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Todomatsu took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Today he’d do it. Today he’d ask his brother to go on a date.
Todomatsu had been planning this for ages. It took him years to realize how he felt towards his brother, and even longer to think about how he’d go about confessing. He drew little cat faces in the margins of his books growing up, thinking about how he’d hold his brother's hand and finally see him really smile. He loved seeing Ichimatsu smile. Ichimatsu had been rather depressed lately, and had been closing himself off from them again. Todomatsu decided this was the perfect time to tell his brother how he felt, and have him having a good time.
He walked into their room and over to his brother in the corner, crouching down in front of him.
“Hey… Ichimatsu. You wanna uh… go out?” He asked, giving a little smile.
Ichimatsu stared at him before looking away, grumbling and shuffling as he pushed himself further against the wall.
Todomatsu stared at him for a long moment, before giving a big huff and stomping his foot.
“Ichi-niisan you depressed asshole! Get up we’re going out!!”
He wrapped his arms around Ichimatsu and hoisted him up, much to his brother's loud yelling and protesting.
After forcing Ichimatsu out of the corner, he shoved him onto the couch.
“You look and smell awful! If we’re going on a date, you gotta look better, alright?”
“Who said I was going on this stupid date?” Ichimatsu mumbled, watching Todo rustle through things to find some clothes for him.
“I did! Now hold this” he threw a heap of clothes onto his brother as he perked up afterwards “aha! There it is” he reached to the bottom of the pile and pulled out a soft knitted sweater.
“This will work! Now come on, let’s bathe, you smell disgusting”
Ichimatsu complained the entire time as he was dragged into the bath. He could have sworn Todo intended to drown him if it wasn’t for the fact he made it out alive, and squeaky clean, without having to do much work.
Todomatsu wanted to complain and tell off his brother for not cleaning himself, but realistically he knew his brother was struggling, and cleaning his brother wasn’t really all that bad if he truly couldn’t do it himself.
He got Ichimatsu dressed in a soft sweater and a cat mask, complete with some light sweatpants and his usual slip ons. He looked good! Really good. Todomatsu beamed at seeing his brother all clean and done up, and gently took his hands.
“Now come on! I got somewhere special to take you” turned and lead his brother out.
Ichi wasn’t particularly worried. Wherever Todomatsu wanted to take him was fine by him, it didn’t seem like he was getting much of a choice anyways. Though he did have to admit it was nice to see his brother so excited, and it did feel good to have fresh air again. Maybe it wasn’t all that bad.
Ichimatsu perked up when he heard the familiar mewl of a cat. He turned his head to see Todo with his hands together, and a big smile.
“Ta-Da!! A cat cafe! Do you like it Ichi-niisan? I thought this would cheer you up!”
Ichimatsu stared for a long moment at the care, then to his brother. Then back to the cafe. For a moment there, Todomatsu thought his brother didn’t like it at all. His hands lowered a bit and his smile wavered before Ichimatsu finally spoke again.
“You...did all this… for me…?” he looked to the ground and frowned
“But.. I don’t deserve it…”
Todomatsu felt his heart break. Of course his brother deserved it! He just wished he could make his brother see that. See him how he saw him.
“No buts! I already paid to get us in, so shoosh” he booped his brother's nose before pulling him in. A quick chat with the people at the front and they were seated further into the cafe as Ichimatsu pet the cats that had quickly started crowding around him. Unfortunate for the rest of the cafe goers.
“So! What would you like to drink, Ichi-niisan?”
Ichimatsu thought for a moment, before shrugging. He did seem happier, though still not very talkative. He decided he’d simply get his brother what he thought he’d like. He made his way to the counter and looked over the desserts before finally deciding to order.
“Hello! Could I get a medium Salted cream cold foam cold brew for me, and a salted Caramel mocha frap for my brother… and ummm a strawberry shortcake! Two forks.” he pointed to a plate of pretty pink cake in the window. Once paid and wrung up, he quietly brought the cake and coffee back to his brother, placing them on the table. He sipped his own and leaned back in his chair, watching Ichimatsu try his coffee.
He seemed to like it! And that made Todo quite happy. For a long while, they just sat like that. Todomatsu watched Ichimatsu quietly sip his coffee, and pet at the plethora of cats that tried in every way to crawl onto him. He seemed… Happy. And that made Todo happy as well.
“Would you like some cake?” Todo eventually said; pushing the plate over to Ichimatsu. Who nodded and took his own fork and started working on the cake. He really liked it! It wasn’t too sweet, and the strawberries were fresh. In that moment, eating sweet cake with his brother, having coffee and outside with a cat in his lap. Ichimatsu really, really, felt happy. He looked up from the cake to his brother and gave a little smile. Finally! What Todo had been hoping for this entire night.
“Thank you, Todomatsu...I… Really appreciate this” he mumbled quietly.
“Of course Ichi-niisan! I’m really glad you’re having a good time!~” Todo was elated. Ichi truly looked happy, and now that he had let himself smile, it was only growing. He dabbed a bit of whipped cream onto his fork, before booping Ichimatsu’s nose with it, laughing when Ichi went cross eyed in an attempt to see. He gave a laugh as well and put his face down to the cat in his lap, who happily lapped the cream off his nose and gave it a little nibble.
All was well.
They stayed for a while, continuing to talk about little things. Ichimatsu told Totty how he had been feeling lately, finally opening the door for him to give support.
In return, Todomatsu told Ichimatsu how he really felt. Made sure to assure him he’d never pressure him into anything, but that he truly loved him.
His heart raced as he expected his brother to get up. To just leave and never speak to him again for being so strange as to love his brother.
But it didn’t seem like that’s what Ichi struggled with. Instead, he rubbed the back of his neck and looked down.
“Why...not one of the other ones…? We all look the same, right? Though I’m clearly the uglier brother… You’d probably be better off being in love with Choromatsu or something… someone who.. Actually has a future”
Totty frowned and felt tears threaten to show themselves. He reached out and took his brothers hands, trying his best to give him a smile.
“But… you could have a future. You could have a future with me. Please, Ichimatsu, I don’t want to see you gone... Even if you don’t feel the same way, please don’t leave me” he gave a gentle squeeze.
Ichimatsu also felt about ready to cry, giving a deep breath before nodding.
“Ahaha… alright… sure... “ he tried to push the awkwardness aside by sounding casual.
“You gotta take me out more often though… I’m not cheap” he joked, getting up and stretching.
As they went to leave, Todomatsu wrapped his arm around Ichimatsu’s and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
Ichi rolled his eyes and laughed. Man, Todo loved to hear it. He walked him home, happy that he finally got what he wanted, and a hell of a lot more. He knew that Ichimatsu wasn’t just cured. There've been days worse than this, where he wont be able to get him outside at all. But it was a start, and he was glad they’d gotten there.