The Grading

Chapter 1

Felicity hummed a light tune as she sat at her kitchen table, lazily spreading a thick layer of jam on a warm crumpet. Her long black hair cascaded over her plump shoulders, framing a face that had grown noticeably fuller over the past year. Her once sharp features were now softened by a generous layer of fat, giving her cheeks a rosy, round appearance. Below her chin, a soft double chin formed as she looked down at her plate, the weight of it settling comfortably.

Her robe, which had once fit loosely, now strained around her substantial body, the fabric pulling tight across her expansive belly and broad hips. The belt of the robe was barely holding on, digging into the soft flesh of her waist as her belly spilled over her lap, resting heavily on her thick thighs. At about 280 lbs, Felicity had gotten pretty fat, her body a testament to months of indulgence.

But she barely noticed the strain of her robe—or if she did, she didn’t care. With a contented sigh, she patted her round belly affectionately, her hand sinking into the soft flesh. “What do you think, Bella? Another crumpet after this?” she mused, a playful smile tugging at her lips as she bit into the first one, savouring the sweet, buttery taste that melted on her tongue. The warmth of the crumpet, coupled with the cozy, indulgent atmosphere she had created for herself, was pure bliss.

The morning silence was broken by the familiar thud of the mail dropping through the slot. She glanced towards the door but made no immediate move to get up. Instead, she took her time finishing the crumpet, sipping her tea, and finally, with a sigh of contentment, she rose to fetch the mail.
Her robe swayed around her ample hips as she moved, the floorboards creaking under her weight. Bending down to pick up the mail wasn’t as easy as it used to be, but she managed with a soft grunt, pausing briefly to adjust her robe, which had ridden up slightly. “All this for a bit of post, eh, Bella?” she chuckled, patting her belly once more before shuffling back to the kitchen.

She flipped through the usual bills and junk mail, her fingers pausing when she saw an envelope with her Karate dojo’s emblem on it. “Well, well, what’s this?” she muttered, tearing it open with a flick of her thumb.
As her eyes scanned the letter, a slow grin spread across her face.

Dear Felicity,
It is my honour to invite you to your 1st Dan grading, which will take place exactly one year after your successful black belt examination. You have worked hard to reach this point, and I trust you will continue to show the discipline and spirit of a true martial artist.
The grading will be held at the dojo on the 15th of next month. I look forward to seeing the results of your training.
Sincerely, Kenji Takahashi

Felicity snorted, folding the letter and setting it down on the table. “Results of my training, eh? Well, Bella, it looks like we’ve got a month to get back in shape… or, at least, something resembling it.”

She glanced down at her belly, which peeked out from the slightly gaping robe. “What do you think? Ready for some action?” She gave it a playful pat, laughing at the soft jiggle that followed. “Oh, don’t be so dramatic. We’re not that out of shape.”

She grabbed another crumpet, slathering it with even more butter and jam. “Besides, it’s not like Master Kenji expects me to have stayed the same size. I bet he’s seen all sorts in his time. A little extra cushioning isn’t going to shock him.” She took a large bite, chewing thoughtfully.

The thought of squeezing back into her old gi crossed her mind, but she pushed it away. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it She thought. No point in worrying about it now.

Her gaze drifted back to the letter, her mind briefly flickering with memories of her more disciplined days. But they were quickly overshadowed by her current comfort and contentment. “A month, eh?” she said aloud, though there was no real urgency in her tone. “Plenty of time. We’ll just take it slow and steady. I mean, how hard can it be?”

Felicity finished the crumpet with a satisfied sigh, leaning back in her chair. Her belly pressed softly against the table, a comforting weight that she’d grown quite fond of. “We’ve got this, Bella. No need to get all worked up about it.”

With that, she reached for her tea, already planning the rest of her morning. Perhaps a walk… or maybe just another crumpet. After all, as far as Felicity was concerned, there was no rush. Life was about balance, and right now, she was perfectly content leaning a little more towards indulgence.