Osomatsu yawned as he walked down the stairs, immediately waking up more when he noticed the quietness and the distinct lack of the smell of their mother's cooking that usually graced his mornings everyday.
He could still faintly hear a third of his brothers doing their daily morning bathroom quarrel though, and he's glad he'd managed to avoid it today by choosing to do his business later. He wasn't really in the mood to throw hands with anyone right now anyway.
It was a bit tamer compared to other days, as the third and sixth son had left quite early to head to their respectively planned schedules. So there was significantly less high pitched yelling and the smell of designer perfume around at least.
The eldest walked through the empty living room and into the kitchen. Only to find that there was indeed no breakfast, and no Matsuyo, just a small note in her neat little handwriting that read:
'My NEETs! Your father and I left to Chiba for a wedding, we'll be back the day after tomorrow. Be good, and don't destroy the house this time. I MEAN it.
With love,
Mom'
"Ah... I guess we're fending for ourselves today"
"Who's fending for who now?"
Osomatsu turns to find Ichimatsu, and informs him of Matsuyo's note. The fourth son simply nods at the information, before walking past him to access some of the canned tuna he had placed in the kitchen cupboards and places them in a paper bag so he can go and do his daily feeding.
'At least the cats won't be hungry with Ichimatsu around...' the eldest thinks longingly at all the food he was packing. Wait a second... "Ichimacchan! Can you make your super special riceballs?"
Ichimatsu jumps and drops one of the cans in surprise, whipping around to glare at his oldest brother, an expression that would usually be intimidating but the intention was blunted due to the obvious blush creeping on his face. (And the fact that it was directed at Osomatsu)
"S-super sp--?! They're just regular riceballs shitty eldest! Stop calling them that!" Osomatsu grinned, hook line and sinker.
"C'mon pretty please? I'll even help! They just taste sooo good! And I'm sure my super talented and cute Ichimacchan wouldn't mind right??" He emphasizes each of the compliments with a bat of his eyelashes, and all the while patting Ichimatsu's head. "It'll only take a second I promise! Then you can go feed your cats!"
Ichimatsu debates saying no but upon seeing that Osomatsu clearly wasn't going to give up, he shoves him away and places the bag down on the table. "If it'll make you shut up then fine. Go get the ingredients shitty eldest"
Osomatsu internally cheers at his victory, and continues to tease him even while helping him make the riceballs.
Now he just had to figure out what to do for lunch.
______
Choromatsu buzzed excitedly as he made his way back from the bookstore, clutching the paper bag of his purchase close to his chest. "Ahh~ I can't believe I got the special magazine! It was totally worth waiting in front of the store so early in the morning!"
One of the many perks of being a NEET was that he didn't have anywhere to be everyday, so waiting in line for however long was no problem at all. He almost felt bad for all the people who had left the line to catch their trains to work, he hoped there would still be copies of the magazine left for them when they finished.
Suddenly, from an alleyway, a familiar purple parka made his way into view.
"Oh Ichimatsu, heading home?"
Said brother turns to Choromatsu and makes a sound of affirmation, folding up a paper bag and tucking it into his pocket.
"Do you know what mom is making for lunch? I'm kinda hungry" as if on cue, both his and Ichimatsu stomachs grumble in unison at the mention of lunch.
The fourth born shrugs, "Mom and dad aren't gonna be home until the day after tomorrow. Said something about a wedding?"
"Eh? But they were still home when Todomatsu and I left though?" Choromatsu did recall how both his parents were quite busy that morning, they must have been preparing to leave for their trip then.
"Must've gone after you two did then."
Choromatsu ponders for a bit at the new information before finally going, "So... what are we doing?"
"Wasting our lives."
"I meant for lunch."
"Oh. Then I don't care. I already did breakfast, Osomatsu-niisan made me make onigiri for everyone"
"And you agreed?" Choromatsu asked incredulously, Ichimatsu simply shrugged. 'Well it is Osomatsu.' he thought, the eldest was quite persuasive when he wanted to be. It was honestly kind of impressive, but you'll never hear him say that out loud of course.
"I wonder what we're gonna do for lunch now though. Did mom leave us any money like last time?"
"Shitty eldest found the note first, so if she did, it's probably gone by now" Ichimatsu replies indifferently, as if the matter of their lunch didn't affect him.
Choromatsu sighs, 'I guess that means I'll have to figure something out for lunch myself'
Luckily for the third born, someone already was making lunch at home. It was just the last person he would ever expect it to be.
'Whoever invented pre-cut ingredients was a fucking genius' Osomatsu thought gratefully, as he set out the karaage and curry ingredients in front of him.
He could have cut the ingredients himself and saved some money sure, but why would he do that when he lives in such a convenient world? (It's totally not because he didn't want to touch any of the sharper knives, of course not that's stupid)
He takes a quick glance at the clock, it was about 3 hours to lunch and everyone was out of the house doing their own thing. Perfect, that was more than enough time to cook for six people. Osomatsu honestly didn't need to hand-make lunch himself but it'd been a while, and he just felt like cooking anyway.
He claps his hands together and rolls up his sleeves, "Well I better get to work!"
______
As soon as Choromatsu opens their front door, his stomach immediately reacts to the smell of a delectable meal coming from their living room. The familiar, and delicious scent of curry spice and karaage seasoning was forcing him to remember that he hadn't even bothered to eat a proper breakfast that morning in his haste to get to the bookstore as soon as he could.
Maybe Ichimatsu knew there would be food? Perhaps that's why he didn't seem to all too worried about lunch. Well not that Choromatsu could ask him right now, since they'd parted ways before coming home so the fourth born could stop by the convenience store to restock on cat food.
And besides, answers could wait. He needed food now.
But what he wasn't expecting when he walked in, was Osomatsu of all people, to be setting the table. "Oh wow, where'd all this food come from Osomatsu-niisan?"
The eldest flinches, like he hadn't even noticed his brother come in the front door and stammers for an answer "I-uh won at big at pachinko!"
Choromatsu eyes him skeptically, "And you decided to spend it on... Lunch? Instead of beer like you always do?"
"Y-yup! Mom and Dad left for a wedding, and Chibita wasn't going to open today anyway-- So might as well right?"
Choromatsu raises an eyebrow and smirks, ".... Ah so you're just walking around wearing the apron we gave you covered in flour and curry powder then?"
"Exactly! ...Wait what?"
Osomatsu looks down, then back up to the third born sheepishly. "Ah. Well-- Looks like I'm caught red-handed huh?
"Yeah no shit Sherlock." Choromatsu huffs, opening his mouth to say more, but before the next words could leave his mouth, the rest of the brothers chorus an "I'm home" from the front door and Osomatsu hurriedly takes the apron off and tosses it to Choromatsu with a wink, yelling out, "Guess which best niichan in the world bought all of his baby brothers lunch??"
"Is that why the house smells so good?"
"Uwah! Karaage and Curry! Look Karamatsu-niisan it's your favorite karaage!"
"Heh! Truly we must thank lady luck for blessing us with this delectable feast, let us partake gratefully burazzas!"
"Oi shouldn't you be thanking your niichan for buying you all this food?!"
The banter continued, and for some odd reason, Choromatsu felt the need to hide the apron quickly behind him as his brothers walked into the room. He didn't really understand why Osomatsu wanted to hide the fact that he could cook, but he supposes he'll get a chance to ask him later.
For now, his hunger was getting the better of him and he's sure there won't be any food left if he dawdles any longer.
______
"Osomatsu-niisan! Don't stack them like that they're going to fall!" Choromatsu exclaims when he saw how precarious his brother was stacking the dried dishes. "Here I'll dry, you wash."
"What? No! Chorofappiski it's fine! Stop being such a mom!"
Choromatsu levels him with a look, before loudly going, "Says the one who made everyone lunch today, right Osomatsu-niisan?"
Osomatsu's eyes widened and he whipped around in case someone heard.Thankfully the rest of the brothers were too busy doing their own chores to pay any attention to them in the kitchen. He sighed in relief, before glaring at the third born. "I thought we were keeping it a secret!"
Choromatsu smirks, "I never said that. But we can as long as none of my money mysteriously goes missing anymore right?"
"Why you--!" Osomatsu flicks him with some dish water making Choromatsu screech in surprise while the eldest cackles in laughter, before being cut short when his brother retaliates with his own splash of water. The rest of the dishes get forgotten as a full on mini water fight ensues, until both their hoodies are soaking wet with soapy dish water.
It's only when Todomatsu comes in screaming, almost slipping in the aftermath of their battle, do they remember to finish doing the rest of the dishes.
Both guilty brothers were forced to clean up their mess, and it's only then, while they're both wiping their kitchen floor, that it occurs to Choromatsu that maybe this isn't the only thing Osomatsu had been hiding from them.
He pauses to stare at the eldest for a moment, who at the moment was busy grumbling about cleaning when he's the one who cooked lunch, and thinks, 'Huh, maybe I really don't know as much about Osomatsu as I thought'