Work Text:
The worst thing about working with Kenta and Yuki is their insistence on surprises, Ichimatsu realized this about two weeks after starting in the cafe.
The couple's lasting interest in him was surprise enough after The Christmas Incident, but their knack for leaving little things for the fourth born has been going strong for these past 6 months. It's usually small things, like a spare pastry from the last batch of the day or an extra dollop of whipped cream on his morning-shift coffee. Of course, they try to persist with more.. surprising surprises for lack of better terms. These are luckily easy to shoot down with Ichimatsu lying about plans at home or even a flat-out “no”, the latter somehow getting harder to do with Yuki's recent perfection of her puppy eyes and Kenta's careful pestering.
This afternoon's shift was particularly hellish with the couple hinting at yet another surprise that was thrust upon him with no way out. Kenta had easily shut down his lie about having plans after today's shift - “You said that you'd be free this week days ago!”- and Yuki nodding and looking smug while she added the finishing touches to the order of lattes that needed little foam cats added. She had even wadded up a hand towel at record speeds to cushion Ichimatsu's forehead from being pounded into oblivion when he decided to slam his head down on the counter in defeat.
It's now close to close, just a little after 5 pm. since it's Sunday. Ichimatsu is contemplating a break for it as he puts his name tag and order booklet in his locker. He can still hear Kenta and Yuki talking to their manager as they help gather up the cats and finish tidying up the kitchen. Ichi shuts his locker quietly, and starts speed-walking out of the employee area towards the front door- frantically checking over his shoulder and listening intently to the conversation still going on in the kitchen. They're still talking- even laughing together!! Ichimatsu thanks whatever is letting him go free, he sighs blissfully as he opens the door to sweet, wonderful -
“Ah, Ichimatsu-kun! You're so eager to go!” Yuki calls from the little window that looks out over the cafe floor. “Kenta and I will be out in just a second!”
Fuck everything on this disgusting earth.
-
“Can you please just tell me where we're going.” Ichimatsu groans, trudging several steps behind the couple as they lead the way down the slowly dimming streets. “We've been walking for almost an hour now.”
Yuki looks over her shoulder at the slowly shuffling man and rolls her eyes with a giggle. “It's still a surprise, Ichimatsu-kun. We're almost there anyway!” She slows down so she can walk beside him and give him a few playful nudges. “We haven't even been walking for half an hour you grump.”
Kenta looks up from his phone, and Ichimatsu almost laughs at the startled look on his face when he realizes that his girlfriend and prisoner are so far behind him. “It should be just around this corner, I've heard a lot of people talk about this place. Apparently the guy who owns it is kind of a nut, but the food is delicious!” The taller man also stops so he can let Ichi and Yuki catch up, and the couple walk on either side of him. “It's very casual as well, and there shouldn't be a lot of people there. I know crowds aren't really your thing.”
Ichimatsu scoffs and turns his head away from Kenta, thankful that Yuki is short enough that he only has to look at the top of her head. He hates the warmth that starts in his gut and races up to his cheeks. Kenta has always been the more watchful of the couple, whether it's keeping customers with young children away from the tables where the grumpier cats tend to resign or trying to get Ichi more kitchen duty when the cafe gets busy. As much as he hates to admit it, Ichimatsu has been grateful for Kenta's concern since he started to pick up on his anxiety, especially around people.
Yuki, on the other hand, tends to be the little push that's actually gotten him on good terms with the manager and a few of their regulars. She's learned to turn down her encouragement lately, realizing that a flustered Ichi does just as poorly as an embarrassed Ichi, but it doesn't stop her from quiet compliments and encouraging pats and even hair ruffling once they're in the safety of the kitchen. (this of course can only be done when she stands on the very tips of her toes, Ichimatsu refuses to come to terms with how cute it is that she tries so hard to reach him- literally or figuratively)
(fuck Ichimatsu needs to ask for a different work schedule, their lovey-dovey attitude is really rubbing off on him)
After walking for a few more minutes without looking anywhere but over Yuki's head, Ichimatsu is met with a comfortable sense of familiarity. They're walking through the old park that he and his brothers had spent so much time in as kids. He's almost tempted to go sit on that old swing-set, he had spent quite a bit of time there on evenings where he needed to get out of the cramped Matsuno house, but he's not quite ready to let the couple know of one of his favorite hiding spots. The familiar warmth is slowly replaced with dread as the scenery becomes even more recognizable- and then to a gut wrenching fear as he sees a little oden cart set up along the walkway of the park.
Okay, maybe they'll just pass it. There's no way they'd take him to a rickety old oden cart for dinner, they're too over-the-top for that. It's gotta be anything else. Ichimatsu prays it's anything else. He'd rather eat from the dump than this.
His fears are confirmed when Kenta's face lights up, and he gestures toward Chibita's cart. “There it is! I was worried that maybe he moved it since I'd heard about it, I guess this is his usual spot.” He puts his hand on Ichimatsu's shoulder to move him along, and Yuki has an extra bounce in her step as they approach the cart.
Despite all of Ichimatsu's frantic hoping and praying, the short man behind the cart is absolutely Chibita, and he welcomes the three of them with his usual energy.
“Welcome! I was almost afraid I'd be done for the night, take a seat! I've got the best damn oden you could ask for!” He's too busy digging around for dishes to notice how Ichimatsu has to be physically dragged onto the bench and sandwiched between Yuki and Kenta to prevent his escape. “What can I get ya...” He blinks a few times, tilting his head. “Ichimatsu? The hell? Where's the rest of y'all?”
Yuki looks just as confused as Chibita as she turns to Ichimatsu. “Ichimatsu-kun, you know him?”
Chibita scoffs. “Know him? I've known this guy since I was a kid! Him and his brothers are still terrorizing me, damn it!” He sets the dishes down behind the simmering oden. “He's actually starting to pay for himself now, don't know how the hell he's getting the money.”
Kenta looks a little frightened, which is understandable. Chibita takes some getting used to. “H-he uh, he works with us. He has been for a while now.”
Ichimatsu is ready to die when Chibita's eyes widen. “You have a job?” He gawks. “An actual job?”
Everyone is quiet, waiting for Ichimatsu to answer. He glares at the counter in front of him, fists curled in his lap. “I work at a cat cafe... it'll be around 7 months in a week.”
The only sound is the oden bubbling softly for what feels like years, and the three on the bench all yelp with surprise when Chibita slams his hands down on his work-space and rattles the plates. “The hell?! Sound more proud of yerself than that, bastard!” Ichimatsu finally lifts his head to see Chibita grinning at him. “To think you'd be one of the firsts to work! You should be rubbing that in Choromatsu's ugly mug! You've held the job for that long?! Damn it, never thought I'd be so proud to hear 'bout you Matsunos getting out there!” He carefully ladles out a few of Ichi's favorites and places the steaming plate in front of him. “Damn it, take this plate on the house! As long as you keep paying off that tab, ya hear?”
Kenta and Yuki are still staring open mouthed, looking between the still grinning Chibita and Ichimatsu's wide eyed stare at the plate in front of him. “U-uhm...” Ichimatsu finally looks up from the plate. “Thank... you?”
Chibita laughs again, putting a hand on his hip while he grabs the other plates. “Don't sound too happy, idjit. What can I get you two? First plate's free for you too, just don't take too much!”
The couple recover quickly with the promise of hot food, and end up with plates nearly identical to what's been carefully piled on Ichimatsu's. Yuki is the first to dig in, and her eyes go wide after her first bite of chikuwa. “Oh my god,” She manages around her mouthful, politely covering her mouth with her hand so she can lean over and address the two men beside her. “This is amazing!”
Kenta chuckles at her enthusiasm but also grabs his own piece of chikuwa, and Ichimatsu snickers at the look of wonder that falls over him. He's so engrossed in the food that he doesn't even realize his glasses have fogged over from the steam coming from his plate. “Holy crap.” He laughs again, pushing his glasses up into his hair. “You come here a lot and you've never told us about it?” Kenta gives Ichimatsu a little push with his elbow. “I'm hurt, Ichimatsu-kun.”
“Me too!” Yuki breaks off a piece of daikon, taking her time to chew before talking this time. “You even know Chibita-san! We should come after work more often!”
“With how often my brothers come you'd be lucky to find space for you and Kenta.” He mumbles. “And they're all annoying, Jyushimatsu would be the only one to even try to make a spot for you to sit.”
Yuki hums, shaking her head as she chews the last bit of daikon. “We meant you too, Ichimatsu-kun! Even if it's busy we can sit in the park to eat. It's more filling than taking leftovers from the cafe, and it's fun!”
Kenta nods his agreement. “Eating is more fun in groups, and oden is best when it's cold, and it's only getting colder!”
Chibita gives Kenta a look so proud Ichimatsu is almost afraid the bald man is going to cry. “Kenta-san, right? I like the way this guy thinks!” Chibita fishes out a few extra pieces of chikuwa and daikon and places them onto each of their plates. “Anyone who can appreciate good oden is a damn good friend of mine!” He pushes lightly on Ichimatsu's chopsticks with his ladle when he places the extra tidbits on his plate. “Nah, really though. It's good to see you out, idjit. Seems like you Matsunos are finally getting out there, damn it. Yer brothers are proud too, 'specially Karab-K- Karamatsu.”
Any warmth from Chibita's praise gives way to a prick of annoyance in Ichimatsu's stomach. “What do you mean, 'especially Karamatsu'?” He growls, and Chibita stammers, his face red as he looks anywhere but the murderous expression on the fourth Matsuno's face.
“U-uh, dammit, the hell do you care?! He's just. Louder. Louder than the rest of you, the hell do you care?” He says again, pointing with his ladle. “You live with him, jackass! O-of course you'd know he's louder, the hell..!”
Kenta reaches up for his glasses, looking between Chibita and Ichimatsu as he cleans them. “Wait, is Karamatsu the one who worked at the coffee shop?”
“No, no,” Yuki points to her boyfriend with her chopsticks. “That was Osomatsu, remember?” She pauses, looking confused as she lowers her hand. “Ah, wait was that Jyushimatsu?”
“Jyushimatsu is the one who comes to the cafe all the time, he brought his girlfriend over the summer!
Ichimatsu is still locked onto Chibita, glaring daggers at the bald man as he tries to look anywhere else. Kenta and Yuki continue to try and figure out which Matsuno is which, in fact everyone at the stand is too engrossed in their own discussions and staring contests to notice the ever approaching clacking of heeled boots on the sidewalk.
That is, until Karamatsu makes himself known.
The second Matsuno pushes the little flap hanging over the bench aside so can sit. He puts his elbows on the table and laces his fingers together so he can rest his chin atop them. "Hello, my dear Chibita. I see that fate has not allowed us an evening together as planned," He sighs dramatically, unaware of just who exactly the other three pairs of eyes belong to. "However! What could be better but food among a crowd? Dear guests, allow me to introduce myself, I am," Karamatsu stops cold as he finally looks up and sees his brother glaring absolute daggers. "I-Ichimatsu?"
Kenta has to lean forward to actually see Karamatsu, and he snaps his fingers with a triumphant sound. "See! I told you he's the one with the eyebrows, Yuki."
Both Matsunos ignore the revelations made; Ichi too busy staring and Kara too busy being shocked. "What the actual hell are you doing here." Ichimatsu says flatly, ignoring the fact that it's actually not surprising at all to see one of his brothers here, especially Karamatsu. He's been very chummy with Chibita since the kidnapping incident- which is weird, but Karamatsu is weird so it doesn't matter.
The brother in question is still stammering, his voice nearly an entire octave higher now that his act has been forgotten. "I uh, we'll what's wrong with going to see you bo-best! Best friend! Is it wrong of me to want to see a friend?"
Ichimatsu can hear the grin in Yuki's voice as she slaps her hand on the counter, startling both Chibita and Karamatsu. "I heard that! It's so late you have to be here for a date! Why else would Kenta and I have brought Ichimatsu-kun along?" Ichimatsu's hate glare turns into one of shock, and the longer he looks at his brother and Chibita the more flustered the pair (...couple?!?!?) become.
Wait.
What the fuck did Yuki just say with her mouth.
Yuki doesn't even seem to realize the emotional turmoil she's causing, she leans on her elbows and grins at Chibita and Karamatsu. "So? How long? Kenta and I have been together for 6 months now! Ichimatsu-kun actually got us together," She glances over at him fondly, and Ichimatsu can't tell if his stomach twists because of the weird adoration of her eyes or all of the information that he's being assaulted with.
Karamatsu is still staring with his mouth hanging open, obviously in shock with how blunt this girl is being. Chibita is the first so sober up, but he goes right back to being as fiery as possible. “The hell? You can't just... ask something like that! You come to my damn oden cart, and you demand personal details?” He falters a little when he notices that Yuki has yet to drop her cheeky smile, and Chibita looks afraid when she turns it on Karamatsu.
“A-ah, w-w-well you see, Chibita and I,” He's falling back into his persona, and Ichimatsu feels a twinge of sympathy when he sees Kara rake a hand through his hair- a nervous tic that his older brother has had since high school started taking a toll on him. “Wh-what kind of measurement is time, for such a deep connection with fellow humans? I dare say that.... that... ah...” He looks to Chibita for help, but all he gets is a sigh. “Uhm.”
“Well, it was summer, right?” Chibita starts, and Kara looks thoughtful for a moment.
“Mm, it was just warming up so...” He pauses, murmuring quietly to himself while counting on his fingers, and then when he finishes counting he looks up at Chibita with wide eyes. “It's... wow.” He turns back to Yuki, and smiles sheepishly. “It's been nearly nine months.”
Holy.
Shit.
“It's been long enough for someone to have a baby and you haven't told any of us.” Ichimatsu says, too shocked to put any venom into it. Kara runs his hand through his hair again, and then again, loosening up any gel he might have put in this morning so it fluffs up a little.
Kenta lets out a shocked little laugh at his response. “You just find out and that's all you have to say, Ichimatsu-kun?”
“Yeah, Ichimatsu-kun! I mean, I guess that is quite a while to wait,” Yuki adds, giving Kara a nudge with her foot that catches him off guard and makes him yelp a little. “But that's so sweet!” An idea seems to smash right into her, and her face lights up even more. “Oh! We can have a double date!! I've always wanted to try something like that!”
Kenta tilts his head, addressing Ichimatsu more than Yuki. “Wouldn't it be weird to be on a double date with your brother there?”
“What.”
“You're on a date?” Kara's eyes sparkle as he leans toward his brother. “Brother, that's wonderful!! Congratulations! Ah, I should properly introduce myself,” He bows deeply, now completely back in tune with his persona. “I am Matsuno Karamatsu, second eldest of the Matsuno household. Thank you for taking care of my dear Ichimatsu.” He rises, and then looks a little confused. “Ah, forgive my ignorance, but which... brother, which one are you leading down the path of romance?”
Yuki doesn't have the time, or the towel, to protect Ichimatsu from slamming his head into the nearest solid object.
-
“You're damn lucky you didn't break my cart, idjit!!” Chibita growls, wringing the cold water from one of his spare washcloths before handing it to Karamatsu so he can hold it to the growing welt on his brother's head. “I would've cut your head off!”
Kenta still looks startled as he leans forward to look at the injury. “Are you sure you don't want to go to the hospital?”
Ichimatsu grunts in reply, assuring his brother that he's alright before taking over cloth duty. “I've had worse. I was uh... surprised.” He checks the cloth for blood, and lets it stay on the counter when it comes back clean. “...sorry.”
“We're just glad you're okay!” Yuki reassures him. “We didn't mean to surprise you this much in one day, can you get home alright? Kenta and I can walk you there if you need, Ichimatsu-kun.”
Ichi opens his mouth to let her know he'll be alright, Kara beats him to it. “I can escort him, it's a big brother's duty, after all!” He shuffles out from in front of the bench and holds out his hand. “You two need not worry, I'll ensure that he returns to safety!”
“Shut up already, Shi-” Ichimatsu pauses, staring at his brother's hand. If he had shown up so late and without any warning, he's pretty sure that he and Chibita had planned to do... something together. Now that he knows they've been dating for so long he has no doubt they had some kind of plans. “Just... you stay here, you and Chibita can do... whatever you planned on.” Karamatsu looks stunned, and Chibita is wearing a similar expression. “These two can walk me home, uh, if they want. I-it's getting late a-and we have to uh, have to work tomorrow s-s-so.” He contemplates picking the rag back up and stuffing it down his throat to stop the word-vomit. Yuki comes to his rescue, thankfully by pulling out her coin purse.
“We'll take good care of him, Karamatsu-san.” She smiles brightly at him, and puts her money on the counter, waving her hand as Chibita starts to refuse since it was only the first dish. “And you, Chibita-san, thank you for the meal! We'll definitely be back.”
Kenta nods, placing his own money near his empty plate. “I'll leave a positive review for you! And maybe we can do that double date,” He wiggles his eyebrows at Ichimatsu briefly before looking a little more serious. “Maybe we should go out on the town and then eat here?”
Ichimatsu is about to protest, but he can almost feel the excitement radiating from his brother. “Really?!” Karamatsu looks between the couple, then to his brother and then his... boyfriend.
(God, that's going to take some getting used to.)
Chibita gives his boyfriend a smile that's so sweet Ichimatsu feels a little ill. “Aw, what the hell. I can't resist an oden enthusiast! Come back soon, dammit, we can talk plans then. Ya hear?”
Karamatsu looks at Ichimatsu, obviously trying to hold back his joy. “Ichimatsu?”
Well, hell.
“... wait to tell everyone else about our plans.” He murmurs, then nearly falls over with the force of Karamatsu's hug.
“Really? Really really?! Oh how wonderful! I won't speak a word, my dearest brother! I await our night of reunion, Kenta-san! Yuki-san!”
Honestly? Ichimatsu can't wait either.
-
“Are you sure you don't want to go to the hospital? That keeps swelling.” Kenta is walking backwards, concern furrowing his brows. “The manager is going to be concerned tomorrow.”
“I'm fine, I'm fine.” Ichi insists, waving off Kenta's look. “I'll ice it tonight, quit being such a worrywart.”
“Are you sure you don't have a concussion?” Yuki asks from his side. She hadn't let him walk without her holding his arm since they had left the oden stand, but her warmth was welcome as the air became chillier the later they were out. “If you slip into a coma Kenta might have an aneurysm.”
“And we can't go on the double date!” Kenta chimes in, resuming a normal way of walking and posting up on Ichi's other side. “Karamatsu-san would be double-devastated.”
Ichimatsu groans. “Oh my god, you sound like him. Shut up.” He elbows Kenta in the ribs when the man starts to laugh, but after the little outburst they resume their quiet walk.
It's peaceful, being walked home has always been a wonderful way to end his work days, whether he wants to admit it or not. Kenta and Yuki might be fiery and loud, but they've caught on quickly on when to be quiet and when to fill the silence. Normally, Ichimatsu never disturbs the quiet, but as they approach the street he lives on, he can't handle what's been eating at him for hours now.
“So,” He starts, slowing to a stop under the glow of the street light just before the Matsuno house. “Were you uh...” Kenta and Yuki both stop along with him, Yuki still holding to his arm while Kenta stays just as close. “You two weren't... joking. Earlier. Right?”
The couple share a confused look, before something clicks and they both look panicked.
“Oh my god, you have a concussion, don't you?!?” Yuki squeezes his arm, and Kenta starts to rifle through his pockets for his phone. “D-don't worry!! We can call someone ri-”
“N-no! No, No holy shit, I'm fine!” Ichimatsu says quickly, pulling his hand from Yuki so he can wave both of them off frantically. “I don't need a doctor, I swear. I meant the uh, the... date. Thing.”
Yuki and Kenta both freeze; Yuki with her arms still in position to hold onto Ichi's and Kenta with his phone ready to dial. Ichimatsu feels his stomach roll as the silence continues. “Like, it doesn't matter. You can go with Karamatsu and Chibita, they really wanted to go. I get why you'd say that with him there, I can tell him I sick when you want to go so I don't interf-”
“Ichimatsu.”
He looks over at Kenta, cut off from his second round of word-vomit of the night. He looks... hurt, almost. “Ichimatsu,” He says again, putting his phone in his pocket. “Yuki and I, uh, shit.” Ichimatsu raises an eyebrow- Kenta rarely curses, and this is the most flustered he's ever seen this guy. “We...”
“We would really like for you to join us.” Yuki says, placing her hand on Ichimatsu's arm. “Like, more than just for lunch or dinner.” She's blushing a deep red, but she's always been the more persistent of the two. “We... kind of owe our relationship to you, Ichimatsu-kun, and we'd really... really like if you would want to. Be with us. A lot.”
Wait.
“Huh.”
Always the poet, Ichimatsu. You bastard.
“Ichimatsu-kun,” Kenta looks at his girlfriend, and then to Ichimatsu. “We... want to know if you want to go on that double date.”
“With us.” Yuki finishes. “Like... we want to date you. Both of us.”
Ichimatsu blinks, and then blinks again. Was this their plan? All of those months of being so nice and then trying to take him for dinner or lunch so often? Was that flirting?!? The compliments and- oh my god Kenta has been winking at him-
“I-Ichimatsu-kun?”
Say something you idiot, you absolute dickwad, you piece of shit!!!
“Holy shit.”
Got it in one.
Ichimatsu finally processes the terrified looks on the couple's faces, and he runs both of his hands through his hair. “I-I mean. Are you... fuck are you sure? Have you looked at me?”
Yuki looks hurt, and Ichimatsu feels his stomach twist at that face. “Ichimatsu-kun, we really like you, w-we know sometimes people scare you... sometimes a lot, but we'd really like to, uh...”
Kenta seems to have braced himself, because he stands up tall and nearly shouts with his eyes squeezed shut. “Will you be our boyfriend, Ichimatsu-kun?”
For the second time since they've met, Ichimatsu spontaneously combusts.
-
After a fire extinguisher, a lot of talking, and a day of working with a nasty headache and several hours of sleep missed, Ichimatsu gives them their answer.
He leaves a latte on the counter before he leaves for the day, offering to take complete kitchen duty if Kenta and Yuki would round up all of the grouchy cats for the night. He's not very good at the whole latte art thing, but he manages a simple enough cat face and even has enough time to doodle a little cat on the napkin he had left besides the drink just before bolting.
The napkin has a little cat scribbled on it, and it's holding a sign that has one word scrawled on it.
Sure.