Summary: A series of unpleasant events causes the two brothers to grow closer, to understand each other and realize...that maybe they are both not as different after all.

Pairing: IchiKara

Rating: PG-13

Warnings: you have stumbled into a world of depression and suicidal thoughts (leave now if you can't handle this, you have been warned!), abstractness/weirdness

A/N: Because of what I was describing here, you can argue that the brothers wouldn't do this, that they wouldn't be so cruel...but the show has shown me otherwise. Still, keep in mind that this may appear too harsh, but it's just my personal interpretation anyway.

I dedicate this small story to a dear person. No questions asked.

Disclaimer: I don't own Osomatsu-san.

Part One

Family is important. I am not just saying this, I mean it... It's only thanks to family that certain values can arise...thanks to family, you will feel more love and protection, you can identify your reason for existence. It...depends on the family too...and...to be honest...

Mine is far from ideal.

I...still love it though. How can I not? I have been with my brothers since forever, I have watched them all for a very long time and...well, I have my own opinion on each and every one, not that it matters...right?

So I will save you from a boring rant...and move onto the actual point.

Yeah...as a matter of fact, there is.

The fact I am always there, a shadow looming in the room with no one really paying attention to me (which I am thankful for), there are a lot of things I get to see... Even more things I wish I didn't have to see or know about. It's problematic to get involved in things four of my brothers do...

Yeah... I said four...when I have five...

There are certain times the four brothers just cross the line. We always get into all sorts of situations, from silly to most serious ones and there are no boundaries to us. You can literally expect anything.

But... I never thought I would witness something like...

Clenching my only friend to my chest, I stood up from my corner and silently strolled over to the lively table. I didn't say anything, not yet, as I stopped right beside Todomatsu, the youngest of us brothers.

It was dinner...and sometimes, occasionally actually, our parents would go out, leaving the food for us to heat up.

Each batch had a neat piece of paper attached to it with our names written on it... And it was fair, to avoid a situation I was witnessing right now.

I admit, maybe the fact I was holding the cat made me look less intimidating, and it took a while for the brothers, Todomatsu specifically, to notice me, but when they did, the light-hearted atmosphere didn't falter. In fact, Osomatsu-nii patted that free seat right next to him, telling me to grab my lunch and join them.

I stared at them for a second longer, watching bowls being passed around, before stating flatly, "That's... Karamatsu's food."

There was a short pause, a short silence fell in the room. Did they actually acknowledge my words, just this once..? It was surprising to say the least, because just like one of the older brothers, not currently present in the room, I was hardly ever acknowledged...

I looked at Todomatsu because it was his idea that the rest of the brothers happily joined in on.

Our family is big. We don't work yet... And money is very scarce. We have food on our table thanks to our parents...and that food is usually strictly divided into three meals throughout the day.

I am not complaining. I am sincerely grateful...

"It's his fault for not being here right now..." that was Todomatsu.

"Why waste good food? He is probably not hungry if he is still not here," Choromatsu.

"Or maybe he finally got hooked up with some chick?" Osomatsu.

"Him?! Ha ha, I highly doubt that," Choromatsu.

"...'Who is Karamatsu'..?" Jyushimatsu...

I subconsciously squeezed my best friend tightly to my chest at that. He was imitating me, wasn't he..?

"Ah, I highly doubt Karamatsu would even mind... Dig in with us, Ichimatsu-nii," Todomatsu smiled, offering me a more than a half eaten bowl of rice, Karamatsu's share.

I was hungry. Just like all of them... But...

This was wrong. And I wasn't sure how they didn't see it as they were already ignoring me and eating again.

Now...there are plenty of things I could do in this situation. All of them knew how dangerous I could get...

But... It was too late for that really. Karamatsu's food was already finished.

I could tell our parents... But that would be problematic. I could tell Karamatsu...but I didn't want to socialize with him more than necessary.

Socializing in general was a pain in the ass really. I sometimes wish people would learn how to read the mood and leave me alone...

Ah... In my musings, I didn't even notice how empty and quiet the room became. I could hear them in the distance, in another room, laughing and playing some game I never wanted to be part of...

Silently, not that I was ever loud and talkative, I made my way to the kitchen. The sun has already set and street lamps were on. It was slowly getting late and as such, I knew Karamatsu was going to be home soon...

Stepping to my untouched food... I pause for a second, eyeing it all...and take my name off of it.

I unwrap one of the bowls containing fish and take a few small pieces of it, sharing some with my friend, before wrapping it back up and placing on the counter...then I walk over to the trash can with all of the discarded wrappers...and rummage through, finding Karamatsu's name. I could have written it myself again, but it was a bit problematic to search for a pen and a piece of paper when all I needed to do was shove my hand into a trash can and find it.

And soon enough, I did. I find Karamatsu's name and place it in place of my name, leaving the kitchen right after for my corner.

I didn't realize I fell asleep until I was woken up by the sound of Karamatsu's loud voice and the slam of the front door, "Guess what everyone?! I got pears!"

All brothers except for me were all over him in seconds. I watched the scene, wishing I had the will in me to murder all of the brothers...except for Karamatsu of course... Ironically.

Hmm...maybe I will kill them all someday.

Slowly, my love for the four...was disintegrating for what they did.

"I have one for you too, Ichimatsu."

I didn't realize in time that a pear was right in front of my face... Pausing a second, I grabbed it and eyed it, then looked up at Karamatsu.

I wondered...where he got the pears..? Why he got them? And...how he got them, considering we were broke..?

But all I could do was mutter a "thank you" as I dug into my dinner for the night, watching Karamatsu go grab all of the food I left him.

A tiny, barely visible smile crept on my lips.

I was glad.

[TBC]