In terms of family activities, the Matsuno's often never opted for anything musical. They'd much rather prefer drinking for "free" at Chibita's, or renting a movie to watch at home, or even going to the beach when it's hot out. But never to Karaoke.
Though Todomatsu was known for having been to a few when he attended his mixers.
Of course, everyone knew how well the second eldest could sing though.
Karamatsu's performance in musical theatre during their highschool years had earned him a standing ovation not only from the rest of the student body, but even his brothers afterall.
As an adult, his love for music continued in the form of self-composed songs on the roof paired with his guitar, and occasionally Jyushimatsu, or both. Painful as his lyrics often were, his voice was still considered better than most.
But apart from the second born, none of the brothers knew if anyone amongst themselves possessed the same musical talent. Where Karamatsu excelled at singing and song writing, Todomatsu was better at socialization, Jyushimatsu was more inclined to the athletics, Ichimatsu with arts and crafts, Choromatsu was known for his logic and reasoning, and Osomatsu for his leadership skills. (though that was often debatable according to the rest of his brothers)
But, as the saying goes, just because you live with someone, doesn't always mean you know everything about them.
It was late afternoon when Karamatsu walked into the house, disappointed but not daunted. His quest to find his destined "Karamatsu Girl" (or boy) had turned up unsuccessful once more.
His plans to sleep the rest of the day away until dinner, and restart his quest to find his true love with renewed energy, was interrupted by a voice coming from their upstairs bedroom.
"When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are. Anything your heart desires will come, to you..."
It was a familiar melody, something he recalled his mother singing to them when they were children. But more importantly, this voice... It sounded so familiar yet unfamiliar all the same time. It was male for sure, but as far as Karamatsu knew, no one but him and Jyushimatsu liked to sing. And the fifth born, though no fault of his own, certainly didn't possess such an angelic and soothing voice.
Karamatsu creeps up the stairs of the house slowly, making sure to avoid that one creaky step lest he alert the singer of his presence and they stop. The door to their bedroom is wide open, so, as quietly as possible the second born peeks inside.
And it's not who he expects at all, his hand covers mouth before he can audibly gasp at the scene before him.
But oddly enough, he isn't that surprised with the discovery either. Somehow, out of everyone in their family, he supposes Osomatsu would have been the most likely to have a hidden talent for singing.
On the window, sits the source of the music accompanying the gentle voice of his older brother. The music box is familiar, he remembers it vaguely as a gift from one of their relatives to celebrate their mother's birthday. Matsuyo would often wind it up on stormy nights to help the sextuplets sleep as she sang a lullaby along to the soft tinkling melody.
"...Like a bolt out of the blue, Fate steps in and sees you through."
Osomatsu was continuing his singing as he rummaged through their shared closet. Karamatsu wonders that perhaps he had encountered the trinket incidentally, and decided to listen to the nostalgic melody again after it was forgotten throughout the years.
"When you wish upon a star, Your dreams come t--"
Osomatsu stops abruptly before the end of the song, the music box following in suit shortly afterwards, leaving both brothers in stunned silence.
It is in that moment, the eldest knew, he had fucked up. He curses himself for being too busy to notice anyone coming home as identical brown eyes meet, both wide as saucers.
He'd been caught red handed.
"Osomatsu your voice is really--"
"BZZT!!!!"
"But I was just going to say--"
"SHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!"
In a quick movement his older brother is suddenly in front of him, a hand silencing his next words. Though Karamatsu had absolutely no clue as to why he's been forced to this state.
"Oshomafshu" he tries to say, though it's almost incomprehensible with the hand over his mouth.
His older brother makes no intention to move said hand either, his head bent low and hiding whatever expression he could possibly have in this situation.
After a small battle of trying to pry his older brother's hand off, only for it to be replaced by the other hand. With a firm grip on both his wrists, Karamatsu is finally free from the hands silencing him.
Now Osomatsu, try as he might, can't free himself from his stupid younger brother's hold, and he has to wonder why the gods would bless someone who regularly cries at daytime soap operas, with such brute strength.
But he continues to struggle anyway, because he knows for sure that Karamatsu would probably say something painful about his singing if he doesn't somehow shush him. Probably something along the lines of how bad he sounds and that he'd offer to teach him from a "masters perspective" eugh.
But the next words Osomatsu (unwillingly) hears from his immediate juniors mouth is: "Aniki why didn't you tell anyone you could sing so well? Your voice sounded truly angelic!"
For a moment the eldest's face goes completely blank, devoid of all emotion, before it almost literally bursts into the colour of his hoodie, tinting his face from the tips of his ears to the back of his neck.
And Karamatsu, loyal to a fault, but horribly slow at times, startles at the sudden change in his older brother's demeanor and is immediately concerned. "Osomatsu! Are you alright? Your face is incredibly flushed! Has sickness sunk its teeth into you brother!?"
Osomatsu can't believe what he's just heard, he looks up and closes his eyes as he silently asks: 'Akatsuka-sensei why is this moron so empty headed?' before sighing in exasperation, his face still feeling incredibly warm. "...I'm not sick dumbass, now let me go!"
Relieved that his brother was in fact alright, Karamatsu continues with "Not until you've explained why you shushed me burazza, that was incredibly rude"
When he isn't met with a response, Karamatsu replays what he'd said upon entering their bedroom moments ago to try and decipher what had caused his older brother to behave this way.
"Is it... Is it what I had said about your singing?" He asks, doubtful it's the actual reason. He means, why would that trigger such a response from his brother? "I don't think I had spoken ill of it though. In fact I think if the others had heard it as well they would certainly--"
"NO!" Osomatsu exclaims in a panic, whipping his head up and surprising Karamatsu for a second time. "NO ONE. CAN. KNOW. OKAY?"
Now there were days when the second eldest is the sharpest tool in the shed, when his senses are so heightened to his brothers' plights that he's able to provide the right comfort or advice as needed.
Unfortunately (especially for Osomatsu), today, was not one of those days.
"Are you... Embarrassed about your singing voice?"
Impossibly, Osomatsu reddens even further at the bluntness of the question.
"Karamatsu, niichan would really rather not talk about this anymore--" he says while struggling to pry his wrists away to no avail. 'Why the fuck was this idiot so strong!?'
"But why are you embarrassed??" The second eldest continues, determined to get to the bottom of his question and trudging on despite his older brother clearly unwilling to participate in the conversation any further.
"Aniki your voice sounds absolutely superb! You should be proud! Why, I've never heard such a melodious--"
"FOR AKATSUKA-SENSEI'S SAKE, PLEASE STOP TALKING"
Karamatsu pauses at that, eyebrow raised in confusion. He simply could not understand why on earth the eldest was displaying such behavior over his voice being praised.
Everything he had said was said with utmost sincerity, so he doubts he was misunderstood in any way. In fact it's quite odd that Osomatsu, who regularly calls himself a "Charisma Legend" as he says, is suddenly embarrassed over compliments for a talent he very clearly possessed.
"Niisan why did you keep the fact that you could sing a secret?"
At that, the eldest pauses in his fruitless struggle to break free from Karamatsu's hold. "I wasn't-- like, necessarily keeping it a secret or anything. I just, I don't know." he sighs, "Isn't it like kind of lame? I mean like compared to you, I'm not even like that good and it's honestly kind of embarrassing I guess. So I didn't want anyone to make a big deal out of it..."
"But Osomatsu," Karamatsu says finally letting his wrists go, "You're voice is truly amazing! As someone who can carry a tune myself, I can tell that you really have a talent for the musical arts burazza!"
And he tells his brother this in the most sincere tone possible and with an unmistakable sparkle of admiration in his eyes, that Osomatsu feels like hiding under the void under their couch for the rest of the year.
"You're buying me a drink." He tells his brother completely deadpan. 'Akatsuka-sensei knows I need one... Or ten.'
"I-- Wait what?"
"Also we're never speaking about this ever again."
And without explaining himself he leaves his very confused brother in their shared bedroom and walks down the stairs, right out of their front door.
It takes Karamatsu a full minute to register that he's been left behind, and that he was suddenly told he had to buy his older brother free drinks before he's running after Osomatsu, nearly tripping over himself in the foyer as he quickly slips his shoes on. "What the-- Oi! Osomatsu wait--! Hey!"
As he catches up with the eldest he can't help but wonder, what else could Osomatsu have hidden up his sleeve that they don't know of? Surely there had to be more than one secret talent their older brother possessed right?
'I suppose it's true when people say that you'll never know everything about someone, even if you live with them.' he muses.