Chapter Text
Oso POV:
The day started out like any other. And that isn't really saying much when you and all your brothers live as NEETS. But Osomatsu wasn't surprised when he finally woke late in the day and dragged himself downstairs to see his brothers lazing around in their living room.
Todomatsu was on his phone, as usual. Probably complaining to his online friends about his brothers again. Jyushimatsu was hopping up and down, something about wanting to spend his energy somewhere. Osomatsu wasn't paying much attention to that- Ichimatsu was in the corner, seemingly dozing off with a tabby cat in his lap, toy forgotten off to the side, still resting in his hand. And Choromatsu was busy flipping through another idol magazine. It seems he was making no attempt at hiding his true activities today. If he seemed a bit anxious, Osomatsu would summed that up to Choromatsu being his usual self.
But even to a tired mind, there seemed to be something slightly off about the atmosphere in the room.
Osomatsu entered the room and, still dragging his tired feet, plopped down at the table across from Choromatsu. The latter's shoulders twitched a bit.
Osomatsu’s mind was still tired. He was still tired. He didn't want to do anything. He was just about ready to fall back asleep at the table right then and there when he saw it.
Karamatsu's mirror was on the table. The reflection was polished and clean. So clean that it sparkled. What a painful item for a painful guy . And as Osomatsu was thinking it, he realized something.
"Hey, guys?" He didn't really care. No, he's just the oldest. "Where's Karamatsu?" He has to keep up the headcount, you know?
All of his brothers, well, the 2 that chose to pay attention, looked up at the eldest but didn't speak.
Choromatsu looked like he was about to say something. He opened his mouth but before anything could come out, he quickly shut it. He broke eye contact with his brother to look at Jyushimatsu.
Jyushimatsu had stopped jumping around.
Jyushimatsu had stopped smiling too.
It was unnerving. Osomatsu wasn't sure what just happened. What could be so bad for this sort of reaction?
"Ichi-nii and Kara-nii got into a fight again."
Oh.
Again, Osomatsu wasn't sure why he was getting such a strong reaction, "They fight all the time! What's so bad about this ti-"
"Ichimatsu punched Karamatsu-niisan in the face." It was Todomatsu who answered. He was looking up from his phone. But he wasn't looking at Osomatsu. He was looking at Ichimatsu. Still sleeping in the corner. His tone was frigid and the lack of (niisan) did not go unnoticed.
Osomatsu knew that Totty was secretly a fan or Karamatsu's but for this reaction... Whatever happened in the past, the brothers have never really meant it when things get physical with their second eldest. They just... Get carried away is all.
Ichimatsu the most.
Osomatsu was confused. Everything about this situation was drawing his attention, nagging at him to get all the details. He wanted to continue asking questions about what happened but stopped himself when he heard the door open.
The sextuplets knew it wouldn't be their parents, not at this time of day.
No.
Karamatsu had just come home.
And for everyone in the room, it felt like ice crawling up their backs.
Osomatsu didn't even know much of what happened and he could still feel those wintery tendrils racing up his back.
But it was just Karamatsu.
When their brother took too long to appear at the living room door, Osomatsu got up to go greet him.
It’s fine.
They don't usually greet him. The brothers usually ignore Karamatsu until he makes his "grand" entrance. But Osomatsu does it this time. He just wants answers. His curiosity being at its all time high.
Right?
Wrong.
Because the second son, clad in his blue hoodie, was standing in the entrance to their home with blood coating his face, the front of his hoodie, his arms, his... No, everything was not ok.
And as Osomatsu took in the sight of his brother, he failed to note the way he swayed on his feet. He failed to notice the tip in his stance. And he almost failed to catch his little brother before he came crashing to the floor.
It was like autopilot after that.
He remembers calling out to Kara and getting no response, remembers telling Totty to call 119, remembers Choro saying something about calling their mother, remembers Ichi standing in the doorway with horror on his features, and he remembers the way Kara was smiling.
Like all he wanted was to stay asleep.