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Bad luck followed Ichimatsu everywhere.
It was mostly little things. Like being splashed with dirty street water by a passing car here. Or his sandal breaking miles from home there. Minor inconveniences that were few and far between. Maybe a one or two a day kind of thing.
Generally, there was a balance. Good things happened and then bad things happened to balance that out. It was something he’d accepted and expected over his twenty-odd years of life.
So, when he left the house that morning, and clouds blocked out the sunlight and made the air a few degrees colder, Ichimatsu didn’t think much of it. The forecast he’d seen that morning claimed it would be sunny all day but a few clouds were to be expected when it came to him stepping outside.
Minor inconvenience.
However, those clouds darkened considerably in the thirty minutes it took him to get to his destination. Ichimatsu still didn’t expect the sudden downpour that soaked him to the bone in his sweatshirt and sweats.
There wasn’t even an awning to shelter under. And when he did finally find one, the rain let up almost instantly, defeating the complete purpose.
Slightly irritated and soaked beyond belief, Ichimatsu shoved his hands into his hoodie pocket and trudged ever onward. He did his best to ignore the puddles splashing even more water onto his sandaled feet.
Luckily, his destination was just up ahead. A lot of the neighborhood cats liked to frequent the alley behind the Chinese restaurant, hoping for scraps of fish and noodles. Ichimatsu always made a point to stop by on Mondays when the restaurant was closed to feed them treats.
As soon as he stepped into the alley, the cats started swarming. Their cute little meows and chirps making him smile despite the cold.
“Hey, hey,” he greeted softly, crouching down onto his heels.
One of his favorites — a small tabby — immediately nuzzled its head against his damp hoodie, knowing exactly where he kept the treats.
“Needy,” he teased lightly as he pulled the bag out of his pocket.
The meowing became even more insistent at the sight. The bold ones to pressed their little paws on his knees to try and be above the rest. Even the shy ones were crowding in excitedly, tumbling over others to get close.
It wasn’t until he went to open the treats that he realized something was very wrong.
The bag wasn’t sealed, despite the fact it was supposed to be brand new. Feeling dread in his stomach, he peeked inside and, sure enough, found it was completely empty.
Ichimatsu closed his eyes, fighting down the sudden build of frustration and anger in his chest. He didn’t want his outburst to scare the cats away but he knew exactly which shitty brother he needed to kick in the teeth when he got back home.
Only one of them knew where he hid his friends’ treats, after all.
He tried his best to ignore the sad, hungry, and betrayed eyes as he let the cats sniff the useless bag for a few minutes. Once they realized it was empty, many left with a disappointed slump to their small shoulders.
He waited until he wasn’t as crowded to stand and throw the bag into the nearest trashcan.
“I’ll be back,” he tossed quietly over his shoulder as he made his way back out of the alley.
Because this wasn’t the first time he’d encountered this problem, Ichimatsu knew there was a convenience store up the street that stocked the very treats his brother had eaten. All he had to do was grab another bag. And, luckily, he had his money on him.
Ha. Luck.
He really should have known better.
Ichimatsu had grabbed the treats and made it all the way up to the counter when he realized he was exactly one thousand yen short. The cashier looked at him like he was crazy when all he did was release a long frustrated growl.
Wet, angry, and guilty as hell, Ichimatsu shuffled the thirty minutes back home. He couldn’t even bring himself to stop by the alley to let the cats know they wouldn’t be getting fed that day. Hell, he didn’t even flinch when the rain started back up not even five minutes into his walk.
He was just ready to crawl back into bed and pretend the day didn’t happen by the time he made it to the house. And as he was reaching for the front door, he found himself suddenly under the attack of a pink umbrella.
He managed to avoid it stabbing directly into his eye by slipping back onto the wet pavement and straight into a puddle.
Today was really not his fucking day, he decided at that moment.
“Eh, Ichimatsu-niisan? What are you doing on the ground?” Todomatsu asked innocently as he raised the umbrella over his head. It was clear he was completely oblivious to the fact he’d almost took Ichimatsu out a second before.
“No reason...”
“Hm, okay!” Todomatsu said cheerfully as he walked off, a small skip in his step. “See ya!”
“Right…,” Ichimatsu said with a deep sigh through his nose. It took him a few minutes to gather up the strength to stand and make his way inside. “I’m home... ”
“Ichimatsu?” Choromatsu poked his head out of the sitting room. “What are you—AH! You’re soaked! Why are you soaked?!”
Ichimatsu squinted at his brother at the obvious question. “Uh. Rain?”
“Well, obviously,” he growled, setting his manga down on the floor. “Stay there, I’m going to grab some towels.”
“That’ll be nice…” he muttered as he started pulling his sopping clothes off one by one.
It took a few towels to soak up the mess he’d made from just standing in the genkan. And even more to wrap his clothes and then himself in so he could make it upstairs without making a mess throughout the house.
“Seriously, Ichimatsu,” Choromatsu lectured the entire time, following him throughout the house with that disapproving tone. “Didn’t you check the weather report? You really should be more aware. How are you going to make it in the real world if you can’t even avoid a little rain?”
Ichimatsu didn’t say anything as he tugged on a dry shirt and pants. He shuffled over to the couch and flopped facedown onto its cushions. His toes were finally starting to get feeling back.
“Ichimatsu? Are you listening?” Ichimatsu could hear the frown in Choromatsu’s voice. “Ichimatsu?”
“Is Osomatsu-niisan home?” Ichimatsu asked instead, voice muffled by the fabric.
“No, he’s been gone all day. He’ll probably come back just as soaked as you. Apparently, Todomatsu is the only one with sense enough to take an umbrella in this weather.”
Ichimatsu grunted in response, reaching up to grab the blanket hanging off the back of the couch. It fell on top of him. He could tell it didn’t cover him completely but there was no way he was going to fight with it any more than he had to.
He heard Choromatsu leave with a huff. He managed to roll on his side and was just closing his eyes to sleep when a bright light hit his face.
You have got to be shitting me... he thought as he cracked an eye open.
Sure enough, sunlight was now streaming through the windows.
Lips curling in distaste, his numb fingers tugged the blanket up and over his head, shutting out that shitty brightness.
He was so fucking done with today.
——————————
“—he’s okay?”
Ichimatsu frowned at the sudden voices around him pulled him from his sleep. He wasn’t even fully awake yet and he was wondering how he was going to murder these assholes.
“—don’t know.”
Someone shushed the second, much louder, voice as Ichimatsu felt the blanket above him shift. It fluttered over his feet and he instantly felt a little warmer.
“But he’s been like that since he got back. Jyushimatsu couldn’t even wake him up!”
Urg, okay, he knew that was Choromatsu, at least. The jerk was making absolutely no effort to be quiet at all.
He’ll die first.
“Doesn’t mean you have to disrupt his sleep,” came the quieter voice and Ichimatsu recognized it as Karamatsu almost immediately. Shit, now he had to debate the order again… “He’s clearly not feeling well.”
“He doesn’t have a fever. Mom already checked,” Choromatsu grumbled under his breath. Ichimatsu appreciated the fact he was quieter, despite his protesting.
“Just let him sleep,” Karamatsu sighed, his voice moving away from the couch. “We can save a plate for when he wakes up.”
Ichimatsu relaxed as he heard the door slide shut.
Okay, fine, Shittymatsu gets to live another day. Choromatsu, on the other hand...
A door slammed open downstairs and Ichimatsu took a deep calming breath, trying to will himself to go back to sleep.
“What the hell!?” Choromatsu snapped from just outside the door.
“Osomatsu? What are you doing?” Karamatsu hush yelled. “Ichimatsu’s trying to sleep!”
“Oh, he’s upstairs?”
“Well, yeah, but he’s— HEY!”
Ichimatsu jolted up when the door slid back open with a loud crack. Osomatsu’s eyes lit up at the sight of him.
“Just the man I wanted to see!” he said happily, bounding across the room to grab Ichimatsu’s hand. “Come on, come on! I need your help!”
“Wha— Osomatsu-niisan!” Ichimatsu protested as he was dragged off the couch and onto his feet. “Urg, stop!”
“No can do, Ichimatsu! We have to hurry if we want to make it on time!” Osomatsu said as he pushed past Karamatsu and Choromatsu on his way down the stairs. Ichimatsu had to scramble to make sure he didn’t slip on the way down.
“Wait, Osomatsu!” Karamatsu shouted after them but it was too late. Osomatsu was like a crazy whirlwind that showed up and spirited away Ichimatsu before anyone could blink.
Ichimatsu wasn’t even sure how he managed to slip on his sandals on their way out the door.
“Urg, where are we going?” Ichimatsu groaned, blinking in the sudden brightness of daylight. The sun was only now starting to set, casting everything in fiery orange.
“To pachinko!” Osomatsu said cheerfully.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Ichimatsu snapped, jerking his hand out of Osomatsu’s grip. “No way, I’m not going.”
“What?!” Osomatsu spun around, looking devastated. “But I need you, Ichimatsu!”
“The hell you do!” Ichimatsu snarled, spinning on his heel to head back home. “There’s no sense in going if I’m just going to lose—”
“No, no, Ichimatsu!” Osomatsu managed to get in front of him. “We’ll win!”
“Neither of us is going to win,” Ichimatsu growled. Not with his luck today. “I’m going home.”
Or he would have if Osomatsu hadn’t blocked his path again.
“Yes we will! I know we will!” Osomatsu insisted, getting a little angry himself now. “Has your oniichan ever been wrong?”
“Only all the damn time!”
“Then prove me wrong! There’s a special right now that we can get double tokens if I bring someone extra!”
“The hell? Why does it have to be me then?” Ichimatsu demanded as Osomatsu grabbed a hold of him.
“Because I won’t win if it isn’t you,” Osomatsu huffed as he started dragging Ichimatsu once more. “Just come on already!”
Ichimatsu groaned. He was too tired to fight with Osomatsu’s persistent attitude. It was easier to just go along with him until he lost, which would happen pretty quickly. Then Ichimatsu would have proved his point and he could fucking leave.
There was no way Osomatsu was going to win. Especially if he took Ichimatsu.
As the fourth son, it was his birthright to have bad luck. Today was proof enough of that. He supposed it was a way to put balance back into the universe since his brothers were luckier than most in comparison.
Osomatsu especially. But, he supposed that was Osomatsu’s own birthright. There had to be some luck involved with being first out of six, after all. Maybe that’s what happened to Ichimatsu’s good luck.
Osomatsu snatched it from him on his way out of the womb.
Ichimatsu was fuming the entire way to pachinko. Even when Osomatsu sat him down in the booth beside him, he kept his arms folded stubbornly. He just wanted to go home and sleep. Sleep until the world fucking reset. Osomatsu just had to hurry up and lose—
Noise exploded from beside him as Osomatsu suddenly got a jackpot.
Ichimatsu watched in shock as the pachinko balls started to pile up.
“Heehee!” Osomatsu grinned over at him. “Told you we’d win.”
“Tsk,” Ichimatsu looked away, glaring at the machine in front of him. “Did you finally figure out how to cheat at this too?”
“No! I told you I’d win if you were with me!” Osomatsu said, clearly offended.
“Whatever. You would have won either way. It wouldn’t have mattered if you brought me or not.”
“That’s not true, Ichimatsu. I won because you were here and I’m getting double tokens, thanks to you!” Osomatsu laughed as he grabbed his winnings. “We can go home now! After we cash these out, at least! And then we gotta exchange the tokens outside.”
“The hell? Already?”
“Yeah, I only had enough money for two tries,” Osomatsu said simply, heading to the front.
It took a few minutes before they were back outside again and Ichimatsu was in an even more foul mood.
“You shouldn’t go to pachinko with so little money!” he complained angrily, marching on ahead, not even wanting to watch the idiot count his winnings. “And stop dragging me places!”
“Awh, but Ichimacchan!” Osomatsu tossed an arm over Ichimatsu’s shoulders, tugging him in close to his side. “It had to be you—”
“No, it didn’t—”
“— Because you’re my good luck charm!”
Ichimatsu nearly tripped on the sudden declaration. Good luck charm? Him? Since when? Osomatsu had lost plenty of times with him around. Hell, everyone usually lost when he was around.
But it didn’t stop the warm and fuzzy feeling from filling his chest.
“The hell?” Ichimatsu muttered, embarrassed. “Shut up.”
Osomatsu just laughed in response.
There was no way he was any form of a good luck charm. Not today. Not any day. He received that reminder as they walked back home and passed the alley where the cats lived. They were all hidden right now but he hoped they managed to stay dry and find food today.
Shit. Come to think of it, he still owed Osomatsu a kick in the damn teeth!
“Oh!” Osomatsu stopped suddenly, startling Ichimatsu. “Shit, that reminds me! Hang on, stay right there, Ichimacchan!”
Annndd, he was gone.
Ichimatsu sighed, running a hand over his face. Sometimes, Osomatsu was more exhausting than Jyushimatsu. Mainly because Jyushimatsu listened to him. Usually.
At least Osomatsu didn’t keep him waiting long.
“Here!” The shitty eldest was suddenly there, shoving a bag of the cats’ favorite treats into Ichimatsu’s hands. “For your cat friends! And for being my lucky charm again. I can always count on you in a pinch!”
Ichimatsu stared down at the bag in surprise, barely believing what he was seeing. He looked back up at Osomatsu with a questioning look.
“What’s that look for? Come on, go feed them already. It’s Monday, right?” Osomatsu asked, looking down the alley. “Oh, look! They’re already coming out!”
Ichimatsu looked and, sure enough, all the cats from earlier today were starting to emerge at the sound of the bag. He inched towards the alley and crouched down, holding out a hand full of treats. All the cats surged forward, meowing and nuzzling at him in between handfuls of food.
“Wow, there’s sure a lot of them,” Osomatsu commented happily, standing a safe distance behind Ichimatsu.
“Yeah…,” Ichimatsu said quietly, rubbing the tabby one behind the ears.
He continued to feed the cats until the bag was nearly empty and they were all full and purring. Osomatsu stayed with him the entire time, not complaining once.
As they made their way home, Ichimatsu had to ask.
“How did you know?”
“Huh?” Osomatsu frowned over at him, arms folded behind his head. “Know what?”
Ichimatsu opened his mouth to answer but decided it didn’t matter.
“Hm, nevermind… just… thank you,” he said instead, smiling down at the bag of cat treats in his arms.
“Huhh? Now you’re thanking me? For what?” Osomatsu asked, even more confused.
“For being the shitty eldest.”
“OI!” Osomatsu exclaimed as Ichimatsu stepped inside ahead of him.
“Oh, is the shitty eldest back already?” Choromatsu called from the sitting room.
“Yay! Shitty eldest!” Todomatsu and Jyushimatsu echoed happily.
“I am not shitty!” Osomatsu snapped, trying to take off his shoes quickly. “And we’re all the same age!”
“Ichimatsu? Are you okay? Are you feeling better?” Karamatsu asked quietly as Ichimatsu settled down next to him.
“Yeah,” Ichimatsu smiled as Osomatsu started bickering with everyone. “I’m okay now.”