Ichimatsu awoke, startled to find that he felt a bit better than normal. His head ached worse than ever before, but for once, Ichimatsu felt like he would be able to get out of bed on his own. So, he did just that.

Having slept on the edge, Jyushimatsu in the middle, and Karamatsu on the other end, Ichimatsu was able to get out of it without awakening them.

Karamatsu had a distressed look on his face, most likely having a bad dream.

Ichimatsu couldn't help but notice that Jyushimatsu had the exact same expression on his face.

"They have absolutely nothing in common, meaning they wouldn't be able to share dreams, right...?" Ichimatsu thought to himself, walking into the small motel bathroom to brush his teeth.

Moments later, after having finished brushing his teeth, running the faucet to clean out the sink, Ichimatsu heard Jyushimatsu cry out.

Body aching, Ichimatsu tried his best to run back into the main room to see what in the world was wrong.

"Nii-san?!" Jyushimatsu cried out, crawling around in the bed, his head moving frantically back and fourth. "Where are you?!"

"I'm right here..." Ichimatsu mumbled, leaning against the wall for a little support. "I felt a bit better today..."

Jyushimatsu looked over at Karamatsu, and then back at Ichimatsu, trembling.

Jyushimatsu whimpered a little, sitting up in the bed. He tried to speak, but no words would come out. Never in his life had he felt the mental pain he did at that moment.

"I'm right here..." Ichimatsu sighed, trying his best to walk back to the bed. "You don't have to get upset..."

Jyushimatsu pulled the bed sheets up to his face, beginning to sob. Usually, if he had been alone, he wouldn't have done this. But right now, he didn't want Ichimatsu to see his tears. He had to be strong for him. He had to.

"Calm down...I'm right here..." Ichimatsu attempted to soothe, but his voice began to sound strained.

Then, without any warning, Ichimatsu's legs gave out from beneath him, sending him to the floor. Blowing his head on a cheat of drawers, the entire world went dark for the teenage boy.

Jyushimatsu heard the thump and waited to hear a groan, a moan, a cry, or any sign of life. But there was absolutely nothing. Silence hung in the air.

"N-N-N-Nii-s-s-s-san...?" Jyushimatsu stuttered, his jaw shaking so hard that he felt as if it would just snap right off his face.

Heart thudding, Jyushimatsu jumped out of the bed and ran to his brother, breathing more and more heavily.

He choked back a sob as he shook his brother's body, praying for a response.

There was nothing.

Feeling his around on his brother's chest, Jyushimatsu checked to see if his brother had a heartbeat. He recalled his kindergarten teacher telling him to do this if someone wouldn't respond.

Jyushimatsu felt goosebumps on his arms, feeling around on his brother's chest, searching for that familiar, steady thump. But all he felt his brother's rib cage.

Jyushimatsu began to wonder if his teacher knew where people's hearts were.

"Nii-san wake up..." Jyushimatsu whined, still feeling around on Ichimatsu, searching for a heartbeat. "Wake up! Wake up!"

Karamatsu sat up in bed, gasping for aid, clutching his chest. Eyes wide with a panicked look on his face, he had been startled awake.

"Jyushimatsu...? Ichimatsu..?" Karamatsu asked sleepily. "Where are you?"

"On the floor!" Jyushimatsu cried out, beginning to cry.

Frightened by the distressed sounds his little brother was making, Karamatsu jumped out of bed, slid on his white bath robe, then rushed to his brother's side.

"What happened?!" Karamatsu nearly yelled when he saw Ichimatsu's body.

"H-H-He..." Jyushimatsu whimpered, collapsing over his purple clothed body, sobbing into Ichimatsu's hoodie. "He fell!"

"Fell?" Karamatsu asked, trying to remain calm. "Here, move out of the way..."

Karamatsu pried Jyushimatsu off of Ichimatsu, and slid his hand under the teen's shirt to check for a heartbeat.

There was nothing.

Karamatsu went pale, his eyes widening.

"No..." Karamatsu wheezed, breathing out of his mouth. "No this isn't...not again...no...he said..."

Jyushimatsu looked up at Karamatsu, quickly hugging his brother from the side, crying into his bath robe.

"I'm sorry, Ichimatsu..." Karamatsu mourned to himself, not speaking out loud. "I failed at being the good brother you always wanted...again, huh?"