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It was one of the hottest days that summer. The sextuplet's parents went off on another hard-earning vacation, leaving them to fend for themselves and survive with the few money they managed to save without any unwanted guests or pachinko wasting older brothers.
Normally, Karamatsu would be thrilled, becoming Summer Kamen and rating everyone's summer to help spread his love of his most favorite season, but today's heat was just too bad. Instead, he decided to spend the day like his brothers' normally spent them in summer, lazing around the house with light articles of clothing and any way to cope with the heat. Karamatsu took this chance to wear his Perfect Fashion, which included his glittery shirt with his face on it and glittering short shorts. Of course, the rest of his brothers refused to let him wear that inside the house while they were all present, but Karamatsu insisted his clothes were perfect for this weather and the indoors. As a resolution, Karamatsu had to change his shirt with a simple white tank top but let him keep his shorts, which brought nothing but delight to the second oldest.
Since they've woken up they haven't eaten breakfast as it wasn't prepared for them as it normally would except for a couple drinks like milk and water. Especially water. It was about 10AM when real food was even mentioned. "Maaaan, I'm hungry!" Osomatsu exaggerated. It made them all slightly glance at him, then back to what they were doing. For Karamatsu that was being slumped on the couch in an ungraceful manner as he held his mirror up to admire whatever he could, "Then go make something to eat and actually eat," Choromatsu annoyingly resorted as his grip on the book he was reading slightly tightened.
This made the elder snicker as he now turned his head on the table to look at Choromatsu, chin resting on the surface, "So cruel Choromatsu~ You know as well as everyone else that I'm too lazy to cook, and we know you're just as hungry as I am, we all are!"
As if on cue, their stomachs growled. They've been avoiding the subject of food in hopes to forget their hunger and lack of breakfast, but it seemed Osomatsu had to bring it up. Choromatsu's cheeks slightly tanned red from embarrassment, anger, and annoyance, "Well what do you expect me to do?! You know I can't cook and there is no way we are spending our life line money on takeout."
"You're right, you're right." Osomatsu nodded, followed by a hum until he perked up with an 'Ah', making the others question him. "We should make someone who knows how to cook to cook that isn't me! Like...Totty!" The eldest pointed to the youngest who was on his phone, "Haaa?! Me? Why do I have to?! I propose we make Karamatsu-niisan cook, he's way better at it!" Todomatsu pointed at Karamatsu, who's cheeks warmed up at the probably unintentional compliment meant only to save the younger from cooking. "Me?" Karamatsu pointed at himself as he slightly sat up, "Heh, I suppose breakfast, the most exquisite and righteous meal of the day that lights up our thoughts like the sun to the moon, should be prepared with gracefully filled love, giving only the best for my dearest brothers, I accept this humble quest to-!"
"We get it Shittymatsu. Just go make our damn food already, we're starving..." Ichimatsu snapped before Karamatsu could add onto his probably never-ending speech if he wasn't stopped. It seemed half way through his speech, everyone had already left the room, save for Ichimatsu who was at the door to comment. Karamatsu slightly faltered, just to regain himself seconds later. This time, Karamatsu sat up, put his mirror to the side, and stood up.
When he did, he felt a sudden headache as his body seemed to want to lean to the side, but he had enough strength to not let it. Maybe he stood up too fast? This wasn't the first time Karamatsu's felt dizzy when he's stood up. After a couple of seconds of standing or slightly walking would make the feeling go away. So, he decided to do the latter and slightly walked, hoping it wouldn't affect him so much. Getting out of the room and down the stairs was a hassle as he wobbled and almost tripped, so he put his hands on the wall as support feeling uncomfortably hot that was probably more than just the summer heat. It will pass, it always does.
When he got the kitchen, he stood at the door, grabbing both walls with his hands to balance himself. There was someone else in there, but his hazy gaze was on the cold floor. Karamatsu heard someone saying something but he couldn't tell the exact words. It's as if he knew the words, but his brain wouldn't process it as existing words that made sense, sounding muffled. "...amatsu-..Kar-..." What? "..-ramatsu....karamatsu... Karamatsu!"
Karamatsu's head slowly looked up to see the source of the voice, right, my name is Karamatsu. The owner of the voice was Choromatsu, who looked at him worryingly, "Karamatsu did you hear me?" That was slightly better. He wanted to answer, but no words came out. Instead he weakly nodded. "Then what did I say?"
Silence.
"Geez Karamatsu, sometimes I'm worried you get your head stuck in the clouds too much, it can't be good." Choromatsu shook his head in seeming disappointment. "Well since no one will help you, I guess I'll try." Again, Karamatsu couldn't find his voice, it apparently vanished as if he forgot how to even open his mouth, so he nodded again despite the pounding headache that hit his skull like a pulse.
Wait, help with what again?
...
Oh right, breakfast. What do you normally eat for breakfast? Food. Obviously, but what type of food? Eggs. Alright, that was a start.
Karamatsu walked towards the fridge and opened it, leaving a hand on the side of the fridge as he crouched down to get the eggs. Instead, he found himself frozen with his eyes closed, leaning more into the fridge. The coolness felt nice, so refreshing he almost didn't want to leave. It slightly helped with this suffocating heat and the headache, but his legs were getting tired. A cough was heard. What was he doing here again? He wanted to get something but couldn't remember what. He lazily opened his eyes to scan the fridge. He could've gone here for anything! A couple more seconds passed until his eyes landed on what seemed right, eggs.
He took the carton of eggs out and slowly got up, using the fridge as his main support for his weak legs. As soon as he was up, Karamatsu walked to the counter to where he saw a bowl already set on it. He heard more babbles from the third oldest but couldn't bring himself to focus on anything he said and instead tried his hardest to focus on his task despite his vision still hazy and static thoughts. Karamatsu picked up an egg with caution and cracked it on the bowl's edge and lifted the egg right above the bowl as the oddly bright orange yolk slowly poured out, only for it to swirl and his vision was dilated to darkness, and soon nothing.
Nothing.
Karamatsu felt nothing, emotionally nor physically. No thoughts, no pain, no heat, nothing. It was as if he fell asleep. Who knows how long its been, he couldn't see anything, so he wasn't sure if he was awake, asleep, or dead, but he was able to slightly feel a tingle. No, the way to describe it was when a body part falls asleep, and if they try to use it, they'll faintly feel something but it was numb, so it was something, but nothing. That's what Karamatsu felt on both his feet. Dragging?
The only other sense he had was he was able to hear muffles, but nothing more than that. The only word he was able to clearly determine was "Backyard". But, what was a backyard again? It didn't seem to matter as anything he thought was useless, nothing stays and instantly disappeared. It was just blank.
A little more longer, he was able to hear better. It still felt like there was cotton on his ears, but he was able to determine some words and voices. All his brothers were there, and he heard someone call for soda or something. The next thing he was able to hear was calls of his name and multiple questions. What he was about to hear clearly was Ichimatsu's voice, or more so threat, "Karamatsu can you hear me? I know you can! You better respond, or I'll pinch your disgusting nipples and Todomatsu is going to call the damn ambulance! Do you want to be more trouble than you already are?!"
Nothing about that was funny, maybe slightly terrifying as he didn't doubt the the fourth son would do so and the others kept telling him things after that, but he found himself softly giggling without his control. Karamatsu wanted to respond and say 'I can hear you', but he couldn't use his voice willing, only letting out that giggle. It was completely gone, as if he's never talked in his life or ever had use to talk. But they seemed to understand that he was somewhat half conscious, or conscious enough to hear at least.
Moments later, there was a cup pressed on his lips and someone, who he could assume was Todomatsu, told him to drink it. Karamatsu wasn't exactly sure how he drank it or what happened, all he knew was he drank whatever it was as his body was on autopilot to even let him drink it without choking. It wasn't hard to tell it was soda as the gas burned down his throat.
When the drink was pulled away, or presumingly finished, without any warning or time to prepare himself Karamatsu felt his stomach erupt as whatever he might've had inside his stomach spilled out of his mouth in vomit. It was a burning feeling and as unpleasant as vomiting can be, but it caused a ring in his ears that uncovered them and his vision hazed back.
Who knew how long it took for him to gain full consciousness and realize his surroundings. The first thing he noticed was the only reason he was standing was because he was being prompted up by two of his brothers holding him from under his arms, Jyushimatsu on the left, Osomatsu on the right. That made sense, they were the strongest. The next thing he noticed was they were in the backyard, and right in front of him was disgusting mush of what came out of Karamatsu. At least there wasn't a booming headache or nausea anymore.
As he looked around, Choromatsu was on the phone while Todomatsu was right behind. Ichimatsu was staring at him from a distance, but he couldn't make out what type of expression he had. Karamatsu tried to stand on his own and speak, it was extreamly low and hoarse, but at least now he was able to find his voice, "...I...I'm...f-..fine.."
"Don't lie Nii-san!" Jyushimatu's voice seemed to boom, making Karamatsu flinch. "Ay, not so loud Jyushimatsu, alright?" The eldest on the right ordered, receiving a nod from the fifth youngest. Osomatsu's voice was surprisingly calm and low as he turned to look at Karamatsu, "But he is right, don't lie if you aren't feel well." It wasn't a complete lie, he still felt shaken by what just happened, but felt physically better, "I'm...not. I can...I can stand on-on my own..." He sounded more sluggish and soft than he wanted, but talking was too tiresome. Karamatsu planted his feet to the floor and stood up the best he could, which was slouched, but it was better than nothing, "I can...stand."
After careful examination, Jyushimatsu slowly let him go. Karamatsu was slightly surprised how he really was able to stand without his legs feeling like jello, but he still had support from the eldest, "You can...let go you know..." The eldest shook at his, "Nu-uh, I'm staying with you whether you want it or not," At that, he led them inside while everyone else stayed in the backyard. Karamatsu's body was working how it was supposed to, so that was a good, it was probably just a little body scare then. "Osomatsu...where are you taking me?"
"We needa give you a cold shower and get some water in you. You idiot, you didn't drink any water did you?" His voice was accusing, meaning he wouldn't take any excuses or lies. Karamatsu sheepishly answered as he looked down, "No...but I was too busy admiring my beauty that it...slipped my mind?" They got to the stairs and Osomatsu went behind the younger in case he were to fall or had trouble, which annoyed Karamatsu, "I told you, I'm fine brother. It wasn't a big deal..." He mumbled the last words. Despite what happened, Karamatsu couldn't see the seriousness in the situation and the use of treating him like a baby, he was okay now, wasn't he? "Not a big deal?! Kara, you fainted out of nowhere and weren't responding to anything despite your eyes being wide open, we thought you died or something!" His eyes were open? He could see why they thought he died, he almost thought it himself, but he didn't want to worry his brothers, "Well I'm alive aren't I? I think I can go up the stairs myself."
"No, you can't, or at least I won't let you. I'm going with you upstairs, I'm going with you as you take a cold shower and I will see you drink water. Choromatsu already called the ambulance, they're on the way so if we wanna do all that, you better start cooperating and stop acting like your fine." Karamatsu shrank and nodded, cooperating with Osomatsu as they did exactly what he said.
They went upstairs, Karamatsu took a refreshing cold shower that helped immensely, he changed into simple shorts and normal shirt, and drank water in front of the oldest, which was pretty hard and awkward to do as the eldest intensely stared at him as they sat on the floor.
"Well, how are you feeling now?" Osomatsu asked.
"Much better," Karamatsu exhaled.
"Does it hurt anywhere? You hit your head pretty bad on the floor there." He did? Karamatsu didn't feel anything and still doesn't. So he shook his head and confidently answered, "Nothing hurts at all!"
Osomatsu looked at him skeptical before smiling and ruffling the younger's hair, "That's good!" Karamatsu's cheeks warmed up with smile. There was a comfortable silence between them before Osomatsu spoke again, "Say Karamatsu,"
"Hm? What is it Aniki?"
"Why didn't you tell anyone you weren't feeling well? If you told us we definitely wouldn't have let you cook or do anything for that matter and this would've never happened, Choromatsu was there and we do care about your well-being."
That was a hard question to answer. Really, he didn't want to make food and he was in no condition to do so, but he did. Why? No, he knew why, he just didn't want to admit it. "Well I guess...I figured I'd disappoint all of you and maybe get you angry if I said I didn't want to make breakfast because it was such an important task!" Karamatsu straightened, pointed his finger up to show how important he felt it was before faltering, "I didn't want it to seem like I was saying I didn't feel well as an excuse to not cook..." Karamatsu put his head down in shame that he thinks of his brothers that way.
Karamatsu was expecting the older to protest or say something, but instead he just hugged him. "I'm sorry we made you feel like that Karamatsu...but your health matters more to us and we don't want to go through something as terrifying as this again so...tell us next time no matter what...alright?"
Karamatsu nodded and hugged the elder back. Sometimes, he wondered why he doubted his siblings and it just sounded dumb to him that he could. They might not be the most perfect, and can be pretty bad at showing it, but they do care. There was no doubting that.
In the distance they heard sirens, interrupting the mood. "Osomatsu," the oldest stiffened with a nervous smile, "Was it really necessary to call the ambulance?" Osomatsu nervous laughed and pushed himself away to look at Karamatsu, "Of course! We thought you were dying or something!"
"I was dehydrated."
"Exactly! That's a good reason! You also weren't responding at all and fainted for like- a minute before we knew you were alive when you laughed!"
"A minute." Karamatsu deadpanned.
"Well let this be a lesson if you don't want us calling the ambulance because you were dehydrated, drink water instead of getting distracted and forgetting to at least drink something by admiring yourself." Osomatsu lectured, making Karamatsu flush in embarrassment.
"You're also never going to cook again, look what happened when you did."
"Osomatsu I think you're exaggerating it...just a bit.." Karamatsu timidly spoke.
"Nope! You aren't getting anywhere near the kitchen again! Now let's go downstairs before we get in even more trouble," He snickered, rubbing under his nose.
Well, maybe Karamatsu wouldn't mind that.