When Jyushimatsu made it back home, it was exactly twelve o'clock. All of his brothers were crowded around their table in the living room, laughing while eating lunch.

It was like they didn't know their brother was at the hospital. Almost like they didn't care.

"I'm home!" Jyushimatsu said as cheerfully as he could, walking into the living room with Harvey and the goodies. "The Cat Cafe lady gave these to me for free!" he said, holding up the bag.

"Sweets!" Todomatsu said in awe.

Osomatsu, Choromatsu, Todomatsu, and Karamatsu all crowded around the table as Jyushimatsu set the bag down on front of them.

"What's in here?" Choromatsu asked, pulling out a container full of cookies.

"Cookies!" Osomatsu exclaimed in awe, yanking the container away from his brother. "Let's split them up!"

"There's only five of us, so we'll be able to have more to go around," Karamatsu said, pulling his dark shades off.

"Yes!" Todomatsu giggled while pulling out his phone to take a picture of the cookies.

"Thanks, Jyushimatsu!" Osomatsu laughed, slapping his yellow hooded brother on the back.

Jyushimatsu sat down at the table, his mouth wide open.

One by one, the cookies were passed around, everyone taking one at a time. And finally, after only a few minutes, the cookies were all split evenly. There were only twenty-five in all.

"Wow!" Todomatsu said, his mouth full of cookie, "These are great!"

Jyushimatsu felt slightly guilty that he had given the treats to his other brothers and not Ichimatsu. But who knew when Ichimatsu would be back? Or if he ever would be?

Jyushimatsu quickly ate his five cookies then stood back up from the table.

"I'm going to the roof!" he said, pulling Harvey out of the cat carrier.

Harvey mewed loudly, but not loud enough for Jyushimatsu's brothers to hear.

"Do you want me to go with you?" Choromatsu asked.

Jyushimatsu shook his head.

"I'm fine!" he laughed, holding Harvey as he left the living room.

When Jyushimatsu reached the rooftop, a calm feeling washed over him. It was like he could feel Ichimatsu was near him.

The hot summer breeze blew through his hair as he sat down in his usual spot on the roof.

Just a few days ago, he had been here with Ichimatsu, crying in his arms over Homura-chan.

"Time goes by quickly, doesn't it Harvey?" Jyushimatsu said, gently petting the white kitten's head.

Harvey purred loudly, rubbing his head on Jyushimatsu's hand.

Jyushimatsu looked up to the sky, and at that very moment, he saw those same five birds fly by.

Suddenly, Jyushimatsu remembered the dream he had about Ichimatsu and those same birds. He recalled exactly what Ichimatsu had said, almost like he was right there, telling it to him on the roof.

"I think they're our second selves. Maybe even...past or future versions of us. Wherever one of us goes, I always see those birds watching us. It's almost like they're trying to take care of us...but at the same time, they're only birds." Ichimatsu had said.

Jyushimatsu felt a lump grow in his throat as he continued to think of everything Ichimatsu had said the past few days.

"Is your voice just going to be a memory now, Ichimatsu?" Jyushimatsu whispered hoarsely, trying not to cry. "I don't want you to be a memory...I want you to be right here, because that's how it should be. None of this is supposed to happen!"

Harvey stopped purring and looked up at Jyushimatsu. The kitten curled up in Jyushimatsu's arms and fell asleep immediately. The feeling of Harvey's slow, steady breathing calmed Jyushimatsu.

"We have to take extreme care of him for now until he wakes up. That is, if he ever wakes up." Jyushimatsu could hear the doctor say in his mind.

"If...if..." Jyushimatsu whimpered. "No, he will...he will wake up! I know he will...and when he does, I'm going to give him a big hug. I want him to know how much everyone cares about him! I'm tired of seeing him so alone! I want him to smile when he's around us, just like he smiles around cats!"

The five birds landed on a nearby pole and began to tweet loudly.

"I want to sit on the roof with Ichimatsu...one more time...just one more time!" Jyushimatsu cried.