Chapter Text
down by the bay
It’s been two days since Karamatsu went missing, which wasn’t as alarming as it sounded but he never called home, only took himself and his wallet. The brothers were getting antsy, Choromatsu pacing while Jyushimatsu rocked a ball in his palms back and forth to keep himself from exploding with unbridled anxiousness. Osomatsu seemed nonchalant but his fists sat clinched against the fabric of his jeans as he flipped through a manga. Todomatsu glanced back down at his phone with a frown knit on his face as if expecting a call, Ichimatsu at his side as he slowly rubbed the flank of his cat, his expression nearly unreadable save for the worried eye bags.
“We can’t keep waiting around for him, let’s go look for him.” Osomatsu finalized, closing his book and standing up. Everyone’s gaze shifted to him, varying levels of expression akin to agreement before they all got up wordlessly. Not even Ichimatsu piped up to disagree, gripping the edges of his hoodie too tight to focus on speaking. They left the house, piping out to their mother before they made their way to find their missing brother. The search proved fruitless, every turn ending up with no answer for them. Chibita hadn’t seen him since they’d last came to eat oden, which unfortunately was a week or so ago, Totoko hadn’t seen him, Iyami could barely tell them apart so that hadn’t helped either. After an hour or so of dead ends, Jyushimatsu piped up loudly.
“Let’s check the forest! By the river stream that leads to the bay, Karamatsu nii-san likes to head there sometimes!” He flapped his arms estatically, though the hope that perhaps he’d be there making his way back home was etched into his features. The radiating feeling slowly affected the other siblings as well, a smile reaching Osomatsu’s wary face as he nodded. “Let’s go NEETS! We’ve got a brother to find!” He rubbed his finger beneath his nose, nervous habit popping back up. A chorus of responses sounded as they quickly made their way to where the river started nearest the city.
where the watermelon rot
It was much later in the day, Jyushimatsu taking the lead with Ichimatsu as a makeshift sniffer dog, the other brothers following after the loudest sibling. “I hope we find Karamatsu-niisan soon, it’s so hot out today, I feel like I’ll sweat buckets.” Todomatsu whined, a pout on his lips as he held onto Choromatsu’s hoodie. “Stop complaining Totty, I’m sure we’ll find him soon so c’mon. You’re lagging behind again!” Choromatsu chided, waiting as the pink matsu sped up a bit with a huff. Osomatsu chuckled softly, shaking his head a bit at the two before he quickly skidded to a halt. He opened his mouth to retort why Ichimatsu had stopped so suddenly but quickly shut it when he saw the wary look on Jyushi’s face.
“N-Nii-san. I smell blood.” He started quietly, startlingly different from his normal demeanor. The oldest brother bit his lip and tightened his gaze, staring at what had them halted. It was a splatter if blood amongst the leaves, not fresh but definitely not more than a day old. His gaze drifted up to his brothers’ faces as his brows furrowed, teeth grit as he read their expressions. Jyushimatsu’s smile seemed pinched, near dropping whilst he gripped Ichimatsu’s hand tightly, who in turn just stared at the blood with pursed lips. Todomatsu already seemed squeamish, ready to cling closer to Choromatsu who was already paling at the sight of the crimson stain.
“I’m sure that it’s nothing major, probably injured himself trying to look cool.” Osomatsu piped up, a forced chuckle passing his lips as he urged the others to move forward, guiding the two squeamish brothers from the spot before tugging Ichimatsu away from staring.
if you go home, just don’t get caught
It was nearing sunset, the sun still piercing through the treetops to shine upon the brothers in its last few waking hours. Jyushimatsu seemed to be leading them closer and closer, claiming the smell of Karamatsu was getting close by. It was startling, the smell of iron thick in the area, suffocating and threatening. Choromatsu stopped for a moment to gag, pulling his hoodie up to mask the smell. Even Ichimatsu’s expression broke, the fourth brother making a noise as he pulled his mouth mask up. Jyushimatsu’s smile fell completely, stiffening in his tracks as he caught whiff of something entirely different from Karamatsu and blood. He slapped a sleeve covered hand over his nose, shoulders shifting forward in a gag as he turned to his eldest brother, eyes wide. Osomatsu looked at him, catching on to the same smell. The rot was evident, the heat of the season having quickly caused the smell to start up. They quickly began following it with morbid curiosity and worry.
but if you do, my mother will say
He could feel his sweatshirt stick to his back with the sweat, whether caused by the evening sun or by his anxiousness was up to debate, the red cloth becoming more and more suffocating as they ran. Osomatsu could feel the fear prickle at the edges of his heart, limbs threatening to give if he stopped running at any moment. They had finally managed to head near the middle of the forest, right where the river ran through, the sound of rushing waters meeting their ears. That smell, that same damned smell was the strongest, masking anything else. It smelled of death here. He could hear Todomatsu give a soft whimper from behind him, Jyushimatsu coming up to grip at his sleeve and forcing him to look at his terrified brother. The usual smile was gone in place of a look of fear, eyes wide and uncertain and they could both feel the same awful thought in their heads.
you don’t wanna know what’s outside the windows
They headed down the small hill towards the river bank, being careful not to slip and fall. It took a second of gazing around before he heard a hitched breath, the voice of Ichimatsu cutting through the momentary silence. “K-Karamatsu-niisan, he’s-“ he could hear him say but quickly cut himself off, shaky hand pointing towards a figure laying several feet from them. The same unmistakable blue hoodie, bowl cut and tanned skin. Ice cold terror washed through Osomatsu and before he knew what he was doing, he rushed down to the body, legs buckling beneath him as he fell beside his brother. Dried blood stained his cheeks and hoodie, hair still somehow wet with the iron laced fluid. His eyes were open, glazed over with ghostly finality with knit brows of fear and confusion. His neck had slowly fading bruises and his other belongings were gone, wallet stolen and shades shattered.
Osomatsu could barely even hear the heaves of Choromatsu and the choked off whimpers from Todomatsu over the rushing in his ears.
They’d finally found Karamatsu, lying dead by a river bank.
down by the bay