Granny woke up to ESP Kitty licking her face.
His rough, pink tongue gently moved to Granny's dishevelled hair, trying to solve the mess of greying knots.
"Good morning to you, too", Granny smiled as she stood up.
There were three distinct lumps on the bed's end on Granny's feet, which moved when Granny moved to leave the warmth of the sheets.
Ginger, Batter and Stubby had moved onto Granny's bed somewhere during the busy night.
The three hadn't been on Granny's stomach, so she forgave the felines. She was going to have to remind them that they had their own beds to sleep in though. There was no need to join her.
Batter seemed to understand what Granny was thinking and quickly moved to join her on her way to the kitchen, meowing.
'I'm sorry', he tried to tell her. He hadn't meant to jump to sleep with her but the two newcomers had had difficulty sleeping.
Granny sighed, as she put a kettle on, "It's okay, just make sure you don't do it again."
Batter put his paws up.
It was either a sign of promise or he was begging for breakfast.
Granny smiled.
Cats could really be adorable.
As Granny was taking out the cans of cat food, the rest of the four cats ran to the kitchen.
They had clearly been in the middle of cleaning themselves up.
Ginger's lovely hair was partly sticking up while some of it was neatly arranged. She seemed slightly pissed off by the disturbance, while Stubby seemed nonchalant of the whole thing. Clean or not, she wasn't going to skip breakfast.
"Come on girls. You can clean yourselves up later", Granny told them, scooping up food on the cats' plates, "Teach Batter to do it properly, too."
Batter huffed. He could clean himself up. He just didn't do it often enough for Granny it seemed.
Granny laughed at her cat's antics.
After the five had eaten their breakfast, they crowded around the living room table to watch the morning news.
The forecast promised rain.
Granny was about to text the brothers to tell them but came to the conclusion that the six would at least watch the forecast before going anywhere, hopefully.
"I just hope they took umbrellas or something with them", Granny muttered, sounding slightly worried, "It's only drizzle today but they promised proper rain for tomorrow."
ESP Kitty meowed in agreement. He knew Ichimatsu didn't like rain at all.
After the news, it was time for the morning's stretches.
Granny liked the young and enthusiastic instructor who made the moves without even breaking a sweat.
A doctor had told her stretches were good for her.
Her aching joints seemed to like them, too.
The four cats stared at her when she made the moves carefully, minding her sore back.
'Yoga?' Batter questioned the moves his owner was making.
Ginger and Stubby tried to follow Granny's lead and make the stretches.
ESP Kitty was watching the three in amusement.
"Good girls!" Granny praised the two cats, "You must like yoga, too!"
Stubby meowed, stretching her long back.
Ginger decided it was time to resume the cleaning and began licking her fur clean.
Granny's childhood friend arrived later that morning before the first shift started.
"Yuuka!" he exclaimed as Granny opened the door to let him in, "You look younger every day!"
"I bet you're meant to say older, my dear Ichirou", Granny smiled, "It's nice to see you again. Come in."
Granny had known Ichirou since they were about seven. Their fathers had begun playing in the same team. The two children had come to see their games and train with them every day.
Although some of their other friends had laughed at their unusual friendship and hobby, the two remained friends all the same.
Granny could still taste the ice cream the two had always bought from a small store near the baseball fields during the hot summers. She could almost feel the summer daze and smell the hot air.
But now, both of their fathers had already slept away and only the two were left.
Ichirou lived in another town with her wife and an old dog.
The two had kept in touch all these years but had hardly gotten any time to meet in person.
Ichirou had aged gracefully. His dark grey hair, while still in place had begun to get thin. The wrinkles on his face only added to his sweet nature and his rough hands spoke of hard work.
"How's your wife?" Granny asked as the two sat down to drink some tea.
"Hanako? She's doing great! Back's beginning to bug her but she still does all the housework she did years ago", Ichirou laughed.
Granny laughed along at the man's carelessness, "Her back, too? Tell her to call me if she finds some miracle cure for that. Mine's been bugging me for years."
Ichirou's booming laugh echoed through the small room.
The four cats were beginning to get curious. They had ran away as soon as they had smelled an unknown scent, and more importantly, the unmistakable scent of a dog. Now all four were peeking from a doorway at the new arrival.
Ichirou happened to catch a glimpse of the group.
"Your cats?" he asked.
Granny blushed, she didn't really want to admit anything, "Three of them yes. I'm babysitting one for a friend."
"I always saw you as a dog person. A bummer", he laughed, "Come here kitties. I won't bite."
Batter was the most trusting one and soon made his way to the strange-smelling man. He sniffed his outstretched hand once, then again and accepted a pat to the head before jumping on the lap of his owner.
ESP Kitty came to them but didn't pay attention to the man. He simply jumped onto the table and curled there.
Ginger and Stubby seemed to be having an inner debate over whether to come to the room or not.
"I only adopted those two yesterday", Granny explained to the disappointed friend of hers, "The orange one is Ginger. The grey one is Stubby."
"As bad as ever with the names I see", Ichirou smirked.
Granny blushed again. She had always been horrible at naming things, she admitted. Her first teddy had been simply called 'Bear' after she had named it that.
"We need to get to work, not think about what I did when I was younger", Granny huffed, standing up.
"Oh, I'm ready. Hanako has been teaching me all kinds of recipes", Ichirou said proudly, following Granny to the shop.
"I have some basic breads and other things I do every day but we need to also think of what will be our daily special", Granny explained, as she took out huge lumps of dough from a fridge.
She had made the dough the day before as a precaution. She usually made the dough in the morning, too, making the freshest bread possible.
"How would something seasonal sound? I brought some berries with me. Hanako told me to give them to you."
"Hmm… How about pie?"
"Alright. I'm great at making pies, by the way", Ichirou winked, taking out some flour.
Granny sighed, "It's not a competition. We need to make the best pies, not the fastest-made pies."
Ichirou huffed, "Alright, alright."
The two friends ended up talking about everything and anything while they baked the goods for the day.
Through some weird twist, the topic moved to Granny's two current workers, especially Osomatsu.
Ichirou smiled fondly, "I remember being like that, too. I got my first proper job when I was over thirty."
"This is no laughing matter, Ichirou! The six need jobs! Today's society doesn't take jobless people that lightly. They treat them like trash!" Granny huffed.
"Calm down, Yuuka! I didn't mean it like that", Ichirou sweat dropped, "I could swear they're your sons or something by the way you treat them."
"But it's true! They ought to get jobs."
"Hmm, that's true, but I like to think that people all have their own pace", Ichirou mumbled in thought.
"You two would get along so well, you know", Granny sighed.
"How about asking your customers? They could have something Osomatsu could do", Ichirou pointed out, "I mean, it doesn't need to be anything big. He could just mow a lawn or something. Things old people are beginning to have trouble doing themselves."
"Jyushimatsu does help me with my garden from time to time… but could Osomatsu do the same?"
"At least give him the chance! It's not your garden he would be mowing", Ichirou laughed, kneading a huge clump of dough, "And besides, he'd also just keep them company. I know many old people whose family is too busy to visit them regularly."
"You do have a point there. I was lonely before the six of them appeared in my life", Granny nodded with a smile, "But how can we get the word out?"
"Hmm… A Part-time Bulletin Board!" Ichirou suddenly shouted.
"A part-time what?"
"Bulletin Board! Your customers can write the job they're offering and their contact info on a piece of paper and stick it on the board. Then, Osomatsu can come and pick out the ones he wants to do!"
"What about the ones he doesn't want to do?"
"Didn't you say one of the six was working a night shift? Tell him to quit and begin doing those! And I bet there's no rush to do any of the jobs. We old people have all the time in the world you know."
Granny sweat dropped, "How can you out of all people come up with something so marvelous?"
They both laughed.
They'd put up a bulletin board for the brothers before the first shift would begin and tell the regulars what it was about when they'd arrive.
The board, just as the two friends had expected, was a huge success.
After telling her regulars that Osomatsu would be the one doing the work, the old ladies offered him jobs at tasting their goods.
"He can taste my carrot cake!" one of them had told her with a smile, "I'm afraid it has a bit too much spices in it for my friends. He can test if that's the case."
"He could mow my lawn, then drink some tea and just talk with me for a while!" said another.
"He could come and help me clean around the house! Then we'd just stop after making more mess than clean up", laughed one.
"I'm sure he'd love that!" Granny told them all, explaining them what they had to write on the board for Osomatsu to read.
Granny saw it as a perfect idea. Osomatsu could eat pretty much anything and the old ladies, who weren't that confident in their skills, could get someone to judge their goods before their guests could taste them. He was also a very good talker and got along with pretty much everyone.
She couldn't wait to reveal the board to the six brothers. They'd be so happy.
The two had decided to reveal the board when the six where back from their vacation. No earlier.
She also wanted to talk with Todomatsu about an offer his manager had made the other day. He had suggested that Granny began making some pastries for them to serve with their coffee in the café.
Of course she had been super excited but the work load was a problem. She wasn't young and full or energy anymore, she admitted that. She simply couldn't make enough pastries to distribute outside her shop.
Jyushi would need to learn to bake by himself if that was going to ever happen. He was able to mold the bread but would either burn it or bake it for a too short period of time. Either way, his skills in the kitchen weren't meeting Granny's customers' standards just yet. Maybe with little practice.
The two shifts were soon over and the two childhood friends found themselves sitting in Granny's living room drinking tea.
"I wonder what the boys will say", Ichirou said, sipping his tea carefully, "About your customers offering them work."
Granny smiled fondly, petting Batter who was sitting on her lap, "I wonder. I bet Osomatsu will hug the living hell out of me. I've been a bit strict with him lately, after he made a mess in my shop chasing some poor dog around."
Ichirou could see the scene in his mind, "Haha! He'll think you have something up your sleeve after you offer him jobs like that! He will think the whole board is a joke meant for revenge."
"Hey! I'm not that mean!" Granny blushed.
Ginger and Stubby seemed to agree with their owner, seeing they were hissing at Ichirou from under the table.
"See? The cats agree with me", Ichirou snickered.
"I don't think they agree with you", Granny told him, "They agree with only me, their lovely owner."
Ichirou sighed and gave up. He knew how his friend could be like and decided that retreating would be the best move right now.
"Jyushimatsu plays baseball. Did I tell you that?" Granny suddenly asked, smiling proudly.
"He does? Is he any good?" Ichirou questioned with a smirk. Of course he had known, Granny wouldn't stop telling him about how 'his boy' could almost throw 80 meters or how he could hit homeruns like she could bake bread.
"Of course he is! I've even showed him my father's notes."
"Then he must be good", Ichirou agreed, "I remember your father writing those notes down. My old man did some, too, but they weren't as good. Said he'd use them to train me to become a pro someday."
"Cause your father was lazy. Mine took baseball seriously", Granny smirked.
"I guess so!" Ichirou laughed wholeheartedly.
The two new members of Granny's family were still sulking under the table.
Granny believed they were partly jealous of her friend, who was taking all her time away from the cats.
Ichirou had tried to pet the cats or scratch under their chins a couple of times, but was met with hisses and swatting paws. He had quickly given up and moved to quietly sipping his tea and giving ESP Kitty sitting on the table some pets.
ESP Kitty forgave the man's rough movements. He was used to men and rough treatment. The fifth Matsuno brother, who liked to pet him, wasn't very gentle with his moves. The cat knew Jyushimatsu was trying though and let him pet his back whenever.
Batter stared at the two from Granny's lap, trying to come to a conclusion about the man's behavior. He seemed nice enough to approach but being a former stray had left its mark on the cat. He had some serious trust issues.
"I better get going now", Ichirou told Granny after checking a text message he had gotten from his wife, "Hanako texted me and asked when I'd be back."
"She's feeling lonely, isn't she?" Granny smiled, "It's okay. I'll be getting my workers back tomorrow, too."
Ichirou laughed, "You're way too fond of the six. You should be encouraging them to grow up, not treat them like your kids."
Granny blushed. She wasn't going to admit anything. He did have a soft spot for cute animals and helpless sixtruplets, it seemed.
"Oh well. Call me if you need anything", Ichirou smiled as he was putting his shoes on to leave.
"I will. Tell Hanako I said hi", Granny told him, "She still has to tell me her secrets. How can she not suffer from joint pain like I do?"
"She's younger than you", Ichirou pointed out, laughing as he made his way back to his home, waving.
Granny sighed after Ichirou was out of sight.
She was tired.
Hanako had better share her magical remedies for her back or Granny was going to not be able to get off of bed some morning. She'd need to tell the cats to go and get Jyushimatsu. Then he'd need to lift her up so that she could make the day's baked goods. There was no way she was going to tolerate such embarrassment.
Granny served food to the hungry cats already waiting for her in the kitchen.
"He's a bit noisy isn't he?" Granny asked Ginger who was enjoying a male-free house once again, "He's always been like that. Ever since we met some seventy years ago. So there's no hope of him learning to be quiet."
ESP Kitty gave her a knowing look. If it was noise they were talking about, he knew all about it. Living with the Matsunos was nothing but quiet. The brothers could even turn a simple teeth brushing into a fight.
"Oh, right. I bet you know all about it", Granny said, "Six brothers can be loud, can they?"
The feline meowed in agreement, head in his food bowl.
It was a meal of tuna and chicken tonight.
Yes, the cats liked the two mixed up and served together as one big meal. Granny sometimes even added a special jelly made of pet-safe chicken broth. The cats absolutely loved it.
"Should I buy a new brand of dry food?" Granny asked the cat, knowing she was, in theory, talking to herself, "You haven't eaten any today."
She was referring to Batter and ESP Kitty.
Stubby and Ginger both ate their special food without complaint.
"I'm honestly spoiling you way too much", she sighed. She'd go and see if the pet shop had any better brands later.
Ginger yawned loudly. The day had been draining for the two newcomers, too, and they were both death tired.
Granny pet the two tired felines, "How about we watch the news and then go to bed? How does that sound?"
The cats seemed to like the plan, seeing they quickly finished their meal and jumped off the table to move into the living room.
"They haven't changed tomorrow's weather report. It still promises rain", Granny sighed, hoping the brothers had paid attention to the forecast.
Batter wrinkled his nose in disgust. Water wasn't one of his favorite things.
Granny yawned. Nothing interesting in the world today, it seemed.
Time to go to bed and sleep.
The three cats curled in their own beds this time, much to Granny's pleasure.
ESP Kitty curled next to Granny's pillow and began purring.
"Should we call Ichimatsu tonight?" Granny asked, scratching the cat from under the chin.
More purring.
A positive reply.
Granny made the call and the three spoke for about half an hour.
Ichi told them how the six brothers had gotten separated and how Choromatsu and Karamatsu had almost pissed themselves in their panic.
Granny laughed. Sounded like something the two would do.
He added that the two missing brothers had been alright all the time. Jyushimatsu had even caught himself a balloon.
Granny smiled, petting the purring cat sitting on her lap as they spoke with Ichimatsu. It was calming to hear how the six were doing.
Before ending the call, Granny wished the six brothers a nice end of the vacation, reminding Ichi to enjoy the rest of it.
Ichi promised he'd do just that.
He told Granny the brothers had even bought her a small souvenir. To which Granny blushed and told him they wouldn't have had to.
"I'll see you tomorrow then", Granny said.
"Mm, I'll come and pick up ESP Kitty at least. The train will arrive quite late, so we probably won't stay for long."
"Alright. See you."
"Yeah, bye."
Granny ended the call after hearing the beep on the other end.
"They seemed to be doing just fine", Granny smiled, lying down once again, shutting the bedside lamp.
ESP Kitty flopped next to her, meowing silently.
They both fell asleep with smiles on their faces.
All five happily slept in their own beds that night.