It was the hundredth time this year.
But did Ichimatsu care whether or not he wasn’t supposed to sneak out of his kindergarten class, wasn’t supposed to walk around on his own, or wasn’t supposed to walk to his big brother’s college? Not in the slightest. Kara-nii’s classmates always called him cute, and sometimes gave him gifts or food. Being the center of attention wasn’t necessarily something he liked, but the affection that came with it was wonderful.
So, here he was, marching along, out of his school uniform and comfortable in the clothes he had packed in his backpack. He always took something comfy, like a t-shirt and shorts, or the purple hoodie his mother had made him, matching with his other siblings. He hummed softly to himself as he walked down a familiar alleyway, out of the sight of the adults who might try to make him go back to school.
A small smile crossed his face as he looked at the kitten he’d met a few times before. It was a silly looking kitty, with yellow-orange fur, and what looked like blue glasses over his eyes. Ichimatsu knelt down, gently petting the kitten and putting his backpack down, fishing through it for a can of cat food, and then the can opener he often carried. At this point, he used it much more than anyone in the house, and Osomatsu-niisan got an automatic one, anyway, so it was basically his. He cranked open the can, and gently set it down before the kitty, a small smile on his face.
“ ... Here, neko-chan... I hope it’s good... I brought the yummy one today. Onii-chan said we have to conserve money a lot, but I put all my moneys together for you... Onii-chan says I can buy the good cat food with my money, but he’ll gimme the regular brand... but I want the best for neko-chan. I’m sorry I can’t... mm... spoil? Yeah, spoil you... ” He rarely talked, but more often than not, Ichimatsu found himself muttering to cats when he was alone. The child didn’t miss talking, no, and it wasn’t like the cats really understood speech more than his body language, but being around cats made him feel so at ease he didn’t mind talking to them. Maybe he’d start talking in full sentences to his brothers again someday, but for now he was happy with his nonverbal way of speaking, and his occasional word or two.
Once the kitty was done, he stood up, patting the kitten one more time, before packing everything up and putting his backpack on again, waddling off on his way again.
The walk to his nii-san’s school was a long one, but that didn’t bother Ichimatsu. With the sunshine’s rays warming his chubby cheeks, he felt like he could do anything! Oh, if only it wasn’t raining right now. He had an umbrella, but he had forgotten his coat at school. It was a casualty in his mission, but that was okay. He glanced back toward the alleyway, hoping neko-chan would be safe and warm in that box. One day, he’d bring a REAL shelter.
Folding up his umbrella, Ichi walked into a cafe and took out a bit of money he had been given for emergencies. Hot chocolate was an emergency!! Plus, it was really cold out... And he had enough left over for more food if he needed it. What else could be an emergency besides food?
He stood on his tiptoes, holding up his money, hoping it would be enough. They always gave him the right amount after, so he didn’t try to count it. While Ichi liked math, he wasn’t very advanced in it yet, and honestly? He was too lazy to; the cute look on his face was enough to get people to do things for him! Thankfully, this cafe knew him, too, so he didn’t even have to speak up. He pointed at the hot chocolate picture on the big menu as extra precaution, then waited patiently as the nice cash lady gave back the rest of his yen, opening up his backpack and grabbing the kitty coin purse he put his emergency money in, stuffing the rest inside.
Soon enough, he had his hot chocolate, sipping it as he sat in a booth for a little while to warm up. Well, it was time to get going again!
Ichimatsu put his back over his shoulders, grabbed his hot chocolate, and politely nodded his head at the cashier. He would have bowed, but he didn’t want to spill his drink! Out he went, heading for Karamatsu’s college.
By the time he made it to the campus, he was clinging to the last of his hot cocoa for warmth, shivering under his umbrella. He needed a poncho or something instead so he could keep his hands free more, since he was SUPPOSED to be sipping with two hands on his cup, but he was holding onto the umbrella to keep dry. He’d have to ask Onii-chan about that, he decided, walking inside the building his brother would be in. By now, he knew the schedule pretty well. Sometimes he’d be wandering aimlessly, but that was alright. People helped him.
Up the elevator he went, double checking that his umbrella was in the backpack and that he didn’t forget it. Sighing quietly, he looked around the elevator, finishing the hot chocolate and holding onto the empty cup. As the doors opened, he waddled out and found the nearest trash can, having to stand on his tip toes to throw it away. Off he went again, heading for the classroom.
First, a soft knock, and then...
“ Kara-nii. ” He was barely disrupting the class with such a soft voice, walking over to his big brother’s seat and putting his backpack on the floor by Karamatsu’s, then crawled onto his nii-san’s lap before he could protest. His city now.
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