Shy! Reader x Karamatsu - New Neighbor

Chapter ⑤ He Wonders

You heard small rustling and hushed conversations around you. Your eyes fluttered open a little to check your surroundings. They flew open once you realized you weren't in your own bed, or your own house for that matter. You sat up impulsively, only to be calmed by Karamatsu, who was sitting next to you.

"Hey, it's alright. They're just putting bandages and cold ice on it." He explained.

Someone, who you assumed to be one of his brothers, chirped up.

"It looks like you sprained your ankle a little, but you should be up and running in no time!" He grinned goofily, brushing his finger under his nose.

You nodded, thanking him for his hospitality.

"Nah, you should be thanking Karamatsu over there. He carried you all the way here, with you sleeping in his arms like a little baby." He stared in awe.

You looked briefly in Karamatsu's direction, in which he turned away in embarrassment.

"Oooh is she awake now?" Another one popped in with a tray of cookies. He looked much younger than his other brothers.

"Yay!" One dressed in yellow shouted. You had recognized him from earlier when you were walking with Karamatsu.

"Hey, we should at least introduce ourselves. It's plenty rude when we have a guest over like this." The brother dressed in green scolded. His expression was worrisome, like he had a lot on his mind.

"Alright! I'll go first!" The one dressed in red jumped up.

"Call me Osomatsu!" He pointed proudly at himself.

"Choromatsu. Pleased to make your acquaintance." said the one in green.

"Todomatsu." Began the youngest, still holding the tray.

"Jyushimatsu!!" The one in yellow bounced around.

A moment of silence passed before Osomatsu acknowledged someone who was in the corner. You jumped, not having seen the brother that whole time.

"Say something to her!" He pleaded.

The haggard brother sighed, beginning to sit up a little.

"....."

"... Ichimatsu." He greeted, barely audible.

You nodded, offering him a gentle smile. He blinked at you, as if your mere existence was bothersome to him.

"Tell them your name too." Karamatsu nodded toward you.

"O-Oh right, I almost forgot. It's _____." You announced.

They all clapped in unison, as if you won some sort of prize. You looked around in confusion, watching each of them.

"Beautiful name! We're happy to have you here!" Osomatsu exclaimed.

You nodded, happy to be accepted. However, there was one question that was buzzing in the back of your head.

"Thanks, but why is it that all of you look alike? Are some of you twins?" You inquired.

"We're sextuplets!" Osomatsu answered.

"S-Sextuplets?"

"Allow me to explain," Choromatsu began, "sextuplets are two sets of triplets. So that means we're a group of six offsprings at one birth."

You nodded, looking impressed. You had heard of twins and maybe triplets, but this was new. You looked round at Karamatsu and back to them, making some kind of comparison, but they really all did look alike.

"Well, I think we covered everything for introductions, so let's get to know you (Name)!" Osomatsu said excitedly.

You nodded just as Karamatsu got up to exit the room. He looked tired, so you thought he just needed space.

"Oi, Karamatsu! Where are you going? Are you alright?" Choromatsu followed him.

You looked away as Osomatsu kept prodding you with questions.

[Karamatsu's P.O.V]

Karamatsu entered the kitchen, slumping against the countertop. Choromatsu immediately entered, stopping a few feet from him.

"Hey, are you doing okay?" He started up.

"I'm fine, I guess. . ." He shrugged.

Choromatsu released a nervous laugh in spite of him.

"I've never seen you so down before. You're always so, well, you." He chuckled.

Karamatsu was silent for a few moments before he answered.

"I guess I'm just thinking. Actually thinking. About what to do . . ."

". . .for (Name)?" Choromatsu asked.

Karamatsu nodded, biting his lip thoughtfully.

"Awh! That's so cute, how you actually care about (Name) like that!" He gushed.

"N-Not so loud!" Karamatsu blushed.

Choromatsu took a seat at the table, his chin in his palms to look over at his older brother.

"I only care about her as a friend." He tried to empathize, as if it would make him believe it.

"Eh?! That's the first time you haven't tried the first move before!" Choromatsu laughed wholeheartedly.

"I-I don't know. . . There's just something different about her." He stuffed his hands in his pockets.

He smiled at hearing your laughter from the next room.