Chapter Text
He was sitting alone, as usual.
He liked to spend time downtown, watching people pass by, overhearing conversations without actually paying attention to what was being said, sometimes eating junk food.
But he was always alone. He was an only child and still lived with his parents, he’s never really been able to make close friends, or to keep a job for more than a few days. He sort of gave up at this point, but he was ok with it. There wasn't much he could do. He was too obnoxious, lazy, and absent minded to do anything. Or to be likeable to anyone, apparently. He tried for years to make his childhood friend Totoko go out with him and be more than friends, but she always cold heartedly rejected him.
So whenever he felt bored, he would just sit there, on this old rusty bench next to the station exit, and he'd observe. Businessmen, students, tourists, mothers with groceries, sometimes cosplayers and idols freaks, as he called them. He couldn't understand what was so great about getting obsessed over idols. They could be cute, but nothing more. But to each their own, he didn't care nor judge.
At times he'd talk to strangers that sat next to him, but the conversation was usually one way, and they'd leave pretty soon. He never suspected he could be the problem, just that not everyone was a useless neet like him and were busy and always in a rush. He’d just say goodbye and wave at them as they'd turn their backs at him and walked away as fast as they could.
Today, though, it would have been different.
He noticed a guy exiting the train station, wearing a green tartan button up shirt and with a big backpack on his back. He looked around his age, but he couldn't see his face very well from where he was standing.
He was holding a foldable map and was frantically examining the area. He thought it was cute, in an age where everyone used a smartphone to find their way in an unknown town.
He liked that and felt curious to know this guy. There was something unusual about him.
He decided to approach him, maybe he could help. He liked feeling useful, and he knew his home town like his own pockets. Maybe he could make some money if the guy decided to give him a tip in exchange of directions.
He jumped up from his seat, fixed his red hoodie and happily jogged toward the stranger, showing off his biggest grin.
“Excuse me!” He excitedly said, tapping at the man’s shoulder. “You seem lost! Can I help you?”
The stranger slowly turned towards him, his serious expression changing fast in a shy smile as he heard someone offering him some help. He probably would have never dared to ask himself.
“Yes please! How do I get to--”
He choked on his own words and froze on the spot. His eyes opened wide in confusion as he stared at the stranger’s face, stuttering something as he dropped his map.
The man in the red hoodie did the same, staring at the tourist for a handful of seconds. His expression turned pretty much blank.
They were identical.
Their face, their height, even their haircut. Only their expression and body type made a slight difference between them, which could go unnoticed by most people.
The tourist couldn't believe his eyes, was this a joke? Were there hidden cameras somewhere?
“I--” the man in green coughed as he tried to speak again, his hands were kind of shaking.
“Oh”, the boy in the red hoodie interrupted him, “I didn't even introduce myself! My name is Osomatsu, nice to meet you!” He smiled again as he pronounced his own name, stroking his index finger under his nose. It was like he didn't even notice their resemblance.
“M-matsu..?” The tourist was looking really appalled now, almost scared.
“My...my n-name is Choromatsu…” he strongly stressed the second half of his name.
“What is going on…?”