Resolved How would you translate ruby text?

I know normally ruby text is used for phonetics or spell magic. But I have a case where there is a monologue with the ruby text conveying emotions.

「……お腹空いたな……」with なかす above 腹空

Text-wise, it would be translated as "......I'm hungry......" But because of the "crying" ruby text, it changes the context from "I'm hungry" to "I'm hungry to the point of tears." It would strange for someone to say "I'm hungry to the point of tears" but leaving it as just "I'm hungry" isn't doing it justice either. I'm debating between translating it as "I'm hungry" to the point of tears or "So very hungry."

Here is a gif to visualize my internal struggle.
https://imgur.com/wpAVLlY

 

It depends on the context if the character is desperate for food than so very hungry if their just commenting on their hunger in an exaggerated manner than hungry to the point of tears

 

That is literally the normal reading of those kanji: お腹＝おなか、空いた＝すいた

 

I feel stupid now. On the scans they looked close enough for me think they were one ruby text. Now that I am looking at it more closely, they are indeed just phonetics. I spent over 5 hours of my life struggling for naught. Thank god I have other people to point out my stupidity. Thanks Mr. Meh Man!