Tossing and turning all night long, Ichimatsu found himself lost in a sickening dream. It was one of those dreams where, not only do you feel helpless, but you also feel trapped and confused, where everything you do just gets you nowhere.

"Stop!" Ichimatsu screamed at the top of his lungs. "Please stop!"

The small boy huddled in the corner, hiding his head in between his knees, cowering in fear.

"Hey? Do you see that?" someone spat loudly above him. "He's HIDING from us? Can you believe that? Little Matsuno is SCARED!"

A roar of laughter filled the school hallways as a few salty tears ran down Ichimatsu's cheeks. Sniffing, he wiped them away with his school uniform sleeve, still refusing to stand to his feet.

"What are you gonna do? Sit in the corner and cry? Nobody feels sorry for you!" another kid laughed. "Who could feel sorry for such a loser like you?"

"Get away from my brother!" Karamatsu yelled angrily, storming down the school hallway, throwing his school bag onto the ground. Grabbing one of the bullies by their shirt collar, he punched them in the face. Hard. Very hard.

"Help!" one of the bullies howled in anguish. "Help me! I'm being attacked!"

"Liar!" Osomatsu hissed from behind Karamatsu. "We saw you picking on our little brother. I mean, those were some great insults you said there, but nobody messes with Ichimatsu. That's my job."

"Oh, so you hate his guts too?" one of the kids snorted. "What a surprise. To think someone in his family would love him is just stupid." Several kids shook their head, disgusting smirks on their faces.

"Hi guys!" Todomatsu called sweetly, walking down the hallway. But his innocent voice quickly fell when he saw Ichimatsu in the corner.

"Oh, Todomatsu!" several girls squealed, crowding around him, but the youngest Matsuno quickly pushed his way through them.

Sitting on the ground next to his brother, Todomatsu held out his hand. "Are you alright?" he asked, pulling his sullen brother to his feet.

Ichimatsu nodded his head.

"I'm fine..." he sighed, a small smile spreading across his face when he saw Jyushimatsu running down the hallway with Choromatsu and the principal.

"Are you sure?" Todomatsu asked.

"I think..." Ichimatsu mumbled, trying to escape whatever was about to happen.

"Excuse me, Ichimatsu," the principal said loudly as he dismissed the rest of the students to their next class. "I'd like to see you in my office after school today."

Dread filled the young child's heart as he nodded his head slowly. He couldn't possibly imagine what trouble he would get into this time. It seemed like he was always getting into fights with those same bullies. And it kept getting worse and worse.

Sighing, Ichimatsu quickly caught up with Todomatsu and Karamatsu. It was slightly comforting to know that two of his brothers were going to be in his final class for the day.

But as soon as the class ended, his two brothers abandoned him. They didn't even wait to walk with him for support as he went to the principal's office. Of course, Choromatsu did. But he only did this because he was part of the student council, as well as the principal's disgusting "straight A" pet.

Choromatsu didn't say a single word to Ichimatsu as he walked with him to the office. Not that it bothered the sullen child, of course. He preferred the terrible aura that come from the awkward silence.

Choromatsu swung open the door principal's office door for Ichimatsu, held it open for him, then quickly left to go home with the rest of his brothers.

Sighing quietly, Ichimatsu sat down in the fancy uncomfortable chair in front of the principal's large desk.

"So tell me, Ichimatsu," the principal began, flipping through a file. "why are you always getting into fights with my best students? Are you jealous because of them? Surely not. You don't seem like the type of person to be jealous."

"I'm not picking fights with them..." Ichimatsu protested weakly, his voice barely audible.

"Then are they picking fights with you? No," the principal replied then laughed. "But if you keep this up, you'll have to be expelled, Ichimatsu. I'm sorry, but that's how things work here. If you don't straighten up your sorry little 'fight me' attitude, there will be major consequences. I'm sure your mother will be quite displeased with you."

"But they are picking fights with me! Why else would Osomatsu and Karamatsu defend me!" Ichimatsu exclaimed slightly loudly.

"Because they're your brothers. And if they see you fighting, they'll want to fight as well. You're a terrible example for this school!" the principal said harshly.

"I'm not doing it..." Ichimatsu whimpered weakly. "Why do you always think it's me? Have you ever SEEN me try to pick a fight? No! That's because I don't! I don't want to fight anyone! I just want to be left alone..."

"They why do you go to school? Why don't you just homeschool instead?" the principal asked, smiling wickedly. Or, at least, that's how he seemed to be smiling to Ichimatsu. Perhaps to someone else it looked like a completely innocent smile.

"I-I..." Ichimatsu muttered.

"You will be staying after class each day for an hour while some of the club activities are being held. You'll be helping out the janitor again," the principal said, turning away. "You are dismissed."

Ichimatsu awoke.