Todomatsu couldn't stop reading over Kin-chans messages Maybe… no, definitely, Choromatsu was right. If he'd checked his phone, they could've found karamatsu sooner. But it wasn't his fault! The only reason he was getting hatemail was because he'd posted trying so hard to find him.

He realized he should probably post again, thanking whomever tried to help him, let them know his brother came home.

'My brother finally came home! Thank you to everyone who helped! ^.^'

He waited for the inevitable backlash.

But instead, his notifications blew up with new followers.

kawaiitotty awe thats so sweet you worked so hard to find him and you did!

kawaiitotty Happy for you, Totty!

kawaiitotty Happy to help.

kawaiitotty ull have 2 take pix of u 2gether!

Until…

kawaiitotty as if you cared

He reread that message. Who sent it? Just some random person he'd never met. He checked their profile. It wasn't a dummy account, the posted regularly.

But every time he reread it…

'as if you cared'

…He could swear he heard Karamatsu saying it.

Soon, everything sounded like Karamatsu, bouncing between his painful kind words, to harsh words that brought a different kind of pain.

kawaiitotty you're such a good brother!

kawaiitotty good job, Totty!

kawaiitotty It took u that long? Wtf is wrong w u?

kawaiitotty Yay! Good 4 u!

You're a liar and a shit person kawaiitotty

kawaiitotty surprised ur bro's not dead tbh

He set his phone aside. Jyushimatsu had been reading over his shoulder for who knows how long. He hid his face, not knowing what expression he had on.

Jyushimatsu leaned in and whispered, "It's okay, Todomatsu."

In a familiar, painful voice.

Todomatsu stood and dragged his elder brother to the bathroom.

Once there, he sat on the floor, inviting Jyushimatsu to join him. Once they were both on the floor, silence reigned for less than a minute, before Totty gave in.

"Say more. Like that."

Jyushimatsu always seemed to know things, and the brothers had long since given up trying to work him out. In moments like this, Todomatsu was grateful for it.

"You did so much to help, thank you," Jyushimatsu said in a perfect imitation of Karamatsu's fake, painful voice. The one no one had heard since he came home. The one everyone secretly missed. The one Totty needed to hear those words in right now.

"You did all you could, I'm so proud of you."

Todomatsu just wished the real Karamatsu would say these things. And mean it.

They continued like that for maybe a couple minutes, before Totty felt like he'd cry if he heard another word of comfort from that voice, but not from the source he truly needed it from.

As they left the bathroom they came upon Ichimatsu trailing after Osomatsu towards the front door.

"Where are you going, Nii-san?"

"We're following Karamatsu," Osomatsu replied, putting on his shoes.

"I wanna play the stalking game, too!"

Ichimatsu shushed him a bit too late, as Choromatsu stomped to the genkan and crossed his arms.

"Who, exactly, are you stalking?"

"Karamatsu. Are you coming or not, Choroshikoski?"

An indignant look crossed his features, but before he could retort, Jyushimatsu bounded over to him.

"Yeah, Nii-san! Let's all go!"

He sighed, uncrossed his arms, and silently went to put on his shoes.

Todomatsu checked his phone. 3072 new followers in just a few minutes. He put his phone back in his pocket, not bothering to check his other notifications.

The group set out in the last direction they saw Karamatsu headed, realizing after a few blocks where he was probably (hopefully) headed. Best case scenario: Chibita's stand; worst case scenario: running away again.

They picked up the pace in sync, until they were about a block from the cart. Totty could see it from there. Karamatsu was the only customer present. He sneaked closer, following Osomatsu's lead, trying to get close enough to hear but not be seen.

Behind a series of bushes, they crept closer.

"...still think it's weird. I mean, you didn't even bring me flowers, you're actually paying, and you're hardly talking!"

"Not much to say," he heard Karamatsu reply in that dull voice he was quickly coming to dislike, significantly more than that fake, deep voice. Maybe because, while this wasn't his true voice, it wasn't really fake.

"You always have something to say!" Chibita retorted, before correcting himself, "Rather, you talk a lot, but don't end up saying much."

Todomatsu found himself angry at that comment, replaced with confusion when Karamatsu barked out a short laugh, avoiding eye contact with Chibita the whole time.

"Guess so, huh?"

He said it quietly enough that Totty unconsciously inched closer to hear better, accidentally rustling the bushes and drawing Chibita's attention.

Before the shorter man could call them out, Osomatsu covered, emerging from the bushes as though he hadn't been hiding.

"Oi, Chibita! You got five more customers! Load up some plates!"