Jyushimatsu took a few steps forward and hugged Ichimatsu tightly.

"You're back! I'm so glad you're back!" he cried after Ichimatsu pushed him off of him.

"Back...?" Ichimatsu mumbled. "I don't understand..."

"I missed you so much..." Jyushimatsu exclaimed, wiping his tears of happiness away from his face.

"I don't even know who you are..." Ichimatsu replied, backing away from Jyushimatsu. "I only said hi because I felt like I should...that's all..."

"What's your name?" Jyushimatsu asked.

Ichimatsu didn't reply. He stared at the floor, trying his hardest to remember the slightest thing.

"My name...?" Ichimatsu thought, "I have a name, don't I? I feel like...I feel like I should have a name...it's on the tip of my tongue...but I just...I just don't understand why it's not there! Names are important, aren't they...?"

"Ichimatsu?" Jyushimatsu asked, quickly looking away when he realized he had said his brother's name.

"Ichimatsu...." Ichimatsu mumbled in reply. "Ichimatsu...is a name, isn't it? I feel like I...know someone named Ichimatsu, but why can't I see them in my mind? They look just like you, Jyushimatsu...? That's your name, isn't it?"

"Yes!" Jyushimatsu exclaimed, "My name is Jyushimatsu!"

"I'm sorry, but the cafe has to close soon, you two," Kanola said, shooing the two brothers away. "You may continue to speak outside in front of the shop. Just not here. I have to clean up."

"Okay!" Jyushimatsu said, grabbing Ichimatsu's hand, pulling him out of the Cat Cafe.

They stood outside, the bitterly cold winter gusts nearly freezing their faces off.

"So, what's your name?" Jyushimatsu asked again, standing closely to Ichimatsu to stay warm.

"Can't he see I can't remember?!" Ichimatsu thought angrily, putting his hands on his head.

"Maybe I'll call you Ichimatsu!" Jyushimatsu said, turning to face Jyushimatsu. "So, Ichimatsu, do you have a place to stay? It's really cold out here!"

Ichimatsu nodded his head. When really, he had no idea where he slept at night in the cold.

"Where is it at? I'm sure it's closer than my house it!" Jyushimatsu said, laughing.

"I...don't know..." Ichimatsu mumbled, shivering.

"You can come over to my house for dinner tonight then, if you'd like! My mom always prepared nice warm food for us! Or, we could all go out and get soup! And by all, I mean my other four brothers!" Jyushimatsu exclaimed, dragging Ichimatsu down the icy sidewalk.

"Why is he being so nice to me...?" Ichimatsu thought, "He's treating me the way he would seem to treat someone close to his heart...I don't deserve any of this. I'm just trash...trash? What is trash even...Why does calling myself trash make me feel so strange inside? It makes me feel...sick almost. Like it holds some kind of memory that's been thrown away..."

"Come on, Ichimatsu nii-san!" Jyushimatsu exclaimed, pulling Ichimatsu up the sidewalk a little ways. "I can't wait for you to meet my brothers! They're really awesome! I just know they'll be very happy to see you!"

"Why would anyone be happy to see someone like me...?" Ichimatsu spat. "I'm only trash. At least, that's what my mind is telling me. Jyushimatsu, why is my mind telling me I'm trash?"

Jyushimatsu turned around and looked at Ichimatsu, his mouth wide open, yet he didn't say a word.

"I feel...like I've forgotten something important...I can't remember a single thing up until when I woke up today..." Ichimatsu said out loud, suddenly wishing he hadn't.

"Where did you wake up at?" Jyushimatsu asked quickly.

"I'm not sure...it was a cold place...a graveyard...I think..." Ichimatsu mumbled back. "I don't know why I was there..."

Jyushimatsu jerked Ichimatsu even further up the sidewalk, walking much faster than he had before.

Suddenly, he stopped in front of a small, yet very familiar looking house.

"This is it!" Jyushimatsu sighed, a puff of smoke from the cold coming out of his mouth. He pushed open the door, took his shoes off, then called out, "I'm home!"

A familiar feeling of warmth and acceptance washed over Ichimatsu, soothing his troubled thoughts of having no idea what was happening.

Four boys who looked identical to Jyushimatsu peeked out from the door, all wondering why their brother sounded so happy.

At that moment, all of their melancholy faces lit up at the sight of Ichimatsu.

"ICHIMATSU?!" they all exclaimed at once, running towards him.

And without warning, Ichimatsu found himself being suffocated with hugs.

"I miss you so much, Ichi!" Todomatsu exclaimed, clinging to his brother.

"Welcome back, my brother!" Karamatsu said, coolly leaning up against the wall after hugging Ichimatsu.

"We missed you!" Choromatsu exclaimed, his voice getting higher and higher before he burst into tears of happiness.

"I'm glad you finally decided to visit us," Osomatsu said, "It's almost like you were...dead."

Everyone got very quiet and let go of Ichimatsu.

Ichimatsu grabbed onto his head, trembling.

"Dead...dead...dead...dead..." he thought, his anxiety beginning to build up. "But I'm alive...I'm right here! I have no idea who these people are...but I know I'm not dead!"

Ichimatsu began to breathe heavily.

"Hey, it's okay!" Todomatsu laughed, punching Osomatsu in the stomach. "You know he was just joking, right, Ichimatsu?"

"Who is Ichimatsu...?" Ichimatsu asked worriedly, fear filling his eyes. "I keep hearing people call me that...but who am I? Who am I?"