Twenty-five years later...

Ichimatsu followed closely behind Karamatsu as they pushed their way through the busy crowds downtown.

Snow was falling as people made their final purchases for Christmas. You see, it just so happened to be Christmas Eve.

Karamatsu turned around, checking to see if his brother was still with him. And of course, the fourth son was, his eyes focused on the ground as the city lights illuminated his flushed cheeks.

"Here," Karamatsu mouthed the words to Ichimatsu, holding out his hand. "Almost there."

Ichimatsu reluctantly took his brother's hand, gripping it as tightly as he could with his thick, woolen mittens.

In just a few moments, the two arrived to a large church, meeting their other four brothers on the front steps.

"Hey! Karamatsu!" Osomatsu waved, laughing as he rubbed under his nose. "It's been awhile!"

Jyushimatsu had his arm wrapped lovingly around his feeble wife, Homura, as their child jumped around, laughing and giggling excitedly.

Choromatsu, who had been sitting on the front steps reading a book, closed the fine literature and stood up, smiling warmly, but sadly. It was going to be a very bittersweet Christmas.

"Has Todomatsu gotten here yet?" Karamatsu asked, looking around.

"He's sick right now," Jyushimatsu replied, Homura nodded her head in agreement. "We're letting him stay at our place where someone can watch over him all the time."

"Jyushimatsu's gotten so serious...could it just be he's this way because of tonight's occasion...?" Karamatsu thought uncomfortably to himself.

Ichimatsu tugged on Karamatsu's coat sleeve and pointed at the door.

"I have no idea what he's trying to ask me right now," Karamatsu thought, exhaling. "Good grief we should have learned sign language the very day he went deaf."

"Well, let's go," Osomatsu said, pushing open the front door to the church. He forced on a sad smile. "Our parents are waiting."

Karamatsu felt a stab of pain in his heart, for this was the last day they were to ever see their parents. And that was the absolute truth.

"Suicide and cancer," Choromatsu muttered as they entered inside the church. "I didn't think our dad would kill himself over losing mom, but...whatever. Suspected he was better than that..."

"Oh, don't be like that!" Homura begged her brother-in-law. "Your parents loved you very much! You should return their love by loving them back twice as much."

"Mommy! Mommy!" the little child giggled, tugging on the end of the woman's long, black winter coat. "Toilet!"

"Couldn't you-" Homura looked to her husband, hoping Jyushimatsu would take over the situation, but she reconsidered. Jyushimatsu had enough to deal with.

Taking her child by the hand, Homura set off to find the nearest toilet in the huge church.

"Karamatsu," Osomatsu said, wrapping his arm around his brother. "Why haven't you been calling us? I've been so lonely!"

"You wouldn't be lonely if you had a job by now!" Choromatsu snapped, whacking the eldest brother with his book. "Why am I even letting you live with me when you're just a lazy bum who does nothing but take my cash to go play pachinko?!"

Ichimatsu backed away a little from everyone, feeling as usual, left out and alone.

He couldn't communicate with anyone. But that was his fault, so he'd just have to live with the consequences.

Jyushimatsu noticed Ichimatsu was alone, but he made no effort to go speak to him.

In a matter of seconds, Karamatsu's head twisted around to get a glimpse of his deaf, younger brother.

Smiling warmly at Ichimatsu, Karamatsu broke away from the circle his brothers had formed around him.

"Are you okay?" Karamatsu mouthed to Ichimatsu.

Blinking slowly, Ichimatsu studied his brother's lips carefully, but he failed to understand.

Reaching into his long trench coat, Karamatsu revealed a notepad and a pen.

With great haste, he scribbled down his words, then passed the notebook over to Ichimatsu.

Ichimatsu read Karamatsu's sloppy handwriting, the nodded his head uneasily.

Taking the pen from his older brother, Ichimatsu replied: "I just want this to be over with. I want to go home."

Karamatsu hugged Ichimatsu tightly, pitting his brother.

"I've been taking care of you for forty years, Ichimatsu," Karamatsu thought.

"Let's go in now," Osomatsu sighed, pushing open the heavy doors to the church's auditorium. "They've arrived. It's our duty to stand by the caskets."

"I just want to communicate with you. I want you to feel happy. I don't want you to always feel so alone...It's my fault you're like this! If I had been watching you more carefully that morning...so many years ago...you would have been fine...I think." Karamatsu thought, gently pulling Ichimatsu along with him as they went to say their final goodbyes to their parents.

Stumbling a little, Ichimatsu retched a little, quickly covering his mouth. His entire complexion was a ghostly white all of the sudden.

Just as Karamatsu was going to ask his younger brother if he was alright, Ichimatsu held up his hand in front of his brother's face, signaling him to give up.

Turning around, Ichimatsu retreated back to the large greeting area of the church, just outside of the auditorium, where he could sit down and rest "in silence."