Chapter Text
Chapter 1
“Remember to wash your hands later Fappymatsu!” As usual, the idiotic eldest couldn’t stop make a snarky comment as he left with his soon-to-be empty wallet to waste on pachinko or horse race. Ignoring the disgusted glare from his brother, stumble idiotically downstairs with his shit eating grin. Leaving Choromatsu alone in their shared bedroom, only reading his one of his favorite light novel.
What? It’s not like his brother doesn’t do the same thing! But he just had to be caught by Osomatsu! Living with 5 brothers meant that you have little to no privacy (well they are NEETS so guess they couldn’t complain) but still it’s already two weeks after the detestable incident and they are determine to make his life a living hell.
Throwing his book in frustration, this leads to a domino effect for another pile of stack books tumbling over. Oh God, he would have to tidy this.
Upon tidy the scattered books, Choromatsu come across a book named ‘How to have a successful interview?’ Flipped to a page on advising people tips to stop being nervous during an interview.
The content itself wasn’t much intriguing with facts and figures but his interest piqued when he came across a section, ‘How to install emotional reset button’.
A ‘routine’ they call it. Choromatsu continued to read the content with curiosity, the inflaming angry he felt began to dissipate.
This is a technique athlete’s use as an emotional reset button. Doing a specific movement routine lets them clear their heads and stay relaxed.
After burn is the period of time it take takes you after an emotional disturbance, such as anger, fear, guilt, shame or jealousy and return to a normal baseline emotional base.
Here’s a simple method for returning quickly to your emotional baseline. To “install” your emotional rest switch, choose a spot on your body that you can touch conveniently and in a socially acceptable manner.
“Mm, a comfortable movement.” Choromatsu began stretching a bit, touching forehead, doing several movements and then touching his right cheek with his left hand. “That feels nice.” Yep that seems comfortable.
Now satisfied with his chosen routine, Choromatsu continue scanning the rest of the content.
Now touch on that spot and at the same instant conjure up in your “body memory” the sensation of feeling calm, at ease and in control. This familiar, non anxious state is your emotional home base. It’s the place you want to come back to after any provocation.
The important part of a routine is to connect the action with a relaxed state of mind at a subconscious level.
The next step is to get your attention during an emotional episode to remind you that you’re out of your peaceful zone and to invite you to return.
Now, as soon as you realize you’re off baseline, simply acknowledge that understanding without rancor and self condemnation and just use your routine, calling up the preferred state of feeling.
When you press your reset button, you instantly distract your brain from its undesirable state of arousal and you required it to pay attention to this new physical stimulus. This method can also work very well in reducing anxiety.
Clamping the book shut, Choromatsu nodded viciously in agreement. Yeah that makes sense! Because I always be lead by their pace that’s why! But never I would be let by their pace again nor would I play the straight man again.
After that, in order to establish the routine, Choromatsu made sure to touch his cheek while doing anything relaxing. Whether listing to idol music, watching slice of life anime, taking a bath and relaxing...
At first, everyone notice the peculiar movement in Choromatsu but eventually think nothing of it, since it had become normal ‘routine’ to see Choromatsu touching his cheek while doing something.
A few days later
“Sup’ Risingfappy!” That shitty eldest, Osomatsu waved at him mockingly, while Todomatsu snickering behind his phone. Jyushimatsu just laugh openly at his undignified nickname, Ichimatsu doesn’t even bother looking at him, just stroking ESP kitty nonchalantly as it rub against his lap. Don’t know if it a good or bad thing.
Choromatsu’s face instantly scrunched up in annoyance and disgust at their usual antics, but willed himself to say nothing, exit their share bedroom in hurry into the bathroom (knocking over poor Karamatsu on his way).
Looking at the mirror, the annoyance was still present, reflecting the image back at him. Deep breathe, Choromatsu calmly bring his left palm to his right cheek. The state of relaxation conjured in memory, which unclenched his fists, halt trembling and he could feel his heart rate decreasing, stabilizing his breathing. Immediately, his expression turns indifferent, his lip slowly settles in to a thin line.
Yes! Choromatsu cheer in his head while still maintaining a calm facade on the surface. He has mastered the routine! All these day, bearing with the humiliation and shame he had to face with his brothers’ everyday was finally worth it!
Letting a small victorious smile tug his lip. Now, matter what Osomatsu is up to, I’ll be able to return to a state of calm just by touching my cheek!
To be continue