Chapter Text
"Osomatsu-nii-san, you're cheating again," Todomatsu scolded, reaching across the table to smack his eldest brother's hand.
"Is that so?" Osomatsu laughed, fanning himself with his handful of cards. "Prove it."
"You have two cards too many," Todomatsu pointed out, looking pleased with himself when Osomatsu spluttered and shoved his hand behind his back.
"I do not!"
"Ah, he does," Choromatsu said, leaning back to glimpse the number of cards behind Osomatsu.
"Quit snooping!" Osomatsu snapped, shoving his cards into his lap.
"Cheaters get their winnings taken back," Ichimatsu said from his edge of the table, not even paying attention to the game. This sparked a debate between the louder siblings, Osomatsu being the only one to defend his right to keep his loot.
The trill of their phone ringing cut through the air, and Osomatsu took the opportunity to jump to his feet. "I've got it," he said, backing away from the table. "Don't take my stuff!"
As soon as he turned his back, he heard Todomatsu say, "I want the red bottlecap," while Choromatsu whispered, "I'll take the green one."
"What'd I say!" Spinning around, he shoved his youngest brother's face away from the table, trying to manhandle Choromatsu's hand from his loot. "You're just jealous that I'm winning!"
"Winning because you're cheating, nii-san," Todomatsu retorted, pushing the hand out of his face and ducking under to snatch a bottlecap away.
"Hey!"
"Aha," Choromatsu hissed as he got a hand past Osomatsu's defense and plucked up the green bottlecap he'd had his eye on.
"The phone," Ichimatsu said dimly just as it stopped ringing. There was a momentary pause as they listened to the silence, before Osomatsu shrugged and plopped back down into his place.
"If it's important they'll call back," Osomatsu proclaimed, before picking up his hand of cards. "Now, where were we?"
"You still have too many cards."
"Ah!"
Just as they were about to resume their game, Osomatsu's phone chirped from his pocket. Fishing it out, he glanced at the screen. Making a face, he turned it on silent and returned it to his sweater pocket. "A clingy ex, nii-san?" Todomatsu asked innocently, before saying, "Oh, wait, you don't have any exes."
"You cheeky brat," Osomatsu glowered, before shrugging a shoulder. "It's just Karamatsu."
"Ah," the remaining four siblings said, before returning to their game.
Osomatsu felt his phone stop vibrating for several moments, before it began again. Ah, go away, he thought, turning his mind away from the annoyance.
A few minutes more into their game, after having relieved Osomatsu of his dirty cards (they weren't even from the same pack, they had a slightly different pattern on the back, the scoundrel), Ichimatsu felt his phone vibrating in his pocket. As always, he ignored it. Only one person ever bothered to call him, anyway; everyone else knew well enough to text.
Choromatsu's phone was next. He looked at it, brows furrowed. "It's Karamatsu," he said, looking up.
"Jeez, he's needy." Osomatsu rolled his eyes, pushing the phone away and flashing his cards. "Take that, little brother!"
"No way!" Choromatsu protested, staring at the straight. "Where'd you get that?"
Only a moment later, it was Todomatsu's phone vibrating. Discreetly, as he'd learned to be with having to text friends in his brothers' company without alerting them, he checked the screen under the table.
Karamatsu.
Brow furrowing a bit, he considered excusing himself to answer. Karamatsu must really be desperate to be working his way through all of his brothers, right? But then again, maybe he was just trying to find someone to sucker into hanging out with him.
"Totty, it's your turn," Osomatsu called his attention back to the table, and he looked up, leaving his phone unanswered in his lap.
It buzzed twice more before the screen went black. Karamatsu didn't leave any of them a message. He didn't call again.
Six hours later, no one had moved from the living room. Todomatsu had Jyushimatsu's head in his lap, playing with his older brother's hair while they watched cartoons. Osomatsu was flipping through a magazine with Choromatsu, quietly discussing the viability of working at a modeling agency as twins. Ichimatsu was dozing beside Todomatsu and Jyushimatsu, having already gotten his turn with the hair-petting.
The phone rang, and no one moved at first to answer it. "Oi, someone, go get that," Osomatsu called, staring at the magazine.
"You get it, useless eldest brother," Todomatsu called back, eyes riveted on the screen.
No one answered it, and no one felt bad when it stopped ringing.
When it started ringing again, Choromatsu looked up. "Someone should get it," he said, glancing over at the trio. Ichimatsu was awake, but pretending not to be.
Despite being the self-proclaimed responsible one, Choromatsu was comfortable, and he guiltily let the phone ring into silence again. Sighing, he looked back at the magazine, but couldn't focus until the phone started ringing yet again. "Osomatsu-nii-san, it must be important," he urged, shoving his elbow into Osomatsu's side.
"Ugh, fine," Osomatsu groused, thankfully not questioning why Choromatsu wouldn't go get it in that case. Heaving himself up, the eldest yawned and made his way to the front room, picking up the phone with the rude greeting of, "Yes, hello?"
"Is this the Matsuno residence?"
"Yes?" The clipped tone caught him off guard, and if he gave a few more fucks about appearances, Osomatsu might've tried being more polite.
"To whom am I speaking?"
"Matsuno Osomatsu," he responded. "I'm the eldest brother." Being one of six sextuplets put a person's priorities into perspective; whenever someone wanted to talk to a Matsuno, they knew that there were six of them, and Osomatsu's place in that hierarchy had become his cardinal trait.
"This is Doctor Miyamoto at the Mutsu General Hospital. I'm sorry to tell you this over the phone-- your brother Karamatsu was admitted this morning with some extensive wounds."
"What?" Osomatsu's voice cracked from how high it pitched, his shock finally breaking long enough for him to speak. "Karamatsu?"
"Yes. If you could please come to the hospital, we--"
"What do you mean?" he demanded, fingers digging into the surface of the phone stand. "Is he okay? What happened?"
"I'm not at liberty to share sensitive information over the phone," the doctor said, and Osomatsu felt a warring burn of rage and horror rising in his throat like bile. The shock had been swift and useless in quelling his alarm. "If you could come to the hospital-- again, it's Mutsu General-- we can talk to you directly."
"I'm coming," he said hastily, slamming the phone down before he could say anything else. Before he could say something he'd regret.
His heart hammered in his chest as he clutched at the desk, eyes wide. What the hell had happened? Had he been hit by a car? Attacked by a dog? Fallen into a river? The absolute mystery of the events were driving him mad, but he couldn't move.
"Nii-san?" Todomatsu stood in the doorway to the living room. Grasping the frame, he saw Osomatsu's twisted expression and stopped, voice arching; "Nii-san?"
"What is it?" Choromatsu asked, appearing behind Todomatsu. "Osomatsu?"
"I--" Stopping, he took a deep breath. "I don't know yet," he said, and it felt like a lie even if it was part of the truth. "I have to go."
"Go where?" Ichimatsu and Jyushimatsu had appeared, and the four stared as Osomatsu sat and started putting his shoes on.
"I'll be back," he said without replying, and left. If this turned out to be nothing, then it was better not to alarm them.
Unbidden, in the back of his mind, he thought; and if it turned out to be something... he could break the news to them gently.
"We believe he was targeted by a gang," the nurse was saying, and the longer it took to reach Karamatsu's room, the tighter Osomatsu wrung his hands in his sweater sleeves. "There's a lot of damage, broken bones and physical trauma. Those will heal, with proper care. He's an exceptional patient, letting us do our work without complaint. Though his personality leaves a bit to be desired," she added, expression briefly pained.
Normally Osomatsu would be all over trash-talking Karamatsu. As it was now, he was still reeling from the news that his brother had been hospitalized by a gang. "So he'll make a full recovery?" That bastard. Osomatsu was going to kick his ass for making him worry like this.
The nurse was quiet, and she stopped, turning to face him. "I'm afraid not," she said, and Osomatsu felt his stomach drop at her face. All trace of personality had left her expression, replaced with a professional mask, and the barest hint of pity.
"What do you mean?" he asked, throat tight. "You said he'd heal with proper care."
"His bones and bruises will," she agreed. "But there's more to it than that. He was exposed to a highly corrosive acid."
"What?" Osomatsu felt numb, unable to properly grasp what she was saying. "Like-- what? How?"
Despite his inability to articulate, she seemed to understand. "They threw it on his face," she said lightly, trying to lessen the blow. "It damaged his eyes." Osomatsu lifted a hand, leaning against the wall as his mind skipped like a record over her words, trying to connect the last two dots. She saved him the mental strain; "He's blind, Matsuno-san."
Breathing heavily, trying to compose himself, Osomatsu swallowed the lump in his throat. He'd spent several minutes in the bathroom trying to keep himself from shattering the mirror with his fist. He'd held in the violent impulse long enough for his stomach to twist tight enough to make him throw up in the sink instead. It had taken him a long time to clean his face, splashing water over it until his tears were indistinguishable. What a selfish bastard he was, crying in the bathroom so his younger brother wouldn't see the weakness. Or rather, hear it. Karamatsu couldn't see anything anymore.
The thought made the lump rise in his throat again, and Osomatsu had to force himself not to run back to the bathroom. Karamatsu needed him, he told himself firmly. He'd been selfish enough, not coming to visit. Oh, god, what was he going to tell their brothers?
With a knock, he cracked the door open, peering inside. Karamatsu was propped up against a pile of pillows, his phone in his hand. Osomatsu could hear the quiet sound of a voice coming from it, but Karamatsu pressed a button and turned it off before he could hear what it was saying. It occurred to him that it was an audiobook, and he felt his chest clench.
"Osomatsu?" Karamatsu called, as though hesitant to believe it, but with a trace of hopefulness that nearly broke his heart.
"Ah-- yeah, it's me," he said, clenching his fists as the door closed behind himself.
"Oh, good! How are you, brother?" Karamatsu's smile was as bright as ever, and Osomatsu froze in place, staring uncomprehendingly. "Ah, probably not the best question. Having to come to the hospital to look after your foolish younger brother." Chuckling, he rubbed the back of his neck, which was bandaged.
All of him was bandaged, it seemed. One arm was in a cast from knuckles to elbow; the other had gauze taped down, and an IV leading to a bag of fluid, interconnected with what Osomatsu suspected was painkillers; more bandages gently hugged his neck, and what Osomatsu could see of his chest; and, worst of all, thick bandages were wrapped around his head, completely concealing his eyes.
"Osomatsu?" Karamatsu questioned, sounding puzzled. "Are you there?"
The innocent question sent a shock of lightning through his chest and Osomatsu raised a hand to cover his mouth, stifling whatever noise had lodged in his throat. Swallowing it down, he said, "Yeah, I'm here," as he slowly made his way across the room.
"Haha! You have to talk to me now, brother, I can't tell if you've left or not. Hey, is the nurse good-looking? Chihiro-chan? She has such a lovely voice, she must be! Ah, but her personality is brilliant enough even if she ends up being an ugly hag. Oh, she's not here, is she?" After a beat of silence, Karamatsu laughed. "Phew! That's a relief."
"Karamatsu," Osomatsu tried, and his brother tilted his head towards him, apparently just now noticing that Osomatsu had moved to his side.
"Hmm? What is it, brother?"
Mouth working open and closed, no words came, and Osomatsu swallowed. Reaching out, he gingerly touched his brother's bandaged arm, and Karamatsu lifted that hand to reach for him, finding his hand. "Brother?"
"Nothing," Osomatsu whispered, taking Karamatsu's hand into his own and turning it over. The ring, middle, and index fingers were splinted together, and Osomatsu wondered how many of them were broken.
"I must look like a mess," Karamatsu chuckled, sounding a bit embarrassed. "I mean, I know I do. Those scoundrels made sure I saw to that before--" He stopped, struggling for a moment, suddenly looking unsure, almost confused, before shaking his head a bit. "Well, anyway, I guess that's how the mind of a sadist works! Taking away the beauty of someone who boasts about it too much!"
"Karamatsu, what the hell did you do?" Osomatsu finally managed to speak bluntly.
"Ah." Karamatsu fell quiet, and he chuckled self-consciously. Osomatsu continued to touch him, his hand, his arm, reaching out to gently brush his fingertips over the bandages on Karamatsu's neck. Immediately his brother twitched away, the fingers of his broken arm clenching tightly shut compulsively on the sheets. "Ah, p-please don't, brother," Karamatsu said, the stutter in his words almost completely hidden by the blithe tone of his voice. "That's tender."
Osomatsu had flinched back, and now he stared in devastation as his brother cleared his throat, winced, and sighed. "Well, I suppose it was bound to happen sooner or later! After all, I could never just stand by and watch while some heathens were tormenting a young lady, now could I? No matter the risk to myself, evidently." Shrugging one shoulder, Karamatsu didn't seem to notice when Osomatsu grasped his hand in trembling fingers. Facing straight ahead and managing to keep a smile on, even when it seemed to waver occasionally, Karamatsu continued, "I was able to divert their attention for long enough that she was able to run away, but they were pretty angry about that! So they took it out on me, as you can see. I shudder to imagine what they would have done to that young lady."
"Karamatsu..." Look at what they did to you! he wanted to shout, but he bit his lip instead.
"Anyway, you know I can never keep my mouth shut, so they just kept finding reasons to continue. Not how I imagined I'd be spending my day!" Again he laughed, and every time he did, it made Osomatsu's heart ache. This idiot. "Well, I hope that young lady steers clear of danger next time."
"Take your own advice," Osomatsu whispered, biting his lip to keep from repeating it so Karamatsu could hear.
There was a long silence, before Karamatsu wiggled his pinky finger, rubbing Osomatsu's palm. "Brother?" he questioned.
Swallowing, Osomatsu said, "Yeah?"
"You're being awfully quiet," Karamatsu observed, tilting his head a bit towards Osomatsu, not quite facing him. It sent a pang through his heart. "Is something wrong?"
Of course something is wrong, you idiot! Taking a deep breath, Osomatsu asked instead, "Does-- are you in pain?"
Looking a bit surprised, Karamatsu shook his head a bit. "Not at all! The painkillers are keeping on top of that, and the nurses check in on me pretty often! The care here is top-notch." Karamatsu seemed pleased with the answer, Osomatsu winced. He really couldn't be selfish, even for a little while, could he? Not to-- to complain, or pity himself. A tidal wave of guilt was crashing down on Osomatsu for all the times he'd taken advantage of Karamatsu's kindness. It had always seemed like a deficiency in self-preservation more than anything, and Osomatsu was seeing the effects of that in their fullest form.
"Karamatsu..." Steadying his breathing, Osomatsu reached out to touch Karamatsu's head, then push his fingers through his hair. Karamatsu didn't move, lips parted a bit in surprise.
In a small voice, he asked, "Nii-san?" For a second he seemed lost, not sure how to feel, and Osomatsu bit his lip, moving gingerly onto the bed with him. Karamatsu straightened a bit, clearly not expecting the sudden proximity, and Osomatsu wrapped an arm around his back, pulling him closer. "Osomatsu?" he asked again, voice wavering in confusion.
"Shut up, idiot," Osomatsu muttered, hiding his face against Karamatsu's hair. "Just stop with the stupid cool-guy act."
"It's not an act," Karamatsu protested, and Osomatsu scowled, pinching his brother's nose. "Ow--"
"Are you scared?" Osomatsu demanded, and Karamatsu winced, shying away a bit.
"I..."
"You're never going to see again," Osomatsu said, too blunt, too harsh, and he saw Karamatsu go still. "You got beaten and tortured by a gang, you're in the hospital, you idiot little brother, just shut up for a while."
Karamatsu didn't move, but Osomatsu saw his lower lip tremble just a bit, and he tried to tighten the embrace without threatening any of the cracked or broken ribs the nurse had warned him of.
Eventually Karamatsu tilted his head to rest on Osomatsu's shoulder, and neither of them moved for a long time.
Not until Karamatsu was curled up on his side, head on Osomatsu's stomach, twitching and moaning quietly in his sleep, did the nurse come in to check on them. Osomatsu stared down at his brother, combing softly through his hair, tears streaked down his own face, looking haggard. She came by four more times before the end of her shift the next morning, and Osomatsu hadn't moved an inch. It looked like he hadn't slept either.