Chapter Text
"Say ah."
"Ahh"
"Hm." Said Ichiro while lowering his phone's flashlight. "Well it certainly does look red."
"He's probably just faking it for attention." Scoffed Saburo. "I've heard him make himself cough at night."
"What did you*WHEEZE*"
The three Yamada brothers had gathered in the bathroom. The center of their meeting, Jiro, was sitting on the edge of the tub.
"Saburo!" The oldest hit him. "Don't accuse your brother like that!"
"S-Sorry Ichi-nii."
Satisfied, he turned back to Jiro. "I'm gonna make the appointment."
"I-It's okay Nii-chan." He said while covering his mouth. "It'll go away on its own."
Ichiro stared at him. "How long have you been like this?"
"...three weeks."
"And that's three weeks too long." He put his hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, Jakurai-san is a good friend of mine. He'll know what to do."
"If you say so..."
Jiro didn't like being sick. It meant that Nii-chan wouldn't rely on him anymore. That he was a burden on his dear shoulders. Saburo certainly made him feel that way, glaring at him while following Nii-chan out the room.
Left alone with his thoughts, he recalled that morning three weeks ago, when he felt a tingling in his throat every time he breathed. No matter what he took, the feeling just got worse and worse. Now it has become like a bump, stuck in his neck.
Though he tried his best to hide it, he knew Nii-chan would eventually notice how quiet he had become. Or the coughing fits he desperately tried to muffle under his pillow. Or the hoarseness of his sore voice. He had to notice, he was the smartest person he knew.
Yet behind his worries, a part of him was glad he was found out. Maybe it was the relief of getting help. Maybe the happiness he felt when his brother's eyes centered on him and only him. It was a selfish kind of happiness. Jiro didn't like it.
He coughed again.