[Although his words weren’t necessarily “true,” since their
oldest brother had remained home as well, they might as
well be. After all, Osomatsu barely spoke to him anymore;
and hell, even if he did, Ichimatsu had become so listless
and despondent that he might not even reply. There was
practically nothing to live for anymore in his eyes, since
his brothers and his cats were the only ones holding him
together. Everyone he had cared about was gone, from his
“responsible” third brother to the younger brothers that he
secretly cherished.]
[Calling Todomatsu, the second brother to abandon them,
was more of a “last resort.” He sure as hell couldn’t talk to
Osomatsu, and he wasn’t about to contact Jyushimatsu...
he...couldn’t handle that right now. He was certain that he’d
wind up breaking down over the phone...then again, he was
bound to do so by calling Totty, too. The youngest had been
adamant about leaving, and even Ichimatsu couldn’t coax
him into staying...so there was no way in hell that he would
be supportive of his plight.]
[Perhaps that was what the fourth brother was seeking; a
way out that would involve no longer suffering through this,
and the confirmation that nobody cared about him, though
Totty wasn’t necessarily a representation of everybody he
knew. If he didn’t want to live anymore, if his brothers were
never going to come back...then what point was there in
continuing?]
[Unsurprisingly, Todomatsu’s tone was curt and blunt; he
should’ve listened and tagged along, though even now, he
was aware that that definitely wouldn’t have helped. This...
could’ve been avoided if Totty had simply stayed, r-right?
Then again, there was no telling whether the order of who
left mattered...]
[Ichimatsu’s grip on the phone tightened; this would all be
solved if he could just drop dead. Talking to Todomatsu,
knowing he’d never come back, it -- it hurt. There was no
going back after all of this. None of them would behave the
same way again. They could never return to their old ways,
and this was all pointless...]
[Why had he even bothered calling? Why was he still so
dependent on his brothers’ feelings before committing? He
should’ve just ran away, overdosed and died on the street
already, but...here he was, the same stupid NEET.]
...I don’t know what I expected. [He grumbled, in what was
clearly a trembling voice, no matter how much he tried to
conceal it.] Y-You’re still the same two-faced demon...
Joining you wouldn’t have helped. E-Everybody is gone...
and...nothing can change that. Wh-Why did you have to --
to ABANDON us? Why couldn’t you just stay...? There’s
nothing worth living for now, y-you...stupid bastard...
...Wh-Whatever. [His finger hovered over the “end call”
button; he could end this and just cave into his suicidal
impulses if he merely touched it, but...he wasn’t ready.]
...You probably don’t care. I hope you’re happy.
