"Your clear eye is the one absolutely beautiful thing. I want to fill it with color and ducks,
The zoo of the new Whose name you meditate -
April snowdrop, Indian pipe,
Little Stalk without wrinkle,
Pool in which images
Should be grand and classical Not this troublous
Wringing of hands, this dark
Ceiling without a star."
-"Child" by Sylvia Plath.
"-nd for what?! So you could live here for the rest of your life without ever having done anything with it? Is that really what you want for yourself, Osomatsu-niisan?!"
Silence reigned in the shared living space for a moment, and the rest of its inhabitants flinched as the eldest amongst them at last snapped in return. "You just can't accept the fact that you're nothing but a shitty NEET like the rest of us."
Choromatsu grit his teeth, nails digging into his palms as he faced the first born of their family who glowered at him from where he sat on the couch. "That's not it. I have accepted it, and that's why I want to change! If all six of us stay the same way, we'll never be able to make it in society!"
"And how is any of that our problem?! Last time I checked, you said that it was impossible for you to fit in with everyone out there!"
"That's our fault, isn't it? We're always together. It's obvious why we can't socialize with other people!"
Choromatsu unclenched his hands, wincing as he prised his nails free from the crescent marks left on his skin. "We need to grow up, Osomatsu-niisan. None of us can afford to keep going on in this way- at least, I can't." Their four siblings followed his every movement as the third born paused before striding purposefully across the room to the closet, pulling the doors open. Osomatsu remained silent for a time before at last addressing the other again, voice devoid of all emotion despite his single inquiry.
"What are you doing?"
It was barely heard above the din of shuffling boxes and other miscellaneous paraphernalia as the third born rummaged through their belongings, occasionally dropping a few books and promiscuous magazines which neither of the brothers cared to pay any mind to. "I have a bit saved up- just enough to afford a night, then I'll have to manage somehow." Choromatsu mumbled at first before raising his voice so that the rest of his siblings could hear. "...It might take some time, but it'll be worth it."
"Choromatsu-niisan, you don't mean..."
Todomatsu lowered his phone, the screen devoid of all but his perplexed expression. The third eldest looked to him briefly and nodded, ensuing gasps from the rest save for Ichimatsu who quietly set down the cattail he was previously fiddling with.
"He's not." The first born at last hissed sharply, not bothering to look up. "No one's going anywhere, Totty."
There was a heavy clunk as several rolls of dyed fabric fell from where it was propped up against the corner of the closet, landing upon the cardboard boxes Choromatsu had laid out upon the floor. He pushed it aside and a length of shimmering blue cloth unraveled itself as it traveled along the tatami, its painful appearance for once going without comment. "I'll start in an internet cafe, ask a few regulars if they need help with anything then work my way up from there." The third born parted the flaps of one of the boxes before turning it over and emptied it of its contents. "With luck, I may be able to room with someone for a short time before I make enough to rent a place for myself."
The eldest of the six grit his teeth, his expression shielded by shadow as he lowered his head. "I said-"
"Ah, that reminds me! Totty, you're familiar with the area by Sutabaa. Why don't you join me?" Choromatsu cut in quickly, looking up with a smile at the youngest of their group.
The sixth born blinked, clearly taken aback. "Eh? You're serious?" Todomatsu pondered over his words for a moment before nodding slowly. "I suppose I could..."
"Good, that's settled then. Karamatsu!" The second born's eyes widened as he was addressed, looking over expectantly as Choromatsu rummaged through a few of his books. "You're pretty confident, aren't you? Maybe you'll be able to help us."
Karamatsu shifted slightly, setting his mirror face down upon the floor. "I would be delighted to, brother!" He flashed them a grin, throwing his hand upward for a dramatic pose. "With my company, we shall surely prevail above all impossible od-"
"Jyushimatsu, you have stamina and Ichimatsu, your cats could be useful too. You both should come as well."
The fifth born glanced over at the fourth eldest who flinched and ducked his head. "Ichimatsu-niisan?" Jyushimatsu reached out, gently shaking his shoulder. Ichimatsu remained still for a moment before at last looking up, eyes guarded.
"I'll just hold you back..."
"No you won't, Ichimatsu-niisan!"
Jyushimatsu flapped his sleeves, grasping both of the others shoulders which resulted in the fourth born raising his gaze to meet his. "Choromatsu-niisan, Totty and Karamatsu-niisan need our help! We should go with them too!" Ichimatsu hesitated for a moment before chancing a quick glance in the third eldest's direction, taking note of his small and apprehensive smile as their eyes met.
"... Okay." His soft confirmation didn't go unnoticed by the fifth born whose own smile grew impossibly wide. Ichimatsu sighed as he picked up his cattail from the floor, twirling the stem as he cast his eyes downward. "I'll go." Jyushimatsu flung his arms around him in the next instant, unable to retain his joy before he looked to their older siblings, eyes shining.
"Choromatsu-niisan, can I bring my bat?" The fifth born released the fourth eldest, still grinning brightly. Choromatsu nodded his assent, chuckling softly as the fifth born leapt from the ground and disappeared down the hallway. Unsurprisingly, it took less than a few seconds before Jyushimatsu returned with his prized possession in hand and soon joined the rest of his brothers as they started about the room, gathering their own belongings.
"Choromatsu-niisan, are we really doing this tonight? It's a bit unlike you."
"Here, Choromatsu! You musn't forget an object of so much importance."
"J-Jyushimatsu! Don't swing that around in he- bOEH-!"
"Sorry Ichimatsu-niisan, but it's fun doing this with everyone around!"
"E-Eh- Ichimatsu-? Ichimatsu?!"
"Hm? What's the mat- ah! Jyushimatsu-niisan, Ichimatsu-niisan is out cold!"
"No worries, my dear brothers! I shall undertake the task of carrying Ichimatsu and borne him forth into the world just as on the day we-!"
Todomatsu leapt up from the ground just as the second born fell prone upon his face, a sizeable bump already forming on the back of his head. "Ah, geeze Choromatsu-niisan! What would we have done if Karamatsu-niisan was knocked out too?!"
"We would've managed somehow."
The third born simply shrugged and redirected his attention to his boxes as the second eldest groaned, pulling himself up off the ground as Jyushimatsu sprang past him to reach Ichimatsu's side. Todomatsu pocketed his phone and started gathering a few of the boxes scattered across the floor, the second born soon joining him.
It wasn't long until the room exploded into a cacophony of animated exchanges interspersed with occasional shouts before ending in laughter- which was swiftly silenced as red barreled into green in the next instant, sending a tangled bundle of limbs crashing through the window. Glass flew and littered the ground as they landed on the hard wood of the balcony, Choromatsu letting out a cry as his head was slammed back and winced as the first born's darkened eyes bore into his own.
"You want to get out of here? Fine, but don't take everyone down with you!" Osomatsu's hands fisted the bright fabric of his hoodie and the third born hissed as he thrust a fist upwards, driving it into the others abdomen which allotted him enough time to shove the other off of him and scramble to his feet, reaching out to grab onto the window frame for balance until the sharp crunch of glass underfoot reminded him of the state that it was in.
"Why do you think that us moving out and getting a job is going to make us any lower than we already are?!" Choromatsu growled as he took a step back, already heading back into the room. The first born rose to his feet and whirled around, their eyes locking almost at once as he fixed the other with a heated glare who met it steadily enough. "You can't always count on us being here, Osomatsu-niisan! Sooner or later you're going to have to accept this fact- we're not going to follow you until the ends of the earth!"
"Not even if I would?"
The buzzing of the cicadas was all that could be heard in the night along with the crack of glass as the first born started forward, albeit slowly. The fury in his gaze had lessened, replaced with a near glassiness which accompanied that of his softened voice. Osomatsu lowered his gaze, expression shielded by shadow as the third born frowned, drawing further back.
"… Sorry to say this, but no. We're individuals and we each have our own lives to lead. Having this hive-mind mentality..." Choromatsu glanced away, aware of the presence of their other siblings who for once were only looking on in silence, neither bothering to interject nor help them move away from the scattered glass on the floor. "… It's only going to destroy us in the end."
The first born said not a word, allowing the lapsing silence to envelop them both for what seemed to be eons before he at last spoke, voice yet surprisingly soft. "So… That's it then? You and the others… You're sure this is what you really want?" Choromatsu blinked, clearly taken aback yet managed to mask his surprise by responding in a rather officious manner, meeting the latter's indescribable gaze before holding it steadily.
"It should be what you want too." The third born paused before adding on, allowing his gaze to slip away and rest upon the stars which shone in the distance, appearing further away from them as ever they have before. "If you truly care for us- care about our future and not only your own- you wouldn't think twice about following along."
No one dared speak after Choromatsu's statement, the third born having said all there truly needed to be while the eldest merely stood there, not bothering to- or perhaps unwilling to offer any retort. Choromatsu lingered on the balcony for a moment longer before the prospect of receiving a reply in return appeared futile, and at last turned away completely, shaking his head as he started through what remained of the broken window-
-before a hand closed tightly around his wrist, yanking him back.
The third born glimpsed black before stars exploded in his eyes, his back colliding with an audible crack as he was flung against the flimsy wooden frame of the balcony and broke through, panic settling quickly as he soon found himself free falling through the air. Above him, the horrified screams of his brothers pierced through the night but stopped abruptly as a red sleeved arm shot down towards him, latching onto his outstretched hand. He could see in that moment the horror in his older brother's eyes as their gazes met, the remorse he could only express through a barely there cry of his name as he pulled the third born back onto the remaining section of the balcony.
A tangle of hands soon emerged from all sides, tugging and pulling insistently at his hoodie and arms as his brothers dragged him further away from the collapsed frame and back onto the glass littered ground, taking care to half carry him into the yellow light of their bedroom floor. Their faces fluctuated, eyes flickering in and out of view until his vision at last sharpened enough to allow him a clear sight of the ceiling lamp above just as another cry splintered the night.
Choromatsu braced his hands against the tatami, the pressure on his palms aggravating the thin cuts there but was easily dismissed as dreadful realization settled over him once he fully registered what the adjoining screams were for. He wasted no time in shoving himself off of the ground, heart thundering in his chest as he somehow managed to shove through the cluster of bodies huddled around what little remained of the balcony, the last of the platform having given away- and with it, their eldest brother.
He didn't hear the body fall, couldn't make out who it was that lay crumpled upon the night black tar of the street as several people started out of the neighboring houses to peer at the disheveled figure before amassing about, encircling the road and hiding the red clad individual nearly entirely from sight.
Their dread was nearly palpable as they searched for a familiar face among the onlookers, praying fervently that they would find the eldest among the unfamiliar heads and bodies which pressed alongside one another. It was not until the group which hovered directly within their line of sight had shifted that Choromatsu managed to glimpse a peek of red at the feet of the crowd, a scream bubbling instantly before leaving him in the form of guttural wail which rose clearly above the din, soon to be accompanied with those of his other brothers whose grief remained privy to themselves and all those who shared in the horror of the ever impassive night.