Ichimatsu took one last look at his hospital room. The nurses had already taken nearly everything out of the room to clean. The only thing that remained in the room was his hospital bed.

Ichimatsu felt slightly depressed just by looking at the bed. "I spent months here...people wanted me to get better, and now look where I am. I'm worse than before. Now I'm pretending even more than before....but I have to. I have to do this for Jyushimatsu..."

"Hey! Ichimatsu!" Osomatsu called, coming out of the hospital elevator, running towards him. "Are you ready to go?"

"Mmm..." Ichimatsu mumbled, nodding his head.

"Let's go then. The others didn't come with me 'cause they were all still sleeping. I figured you would want to leave as soon as possible so I-"

"You don't have to explain everything!" Ichimatsu spat, "I understand..."

"Oh...okay then," Osomatsu slightly laughed. "So, where do you want to go now? Home?"

Ichimatsu shook his head. "The doctor told me I should look for a part time job...to keep my mind off of things. So...I'll be looking for a job."

"But shouldn't you stay home today? Just to, you know, do nothing like you used to?" Osomatsu asked as they began to walk towards the elevator.

"You mean sit in the corner all day and do nothing? No thanks...I'd rather...never mind. It doesn't matter..." Ichimatsu mumbled.

The two got into the elevator, punched the bottom floor button, and the door shut smoothly behind them.

"We've really missed you, Ichimatsu. It just hasn't been the same..." Osomatsu said.

"Oh..." Ichimatsu mumbled, putting his hands in his pockets.

"Jyushimatsu was getting really lonely without you around. He kept going to the beach and standing on the cliff. I caught him talking to himself one time. It was like he was talking to you. For awhile, I think he thought you had died. But then I realized what he was saying," Osomatsu said.

"What...what was he saying?" Ichimatsu asked as the elevator door opened, letting more people in.

"He was mumbling things like, 'It's my fault you're in the hospital. I'm sorry. Please come back...I never meant for you to get sick.'. To be honest, it was kinda depressing to watch Jyushimatsu sit there. No, not kinda. It was depressing to watch him sit there. He hasn't played baseball ever since you left either." Osomatsu replied.

The elevator door opened once again, and the two brothers exited it.

"I'm sorry..." Ichimatsu mumbled.

Osomatsu stopped walking, a smirk nearly coming across his face.

"You sound like you're talking to ESP kitty, Ichimatsu," he said.

"Cut it out, will you..." Ichimatsu muttered, "Keep walking..."

Osomatsu slightly laughed and followed Ichimatsu out of the hospital.
At that moment, Ichimatsu realized how pale he was. He couldn't remember the last time he went outside.

"It's been forever since I last sat on the roof with Jyushimatsu. I miss those times...where we wouldn't say a word. We would just stare at the bright blue sky together...like nothing mattered..." Ichimatsu thought, walking down the street with Osomatsu.

Only moments later did they arrive at home.

"I shouldn't be here still..." Ichimatsu thought to himself as Osomatsu swung open the front door. "I should have been dead long ago...that night. Yes...I should be dead right now..."

"Are you coming inside?" Osomatsu asked, grabbing his brother's wrist, dragging him in. "It's hot outside. You'll get a bad sunburn since you're so pale."

"Tch...like that would make any difference..." Ichimatsu spat.

"Come on! Stop being so negative. You weren't like this all the time when we were kids!" Osomatsu complained then called out, "We're home! Ichimatsu is here!"

It sounded like a stampede was running down the stairs at that moment. And Ichimatsu was more than tempted to run outside and hide.

"Ichimatsu! Ichimatsu!" Todomatsu cheered, running up to Ichhimatsu, nearly knocking him to the ground from hugging him. "I'm so glad you're finally home!"

"Welcome back, brother," Karamatsu said, putting his black shades on.

"We're so happy you're finally home!" Choromatsu said, smiling brightly as he gently hugged Ichimatsu.

"Where's Jyushimatsu?" Ichimatsu asked after several moments as he pushed Todomatsu and Choromatsu away. He had noticed that the happy yellow hooded figure was nowhere to be seen.

"He's probably sitting on the roof. We've been keeping a close eye on him this week. He hasn't gone to the cliff at the ocean ever since we told him you were coming home...but still..." Osomatsu said, scratching his head.

"I'll be on the roof then..." Ichimatsu mumbled, pushing past his four brothers who were crowded around him like he was some celebrity.

"Be careful, Ichimatsu," Choromatsu warned, but he didn't listen. "It might be hard for you to climb the roof since you're so w-"

"Do you think I'm not aware of that?!" Ichimatsu snapped bitterly. "Leave me alone..." he finished more quietly, walking up the stairs.

"Ichi-" Todomatsu called, but stopped short when Choromatsu rested his hand on his shoulder. "He's probably just uneasy right now. Give him some time, Totty. He'll be back to his normal self sooner or later."

Karamatsu nodded his head in agreement as Osomatsu turned around and began to walk out the front door.

"Do you guys wanna go play pachinko? I have a feeling I'll have lots of good luck today!" Osomatsu said, leaving the house. And immediately, the other three brothers followed, leaving Ichimatsu and Jyushimatsu alone.