Chapter Text
beep beep beep!
beep beep beep!
beep beep b-
*vox turns off the alarm clock*
vox
ugh. why does my head hurt so-
*jolts up from bed*
WHAT TIME IS IT????
ike
*sitting in the far corner of the room eerily*
it’s 7:32am. september xx. a monday. aka, the first day of the year’s quarter.
vox
what the hell are you doing in my room?
ike
i woke up at 5am sharp. after getting myself ready- which i will emphasize, i am dressed picture perfectly for day 1 class photos- i heard your alarm and i decided to make sure you woke up and-
vox
WELL, HOW'S THAT GOING FOR YOU?!
ike
let me finish. sheesh. i tried waking you up but every single time you would fall right back asleep. i attempted exactly 8 times and every single strategy didn’t work. so i left the alarm on in hopes your survival skills will kick in and-
vox
fuck, we’re going to be late!
*puts slippers on, still in underwear and walks to the laundry room*
is anyone else up?
ike
*follows after vox*
no, just m-
vox
GO WAKE UP SHU AND MYSTA. and keep an eye on them. make sure they’re ready in 10 minutes.
ike
fineeee. but i’m only doing this because i don’t want to be late and leave a bad impression on my math teacher. if i stand around any longer my hair might go places i did not want it to be in. gotta start the year strong.
vox
yea yea whatever. have you seen my good shirt?
*rummages in a laundry basket*
ike
pretty sure you left it by luca’s bed.
*begins to smirk* by the way you owe me a new set of gel pens for helping.
vox
if you keep blabbing, i owe you a towel for breaking all of your gel pens in front of your face!
ike
sheesh. i’ll go, i’ll go.
vox
*opens lucas door and kneels by his bed to shake luca up*
luca! luca, wake up!
luca
huh? (sleepy)
vox
luca, we gotta get ready.
*pats luca's head*
luca
ah! are we going to the park today?
vox
no, remember? today’s your first day of school!
luca
school?!?!?
*hides under covers*
i don’t want to go!
vox vo
awwww so cute TT
vox
oh, come on. it’s going to be ok. mysta will be in the same building as you. you’re not alone.
luca
*peeps over blanket*
it’s still scary…
vox
come here.
*picks luca up and takes him to his closet*
you’re growing up now and you’re going to start to learn things all on your own. but don’t worry! me, ike, shu, and mysta will all be there to support you along the way. oh! and augustus too, of course. *holds plush out in front of luca to hug* doesn’t that sound exciting?
luca
i don’t know… maybe?
vox
why don’t you go pick out what outfit you want to wear today, hm? it’ll be like your first little task for your big day!
luca
yea! i like that! i want to wear my lion sweater! RAH!
vox
(chuckles) that’ll do.
*ike barges in shu and mysta’s room*
ike
wake up! wake up! wake up! wake up!
mysta
shut up! you’re so damn annoying. i'm trying to sleep!
ike
watch your mouth young man. you’re only 9. you shouldn’t be speaking that sort of language.
mysta
and YOU shouldn’t be speaking, period.
ike
i swear to god i’m gonna- *choking air* UGHHH!
mysta
go on, strangle me. you won’t do it!
shu
guys, please stop fighting and bickering.
*hides head under pillow*
ike
*grabs shu’s pillow and mysta’s blanket*
hey! i’m not here to wake you up for no reason! i could care less when you’re up. but vox forced me to make sure you're getting ready for the first day of school-
shu, mysta
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL???
shu
oh no, i can’t be late. i have something to do before class.
*rushes out of bed and scrambles for clothes*
ike
like what?
shu
(blushes) uh nothing! it’s just a friend thing.
ike
weird… what about you myst-
mysta
i forgot to do my summer reading… (horrified face)
ike
what did you say…
mysta
i haven't done my summer reading…
ike
YOU IDIOT! WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THIS WHOLE SUMMER! (screaming)
mysta
i thought i had more time! i didn’t realize that the first day would come so-
ike
YOU SHOULDN'T BE WAITING THE LAST MINUTE TO DO IT!
mysta
whatever! i'll just make something up-
ike
NO, I WILL NOT ALLOW THAT!
*palms face*
tell me what you're reading so i can summarize it to you while you complete the assignment.
mysta
something with a monkey, a cat, a penguin, a fox, and a lion. all i need to do is draw a picture of my favorite scene.
ike
ok i know that book. get dressed. i'll summarize it to you, but make it quick. we don't have much time.
shu
*walks to bathroom*
good morning vox, hi luca.
vox
*brushing teeth with luca*
i don’t even wanna know why those two are yelling.
shu
mysta forgot to do his summer reading. i think they’re trying to finish it within 10 minutes.
vox
that boy… he’s lucky i don't have time to be mad. as long as they’re out the door i don’t care what’s done.
*turns to luca*
you done brushing your teeth?
luca
mhm~
vox
ok! next task is for you to brush your hair on your own! you think you can do that?
luca
mhm!
vox
watch over him, i need to whip up a quick breakfast.
shu
sure thing.
*grabs brush*
ok, what hairstyle do you want-
luca
i’m a kindergartener now! i can do it on my own :D
shu
ah ok ok. let’s see what you’ve got.
*back in mysta’s room*
ike
and then the penguin gets hit by a piece of shit. but what the plot twist ends up being is- by the way your shirt is on backwards- it actually pushes the penguin to a giant fire.
mysta
ugh this story is stupid! who wrote this, a 9 year old? i could do so much better!
ike
god, there’s no saving you huh. just shut up and listen to the story.
*vox in the kitchen*
vox
right, time to cook! *puts on apron* i can’t make anything extra fancy today… so waffles it is!
*begins to make batter*
vox vo
if i were given some extra time in advance to be ready to take care of my four little brothers, i don’t think even decades upon decades could ever prepare me for the chaos this life would change into. this is my last year in university till i graduate. i’ve worked so hard to get through the hell of studying, just one more year and i’m finally free, hoping that i can get a stable job and support the four of them to the fullest. i took them in my hands to promise them a better and happier life than the previous one. i can't ever let them down… SO PLEASE GOD WE CANNOT BE LATE TODAY OUT OF ALL DAYS.
*back in the bathroom*
luca
how do i look!!!
*has clumps of hair all around his head tied with rainbow rubber bands*
shu
um… it’s a bit… much, don’t you think?
luca
(teary) you’re right! ahhhh! (sulks) am i not ready to do things on my own…?
shu
no no, its not that at all! you’ve grown up to be so strong!
*unties hair and brushes out smoothly*
you’re still five, you know. we can take things one step at a time. i’ll always be here to help you, you know that, right?
luca
really?
shu
yep!
luca
yay! thank you big brother! you’re the best!
shu
alright, let’s do something cute but simple ok? i know something that might suit you.
vox vo
shu likes his waffles with strawberries and whipped cream. super sweet and lovely, just like him. i can always count on him to be the extra pair of eyes on the others’ well being. i’m sure they will all grow up to be such kind people because of him. even though i don’t always know what’s going on in his mind, i hope he’s doing alright. and that he looks after himself too.
ike
come on, come on! we don’t have much time left! move those crayons like there’s no tomorrow!
mysta
i’m tryinggg! but it’s hard to picture all of this so quickly!
ike
and who’s to blame for that? you cannot complain at a time like this! here, let me help you.
*grabs crayon and helps sketches*
it looked like this, you see. the five animals all together, coming from the past but working together in the present now.
mysta
i see…
ike
don’t forget to add those details to really sell the idea that you’ve read the story thoroughly. you got this, yea?
mysta
i’m a master drawer after all!
ike
well…
mysta
SHUT UP! but ahem… thank you for uh, helping me.
ike
listen, the last thing i want is for you to fail right away, so you’re welcome. but we have no time for chatting, you’re wasting time already!
vox vo
ike likes blackberry waffles, different from the norm and are usually sour, but leaves a nice taste in your mouth once you eat more of it. he’s a feisty one alright. sometimes it’s harder to rely on him than shu even though he’s older just because he’s a stickler for the rules and cannot tolerate ruckus at all, but i know deep inside he really cherishes all of us. all his yapping is for the better good of us, but i worry that he doesn’t fit in at school. i hope he knows he’s a good kid after all.
mysta
vox look! *running down the stairs and cheesing and stomping around by vox* look at my beautiful drawing!
vox
oh, did you just make that? (smirks)
mysta
yep! it’s for my summer- i mean… i just drew it because i felt like it!
vox
well, if it’s not important, maybe you should’ve focused on freshening up more. did you brush your teeth?
mysta
yep! smell.
*opens mouth for smelly breath*
vox
UGH! what’s wrong with you? that’s rancid! did you eat before you went to bed?
mysta
*giggles* GOTTA GO DO SOMETHING REAL QUICK, SAVE ME A WAFFLE!
vox
that kid.
ike
*walks in the kitchen and takes a seat*
it was his summer reading by the way. i helped him out so he wouldn’t be in trouble.
vox
yea i heard from shu already, but i’m not bothered to punish him for now. just let him be.
vox vo
mysta loves chocolate, peanut butter, and caramel with powdered sugar on his waffles. quite the handful if you humbly ask for my opinion. the amount of sugar equates to fuel his energy meter, which is undoubtedly high. it sometimes gets hard to control him but he has this charm that makes him so loveable. his behavior needs work but i know he’s always trying to better himself, which is why being able to see his growth has been such wonderful things to see. i don’t blame him for the way he acts, he was young enough to understand what was going on between our family but not old enough to handle those emotions well. i know one day he’ll heal well.
luca
i’m ready for the first day of school! RAH!
*tug on vox’s shirt*
vox, do you like how i look?
vox
aw, you’re adorable as ever.
luca
it’s thanks to big brother! he did my hair for me, see?
vox
that’s very nice of shu to do. thank you.
shu
it’s no problem.
luca
ike! do you like how i look?
ike
yes you’re very cute or something like that.
luca
*hugs leg*
yay! that makes me happy!
ike
don’t touch me! you might get my pants dirty and i CANNOT let that happen! this outfit needs to be perfect!
vox
come on ike, he’s not some sort of virus, he’s your brother.
ike
this family tends to be a bit messy, so your point is not valid.
vox
be nice!
luca
what’s a virus?
ike
a virus is-
vox
a virus is when i look at you and i can't stop because you’re so cute!
luca
oh ok! then that means ike is a virus too! and shu! and you too! it makes me happy!
shu
aw, thank you luca.
ike
great save…
vox vo
lastly luca. he likes bananas and rainbow sprinkles on his waffles. i wonder when he’ll grow out of that monstrous combination, but a part of me hopes that he doesn’t because he’s our youngest. for me, i really do need to take extra care of him as he never got to know and love his true parents. it can get exhausting, but at the end of the day, i never find it a chore because he has become the brightest and most thoughtful boy and it warms my heart to see him in action. i’m glad i see this loving affection to luca from all of them, including mysta (even though he gets jealous sometimes). we all just want him to be protected and live the normal life he deserves. like i’ve stressed, it’s rough, but this is how our family works, and it’s really come together.
vox
mysta come down here! waffles ready. we have 5 minutes to eat these and then we gotta move it!
luca
yay! waffles!
*grabs waffle with hand*
vox
eat with a fork, luca.
ike
if i take a bite out of this waffle, what are the chances that juice will squirt out of the fruits causing it to land on my perfectly clean outfit?
mysta
you’re crazy! just eat it.
*sits in the last empty chair*
ike
i do need to eat in order to have a full stomach therefore being able to concentrate to my maximum. then again if i eat too much i might get a food coma and begin to drift during class.
vox
don’t waste my time cooking for you now.
ike
why does shu have an option to not eat but i don’t?
vox
he doesn’t. shu? you haven’t been talking much. are you ok? you need to sit and eat quickly.
shu
um- ah- i’m almost done!
*places present in his lap*
thank you for making breakfast vox.
luca
yea! thank you!
vox
should i… ask what that is?
shu
no it’s nothing!
ike
is this the thing you were flustered over earlier with the friend?
shu
shhhh!
mysta
why is shu acting weird?
ike
watch and learn, mysta. this is what peak “crushing” looks like.
mysta
crushing?
ike
it means… shu is in love~~
shu
no! it’s just a friend. um… they have been out of the country during the whole vacation and i thought it would be nice to give them a present after seeing them again…
mysta
oh. what’s her name?
shu
n-never!
luca
shu is in love?
shu
ahhhhhhh!
vox
guys, let him be. if you interrogate him any longer he might explode.
ike
ah, young love. i bet it feels nice doesn’t it.
vox
you say that as if you’re an old man.
ike
well, i’ve never had a crush on anyone before. so i do wonder what it’s like.
mysta
what about your waifus on the tv?
ike
THOSE CLEARLY DON'T COUNT!
luca
i want to have a crush!
*dead silence*
vox, ike, shu, mysta
you better not!
vox
no one gets to touch you! not on my watch!
shu
the day when luca has a crush is the day he becomes a man and I CAN'T HANDLE THAT.
ike
he can’t have a crush before me! that’s total loser energy on my end!
mysta
luca, you’re still young! don’t waste your youth away on dating!
luca
ok ok! i won’t have a crush. i have you guys. that’s all that matters, right?
*everyone sighs in relief*
vox
and on that note, everyone move it to the car! go go go! don’t forget to grab your backpacks and anything else you need!
mysta
i want to finish my wafflessssss!
vox
just take it to the car, but you BETTER NOT spill anything!
ike
don’t sit next to me, i know for a fact somehow you’ll get chocolate on my clothes.
luca
are… we going… to school now…? (shivering)
shu
are you nervous?
luca
no! i’m not nervous! i can do things on my own! *puffs out chest*
vox
is luca and mysta buckled up, shu?
shu
yep.
vox
everyone have their stuff?
*everyone nods their heads*
vox
then we’re off!
ike
*checks watch* man, we’re pushing it. do we really have to stop by the elementary school first?
vox
it’s closer. you know what would immensely help you? if you got the guts to start driving!
ike
ok but who wouldn’t be scared of a giant moving vehicle that you and the random people around are in control of? the chances of crashing are so high!!
luca
SCARED? WHO SAID I WAS SCARED??
mysta
looks like someone is gonna piss their pants today…
shu
don’t worry, luca! you and augustus will be able to get through this together in a breeze!
luca
yea… me and… STOP THE CAR! (top of lungs)
vox
WHAT THE FUCK?
*vox swerves*
everyone
AHHHHHHHHHH
*car nearly crashes but vox managed to twist the car into an empty parking lot*
ike
now you see… this is why i don’t wanna drive.
luca
WAHHHHHHHHHHHHH! AHHHH!
vox
LUCA WHAT'S WRONG??
luca
AUGUSTUS! HE'S NOT HERE! I LEFT HIM!
vox
YOU WHAT???
luca
WAHHHHH! I WANT TO GO HOME!
vox
i… we can’t-
luca
WAHHHHHHHHH! (kicks feet)
shu
augh this is my fault. i didn’t double check hard enough.
vox
no shu don’t blame yourself. you’re not in charge of looking after him like that. i am.
ike
mysta? are you crying?
mysta
after i brushed my teeth, i put him in the washing machine! i saw that it was dirty and i didn’t want kids making fun of luca so i washed it! but i forgot to take it out! it’s my fault!
ike
guys. guys… GUYS! it’s nobody’s fault! it was a simple forgotten task. if we all pass around the blame it’s just gonna make luca feel worse how guilty you all feel now! think about it, everyone’s intentions for him are so sweet. shu, you’re looking after luca so dearly that you feel you’re that responsible. mysta, you were so thoughtful about luca’s image on the first day of school. and vox, come on. you take care of all of us so well. one little thing isn’t going to make you a bad caretaker. right luca?
luca
mmm…
ike
(to luca) and i know you’re strong enough to be able to do this on your own. it’ll just be one day without augustus right? after you’ve learned you can do it on your own, then your true strength will be proven.
luca
really? *sniff*
ike
of course. now get to driving. we literally can not be any later than we already are.
vox
wow, ike. that was really…
ike
you guys annoy me so much with your negative talk!
vox
you’re a strange kid. but a kindhearted one at that.
mysta
i say more strange! but… yea… pretty kindhearted i guess.
ike
am i supposed to take that as a compliment or not?
*at the elementary school, mysta rolls his eyes as he jumps out of the car while luca shivers, trying to grab a hold of shu’s hand*
luca
i’m scared.
shu
it’s ok to be nervous. but maybe if you see the environment it’ll make you feel better.
luca
ok…
*vox looks back at luca and feels his heart cringe. he worries a lot about him. the five of them walk to luca’s class first, letting him peek through the door.*
vox
you see that! doesn’t that look like fun!
*one glance and luca immediately runs off to a corner to cry silently. the other four follow after him*
luca
i can't do it. i can't do it. augustus… ahhhhh…
*they stare at him, unsure what to do.*
vox
can you try?
luca
no.
vox
please?
luca
i can't.
*shu stares at his box before sighing as he opens it and takes out a plush cat from it*
shu
i know it’s nowhere near augustus but… i brought you a new friend! see?
luca
who… is that?
shu
why don’t you name it and be friends with it? it’ll be your first friend as a kindergartener!
luca
he’s cute…
shu
*pets the cat*
you’re not alone see? from me to you!
luca
thank you.
mysta
luca. *grabs a bag of goldfish in his backpack* here! take this! i think you’ll need it more than me!
luca
really?
mysta
take it before i rethink!
luca
thank you, mysta. *starts feeling teary for a different reason*
vox
*takes hair clip out his hair*
here. i know shu did your hair really well already, but it’s something to have on you while you’re alone. so i’m always with you.
*pat heads*
luca
thank you.
*everyone turns to ike*
ike
oh come on, don’t put pressure on me! i don’t have anything with me right now!
vox
ike…
ike
hmph!
*takes tie off*
you better appreciate this little dude. now my outfit is ruined for the first day of school.
luca
*tears fall down his face as he goes to hug ike*
thank you.
*wipes face*
thank you brothers! really.
*nuzzles cat plush and walks up to the door*
i feel a lot better having a part of you all with me.
shu
you’ll do great. have fun.
*holds out fist*
luca
i will! goodbye brothers!
*walks in classroom*
vox
*quickly walks away before anyone can see him*
come on mysta. let’s go to your class.
mysta
are you sad?
vox
NO. *sniffs*
ike
you really are like a dad huh.
vox
DON'T SAY THAT, IT MAKES ME FEEL OLD.
mysta
vox is a grandpa! vox is a grandpa!
*reaches mysta’s class*
vox
now you better behave! or else, you hear?
mysta
yea yea i got it. i’m off to a great start. i finished my summer reading assignment!
*winks at ike not subtly*
ike
sheesh.
mysta
bye guys!
*walks into classroom*
vox
alright. next up, you two.
*shu looks a bittersweetly at the half empty box*
vox
you alright?
shu
yea. he needed it more than i did.
ike
was that the gift you were going to give to your friend?
*the three of them get into the car*
shu
um… yea.
vox
i’m surprised you did that. that gift seemed really important to you. you were obsessing about it all morning.
shu
it was no problem at all. all i want is for luca to feel strong and happy. besides…
*crumpled note in box*
the idea of giving them a gift is stupid anyways. it’s not like it was ever gonna work.
vox
don’t say that. you never-
shu
it’s complicated.
*stares out the window*
vox
sorry.
*at secondary school*
vox
alright. stay safe. and don’t hesitate to tell me if something bothers you. ok, shu?
ike
brighten up man! if you don’t keep a positive attitude, then faking it will get harder and harder.
shu
i’m fine! really.
vox
ok… thank you guys for helping the wreck of this morning.
ike
head off already! i bet you’re super late.
vox
shit, you’re right.
*as vox drives off, shu stares off into the distance*
ike
so… what class-
shu
i gotta go.
ike
he's weird. our whole family is weird.
*put hands behind his head*
but that’s what makes every day interesting.
*vox running as fast as he can until he gets to his classroom slamming the doors open. he runs to his seat next to shoto*
vox
god, what a day already. i’m so tired.
shoto
dude, you’re 30 minutes late!
vox
at this point it’s a miracle that i made it out alive.
shoto
i’m… not even going to ask.
vox
don’t bother. what did i miss?
shoto
you’re in luck. the professor hasn’t shown up yet.
vox
hallelujah!