Chapter 193: Fasting Pill

“So, you ditch school. Did Maddy help you?” Danny asked, breaking the awkward silence in the car. He couldn’t handle the tension any longer and figured starting a conversation might ease things up.

“Yep. Don’t tell on me,” Ace replied with a faint smirk, grateful Danny had taken the initiative. Ace himself wasn’t sure how to start a conversation without dredging up what had happened in the parking lot. Normally, he wasn’t one to comment on others’ lives, but Danny was his cousin, and he felt a responsibility to step in—especially knowing the kind of person Ava was.

“That goes without saying. And also, about earlier—” Danny began, guilt evident in his tone. He was about to apologize for the parking lot incident when Ace interrupted him, his tone firm but casual.

“Already forgotten,” Ace said, making it clear there were no hard feelings.

“That’s a load off my chest. For a second there, I thought I lost both my cheat codes in life,” Danny admitted with a dramatic sigh of relief, his mood lightening.

Ace raised an eyebrow, curious. “Cheat codes?”

“My father’s millions and my aunt’s Midas touch,” Danny replied shamelessly, flashing a wide grin that made it clear he had no qualms about his plan to rely on his family’s wealth and Mandy’s insights to breeze through life.

“Cus, I feel secondhand shame for you right now,” Ace said, shaking his head in disbelief. Danny had so much potential, but his confidence seemed locked at the lowest possible setting.

“Check again—it’s not shame, it’s envy,” Danny quipped back without missing a beat.

Ace chuckled, but his expression shifted to curiosity when Danny took a different route. “We’re not heading straight home?”

“Nope. We’re going to the town’s most famous bakery. I’ve been craving their pumpkin pie since last night,” Danny explained with enthusiasm, his stomach growling in agreement as if to emphasize his point.

Hearing his cousin plan a trip across town just for a slice of pie—hopefully for a slice of pie, Ace decided it was time to step in and use his gifts to help Danny. But before doing so, he needed to ensure Danny truly wanted the help—otherwise, his efforts might end up feeling like pure torture for his cousin.

“Danny, you know I like you the way you are, and I’m not judging you, right?” Ace said, his tone warm and sincere as he glanced at Danny. He wanted his cousin to know this was coming from a place of care, not criticism.

“I know. We grew up together. Heck, we even learned to masturbate together,” Danny replied with a cheeky grin, his tone casual as if trying to lighten the mood and assure Ace he was open to whatever he had to say.

Ace shook his head with a faint chuckle. “Good, because I need you to be honest with me when I ask this: Do you genuinely love food, or is it just an escape?” Ace’s expression turned serious, his gaze fixed on Danny to gauge his reaction.

Emi’s family has these pills—they call them fasting pills. They use them to suppress hunger during long missions and training. They’re packed with all the nutrients one needs, especially protein, and they don’t mess with one’s body. Actually, they help maintain it, which is vital for ninjas since their bodies are like temples to them. The best part? The ingredients are all regular stuff you can find in this world too, so Ace could make them here.

And, if food is more of a coping mechanism for Danny than something he truly enjoys, Ace could give him those pills to help him manage this weight. Pair them with a little exercise, and one would not only control their weight but get it to an average weight level for their physique.

However, if Danny truly loved food, then introducing the fasting pill would feel more like a punishment than a gift. That’s why he needed to have this conversation, no matter how difficult and awkward it might get. It was also the only solution Ace could think of that didn’t involve curse energy. He wasn’t ready to use it on Danny even if the latter would not be aware of it—there were risks, and Ace was still a rookie and was too cautious. The thought of endangering someone he cared about was out of the question.

Danny blinked, visibly caught off guard by the question. “What? What do you mean?” he asked, his usual grin faltering as confusion took over.

Ace shifted in his seat, propping an elbow on the car door. His voice softened as he began, “You know, I didn’t always look like this, right?”

Danny tilted his head, narrowing his eyes as he processed what Ace was saying. “Yeah, I know. So…?” he prompted, his tone curious but still unsure where this was headed.

“I just wanted to share the secret behind it,” Ace continued, his gaze steady on Danny. “Before you freak out or think I’m judging you, this isn’t about looks. It’s about health—and more importantly, confidence. But listen, it’s completely up to you. If you’re not interested, just forget I ever brought it up.” Ace leaned back in his seat, his posture relaxed but his expression attentive. He wanted to make sure Danny knew this was his decision.

Danny stared ahead for a moment, his fingers drumming against the steering wheel as he considered Ace’s words. Then, with a small nod, he said, “Look, I’m not gonna lie—yeah, food is kind of my escape, but it’s also more than that to me. I love it.” He glanced over at Ace, his tone turning more serious. “And since I’m being honest, there’s something I’ve never told anyone—not even Mandy.”

Ace raised an eyebrow, silently urging Danny to continue.

“After high school, I don’t plan on going to college right away,” Danny confessed, his voice steady but quieter than before. “I want to take a year off and backpack around the world—just to taste the food in every country I can get to. I have no idea how I’m gonna convince my parents, but Mandy? She’ll probably be thrilled to fund my dream.” He let out a small chuckle, his grin returning briefly before fading.

Ace smiled faintly, impressed by the passion in Danny’s voice but staying quiet to let him finish.

“But if there’s a way to get in shape faster—like you did—then yeah, I’d give up food for a few months,” Danny admitted. “Because when I get back to eating, it’ll taste even better. I’ve done it before—starved myself for a meal or two just to make the next meal taste amazing. It’s weird, I know, but it works.”

Ace watched him closely, the corner of his mouth twitching upward in a knowing smirk. “It’s not weird,” he said simply. “It’s you. And if that’s what you want, I’ll help you.”

“So, when do we start?” Danny asked eagerly, leaning forward in his seat with excitement.

Danny knew Ace wouldn’t lie to him about something like this. Weight had always been a sensitive topic for him, even though he pretended it wasn’t—especially when his father teased him about it in front of others. With Ace, though, he felt safe. There was no judgment, just an offer to help.

Danny also knew that if he wanted to enjoy everything the world had to offer during his year off after high school, he needed to be in better shape. And, to be honest, he wouldn’t mind improving his chances with the local women on his travels. After all, food wasn’t the only delicacy he was planning to indulge in.

“How about tonight?” Ace replied after checking with Emi to confirm she could whip up the fasting pills with what they had in the kitchen by evening.

Danny’s face lit up, but then he hesitated before asking, “Does that mean I can have a pumpkin pie?”

Ace shot him a look of disbelief. “An entire pie?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Hey, don’t judge me,” Danny said defensively, throwing his hands up. “If I’m going to be fasting for the next few months, I might as well have a hearty meal before I start.” His grin made it clear he was planning to eat way more than just a slice of pie.

Ace sighed, shaking his head with a small smirk. “Fine,” he relented, though a part of him was certain Danny wouldn’t last more than a day on the fasting pills.

As Ace thought about it, he realized hunger wasn’t just physical for most people—it was mental, like cigarettes or alcohol. Cravings weren’t about survival; they were comfort food for weak minds. He just hoped Danny could prove him wrong.

…

“Lisa, one pumpkin pie and two large Cokes,” Danny ordered at the bakery counter. Then, turning to Ace, he added with a grin, “What about you? It’s on me.”

“Same,” Ace said after a moment of hesitation.

Both Danny and Lisa raised their eyebrows at him in surprise.

“You sure?” Lisa asked, glancing at Ace with a mix of curiosity and concern. His toned physique didn’t exactly scream “indulge in dessert and soda.” Maybe he was going through a rough breakup?

“Yes,” Ace replied firmly, though his ears tinged red with embarrassment. “And, uh, throw in two of those scones, please,” he added, gesturing toward the glass display.

Danny tried to hold back a chuckle, but Lisa wasn’t as subtle. “Coming right up,” she said, smiling as she keyed in the order.

Just then, a healthy-looking middle-aged woman standing nearby commented with a smirk, “Show-off.”

Ace’s jaw tightened, and he muttered under his breath, “I’ll be waiting at the table outside,” before walking briskly out of the shop.

“Margaret, you scared him off!” Lisa scolded, shaking her head at the woman. “If you keep this up, you’ll never find yourself a second husband.”

Margaret shrugged with a mischievous grin, clearly unbothered. Meanwhile, Danny paid for the order, grabbed the tray, and headed outside to join Ace, who was already sitting at a shaded table, staring off into the distance.

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