He started buying more clothes than usual.
"You went shopping again? You're so shitty with your money," Ichimatsu peered around the corner as Karamatsu entered the house with a clothes bag in his hand, still not bothering to cover the "fight" marks that were noticeably getting worse each day.
"A-Ah! Well you see, fashion is constantly changing every day, so I want to be on top of it as much as possible! I must shine brighter than any sta-"
"Since when did you start buying smalls? Aren't you a large?" Ichimatsu pulled out a horrific blue diamond studded tank top while he was talking. He was tempted to tear it into shreds right then and there.
Karamatsu ripped it out of his hands and stuffed it back into the bag before Ichimatsu had a chance to protest. "Since when did you start to care so much about what I buy?" His voice had become slightly dangerous.
It's been a few days since the incident at the bar and Ichimatsu had been keeping track at his random outbursts since then. "I don't know why you're getting so worked up over this. I was just asking." This makes it number fifty-nine.
"Well maybe if you'd..." Karamatsu began, but was quick to shut it.
Ichimatsu felt a little agitated himself. Not knowing what's been going on in Karamatu's mind frustrated him more than it should. Before he'd been an open book, but now Ichimatsu can't read him at all.
Not knowing what was wrong with Karamatsu made Ichimatsu want to know even more.
He knew every secret in the family. Surprisingly, everyone went to him when they needed to talk to somebody. As sad as it was, they only confided in him because he had no one else to gossip or spread rumours too. Of course he could always tell his brothers some of the dirty things he's been told to from one another, but even he knows when some things are better kept down under.
"Look, you don't have to answer. Let's just drop it. I don't feel like fighting with you today, it's too hot," Ichimatsu reassured in defeat.
They held each other's gaze for a few moments. Karamatsu let out a sigh and finally took off his jacket to hang it up. Even if it was hotter than the devils vagina outside Karamatsu wouldn't be caught dead without his black leather jacket. Luckily he always wore a tanktop underneath, but it was the wrong day to wear one. Ichimatsu took a sharp breath.
His arms were almost stick thin.
"Karamatsu…" Ichimatsu gasped. Karamatsu pulled out a blue Matsu hoodie from the bag, a smaller sized one, and quickly threw it over.
"We better hurry and get the table ready for dinner." Karamatsu hoisted the shopping bag over his shoulder and lead the way.
The rest of their crew however were still out, leaving the table set up to the two of them. Ichimatsu was usually the one to do it alone, but was grateful for Karamatsu's help since he was home more regularly.
Ichimatsu had caught himself constantly checking out his brothers arms as he prepared, wondering if he'd even be able to wrap his hold hand around them if he tried. But ironically, Karamatsu was always the "fitness expert", per say, of the bunch. He would always wear his tank top because he had the muscles to do so. Why did this NEET, who thrived on physical beauty, start to look so physically unhealthy?
Ichimatsu broke the silence. "Karamatsu, are you sick?"
The sound of glass shattering against the matts responded. The older one had been bringing in the cups when he asked. Karamatsu held his breath.
Not receiving a quick answer, Ichimatsu asked again with a more concerned tone. "Are you feeling alright?"
Karamatsu scoffed, flipping his hair and winking. "I'm feeling more than alright, I'm feeling absolutely fantastic."
Ichimatsu, obviously not buying into his bullshit, wanted to press more into it when he phone began ringing. Kissing his teeth he got up, and swore he heard Karamatsu let out a relieved sigh when he left the room.
"Hello?" Ichimatsu answered.
"Heeyyyyy can I get an order of five pepperoni- HEY STOP I WAS TALKING-"
Ichimatsu moved the receiver away from his ear after almost going deaf from a clearly drunk Osomatsu. Chibita spoke next.
"OI, IDIOT. You stupid siblings need to learn how to handle your alcohol better, bastards." Drunk babbling and laughter could be heard in the background.
"Listen," Chibita continued, "your brothers went overboard with the drinking again, so I'm not entirely confident in letting them go home just yet." He sighed in disgust of what he was about to say next. "I don't live too far from here, it's much closer than yours so I'm planning to just let these dumbasses stay the night, it'll be safer anyway." Loud chants of "party at Chibita's" began to drown him out.
This happened once before with Ichimatsu. He drank his sorrows away one night by himself with Chibita, who then later gained Ichimatu's trust greatly which was very rare, and spent the night over at his place pouring out his soul in front of him. Needless to say it was heavily embarrassing, but he really handed it to Chibita for being able to put up with his shit. He owed him big time, and even bigger after tonight.
"Thanks, I'll come get them in the morning." He hadn't gotten the chance to say bye yet when he was cut off from a loud scream from Todomatsu yelling out "goodnight" to Ichimatsu. He gave a low chuckle and hung up.
Karamatsu had been setting out the rest of the plates for all six of them when Ichimatsu came back.
"We won't be needing the extra plates, they're too drunk to function right now so they'll be spending the night over at Chibita's." Ichimatsu sat down in his usual spot and sighed.
He didn't hear a response from the older one. Glancing over he noticed Karamatsu was staring at a plate that was now shaking in his hands.
"Okay…"
For a split second it was as if Karamatsu sounded desperate in the way he said that. Ichimatsu tossed it aside for now, he was hungry and didn't feel like digging into his brother's private life any further for today.
The two of them finished eating what turned out to be a feast since they didn't have the others with them to help. Ichimatsu laid back against the matt and patted his stomach. He was satisfied and contempt, while Karamatsu on the other hand...
"Mind if I turn on the radio?" He asked suddenly. Ichimatsu wasn't the type to listen to music, but didn't protest against. But not even a minute into the song Karamatsu had to announce that he was going to the washroom for a bit.
This had become the norm. The brothers would eat, and Karamatsu would always use the washroom right after. Ichimatsu took it as it was his body's time clock that just worked that way, there was nothing really out of the ordinary with that.
Ten minutes had passed now however, and Ichimatsu didn't like leaving the radio on if he wasn't going to listen to. It was a waste of energy and Karamatsu could just turn it on when he came back.
Ichimatsu glanced over at the clock once more, wondering why he always took so long, and then shut off the music.
At that same moment he heard a gag echo from the hallway.
