressed his companion's sides, so generously rounded.

– "Have I gained that much weight?"

– "Not yet... But you've put on some good weight, you've grown a hefty belly. You will keep growing larger and more imposing. I'm proud of you!"

  Kazuō sighed. He had made some good progress: Jirō would never neglect their physical exercises, every morning, which pushed him to stay strong, massive and thick... He was noticeably taller than Tarō now, and his whole body had excellent muscle tone, harmoniously distributed.

  However, Jirō was always there to feed him plenty of good food and stuff him with sweets, late at night, with all kinds of juices, milk and stronger drinks...

  Kazuō had been pampered so much that he couldn't hide it.

– "I hardly had anything to do. Jirō is just... such a good cook!"

– "I understand..." Tarō smiled, stretching out his arms to grab and rub his belly. "And you couldn't resist him."

  Kazuō blushed at the thought of Jirō's other irresistible qualities... This beautiful blonde boy, so peaceful, kind and quiet, was like a cuddly kitten, a bit clumsy too, during the day — but one who suddenly turned into a wild, exuberant and insatiable tiger, all night!

– "What do you know, he's always been like that... Jirō can't hold back. When he's done cleaning this place, there's not the shadow of a speck of dust left. When he cooks for the two of us, there's enough food for eight... When he devotes himself to a task, he gives himself six hundred percent, without restraint until he falls down, exhausted. He doesn't know how to count, you know, but when you love doing something..."

– "Yes, who's counting?" Kazuō concluded, still quite flushed.

  Tarō offered to serve him breakfast in bed, without disturbing Jirō who was still asleep — and who needed some more time to digest. You could hear him snoring like a tiger after the hunt, sheltered somewhere in the jungle... Stretched out in the sun on the tatami mats, his kimono largely untied and open, quite messy, he mumbled a few words in his sleep.

– "More... food..."

  It was impossible to decide whether he was still hungry, begging to be fed or encouraging his companions to fill their stomachs.

– "That's how it is!" Tarō laughed. "But he's right. You have to eat..."

– "How about him?"

– "Let him sleep for now, but don't worry. As soon as he wakes up, I'm going to really force-feed him... like a goose!"

  In a matter of minutes, the room was filled with large dishes and bowls of pastries and sweets.

– "Is there something wrong?" asked Tarō.

– "No..." Kazuō hesitated, taking a doughnut in each hand. "I was just thinking that you guys don't look very much alike."

– "Maybe so... What about it?"

– "When you consider... I mean, he's your brother..."

– "Hai, boku no otōto-chan [はい, 僕の弟ちゃん, "Yes, my little brother"]."

  Tarō held back his laughter. On the contrary, he lowered his voice.

– "You're right. As a matter of fact, Jirō is only my half-brother..."

– "Your half-brother?"

– "Yes... But he doesn't know it himself. My father was dead before he was born... Our mother didn't need another man in her life, but she met someone. It was love at first sight! He came from a remote island up North. He was tall, strong, and quite blonde. When Jirō was born, I was barely old enough to understand that he would be my little brother. Soon after, our mother lost the man she wanted to rebuild her life with. A few years later, she passed away... There was only me to keep Jirō safe, then I decided that I would always be there for him. That's how I really became his big brother."

– "I understand..."

  Kazuō was embarrassed. He didn't want to look so indiscreet... Tarō didn't seem to mind. He was ready to share such secrets with him.

– "I had no idea that you were orphans either."

– "That's the way it is..." The handsome, dark-haired boy shrugged. "You can also understand how we've always been so poor."

– "Yes. Jirō and you told me so, from the moment we met..."

– "Even when we lived with our parents, we didn't live in a house and we didn't have money. When they were gone, Jirō and I walked down the namidagawa [涙川, "the river of tears"], with no one to help us."

  Tarō told him about their childhood... While listening patiently, Kazuō devoured stir-fried potato omelets, rice, roasted pineapple or mango fritters, and plums served in thick syrup pancakes.

– "I'd rather not think about it anymore. It's better that way, but..."

  The loss of their mother had left the two boys distraught, especially since the world around them was decidedly hostile.

  As a teenager, Tarō must have already been well-built, if not athletic — and ready to fight at the slightest opportunity. They had nowhere else to go but they kept falling into trouble! They were never welcome anywhere, with people staring at them with anxious or angry looks, snarling rebukes, insults or threats.

  In large towns and small villages alike, they weren't allowed to stay for the night... They never found anyone to offer them hospitality, not even a bowl of clear soup.

– "Or we were invited to work for the day, but when we were done with our chores, they would throw us out!"

– "Was everyone so hard on you?" 

– "Yes. Quite harsh when they took a look at Jirō..."

  With his blonde hair, blonde eyebrows, and green eyes, everyone called the younger brother a gaijin [外人, foreigner] — with more hurtful words in store for him later. Children baited him and laughed at him. Peasants threw stones at them and chased them to the ends of their fields, beating them with their fists or sticks.

  In order to survive, Tarō and Jirō had long been reduced to wandering around, following mountain paths into the woods, posing as monogurui gaki [物狂い餓鬼, "foolish children", young beggars who feigned madness to collect alms].

– "They told us 'Go get lost in the woods, if you can't find your way!' and we were always thrown away, just like that."

  As the inhabitants of the villages and those of the countryside had declared them "useless to the world and to society", they had taken refuge higher and higher, to the top of the mountain, in clearings farther and farther away from the fields and cultivated lands.

  Having at last found a place they thought favourable for building first a hut then a shelter, where the stream fell into a small lake, between the trees and the rocky slope, they had built their hermitage with their own hands, adding one room after another over the years...

  Kazuō could hardly imagine what it had cost them in terms of effort, patience and willpower, to establish themselves in this way. With its bedrooms and kitchen, its large living room where they took their meals, the gym and the bathroom, the plank path that bordered the terraced lake, from the deck overlooking the entrance of the house to the waterfall at the other end of the building, the silky tatami floors and the whole network of hot or cold water, the brothers had built a remarkable residence, a pavilion of pleasure worthy of the most noble lords of a bygone age.

  How much time had they devoted to this work? Kazuō couldn't say. It was painful enough for him to imagine how much they had suffered from the cold and hunger, insults, beatings and loneliness.

– "We are lucky to feel at home, with this roof over our heads now."

– "You've earned it. And I agree, you don't want for anything here."

– "You could also say that the most important stuff is missing..."

– "What do you mean?"

– "We're always hungry, for starters."

  Kazuō blushed, his mouth still full.

– "Now that you mention it..."

– "Jirō must be hungry. I want to grow stronger, much stronger, and win some wrestling tournaments. It's not the same for him..."

– "How so?"

– "When we were children, Jirō considered himself too short, too puny... and too skinny! He envied the children of rich peasants, so lazy, so spoiled and chubby! He had to fight against them too, more often than not. I couldn't always be there to protect him. He could always defend himself, but it left a mark. Deep down, he's only been dreaming about the same thing: to grow bigger, thicker, and above all... fatter!"

– "Really... big and fat?"

– "Yes, really large and chunky! That's his only ambition in life."

  Jirō turned to face them, still lying down, about to wake up. As their eyes met, Kazuō felt satisfied and satiated, somehow... A fuzzy feeling of well-being, so intense and so deep, took possession of him.

– "Don't you think I've already overeaten... way too much?"

– "...Overeaten?"

  Tarō looked at him in amazement. He didn't understand that word.

– "What does it mean, overeating?"

– "Well..."

– "Don't worry about it, Kazuō... You can eat and eat, as much as you want. When Jirō joins us, his first thought will be to feed you well, then he'll prepare a hearty meal for him."

– "I know... That's how he always cooks."

  Kazuō heard the younger brother get up and take a few heavy steps towards their room. Instead of telling them that he was hungry, as anyone would expect him to say, Jirō greeted them with both hands on his tummy.

– "Hello... Well! Last night didn't make me grow much thicker. I should be fat and round already... I hope you're hungry, big fellas? I'll get a tall stack of pancakes ready for you, with glazed fruits and ice-cream."

  Tarō was smiling, winking and handing the last doughnut to his friend, who was still slumped on the cushions and blankets. Kazuō kept thinking about their rough and lonely lifestyle. You couldn't appreciate those boys without knowing them, but you couldn't know them without falling in love with those bad boys...

– "Another doughnut? After all the pastries I've eaten?"

– "Yes... and think about what you're going to eat, in a moment!"

– "Hmmmph..."

– "Enjoy, and don't worry about anything."

– "Hmmmph... Hmmmph..."

– "See? I'm still worried about Jirō. Especially when I have to leave him alone. Even when he stays with you, I'm still scared... that he doesn't pack on enough weight!

■ ■ ■

In the house 一 morning light through heat mist

  For a few days, Tarō imposed a more consistent and abundant diet on his brother. Obviously, and despite his efforts to eat well, his lunches and dinners were not enough to make him grow fatter. Every morning, when their morning meals were ready, before their shower and warm-ups in the training room, Jirō was forced to devour a first, very filling breakfast, washed down with whole milk... Tarō had brought back large vats of milk, especially for him.

  The handsome blonde boy was always a bit dizzy, and he was struggling against sleep rather than his companions, in a fight. Kazuō was not forgotten in this rich diet, where breakfast had taken such an important place... He was just so well fed as Jirō, as soon as they woke up! Under such circumstances, Tarō encountered little resistance in their exercices and fights.

  At the end of their last late night meal, he would sit behind his brother and force him to eat more and more...

– "Eat, Jirō! You won't grow any bigger if you don't stuff your stomach."

– "Hmmmph... Hmmmph..."

– "More dried apricots and whipped cream! More... More..."

– "Hmmmph..."

– "And another big mango fritter... Enjoy."

– "Hmmmph... Hmmmph..."

– "More milk! Hurry up a little, and drink!"

– "Hmmmph..."

– "That's good, my little Jirō! Open wide..."

– "Hmmmph... Hmmmph..."

– "Again! You have to eat a lot... I want to see you thick with bacon."

  Kazuō was puzzled by Tarō's insistence, at first, but he had come to understand his impatience... When they had finally finished their meal, late at night, Jirō almost fell down, exhausted — with his mouth full and his stomach packed so tight, so round that they could believe he was going to burst. When he woke up in the morning, he barely seemed to have gained any weight...

  In fact, Jirō appeared more massive and thicker, but with more muscle meat in his arms and thighs, his pecs and butt. Naturally burly, he only looked clumsy and more enduring than ever... It was enough for Tarō to take him in his arms, for some time, eager to comfort his little brother.

– "That's good, you've put on some healthy weight."

– "Not good... I'm not plump enough. You really have to fatten me up!"

  Jirō felt even more frustrated than his brother, as he squeezed his belly.

– "Why don't I sport a round, soft and heavy belly already?"

– "You need to eat something more than fruits, cake and ice-cream."

– "Yes... I'm still ready to spend a few nights outside, so I'm going to catch some nice fish, big and fatty fish! I'll bring back enough for the three of us, fry them and prepare large meals with plenty of sauce... so we can grow fatter!" 

– "There you go... You'll do fine. I'm counting on you." Tarō placed a kiss on his forehead. "Come back soon! Kazuō is counting on you, too."

  On the doorstep, Jirō embraced his brother and Kazuō, as he would be gone for some time. He whispered mischievously in his ear.

– "I wish I could grow a big belly like yours..."

■ ■ ■

In front of the house 一 in the evening, stormy sky

  Jirō was probably more skilful or agile than he looked... When he returned, four days later, he carried so many wicker baskets on his back, filled with beautiful fish from ponds and rivers, that there was enough to feed his companions and feast for a few days. In his absence, Tarō and Kazuō had trained as they had become accustomed — starting very early with warm-ups, then encouraging each other in wrestling. Then they ate huge, basic but tasty meals, and they kept their hand-to-hand combat on, even in bed, with all kinds of desserts...

  As promised, Jirō had set to work immediately. His return was celebrated with a really large feast, that same evening. Tarō insisted that he keep gobbling fried fish, shrimp and stir-fried noodles, and drink large amounts of beer. Jirō had to  stuff himself and drink until he dozed off... Kazuō thought that, perhaps, Tarō was encouraging his brother to drink so much so that he could enjoy the last hours of the night alone with him. It made him blush, but he didn't mind if that was true.

– "BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRP..."

– "More beer, Jirō! And more fish!"

– "Hmmmph..." 

– "Eat, eat, eat! We're finally going to fatten you up..."

  Eager to grow, Jirō kept gorging himself on all kinds of food... Meanwhile, Kazuō had barely noticed that he had just finished his sixth platter of sushis with another big bowl of stir-fried noodles! He stuffed himself so effortlessly. In the morning, Tarō announced that he would be absent for three or four days. He pointed out that the Fall was beginning to paint the foliage around the house in shades or red and gold. It was essential, in his opinion, to bring back more provisions — always more, again and again! Kazuō had time to take a good look at him. 

  He understood him better now, and his compulsive need to hoard food in their pantry. It all came down to his fear of running out, which had never left them since they were children... Jirō was strong enough, and well-fed, but that fear remained deeply rooted and their old impulse was still there. Both massive and athletic, Tarō and Jirō encouraged each other — one the one hand, to grow strong and imposing — on the other hand, to grow extra-large and chubby. 

  Jirō was the more practical not-so-little brother, the more peaceful one, with complete confidence in Tarō's physical abilities. For the latter, however, the mere thought that Jirō could lose weight was unbearable... He felt anxious for real, and there was nothing to laugh about it. Even though he was fed in abundance, even if he was force-fed to the point of fainting, this handsome, blond boy, so simple, carefree and clumsy, was still his "little brother". And he must be hungry.

– "I'll come back with a lot of good things for you and Kazuō."

– "Come back to us safe, and soon..." Jirō kissed him. 

– "Don't worry. When I'm back, you're going to eat... so much!" 

– "Yes, Tarō."

– "You're hungry!" 

– "So hungry!"

  The two brothers laughed out loud, hugging each other.

– "I'm hungry, and I want a big, round belly like Kazuō's!"

■ ■ ■

In the house 一 warm and sunny morning

  Tarō's absence meant that the other boys started misbehaving again, on their own terms.

– "Feeding time, Kazuō! Time to eat, and let me have my revenge." 

– "What revenge?" 

– "Tarō's had every opportunity to take care of you, as he takes care of everything. Now, it's my turn to treat you!"

  Their daily activities had taken a new turn, according to the program established by Jirō: after the shower and the physical exercises in the morning, followed by a long hot bath, wrestling was replaced by greedy and cuddly games... There was no longer any question of food: Kazuō was stuffed until he couldn't grab another bite! He was awakened from his nap as soon as his stomach growled, under the gentle rubs of his companion. Unlike his brother, Jirō had no discipline. He stuffed himself so carelessly that he could still help himself to a bowl of fried fish and soup with rice, after a plate of pastries. Heavily sated, he drank a large mug of beer. He hoped he had fulfilled his promise to Tarō, by filling his belly, and he devoted himself entirely to Kazuō as soon as he awoke.

– "Come on, big boy! Get up. That's enough sleep for this morning... You must be hungry." 

– "Yes, Jirō..."

  Kazuō sighed as he followed him under the waterfall, gently led by the hand. There was no hurry. For a serious boy like Tarō, showering was an important part of the day, before training and wrestling... Jirō was the real bad boy in the family, much naughtier than his big brother — and incorrigible. Kazuō felt like he was swept up in a whirlwind...

– "Kazuō, you make me so hungry..." I can't wait to feed you again, and again! When your belly is full and ready to burst, I know I'll be in for a treat... Then I want you to enjoy yourself even more!"

– "Jirō..."

  For several days and nights, the two young men did nothing but have harmless fun together, eat and drink in unreasonable amounts, go for so many sensual games and share intimate moments of such intensity that the darkest hours of the night were illuminated, so much so that they gorged each other and played with more than fire... Kazuō could barely catch his breath, sometimes, when Jirō purred like a tiger cub ready to pounce at any moment. Tarō had compared Kazuō to a talking and walking "big, soft cushion". His brother was like perpetual fireworks, with his green eyes always sparkling with desire, like onibi [鬼火, will-o'-the-wisps] at the top of the mountain — of his whole body, well-built and thick, mounted on his powerful thighs and his good, growing belly.

  Jirō was a generous, gentle and cuddly lover, so exuberant that Kazuō felt dizzy. He may go through such a journey, in one night, from the volcanic depths of the earth to the highest, fluffiest clouds in the sky, experiencing the delights of all the torrents and all the forests — ready to burst, like an overfilled wineskin, as if he had drunk all the oceans in the wolrd in a single gulp... Jirō was just irresistible. Kazuō didn't know what to do, at this point.

  He had to let himself go with the flow. How could he resist when his companion only thought about pleasing him so much? The one question he asked him, late at night, was all the more suprising.

– "Kazuō, tell me... Are you happy with us?"

– "Happy?"

– "Yes... Are you happy? I don't know... satisfied?"

  Jirō didn't ask him if he was happy "with him". After all the good time they'd just had together, there really no room for doubt.

– "Of course, I'm happy. More than satisfied, More than just happy... I'm happy with Tarō and you."

  The handsome blonde boy wrapped his arms around his belly.

– "I'm happy with you too."

– "Jirō..." 

– "Then I hope you won't leave. We talked about it, with Tarō. He told me to take care of you while he brought food back home for us, but he won't mind me telling you that we would be sad to let you go, even if you want to go home."

– "Go home? You mean... Home?"

  Kazuō thought so little about his old apartment that he couldn't even give his address to a taxi driver, or find his way back in the streets... 

  How long was it that he got lost in the woods? He had no idea, but he had no intention of going back to his old life! No doubt, Tarō and Jirō assumed that he was well-off, living inside a comfortable house, wearing nice clothes — eating better food? That last suggestion was ridiculous...

– "Don't worry, Jirō... I won't leave you. Besides..." He saw that the handsome boy who hugged him so tight was genuinely worried. "I'm way too big to go back home. I'm like... supersized now."

– "What does it mean... supersized?"

– "I must have outgrown my old apartment, that's all. I wasn't such a large guy, before I met you."

  Kazuō kept Jirō entertained like a child, as he described the kind of minuscule den he used to live in, such a narrow and tiny burrow, where hardly a rabbit or a fox couldn't build their home... The young man's laughter was so spontaneous and so comforting that it called for more pillow talk, especially as he kept rubbing his belly in long circles.

– "All in all, I feel a bit... roly-poly."

– "Roly-poly? What's that?"

– "Don't you think I am... too lardy? Too chubby, maybe?"

  Jirō looked at him as if he didn't understand. Kazuō had read that same look in Tarō's eyes, when he suggested that he had "eaten too much". Right then, the two boys truly looked like brothers, dumbstruck and clueless. The very idea of excess must be so totally unknown to them... For a dumb blonde beast like Jirō, it was a no-brainer.

– "You've grown rounder, that's true... You've put on some weight... You should be proud!" 

– "I don't know about 'proud', but I feel quite... fat."

– "Of course, you're fat. You must feel nicely full, and fat!" Jirō purred.

– "It's only because you feed me well, and I eat a lot. In the city where I lived, I would have been told to eat less. Much, much less!"

– "Eat less? But why?"

– "I don't know. To make me lose weight, for sure."

– "But... Kazuō, who would be so cruel to make you lose weight?"

  Kazuō didn't exepect his friend' reaction... He could see tears glistening in the corners of his eyes, and he felt him shuddering with indignation, almost with anger.

– "I don't know, Jirō... That's what they would have told me."

– "Is this the kind of people you lived with?"

  Kazuō suddenly felt the way Jirō must have felt for him for some time. Almost sitting on top of him, the handsome boy held him firmly by the shoulders, with a grip that could crush a young tree trunk. He was limber enough to bend over until their lips almost touched.

– "You're definitely not going to leave us now, Kazuō! I won't let you. I don't want you to leave..." 

– "I won't leave you. I promise." 

– "I don't want you to be unhappy ever again. Or skinny..." 

– "No, Jirō."

– "I want you to enjoy everything you do..."

– "Yes, Jirō."

– "And everything you eat!"

– "Yes, Jirō..."

  Much to his surprise, Kazuō saw his companion burst into tears, hug his chest and belly so tight, covering him with passionate kisses.

– "Ai shiteru [愛してる, "I love you"]!"

– "I love you too, Jirō..."

  For a long time they remained inextricably entangled.

– "Kazuō..." The young man looked him straight in the eyes, still panting, his heart pounding like a bass drum. "You will never go hungry. Not anymore! I want to satisfy all your appetites. I'm going to feed you, force-feed you and fatten you up... I want you to grow and thrive!"

– "Yes, Jirō. Feed me. Give me more to eat..." 

– "I'm going to stuff you, Kazuō."

– "Please do, Jirō. As for me... I'm going to grow even bigger!"

– "Your appetite will grow larger, but you'll never be hungry..."

– "No, Jirō."

– "Maybe you can tell to us what you mean, when you say you've eaten 'too much', or when you think you've gained 'a lot' of weight..."

  The handsome boy felt a bit better, cooling down as Kazuō swore that he would eat all the food he would be served, but he couldn't help acting like a bad boy. Even his gentle belly rubs burned like wild fire.

– "Don't you think I've already gained a lot of weight?" 

– "Nuh huh... No, Kazuō."

– "You still want to fatten me a lot?"

– "Of course, Kazuō..." Jirō was smiling, but he wasn't laughing. "If your weight had doubled, or the size of your belly, maybe? It would be easier for Tarō and me to get a fair share. See ? no jealousy between us."

  The look he shot at him, as he finished his sentence, was so hot that Kazuō melted on the spot, like a doll or an idol carved in butter...

– "Yes, Jirō... No jealousy."

  The night was getting hotter and steamier than ever.

– "Good. I'm glad that you're staying with us, Kazuō." 

– "Me too, Jirō..."

– "Tarō will be no less satisfied to keep you as a partner."

– "As a partner?"

– "Yes, in the training room, in his fighting practice..."

– "That's right. I guess I'm his partner, if you like..."

  Kazuō mused on, still fiercely embraced by Jirō.

– "How about you... What should I be?"

– "For me?"

– "Yes, Jirō. For you... What do you say?"

– "I don't know. It's true that I don't follow you when you fight..."

– "Should we say I'm your friend?"

  Jirō looked at him most mischievously.

– "Boku no tomodachi [僕の友だち, "my friend" or "buddy"]?"

– "Yes..."

– "You know, I didn't really have friends when I was a kid... I did my best to stay out of the way. I was such a brat, mean like a stray cat."

  After what Tarō had told him, Kazuō knew what they were up against.

– "Would you like something else?"

– "Yup!" Jirō's smile became irresistibly naughty again. "Kazuō... You're much more than a buddy!"

– "Okay... Jirō?"

– "You are my prey..."

■ ■ ■

On the terrace, in front of the house 一 sunset

  Tarō returned with his arms laden with baskets, carrying large wooden crates on his back, all so heavy with food. His brother was there to greet him and help him store everything in their pantry.

– "Well, well... It looks like you've finally put on a little weight?"

– "Yes, Tarō."

  Jirō let him feel his stomach with both hands.

– "It's still far from enough, but my weight is on the rise again."

– "I bet you had to eat a lot to get there."

– "Oh! yes..."

– "That's good. Keep stuffing yourself!"

  Tarō hugged him tenderly.

– "You must be so hungry, too..."

– "Yes... I'm hungry!"

– "I'm going to serve you a good meal. Everything is ready in the kitchen."

– "And where is Kazuō?"

– "In the bathroom."

– "At this hour? What is he doing in there?"

– "Kazuō? He's sleeping..."

– "How is he still asleep?"

– "Well, he's... He's exhausted."

– "You didn't let him rest, not for a moment?"

  Jirō winked at his brother.

– "Maybe for a moment, every now and then... I should also tell you, he's still pretty full right now..."

– "Oh..."

  A wispy cloud spread across the hallway, from the bathroom.

– "BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRP!"

  With a big smile, Tarō joined his wrestling partner in the water.

– "I'm glad to see that Jirō has been taking good care of you!"

– "Yes..." Kazuō replied with a yawn, still a little sleepy.

– "You have to stuff yourself again, stuff yourself silly so you keep growing."

– "I am growing... Jirō feeds me so well, so much..."

  With the help of his two companions, who supported him and rubbed him with their sponges, wrapping him in a large kimono, Kazuō emerged from the bathtub. After a few steps, he sat down in the great hall, where a hearty and appetizing meal awaited them. He felt heavy, sprawled against big, comfortable cushions.

– "Jirō always feeds me so well..."

– "It looks like you're enjoying yourself!"

– "He's really fattening me up. And me... I'm growing obese."

  Kazuō felt wrapped in hugs, kisses and hungry looks... Jirō served him again and again. He encouraged him to stuff himself, just as he kept gobbling down massive amounts of food. Under the waterfall, in the wrestling room or around the fireplace, Tarō was just so cuddly and attentive as his brother, and the day went by. When night settled around the house, clear and limpid, they were barely at desserts.

– "Kazuō?"

– "Hmmmph..."

– "We're going to have to leave you alone for the night tomorrow night."

– "Hmmmph... Why?"

– "It's a full moon night..." Tarō explained.

– "Yes, indeed."

– "On such a night, Jirō and I will hunt."

  This was not the first time when Kazuō slept alone in the house. He had almost forgotten about it, already... Nights spent with Tarō or Jirō were infinitely more memorable.

– "Yes, I hope we can kill a wild boar. For some time now, I've been hearing beasts prowling around. He must be a handsome male, well fleshed, and who does not move alone... That would be a nice catch. We need meat!" Tarō insisted. "We need meat, tasty red meat..."

  For a few more days, Kazuō stuffed himself, lounging on the blankets and cushions that Jirō kept clean. His bedroom was so comfortable, with the summer breeze going through the trees and over the waters of the lake. It was so peaceful, he always dozed off when his belly was full.

  Tarō was still making black tea for him and Jirō... In the evening the two brothers came out of the house, lightly clad and armed for the wild boar hunt. They kissed their companion before crossing the bridge into the woods.

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

■ ■ ■

In the bedroom 一 full moon

  The wind was dying away. The moonlight made the walls feel thin or frail, almost shimmering... Kazuō couldn't sleep, as he wished for more gentle rubs on his belly or a few whispered, tender and naughty words.

  He lacked the weight of being by his side, the softness of a warm breath on his chest, the light sweat and the scent of hair that sometimes rested to the base of his neck.

  In the silence of the night, Kazuō could only make out rumors in the forest foliage, instead of Tarō's deep breathing or Jirō's wild purring.

  It seemed to him that he heard the cries of beasts, the movements of branches caught in some fantastic race, the grunts of pigs and the howls of wolves, very lively, voluntary, and violent.

  All this tumult was far away, but Kazuō felt a kind of terror from it. When the first rays of the sun came to color the room with a soft, coppery light, he finally felt better and fell asleep.

■ ■ ■

In the house 一 morning rain

  Kazuō turned to take a look at the door. He was still lying comfortably, deliciously caressed by a breath of wind, in the drowsy silence of that sunny morning... He felt so heavy and satiated that everything around him seemed transparent, distant, and light — as if an abyss had opened between the dark foliage of the trees, the shimmering lake, and the little house firmly established on the side of the rock.

  His night terrors were gone... The weather was clear. Quite early in the morning, Tarō and Jirō were already back. 

  The two brothers were a sorry sight. Covered in mud, grass, and leaves, soaked to the bone, cold and shivering, they looked sorry to find themselves without game or even weapons to take home.

– "What happened to you?"

– "Just a bad night..." Jirō said, sadly.

– "Didn't you find the boar you saw?"

– "Ah, for that! we found it..." Tarō replied angrily. "And we've seen it... We couldn't ignore it. What a beast! a real monster!"

– "A monster?"

– "You couldn't describe it any other way. It was indeed a wild boar, but of such enormous size that we would never have believed it if we had been warned. And yet, we had guessed one thing..."

– "What?"

– "He didn't move alone. There were three wild boars."

– "All equally huge?"

– "More or less, but the biggest one was really monstrous."

– "And Tarō was right in thinking it was a fat pig."

– "Monstrously fat! But hard to fight..."

– "We couldn't capture him, we couldn't shoot him."

  Furious and discouraged, Tarō was enveloped in steam, so much sweat ran down his burning forehead, neck and shoulders, cool as rainwater.

– "And we had to bring back some meat for our stew!"

– "We'll be hunting again, soon..." Jirō suggested.

– "Yes, but if these wild boars go farther into the valleys or hills, it will be too late!"

– "Maybe they'll stay in these woods."

– "Perhaps..." Tarō whispered between his teeth. "Such beautiful wild boars, good big pigs, very fat... All that good meat!"

– "Yes, Tarō."

  Jirō hugged his brother gently, trying to wipe away his tears. On occasion, it could be as comforting and soothing as it could not help provoking desire and appetite...

– "The edge of the knife also hurts the hand that holds it. It's wrong to hunt and fish so much... but we are hungry."

– "Yes... I'm hungry, you're hungry... And you need to get bigger!"

– "Yes, Tarō."

  Kazuō felt troubled to see them so unhappy. Still embracing, the two brothers turned to him, smiling, sad and resigned, but still mischievous.

– "And you too, Kazuō, you need to get fat!"

– "Oh! yes, really... We need red meat."

■ ■ ■

In the house 一 sunset

  For a few days, Tarō still expressed frustration and anger at the thought of this disastrous hunt. His brother did everything he could to distract him and put him in a good mood.

  To keep their meals tasty and nourishing, he went out again to catch fine fish. It wasn't enough to soothe Tarō, but Jirō had one last way at his disposal, by letting him force-feed him every night, in a rather forced way, perhaps just to make his brother feel better before sleeping.

– "Come on, my little Jirō, more fried fish... Eat!"

– "Hmmmph... Hmmmph..."

– "More rice... Again, again! Lots of rice..."

– "Hmmmph..."

– "And a ripe banana, now... Another..."

– "Hmmmph..."

– "That's good, Jirō! One more effort... Open wide!"

– "Hmmmph..."

– "And a nice big pineapple fritter! Eat, Jirō..."

– "Hmmmph... Hmmmph..."

– "You have to eat, or you'll end up losing weight!"

  Despite all this effort and goodwill, Tarō was not happy. Kazuō couldn't prove him wrong: Jirō set an example by letting himself be force-fed after drinking and eating well, he was nicely plump and his belly was nice round — but he was no longer growing fatter, or hardly growing at all...

– "Eat, Jirō... You have to eat!"

– "Hmmmph..."

  Nothing helped. Feeding Jirō was like adding fuel to the fire... 

  Kazuō understood why the poor boy had such a hard time getting fat. Tarō practiced wrestling at a very respectable level, but his brother always accompanied him in warm-ups and exercises, and he often carried heavier loads than he did.

  Above all, while Tarō and Kazuō were fighting forty fights in a row, he worked tirelessly and spared no effort, both in the kitchens and throughout the house.

  It was no wonder to find him so heavily muscled, so well-built, and so thick. His appetite was also justified by all his activities.

  However, Jirō must have retained the same anxieties as his brother, the same hauntings, and the same fear of running out of food since they were little.

  In his case, this translated into a need, deeply rooted in him, to feed others before feeding himself... It was a real reflex. Kazuō hadn't noticed it right away: even when he showed him how to stuff himself without restraint, Jirō only threw himself at the part of the meal that he thought, rightly and with an unerring glance, that he and Tarō would not eat.

  He wouldn't have deprived his big brother of the food he needed for anything in the world. Tarō had to gain weight, too! For Kazuō, he was certainly willing to sacrifice himself so that he could still force-feed and fatten him... He just did it and didn't talk about it.

  When they spent the night together, while Tarō was out into the forest to set traps, preparing for their next hunt, Jirō would feast Kazuō so generously that his belly would moan and growl in protest...

– "Another good pineapple fritter..."

– "Hmmmph..."

– "Enjoy, my beautiful Kazuō..."

– "Hmmmph, Jirō... I can't take it anymore! My belly is so full you're going to pop it. All I did was eat, all day..."

– "You did well..." Jirō purred as he stroked his belly.

– "Hmmmph..."

– "One more effort... A good slice of cream cake?"

– "I don't know if I can swallow a bite yet..."

– "Open wide!"

– "Hmmmph... Hmmmph..."

– "That's good... You've got to eat, Kazuō."

– "Really, I can't swallow anything or my stomach will burst!"

  Jirō snuggled up to him, supple as a big cat, and caressed his belly with one hand, suddenly biting into the slice of cake he offered him.

– "Do me a favor, Kazuō... Eat a little more."

  Hearing him sigh, Jirō lay on top of Kazuō holding his shoulders in his hands, and brought his lips to his face with the slice of cake he was holding between his teeth. Immediately, Kazuō opened his mouth and swallowed greedily, without thinking... His mouthful ended with the greediest of kisses.

– "You didn't think I was going to eat your piece of cake..."

– "You could have eaten it, really."

– "It's in feasting you that I feast myself." Jirō's eyes sparkled in the dark. "And then, Tarō force-fed me like a real pig tonight... I feel very full and heavy!"

  Kazuō didn't hesitate to feel his pleasantly nourished flanks, his well-muscled and plump buttocks, and his vigorous thighs.

– "Yes, you are really... well in the flesh, Jirō!"

  The handsome blond boy, so sensitive to the slightest compliment, took him in his arms to satiate him definitively with kisses.

– "Do me a favor, Kazuō..." You're going to eat well."

– "Anything you want!"

– "You're going to get bigger, bigger..."

– "As much as you want!"

  Jirō wasn't far from purring. Kazuō smiled.

– "You really want me to get fat... like a pig!"

– "Of course. After all..." Jirō whispered. "You are my prey."

– "I'm your prey..."

– "And I want you to be well in the flesh... fat!"

■ ■ ■

On the terrace, in front of the lake 一 moonlight

  Jirō drank too much beer... His happy nature, however, put him in the best disposition, when he was drunk, to make him the most entertaining and playful of companions. At the end of the meal, even when he was trying to gorge himself on bananas, Tarō and Kazuō would encourage him to drink two or three more large pints, and to improvise a funny poem in front of them.

– "I couldn't sing you a proper tatohé uta [たとへ歌, "picture song or poem"] tonight..." Jirō protested modestly, still drinking, in long draughts. "I don't have a knack for offering you pretty things. I'm really too rough, too rough, and I feel so heavy right now! I don't know why."

  No sooner had he finished his sentence than he burped heavily.

– "BUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRP !"

  His companions burst out laughing.

– "Too heavy to sing, you say? Wonder why..."

  Tarō teased him, sitting next to him, then he gently kicked him to make him lean and roll to the side.

– "So you're going to dance... Dance, my plump little Jirō!"

  The handsome blond young man stood up, smiling, a little dazed.

– "Dancing? Okay, I'd love to!"

  Leaving his kimono in its place, behind him, Jirō took a few steps onto the balcony. He was quite intoxicated, almost entirely naked — and disarmingly charming... His gestures lacked elegance or refinement, but his feet rested with natural grace on the wooden slats, making them vibrate or resonate under his weight, and he was supple enough to launch into an astonishing sarugaku [猿楽, "monkey music", a parade from the ancient Japanese popular comedy]. Bouncing and dancing, he would sometimes strike a pose for brief moments of rest and catch his breath. Without being careful, these attitudes highlighted his whole body in an almost fantastic, supernatural way... Kazuō, shuddering with desire, was fascinated.

– "I know what I could do... What if I told you a tale?"

– "A fairy tale?"

– "A kaidan [怪談, a Japanese horror story or ghost tale]?"

  Kazuō turned to Tarō, looking at him questioningly.

– "Jirō loves tales that make you shudder and shudder with fear..."

  Winking in Kazuō's direction, Tarō invited his younger brother to get in shape... He placed himself on the edge of the balcony to accompany him in his dance story.

– "What a pity we don't have a taiko [太鼓, large drum]!"

– "No big deal..." Jirō replied, thumping his stomach loudly, with both hands. "I'll mark the rhythm on this big, tight drum!"

  The two brothers laughed out loud. Instead, Tarō proposed regular beats, his palms, thumbs and fists on the threshold to better fit a long story... Jirō got down on his knees to concentrate. After a moment's silence, he began to tell the story in a deep, warm, bewitching voice, with the utmost seriousness.

– "Mukashi mukashi [昔, "Once upon a time"]..."

  With remarkable storytelling skills, Jirō conjured up for Kazuō the story of the young Aoyagi [青柳, an ancient name meaning "green willow"].

  A long time ago — at a time when ghosts, demons and sorcerous animals still haunted the mountains and plains — a young samurai girl came, accompanied by her parents, to take possession of a large house in an elegant and prosperous neighborhood. 

  She was so beautiful that all the young men who saw her from the street, as they walked around her little garden, fell in love with her.

  Soon, dozens of young men from good families assaulted his parents to express their intention to marry the beautiful Aoyagi... According to custom, the decision of a bridegroom for the girl to marry was theirs, but the father and mother showed such attachment to their child that they let all these suitors know that she would remain free to choose her future husband.

  Those who wished to obtain her favor were permitted to court her. Thus, many young men presented themselves and were ushered into the house — surrounded by respect, while at the same time requiring them to keep at some respectful distance... 

  All these young men one courted her, undeterred, with immense bouquets of flowers and beautiful fireworks, sweet serenades composed in her honor, sumptuous gifts, or promises of a love that would continue uncorrupted into their future lives.

  With so many eager suitors, Aoyagi responded calmly and charmed them with her deep, clear eyes, her fine smile and her delicate gestures. She always gave them some hope of conquering her, but she imposed strange conditions on them.

  Each of those suitors had to go through three trials on his word of honor as a samurai to show her his true worth, and in order to prove his love — they were forbidden to reveal to anyone the nature of these trials... All agreed to these conditions.

  However, after being put to the test for the first time, many of them failed or gave up hope of seducing Aoyagi. For those who had submitted to the second test, they were no longer to be seen... Almost always, they left the city to visit relatives or friends in the countryside. Finally, the few young men who had successfully participated in the first two events also fled without return, but with a disturbing rumour spreading. Certainly, they must have been terrorized, but only vague insinuations could be obtained from their relatives, to which were added the bitter complaints and recriminations of their families...

  Those who knew nothing of the mystery surrounding Aoyagi whispered that the beautiful maiden was a kitsune otome [狐乙女, a "fox maiden"] who concealed a demon's heart, monstrously cruel, under such a pure and charming appearance. 

  When all the men of high rank and of the most prominent or wealthy families had deserted the house of Aoyagi and his parents, a young sailor entered the harbor and walked a few streets into the city... The residents of the neighborhood watched him out of the corner of their eyes. It was not lacking in allure. He seemed brave, loyal, and well-mannered — but all his earthly possessions fit in the bag he carried on his back, which caused a few sharp smiles and many smirks to raise eyebrows in his wake. 

  He only had to walk along Aoyagi's garden to see her and forget about going back to his ship... He had never heard a word about her, in his long-distance travels, but he only had to see her to fall in love — deeply, madly, passionately... He was already thinking of nothing else but her. He kept coming back and forth, singing her name or whispering it as in a dream. After a short while, he boldly introduced himself and he was received by Aoyagi's parents. 

  This young man's name was Saburō Fukakusa [深草三郎, Saburō is traditional for the "third son" in the family]. He had just turned nineteen. He looked poor, and plagued with bad luck. Still, the people in charge of Aoyagi's home gave him a warm welcome, and he was told that the girl was not insensible to his charm, when she had seen his beautiful deep blue eyes.

  In the evening, Aoyagi showed up and brought him a hearty meal of hospitality. She served him admirably, and she told him that she would be glad to see him again. Saburō had never been happier, and his joy was not dispelled when she made him take the same oath as all the previous suitors. He consented, and she declared that he would have to undergo three trials, and come out victorious in order to conquer her.

– "The first trial!" Tarō announced, clapping with both hands on the threshold of the balcony, while Jirō kept dancing, then he struck a pose and resumed his story.

  Saburō was invited to show himself carrying the yoke on his back, with two large buckets, like a water-carrier... The oldest servant in the house ordered him to follow them into the riding school where the horses were exercising or parading, held in bridle. All day long, he helped the grooms in their domestic duties. He had to bring water and brush, refresh and cork the horses. 

  In the evening, the old servant called Saburō and ordered him to stand on the stool of the family cart. "Easily done!" He thought, although the young man could only put one foot down at a time to keep his balance. It was not so simple, since he always had to carry his yoke and buckets. When he had placed himself on top of the chariot, the servants filled them to the brim with water. 

  The servants told Saburō that he would have to spend three times thirty-three nights standing like this, without a drop of water being spilled. He was free to rest or sleep in the morning... If he did well, he would be received by his beloved Aoyagi.

  From that point on, whether it was in a shower or a squall, or even on the darkest nights, he kept vigil standing on his ladder. Every morning, at dawn, the servants came to relieve him of his painful burden. The poor young man was fainting, exhausted.

  However, Saburō was determined to win. He didn't let a drop of water fall in the sand of the merry-go-round... Even when it was raining all night and one couldn't be so sure about the outcome, his struggle was even greater.

  The wind couldn't keep him awake all night. The cold soon numbed his limbs. And his whole body was stretched incessantly, like the string of a bow, in this impossible stillness. Pain or frustration could drive him crazy, make him faint — or howl like a wolf... And yet, he remained silent and he kept his promise. All the servants of the house were astonished and they started to show him some respect.

  When ninety-nine nights had passed, the hundredth night was given to him to converse with Aoyagi. 

"Of all my suitors, none has shown so much patience or resistance!" she told him, with a smile. "I wanted a husband who knew how to remain master of himself, when circumstances demanded it. You've proven your worth. My parents should approve and bless our union, just as I would like to see you win the second round, for I feel that I will be able to love you in the end..."

– "What a painful ordeal!" Kazuō sighed, shuddering a little.

  Jirō had observed a remarkable stillness during his story. His tense poses, suspended and athletic with his graceful moves, became freer and closer to dance, following the sensual curves of his fleshy body. He was glistening with sweat, but he went back to his tale quietly.

  Having won the first trial, Saburō was allowed to go to the nakōdo [仲人, the matchmaker]. In her shop, the old woman first invited him to undress, for she had been instructed to measure and weigh him before entering the second test.

  Saburō didn't need to be asked twice. Naked and standing, on an empty stomach, he was taller than he appeared at first sight. And he weighed twenty-four kanme [貫目, about 200lbs] healthy and vigorous, as might be expected from a young sailor already well versed in all the exercises of the body. 

  With a deep sigh, the nakōdo told him that, if he was going to show up for the second test, Aoyagi would first require him to provide his parents with a koku [石, about 300lbs] of brown rice, as well as one hundred sho [升, about 180 liters] of beer, in a single delivery of as many bags and as many vats as would be necessary...

  It meant a whole lot of money. Saburō couldn't afford it. However, since he had resided in the harbour district, his handsome face, his fierce character and his accommodating manners had won him the sympathy of many... People soon raised a good part of the money for amounts of rice and beer requested. Saburō had to go deep into debt to pay for the rest and get it delivered inside the house of Aoyagi's family. He was not discouraged, and he finally managed to knock on their door with all the food and drink they had ordered. 

  This demonstration of goodwill made him most welcome. Aoyagi's parents didn't hide how impressed they were. Treating him as their future son-in-law, they invited Saburō to take a long bath, then rest all night in that warm, soothing steam. 

  The handsome young man fancied himself the prince of a palace of dreams, all gold and silk painted in white and blue, where the sea and the sky merged forever in of some boundless, light mist. 

  The next morning, before dawn, an old woman from the house came to wake him up by roughing him up... Saburō was pushed from room to room into a dark and seemingly abandoned stable. There, a cook in a white apron, sturdy and obtuse, forced him into a small enclosure in a corner of the building, and closed the plank fence behind him.

  Still dizzy, the young man suddenly found himself sitting cross-legged on a tatami mat, in front of a coffee table where a huge dish of saffron rice was waiting for him, with curried chicken, bananas, lots of sauce and a huge mug of beer...

– "The second trial!" Tarō announced, knocking again on the balcony threshold. Jirō put his clenched fists on the floor and resumed his story.

  The cook told him to "Eat!" in a snappy tone, before leaving him alone, as if he had been talking to a beast in the stable. "Nothing could be simpler!" said Saburō to himself, who was hungry after such a sudden awakening, even though he was not used to such a feast.

  He immediately began to eat, with a good appetite. The sauce was thick, spicy and rich. The bananas were ripe. The chicken offered large, tender pieces. The whole dish was filled with brown rice, which was very nutritious, and which weighed heavily in his stomach! Finally, the beer must have been tapped a short time ago — refreshing as it can be but rather strong for a boy like him... 

  Saburō was about halfway through his meal when a group of three cooks, cantankerous and surly, opened the fence of his pen and laid down a new dish overflowing with brown rice, covered in sautéed bean sprouts and caramelized sauce, with about forty hot beef skewers. The last one was still carrying a mug of beer.

  These three old women, boisterous and talkative, reproached him very sharply, when they saw that he had not yet finished eating his first meal of the morning. They made a few more stinging comments, to shame him, finally ordering him to eat and drink "faster, faster"... 

  When he was alone, Saburō considered the food he was surrounded by. He was trying to figure out exactly what everyone expected of him... Shrugging his shoulders, he began to eat at a rapid pace. He tried to stuff himself with all these good things, without forgetting to enjoy himself.

  Before the sun broke through the few broken tiles of the roof, his belly was full but the stoves were coming to him for the third time... They would take the dishes and bowls to make sure he had eaten everything, and then they would order him to eat new hearty and imposing dishes, with lots of rice, huge sashimi of salmon, tuna and so on — always with a lot of sauce and a lot of beer.

  When the sun was about to set, poor Saburō could no longer swallow anything, despite his best efforts, which brought him further bitter reproaches and harsh comments. His belly was about to burst! The master of the kitchen came back to see him, looking bad. He grabbed him and pushed him to the bathroom where he had spent such a sweet night the night before... 

"You haven't eaten enough today!" the cook said surly, giving him a loud slap on the buttocks. "You're going to have to eat, if you hope to win this event!"

  Saburō was unceremoniously laid on a wooden table covered with a sheet, in the steam of the bathroom, where a mōmoku no hōji [盲目の僧, a blind monk] was waiting for him. 

  He was almost a teenager... He bowed respectfully when he heard Saburō sigh. He introduced himself and explained that he practiced momiryōji [揉み療治, the art of therapeutic massage] according to the consecrated rites. He had been put back in his hands to help him relax after a hard day.

  Exhausted, Saburō let it happen. While smearing him with oils all over his body, the blind masseur spoke to him in a gentle, soothing way, and gave him valuable advice. 

"The instructions we received are very simple, but very demanding, especially as far as you're concerned! You're going to have to stay locked in the enclosure all day for ninety-nine days... Before this time is over, you must have drunk all the beer that you brought into this house, and have consumed all the rice, as the master of the kitchen pleases. You tasted a slight sample of it today: a lot of fish and meat, a lot of sauces, curry and other spices, a lot of bacon..."

  Hearing him list the dishes like this, Saburō groaned. Still, he did not lose heart. Since he had just understood the challenge that had been imposed on him, he was determined to win this second trial. 

  The next morning, he sat in front of the low table in his pen and soon stuffed himself to face the huge amount of food served to him, until nightfall... Each sip of beer went on as long as it could, and he struggled to swallow large mouthfuls, pushing the rice down his gullet to gobble it up more greedily! He would not be given a moment's respite, but he knew that time was running out.

  At the end of the day, his belly was full, well rounded and his skin was more taut than it should be... The cook looked at him with a grunt, nodding approvingly. A massage was welcome, as the poor young man was so well satisfied!

"You ate well today..." said his friend the masseur, as he smeared his back and shoulders with oils. "We'll soon know if that was enough, or if you'll have to make another effort to make sure that not a drop of beer is left at the bottom of the last jar, and not a grain of rice is left at the bottom of the last bag."

  For a week, Saburō did nothing but eat and drink without restraint, sitting in his pen and very docile when the cooks still brought him large quantities of grilled beef with sautéed vegetables, large quantities of chicken curry and bananas, simmered in coconut milk, and more huge dishes of brown rice still prepared in very rich sauces, spicy, sweet and salty, not so easy to digest...

  Acting like such a glutton, Saburō felt heavy and sloppy. He hoped that he had already eaten a considerable amount of food, but his friend the masseur had to undeceive him by telling him of his fears about the outcome of the ordeal.

"The master growled again, today..." he said calmly. "Judging by the whispers of our homebody cooks, it wasn't a grunt of satisfaction! It's going to take a little effort."

  Saburō let out a sigh, but he wouldn't be discouraged.

  From then on, he tried to make the most of all the time he spent in his enclosure to gorge himself as much as possible, from morning to night... The dishes followed one another, copious and nourishing. The cooks treated him like a pig that their master had fattened. He feasted on everything that was served to him, got drunk from drinking too much beer, and still asked for food! Above all, he did not leave a grain of rice at the bottom of a bowl at the end of each meal.

  A few days went by, then the entire week... Saburō seemed to have gradually resigned himself to his fate. One night, during one of his long daily massages, his blind friend confided in him that he found it a little thicker, softer and smoother under his palms. He asked his permission to feel his way to make sure of this progress. Saburō couldn't ask for more. He stood up and let his young friend feel, weigh and squeeze his whole body, with precise and expert gestures, surrounded by steam in which he was sweating profusely. 

"Just as I thought..." he said, feeling it patiently. "It didn't take long for you to get fat. You were pretty thin after the first test. The difference is already noticeable. Our cook must be starting to think you're a little plump. We're going to feed you well, and you know you've got huge amounts of rice left to gobble up. If you really want to win this event, your body won't be able to stay so thin and slender!" 

  Saburō understood that his friend was warning him, without reproaching him but not without subtlety, against the consequences of his victory, if he lived up to their expectations... Still, he told him he wouldn't give up.

  For several weeks, Saburō devoted all his time and effort to filling his belly — by gorging himself on food and drinking beer in long draughts. Sitting in front of the coffee table, naked in the enclosure, he hurried to swallow huge quantities of rice, meat and fish, sautéed vegetables, fritters and bananas.

  All the dishes were covered in sauces, grilled with lots of butter or filled to the brim with greasy broth... He behaved almost like a pig: he ate noisily, and burped without apology after drinking his tankard, with one gulp! The cooks laughed at him and pointed at him, pawing and cackling after he had put down yet another dish overflowing with rice and chicken curry. There weren't too many of them to carry them...

  Saburō did not listen to them. He wasted no time in stuffing himself, grabbing handfuls of rice and meat in sauces and bringing them to his mouth, with both hands at once. Doubtless, the sacks of rice they had brought would disappear, one after the other, in the shed. Each of his meals ended with tasty desserts, and a whole bunch of bananas to go with his mugs of beer.

"You're fattening, Saburō. You've become tender and chubby..." said his friend as he massaged him every night. "And in a little while we will have fed you so well that you will be terribly round and puffy!" 

  A little drunk, and well satiated, Saburō listened to his friend's advice, but he only shrugged his shoulders... Sitting in his enclosure, he thought only of stuffing himself, without any restraint! However, the days passed. What the blind masseur had suggested was to be true: the young sailor was getting drunk... His emaciated face became chubby as his beard grew, and he became so sluggish that he had to give up his slim waist for good.

  Around him, the cooks' comments were rife... The servants murmured. The master of the kitchens contented himself with grunting contentedly when he seized him to lock him up in his enclosure at dawn and to bring him out at nightfall. After a few loud slaps, the better to feel him all over his body, he only told him to fill and round his belly — like a real pig. Saburō spent all his time feasting and gorging himself, better and better, moaning with contentment... He was not toIt was possible to make him swallow another mouthful when he had finished his last dish of the evening! 

  Days passed. The quantities of food increased in front of him, with each new meal. Only his determination had not changed. He faced it, determined to take up the challenge, and he seemed to have resigned himself to his fate, once and for all... 

"You're fattening, Saburō. You've become all clumsy, unctuous and plump..." said his friend the blind masseur, every night. "And in a little while we will have fed you so well that you will be terribly heavy and plump!" 

  These recommendations had become unnecessary. Fully satisfied, at the end of a long day, Saburō still listened to his young friend but he only shrugged his shoulders... And he was still burping a huge heep, which echoed through the whole house. 

  Weeks passed. The handsome and handsome sailor, so slender when he had been shut up in the paddock, had become monstrously obese. He was the talk of the town. From his cheekbones to his ankles, and from the nape of his neck to his heels, his whole body was fleshy and plump, as if stuffed with too much meat...

  Still sitting at the table, naked and sweaty, his cheeks flushed, and his skin stretched to the point that it seemed as if he would burst at any moment, his belly kept swelling, again and again — before his eyes, like a bubble, with each new bite he swallowed! 

"I don't want to lull you with false hopes, Saburō..." his friend said at last, late at night. "But you ate well! You've fattened up so well that I feel like I'm kneading dough, massaging you like this... The supply of beer and brown rice has dwindled but you don't have many days left to spend locked in your enclosure. You'll have to make a little more effort!" 

  Saburō couldn't ask for more. He regained hope. His determination had remained intact, unyielding as steel, ever since he had agreed to submit to this ordeal. However, his body had thickened and weighed down... The young monk suggested that he accompany him at dawn when the cook came to fetch him. 

  His help was welcome. The brown rice dish that awaited Saburō, in his small enclosure, was a veritable mountain covered in meats and curry sauce. After having him describe this imposing feast in a few words, the young monk invited Saburō, genuinely intimidated, to sit comfortably and relax to let him force-feed him. 

  Holding him still, with one hand firmly against the back of his neck, he grabbed handfuls of food and shoved them into Saburō's throat, who grunted and groaned, but swallowed whatever he was forced to swallow. 

  Before the end of the morning, a servant took pity on the blind boy... His assistance was eagerly accepted, and Saburō found himself so well fed that he was able to leave his enclosure at nightfall without a grain of rice or a crumb of grilled tuna left in the dishes! He couldn't help but enjoy his last mug of beer, before going to sleep. The skin of his belly was tighter than that of the largest ceremonial drum in the nearby temple.

  More days went by... Provisions were dwindling. The whole city and the port resounded with his praises, as the whole neighborhood resounded with his burps... Saburō let himself be force-fed, a good appHe was in good company, very docile. After one last dish of rice, the most monumental he had ever faced, he was allowed to enjoy a few mugs of beer with bananas and fried fritters — until there was nothing left of what he had been asked to bring! 

"Here's a contender who's finally making the cut!" said the cook, proudly.

  Saburō's victory was heralded in town as an event of the utmost importance. Everyone was amazed... As he rested to come to his senses, he was told that the beautiful Aoyagi longed to see him again. He was really exhausted, however, and still so drowsy that the blind monk who waited on him recommended that he should first be allowed to sleep and digest for a few days.

  When he felt he had recovered, the nakōdo told him that they still had to weigh him to mark the end of this ordeal... Saburō couldn't ask for more. After stuffing himself insistently for months, and after being force-fed for weeks like a prized pig, he had to put on weight — and bacon! 

  The whispers spread, as if in echoes, when they saw him coming. 

  His manly figure, once slender and limber, had grown generously round... His plump, prorupt muscles were all coated, as if glued, under a thick layer of fat. He had trimmed his beard a little, but you could tell he was chubby. He had abandoned his leaping tiger waist for a beautiful elephant belly, largely blooming and swaying limply at every step. Fat and clumsy, his gait had become slower and more attractive. He presented himself all the better because everyone remembered seeing him as weak and clumsy — nervous like a whiplash. 

  He was glistening with sweat, and he was smiling. His whole body, magnificently well fleshed, exuded health. His appetite must have been insatiable, and this good opinion of him helped him to appear in his best light. He had been misjudged... He was rather personable, friendly and good-looking. A plump and clumsy young man like him could only be a "good dough"! 

  This tall, handsome boy had changed a great deal, indeed. In a little more than three months, Saburō had gained more than fourteen kanme [around 120lbs]... 

  Confirmation of this news was received with joy by Aoyagi. 

"Of all my suitors, none had shown such an appetite or such an ability to enjoy well!" she told him, with a thin smile. "I wanted a husband who would enjoy life and who could surpass himself, even in excess, when circumstances demanded it... You've proven your worth. My parents will certainly approve of our union, for better or for worse... And I'd be happy to see you win the last round, because I feel that then I'll love you passionately!"

– "What a delightful ordeal..." Kazuō whispered, shuddering with pleasure.

  With great talent, Jirō shared the emotions of his hero and the twists and turns of his adventure with his comrades. This exercise was physically demanding... He ran his hand through his blonde hair, which fell over his forehead, covered in sweat. He had taken pains to evoke the fattening of the character, his courageous attitude and the appreciable fame that his well-deserved obesity brought him. Catching his breath, he assumed a more solemn pose, and his voice grew deeper in the cool autumn night.

  From then on, Saburō could be considered Aoyagi's fiancé, with her consent. For a few days he was treated as the new man of the family, surrounded by attentions and little cares by all the servants, admitted to the table of his future parents-in-law with great consideration, and remarkably well fed to help him rest better.

  During these meals, which were so warm, which allowed him to regain his strength, to establish himself in a new equilibrium and even to gain a little more weight, the only thing missing was the one that Saburō wanted to keep always close to him so that the harmony would be perfect. 

  Aoyagi never showed herself on such occasions, when his company would have afforded him so much pleasure. His parents avoided broaching the subject. She remained retired to her room, and did not see her fiancé until a very late hour of the night.

  One evening, she finally let him know that he would have to be ready for the litmus test, the last task she imposed on him.

– "The third trial!" Tarō announced, pounding the threshold of the balcony with his fists. Jirō took a deep breath and, after a few more dance steps, always a bit too heavy and clumsy, he sat up peacefully and resumed his story.

  Aoyagi returned after midnight, dressed all in white, like a wandering soul, and she motioned to Saburō to follow her wherever she went, without uttering a word. They hurried out of the house. The whole town was asleep... 

  The weather was gloomy, with an oborozuki yo [朧月夜, "blurred moonnight"]. It was on such a night that ghosts, demons, and sorcererous animals loved to wander the streets of the city. Aoyagi showed Saburō the way, with a quick and confident step. The dogs howled as they passed, like wolves. They made their way past the last small houses, to hills shaded by tall trees, where there was an old cemetery... Aoyagi opened the gate, which creaked a little. She entered — like a lonely, white shadow into the darkness.

  The young sailor walked slowly behind her, ponderous, silent, and worried. Gradually, as his eyes became accustomed to the darkness, he followed her — then, suddenly, he saw her! 

  She had stopped by a freshly dug grave, motioning for him to wait. The gravedigger's tools were still lying around, here and there. Grabbing one of them, she began to dig furiously, with strange haste and strength. She slapped the lid of a coffin, snatched it off with a sharp gesture, and revealed a corpse — the small corpse of a child! Then, with frantic and demonic movements, she tore off one arm of the corpse, white and chubby, broke it, and began to devour it with delight.

  Then, throwing the other arm of the dead child at Saburō, she shouted to him, "Eat, if you love me! Eat, for this is what I eat!" 

  He did not hesitate for a second. Crouching on the other side of the tomb, Saburō ate half of that plump arm and told his fiancée:

"Oishii da yo [美味しいだよ, "It's delicious"]... I'll gladly eat this every night!"

  Indeed, this plump, little white arm was made of the best kashi [菓子, pastry] that could be found in the region. Then the girl sprang to her feet, bursting out laughing. 

"Of all my betrothed, so proud of their courage and willpower, you are the only one who did not run away... I wanted a husband who knew no fear, or who knew how to overcome it. It was the ultimate test I could impose on you. You've just proved your worth to me. My parents will approve of my choice and our union. You're a man, and I love you!" 

  Aoyagi came and sat down next to Saburō, opened the flaps of her kimono and presented him with a whole family of dolls with chubby cherubs' figures that she had made for him, offering to stuff him with these pastries down to the last grains of sugar... Her handsome, fat fiancé couldn't ask for more, so his belly was heavily filled with patsries when they returned to their new home as newlyweds.

– "What a terrible ordeal!" Kazuō concluded, laughing, not without a tinge of delicious terror. "But it ends well for our hero. It's a funny story, and there's something of a lesson in there too..."

■ ■ ■

In the dining room 一 late hours of the night

  The tale danced by Jirō should have left the storyteller completely exhausted. It invited everyone to fall into a deep sleep, after they had enjoyed such a voluptuous thrill. As they exchanged a mischievous look, Tarō and Jirō placed themselves on either side of Kazuō to kiss him on both cheeks, tease him and rub him all over his body. They appreciated the whole mass of his belly, fat and full as he was after such a long and copious meal. Always naughtier than his brother, Jirō wasn't staisfied with hugs and kisses. He covered Kazuō's torso and stomach with licks and bit his nipples, his love handles or the plump and cozy bulge under his navel, voraciously, always hitting the most sensitive spots. 

  With four hands working on kneading his body like a big ball of dough, constantly enveloping him, grasping, turning and flipping, cherishing him, cuddling and coddling, making his body bounce and bump against theirs, Kazuō experienced that particular pleasure of finding himself the tallest, biggest... and fattest boy in the band.

  Even when Tarō and Jirō finally lay down, sleeping next to him, always with a hand on his thigh or softly snuggled up against him, a shiver ran down his spine and spread itself out to his companions, pinching their deepest heartstrings even in their sleep, perhaps even in their dreams...

– "I can't believe my luck..." Kazuō mused. "They were both right about me. The life we lead here together is too sweet for us, especially for me, not to enjoy it to the fullest. Now I'll be happy to push Tarō to fight harder... and Jirō is just waiting for the next opportunity to fatten me up like a prized pig!"

■ ■ ■

In the house 一 cloudy morning

  Tarō and Jirō were finally back. It must have been such a terrible night for them... They were still dirty and muddy, with dead leaves in their hair and blades of grass in their beards. On the other hand, they had won that game: each boy carried a huge, dead boar on his back. This was no ordinary game... presented to him on the floor, those beasts looked larger than grown men.

  Kazuō could consider them. Tarō didn't lie about this. He had not even exaggerated when he described the boar he had slaughtered as "monstrous", prodigiously large and fat... The other male looked just so large — they had to be frightfully fierce when they wandered in the woods! There was enough meat on them to feed the boys for months. Tarō could finally feel reassured, as he kept thinking of the coming winter.

– "Not a moment to lose... It's time to gorge and stuff ourselves!" Jirō announced, almost licking his lips.

  Nothing could make Tarō fell better or give him greater pleasure than to see his little brother eat more and more food, with a voracious appetite — and to consider how this diet based on well-marbled, red meat was finally making him fatter, day after day...

– "Told you... This is what you need. Fresh meat, red meat!"

– "Yes, Tarō."

– "Eat, Jirō! Eat meat and enjoy..."

– "Hmmmph... Yes, Tarō..." he repeated with his mouth full.

  For more than a week, the three young men were only focused on gorging themselves from sunrise to sunset, then until late into the night. Jirō spent hours in front of his pots and stoves, then he did his best to eat almost as much as Kazuō. There was always so much food... Tarō devoured everything he was served, sinking his teeth into thick, juicy steaks! Jirō was no less gready than him, eating beef, chicken, duck, fish and shrimps, eggs, rice, pasta, fruit, and pastries. His efforts were also rewarded. Every morning, the handsome blonde boy got up and thumped his own belly, with a smile on his face.

– "What do you say, Tarō? I feel like I've put on some good weight..."

– "Yes, Jirō. You're getting fat... You've grown plump and meaty."

– "I should be really chubby, soon!"

– "That's for sure, Jirō. I trust you're going to eat well."

– "Eat well? I'm going to binge and gorge until I pass out!"

  Proud of the plump and plushy curves in his body, Jirō prepared more and more tasty dishes, more and more nutritious meats, which he let simmer for a long time. Naturally, Kazuō received more than his fair share of food. Jirō's belly finally looked eager to grow round and fat, but he didn't forget to feed his "prey" as often as possible — as much as possible. 

  Kazuō's belly kept swelling, day after day... Tarō, on the other hand, gained weight in an astonishing way. It was almost all muscle mass, which made him more imposing but still slender, lean and nervous, while the other two young men became more and more obese... Jirō had a lot of fun acting "clumsy", as he walked back and forth carrying laundry or various utensils, while Tarō and Kazuō fought in the sand.

– "How good it is to feel that round and heavy belly, when you haven't eaten yet!" he said to them cheerfully.

– "Yes, Jirō."

– "Train well! I hope you're hungry..."

– "Yes, Jirō... Prepare us a good meal."

– "You're in for a treat! And I'm going to stuff myself full of fish, meat, potato omelets, rice, stir-fried noodles and vegetables, with lots and lots of bacon... I want that bacon to stick to my bones!"

– "Yes, Jirō."

  Tarō wouldn't let himself be distracted like this. He let out a sigh.

– "You can hardly get much thicker than this..."

  The balance of power was no longer the same between Tarō and Kazuō, during their training or in their fights... Every morning, Kazuō looked noticeably bigger, rounder and fatter. He was also slower but he took the hits better. Tarō enjoyed facing someone who was able to lift him up or push him out of the circle. He didn't quite respond as he should have, neither fast enough nor strong enough.

  Their fights became languid and sensual, when they were exhausted. Still, Tarō was undeterred and he remained focused. After their last fight, in the shower, his opponent was his partner again and he encouraged him to keep it up.

– "When you've become a true champion, Tarō..."

– "Yes, Kazuō?"

– "Your fans will find it hard to believe that you were training alone with such an obese and chubby partner!"

– "They'll believe it, and so should you!" Tarō laughed. "It works best for me that you're so heavy, and obese... I'm serious, I could introduce you as my sensei [先生, "master"] before the tournament."

– "Really? I've got to train a little bit better, then."

– "Oh, yes! For starters, you're going to eat a little bit better."

– "I'm going to grow even fatter, if you insist so much..."

– "You can afford it, you know... I won't make much progress if you don't put on more weight. And I don't want to hit you and hurt you... That's why a good, thick layer of lard is good to protect you!"

– "You're right..." Kazuō blushed.

  The whole house was already filled with the smells of grilled meat.

– "Time to eat!" Jirō called to them from the kitchen. "You spend too much time in the shower... Come and eat your fill with me, both of you! I'm hungry and I want you to stuff yourselves, too."

■ ■ ■

In front of the terrace 一 dusk and mist over the forest

  Kazuō was pouring himself another big bowl of stew. Already well satiated, he wanted to reward Jirō who had just finished the tale of an ancient warrior turned pilgrim who had to thwart the tricks of certain ghosts he met in the mountain... His song and danc, his cheerful story and the slightly clumsy but graceful moves of that handsome and magnificently plump boy made for quite a thrill. 

  In the forest, cicadas rustled softly.

– "I could listen to another tale..." Kazuō said with his mouth full.

– "Right now?"

  Jirō was sweating so much, he had to catch his breath.

– "Drink another large mug of beer..." Tarō suggested.

– "I feel so hot, I could drink a whole barrel!"

  With yet another big bowl full of gravy, meat and stir-fried noodles, Kazuō showed more than an appetite... His stomach was already quite full, but Tarō and Jirō strongly encouraged him to gorge and grow fatter.

– "You too, eat some more..." Tarō said to his brother.

– "No problem... This tale made me hungry!"

– "It's quite all right. The days are starting to fade... We're already shrouded in mist. Soon, the cold will set in... There will be snow and frost. We should be better prepared for it."

– "You're right."

– "Then stuff your face, Jirō! Eat and enjoy yourself, just like Kazuō... You have to grow thicker and store a lot more fat on your frame for this winter."

– "Yes, Tarō."

  Sitting on the tatami mats, the fat boys ate even faster, silent but messy.

– "BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRP !!!"

– "How about you sing something for a change, to entertain us?" Jirō suggested. "While I keep devouring all that meat to grow fat like a hog?"

– "Very well..."

  Tarō was not naturally inclined to sing or dance. As he closed the large wooden panels around the house, softly, one after the other, he recited in a clear voice:

                                "頓て死ぬけしきは見えず蝉の声"

                                (Cicadas will die

                                 so soon — you wouldn't know it

                                 when you hear them sing...)

■ ■ ■

In the bedroom 一 before the first rays of sunlight

  Still worried that they would not have enough food to face what looked like a harsh winter, Tarō often went away and returned laden with heavy baskets, large wooden crates, armfuls of vegetables, countless measures of rice and pasta, flour, eggs, and jars of fruit and beer. He and Jirō stored it all in the storage rooms they had dug deep inside the mountain, behind their kitchen. Satisfied, if not fully reassured, Tarō rested with his companions for one night but he soon went out to cut wood, then to the nearest village to sell it and buy more food, more for them to eat and drink like bottomless pits... Jirō was not to be outdone. He kept catching large fish and storing them in ice, just as he carefully harvested the last vegetables and spuds from his modest garden.

– "What we need to pile up in our larder, more than anything, is red meat..." Tarō insisted. "Fat meat! I trusy you, Jirō, to cook tasty, hearty and fattening dishes... Force yourself, if you have to, but keep eating while I'm away. I want to find you round and full but plump, when I come back."

– "I promise, Tarō..." Jirō replied with a laugh. "We're going to fatten ourselves up like greedy, chubby piglets!"

  In the morning, before dawn, Kazuō found his companion in front of his bed, ready to carry out this program... Naked, athletic and meaty, with a full stomach after a solid breakfast, Jirō was no longer just "desirable" or "irresistible"... Kazuō knew that he was doomed. It was already too late. He would surrender and eat until he could hardly take a breath. He wanted this, no matter what, all that Jirō was ready to feed him. The blonde boy's presence by his bed was more delicious and more necessary than the air in his bedroom.

– "Kazuō? You're hungry..."

  That wasn't a question.

– "Yeah, I'm hungry! Give me something to eat."

– "I'm done cooking for today. I'm going to feed you so much..."

– "Yes, Jirō."

– "I'm going to force-feed you. Like a pig."

– "Yes, Jirō. Feed me like a real pig..."

– "Anf I'm going to fatten you up... like a prized pig!"

– "Oink, oink!"

  The handsome blonde boy removed the blankets, and placed a large bowl with a dozen bananas on the bed for Kazuō.

– "How about a few bananas... for starters?"

– "Yes, Jirō..."

  Carefully chosen as they were, sizeable and ripe, these bananas were really modest, compared to what the handsome boy showed Kazuō, to please him for quite some time — at least until next dawn, if Jirō kept the feast going in a steady flow without taking a break...

– "Leave it to me, Kazuō... I'm going to feed you well."

– "Hmmmph... Yes, Jirō."

– "Eat up, big guy... I've prepared more good food for you to enjoy."

– "Hmmmph... Hmmmph..."

– "Another banana... Again!"

– "Hmmmph... Hmmmph..."

– "I'm proud of you, Kazuō... You've grown truly obese! And thanks to you, I'm slowly getting there, too... I love being obese!"

– "Hmmmph... Yes, Jirō."

– "I'm so happy to be chubby... I want to grow really huge!"

– "Hmmmph..."

– "Enjoy, my beautiful Kazuō... There, another banana."

– "Hmmmph... Hmmmph..."

– "I'm going to fatten you up, Kazuō! More, more... Again."

– "Hmmmph... because... Am I your prey?"

– "Oh! yes..." Jirō replied, with the same refreshing laugh. "Because you're my prey! That's why you have to grow fatter... So much fatter..."

  Kazuō felt seized with the most mind-blowing vertigo.

– "Jirō... Make me eat again! More!"

– "As much as you want, Kazuō..."

– "I need it, Jirō. I want you to really force-feed me, like a pig."

– "Yes, Kazuō..."

  The young man's voice was just so warm, booming and soothing.

– "I want you to fatten me up like a really large pig!"

– "Yes, Kazuō..."

– "Hmmmph... I want to grow bigger for you..."

– "Kazuō..."

– "Hmmmph... Hmmmph... I'm your prey."

– "Yes, Kazuō... You are my prey. And I love you..."

– "Then, when I'm really obese, like... huge?"

– "Well, then I'm going to devour you..."

  With a naughty smile, Jirō put a banana back in each hand, and placed a kiss on his lips, then on his neck, moving down to his belly button with greedy little licks. Kazuō devoured one banana after another as he watched his beautiful blonde hair fade away and then disappear, like the last rays of the sun on the horizon of his big belly. Then, holding back a deep sigh with another bite of banana, he heard Jirō roar softly like a tiger...

■ ■ ■

On the terrace, in front of the lake 一 full moon

  For a few more days and nights, alone with Jirō, Kazuō lost all sense of "days" and "nights". Time only felt like something else he could devour. Everything that kept mankind busy, anywhere else in the world, from dawn to dusk and from evening to morning, what they could tell each other that may be meaningful or vain, what they could achieve that was important or pointless, all that was as far from him as if someone tried to tell him how particles of dust could move on the surface of another planet... Coming back from a village in the valley, Tarō brought back, among heavy baskets of provisions, some of the rumors and smells of everyday earth. He also brought to his brother's attention the presence of the last wild boar they had failed to hunt.

– "He's back. And just as you suggested, he's had time to enjoy himself a bit too much. He's grown so much fatter, magnificently fat and chubby. He's all cheeks!" 

– "You want us to chase him, then? Hunt him for god?"

– "I've already set many traps... There's not a night to lose."

  Kazuō couldn't sleep... Jirō had so carefully ironed the blankets on his futon, arranged the cushions, perfumed the room and left bowls of fruit and sweets, all over the place, it was all in vain... The fat young man had lost the habit of sleeping alone. The night was so bright, with a full moon thinly veiled by too many clouds. Tarō had warned his companions about a freezing cold winter. Without Jirō by his side, so meaty, so warm and cuddly, Kazuō felt the night air creep inside the house and into his room, into his bed. No matter how thick he was, with a healthy layer of lard covering his body, which his companions praised so often, he felt himself shudder. His forehead was moist with icy sweat. It wasn't just the cold but fear that made him tremble.

– "What's the matter with me?" he wondered aloud.

  The forest was buzzing with so many ominous rumours... He could still make out, above the whistling of the wind and the brushing of the branches, the growls of an angry boar — with the distant howl of great, wild wolves. Was this a dream or reality? As he closed his eyes, he pictured that fantastic race in the woods and how it would feel. Much to his surprise, he suddenly realized that he couldn't see any boar anywhere in the dark forest. He could only see branches and tree trunks passing by in a swift motion. He could hear the wolves howling, their light and rushing steps going nearer and nearer. There was no wild boar... but it was a wild boar that these wolves were hunting. It was him! They were going after him! He was the wild boar, the fat pig that Tarō had described all evening to whet his brother's appetite.

– "Tarō? Jirō?"

  He got up from his bed, in a panic. Considering the black tea that Tarō made only for him and his brother, Kazuō thought that it must be a special blend to help them stay awake throughout the night... Another thought occurred to him, then, which he could not discard or put into words in any way that would feel coherent or reasonable. He had never thought about it, at any time. And yet...

■ ■ ■

On the terrace 一 before dawn

  Kazuō couldn't stop walking in circles, in his bedroom.

– "Wolves... Full moon. All night... Wolves!"

  He didn't dare leave the house... The wind was dying away. He could no longer hear screams, howls or grunts. Those wolves must have pounced on their prey and killed him — then, in the morning, Tarō and Jirō would be so proud to show him the last wild boar they had hunted to serve him more feasts with so much meat and plenty of sauce, fried vegetables and rice, noodles and beer!

– "Wolves? I'm just a prey for wolves?"

  A magnificent breakfast already awaited him by the fire, in the middle of the living room... There were all his favorite foods too, which he had feasted on so copiously since the day Tarō had invited him inside this strange house. Kazuō then realized, to his horror, that he was hungry when he saw all these dishes, so appetizing, so nutritious, served in abundance.

– "Jirō told me so... I'm his prey! I'm their prey..."

  Lost inside the house, feeling confined against his will, he opened the kitchen door. He had never taken a look in there... What he found made him shake in horror: there were such enormous vats and cookpots, such immense ovens, such large trays with such vast amounts of food ready to be cooked and fed to him that he stepped back at once, even though his mouth was already watering... If Jirō had been there, in front of him or near the pantry, he knew he would force-feed him so easily, like an insatiable pig, until his gut would burst like a balloon!

– "Almighty gods!" cried Kazuō suddenly. "It was a trap. They are yōkai [妖怪, fantastic creatures]. They only wanted to feed me and fatten me up... and devour me!"

  Shaking and shivering, unable to make a decision, Kazuō sat down by the fire and immediately began to eat... The food he was gulping down at full speed was the only comfort he could count on now. Folded in on itself, fatly rounded and obese, it must have looked like a huge ball of dough. The sun was slow to rise... 

  In the light grey mist wandering over the lake, he could make out the masculine frames of Tarō and Jirō who were finally coming home with the corpse of the third boar. His suspicions were confirmed. In the shadows of the trees, the two young men had turned into wolves for the night. They took on their human form again, at the first light of dawn.

– "Kazuō... Are you already up and ready for the day?"

– "We finally got the better of that boar!"

– "And he was even bigger and fatter than we had hoped! When Jirō's done with preparing it the way he knows best, there will be so much delicious meat. Now you'll be able to enjoy yourself to the fullest!"

– "Kazuō? What's happening? You look pale..."

– "We could almost swear you just saw a ghost!"

(To be continued...)

Notes: In Japanese, a name like Ōkamiyama (狼山) translates to "the mountain of wolves". Tarō and Jirō are indeed wolves or werewolves in the mountains... 

  The name Fukakusa (深草) translates to "deep herbs". The story of Saburō, told by Jirō, is adapted from an old ghost story collected by Lafcadio Hearn in his book Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan. 

  Tarō quotes another haiku by Bashō. There are many translations of that poem, more or less evocative. This translation respects the classic cut of 5+7+5 syllables of a haiku.

A bit of Japanese history: Traditionally, a koku (石) of rice was the amount an adult man consumed over the course of a year... The koku was also used as a salary paid in kind, and was used to assess the wealth of a clan leader or the number of soldiers and servants at his disposal. In 1600, Ieyasu Tokugawa (徳川家康), the richest lord in Japan, had an income of about two and a half million koku, more than twice as much as any other daimyo [大名, feudal lord].