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The sound of a door sliding resonated in Karamatsu’s ear along with some footsteps.
“Nii-san, would you like to come to the café with me?” Todomatsu was trying to beckon him to come, using his sickly sweet, innocent voice that no brother could reject.
“No thanks.”
“Oh…”
The blue lump on the sofa was facing down in a soldier position. Stiff and frozen.
“…Bad day?”
“Mhm.” Couldn’t even be bothered to reply with a word.
“Are you sure you don’t want to come?” he coaxed.
“Mhm.”
“Fine” he said with a sigh then turned to walk toward the exit, no point of dragging it on, it will just cause unnecessary drama and emotions.
“Todomatsu.” A voice arise.
“Yes, Nii-san?” A hint of hopefulness could be heard, hoping that he changed his mind.
“Is there anyone in the house?”
No dice. Well, couldn’t be helped.
“Osomatsu nii-san is downstairs and-“
He halted when he spotted a tail waving behind the sofa. Swiftly and Curiously. A familiar face popped out as well, replacing the tail. Ichimatsu. The purple cat stared blankly for a moment until putting a finger to his lip. Oh I see.
“Ya, that’s it. Just Osomatsu-nii san.” he announced with a façade but went unnoticed by Karamatsu.
“Okay, thanks.”
“Bye Nii-san, hope you feel better soon”
“Bye”
And he was off. Only Karamatsu and Ichimatsu left in the room, practically side by side but one left unaware.
Ichimatsu was more protective of Karamatsu, in his own, special way. He won’t show it at all and would stay silent but he almost always has an eye on him. Apart from that, he was just there to bask in the warm sunlight that showered through the window, just like the lazy cat he was.
Karamatsu stayed completely still, unmoving.
A couple of hours went by. Ichimatsu nearly drifting into a catnap but was jostled when he heard rustling from the other side of the sofa. Then following it, an increase of weight added to the floor. He got up.
Ichimatsu’s furry ears were perked up, visualising an image into his mind from the sounds he picked up.
The rough grind of a drawer being pulled; The clank of items being moved in a rush manner; The placement thud of a larger item and a swoosh of a-
Alertness filled his body as he abruptly got to his knees and swung his head around the sofa.
It is what he envisioned.
Karamatsu was in the process of tying a noose onto the stationary ceiling fan. His face looked emotionless.
Ichimatsu was paralysed from fear. Sweat emerging from his forehead, mouth becoming dry, the fear was in his eyes yet anger was rising up from inside, teeth started grinding, eyebrows creasing.
He’s trying to throw his life away! He’s trying to leave this world! He’s trying to leave us! He’s trying to leave me! That bastard!!
He lept up.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?!”
The growl was loud enough for Karamatsu to become startled and fall onto the floor.
“How dare you try to kill yourself! You think your life is shitty enough for you to-“
“Why are you here?”
No emotion was written on his face, his voice was dead-panned. The lack of expression made it eerie. Ichimatsu also stared but in disbelief.
“I was told that Osomatsu was the only one in the house. WHY THE HELL ARE YOU HERE IN THE SAME ROOM AS ME?!” Rage enveloped his face. He took a stand with his fist clenched tight. It was like a rope slowly unravelling until it snapped. Ichimatsu stumbled back in fear and now the places have switch, with him now on floor.
“I WANTED TO BE LEFT ALONE AND I COULDN’T EVEN HAVE THAT! CAN I JUST KILL MYSELF WITHOUT BEING INTERUPTED?! I’M TIRED ICHIMATSU!”
All colour was drained from his face, his heart raced on and sweat rolled down his face as well as a few tears. Ichimatsu was in shock, panicking. He wasn’t sure how to process this. Has he been trying to kill himself multiple times? He knew he was depressed and self-harming himself but this was going too far.
“I’m tired, Ichimatsu. I’m tired...” He said how he felt and he fell to ground in defeat, making himself small and holding his face in his hands, bawling manically.
Bang, Bang! Fast, heavy steps made its way to the upstairs landing and towards the source of the commotion. He swept the door opened, only to be met with: his fourth brother, shivering and traumatised, his second brother, curled up in a ball, shaking violently and a noose, hanging and thankfully, without a neck in it.
Osomatsu’s heart plummeted to what he saw. It was all unexpected as well but he stayed calm, acting as the big brother he was and prepared for the situation.
All he had to do was walk up to the crying wreck, sit down and place a hand on his hair and proceed stroking. This processed more echoing tears from Karamatsu.
“I’m so tired, Osomatsu” he managed to murmur.
“I know. You can rest all you like and we will still be here to help you out” He gently reassured him.
He continued stoking whilst rearranging his baby brother's position onto his lap and shushing him. Now to handle the fourth one. Catching his attention, he laid soft eyes onto him. Ichimatsu didn’t know how to react and was still in initial shock. With his other hand, Osomatsu pats on the floor, without saying a word, thinking that all was clear. And he seemed to be correct as Ichimatsu scooted his way across to Osomatsu’s side. All Osomatsu had to do was place a hand to Ichimatsu’s head and push it towards his shoulder for it to lie down on to get the waterworks going.
“Everything is gonna be fine.” That was all he had to do…