"Matsuno-san, you don't talk that much do you?" His co-workers told him.

Jyushimatsu just shrugged and chuckled. The deed came unnaturally to him. Rather than laughing, he felt like he was just forcing the wind out of his throat.

"You always talk to that weird guy… Hatabou? Were you friends?"

Jyushimatsu kept his lips closed and just nodded. He did not really feel like adding anything else to that.

"Well I guess you're pretty normal." Another one of his co-workers said, "but try to talk more and at least smile."

'Smile?' Jyushimatsu thought.

Was he not smiling the whole time? But that's what he always did before. He used to always smile, even when the situation was serious or if nothing was really funny. He used to always have this huge smile on his face.

Jyushimatsu looked at the van's window and saw his reflection. His skin was pale and his lips were dry. His eyes were reddish and there were bags under his eyes. But the feature that he was most worried about was the fact that his face was blank. It felt like he was looking at someone else, one of his brothers perhaps? But no, this one was Jyushimatsu. This was him.

Jyushimatsu tried to stretch his lips into a grin but had to let go instantly. It felt so hard for something he had done so casually before.

Smile. Just smile.

But how could he smile, when there was no happiness inside his heart? It felt as empty as that sleepless tired face reflected before him.

He was already forcing himself and when it felt too much of a burden he had to stop.

Jyushimatsu placed a hand on his reflection. If this was the Jyushimatsu now, he had no other choice but to accept it.

But those thoughts vanished as if they had not been made only a few moments ago because now, Jyushimatsu had found the will to smile again!

And all it took was one look at the little brother who looked exactly like him.

Jyushimatsu walked back to their house with Todomatsu. Todomatsu asked him about his work and Jyushimatsu told his younger brother how his bag looked good with his outfit.

They also talked about getting Jyushimatsu a new smartphone and Todomatsu was more than willing to help him look for a good cheap one. Jyushimatsu was already excited for it. He's not really excited about the device, but just the idea that he would get to spend a day shopping with Totty made his heart leap with joy.

Somehow they managed to stay away from talking about 'it' until they finally arrived in front of the house.

Todomatsu sighed, "Jyushimatsu-niisan. Are you ready?"

Jyushimatsu just nodded, but this time his smile stayed.

"It's gonna be alright Totty." He said to his little brother with a grin, "this is home. Nothing wrong can happen as long we're together."

This was it. The reason why he could not smile at all before: he had not been home for what felt like a thousand lifetimes for Jyushimatsu.

He clutched his chest. His heart felt like about to burst. Just being there with them makes him so very happy.

They both opened the door, "we're home!"

The two of them started to put their shoes away as footsteps came rushing towards them.

"Welcome home!" Karamatsu said in surprise.

"I'm home." Jyushimatsu declared.

Karamatsu instantly embraced them to their surprise. Choromatsu followed Karamatsu and just crossed his arms as he looked at the three with a smile on his face. Everything felt right in place.

"Karamatsu-niisan, were you crying? What happened?" Todomatsu asked.

Choromatsu looked away and softly said, "Karamatsu-niisan had… a nightmare."

"I don't mind this though." Jyushimatsu said as he embraced Karamatsu back tightly.

Todomatsu easily removed himself from the group hug and went to Choromatsu.

"You didn't tell me you were coming. How is Osomatsu-niisan?" Todomatsu asked. He was quite suspicious.

"He's still sleeping. We gave him pills last night. He was having a hard time to sleep." Choromatsu answered straight-faced.

Karamatsu was still petting Jyushimatsu when he looked back at Choromatsu. He was actually amazed at how easily his brother could lie.

"Ok." Todomatsu finally accepted. "We can all have breakfast then."

"YES! BREAKFAST!"

Jyushimatsu greeted his mother as well and was happy to be petted by her. He was around his co-workers for too long that it it felt so refreshing to act like a kid again around his family members.

The three finally told Jyushimatsu what happened over breakfast. Choromatsu started with how their mother called him and how they had to put Osomatsu through therapy. Karamatsu and Todomatsu shared how Osomatsu had been doing while they were taking care of him. Jyushimatsu just listened without a word. He could not believe that all this had happened while he was out of town.

After they told Jyushimatsu everything, everything except last night, the room was quiet again. Todomatsu was starting to yawn, clearly he needed to sleep soon.

"So what was Osomatsu-niisan's dream about?" This was the only question Jyushimatsu really wanted to ask.

Todomatsu, Choromatsu and Karamatsu looked at each other.

"I guess it was about baseball? Some invitational I suppose." Todomatsu thought carefully.

"Baseball!" Jyushimatsu said eagerly. "Were we there?"

"Of course buraza! We were all there!" Karamatsu assured him happily.

"I remember Osomatsu-niisan said that we lost the first time and then we met Coachmatsu and we trained for a year." Choromatsu added.

"Coachmatsu? What's he like?" Jyushimatsu asked.

"I dunno. He's some mysterious character. Anyway he died or something..." Choromatsu answered.

"I heard that he lived again like some ghost to guide us. Osomatsu-niisan talks to him every now and then while staring at the sky." Todomatsu recalled.

"I haven't heard about that part." Choromatsu said, "but do you know that even when we released our full power after training for a year we still lost to aliens."

"I guess we're still losers even in alternate universes." Todomatsu shrugged and laughed.

"Aliens! Baseball! Coachmatsu! BASEBALL! BASEBALL" Jyushimatsu just shouted, eyes bright.

Jyushimatsu looked around happily. Compared to their previous story this one was really fun. Choromatsu knew the first part of the story well and Todomatsu and Karamatsu had to continue the story. Todomatsu knew a lot about the training part and Karamatsu could even recall the matches. Jyushimatsu laughed with them and he felt like he was truly a part of the story.

Like it wasn't just a story, but a memory.

"I think Osomatsu-niisan will be better soon." Jyushimatsu suddenly said.

"Why do you think that?" Karamatsu asked, the story about last night was still on his tongue, threatening to come out.

"This dream he had, we always did this. Osomatsu-niisan would come up with some scenario and we played along every time. And it was SO FUN! Osomatsu-niisan was just lonely. When we all left he had no choice but to play with his imaginary brothers and it turned out to be one of the best things he could come up with. But now..."

Jyushimatsu stood up and stretched his arms wide.

"We're almost complete. We just have to find Ichimatsu-niisan and we would be complete. If he sees us all together maybe he wouldn't need to imagine anymore. He could play with us again!"

Choromatsu then raised his hand to speak, "About that, I still have no lead on where Ichimatsu is." He reported.

"No word from Chibita nor Iyami either." Karamatsu added.

"I have nothing as well. I even posted his picture online." Todomatsu frowned.

"It's ok! It's ok! We'll find him. Cats are smart and they can remember the way home."

The the three smiled at each other and to Jyushimatsu. Their brother's warm glowing smile lit up the house once more and upon seeing it, somehow everything felt like it was getting better.

"Now…" Jyushimatsu's smile got smaller, "may I see Osomatsu-niisan?"

.

.

Choromatsu and Karamatsu stayed by the door while Todomatsu and Jyushimatsu entered the room. Osomatsu was still there sleeping, like how they left him. They did not know when the pill's effect would wear off but Osomatsu needed all the rest he could get.

Jyushimatsu slowly walked towards Osomatsu. He then sat down and bowed low in front of him.

"I'm home, Osomatsu-niisan."

Jyushimatsu sat up and smiled, "You were very lonely, right? Don't worry…we're here now."

Jyushimatsu yawned and stretched. He then crawled towards Osomatsu and embraced him as he cuddled beside him.

Jyushimatsu buried his face on Osomatsu's side while Todomatsu followed and slept on the other side.

Karamatsu looked at Choromatsu. Choromatsu just placed a finger over his lips. Only the two of them could know what happened last night.

Karamatsu looked back at the three and saw Jyushimatsu's shoulder trembling. He smiled and laid next to him. He wrapped an arm around his younger brother's shoulder and cuddled closer.

"We're so sorry oniisan." Karamatsu heard his little brother whisper. "We're so sorry."

"Oh, my little Jyushimatsu..." he cooed as he gently patted Jyushimatsu, "you're tired aren't you… go to sleep...you can play with Osomatsu-niisan when you wake up."

Jyushimatsu nodded. "Un."

.

.

.

Osomatsu felt heavy when he woke up. There was something over his body and he felt his arms restricted. He opened his eyes and saw his brothers sleeping around him. Jyushimatsu and Todomatsu each on his side, Karamatsu beside Jyushimatsu and Choromatsu a little bit further from Todomatsu.

Osomatsu looked around at the gentle sleeping faces and could not tell if this was a dream or not. He had dreamed and played a scene similiar to this so many times in his loneliness that it was really hard to tell now.

Jyushimatsu then moved in his sleep and Osomatsu saw the splint on his hand. It was then that Osomatsu had became certain that he was awake.

"What … happened?" He muttered.

'Jyushimatsu was injured.' Was all he could think of.

He started to worry.

His heart started to race and the air felt too heavy to inhale. Suddenly he was having trouble breathing.

When? What caused it? And to Osomatsu's rage, he even worried about who caused this? Jyushimatsu was clumsy and reckless but he was strong. No matter what you throw at him, he would always bounce back with a smile on his face. That was always the case. An injury like this, to his baseball arm nonetheless was something that should not be ignored.

Karamatsu slowly woke up and the first thing he noticed was that Osomatsu was already up before him.

"Buraza you're awake? Let me get you something to eat — buraza?" he asked when he noticed Osomatsu's terrified eyes.

"Choromatsu, wake up." Karamatsu suddenly called. In an instant Choromatsu was up and alert.

Choromatsu instantly processed what was happening and was already near Osomatsu in a heartbeat.

"What's wrong oniisan? We're here."

Todomatsu and Jyushimatsu both woke up due to the sound and movements around their sleeping bodies. Of course the first person they looked at was their eldest brother.

"Osomatsu-niisan. What's wrong?" Todomatsu asked while Jyushimatsu just looked worriedly.

Osomatsu breathed heavily. He clutched his chest as his eyes roamed around the room wildly.

"Give him some space." Choromatsu said signaling the other brothers to back up and they obeyed without another word.

Seeing how Choromatsu was handling the situation, Karamatsu hurried to go downstairs with the intent to get some glass of water.

Osomatsu suddenly screamed startling Choromatsu. Todomatsu tried to reach out but pulled his hand back.

"Osomatsu-niisan." Jyushimatsu called and all Osomatsu could see was the bounded hand.

Osomatsu pulled further away. "No..." his voice barely audible.

Osomatsu screamed once more and the three stepped back from him. Osomatsu then took this opportunity to run towards the door.

However, Todomatsu was instantly in front of him, blocking his way.

Osomatsu looked at Todomatsu and saw his worried little face. The same face he hit with his own fist.

Osomatsu bit his lip and shoved Todomatsu out of the way. Todomatsu did not even fight back. His eyes full of shock and fear as he let his older brother cast him aside. The way Osomatsu looked at him brought him back to that day before he left.

Choromatsu blinked and paused for a few seconds before he snapped and realized what happened.

"He's running away Karamatsu-niisan!" Choromatsu shouted downstairs. He knew that Karamatsu could stop him.

Jyushimatsu sped past Choromatsu and jumped down passing by the whole stairs.

Karamatsu hurried towards the door. He saw Osomatsu grabbing his shoes and fleeing out the door.

Karamatsu leaped towards him but Osomatsu managed to get away from him. Karamatsu stood up again and realized that Jyushimatsu was already with him downstairs.

"Choromatsu! Tell mom what happened and call the police to help us look for him." Karamatsu ordered as he hurriedly put his shoes on.

Choromatsu was already halfway down the stairs when he heard Karamatsu's orders.

Choromatsu gulped. "Understood." He said.

The two ran outside and started shouting for Osomatsu's name. Choromatsu was already going towards the phone when he thought about something. He went back up the stairs again.

Totty was still in the middle of the room. He was still in the same position Osomatsu left him with, shock written all over his face.

Choromatsu sat down beside him and placed a hand on Todomatsu's shoulder. "Are you ok?"

Todomatsu slowly turned to Choromatsu. "How about Osomatsu-niisan?"

Choromatsu could hear his brothers' voices outside, slowly fading and going away. They were probably a block away by now.

"They will find him. Don't worry."