video; un: ny4n

[ichimyatsu]

[You'd be surprised by how hard it is to set up a phone for a video post while sitting on a rebellious pre-teen who is a ten year old version of one of your five brothers-- but he won't tell you which. That, by the by, happens to be precisely what Ichimatsu Matsuno is doing at this particular moment, the feed kicking on to him frowning irritably at the screen with his hands clearly on either side of the device while he tries to make it stand upright.]

[When he sits back the scene gets a little stranger, because he is, in fact, sitting on a tiny version of what looks like himself if he ever brushed his hair and slept. He actually hisses at the boy beneath him and sits on him to prevent some of his wild flailing, and then glares back at the video feed.]

Can somebody tell me which Matsuno this little shit is? He's one of my brothers but inexplicably tiny and he won't tell me who he is.

Comments

i'm sorry for him,

[ichimyatsu]

[Deadpan.]

Who are you to say we aren't?

he's pure ok

[exfine]

W-Well, Karamatsu-kun is such a sweetheart so I'm sure you're just as well, um...

[ shit what's this one's name again ]

ndfjknk tsumugi i'm so sorry

[ichimyatsu]

Ichimatsu, [He finishes for him without thinking-- he's so used to people forgetting who is who it's second nature since childhood. He inhales, holds his breath a moment, and then huffs a gusty sigh.]

Karamatsu is "sweet" [The word comes accompanied with air quotes.] because you haven't grown up with him. He's obnoxious and overly saccharine in the way a shitty cup of coffee is drowned in sugar to make it not taste like shitty coffee. He's fake. He's self-absorbed, and he's annoying about it. I could go on, but I don't know how much of his dramatic personality started at the age he is now and the last fucking thing I want is for him to start crying.

im sorry too ichi

[exfine]

[ And Tsumugi's slowly cowering at the sighy of Ichimatsu just... ranting. TBH Tsumugi would probably be the same in regards to his own older brother, but he still loves him just as much!

Even though his love is one-sided. ]

I-I'm sorry! I didn't know he can make you feel that way, Ichimatsu-kun! I just thought that he's incredibly sweet when he talked to me that one time, a-and if he's friends with Eichi-kun then maybe he might not be that bad? I'm really sorry! Your feelings for him are valid, I swear!

gfnbjkfgn SAVE THIS POOR PURE IDOL

[ichimyatsu]

[He can't tell if he's annoyed by Tsumugi's fussing or if he feels like he's kicked a puppy, but he's vaguely frustrated by it all the same.]

You don't have to validate my dislike of my annoying brother. You can like him if you want, really.

[exfine]

But wouldn't it make you more uncomfortable? But if you insist...

[ Okay. Breathe in and out. ]

A-Anyways, I'm sure that he'll turn back to normal soon enough. I've talked to the one who's responsible and they're working on a cure. I just hope it won't take too long.

[ichimyatsu]

I'm always uncomfortable, really, it's fine.

[Well that was blunt.]

I'll agree with that.

[exfine]

[ He doesn't mind the bluntness; in fact he prefers it if people can give it to him straight instead of beating around the bush. That's what friendship is supposed to be, right? ]

Just hang in there, Ichimatsu-kun! If you want, I can help you look after Karamatsu-chan till then.

[ichimyatsu]

[Maybe not so much about friendship, but he'll certainly tell it to you straight. He rolls his eyes a little.]

He's not my responsibility so you can do what you want with him. Kane is also wanting to look after him-- I don't get any of you.

[exfine]

It's because we're friends, Ichimatsu-kun. That said, I'd be just as honored to be friends with you as well, if you're all right with that.

[ Yay, friendship! ]

[ichimyatsu]

[He makes a sort of gurgling sound.]

I don't have friends. [But oh, he wants them.]

[exfine]

[ ...Ah. ]

It's a start. I'm not going to pressure you or anything, but if you want someone to hear you out, I'd be willing to lend an ear. I'm a good listener.

[ichimyatsu]

[His shoulders hunch inward and he frowns.]

I don't need a therapist. [Yes he does. Please befriend him, Tsumugi, please let him talk to you about cats.]

[exfine]

I'm not going to act as your therapist! Just someone you can vent all your troubles to when you need to. It's one of my few redeeming traits, you know.

[ If anything, Tsumugi needs a therapist more than he does, but that's a story for another day. ]

[ichimyatsu]

Is that not what a therapist does.

[exfine]

I won't take notes of your mental diagnoses, don't worry. I'm not that kind of person.

[ crosses his heart, hopes to die ]

[ichimyatsu]

The fact that you thought of it makes me uneasy.

[exfine]

Do you not trust me? ...Ah, of course you don't. We've only just met after all.

But anyways, let me know if you need any help taking care of your brother. I'm aaalways available.