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[karamatsu-boys]

Hey, are you still active? I was wondering if you'd be interested in joining a secret bottom karamatsu cult... ^^

Hello!!

Unfortunately, I’ll be on a hiatus until further notice because life has gotten in the way ;;w;; However! I am interested in this secret cult if it’s headcanons and chatting! If you could message me privately, that would be appreciated!

[karamatsu-boys]

Hiya! I'm the one who made the request for that last fic you did! That was amazing! It's a shame there won't be a continuation though. Hope we get more polymatsu in the future. :)

Hello!

I’m glad you enjoyed it ;;v;; And yes! There will be more Polymatsu in the future because it is my weakness lol Thank-you for the support!!

[karamatsu-boys]

YOUR FIC WAS SO GOOD WILL THERE BE A SEQUEL

Thank-you very much! 

Unfortunately there won’t be a sequel, but I appreciate your support and enthusiasm ;;v;;

[karamatsu-boys]

How about a Oso/Todo/Kara fic? Where the three of them make a bet and the one to lose [get 3rd place or the first to cave into something] has to suck the other two brothers off? :) Kara losing of coarse. ;)

» EYES ON ME

Thank-you @hibakyochan for being an awesome beta!!

Ao3 Link

“Just remember to watch your teeth, okay?”

“A-ah, y-yes, buraza.”

“Ugh, try not to ruin the mood with your painfulness,Karamatsu-niisan.”

“I-I’m sorr—”

“Hey, stop distracting him, Totty! You’ll get your turnnext!”

Karamatsu wasn’t sure how things ended up the way they did.Well, he did know, but he couldn’t understand why.He should’ve known something was odd when Osomatsu and Todomatsu asked him ifhe wanted to play a three-way game of mahjong. If the other brothers weren’thome, the remaining brother would’ve opted to play with each other in a two-waygame of mahjong since it was well known that Karamatsu wasn’t very good.

On that note, Karamatsu should’ve known something was wrongwhen he found himself winning more games than he was losing. And he should’veknown something was downright dangerous when Osomatsu suggested they make awinner-takes-all bet on the next game and Todomatsu suggested that the loserhad to do what the other two wanted. But he had been foolish, high on hiswinning streak, and accepted the bet only to be absolutely obliterated by hisbrothers. Karamatsu had accepted the loss humbly as well as his fate to do hisbrothers’ biddings, but their demand had been one he would’ve never guessed.

“We want you to give us our first blow-jobs!”

Karamatsu internally cringed as he remembered his olderbrother’s request. But here he was, on his knees in front of his older brother,giving head unexpectedly for the first time in his life. Well, trying to…if heactually started.

“Don’t be so scared,” Osomatsu let out a chuckle asKaramatsu stared at his brother’s dick. “It won’t bite.”

It wasn’t like he’d never seen it before. He always did whenthey all went to the bathhouse together. But now that it was right in front ofhis face, it looked bigger than he had originally thought. To be honest, it wasintimidating to look at. Although he was nervous, he couldn’t help but giveOsomatsu a slightly disgusted look.

“How are you already half hard when I haven’t even doneanything yet?” Karamatsu muttered with a  scrunched nose, his grimace onlyworsening when he saw his brother’s dick twitch and grow harder.

“Are you some kind of masochist, Osomatsu-niisan?” Todomatsuasked with an equally disturbed look, but all they got in return was anunabashed grin from their older brother.

“I mean, I wouldn’t be totally against it if you know whatI’m saying,” Osomatsu said, giving Karamatsu a suggestive wink as said brotherflushed red in the face and was forced to look away.

How could Osomatsu say that? They were brothers! He was onlydoing this because he lost the bet and they wanted to semi-graduate from beingNEETs. This was a once in a lifetime scenario!

“Just shut up and sit back,” Karamatsu muttered as hegrabbed Osomatsu’s dick a little too tightly if his older brother’s yelp wasany indication. Even Todomatsu visibly winced. Taking pity on the eldest,Karamatsu loosened his grip a bit and began to pump him in long, slow strokes.He still wasn’t sure how to go about this whole blowjob situation, so hethought he’d keep Osomatsu distracted with a handjob in the meantime as well asassess the situation.

For starters, there was no way he was getting out of thissituation. He had already attempted to run, but that ended with Todomatsu andOsomatsu tackling him to the ground. He figured if he resisted any more, theymight take more drastic measures to make him keep his end of the bargain.

Karamatsu bit the inside of his cheek as he glanced over athis younger brother, strongly reminding himself that he would have to gothrough this fiasco twice. Holding in a resigned sigh, Karamatsuturned his attention back to the situation at hand (literally) and realizedthat Osomatsu was now completely hard and way bigger than he was only a moment ago.Or well, from Karamatsu’s anxious perspective, it looked a lot bigger thanbefore. How the hell was he supposed to put that into hismouth?!

“Could you hurry it up, Karamatsu-niisan?” Todomatsu rolledhis eyes as he whipped out his phone. “We don’t have all day.”

“Hey, wait a minute, are you going to record this?!”Osomatsu exclaimed, receiving an exaggerated eye roll from Todomatsu.

“No one wants to record your shitty dick, Osomatsu-niisan,”Todomatsu gave his eldest brother a look of disgust. “I’m just bored, and atthe rate that Karamatsu-niisan is going, I might as well keep myselfentertained while I wait.”

The second eldest felt a pang of guilt when he heard hisyounger brother’s words. Taking a deep breath, he tried to mentally prepare himself.He could just take it slow until he gained some confidence. It couldn’t be anydifferent from his own dick…right? They were sextuplets after all!

Slowing his hand down and keeping it close to the base,Karamatsu pressed his slightly parted lips against the underside of the head.Despite his desire to steel his resolve, he was still nervous and took decidedto take baby steps by first pressing soft kisses around the head of Osomatsu’sdick. His free hand that was resting on Osomatsu’s knee was shaking, and justwhen Karamatsu was starting to fear that Osomatsu was going to notice, he felthis brother’s leg jerk. Surprised, but mostly confused, Karamatsu’s eyes drewupwards to see Osomatsu’s head thrown back and his hands gripping the couch.

It was startling to say the least. He was barely doinganything; practically nothing compared to the porn videos he’dseen, and yet he had his older brother writhing just from kisses barelyghosting over his dick. Suddenly, Osomatsu lifted his head to look down at himwith an absurdly disappointed look on his face.

“Don’t stop…” Osomatsu let out a breathy whine, and it wasthen that Karamatsu realized in his daze that he had stopped moving his handand his lips were no longer against his brother’s erection. And to make mattersworse, Karamatsu couldn’t ignore the shiver that ran down his spine fromhearing Osomatsu’s plea.

Karamatsu simply nodded and got back to work with a bit moreconfidence, trying not to think too much about the way his body had shuddered.He decided to change the pace a bit, using slower, almost teasing strokes, andpressed a few more kisses to the head before finally putting his tongue to gooduse. Like a kitten to a bowl of milk, Karamatsu lapped around the head, lickingthe precum that was forming at the tip. He had to stop himself from making aface at the salty taste. He continued his menstruations, slowly licking his waydown towards the base.

He dragged his tongue just as slowly back towards the tip,sneaking a glance at his brother and was rendered a bit awestruck when he sawOsomatsu’s head thrown back again, mouth slightly open and his back archingslightly. It was encouraging to Karamatsu, and strangely enough, made him happyto see his brother feeling good because of him. Based on his brother’sreactions, he was at least doing a decent job at pleasing his brother. The joyhe felt was enough for him to get past the salty taste and the sweaty musk thatwere overflowing his senses, but if he was being honest with himself, he didn’texactly hate it.

Stopping his stroking altogether, Karamatsu simply heldOsomatsu’s cock against his open palm as he ran his tongue along the lengthlike he would a melting popsicle. However, he was worried that maybe thiswasn’t enough to satisfy his brother. Whenever Karamatsu himself had the rarechance to masturbate, he noted that he wasn’t particularly sensitive along thelength. He was most sensitive around the head and the base, especially when hefondled his balls and gently used his nails. He wanted to do something similarto Osomatsu, who seemed to like a little pain, so he decided to lightly fondleOsomatsu’s balls with his free hand and gently nibble and graze his teeth atthe base.

“Fuck!”

Karamatsu let out a pained hiss when he felt a hand grab afistful of his hair and yank him backward. He looked up tearfully, complaint atthe tip of his tongue, but the words died in his mouth when he saw Osomatsu’sheated gaze looking straight at him. Karamatsu felt a shiver run down his spineand he swallowed thickly.

“Careful, Osomatsu-niisan!” Todomatsu chided as he priedOsomatsu’s hand away from Karamatsu’s hair. “You pulled his hair too hard!”

Karamatsu swallowed down a whine that threatened to escapeas Todomatsu ran his fingers through his hair, fingertips ghosting against hisscalp. Karamatsu fell into a daze as he subtly leaned into the touch, eyes halflidded.

“Jeez, you can be such a brute sometimes,” Todomatsu sighed.

“I didn’t mean to! It was in the moment! You’ll see when youget your turn!” Karamatsu heard Osomatsu yell back as he felt another hand slipinto his hair, ruffling it a bit. “But I’m sorry, Karamatsu. You made Onii-chanfeel so good, I just couldn’t help myself.”

The unexpected praise sent a wave of ecstasy coursingthrough his veins. Karamatsu was suddenly aware of how warm it had gotten inthe room and how much tighter his jeans felt, his own erection pressing almostpainfully against the front of his pants.

“Are you okay, Karamatsu-niisan?” Todomatsu asked, a hint ofworry in his voice.

Karamatsu jolted a bit when he felt a hand on his cheek,thumb wiping away the premature tears that clung to his bottom eyelashes.Blinking rapidly, Karamatsu looked up at his youngest brother, who was lookingworriedly at him.

“Yeah, you okay?” Osomatsu added. “You look a little red inthe face.”

Karamatsu felt Osomatsu push his hair back from hisforehead, and when he looked over at him, his older brother’s face also showeda look of worry. It was…thrilling. Karamatsu couldn’t remember the lasttime he’d had this much positive attention, and quite frankly, he was starvedfor it. He wanted more. He needed more. He wanted both of hisbrothers’ full attention. He wanted to be praised more for doing a good job.God knows he didn’t get enough, if any, compliments on a day-to-day basis.

He liked feeling useful.

He liked feeling wanted.

“I’m fine,” Karamatsu finally managed to say as he gentlypushed his brothers’ hands away from him. “Just—”

He boldly took hold of Osomatsu’s dick in his hands again,one hand pumping the base and the other rubbing the head. The moment Osomatsutilted his head back with a throaty groan, Karamatsu squeezed the swollenappendage firmly, earning a yelp from his older brother. Osomatsu opened hismouth to retort and complain, but Karamatsu’s words stopped him.

“—keep your eyes on me…”

“O-okay…” Osomatsu whispered breathlessly, face flushedand eyes wide with something close to surprise, but nevertheless glued onKaramatsu.

Karamatsu glanced over at Todomatsu and was pleased to seethe youngest watching him closely as well.

“Good,” Karamatsu, who said just as breathlessly, noddedonce before leaning forward and wrapped his mouth around the tip of Osomatsu’sdick.

He instantly felt a hand grip his hair, but thankfully hishair wasn’t pulled. He noticed that his brother’s hand, as well as his thighs,were trembling from his actions. He glanced upwards and his breath almostcaught in his throat when he locked eyes with identical brown ones burning withprimal hunger. If he didn’t have a dick in his mouth, Karamatsu would’ve givena delighted smile. Instead, he swirled his tongue around the head, rewardinghis brother with what he so desperately wanted.

Although he had more confidence compared to when he hadstarted, Karamatsu continued slowly. It was just the tip in his mouth, but ittook up a lot more space than he had imagined. Not to mention the taste of theprecum dribbling out from the slit was a lot more bitter compared to lickingsweat off the shaft. Karamatsu had gotten used to it, however, with every lick,swirl, flick, and slight bob of his tongue and mouth.

As he slowly took in more of his brother’s dick, Karamatsuhollowed out his cheeks whenever he pulled his head back to keep the pressurearound Osomatsu’s dick consistent. It did get increasingly more difficult to doanything else the more he took into his mouth.

It was a strange feeling having Osomatsu’s dick lie heavilyon his tongue and having his mouth completely full of something that normallywouldn’t have entered his mouth, but there was some guilty pleasure in it aswell. It was especially pleasurable whenever he felt the tip hit the roof ofhis mouth and Osomatsu’s breath would hitch. Karamatsu felt his loins clenchtightly every single time. He wondered if Todomatsu would writhe under histouch as well and was surprised that he wasn’t dreading having to do this asecond time. If anything, the thought had his mouth watering in anticipation.

The moment he felt the hand in his hair tighten its grip,Karamatsu pulled off the dick with a soft pop. He spared his older brother aquick glance and licked his lips, almost smiling when he saw the cleardisappointment in his brother’s eyes. Attempting to hide his smile, Karamatsulazily stroked his brother dick while pressing wet kisses along Osomatsu’sdick.

“God, stop teasing me, Karamatsu!” Osomatsu whined, softlypanting in between words.

“But that’s the best part, Osomatsu-niisan!” Todomatsuchimed in. “And Karamatsu-niisan is so good at it, too.”

Karamatsu inhaled sharply at the praise, repressing aviolent shudder.

More.

“He’s too good at it, it’s driving mecrazy,” Osomatsu said.

Karamatsu’s pressed his thighs together and tried not tosquirm.

More…

“You did look like you were about to cum,”Todomatsu continued.

“That’s because I was about to cum! Hismouth was hot and it felt so good when he sucked me and—”

Suddenly, a soft, breathy moan filled the room. The soundhad been so unexpected that it cut off the conversation Osomatsu and Todomatsuwere having. Karamatsu was keenly aware that they were both staring at him,both red in the face and wide eyed. He didn’t understand why until another softmoan filled the room, and it dawned on him that he was the onemaking those sounds; Those embarrassing, erotic, and feminine sounds. It wasthen, too, that Karamatsu realized that he had his face pressed againstOsomatsu’s dick, all but giving up on trying to suck him off during theonslaught of praise.

“K-Karamatsu-niisan?” Todomatsu stuttered, voice trembling.“D—Do  you have…a praise kink…?”

“M-maybe…?” Karamatsu mumbled, tone soft and unsure, as heturned to press a kiss against Osomatsu’s dick, hips rolling forwards intonothing in his excitement.

“Holy shit,” Osomatsu’s voice was just barely above awhisper, as if he had just stumbled upon a gold mine.

The idea tugged at Karamatsu’s heartstrings because he wouldlove it if he was viewed as a treasure by his brothers.

“Karamatsu-niisan…” Karamatsu didn’t need to look atTodomatsu to know that a smirk had made its way onto his younger brother’sface. “Will you make Osomatsu-niisan feel good?”

A little too eager to please, Karamatsu immediately noddedand sat up straighter, ignoring the painful strain in his crotch. His breathhitched when he felt Osomatsu’s hand on his cheek.

“You’ll be a good boy and make Onii-chan cum, right?”Karamatsu felt the smirk in his older brother’s words, too.

“Y-yes, I’ll be a good boy,” Karamatsu moaned softly as helooked up with hooded eyes, shivering in delight when he saw his brotherslooking down at him with pleased smiles. “I’ll make Onii-chan cum.”

He’d do anything to keep those eyes on him.

[karamatsu-boys]

tfw you haven’t written smut in a long ass time and you ace af so you gotta go do some research.

[karamatsu-boys]

What about Kinniku in high school?

» EXUBERANCE

I decided to continue the train! Act I takes place before Same as Always and Different, and Act II takes place a week after Different! Please enjoy!

Ao3 Link

Act I: Before

They’ve been the same for as long as he could remember. Sixsame faces with the same call to mischief. No one could tell them apart, and itdidn’t help that they had been inseparable throughout most of their childhood.And if they hadn’t been all together, they were split up into groups of threesor twos, but Jyushimatsu couldn’t recall a time where he wasn’t without atleast one of his brothers. Even in middle school, he at least had one ofthem in his class each year, all of them split up into groups of twos to makeit easier for the staff.

In his first year of middle school he had been with Ichimatsuin class 1C, which worked out just fine since they usually paired off. In hissecond year, he had been in class 2A with Todomatsu which had been differentfor him because it had been probably the biggest reality check that he wasindeed an older brother, and in class 1C he was Todomatsu’s only brother torely on. But it had been nice to play the big brother role for Todomatsu. Inhis third year he had been with Osomatsu in class 3C. That year he had feltlike a true little brother with the eldest and it was a whole lot of fun, withno other younger brother to compete with for Osomatsu’s attention.

Outside of class, however, they had been like magnets andwould have quickly banded together until it was the six of them again and theywould play out their mischief together as usual. But sometimes it had been moreserious than just playing pranks. In middle school, Osomatsu had startedpicking fights with a lot of strong and scary people from other middle schools,and if Osomatsu ran head first into a fight, the rest of them would follow.Osomatsu was the strongest so it was possible he could have handled his ownfights even when he had been outnumbered, but with his brothers to back him up,he had been invincible. However, around the second year of middle school,people had started mistaking the rest of them for Osomatsu which would oftenlead to fights.

Jyushimatsu was the second strongest so he had been okaywhen it was one on one, even three on one, but any more than that and he wouldhave ended up being beaten to a pulp. His other brothers hadn’t been as strongas him or Osomatsu however, especially Karamatsu and Choromatsu, so Jyushimatsuand the rest of the brothers had soon become familiar with first aid treatmentand the sight of seeing one of them bloodied and bruised became normal. Butaside from the fights, Jyushimatsu felt that they all were still the same. Samesix faces, same shit eating grins, and same knack for mischief. Jyushimatsu hadthought that it would always be like that.

But then they entered their first year of high school andJyushimatsu ended up in class 1A with Karamatsu.

Jyushimatsu stared out the window, the teacher’s lessonbackground noise to him. He had tried to listen and pay attention but when itcame to math he was completely lost. A lot of the lessons left him completelylost if he was being honest, but math especially. He chewed on his bottom liphis mind wandering up to the clouds and back down to the reality of his newhigh school life.

High school was a lot less tolerant with their shenanigans.Things the sextuplets got away with in middle school, they couldn’t get awaywith in high school, and in their first week (last week actually) alone theyalready made a name for themselves as troublemakers since they got punished nearlyevery period. Jyushimatsu knew it was pretty funny for the other students tosee the sextuplets get sent out to stand with a bucket of water outside ofclass, he’s seen it through the window the way they laughed and giggled. Therewas actually one day during one period they all were sent outside, class 1A hadlost their shit when they saw. But after a little meeting at home on theirfirst day off, they all agreed that they would tone it down.

It’s near the end of their second week and Jyushimatsu couldtell everyone was having a hard time adapting to this new mellow rule, becausein a sense, they have to give up what made them the Matsuno sextuplets. Theyall seemed a little gloomier and a little lost, himself included. As if theyall didn’t know themselves anymore. Well…everyone but Karamatsu was having ahard time.

Jyushimatsu turned his attention to stare at the back of hisolder brother’s head who sat in front of him.

Actually, now that Jyushimatsu thought about it, Karamatsuhad been mellow long before they agreed to be. When did it happen? During thebreak? Before break? But if it was before the break that would mean it happenedduring their last year of middle school. Jyushimatsu furrowed his brows. Hecouldn’t remember anything during middle school, only that they fought a lotless people in their last term, but that has nothing to do with Karamatsu, whohated fights anyways. But he did remember that all of last week Karamatsu hadonly been sent out of the class once and that was when they were all sent outcoincidentally. To be honest, Karamatsu was only sent out because he tried totake the fall for Jyushimatsu after a prank had gone wrong and the teachercouldn’t tell them apart, so he sent them both out.

But aside from that, Karamatsu had been unusually quieterthan normal…as if he was trying not to draw attention to himself…

“Matsuno Otoutosan!”

“Yes!” Jyushimatsu instantly responded, tearing his eyesaway from Karamatsu’s head to look at the teacher, who tapped at a math problemon the board.

“Please come up and solve this problem,” she said.Jyushimatsu smiled nervously as he nodded and went up to the board. The way hewas hunched and so close to the board, no one could really see what Jyushimatsuwas writing, but when he stepped aside to show his work, the whole room eruptedin laughter. On the board, Jyushimatsu had drawn out a little cartoon versionof himself smacking the problem away with a baseball bat.

“Stand outside for ten minutes,” the teacher said, herexpression not amused by the harmless prank or when Jyushimatsu stuck out histongue and knocked on his head like a dummy, but everyone else got a kick outof it. On his way out the classroom, Jyushimatsu glanced over at Karamatsu tosee his older brother laughing and trying to hide it behind his hand.Jyushimatsu smiled, feeling pleased with himself all of a sudden.

Maybe there was nothing wrong with Karamatsu, maybe he wasjust imagining things.  

He hadn’t been imagining things.

It’s been a whole month since the sextuplets have startedhigh school and from what Jyushimatsu has observed, things were still prettymuch the same…except Karamatsu. All of them still pulled pranks in class,except for Karamatsu. All of them were loud in class, except for Karamatsu. Allof them would drift back to each other between classes, except for Karamatsu.All of them ate lunch in 1B with Choromatsu and Todomatsu, except forKaramatsu. All of them went straight home after fooling around after school,except for Karamatsu. And up until now, all of them wore their school uniformthe same…except for Karamatsu.

Jyushimatsu found himself staring at the back of his olderbrother’s head again as he recalled this morning’s events. While eating theirbreakfast, Karamatsu had left his gakuran unbuttoned and when Ichimatsu hadpointed it out, Karamatsu just smiled and said he wanted to try wearing itopen. It had left everyone stunned and a bit speechless because it was unheardof for any of them to deviate from the rest. Nonetheless, Karamatsu left hisgakuran unbuttoned with his white buttoned up shirt, but even the shirt had thefirst couple of buttons unbuttoned. The rest of them still wore their uniformsthe same; all buttoned up, clean, and crisp.

Jyushimatsu had to wonder why Karamatsu changed his look. Hecould understand the other things that Karamatsu’s been removing himself from.Karamatsu has always been the most reluctant to join in their pranks as kids,so it wasn’t all that strange that he was the most mellow out of all of them.He’s seen Karamatsu often get asked by the homeroom teacher to help make copiesof assignments, probably due to his docile behavior and, well, he was weak topressure, so that’s why he missed eating lunch together with the rest of them.Not going home with the rest of them after school was kind of weird, butJyushimatsu always assumed that he was caught and forced to help by a teacheras per usual. Missing out on their trips to the bathhouse was also weird, butwhenever any of them asked Karamatsu, he’d just say he already showered so thatwas that.

Jyushimatsu was snapped out of his thoughts when suddenlyKaramatsu stood up and he was staring at his lower back. Jyushimatsu lookedaround and saw that everyone else had stood up, so he noisily stood up to hisown feet. He hadn’t realized that the class had ended, how long had he been daydreaming?

Once they were finished bowing and thanking the teacher fortheir lesson, the students started chatting with one another, some even leavingtheir seats to go to their friend’s desk or leaving the class altogether to dowhatever in their ten-minute passing period. Jyushimatsu recalled thatTodomatsu said he’d visit again from class 1C during passing period.Jyushimatsu looked over at Karamatsu who was stretching his arms up towards theceiling.

“Karamatsu-niisan,” Jyushimatsu began, waiting till he hadKaramatsu’s full attention to continue. “Why did you change your look?”

The question seemed to have caught his older brother bysurprise judging by the way he blinked rapidly. Jyushimatsu waited patientlyfor an answer as Karamatsu hummed thoughtfully and looked up at the ceilingwith a pensive look.

“Well I wasn’t lying when I said I wanted to try wearing myuniform like this,” he said after a moment. “But I guess, you could say that Iwant to change…”

“Change?” Jyushimatsu said with a tilt of his head, earninga chuckle from Karamatsu.

“Yeah, change. I want to find my full potential. What makesup Matsuno Karamatsu? What sets me apart from you?” Karamatsu said, turning tolook at Jyushimatsu with a patient smile.

“What sets you apart from me?” Jyushimatsu mumbled more tohimself than anything.

“Yes, what makes me different from you? What sets youapart from Ichimatsu? Or Choromatsu? Or Todomatsu?”

He’s never…thought about it. Until recently they were allthe same. Same six faces, same smiles, same call to mischief; all the same.They all stood side by side on equal ground and that was good enough. Or so hethought, Karamatsu didn’t seem to feel that way anymore.

“Sometimes I forget that I’m Karamatsu,” Jyushimatsu heardhis older brother say, and when he looked up he was a bit startled by thesomber look on his face as he was back to staring at the ceiling. “We’resupposed to be equals, yet we’re always mistaken for Osomatsu. You’re nevermistaken for me and I’m never mistaken for you, but we’re always mistaken forOsomatsu, even though I am Karamatsu and you are Jyushimatsu. So then, whatsets us apart from Osomatsu?”

“Nothing,” Jyushimatsu said in a quiet voice. Suddenly histhroat was dry when Karamatsu turned to look at him again with a humorlesssmile.

“Exactly.”

Silence fell between them, leaving Jyushimatsu to stew inthis strange truth of Karamatsu’s words. It was true that they were always mistakenfor Osomatsu, but surely people would know he was Jyushimatsu once they got toknow him, right? It’s only been a month, but surely his classmates knew who hewas right? However, Jyushimatsu couldn’t remember a single time where one ofhis classmates called him by his name. They either call him Matsuno number 2,or Matsuno Otoutosan, or Matsuno number 5, or they call him Osomatsu…eventhough the eldest son isn’t in this class at all.

Suddenly Jyushimatsu became very aware of Karamatsu’searlier words, about forgetting who he was. Is he Jyushimatsu or is heOsomatsu? How could they tell each other apart again? How did he know who anyof his brothers were? Were any of them truly themselves or just a mereextension of Osomatsu?

Jyushimatsu’s eyes shot up to stare at Karamatsu’s profile.

How did he know if Karamatsu was Karamatsu? He had the sameface as everyone else, how did he know this wasn’t Ichimatsu or Todomatsu orChoromatsu or Osomatsu?

His eyes drifted downwards to the open gakuran.

Oh. Right. That’s how. Karamatsu was the one who wanted totry leaving his gakuran unbuttoned. This was Karamatsu, not Osomatsu.

Jyushimatsu’s shoulders relaxed and let out a soft breath hehadn’t realized he had been holding in. He turned to stare out the window,seeing some students carrying baseball equipment. Ah, it looks like the secondyears are having physical activities next class period. He could barely see thebaseball field from this angle of his seat, but Jyushimatsu liked watching thestudents play a game or two, especially when someone was talented enough tosend the ball flying. Those moments were the best.

“You know,” Karamatsu said, breaking the silence.Jyushimatsu tensed for some reason before he looked over to see his brotherstaring at him closely but with a smile. “I’ve noticed that you seem to havetaken a liking to baseball.”

Jyushimatsu felt his face heat up and for whatever reason hestumbled over an excuse like he just so happened to be looking out when gamesare going on, but Karamatsu just smiled knowingly.

“You should consider joining the team. I think it’d suityou, Jyushimatsu,” Karamatsu said encouragingly. In this moment, Jyushimatsuwas reminded that Karamatsu was indeed an older brother and he had to wonderwhy it felt like a revelation. Then again, Karamatsu didn’t have manyopportunities to play the older brother role when they all went to Osomatsu ifthey needed some guidance.

‘It’s a shame,’ Jyushimatsu thought to himself as heshyly nodded at Karamatsu.

“What are you guys talking about?”

Jyushimatsu and Karamatsu both jolted in their seats andturned their attention to Todomatsu who stood in front of them with a curioustilt of his head. Jyushimatsu smiled nervously, not sure if he should tellTodomatsu the truth, but he honestly didn’t want any of his other brothers toknow about his conversation with Karamatsu. Something told him they wouldn’ttake it very well, but he wasn’t very good at lying, especially to Todomatsu.

“Nothing much, I was just explaining last class’s lesson toJyushimatsu, he was spacing out again,” Karamatsu said with a grin, earning aglance from Jyushimatsu. Todomatsu laughed as he sat down in the empty seat bythem.

“You need to get your head out of the clouds,Jyushimatsu-niisan, or else you might float up into space and then what willyou do?”

They all laughed at Todomatsu’s little joke, butJyushimatsu’s laugh was a tiny bit louder. For some reason, he felt more atease about the scary conversation earlier, probably because he knew thatKaramatsu had his back. And he found himself thinking that he wouldn’t want itany other way. Karamatsu was keeping a little secretfrom everyone. A secret he decided to let Jyushimatsu in on. A secret thatJyushimatsu decided to make his own as well.  

—

A couple of weeks passed after his serious conversation withKaramatsu and Jyushimatsu became hyper aware of baseball. Whether it was on theT.V., heard a mention of it on the radio, heard someone casually mention it inclass or when he was running his mom an errand, when he saw kids with baseballmitts at the park, it didn’t matter, but Jyushimatsu’s gaze would zero in onthem and/or eavesdrop on them.

One time, Ichimatsu had been with him when he hyper focusedin on someone who mentioned a baseball team. Apparently, it had taken a whilefor Ichimatsu to snap him out of it, and according to him Jyushimatsu’s had awild look in his eyes and he was smiling rather widely. It had embarrassedJyushimatsu at the time and he bashfully apologized, saying that he had beendaydreaming a little too hard. Jyushimatsu could still remember the wayIchimatsu had stared at him with a blank stare for a minute too long beforethey carried on like normal.

He still wasn’t quite convinced that he had fooled Ichimatsuwith his little lie.

He wasn’t the only one acting a little strange. Karamatsuwas still the most different out all of them. He was still missing out as usualbut the last four days he joined them in the bathhouse and that had seemed toput everyone a little bit at ease. However, since that first time, Karamatsuhas continued to wear his gakuran unbuttoned. Everyone else seemed confused asto why Karamatsu insisted on wearing his gakuran that way, but Osomatsu seemedconvinced it was a phase so that’s what everyone else writing it off as. ButJyushimatsu knew Karamatsu’s secret desire to change, and he was watching ithappen before his eyes.   

Jyushimatsu still remembered how shocked, queasy, andawestruck he had felt when one of their classmates went up to Karamatsu andused his name. Not Matsuno 1 or 2. Not Matsuno Oniisan. Not Osomatsu. But hisname: Karamatsu. They knew who they were speaking to, they weren’tconfusing him for anyone like they usually did. Karamatsu was changing.He was setting himself apart from all of them, from Osomatsu.

With every day their classmates called Karamatsu by name,Jyushimatsu found himself craving for the same. But he was afraid to take thatstep. He knew how, thanks to Karamatsu, but the idea of becoming his own personfrightened him a bit.

Today, Jyushimatsu, Karamatsu, and two other classmates hadto go clean the school infirmary during clean-up duty. He and Karamatsu oversawsweeping and mopping while the other two would wipe down surfaces, change thesheets, and take out the trash. When the other two students left to take outthe trash, Karamatsu spoke up.

“Jyushimatsu?”

“Yes, Karamatsu-niisan?” Jyushimatsu stopped wiping thefloor to look at his brother, who was trying to wipe away a stubborn spot onthe ground.

“Why haven’t you joined the baseball team?” Karamatsu asked,not looking up from his work.

“Wh—What do you mean?” Jyushimatsu said, going back towiping as a nervous smile crossed his features.

“I’ve noticed how you stare at the field or at anyoneholding any kind of baseball equipment, so I want to know why you haven’tjoined?” Karamatsu said, this time it was his turn to stop and watch the otherwork.

“I’ve never played baseball before. I-it looks like fun, butI’m probably not very good at it. I don’t think they would let someone with noskills join the club,” Jyushimatsu said as he stopped mopping the floor andjust stared down at the rag in his hands.

“Well you just need a little bit of practice, you’re veryathletic so I’m sure you’ll get it in no time,” Karamatsu said with anencouraging smile that went unnoticed by Jyushimatsu who didn’t look up.

“But I don’t have anyone to practice with…” Jyushimatsu saidquietly. He was sure if he asked Ichimatsu to help him practice he would, butthat would mean he’d reveal his secret interest in baseball to the other. He wasn’tready for that. He was still just another face to be mistaken for Osomatsu.

“I’ll practice with you.”

Jyushimatsu’s head shot up, eyes wide, and mouth hangingopen a bit as he looked over at the other.

“You would?”

“I will,” Karamatsu said with a firm nod and asincere smile. Jyushimatsu’s face split into a wide-open mouth smile before hecould try to stop it. But when he caught himself, he snapped his mouth shut,but he remained smiling.

“Thank-you, Karamatsu-niisan!” Jyushimatsu said brightly.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile so big before,”Karamatsu commented with a laugh before he went back to mopping the floor alongwith Jyushimatsu. However, Karamatsu continued speaking. “I’m partly doing itfor my own self-interest too. I want to be stronger, at least a little bit so Ican defend some of my little brothers. It’s demoralizing when my littlebrothers have to save me in a fight.”

“But we haven’t been in a fight in a long time,” Jyushimatsusaid as he shifted over to the left to mop a new patch of the floor.

“That is true…” Karamatsu said after a second too longpause, but Jyushimatsu figured he was probably recalling the last time theyfought someone. “But still. I’d like to be prepared nonetheless. And I’m sureexercising with you and helping you get into shape will help me get intoshape!”

“I don’t mind protecting you, Karamatsu-niisan,” Jyushimatsusaid, looking over at his older brother with a grin which in return earned hima laugh and a slight eye roll.

“But I do, Jyushimatsu! Ah, but I do have onecondition,” Karamatsu said. Jyushimatsu tilted his head. Condition? “Let’s keepthis from the others. At least until you join the baseball club.”

That was a little unexpected, but Jyushimatsu wasn’tcomplaining in the slightest. If Karamatsu hadn’t said it he would’veeventually.

“We can practice early in the morning at the park beforeanyone gets up or say we’re going to run an errand together!” Jyushimatsusuggested, earning an encouraging nod from his older brother.

“Yes. We’ll ask Mom for some spare change once we get home,so we can go buy you a mitt, a ball, and a bat, and we can hide them in theguest room,” Karamatsu said. The idea that soon he would be playing baseballhad Jyushimatsu feeling warm and fuzzy all over, but also riled up his nerveswith anticipation. He wondered what it’ll be like to catch his first ball, orpitch his first curveball, or hit his first homerun? Jyushimatsu found himselfsmiling that wide, strange, but fitting open-mouth smile.

—

The first day of training had been very hard for the bothbrothers. They started two days after they got Jyushimatsu the minimum gear hewould need to practice baseball, and it had been a struggle getting up at fivein the morning, quietly of course, so they could go to the park to practice. They ran a few times around the park…or at least that was theirintention, but Karamatsu barely finished one lap and his knees already had beenso shaky, threatening to give out. So, they stopped at one lap and insteadstretched for the remainder of their warm up.

The night before they had done some research on baseball andwhat players do for practice, and there was a lot of emphasis on the basics. Itmade sense to the both brothers that they should practice passing and catching.Jyushimatsu lost count of how many times he dropped the ball or missed it out rightand constantly ran after the ball, but Karamatsu had been worse off; he missednearly every throw from Jyushimatsu. It was honestly discouraging for the bothof them.

“It’s only day one. Surely tomorrow will be better!”Karamatsu said encouragingly on their way back home. But little did they knowthat the second day of training would be worse, because not only did they haveto do the whole routine as yesterday, they also had to deal with sore muscles.Neither brother saw any improvement until a week later when they realized theyweren’t as winded from running one lap around the park and their accuracy inboth catching and throwing were better than usual. On top of that, they weren’tas sore as they were last week. It was a small ray of hope, but they both weredetermined to reach it.

By the third week, they moved past passing and catching, andstarted working on swinging. For that, however, they had to move to the actualbaseball field and had to buy a few more baseballs so they didn’t have to keeprunning for the same one ball. Their parents gave them their full support andpromised to keep it a secret from the rest of the brothers, which both brotherswere thankful for. By Thursday on their third week, Karamatsu had developed adecent fastball pitch and Jyushimatsu was able to bat and bunt pretty well, butno home runs yet. For the rest of the week, they added first base sprinting totheir batting training.

They weren’t at all experts at baseball and Karamatsu hasvoiced more than once that Jyushimatsu probably would’ve blossomed under anactual coach’s guidance, but Jyushimatsu honestly enjoyed his time with hisolder brother and appreciated all his help.

“Why don’t you join the baseball club too, Karamatsu-niisan?”Jyushimatsu asked the beginning of their fourth week when they finished theirthird lap around the park. He waited patiently until Karamatsu was donedrinking water before he got an answer.

“It has crossed my mind, but as much as I enjoy training andplaying baseball with you, it doesn’t really appeal to me,” Karamatsu said withan apologetic smile. “I don’t think I have the motivation or even a third ofthe drive you have, dear brother. I don’t think that would be fair to the teamif my heart isn’t in the game.”

Jyushimatsu nodded, completely understanding what Karamatsumeant. It made him a little sad that Karamatsu wouldn’t join the team with him,but nonetheless…

“I like playing with you too, Karamatsu-niisan!” Jyushimatsusaid with that open-mouth smile of his, eyes chinking together in a way thatshowed off how long his eyelashes were.

“That makes me happy,” he heard Karamatsu say and when helooked at him, he saw that bashful but blissful smile his older brother showedwhenever he was complimented. “Okay, let’s hustle—”

“Hustle! Hustle!”

“—and build some muscle!”

“Muscle! Muscle!”

The park was filled with their laughter in a matter ofseconds before they started stretching. As they stretched, Jyushimatsu’s mindwandered and he thought back to all the changes in both him and Karamatsu.

Karamatsu still wore his uniform unbuttoned but he startedrolling up his sleeves up with the look, and still missed out during theirlunch and after school, but he was joining them more often to the bathhousethan before, and their entire class knew him by name by now. However, despitehow nice Karamatsu is and how well he gets along with his classmates,Jyushimatsu felt as if there was a distance between his brother and everyoneelse. Even towards their own brothers, although the distance wasn’t as big. Hewas reserved and rather serious to the point that he always looks a littleangry. Although their classmates knew him by name, Karamatsu didn’t have manyfriends if any at all. Jyushimatsu once had a classmate when Karamatsu wasn’taround ask him why his brother was so boring and wasn’t as fun as he and theothers were.

Jyushimatsu remembered feeling upset about that, becausewhat did that guy know about his older brother? Just because he didn’t act likehim or the others didn’t make Karamatsu any less fun to be around with. He waschanging and if being serious was his true self then so be it! He’d acceptKaramatsu no matter what his personality became, and he was 100% certain thatKaramatsu would accept him too no matter how much he himself changed.

Jyushimatsu’s thoughts then wandered to his own littlechanges. He wasn’t pulling as many pranks as before…but he wasn’t quiet likeKaramatsu was. Jyushimatsu felt like he has become a bit sillier. Jyushimatsuwould catch himself smiling widely a lot and because of all the secret traininghe found himself feeling happier and more energized. He was shouting a lotlately, but not an angry shouting, more like ‘I can’t contain my excitement orenergy’ kind of shouting. He would catch himself talking with a lot of handmovement and he’d make faces when he told a joke or two to his classmates.

At home, it was toned down quite a bit, because seeing hisother brothers aside from Karamatsu acting so similar reminded Jyushimatsu thathe used to be like them. But he’s noticed as of late that if he tried to be howhe used to be, the same as everyone else, he’d become painstakingly restless.Jyushimatsu was afraid that he was going to explode from containing his energy.Which is why he can cherish his time with Karamatsu. Because he can be his ownperson, he can be more himself around Karamatsu.

Even now as they carry out their batting practice, Karamatsudoesn’t mind in the slightest when he shouts out strikes when he misses or thenumber of times he’s been “struck out”. Karamatsu doesn’t mind when he wiggleshis arms in a strange way when he makes it on first base faster than Karamatsucan pitch to the gate behind home base. Karamatsu doesn’t care when he shouts‘boeh’ when he accidentally smacks himself with his own bat or when he trips inhis sprint to first base, although he does ask if he’s okay. On water breaks,Karamatsu would comment that he was smiling very big or that his eyes are outof focused, but he doesn’t seem to mind that either. If anything, he finds itfunny and he’d often laugh about it. The only thing Karamatsu seems to mind iswhen Jyushimatsu’s under sleeves sometimes fall over his hands. Karamatsu oftenwould roll them up for him, but Jyushimatsu kind of enjoyed it when they werelong, but he figured that Karamatsu was probably afraid that he might get hurt.

“HOME RUN!!” Jyushimatsu shouted at the top of his lungsnear the end of their training when he finally hit a home runner. Anopen-mouth spreading across his face and the air was filled with his carefreelaughter. “Look, look, Karamatsu-niisan! Game-winning home run!!”

Suddenly Jyushimatsu felt something collide into him whichturned out to be Karamatsu pulling him into a tight hug.

“Yes, I saw! I saw!” Karamatsu said excitedly, smilingalmost as widely as Jyushimatsu. “You did it, Jyushimatsu! You hit a home run!You’re ready!”

“I’m ready!!” Jyushimatsu said, jumping excitedly and wasjoined by Karamatsu.

“You’re going to join the baseball club!” Karamatsu said andin his excitement, he picked up Jyushimatsu and spun him around.

“I’m joining the baseball club!!” Jyushimatsu shoutedgleefully as he threw up his arms into the air. Maybe if he hadn’t been soexcited he would’ve thought it was strange that Karamatsu could pick him up,but that wasn’t at all on his mind in the moment. But all that was on his mindwas the adrenaline coursing through his veins. He wanted to feel like he’s hita homerun all the time. The exhilaration was intoxicating yet entirelywholesome. He wouldn’t have been able to feel this way without Karamatsu.

“Thank-you, Karamatsu-niisan!” Jyushimatsu said once he wasput back on the ground.

“Whatever for, my dear brother?” Karamatsu said, a bit takenaback.

“For helping me become me!”

Karamatsu looked like he didn’t fully get it but smilednonetheless.

“There’s no need to thank me, I told you from the beginningthat it was for my self-interest too,” Karamatsu said as he reached over toruffle Jyushimatsu’s sweaty hair. “But you’re welcome. Thank-you for helping mebecome me too.”

“You’re welcome!!” Jyushimatsu said, deciding he wouldn’tcorrect Karamatsu’s misunderstanding. All that mattered was thanking hisbrother and getting his gratitude across. Both brothers then set out to collectthe balls and put away their equipment.

“You know, Karamatsu-niisan, you talk kind of funny,”Jyushimatsu said once everything was packed and they were walking back hometogether.

“I do?” Karamatsu said, looking a bit worried when he got anod from his younger brother.

“Yeah! It kind of reminds me how those students from thedrama club talk,” Jyushimatsu said earning an even more befuddled look fromKaramatsu.

“Drama club?”

“Yeah! We went to see them rehearse during lunch becauseapparently there’s this very pretty third year girl, but she wasn’t there thatday, but it was still fun to watch!” Jyushimatsu explained, knowing thatKaramatsu hadn’t been there as usual during lunch. Karamatsu merely hummed inacknowledgement, but when Jyushimatsu looked over at him, he saw that his olderbrother was looking up thoughtfully. Was he thinking about checking out thedrama club? If he’s already thinking about it, then there was no need forJyushimatsu to mention it.  And when Jyushimatsu thought about it, dramaclub would definitely suit Karamatsu. He could see his older brother standingon a stage performing for a large audience that threw roses at him at the endof a performance! He wondered if Karamatsu had imagined him playing baseball ina large stadium full of people chanting his name.  The thought made him smile that open-mouthsmile of his which was starting to seem like a permanent feature.

That same day, Jyushimatsu turned in an application for thebaseball club, and the next day, a senior came to fetch him during lunch totell him that he was an official member and that he could start as soon aspossible. Jyushimatsu was so ecstatic that he couldn’t contain his joy in frontof his brothers. He was practically bouncing off the walls and shouting histhanks to his senior at the top of his lungs. He would’ve laughed at theirshocked faces if he hadn’t left running and chanting “Hustle! Hustle! Muscle!Muscle!” down the halls. He had to tell Karamatsu the good news after all! Butwhen he opened the door to their classroom, he didn’t see Karamatsu in there.

“Where is Karamatsu-niisan!?” Jyushimatsu asked all hisclassmates that were in the classroom, all of them of which seemed to be stunnedby outburst.

“He’s in the library returning some books for Sensei,”someone said.

“Thank-you!” Jyushmatsu said with a deep bow before he rantowards the library. Practically busting the doors open like a man on amission, Jyushimatsu looked around with narrowed eyes, ignoring people shushinghim, and when he found who he was looking for he smiled widely.

“Karamatsu-niisan!” Jyushimatsu shouted as he boundedtowards the other who was startled at first, but the smile he gave him madeJyushimatsu’s insides warm and fuzzy. He didn’t even have to say a single word,Karamatsu could already tell and Jyushimatsu’s never seen his older brotherlook like he couldn’t be any prouder than in that moment before Jyushimatsupractically body slammed him into a hug, making them both tumble down onto theground. A sense of exuberance so bright filled every fiber of Jyushimatsu thathe felt himself warmed from the inside out as he laughed with his brother.Jyushimatsu decided that he didn’t want to feel like anything but the way hefelt right now. Like he was the pride and joy of his older brother. Like he hadhit a homerun! And thus, Jyushimatsu decided he’ll be Jyushimatsu from now on.

Act II: After

“Jyushimatsu, where are you going?”

Jyushimatsu looked over at Osomatsu, smile as wide as ever.

“I’m going to go see Karamatsu-niisan backstage!”Jyushimatsu said wiggling his arms excitedly, his long sleeves flopping withthe movement. Osomatsu chuckled but nodded.

“Okay, just be back before the play starts,” Osomatsu saidbefore he went over to where the others were sitting. Jyushimatsu was glad theycame as early as they did so they can get front row seats. Though, knowinghimself and his brothers, they probably would’ve begged or fought over theseats to have the perfect view of the stage. They wanted to see the firstshowing, that way they could enjoy the cultural festival with Karamatsu rightafter. They had to squeeze in all of their classes before the second eldest hadto go back for his second showing.

Jyushimatsu made his way backstage which was packed withstudents getting ready for the play. Some were helping others put on make-up,doing their hair, or helping them into their costumes. He wondered if someonewas helping Karamatsu with his costume and make-up. What if his costume didn’tfit? Karamatsu did put a lot of work into remaking the costume after Ichimatsudestroyed it, so it would be a shame if something went wrong with it lastminute.

“Do you know where Karamatsu-niisan is?” Jyushimatsu askedone of the students who pointed in the direction he’d find him. He bounded inthat direction, weaving, ducking, and jumping over the students. Ever since hejoined the baseball club, he’s made a name for himself throughout school. Hewas notorious for his powerful batting which earned him the cleanup hitterposition in the batting lineup, and he was also known for his permanentopen-mouth smile and overexcited personality. He was Matsuno Jyushimatsu!

“Is Karamatsu-niisan here?!” Jyushimatsu asked a girl withglasses, who was banging on a door he could only guess was either a closet or thedressing room.

“Oh, thank God you’re here Jyushimatsu-kun, maybe yourbrother will listen to you!” the girl said.

“Ah?”

“He won’t let anyone help him into his costume! We only havetwenty minutes before the show!” the girl said frantically as she pushed Jyushimatsutowards the door. “Do something!”

“Okay!!” Jyushimatsu said with a raised hand before hestarted banging the door with it. “Karamatsu-niisan!! It’s me Jyushimatsu!!Please let me in or I’ll break down the door!!”

“Break down the—!?” the girl seemed to be regretting askingthe baseball club’s wild card for help, but suddenly there was a click from thedoor. With a laugh, Jyushimatsu opened the door, and closed and locked it assoon as he was inside the dressing room. He laughed again when the girl startedbanging on the door. He’ll apologize later, but Karamatsu wasn’t anunreasonable person. If he wasn’t letting in his own club members to help himdress, there must be a reason behind.

“My little Jyushimatsu, you came to watch the play?” heheard Karamatsu say behind him.

“Of course, Karamatsu-niisan! Everyone else is sitting outthere waiting!” Jyushimatsu said as he turned to face a brother. Karamatsu atleast had his pants of his costume on, but he was still wearing the top of hisschool uniform. “But you only have twenty minutes Niisan, so why are you givingyour friends a hard time?”

“Ah, you’re right, but I can’t bear to blind anyone with thebeauty of my body, my dear buraza,” Karamatsu said with a hand placeddramatically over his face. Ever since Karamatsu joined the drama club, histalking got weirder, but sometimes it was funny. Everyone else didn’t seem tolike it much, especially Ichimatsu, but ever since Karamatsu got angry withhim, he’s been a lot nicer to their older brother.

“Then I’ll help! I see you naked at the bathhouse all thetime!” Jyushimatsu said as went over to his brother and started taking off hisgakuran. Karamatsu yelped at being a bit manhandled.

“Jyu-Jyushimatsu. Jyushimatsu! I-I can do it myself!”Karamatsu said as he gently pried his younger brother’s hands when Jyushimatsutried to remove his white collared shirt. Jyushimatsu’s never noticed howcalloused Karamatsu’s hands were before, he wondered if it was from remakinghis costume. Was Ichimatsu’s hands just as calloused? He did help Karamatsuremake it.

“Okay!” Jyushimatsu said as a he took a step back to giveKaramatsu some personal space. However, Karamatsu seemed very hesitant, andmaybe he was imagining it but his hands kind of looked like they were tremblinga bit. Maybe he’s just nervous because this is first play where he’s the leadrole! Something then caught Jyushimatsu’s attention. He went to fetchKaramatsu’s costume that laid neatly on his dresser.

“First the poofy shirt goes on, right Niisan?” Jyushimatsuasked grabbing the white blouse. He really liked the ruffles at the ends of thesleeves and around the collar, it made Karamatsu look super fancy. If heremembered correctly, Ichimatsu did the ruffles on the sleeves, but the onesaround the collar were definitely done by Karamatsu. “Then it’s the super fancyvest and then it’s the belt! Right, Karamatsu-nii—“

With the blouse in hand, Jyushimatsu turned around but frozewhen he saw the bruises upon bruises on Karamatsu’s body. There were also cutshere and there, but not as prominent as the patches of dark purple and blue.Now that he thought about it, Karamatsu hasn’t been going with them to thebathhouse the past couple of days.

“—san…” Jyushimatsu finished lamely, his smile small as hecontinued to stare.

“Yes, that is right, Jyushimatsu,” Karamatsu said, snappingJyushimatsu’s attention back to his face which was contorted with an emotion hecouldn’t place. “Will you help me, dear brother?”

“Of course, I will, Karamatsu-niisan,” Jyushimatsu said, hiswide smile back, but there wasn’t much enthusiasm behind his voice or a bouncein his step when he approached his brother. He helped slide the blouse ontoKaramatsu and while his brother fixed his ruffles, Jyushimatsu fetched the vestthat was heavily embroidered, but it was tasteful. According to Ichimatsu itwas nearly exactly like the one he destroyed. Karamatsu always had been good atmaking things with his hands even when they were kids. While he helpedKaramatsu slip on the vest and zip up the back, Jyushimatsu couldn’t help butask.

“Are you still changing, Karamatsu-niisan?”

“You’re helping me change right now, Jyushimatsu,” Karamatsusaid in reply.

“Yeah, but is Karamatsu-niisan, Karamatsu-niisan? Or doesKaramatsu-niisan still forget he’s Karamatsu-niisan sometimes?” Jyushimatsuasked, his voice the quietest it’s been for a long time. He couldn’t seeKaramatsu’s face, but he also couldn’t tell if his silence was because he waseither avoiding the questions or didn’t understand them. “Does Karamatsu-niisanstill get mistaken for Osomatsu-niisan?”

A deep sigh escaped Karamatsu and Jyushimatsu took it as hiscue to go get the belt. When he went back, his older brother was facing him,and he looked rather…sad, but he remained quiet. As he put the belt on hisbrother, Jyushmatsu was reminded of the distance Karamatsu always had betweenhimself and others. He might be right next to Karamatsu, but the distancebetween them was so great it made Jyushimatsu lose some of his usual shine.

When he was done, Jyushimatsu took a step back to look athis brother in full costume. He looked like a prince straight out of a fairytale, and if it wasn’t for the tense atmosphere between them, Jyushimatsuwould’ve showered his older brother with compliments. But he was having a hardtime finding his voice.

“I’m Karamatsu, but sometimes I pretend to be Osomatsu.”

Jyushimatsu’s head shot up.

“There’s a lot of things I haven’t been honest about,Jyushimatsu,” Karamatsu continued to say, avoiding eye contact withJyushimatsu. Jyushimatsu thought back to the time Karamatsu had been angry withIchimatsu and left. Didn’t Osomatsu say that there were things about Karamatsuthey didn’t know about? That he went through things for his brothers? Thatmeant Osomatsu knew about the bruises and why they were there. Jyushimatsucould now understand the jealousy Ichimatsu must’ve felt. Here he had thoughtthat he knew things about Karamatsu that the others didn’t, but now Osomatsuwas the one who was sharing a secret with Karamatsu. Well, the training theydid back in their first year was still a secret. He was also the only one whoknows that Karamatsu wanted to be strong enough to protect his brothers infights, even though they haven’t gotten into a fight since—

“You’ve been protecting us,” Jyushimatsu with eyes narrowedalmost cat-like as the realization hit him like a bat to the face. “Sincemiddle school!”

“Y-Yes. A lot of schools knew about Osomatsu and how good ofa fighter he was. So, one day I started pretending I was him. It had been veryeasy, seeing as no one could tell us apart. But that still would leave mybrothers at risk because no one could tell them apart either. So, I decided toset myself apart while claiming to be Osomatsu…” Karamatsu said, still avoidingeye contact.

It was like the pieces to a puzzle were finally comingtogether. All those times that Karamatsu hadn’t been around was because he wasout fighting. Not coming with them to the bathhouse was because he was tryingto hide his bruises. Wanting to change was so people wouldn’t mistake him forhis brothers when he was being hounded down for a fight. It was the reason whyhe started wearing his uniform differently, why he put distance between himselfand others, and why he constantly had a frown on his face despite being sokind.

“When all of you changed, it made my job a little easiersince Osomatsu didn’t change much other than be more of jokester than aprankster. But I had to change myself more, so you guys wouldn’t suspecta thing,” Karamatsu said with a sigh at the end. He then suddenly struck a posewith his hand back on his face dramatically. “Therefore, I had no other choicebut to bless the drama club with my beautiful existence! Through trial anderror, I’ve acquired the needed skills to take on a narcissistic persona thatwould blind my dear younger brothers from the truth!”

“So…it’s all an act?” Jyushimatsu asked with a tilt of hishead. He watched as Karamatsu’s shoulders slumped and he looked at him withtired eyes and a nervous smile.

“Yes. Well, half of it. I did join drama club with ulteriormotives after you mentioned I sounded like a drama student last year, but Icame to love it,” Karamatsu said, his smile turning fond. “I don’t exactly likethe amount of glitter I’ve added to my wardrobe or putting my name on myshirts, but I do like my leather jacket and tank tops are comfortable to wear.I only recently started wearing sunglasses because I was trying to hide abruise, but they were pretty convenient, so I kept buying them. I don’t reallylike taking so much time stringing English into my sentences, but it is a funlanguage to learn, and I personally think it’s hilarious to call you guys myburazas. Playing the guitar is possibly the only thing I decided to takeup because I wanted to genuinely learn how to play.”

Jyushimatsu could recall one time he asked Ichimatsu if hehated Karamatsu, and after he got past that tsundere personality of his,Ichimatsu admitted that he didn’t hate him, but didn’t like what Karamatsu had becomebecause it felt fake. So, he had been right for the most part. Ichimatsu hasalways been very observant. Jyushimatsu, on the other hand had accepted all ofthese new parts to his older brother at face value. It didn’t matter to him howhe dressed or how he acted so long as Karamatsu was Karamatsu! But it turns outthat Karamatsu was only half of Karamatsu this entire time. But looking at himnow, Jyushimatsu felt like he was speaking with the true Karamatsu.

“Does anyone else know?” Jyushimatsu asked curiously.

“The full story? Only you and Osomatsu. Ichimatsu onlypartially knows about my persona being a front, however, he’s very intelligentso if I make a mistake he’ll be onto me,” Karamatsu said as he reached up toscratch the back of his neck nervously.

“How? Why?”

“Osomatsu caught me in the middle of a brawl, he was prettyangry at first because I didn’t want to tell him. And I told you because Itrust you, Jyushimatsu,” Karamatsu said, easily understanding what Jyushimatsumeant despite the questions being very vague. Karamatsu smiled more genuinelyand he stood a little prouder. “We did secret training together! We changedourselves together! Of course, I wouldn’t lie to you if you asked. Although Iwas having trouble how to put it into words…”

Jyushimatsu’s open-mouth smile was at full force with hiseyes chinking up, before he lunged at his brother for a hug. It’s been a whilesince he’s tackled his brother like this, last time was the beginning of theschool year because he was promoted to cleanup hitter in the club. That time heknocked over Karamatsu, but this time his older brother merely caught him likeit was nothing. He was mildly curious how strong Karamatsu truly was now. Hewas strong enough to kick a huge hole in the drywall. Jyushimatsu wanted to seehim fight in person.

“I want to help! I can help protect our brothers too!”Jyushimatsu said as he latched onto Karamatsu like a child would on their father’sleg. Karamatsu laughed and it took him a second to get Jyushimatsu’s attention.

“Non, non, my little Jyushimatsu. That is the job of anolder brother. Besides, if the school finds out you’ve been in fights you’llget kicked off the team, and that would break my heart,” Karamatsu said,laughing when Jyushimatsu got that startled cat-like expression. Jyushimatsuhadn’t considered that. “Don’t worry, Osomatsu helps me out now. I’m not alonein this anymore.”

“Yay!! But I still want to help! So—So if you andOsomatsu-niisan are hurt, I can patch you guys up!” Jyushimatsu said as hewiggled his arms while still being hold up by Karamatsu, who merely laughed athis antics.

“Yes, yes, you can help us if when need medical attention,”Karamatsu said patted Jyushimatsu’s back, letting him know he was putting himdown. However, once Jyushimatsu was standing on his again, Karamatsu placed hishands on his shoulders and looked worriedly into his eyes. “You know that Ilove you dearly, right? I didn’t keep this from you out of malicious intent. Ijust didn’t want you guys to worry.”

“I understand! Karamatsu-niisan is too kind to be selfish!My lips are sealed too!!” Jyushimatsu said as he made a motion to zip up hismouth. Karamatsu smiled out of relief and affectionately ruffled his hair. Karamatsuwas keeping a big secret from everyone. A secret he decided to let Jyushimatsuin on. A secret that Jyushimatsu decided to make his own once more. 

“KARAMATSU-KUN OPEN UP THIS DOOR THIS INSTANT!”

Both brothers jumped in alarm at the vicious voice yellingfrom behind the door.

“Mei-chan is angry. She’s the one that made the originalcostume, she was angry as well when she found out that I ruined her costume andhad to remake it,” Karamatsu told Jyushimatsu said warily.

“But Ichimatsu-niisan was the one who—”

“Ichimatsu wouldn’t have survived her wrath. Shewould’ve hunted him down like a duck during hunting season,” Karamatsu hissedbefore he ushered Jyushimatsu over to door. “You have to go now, or else she’llkill you too. As soon as I open the door and distract her, you have exactly onesecond to escape, got it?”

“Ah,” Jyushimatsu looked like he was about to defuse a bomb.Karamatsu grabbed the door knob and looked over at Jyushimatsu with a seriousexpression.

“Ready?” Karamatsu asked, earning a nod from Jyushimatsu.However, just as Karamatsu was about to open the door, Jyushimatsu quicklyinterrupted.

“Oh wait! I almost forgot! I came here to wish you luck!Good luck Karamatsu-niisan!”

Karamatsu was a little startled at the sudden good wishes,but he smiled warmly and bashfully nonetheless.

“Thank-you… Now go!” Karamatsu then opened the door, lettingthe dark aura of his friend seep into the room. Acting fast, Karamatsu grabbedMei’s hand and spun her into the room, dipping her dramatically. “Mei-chan,sorry to keep you waiting, but true beauty is time and effort—”

Jyushimatsu didn’t hear the rest of Karamatsu’s spiel sincehe bolted the second he got the chance, he just hoped that he got out of therealive. He was the star of the show after all, so Mei wouldn’t possibly hurthim…right?

Jyushimatsu weaved his way out from backstage and found hisway back to his other brothers, who reserved him a seat between Ichimatsu andOsomatsu. Taking his seat, he turned to stare Ichimatsu down with a seriousexpression.

“Wh-what is it Jyushimatsu?” Ichimatsu said, eyes flickingback and forth from his younger brother to the stage.

“Karamatsu-niisan saved you from a horrible death, youshould thank him after the play,” Jyushimatsu said, turning away from Ichimatsuwho spluttered in confusion. “Osomatsu-niisan?”

“Hmm?” Osomatsu looked over at Jyushimatsu curiously.

“Who is stronger between you and Karamatsu?” Jyushimatsuasked, one hand pressed against his mouth and eyes narrowed a bit. Osomatsustared at him with a blank face for a solid second before his face split upinto a knowing grin.

“You found out?” Osomatsu whispered to him, earning a nodfrom Jyushimatsu, which made Osomatsu laugh. “Karamatsu is the strongest, handsdown.”

The strongest? That meant out of all the brothers then,including himself. Jyushimatsu looked down thoughtfully for a while before heturned back to ask Osomatsu another question.

“Osomatsu-niisan.”

“Hmm?”

“What’s he like?”

His question, as usual, was vague, but judging by howOsomatsu laughed pretty loudly, it seems like he understood. Osomatsu sighedheavily after his little giggle fit and just stared off into the distance witha fond smile.

“So cool,” he said before he turned to look at Jyushimatsuwith a grin. Jyushimatsu’s eyes sparkled in wonderment. Now he reallywanted to see Karamatsu fight. Maybe if he asked Osomatsu, he’d let him trailbehind them the next time they go to fight. Missing practice once won’t hurt.

“What are you guys whispering about?” Choromatsu asked,peering over at them with narrowed eyes from Osomatsu right side.

“Nothing,” both Osomatsu and Jyushimatsu said, before theylooked at each other and grinned. Choromatsu huffed and rolled his eyes, andJyushimatsu felt a bit bad, but he and Osomatsu will protect Karamatsu’s secretuntil he’s ready to tell the others about it.

Suddenly the lights in the theater dimmed and all thechatter died down. On stage, people started walking to their places. It waskind of boring at first, only because Karamatsu wasn’t in sight for the firstbit, but when he finally did come on stage, Jyushimatsu excitedly pulled onIchimatsu’s shirt.

“Look, look, it’s Karamatsu-niisan!” he whispered excitedly,eyes sparkling once again, and when he looked over at Ichimatsu, his eyes toowere sparkling. Their brother looked so cool with half his hair combed back andstanding proudly in his costume. Truly a prince out of a fairy tale! Karamatsuseamlessly fell into his role and Jyushimatsu looked on with the rest of hisbrothers, awestruck as they watched their brother perform lines they’ve heardhim practice a million times, but it was different when it was the real deal.Jyushimatsu had been right. Karamatsu belonged on a stage adored by fans thatwould give him a standing ovation. He should’ve brought a rose. 

[karamatsu-boys]

I made an Ao3 account specifically for this blog! I’ll be posting my stories with their Ao3 links from now on for those who prefer to read on Ao3! 

-Mun

[karamatsu-boys]

Different

This a second part to Choukeimatsu’s Same as Always, but with Iromatsu!

Ao3 Link

It all started with irritation. Ichimatsu wasn’t sure when exactly it started, only that it was around the middle of their first year in high school, but Karamatsu had started to get on his nerves. If he was being honest with himself, Karamatsu never did anything wrong, not really. But a little while after joining that stupid drama club, his older brother had started acting weird. He just suddenly started talking in such an irritating way around the house, like when he did in those dumb plays of his. But soon enough he was talking in that painful way all the time, no matter where they were, and with the same confidence he had on stage. As if the entire world was Karamatsu’s stage.

He admired hated Karamatsu for that.

One day, Karamatsu had just been a bit more annoying, telling Ichimatsu about the new play he got the supporting role in and how excited he was about it. Normally Ichimatsu enjoyed didn’t mind listening to Karamatsu talk about his day, but whenever his older brother talked about drama club, the thing that changed his beloved older brother, the thing that made him different from each other, Ichimatsu couldn’t stop his anger from boiling, and that day, it boiled over capacity.

“I don’t care about your stupid club activities, Shittymatsu.”

It had surprised everyone. It had surprised Ichimatsu himself. An apology had been lodged in his throat that he had been struggling to get out, but then Karamatsu just laughed it off and he had apologized. 

“I’m sorry, buraza, I didn’t realize I was boring you. I’ll keep that in mind for future interactions.”

Of course, Karamatsu would forgive him. He was too kind even to a gloomy loner such as himself. But that’s what infuriated Ichimatsu. Karamatsu should’ve gotten angry at him for that, should’ve demanded an apology, should’ve told him off for it, but instead he had forgave him and apologized! Whether it was a conscious decision or not, Ichimatsu referred to Karamatsu as Shittymatsu from that day on.

His behavior towards the second eldest grew worse and worse the more Karamatsu’s personality changed. When he started to wear ridiculous clothes near the end of their first year, Ichimatsu began to glower and glare whenever Karamatsu tried talking to him. Even being in the same room as his older brother seemed to put Ichimatsu in a bad mood. When Karamatsu started to teach himself how to play the guitar and sing songs on the roof in the beginning of their second year, that’s when Ichimatsu started spitting out insults whenever he got the chance. And, God, when Karamatsu started stringing English into his sentences, Ichimatsu just flat out ignored him and deliberately pretended he didn’t exist, even going as far as saying things like ‘Did you guys hear something?’ whenever Karamatsu spoke. 

His other brothers at first tried to stop and chastise him for his behavior, but every. Single. Fucking. Time...Karamatsu would just laugh it off and forgive Ichimatsu. Eventually the rest of the sextuplets stopped trying, maybe even caring, over Ichimatsu’s bad treatment towards Karamatsu. Because surely if it truly bothered Karamatsu he would say something...right?

Wrong.

All of sudden, one day, about a month before summer break, Karamatsu had started wearing sunglasses, even when they were indoors. It had been too much, too extra, that even the others started calling Karamatsu ‘painful’ and bully their brother. But never at Ichimatsu’s level of bullying which had taken a new extreme:

Breaking Karamatsu’s things. 

And by things, it was those stupid sunglasses. The first time Ichimatsu had broken them, he had felt a bit bad because he realized that Karamatsu had been trying to hide a bruise under his eye. It was probably the only time Ichimatsu ever apologized ever since he started this rebellious behavior against Karamatsu, however, when he had tried to ask Karamatsu about the bruise and Karamatsu had responded with ‘Heh, a Karamatsu Girl reacted a little too roughly towards my attempts to romance her’, Ichimatsu decided that he didn’t and wouldn’t feel bad anymore. After all, he didn’t think he’d break anything super important of Karamatsu’s, just the painful things like his sunglasses (which Karamatsu continued to wear even after the bruise had faded away) or those stupid tank tops that had his name on them.

Wrong again. 

There had been something else that changed aside from the addition of those glasses and that bruise: Karamatsu’s relationship with Osomatsu. 

Karamatsu and Osomatsu had never been especially close when they were kids or growing up through middle school. Not to say that they were on bad terms, but they just hadn’t been close like they were with their partners in crimes as kids. Just like Ichimatsu is closest to Jyushimatsu, Osomatsu is closest to Choromatsu and Karamatsu is closest to Todomatsu. Well, was closest to Todomatsu. Nowadays the youngest Matsuno spent most of his time avoiding being seen with the second eldest and opted for hanging out with his group of annoying friends. Although Osomatsu was still close with Choromatsu, he suddenly started hanging out lot more with Karamatsu right before their summer break, and Karamatsu in return had become a bit different. 

It was as if being around Osomatsu was a reversal spell on Karamatsu. He didn’t talk that stupid flowery speech around Osomatsu, he dressed normally when he and Osomatsu left the house to who knows where, he smiled and laughed more genuinely with Osomatsu instead of that fake deep voice he used when he tried to be cool, and he was just overall like his old self before entering high school. But only around Osomatsu. With anybody else, Karamatsu slipped back into that painful persona. And it seemed like none of the other sextuplets noticed this little detail. It seemed like only Ichimatsu noticed how different Karamatsu behaved around Osomatsu. Even after summer break had ended and they were all back in school, Karamatsu and Osomatsu were always seen together between classes, during lunch, and strangely enough, whenever Karamatsu was said to have skipped out on drama club, Osomatsu would be nowhere to be seen. It made Ichimatsu livid every time.

This morning wasn’t any different. 

This morning, on their day off, Osomatsu and Karamatsu volunteered to clean up after breakfast, so the rest of the sextuplets went upstairs to put away the futon. When the futon had been put away, everyone got ready to do whatever they wanted to do for the rest of the day, whether that was to go out with friends, study for a test, practice their swings, or in Ichimatsu’s case, play with his cat friends. But for that, Ichimatsu needed his cat treats, which were in the kitchen.

When Ichimatsu was in the kitchen, looking for his cat treats, he heard soft murmurs from the living room. Now that he thought about it, Osomatsu and Karamatsu didn’t go upstairs did they? Ichimatsu scowled. So they were chatting up again, how annoyi—

A sob came from the living room. A sob he knew belonged to Karamatsu. A sob he hasn’t heard in a long time.

Body moving faster than his mind, Ichimatsu went over, ready to slide the living room door open, to demand what’s wrong, to see what he can do, but despite his desires to see if his older brother was okay, he only opened it a crack. What he saw made his jaw drop. 

Karamatsu was basically in Osomatsu’s lap, facing him, with his face buried into the eldest brother’s shoulder and arms clinging to him, and Osomatsu in return was holding onto Karamatsu just as tightly, with one hand rubbing his back soothingly. He could see Osomatsu murmuring something to Karamatsu, but couldn’t catch any of it. Whatever he said, however, made Karamatsu shake his head against his shoulder and whine.

“Well then he’s just going to continue bullying you,” Osomatsu said with a huff, but didn’t stop consoling his immediate younger brother. 

What? Someone was bullying Karamatsu at school? Who was it? He’ll beat the shit out of them. No one was allowed to make his brother cry like this. No one.

Before he could stop himself, Ichimatsu slid the door wide open, startling both older brothers.

“Who’s bullying, Shittymatsu?” Ichimatsu asked, teeth grinding and voice a low growl. He will find this piece of shit that was tormenting his older brother. 

“Are you seri—mfph!”

“No one is bullying me, my dear buraza!” Karamatsu said quickly as he quickly slapped his hand over Osomatsu’s mouth. “You see, I have a performance coming up! After all, the Cultural Festival is just right around the corner!”

Oh yeah, that was a thing. Now that he thought about it, Karamatsu had been practicing his lines a lot more nowadays, and working on some shitty props for drama club. Didn’t he also bring his costume to show off the other day? But Ichimatsu wasn’t stupid, those were real sobs he heard.

“But you’re crying.”

“Mere acting, my dear buraza!” Karamatsu said, as he climbed out of Osomatsu’s lap and jumped to his feet so he could face Ichimatsu. His tears were still there, but he wiped them away with so much unnecessary movement before he struck a pose. “You see, I asked our dear brother, Osomatsu, to help me with my lines because my scene requires me to shed tears. I want my performance to be authentic, and what better way to produce authentic tears than in the warm embrace of my dear older brother!”

There was a long pause with Ichimatsu staring long and hard at Karamatsu before the fourth son finally clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes. So he wasted his time?

“But,” Ichimatsu glanced over at Karamatsu when he noticed that he wasn’t speaking in that obnoxious tone of his, and sucked in a breath when he saw the gentle smile on his older brother’s features, “I appreciate your concern, Ichimatsu.”

“Yeah, whatever,” Ichimatsu grumbled, quickly shutting the door so neither Osomatsu nor Karamatsu would see his face flush pink. He walked back to the kitchen to look for the cat treats he had momentarily forgotten about, not realizing that there was a small smile tugging at his lips.

“Wow, you really do have some serious acting skills. You almost had me believing all of that bullshit you told him was true.”

Ichimatsu froze. Did he just hear Osomatsu right? Did he think that he had gone back upstairs? Or did he know that he was in the kitchen? Ichimatsu heard Karamatsu sigh heavily.

“He doesn’t need to know,” Karamatsu said in the most tired voice Ichimatsu’s ever heard him speak in. “This is my problem to fix, I’ll just burden him with it if I told him... Come on, we have to clean up.”

Cat treats forgotten, Ichimatsu stormed back upstairs, not caring if his thunderous steps revealed to those shitty older brothers that he had been there the entire time, nor did he care that he startled his other brothers when he slammed the door to their bedroom open. He was seething. 

“What’s got you in a bad mood this time? Did you have to listen to Karamatsu-niisan monologue?” he heard Todomatsu say, but Ichimatsu didn’t spare him a glance as he searched the room for something, anything. And once he found it, he channeled all of his anger into it. 

He ripped, shredded, and utterly destroyed whatever it was he had gotten his hands on. He wasn’t completely sure what it was because he swore all he was seeing was red, but he knew it was something of Karamatsu’s and that’s all that mattered. He thought he heard alarmed voices around him, probably telling him to stop, but he ignored them. There was a couple of times he felt someone try to touch him, but he shoved them away, never really seeing who it was. 

How dare he. How dare Karamatsu look down on him like that. How dare he lie to his face like that. How dare he make it blatantly obvious that he thought he was better than him. That his problems were too good to share with Ichimatsu. That Ichimatsu was utter trash unable to help him with his problems. How dare he play favorites! He used to cry in front of all of them, he used to tell all of them when he had problems, he used to rely on all of them. He used to rely on Ichimatsu! But now it was only Osomatsu. Only Osomatsu got to see glimpses of the old Karamatsu. Only Osomatsu could see him cry. Only Osomatsu knew his secrets and problems. Only Osomatsu was relied on. Only Osomatsu.

Ichimatsu was breathing hard when he was done with the deed. He felt a lot calmer, although his hands were still trembling a bit, but he was back to his senses so that seemed to be a good sign.

Ichimatsu looked down at the mess he made, expecting to see broken sunglasses’ or ripped tank tops and sequin patterned anything or both, but it wasn’t any of that. There, laid before him in shreds and pieces, was Karamatsu’s prized costume for his play. A play he had coming up in a week and had a leading role in. 

Ichimatsu felt his hands grow clammy and his boiled blood instantly run cold.

“What have you done, Ichimatsu?” Choromatsu voiced what everyone in the room was thinking, even Ichimatsu himself. Ichimatsu clenched his jaw and balled his hands into fists. He knew he did something wrong, worse than the usual even. He knew he should really apologize once Karamatsu find outs but when he opens his mouth—

“Shittymatsu pissed me off. He shouldn’t leave his shit lying around.”

With that said, Ichimatsu got up and walked over to sit by the window, not bothering to clean up the mess. Let Karamatsu see what he’s done. That’ll teach him for being so full of himself. Serves him right.

Everyone else lingered a bit, exchanging looks as if wondering if they should do something, but ultimately decided to just carry on like nothing happened. After all, Karamatsu would just forgive Ichimatsu like he always did. However, despite that thought, tension lingered in the air, and it grew thicker and thicker when footsteps of the eldest brothers grew closer to the bedroom. Ichimatsu’s never done something like this, so they weren’t sure what was going to happen once Karamatsu sees his costume destroyed.

Soon the two eldest stood in the doorway and whatever they had been chatting about quickly died in the air when they laid eyes on the mess on the floor. The silence rang loudly in all of their ears. Osomatsu was the first to move, but only towards their shared closet so he could get changed. Karamatsu on the other hand stepped towards his torn costume, getting on his knees and scooping up a handful of fabric. He had his back to everyone else, so no one knew what kind of face Karamatsu was making. 

‘Probably that stupid kicked puppy look,’ Ichimatsu thought to himself, not bothering to hide his smirk. He was taking great pleasure in watching his older brother despair and quietly collect all the pieces together into a neat pile. That’s what he gets. Choromatsu, Jyushimatsu, and Todomatsu on the other hand were all giving the second eldest looks of pity as he stood up, back still to them. They couldn’t help but wonder if he was trying to hide his tears.

“Who did this?” came Karamatsu’s steady voice. Probably holding back tears, they all thought. There was a long pause.

“You should know better than to leave your shit lying around, Shittymatsu,” Ichimatsu finally said, his smirk growing into a Cheshire cat grin. “It was just begging to get ripped—”

The sound of the drywall cracking and so easily, frighteningly, giving in filled Ichimatsu’s ears. 

“—apart...” Ichimatsu’s sentence, which had started with malicious confidence, ended with meek fear. He glanced to his left and swallowed the lump in his throat when he saw a bare foot an inch away from his head. He followed the leg the foot was attached to up to the body that hovered threateningly above him and up to the stoic face of Karamatsu, who’s eyes burned holes into him. 

“That costume was made by a friend of mine, Ichimatsu. She worked really hard on it. It took her about two weeks to finish it,” Karamatsu said in an eerily calm voice, but his eyes were anything but calm. They were like the eyes of a beast that’s been taunted and prodded at for far too long and at last the cage was left open. Ichimatsu’s never seen Karamatsu this angry before, he could hardly recognize him, as if Karamatsu was a different person altogether. It was uncomfortably terrifying. It would’ve been better if Karamatsu had yelled at him and showed his anger in an explosive manner like Ichimatsu did, because this—this was such a cold fury, he was afraid he might get frostbite.   

“So imagine my surprise to see it destroyed. All her hard work? Gone,” Karamatsu stomped on the drywall with the word ‘gone’ for emphasis, and Ichimatsu was mortified with how badly he flinched. “All because you had a temper tantrum. I’m very disappointed in you, Ichimatsu.” 

Ichimatsu just stared up at Karamatsu with wide eyes, and he hated his body for betraying him and letting his eyes well up with tears. His only saving grace was that they didn’t spill over, but God, he never thought hearing such words from Karamatsu would hurt so much.

“There’s a lesson in this. What is it, Ichimatsu?” Karamatsu asked.

“U-uh...” Ichimatsu glanced around Karamatsu’s intimidating figure, trying to catch someone’s eye so they could help him. But every time he did, they looked away. Even Jyushimatsu looked away, not at all eager to interfere with an angry Karamatsu. The only one who didn’t look away was Osomatsu, who held his gaze for a minute before he gave him a shit eating grin. Shitty eldest.

“Ichimatsu.”

“Y-yes...!?” Ichimatsu yelped, face flushing with shame. 

“The lesson.”

“Y...Yes.... u-um...” Ichimatsu hated this so much. “I-I shouldn’t break things...”

“Whose things?”

“Shitty—”

Karamatsu, with his hands in his pajama pants’ pockets, suddenly leaned forward, intentionally or not digging his heel deeper into the drywall as he loomed closer above Ichimatsu.

“Hmm?” Karamatsu hadn’t said a single word but the message was loud and clear.

“Karamatsu-niisan’s things...!” Ichimatsu corrected himself, voice breaking a bit and heart racing in his chest.

“Good.” 

And just like that, Karamatsu’s menacing figure was gone, and Ichimatsu let out a breath he hadn’t realized he had been holding in. Back pressed against the wall and body tensed, Ichimatsu followed Karamatsu with wide wary eyes as the second eldest went over to the closet to change out of his pajamas. No one said a word and no one dared to move an inch. Well, no on but Osomatsu who laughed his ass off, but one firm kick to his stomach from Karamatsu quickly shut him up. All the younger brothers merely watched as Karamatsu went about grabbing a plastic bag and putting his torn costume into it, then walk towards the door. Just when he was at the door way, he was stopped by Osomatsu.

“Where are you going, Karamacchan?” Osomatsu asked, earning looks from the younger brothers. How could he be so casual at this moment?! Could he not read the mood?!

“Out,” was Karamatsu’s crisp reply, not bothering to look back.

“Do you need me to come with you?” Osomatsu asked, earning, again, strange looks from the others, but Ichimatsu hadn’t missed the serious undertone to the question. There was a long pause where the tension seemed to grow thick as wool, but it quickly deflated with Karamatsu’s deep sigh and the slight sag in his shoulders.

“No…”

“Okay, then have a safe trip, and be back before dinner time!” Osomatsu said with a grin, merely earning a nod from Karamatsu before the second eldest closed the door behind him. They all remained quiet as they listened to his footsteps, and it wasn’t until they all heard the front door close that they all let out a sigh of relief. Well, except for Ichimatsu, because now all eyes were on him.

“You screwed up,” Choromatsu said gravely.

“Screwed up big time,” Todomatsu said with a pitying shake of his head.

“1 strike! 2 strikes! 3 strikes! You’re out!” Jyushimatsu said, air swinging for emphasis.

“You better apologize to him when he comes back home,” Osomatsu said as he gets up from his lying position on the ground to sit with his legs crossed.

“W—why should I?” Ichimatsu spat. Despite his harsh words, he was still pressed against the wall from shock and he could still hear his heart pounding in his ears.

“Ichimatsu, I know you’re not stupid enough to need me to spell it out for you,” Osomatsu said, his gaze serious for a second and when he got a silent confirmation from Ichimatsu, he closed his eyes and stretched his arms. “In my opinion it was about damn time Karamatsu lost his patience with you.”

“Patience?!” Ichimatsu growled, glaring at Osomatsu. “You call that losing his patience? He nearly smashed my face in with his foot!”

“Oh trust me, he would’ve if you were anything but his cute little brother,” Osomatsu said with a knowing grin. Ah, it irritated Ichimatsu so much when Osomatsu acted like this. As if he knew Karamatsu better than anyone or knew something that Ichimatsu didn’t. Ichimatsu hid his jealousy annoyance with a scoff.

“Please, everyone knows that Shittymatsu is the weakest one after Choromatsu—”

“Hey!”

“—I could’ve easily taken Shittymatsu out like I’ve always done,” Ichimatsu said with more confidence than he felt.

“Mmm, are you sure about that?” Osomatsu said, making a disbelieving face that made Ichimatsu want to wring his neck.

“Yeah, Ichimatsu-niisan! Have you seen the size of the hole in the wall?!” Todomatsu piped in. Now that he thought about it, Ichimatsu hadn’t, and when he did he felt his stomach drop a bit. The hole was the size of his head, he could actually see the wall stud through it, and holy shit, a piece of it had been chipped off. Was Karamatsu’s foot okay?

“There’s a lot about Karamatsu you guys, especially you, Ichimatsu, don’t know about,” Osomatsu said with a stern voice as he folded his arms across his chest. “He went through a lot for you guys, but don’t tell him I told you guys, he’ll just deny it if you do and he might get angry with Oniichan, but try to—"

“Are you fucking bragging?”

Everyone turned to look at Ichimatsu with wide eyes, surprised at the venomous tone he used on the eldest son.

“So, what? You and Shittymatsu are now the best of friends? You guys braid each other’s hair and tell each other secrets when the rest of us aren’t around?” Ichimatsu hissed, his glare focused on Osomatsu, who looked back with surprised and confused eyes. But then a look of realization settled in those identical brown eyes and another knowing smile spread across his face that made Ichimatsu bristle.

“Don’t worry, Ichimatsu, we didn’t start having slumber parties until recently,” Osomatsu said, relishing the way Ichimatsu turned to face him, like a cat ready to pounce on his prey. He laughed as he put his hands up in a surrendering way. “I’m kidding~ Jeez, if you felt lonely without Karamatsu’s attention why don’t you just say so instead of letting jealousy get the best of you? None of this would’ve happened if you were a bit honest with yourself, Ichimatsu.”

“I don’t give two shits about Shittymatsu,” Ichimatsu hissed, ignoring the way his ears burned. Him? Jealous? Of Osomatsu? Yes No.

“Oh really?” Osomatsu said with one brow raised. “Then you won’t care if he doesn’t forgive you for this right?”

Silence met Osomatsu’s words, because until now, Ichimatsu hadn’t considered that. He never considered that maybe one day Karamatsu wouldn’t forgive him so readily anymore. Sure, it pissed him off when he was easily forgiven, but he had never wanted to be…hated by Karamatsu. Did Karamatsu hate him now? The thought made Ichimatsu visibly wilt like a flower.

 “But Karamatsu-niisan is so nice! I don’t think he’ll stay angry for long!” Jyushimatsu piped up, his usual wide-open mouth smile had shrunken in size as he nervously looked between Ichimatsu and Osomatsu. It was obvious he was trying to reassure Ichimatsu, and it seemed like it helped a bit judging by the way the fourth son perked up slightly.

“But this is different. This isn’t his cheap sunglasses or his custom-made shirts. This was his costume for a play he is in as the lead role,” Osomatsu said, arms crossing over his chest again as he shook his head a bit. “Karamatsu really worked hard for this, it’s his first actual leading role.”

Every word Osomatsu said was like a brick added to Ichimatsu’s shoulder as he further slumped from the growing weight of guilt. He did, kind of, sort of remember the day Karamatsu announced her got a leading role in his all-time favorite play for the cultural festival. He could kind of remember how excited he had been about it and the twinkle in his eyes. He could also sort of remember the way Karamatsu showed off his costume but had been extremely careful with handling it. The only reason it was hanging in plain sight was because Karamatsu wanted to be reminded to work hard so he can put on a great performance…or something along those lines anyways…

“Honestly, I am 99% sure that he’s only angry that you destroyed his costume because his friend had made it,” Osomatsu said, looking up off to the side in thought. “If it had been store bought he probably would’ve forgiven you like always and would’ve just bought another one. But well, it was hand made by someone, so who knows if he’ll forgive you on their behalf.”

Ichimatsu felt the back of his eyes burn but refused to acknowledge that they were tears threatening to fill his eyes. He hated it, but Osomatsu was right. Karamatsu was kind; he never got angry on his own behalf, but on other’s. Just like the bully situation he overheard earlier. If Karamatsu used even an ounce of the anger he had shown to Ichimatsu to the bully, they wouldn’t think twice to mess with him again. But he was stupidly kind, he would never do that. So others have to get angry for him.

“You know what to do right, Ichimatsu?” Osomatsu asked as he smiled patiently at his third younger brother, smile widening when he got a nod in response.

—

Ichimatsu stared through the crack in the door, knees trembling and hands sweating, as he watched Karamatsu silently work on what he assumed was his costume. The second son had come back a lot sooner than the rest of sextuplets had thought he would, but it became apparent with the rolls of fabric under one arm and a bagful of sewing tools in the other hand, that he had gone out to buy the things he will need to remake the costume. After letting Osomatsu where he would be, Karamatsu had holed himself up in the guest room with the materials and their mother’s sewing machine. It was near dinner time, and Osomatsu had sent Ichimatsu to go fetch Karamatsu. He had tried to protest, but Osomatsu didn’t have any of his bullshit and threatened to eat his cats’ sardines if he didn’t go make up with Karamatsu. So here he was, trying to build up the courage to face Karamatsu, but he was afraid that he’ll lose before he even get’s a chance.

Swallowing his fear and his pride, Ichimatsu steeled himself, and his moment of courage he opened the door.

“K—Karamatsu-niisan…!”

Karamatsu stopped marking patterns on the fabric he was working on and looked over with a smile on his face.

“What is it my dear—oh. What do you want?” the change in Karamatsu’s tone and the instant drop of his smile when he realized that it was Ichimatsu and not any of the other brothers, gave Ichimatsu emotional whiplash.

“It’s— I-I uh— D-dinner is ready,” Ichimatsu said after a minute of struggling to find his voice, eyes sliding down to look at the ground.

“Okay.”

That was all he got. Ichimatsu willed himself to glance up and saw that Karamatsu had turned back to his work. Was Karamatsu ignoring him? Just like the number of times he has ignored his older brother? Well, Karamatsu was a little nicer about it, he at least answered him when he talked to him. But Karamatsu looked like he couldn’t be bothered to even look at Ichimatsu. Osomatsu’s words from earlier rang loudly in his head. Maybe Karamatsu really won’t forgive him this time.

What did he expect? He was trash, high school has made him realize that. He had no friends other than cats, and whenever someone did try to talk to him in class, he’d scare them away with a glare. He would rather reject people than get rejected after all. With Karamatsu it was the same, he kept rejecting this different side to him, not able to accept this new painful persona. But Karamatsu had always been nice to him and kept trying to reach out to him despite the constant rejection, and now the joke’s on Ichimatsu, because he was being rejected by his kindest brother.

The door shut behind Ichimatsu and he stood by it for a moment before he stepped forward and sat in seiza directly behind Karamatsu. He noticed Karamatsu’s shoulders tense, but he said nothing nor did anything.

“You don’t have to say anything just listen to what I have to say,” Ichimatsu said with more confidence than he had thought possible, but it was a bit ruined when he quickly added in a quiet, “Please…”

He got silence in return, but Ichimatsu took it as permission for him to continue.

“When we entered high school, you suddenly changed… You were the first to become different from the rest of us, and one by one we followed your lead…” Ichimatsu said, his hands gripping his knees to keep them from trembling so much. He wasn’t good with expressing himself very well, but he had to try. “Osomatsu-niisan stayed the same pretty much, but Choromatsu-niisan became such a model student, Jyushimatsu showed interest in baseball and joined the team, Todomatsu became a social butterfly, and then there’s me. I-I’m not as carefree as Osomatsu-niisan, I’m not very smart like Choromatsu-niisan, I’m not athletic like Jyushimatsu, I don’t have any friends like Todomatsu does…I was the only one who wasn’t able to change or adapt, if anything I became trash…but I thought maybe you’d be like me too.”

Ichimatsu swallowed the lump in his throat and bowed his head before he continued.

“You weren’t very smart, or athletic, or had many friends because of your new, strange personality so I thought you and I were the same. We were loners for different reasons, but I thought we could’ve been the loser brothers of the bunch together,” Ichimatsu noticed a tremble in his voice but he tried his best to hide it, mask it with a growl instead. “But you just had to go and join that stupid drama club!”

That finally got a reaction from Karamatsu, as he suddenly turned around to sit facing Ichimatsu, eyes narrowed as if daring the fourth son to disrespect the drama club again. Ichimatsu did jump in alarm when he suddenly had Karamatsu’s full attention, but his anger was greater than his fear, and it drove him to glare back at Karamatsu.

“You just had to get the upper hand on me didn’t you!?” Ichimatsu growled, nearly shouted. “Even though people cringed at the way you talked sometimes or laughed at the way you dressed, you never let it bother you because you were so full of yourself! You thought—you think you’re so cool! Like when you play your stupid guitar on the roof, something you only picked up this year yet you you’re not ashamed to play your mistakes to the world. As if you actually have an audience! And suddenly your acing all your English exams because you think it’s so cool to add English in your sentences! And that ridiculous deep voice of yours! None of it makes you cool! You’re so fucking lame! Fucking trash just like me, but you have so much confidence and a high self-esteem, things I don’t have, and I resent you for that!”

Ichimatsu was breathing a bit heavily from all his shouting, brows furrowed together as he continued to glare defiantly at Karamatsu, but the burning feeling behind his eyes made him turn his gaze down towards his hands on his knees.

“I-I wanted to break that confidence…prove that it was just a façade and prove that you weren’t any better than me… So I started calling you Shittymatsu, insulting you, ignoring you, a-and breaking your things. Because it made me feel better about myself and eventually you would have to give in… But every time. Every single time you would just forgive me. Brush it off—brush me off like it was no big deal. Like I was just some minor inconvenience that didn’t really need your full attention or concern, like all the other little inconveniences you’ve brushed off like nothing.”

Ah great, the tears were starting to well up in his eyes.

“I-I—I just wanted you to go back to how you were. No terrible fashion sense, no stupid deep voice, no flowery sentences, no guitar… Just how you were before, back to when you were timid and a crybaby and you told us everything and—and you relied on us…b-back to when you relied on m-me.”

Great, his throat was tightening up with emotion and as a result his voice was starting to crack. Ichimatsu’s stared down at his hands, noticing that his knuckles were white from how tightly they were gripping his knees. But in a matter of seconds, the sight was blurred as tears spilled and flowed down his face. Heaving in a deep breath, Ichimatsu threw his head back.

“I just wanted my niisan back!” Ichimatsu wailed, no longer trying to hold back his emotions. He didn’t know what kind of face Karamatsu was making, whether it was still stoic or if he was surprised. Even if he tried to see, Ichimatsu couldn’t really see much through his tears even as he tried to wipe them away with his hands, more just kept coming.

“You wouldn’t tell me what was—what was wrong this morning! You only rely on Osomatsu-niisan! Only Osomatsu-niisan!” Ichimatsu wailed through his hiccups and hitched breaths. “It made me so angry! It made me feel like I wasn’t good enough! So—So I destroyed your costume! But that wasn’t the right thing to do, I’m sorry! I-I shouldn’t have r-ripped up your costume! It was wrong of m-me! I know how much i-it meant to you! I’m so sorry Kara—Karamatsu-niisan! Please don’t hate me!”

With his heart on his tear-soaked sleeve, Ichimatsu felt a little lighter getting everything off his chest. But he was still sobbing and sniffling into his balled-up hands because this didn’t guarantee Karamatsu would forgive him. He was too afraid to look at him, because just the thought of seeing rejection in his older brother’s face despite his heart-felt apology would just break his glass heart.

“I could never hate you, Ichimatsu.”

Ichimatsu’s sobs came to an abrupt stop at those words, and he blinked tears out of his wide eyes as he looked up at Karamatsu. The second eldest had bags under his eyes, so obviously exhausted from all the late nights of practicing his lines and no doubt this morning’s stress, but there was kindness in those eyes and a gentle smile on his features. Relief washed over Ichimatsu like a waterfall and before either of them knew it, the younger brother lunged forward to hug Karamatsu around his middle, his face pressed against his stomach, which was a lot firmer than Ichimatsu remembered it being, but nonetheless, he cried against Karamatsu like a little child.

“I’m sorry too, Ichimatsu. I acted rather violently in my moment of anger. I shouldn’t have done that to you,” Ichimatsu heard Karamatsu say as he felt a hand pet his hair. He shook his head against Karamatsu’s stomach.

“N-no, you did nothing wrong, Karamatsu-niisan, you’re only human,” Ichimatsu said, sniffling loudly. He heard Karamatsu chuckle, but he said nothing in return as he continued to pet his hair. They stayed like that for a few minutes, with Ichimatsu clinging to Karamatsu as he calmed down, and Karamatsu soothing down his hair and nerves. It was nice, Ichimatsu had thought. But once he felt calmer or at least got his tears to stop, he pulled away from Karamatsu and sat up. He grimaced when he saw how snot covered and tear soaked Karamatsu’s shirt was.

“Sorry…” Ichimatsu mumbled, face pink from embarrassment now that he was back to his senses.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s just a shirt,” Karamatsu said with a smile that made Ichimatsu felt like he was being blessed by some divine being. His older brother was too kind to trash like him, and he thanked God that he didn’t lose this kindness due to his stupidity. “Come on, let’s go to dinner. I still got a lot of work to do, but I can’t work on an empty stomach!”

Ichimatsu bit his bottom lip in guilt at that, but took Karamatsu’s hand when it was offered to help him get up. However, he didn’t let go of his brother’s hand when he tried to pull away. Karamatsu gave him a questioning look. Ichimatsu looked off to the side, brows furrowed as he opened and closed his mouth a couple of times before he finally found his voice.

“C—Can I help?” Ichimatsu mumbled, looking down at his feet like a child, but took a peak at Karamatsu when he heard him laugh.

“Okay, I’ll be counting on you Ichimatsu,” Karamatsu said with a wide grin that Ichimatsu found a hard time not giving in with a small smile of his own. He didn’t know how helpful he’d be, but even if it was just holding shit, he’d happily do it for his beloved older brother. Tears dried and wiped away for extra measures, both brothers left the guest room and made their way to the living room. However, when they were walking down the stairs, Ichimatsu spoke up.

“I-I can help with your bully problem too u-uh…that is if y-you want my help.”

“Hm? Bully problem?” Karamatsu said, giving Ichimatsu a confused look. Wait, had that really just been an act? Ichimatsu’s stomach started to sink at the idea that he had misunderstood everything and destroyed Karamatsu’s costume for literally no reason, not that his reason was a good enough reason in the first place but still! “Oh! That, um…don’t worry about it. It’s fixed now.”

“Fixed now? What do you mean? Can you really only rely on Osomatsu-niisan for that?” Ichimatsu asked, a bit of annoyance in his tone, but god damnit he couldn’t help it! They just had a heart to heart, if Karamatsu really didn’t want his help he should just say so!

“N-no it’s not that! It’s just well—um…” Karamatsu looked embarrassed as he struggled to find words.

“Well what?” Ichimatsu said with narrowed eyes. Made up or not, he will keep his right to get angry where it’s due. Suddenly, Ichimatsu felt a weight on his back and if he hadn’t grabbed onto the railing he probably would’ve fallen down the stairs and taken Karamatsu down with him. Ichimatsu looked over his shoulder to see Osomatsu grinning at him. Ugh.

“You still haven’t taken a hint, Ichimacchan? You~” Osomatsu twirled his finger in front of Ichimatsu’s face, “were Karamatsu’s bully, that’s what.”

Osomatsu booped Ichimatsu on the nose, ignoring Karamatsu’s vexed ‘Aniki’ as he watched realization dawn on Ichimatsu’s face as well as a humiliation flush over the fourth son. Ichimatsu then proceeded to sit down on the step with his knees up and face buried against them to muffle his screaming. It took a good thirty minutes for the brothers to calm him down and in that time Osomatsu earned a black eye. The other younger brothers weren’t sure if it was from Karamatsu or Ichimatsu. 

[karamatsu-boys]

Same as Always

This was meant to be a drabble, but as soon as I got this idea I just couldn’t. Stop. Writing. I hope you enjoy it!

Part 2

Ao3 Link

“Oh, you’re back already, Osomatsu-kun?”

Osomatsu looked over at his classmate (or at least he was sure he was his classmate) as he pushed the appropriate numbers on the vending machine. He looked off to the side, wondering if this was a trick question.

“Yeah…? Was I supposed to be gone or something?” he asked with a chuckle as he bent down to grab his drink. Sure it was after school, but everyone knew that Osomatsu liked to visit his younger brothers at their club activities and bother the hell out of them and everyone else in the vicinity. John Doe quirked a brow but laughed with him nonetheless.

“Well yeah, I guess. Those guys from Shibusa High that were waiting for you at the gates looked pretty angry with you and—”

Osomatsu did a spit take.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, sorry, I just didn’t expect this to be so sour,” Osomatsu laughed, wiping his mouth with the back of his uniform’s sleeve. “But what about those Shibusa High guys?”

“Uh…well…they looked pretty angry? They called you out for a fight right? Were they that weak or did I misunderstand the situation?” John Doe said, a nervous smile tugging at his lips only to jolt when Osomatsu threw his head back with a loud laugh.

“So weak! I honestly could’ve beaten them with my eyes closed and one hand tied behind my back!” Osomatsu said with a wide grin, his finger rubbing the underside of his nose. “Had them running from the gym with their tails between their legs.”

“I thought you guys went to the roof?”

“At first but then I thought about climbing all those flights of stairs ? Nah, the gym was more convenient,” Osomatsu said before he chugged down the rest of his drink. With a satisfied sigh, he tossed the plastic away as he began to walk away. He waved as he said over his shoulder, “Thanks for the concern, but I’m fine~.”

Osomatsu didn’t bother to wait for a reaction, probably wouldn’t have acknowledged it even if he did, because the moment he turned the corner he was running. It was true that Osomatsu wasn’t a stranger to fights and in middle school he was notorious for picking them, but since he’s started high school, not once has he been in a fight. He’s mellowed out a bit so he didn’t go looking for them anymore, but he’s never hidden that if someone came looking to fight him he wouldn’t turn down an invitation. So if what John Doe said was true, and some delinquents from Shibusa High really did come looking for him, that meant one of his younger brothers took his place.

‘Which one?!’ Osomatsu asked himself as he ran up the first flight of stairs.

 Okay. He could make an educated guess via deductive reasoning.

He immediately ruled out Jyushimatsu. He was part of the baseball team and he knew for a fact that his wild brother went straight to practice after classes have ended for the day. On that note it also couldn’t be Karamatsu because he had drama club activities after school, and yesterday he mentioned that he had a performance coming up so there was no doubt in Osomatsu’s mind that he’d be dedicatedly practicing right now. Choromatsu was also not an option; that nerd always went straight to the library to study after school, he would know since they were both in class 2A and well he did try to go bother him but was kicked out of the library. So that left Ichimatsu and Todomatsu.

Osomatsu climbed up the second flight of stairs.

It could be Todomatsu. He might be the youngest of the sextuplets and obviously a bit more babied, but he could hold his own in a fight, at least long enough to run away or for his older brothers to come rescue him. He was cunning, however, so if he wasn’t fighting those guys he might be manipulating the situation in his favor. But this was also Todomatsu he was talking about. Out of all the brothers he would be the quickest to abandon them if the situation didn’t benefit him. Posing as Osomatsu to fight a group of delinquents? Definitely not beneficial. Honestly, Osomatsu had to wonder when his baby brother became so cold or had he always been that way? The youngest did know how to hide his claws very well after all.

So that left Ichimatsu. Like the rest of them and their personalities, Ichimatsu’s loner personality manifested in the first six months of their high school life. He wasn’t part of any club other than the Going Home club so it was highly possible he ran into the group on his way out of the school. They could’ve mistaken Ichimatsu for him, and just like him, Ichimatsu isn’t the kind to back out of a fight. But Ichimatsu’s aggressive front was just that, a front. Osomatsu knew that his little brother had a fragile heart and he was only the fourth strongest out of the sextuplets. But it was because of his fragile heart that Osomatsu was convinced that his littler brother had been stupidly kind enough to take his place. Ichimatsu also had that horrible pride of his if his treatment towards Karamatsu was anything to go by. Poor guy couldn’t admit to himself that he just wanted Karamatsu’s attention as an older brother without wounding his pride, Osomatsu doubted his pride would allow him to back down halfway through a fight

“That dumbass,” Osomatsu said through gritted teeth as he ran up the last flight of stars that led up to the roof. Oh god, he could hear it. The sound of fists meeting skin and the grunts and cries of getting the shit beaten out of them. Out of breath, Osomatsu stumbled up the last few steps and reached for the doorknob. He honestly didn’t know how he was going to be much help now that he was winded and tired but maybe he could attract the gang’s wrath onto himself instead of Ichimatsu. He’d rather take a beating than let his brothers fall victim. So with that in mind, Osomatsu shoved the door to the roof open, determined to defend his younger brother…but Ichimatsu’s name died on his tongue as his eyes laid upon the scene before him.

There was at least seven guys, three of them already down for the count, and the rest of them were surrounding and struggling with his brother. Osomatsu admits that he was surprised that his brother was able to hold his own against the remaining four delinquents, but he was more surprised to see which brother it was.

Awestruck, Osomatsu followed Karamatsu with wide eyes. No single movement was wasted, almost like Karamatsu was dancing the way he so easily stepped or swayed out of the way of incoming fists or kicks. He would even use his opponent’s movements against them, making them crash into each other or having them eat shit with a twist to their arm. Karamatsu was like air; they couldn’t touch him, couldn’t dream of it. He was toying with them with such a bored look on his face, and Osomatsu had to wonder if this truly was Karamatsu. 

Not only did he make a mental note to never be so quick to overlook Karamatsu, Osomatsu took note that he had never pegged his immediate younger brother as much of a fighter. Although the six of them had always gotten into fights when they were younger, Karamatsu had always been the timidest and the most reluctant to start a fight if it could be avoided because he was one of the weakest fighters of the bunch. The way he reacts to Ichimatsu’s aggression was proof enough! Karamatsu never got angry with his snappy insults nor did he even bat an eye when Ichimatsu started calling him ‘Shittymatsu’. Sure, he has started taking up a strange (painful) persona ever since he joined the drama club, but he’s never really done anything wrong to deserve such spiteful reactions from Ichimatsu. Osomatsu knew that if Ichimatsu had taken up an unwarranted attitude with him he would’ve fought him without hesitation. But Karamatsu always just smiled and took it. Karamatsu was a pacifist! Or…rather…he was supposed to be one. Since when did Karamatsu get so good at fighting? He was supposed to have no bark and no bite…but he had been wrong. Karamatsu had a bite. And it was disturbingly vicious.

After what seemed like hours of toying and playing defense, Karamatsu suddenly planted his feet, grounding himself with fists raised. Osomatsu was sure that if he had blinked in that moment he would’ve missed the way Karamatsu’s fist shot forward like a viper, making contact dead center of one of the delinquent’s face. But if he had blinked he would’ve definitely heard the uncomfortable crack of the guy’s nose breaking. And just like that, he was down, unconscious, and sporting a bloody nose. Four down, three to go. Osomatsu wondered if the other three had been taken down just as quickly.

Osomatsu didn’t dwell on the thought for too long as an angry shout caught his attention. One of the last three goonies lunged at Karamatsu in his rage, but was easily avoided and was soon enough kissing the ground with one sharp kick to his back. Osomatsu had a good view of Karamatsu’s face and he was startled by the wide grin that spread across his younger brother’s face. And when those identical brown eyes met his, Osomatsu could see the feral enjoyment in them. It was…frightening.

Was this really Karamatsu?

“Osomatsu…!?”

Osomatsu blinked. The wild look in Karamatsu’s eyes was gone and in its place was mortification. But in a mere second, the eye contact was broken by a fist to Karamatsu’s face. Stunned, Osomatsu watched from where he stood as his younger brother stumbled from the blow, and oh wow, that was blood on his lips. In that moment everything was silent between the five standing bodies and the only sound was the gust of wind that blew in the air and brushed against them. The only word Osomatsu could describe the feeling crawling up his throat was: anticipation. And he wasn’t disappointed.

“I said it right?” Osomatsu felt the hairs on his arms stand at the tone of Karamatsu’s voice. He watched as Karamatsu spat out a bit of blood before raising his head, revealing the red mark on his cheek, just below his left eye, the beginnings of a bruise. A shiver ran down Osomatsu’s spine because if looks could kill.

“At the beginning of our fight,” Karamatsu continued as he rolled his shoulders, his icy eyes closing for a moment. One of the delinquents saw this as an opportunity and charged at Karamatsu but it was a grave mistake, because Karamatsu’s eyes shot open the moment he took his first step forward. Osomatsu’s jaw fell open and god he hated how speechless he was rendered as he watched his younger brother take an unwavering step forward and wrap his arm around the guy’s head, outright taking him down to the ground with sheer power. He didn’t get back up.

“I thought I said not to hit my face,” Karamatsu said as he turned his attention to the remaining two delinquents who looked like they were starting to have some last minute regrets. “Because, you see—”

Like a fly, one of the two dropped from two consecutive punches to the face. Karamatsu smiled, eyes unforgiving as they laid upon the last member of this mediocre gang who looked nearly ready to piss himself.

“—I can’t hide bruises on my face from my dear brothers.”

“Game over,” Osomatsu said under his breath, a quiet, humorless laugh escaping him as he watched the last guy get knocked out from a fluid kick to his head. His smile was strained as he gazed at Karamatsu’s back with wary eyes. Contrary to popular belief, Osomatsu wasn’t a completely idiot. He picked up on things fairly quickly, and one of the things he picked up on this exchange of fists was that this wasn’t the first time this has happened. It wasn’t the first time groups and gangs have come looking for a fight. It wasn’t the first time Karamatsu pretended to be Osomatsu. It wasn’t the first time Karamatsu’s had fought by himself. It wasn’t the first time Karamatsu had annihilated a band of delinquents…and it won’t be the last. But—it was the first time Karamatsu was caught in the act, and judging by the way he hasn’t turned around to face his older brother, he didn’t know how to handle being caught red handed. Quite literally. Jesus he could see how red Karamatsu’s knuckles were from where he stood.

“Karamatsu.” Osomatsu smiled more genuinely at the way his brother visibly flinched. How hilarious, he could take on dangerous rougheons without batting an eye, but one word from his oniichan had him trembling like a little kid.  “You know we have to talk, right?”

“Yes, Aniki,” Karamatsu said after a pregnant pause, finally turning around to face Osomatsu with a nervous smile, but he was completely avoiding eye contact. Well, at least he knew the gravity of the situation. He only called him aniki nowadays instead of his usual ‘buraza’ when the situation was serious. Osomatsu had to steel himself and ignore the urge to baby his baby brother for being so timid. Now wasn’t the time.

“Was this your first time fighting alone?” Osomatsu asked calmly, eyes trained on Karamatsu, noting the way his brother’s eyes flickered towards him for a second.

“Y-yes…! They mistook me for you and told me that they wanted to chat on the roof. I was foolish, however, to believe that fellow adolescents such as myself dressed the way they were with anger clouding their eyes could ever—”

“Karamatsu.”

Karamatsu’s jaw snapped shut, cutting himself off in midsentence and quickly dropping his persona that he tried to find saving grace in. A somber look fell over him and his nervous smile nowhere to be seen, however, Karamatsu’s lips were pressed together into a thin line. He didn’t answer the question.

“How many fights have you been in?” Osomatsu asked, deciding to reword his question. Karamatsu’s gaze turned downwards but he said nothing.

“Hmm…so quite a few, huh? Do the others know about this?” Osomatsu said, his tone containing nothing but patience. Out of all his younger brothers, Karamatsu probably caused the least problems so he deserved the patience. After all, he was the second eldest. He knew the responsibility of being an older sibling and how tiring it was to clean up after the younger ones.  

“They don’t know do they?” Osomatsu said when his question was yet again met with silence. “What about your club activities? Was that a lie? Or a cover—oh—”

Osomatsu stopped in mid-sentence as he finally got a reaction from Karamatsu; a simple shake of the head.

“You could get kicked out of your club if they find out you’ve been getting into fights. Don’t you have a big performance coming up?” Osomatsu said as he started to walk towards his younger brother, stepping over the unconscious bodies that laid between the two of them. Karamatsu remained silent, but he did take a step back when Osomatsu was about two body lengths away (literally) and that alone was enough to make Osomatsu stop in his tracks. Did Karamatsu really think he was mad? Sure he was a bit upset, but he was more surprised and confused more than anything. And with great reluctance, Osomatsu had to admit that Karamatsu could probably kick his ass if they were to fight.

“When did this all start?” Osomatsu asked, gaze focused solely on his younger brother who seemed to find the ground interesting to look at. “Karamatsu, I need to know. When did this all start?”

Osomatsu was surprised to hear desperation in his tone, and so was Karamatsu as he finally met eyes with his older brother. Maybe he was more upset than he had initially thought. Maybe this situation was more serious than simply catching his younger brother in the middle of a fight. Maybe it was more serious than finding out that his younger brother was keeping a secret from him. Maybe Karamatsu’s silence was answer enough to all his question. But maybe just he needed to hear it…

“Since—” Osomatsu raised his brows at the sound of Karamatsu’s soft voice and leaned forward to hear him continue, “—the last time you got into a fight…”

“The last time I fought? But that was in…” Osomatsu trailed off as realization came over him like a bucket of cold water. He searched Karamatsu’s eyes, looking for a trace of a lie, but couldn’t find one, not even when those eyes looked off to the side. Suddenly, he was closing the distance between him and Karamatsu, and as soon as he was in arms reach, Osomatsu grabbed the hem of Karamatsu’s school uniform and yanked it up before his brother had time to process what was going on.

Karamatsu’s torso was littered in bruises, some of them an angry purple but most of them were a fading yellow. Maybe if it were in any other situation Karamatsu would have tried to come up with excuses. Excuses that he pulled often now that Osomatsu thought about it. Like why he rarely comes to the bathhouse anymore with the rest of them. It wasn’t because public bath water was bad for his skin, or he didn’t want to blind people with the beauty of his body, or he already took a bath! It was all because he was hiding these bruises! The evidence! And the few times that he does join them at the bathhouse and one of them finds a fading bruise, they all so easily believed Karamatsu’s excuses like he ran into a poll, fell off stage during rehearsal, got smacked by stage equipment, or he caught someone from falling off their mark…

“Holy shit. Drama club gave you the perfect cover…!” Osomatsu said in a hushed voice. Suddenly the shirt he was grabbing onto was yanked away as Karamatsu pulled down his shirt.

“That’s not true!” Karamatsu said, brows furrowed together and gaze intense as they locked eyes.

“Oh really?! So you can keep looking me in the eye and tell me that you didn’t use your club activities to hide what you’ve been really up to? That you’ve been slugging it out behind our backs?! That you’ve been sneaking off to fight pieces of shits like these guys since our third year of middle school!” Osomatsu’s voice rose to a near shout by the end of his spiel. It crossed his mind that maybe he shouldn’t shout at Karamatsu, he was only trying to get the whole story from him, but when his younger brother’s eyes widened and looked away he couldn’t help but continue to shout. “You’ve been lying to us to our face for two whole years! And we were none the wiser! What? Did you think we would hold you back? That we would just get in the way?!”

“N-No—Aniki I—"

“You know, I really thought that one of my younger brothers was in trouble when my classmate told me about this gang waiting for me at the gates,” Osomatsu spoke over Karamatsu, effectively cutting him off. If he wasn’t mad before, he was now. Livid. “That—That one of you guys had been brave enough or stupid enough to pose as me and try to fight these guys. The guilt was starting to eat at me because I thought one of you guys were in trouble because of me! Imagine my surprise when I saw that it was you of all people! Kicking ass! Smacking these shits down like flies. And you enjoyed it, Karamatsu! To the point that I started to wonder if you were even the same timid brother I’ve known all my life! Do you even like drama club?! Or was it—did you just join to pick up some acting skills?! Have you been putting up an act this entire time?! Who are you?!”

Osomatsu was heaving for breaths, trembling even. When was the last time he’s been this angry over something? Or the last time he’s shouted from the top of his lungs? If he could put a word to what he was feeling, it’d probably be betrayal. He was having a hard time stomaching the idea that he didn’t know his younger brother as well as he had thought. Some joke of an older brother he was, and maybe Karamatsu had been laughing this entire time. Since when did Karamatsu start hiding things from him? He could understand hiding things from the younger ones, but from him? His only older brother? Karamatsu used to tell him everything! Used to tell them all everything, but him specifically when the stakes were high! Or had that also been act, a play at misdirection?

“I’m Karamatsu, your younger brother.”

Osomatsu growled, a snappy remark on the tip of his tongue, but he ended up biting his tongue when he looked at Karamatsu. He was smiling, but Osomatsu could see his bottom lip quivering just the slightest. And it didn’t reach his eyes that held the same—no—a worse look than he had back when he first took notice of Osomatsu. His eyes were glossed over with shame, guilt, sadness, but most of all, hurt. Whatever anger Osomatsu felt, he was having a hard time holding onto it, especially when Karamatsu blinked several times and looked away, an obvious attempt to hold back tears.

“Why?” was all Osomatsu could muster in a quiet voice, the question a bit vague but Karamatsu seemed to understand.

“Remember back in middle school, how you would sometimes just run ahead of the rest of us, fist firsts, into fights? You became notorious. Every delinquent wanted a piece of you, Osomatsu-niisan. They would see you in the streets and just try to fight you and you happily obliged them,” Karamatsu said, voice steadier than Osomatsu had thought it would be. “But back then, people couldn’t really tell us apart. So sometimes they would pick fights with Choromatsu, or Ichimatsu, or Jyushimatsu, or Todomatsu.”

Ah. Yeah, Osomatsu could remember coming home to the scene of one of his younger brothers heavily bruised and beaten up and the rest of them tending his wounds. And as soon as he found out which group from which middle school had ganged up on his brother he would hunt them down and beat the shit out of them. Now that he thought about it, Karamatsu always tagged along in those moments, sometimes the other brothers, but always Karamatsu. Osomatsu found himself rolling his eyes.

“So, what? You got jealous that they weren’t looking to fight y—”

“How can you say that?!” Osomatsu jumped when Karamatsu snapped at him and was startled to see him glaring at him with tears in his heated eyes. He watched in stunned silence as Karamatsu furiously wiped away his tears with his palms. “Look, I-I’m sorry I kept this from you for so long, but I was not—am not so pigheadedly narcissistic to be jealous over something as stupid as not being the center of every delinquent’s attention. I just couldn’t stand it anymore! Dreading every day that I would come home to see one of my precious little brothers bloody and beat up because some prick mistook them for you! Or you for that matter! I’ve lost count the number of times you would come home sporting bruises, black eyes, cuts, and that stupid smile of yours like nothing was wrong!”

Karamatsu heaved a big breath and looked Osomatsu dead in the eye.

“So I hardened my will, and decided to take your place.”

Ah.

“Because I would rather it be me over you guys.”

He’d been wrong.

“It was tough at first, I lost more than I won.”

Karamatsu hadn’t changed a bit.

“But I got the hang of it and I got stronger. Nowadays I hardly ever lose my fights.”

He was still extremely patient.

“I know you’re angry that I didn’t tell you, b-but I didn’t want you guys to worry about me.”

He was still kind.

“And—And maybe you’re right. Maybe I do enjoy fighting, and maybe drama club does help cover my absences and my bruises, but I truly do enjoy my club activities!”

Timid as ever.

“Which is why I’m always careful! I always make the condition that my opponents can’t hit my face and they in return get a condition.”

But above all.

“Until now I haven’t gotten caught, but I haven’t been injured enough to warrant a hospital visit. And even if I do get sent to the hospital, it’s a lot better than seeing one of you guys in that position.”

He always put his brothers before himself.

“Now you know. I’m prepared to take whatever punishment you think I deserve! I-I know that it was wrong of me to hide this from all of you, but I stand by what I said and I’m not going to stop! So…do your worst…!”

Osomatsu watched as Karamatsu screwed his eyes shut, probably expecting a punch to the face if not a beat down. He probably wasn’t going to put up a fight either. Typical.

“Okay, clench your teeth,” Osomatsu said, smiling when Karamatsu tensed up and his jaw tighten. Osomatsu raised his arm—

“Just kidding~”

“E-eh?”

Osomatsu snickered at Karamatsu’s startled voice when he pulled his younger brother in by the back of his head until he felt a soft weight on his shoulder. Karamatsu still felt tense against him though.

“I’m sorry. I jumped to my own conclusions without hearing your side of the story first,” Osomatsu said, gently ruffling Karamatsu’s hair, keeping his head against his shoulder, although it wasn’t like Karamatsu tried to pull away. “But what did you expect Oniichan to think with the way you stayed quiet? But I said some pretty harsh things, Oniichan is sorry for that.”

Osomatsu chuckled softly, and much to his relief, Karamatsu finally relaxed in his hold. They stayed quiet for a bit, a comfortable silence with Osomatsu looking up at the sky and gently running his fingers through Karamatsu’s hair. There was a lone cloud in the clouds, and Osomatsu couldn’t help but compare it to his younger brother.

“You were fighting alone for so long, huh, Karamatsu? You fought large groups with no one to have your back, walk back home by yourself when you couldn’t walk, you tended to your own wounds behind closed doors, you had to carry all of your pain and achievements by yourself. All for us,” Osomatsu mused. He leaned his head against Karamatsu’s and held it closer to his shoulder, so he could feel his brother’s breath against his neck. “You did well, Karamatsu. I’m sorry I didn’t notice sooner.”

Osomatsu smiled when he heard a sob rip from Karamatsu.

“But from now on, it’s going to be the two of us. What kind of eldest son would I be if I let my younger brother do all the fighting. Okay, Karamatsu?” Osomatsu said, smile widening when he felt Karamatsu nod wetly against his shoulder. Now that he knew the full story, he felt guilty for having little faith in Karamatsu, saying such shitty things, but most of all, not realizing it a lot sooner. He had a lot to do to redeem himself as an older brother, a dependable one.

“Though, if I’m going to be honest, I probably will hold you back for a while. Oniichan is only going to say this once, but you were really cool for a hot minute, Karamatsu,” Osomatsu said with a laugh, and much to his joy, Karamatsu laughed with him. Once the laughter died and all that remained was Karamatsu’s quiet sniffles, Osomatsu took a moment and wallow in his pride towards his younger brother. To think that he’d have a brother surpass him in strength. This completely changed the order of who was the strongest. Karamatsu used to be the fifth strongest, now he was, by far, the strongest! Everyone else was still about the same. Which gave him an idea.

“You know, the next time Ichimatsu calls you ‘Shittymatsu’, you should totally do a wild, semi-threatening kabe-don. I guarantee you, it will stop his rebellious phase towards you,” Osomatsu said with a grin. Karamatsu pulled away from Osomatsu only to give him that disappointed look he dishes out every now and then. “I’m serious! Don’t look at me like that!”

“Only you would be so mean as to do something like that to your younger brothers, Osomatsu,” Karamatsu said, voice a bit horse from his crying and earlier shouting, but his look never changed.

“What!? You mean only you wouldn’t do something like that! Everyone else would jump at the idea!” Osomatsu defended himself. “You can kick major ass now, you should use it to your advantage! You just gotta show Ichimatsu who’s boss!”

“I’m not his boss, I’m his older brother.”

“You know that’s not what I meant!” Osomatsu snapped, smacking Karamatsu upside the head without a second thought. Instantly regretted it, however, when Karamatsu hissed in pain. “Shit, I’m sorry! I forgot!”

“You forgot, even though we’re surrounded by bodies?” Karamatsu said giving Osomatsu another look, but after a moment, he started to laugh. It was such a wholesome laugh too, that Osomatsu found himself laughing with him so easily. Smiling, Osomatsu gently took Karamatsu’s hand, looking at the cracked and bloody knuckles. His eyes flickered up the bruise forming below Karamatsu’s eye. Karamatsu was too good to them. Too good for them. And only he will ever know. Well at least maybe for now. Maybe Karamatsu will come clean to their younger brothers about this. But for now, it’s a secret between them.

“Come on, let’s go patch you up.”

[karamatsu-boys]

Will you be posting to Ao3 or just on tumblr?

For now, just on tumblr, seeing as my Ao3 account is affiliated with my main blog, and I’m still too shy to reveal that info as of now ;;v;;

[karamatsu-boys]

The StorgeMatsu link is for those who only want to read strictly platonic ships! It is also in chronological order so this text post will always be first. All platonic ships will be tagged with “storge” and their appropriate ship name. As I write I will add links to the ship names on this post for easy access to the fics. 

-Mun

| Choukeimatsu | Iromatsu | Kinnikumatsu |

[karamatsu-boys]

Hello!

I’ve been meaning to make this kind of blog for a very long time but never got around to it. As my description says, this blog is dedicated to Karamatsu ships both romantic and platonic! Strictly fanfiction and strictly one-shots/two-shots/drabbles because I do not have the will power to finish an ongoing fic. 

Feel free to send me requests and if it peaks my interest I’ll probably write something out!

-Mun