Urp– I don’t feel good. Maya frowned, rubbing her bloated stomach as it churned violently. She regretted devouring the snacks earlier, but now her stomach was waging war against her after she added the pile of sandwiches Val had made as an apology.

The sheer fullness left her feeling utterly packed and uncomfortable. And the evening stroll did not help ease that problem.

I shouldn’t have eaten them all, but I couldn’t say no to her… or to the sandwiches.

Maya regretted eating as much as she did, but this time it was worse. She desperately wanted to appear attractive to Val and not look like a pig with a bloated stomach. Stress already impaired her impulse control, but now it seemed like Val's presence only worsened it.

At least my clothes can hide it, hoped Maya, while rubbing her stomach under the shirt as it strained against the fabric of her pants. It hurt. I’ll walk this off and go on a diet later. I just hope I don’t burn out before the end of the project.

Maya grimaced at the prospect. A burnout was the last thing she needed.

“Maya. Maya.” Val held Maya’s shoulder, so they stopped walking. She pulled all of Maya’s attention back to the Valkyrie. “Are you. Alright?” 

Maya groggily shook her head. “Sorry, did you say something?” 

Val pointed down the path. “You almost. Walked into. A pole.” 

“What?” Maya turned and almost bumped nose-first against the pole. “Oi, since when is that thing here!?” 

“Maya.” Val cupped Maya’s hand and brought it to her lips. “You. Alright? Talk. To. Me. Please.” 

Ah, there it is again, thought Maya, noticing Val’s speech impeding again. “It’s nothing. I just feel a bit… sick.”  

“Sick?” Val squeezed Maya’s hand lightly. “Food. Mine. Bad?” 

“Huh?” 

“Was. Terrible? You. Not. Like. It?” 

“What– No, no, no.” Maya frantically waved with her free hand before her. “It was amazing! Your cooking is out of this world! Better than anything I could ever do. It’s just…” Her hand fiddled with the hem of her shirt. “I have had this problem since my childhood. It’s embarrassing.” 

“I want to. Understand,” said Val, rubbing with her thumb over Maya’s soft hand. A gentle and kind touch Maya never thought she would ever receive outside of her family. It was so small, yet, strangely, it meant so much to her. “Tell me. Only if you. Want.” 

Maya furrowed her brow further. An uneasy feeling settled in her stomach—this time, it was not the food. 

“How many people do you know that eat a lot of food? Like, A LOT?” Maya asked. She uneasily clenched and unclenched her fist. “To the point, where they feel like throwing up from fullness and shame,” she mumbled the last part.

“A lot,” Val replied matter-of-factly, confusing Maya with the statement. “Einherjar are loud. Rowdy and eat. Too much food.” Val’s face fell. Agitation rimmed her eyes. “Serving them is. Exhausting.” 

Maya didn’t expect this kind of answer. Hearing Val complain was a new side to her. “Do you have female Einherjar, too?” 

Val cocked her head in thought. “Yes. No?” Val held her head like she had a sudden headache. “Maybe… I’m not sure… Why?” 

“I… well…” Maya groaned. The words were stuck in her brain and came out as a tangled mess. How am I supposed to address this subject? Telling her I have a problem with food? She wouldn’t understand. She’ll feel hurt and think I don’t like her food. 

Tired of overthinking, Maya sighed. “Never mind that. I think I am just worried about you.” She sickly rubbed her stomach and took deep breaths to calm herself. “Did you find any new clues about your missing gear?”

The subject change and how Maya pulled away her hand, disgruntled Val. The Valkyrie knew something was up, but she wasn’t confident enough to pry.

Forcing Maya to tell her was not right.

Turning away, Val walked into the empty street of the neighbourhood. Tugging at her braid, she pointed at the small hill stretching on the side of the road. “Not. Far. Strange. Energy.” 

“Good, I could use a walk, anyway.” Maya walked ahead but turned to look at Val. “Shall we?” 

“Yeah…”