Chapter Text
Karamatsu strolled slowly along the bridge near his family's home, one hand in his pants pocket and the other wrapped around a small bouquet of daisies, carnations, and red roses. Some were older than others, and some far less well clipped and set, but its arrangement was given great care; Karamatsu would know, having done it himself. He paused towards the center of the bridge, staring out over the water with troubled eyes. He lifted his sunglasses, taking in the way the water reflected the sky and sunlight in its full glory, and leaned against the railing, focusing on the colors to ignore the strong, rapid thumping of his heart that echoed through every fiber of his body.
"Jyushimatsu-kun?" A voice suddenly gasped, quiet and trembling, but with forced boldness. He was no Jyushimatsu, but how could he ignore such a brave ladies calling? Karamatsu turned, his thick brows furrowing, before his eyes rounded at the mousy haired girl before him. Her hair was shorter than the last time he'd seen her, and she wore a peach colored sundress, but it was unmistakably his little Jyushimatsu's 'home-run girl'.
'Home-run girl,' however, seemed to catch on that Karamatsu was not who she thought he was. Her eyes railed toward the flower arrangement with confusion, and he moved to face her better. "Ah, I apologize, my dear lady-you mistake me for one of my younger brothers." He informed quickly, hands lifted, although one soon moved to his chest.
"O-oh..." She gulped dejectedly, placing her hands behind her back and lowering her head, "so sorry. I just... it's been months, and I hadn't expected to run into him yet. But..."
"But you wish you had." Karamatsu hummed, watching her nod sheepishly before looking back to the water with a sort of dejected expression of his own. He glanced at her, and beckoned with one hand. "Please, though! There is no need for such formalities! I am Karamatsu, second born of the Matsuno sextuplets and fashionista cool guy extraordinaire!"
The woman chuckled, covering her mouth and stepping closer, joining him at the railing. "Well, it's wonderful to be acquainted with you, Karamatsu-san. I'm Homura. I'd wanted to meet one of his brothers so badly. Although... Not quite like this." She said with a forced laugh, watching the water below with lifted brows.
"You should do whatever your heart tells you, my darling!"Karamatsu began with passion, but reeled a bit at the jump the woman gave. "Tell me. What brings you back to our humble district?"
"Ah... I, recently decided to move. I was living near the sea before, but it's... lost it's charm." She said, rubbing one of her wrists. Karamatsu's eyes were attracted by the movement, but he forced himself not to stare at the scarring. He knew too well how that felt.
"Any... Other reasons, perhaps?" He prodded, scanning her face, which guiltily turned away. "Consider me a journal, my dear!" He said with a flourish. "You may tell to me anything you wish, and it shall stay locked up for as long as my body roams this earth, after which it shall be lost to the ever moving sands of time!"
She snorted, running a few fingers through her hair as she gave it some thought. "I would of course love to see Jyushimatsu-kun again. But, I'm so afraid, you know?"
"Of what, may you impart upon me?"
"Of... I don't know. Him not wanting to see me again, or being mad at me for leaving and then just, showing back up..." She admitted, running her fingers along the hot steel of the railing. As Karamatsu leaned his chest against the railing as well, she straightened up with a look of determination. "But I want to know. I want to be able to see him, one more time at least, if I'm here."
"It...would be a shame to never listen you what your heart beat tells you, non?" The second born Matsuno asked, in a tone as though he himself weren't completely sure. His hand holding the bouquet drooped over the railing, threatening the flowers with the drop if he wasn't careful.
Homura gave a sad nod, staring forlornly at the river. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, watching the flowers' precarious position. "If it's not prying too much, could I ask if you're in the same boat?" She nodded to the careful arrangement, big brown irises reflecting some of the hues. Karamatsu looked down, brows netting at the momentarily forgotten task he'd set out on.
"Ah...I suppose you could say as much." He mused, shoulders slumping, "I've fallen in the sickly sweet trap of love, it would seem. Funny what a little run in at the most random of places can turn into."
"So they live around here?" She asked, receiving a nod.
"They work above a coffee shop I particularly enjoy. Go there for lunch every day, and... lately, I've been meeting him there." Karamatsu informed, a bright blush overtaking his face. Homura hummed, eyes shifting over the flowers. "I was planning to bring these today, but I think... We've both been succumbing to the clutches of panic." He admitted, toying with one of the more aged petals.
Homura leaned forwards a bit, tilting her head. "Well, now that I think about it, Jyushimatsu-kun did give me his home address. I... hope he hasn't moved yet."
"Ah, I can guarantee you that hasn't happened." He chuckled faintly, "you've got all the time in the world."
"Hm...Well, you know what else?"
"Mmm?"
"I really like today. I feel nice in this dress." She hummed cheerily, toying with the fabric. Karamatsu glanced at her, and nodded in agreement.
"You look like the daughter of the sun, my dear." He smiled encouragingly, and she put a hand to her mouth. He looked at himself with furrowed brows, but realized her gaze was on the bouquet.
"And those look really perfect today. It would be a shame for them to go to waste."
"Ah... I suppose you're right." He hummed, "so, you're going to see Jyushimatsu?" He asked, and she nodded with a smile.
"And you?" She asked, glancing at him with a small movement of her head. Karamatsu scanned the water, eyelids lowering as he sighed. "What are you going to do?"
"Hm. Perhaps I would be prosperous follow my own advice." Karamatsu agreed, fingers loosening around the flowers as if he were going to drop them, then curling back up and dragging them away from the ominous drop. He stepped back from the railing, moving to leave.
"Ah, Karamatsu-san?" Homura called, brows furrowed upwards as she reached after his shoulder. He turned before she touched him, and stared at her quizzically. "Good luck," she smiled softly, pulling away and stepping backwards towards the Matsuno home.
"Heh." Karamatsu gave a low chuckle, looking at the ground for a moment. "The same to you," he said while looking back up, "though I don't believe you'll need it, Jyushimatsu girl." He said with a wink and flashy point, spinning back around and heading towards a certain coffee shop. He lowered his head with a smile at her stifled giggling as it faded from his range of hearing.