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Kamitani was shaking so hard he thought he might fly apart. Like the way, one of Taka’s red ranger action figures broke when he threw it at him during a tantrum: sending plastic limbs in every direction. Considering how long he’d been locked out on the veranda in the snow, that wasn’t all that surprising. Sitting with his knees pulled up to his chest, trying to think of anything to take his mind off the cold Kamitani perked up at the sound of clattering and a familiar voice from inside the apartment. The veranda door flew open, a blast of warm air following it as Kashima appeared.
“Kamitani are you still alive!?”
He didn’t know what made Kashima realize that he’d been locked out in the snow, but he was thankful to whatever it was. Kamitani raised his head, glaring at his little brother before reaching out and grabbing him.
“Wait Kamitani don’t-”
“I was really gonna freeze to death. Couldn’t you at least brought a hot pack?” Kamitani grit out, hugging Taka close to leech his body heat as his younger brother blubbered.
“Ryuuishi-kun, I’m going to fill the tub,” his mom said, handing a towel to Kashima before hurrying off toward their bathroom.
“Kotarou, can you wait inside for me?” Kashima asked as he stepped onto the veranda.
Kotarou nodded, watching his brother with intense concentration.
Kashima had the towel he’d been handed folded over his arm and he was crouched down, brushing the snow out Kamitani’s hair and off his shoulders, careful not to push it onto Taka who was sobbing against his chest, gurgling out apologies.
Kamitani wanted to thank him, but he’d clenched his jaw shut to stop his teeth from chattering in the cold and didn’t think he could open it at the given moment.
With all the snow cleared, Kashima helped Kamitani to his feet, wrapping the towel around his shoulders. He’d been stuck in the same position, huddled against the freezing cold for so long that he was numb and stiff at the same time. Stepping into the warm air of the apartment made the tips of his fingers tingle painfully. Kashima helped him to the couch, where he sat down, all the while with Taka clinging to him like a snot-nosed hot water bottle.
Finally inside Kamitani’s violent shaking subsided to normal fits of shivering. Despite the warmth of the apartment, Kamitani was still cold. Like the chill had sunken into his bones, refusing to abate. Kashima was worrying over him, rambling about colds and frostbite but Kamitani could barely register anything beyond the sound of his friend's voice.
“Kashima,” Kamitani’s voice shook, a wave of shivers cutting through his body. “Calm down.”
“But you’re still so cold!” Kashima persisted fretting around him, despite not knowing what to do. Kotarou, who stood observantly beside the couch, reached a hand up and patted his brother’s leg. This apparently sparked a thought, as Kashima suddenly stooped down and hoisted his brother up, then dropped him into Kamitani’s lap. The combined warmth of both Kotarou and Taka helped chase the remainders of Kamitani’s trembling away. And Kotarou was able to get Taka to stop wailing, which was truly remarkable.
But Kamitani’s back was still cold and damp, his shirt clinging uncomfortably to his skin. Wanting nothing more than to feel his extremities again, he reached behind himself and grabbed Kashima - who was asking him where they kept their spare blankets - by the wrist, pulling the startled boy against him. Feeling how cold Kamitani still was, Kashima went into full-blown caregiver mode and wrapped his arms around the taller boy, pulling himself closer in hopes of passing on some of his body heat.
Kamitani sighed, the warmth finally sinking into his body. He relaxed, leaning back against Kashima who instinctively supported his weight.
“The bath is ready Hayato!” Shizuka called, turning off the tap.
When her son didn’t come barreling into the room she stepped out to check on him and found all four kids crammed onto the couch, squeezed impossibly close to one another, with Kamitani in the middle, the color finally returning to his cheeks and the hint of a smile on his face.