Chapter 7:
Michiru made her way back downstairs, to find Setsuna setting a timer.
"Dinner will be ready in about an hour. Will Haruka be joining us?"
Michiru shook her head.
"She said she doesn't feel well. That her stomach has been bothering her all day."
"I'll make her some plain broth then."
"I already offered to ask you to make her some, but she said no."
Setsuna looked at Michiru with a raised eyebrow.
"Well if that doesn't scream we have a problem on our hands, then I don't know what does."
"We do not have a problem. So she's going one day without eating very much. I'm sure she'll be fine by tomorrow."
"Sure, one day might seem like a big deal. But before you know it she'll be going for longer lengths of time where she's eating very little."
"I know Haruka though; she's never been the type to have any sort of body image issues. I'm sure she's really just not feeling well, and she'll be back to her old self by tomorrow."
"I'd give anything to believe that to be true. However, given how you said she's been acting today, I'm certain there's something more going on other than her just not feeling well."
"Haruka does not have any eating disorder."
Michiru was beginning to get defensive.
"I never said she had one, but it's obvious that she's starting to develop one. Why? I'm not sure, but the signs are there."
"Haruka's fine, I know she is."
It was sounding like Michiru was trying to convince herself more than anything.
Just then, Hotaru walked into the kitchen, to see what the two women were up to.
"What are you guys talking about?"
Hotaru asked.
"We were just talking about your Haruka-papa, and her bizarre behavior today."
Setsuna said.
"You mean like how she's started reading nutrition labels and counting calories?"
Setsuna and Michiru both looked at Hotaru with wide eyes.
"Hime-chan, what are you talking about?"
Michiru asked.
"Haruka-papa's been counting calories. I noticed it last weekend when she took me grocery shopping. She would pick something up, look at the nutrition label, and then put it back if the calories were too high."
"Well that explains why it took her longer than normal to get the shopping done last weekend."
"Now if you add that to what you've already told me, do you still deny that Haruka has a problem?"
Setsuna asked.
Michiru let out a defeated sigh.
"I guess there's really no denying it now. We have a very serious issue on our hands."
"Only question now is, how do we stop it from getting worse?"
"I'm not sure. I mean it's not like we can force her to eat. Also we don't know what's causing her to behave so strangely. I feel like if we knew the cause, it might help us to help her."
"So are we just gonna do nothing?"
Hotaru asked.
"No, we're gonna do something. We're just not sure what though."
Setsuna said.
As the three of them stood there trying to figure out what to do about Haruka, they were unaware that she had awoken from her nap, and had been listening in on their conversation.
"Looks like I'm gonna have to work harder on keeping what I'm doing a secret. The last thing I need is for either of them to mess up any progress that I've made so far."
With that thought in mind, Haruka quietly slipped out of the house to go for another run.
After some time had passed, dinner was finally ready, and Hotaru was helping set the table. Michiru retreated upstairs to check on Haruka.
When she made it to their room though, she discovered she was nowhere to be found.
"Do either of you know where Haruka went?"
Michiru asked as she made her way back downstairs.
Setsuna and Hotaru both shook their heads.
"I'll give her a call."
Michiru then pulled out her phone and dialed Haruka's number.
Meanwhile, Haruka had run to a nearby park and had been running since she got there.
Her legs hurt beyond belief and her lungs felt like they were on fire, but still she kept running. She was gonna do whatever it took to reach her goal weight and that meant she would have to make some sacrifices.
"Shit my legs are killing me, but I can't stop now. I have to keep running."
Haruka could feel her lungs screaming at her to stop, but she was determined to keep running until she physically couldn't. So she did. She ran until her legs finally gave out from under her and she was sent crashing to the ground. She then laid there, breathing heavily.
As she laid there, she felt her phone vibrating. She then pulled it out, and looked to see who was calling. When she saw it was Michiru, she quickly answered.
"Hey...Michi…"
Haruka said, breathing heavily and trying desperately to fill her lungs with some much needed oxygen.
"Haruka, are you okay? You don't sound so good."
"I'm...fine…"
"Where are you?"
"I'm...at the...park…"
Haruka's breathing was getting worse and Michiru was getting increasingly worried.
"Why are you breathing like that? Also I thought you weren't feeling well."
"I felt…a bit better…so I decided…to go for…a run…"
Came Haruka's wheezy reply.
"Did you have anything to eat before you decide to go for a run?"
"No…"
"Jesus, Haruka. Do you have any idea how reckless you're being?"
"Would you…stop worrying?...I'm fine…"
"You most certainly are not fine! For Christ's sake, you can barely breathe!"
Michiru did not intend to raise her voice, but she couldn't help it. Michiru hated it anytime Haruka got hurt. However, knowing that Haruka was hurting herself made it all the more frustrating.
"I'm not in the mood to be lectured by you."
Haruka's breathing had finally returned to normal and it was clear by her tone that she was in a mood.
"I wouldn't have to lecture you if you would stop acting so stupid."
"Oh, so now I'm stupid?"
"I didn't say you're stupid, I said you're acting stupid. You're engaging in some dangerous behavior and I don't understand why."
"Going for a run is not dangerous."
"It is when it's your third run of the day and all you've had to eat is a couple of pancakes."
"I've had water too."
"Water isn't food!"
"Stop yelling at me! I know it's not good, I'm not an idiot! Why do you even care so much about how much I eat anyway?! It's really not any of your business, so just back off!"
Michiru pinched her brow. She knew Haruka's outburst was due to her being hangry, but it didn't make being yelled at any less upsetting. Still though, she knew yelling back wouldn't help things. She needed to de-escalate the situation.
"I'm sorry, I'm just concerned. Anyway, are you on your way back home?"
"Yeah, I'll be there in about ten minutes."
"Alright, I'll see you when you get here. I love you."
"I love you too."
The call then ended and Michiru went to join Setsuna and Hotaru at the dinner table, while she waited for Haruka to return.
About ten minutes later, Haruka returned home and immediately collapsed on the couch.
The other occupants in the house soon made their way into the living room to check on her.
"Are you okay, Haruka-papa?"
Hotaru asked, taking in her father figure's ragged appearance.
"I'm alright hime-chan. Just a bit tired."
"Setsuna-mama made you a plate. Do you want me to bring it to you?"
"Not right now. I'm too tired to eat."
"Oh, okay."
Despite how exhausted she was, Haruka didn't miss the disappointment in the young girl's voice.
"I'll eat after I get some rest."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
"Okay, sleep well Haruka-papa."
Hotaru then gave Haruka a kiss on the cheek, then headed back to the dining room to finish her dinner.
Michiru and Setsuna stood there for a moment, watching the now slumbering blonde.
"Do you think she'll keep her promise?"
Setsuna asked.
Michiru shrugged her shoulders.
"I'm not sure. Right now I'm just glad she made it safely back home."
Setsuna nodded her head in understanding.
"I'm gonna go put her plate in the fridge for her."
Setsuna then left to put the plate that she made for Haruka away.
Michiru turned her attention to her sleeping girlfriend.
"Let's get you into bed."
Michiru spoke softly.
She then lifted Haruka up and carried her upstairs. It was at that moment that she noticed how light Haruka felt.
"Please be okay, Ruka."
Michiru whispered, kissing Haruka's cheek. She then laid her on their bed and laid next to her. Keeping careful watch over her for a few minutes, before sleep took over her as well.
End of chapter 7: