The Disappearance of Osomatsu-san Drabbles

Envy (Ichi & Jyushi)

Why was it so hard to pretend that he didn't care when he clearly did? Why couldn't Ichi just hide away his feelings as he usually did, instead of lashing out on his brothers and his two other housemates like that? Why did he have to let his pride and selfishness get in the way of someone's happiness, Jyushi's happiness? Was he really so scared to have his brother taken away from him that he was willing to hurt Kareshi over a simple thing? Why had he been willing to punch him until Todo and Maruka had to restrain him, with Kara and Choro went to Kareshi's aid, and Jyushi was watching the entire thing with horror while Oso was hugging him close to his chest with a rather angry expression at Ichi?

"Niichi, stop, you're hurting him!"

The purple-eyed megalomaniac sat on his bed, removing his glasses and furiously wiping his eyes. No way in hell was he going to be seen crying, and especially not after an argument. Understatement of the fucking century, that wasn't an argument. He straight-up punched Kareshi for no other reason than breathing beside Jyushi, and though Kareshi had been living with them for a few months, a month after Maruka moved in that is, Ichi just didn't like him. Of course, Todo, Choro, Oso, and Maruka would tease the guy and playfully gang up on him at times while Kara was so nice to him, and Jyushi absolutely adored him. But it wasn't the same as the brotherly love he showed towards everyone, Maruka included.

It was something else.

"Niichi.. I.. I don't know what these feelings are! They make me wanna throw up, but they also want to make me scream as loud as I could! And not in a bad way! T-This only happens when I'm around Kareshi-kun.. or think of him.."

Their hugs aren't the same as the ones Jyushi shared with the other six. Ichi might not have been the kind to feel romantic affection for anyone, he was just the same as Todo, but Ichi understood the gestures those two shared very well. And as much as Ichi wanted Jyushi to just stay innocent, stay pure, unaware of the world around him and unaware of those feelings that could possibly change or hurt him, Jyushi wasn't the same as Ichi. It had already been obvious from the start; Jyushi was kinder, much more patient, but certainly slower and even emotionally weaker than Ichi was.

But Jyushi was able to feel love whose highest point wasn't just family love, unlike Ichi or Todo's. And that was why Ichi hated Kareshi. If that damn waiter didn't exist, Jyushi didn't have to grow up so fast right in front of him. Sure, he still acted like he usually did, as childish and as clueless with a willingness to help and join everyone in their antics without even knowing what was going on, but as his older brother who grew up with him and shared the same blood as him, Ichi could tell even the slightest of differences; Jyushi started to question certain things less and less, when he wasn't playing with any of them he would most likely go out with Kareshi, and his face when he talked about Kareshi back when the orange-eyed male hadn't been living with them.

"Jyushi.. I think you might have a crush on him?"

He lied down on the bed. Why the hell was he crying angrily over this?! This was petty, this was selfish, this was-

"Ichi-niisan.." And that was Jyushi's voice, small and soft, like a scared child. But Ichi wasn't turning to see him, no, he wouldn't show Jyushi he was crying over this when Jyushi or Kareshi had the right to be upset with him. Why the hell was Ichi the one crying after he punched Kareshi in the face and scared Jyushi? Despite that, he could hear the door close and something clicking against his bedroom floor, probably Jyushi's cane, and then he felt someone lay down next to him, a body so warm and somewhat soft, but that's probably because of the clothes. "N-Niichi.."

Immediately, Ichi turned to his side to face Jyushi. And he was right. His little brother was crying, sleeves pressed to his chest. "Jyushi.." He cupped Jyushi's face. He remembered what Choro told him months ago, back when he left Choro at the bathroom at night, which lead to the latter getting upset with him. A simple apology couldn't fix this. Nothing could. But even so, Ichi would try. He'd do anything to fix this. "I-"

Jyushi hiccuped, interrupting Ichi. "I'm sorry, Niichi.. I'm so sorry.."

Ichi's eyes widened. "What..?" Why was Jyushi apologizing? Jyushi did nothing wrong!

"I g-guess.. you don't like Kareshi-kun.. but.. I guess.. you don't like me too then..? I.. I was the one who suggested he should stay here in the first place, after his parents refused to help him pay the bills for his old apartment.." He sniffed. "Niichi has always been looking angry whenever I'm with Kareshi-kun.. does that mean.. Niichi no longer likes me..?"

"Don't think like that. Please. Don't ever think like that." Ichi sat up, and so did Jyushi. Ichi hugged Jyushi close to his chest and rubbed his back, trying to stop himself from crying. "I.. why would I ever hate you?" This has been nothing but petty jealousy on Ichi's part, and selfishness. He had been scared of no longer being needed by Jyushi that he tried to find reasons on justifying his hatred for Kareshi, even when Jyushi clearly liked him. "If anything.. I should be the one sorry. I was jealous, okay? I was jealous of Kareshi, that you might leave me.. and the others. And I shouldn't even be crying over this. I'm garbage, I'm the worst older brother-"

"But Niichi is amazing!" Jyushi shot up. "Niichi is smart and responsible, and can run an entire company! Niichi even trains his employees himself! If Niichi feels that way, then I'll try to make Niichi feel better!" Furiously wiping off his tears with his sleeves, he flashed a bright smile. "We can all be happy together! I'll find a way! And Niichi will feel happy too!"

"..Niichi's a piece of shit though."

"No he's not! I don't know if Kareshi-kun feels that way, but he said he doesn't think you're a bad person!" Jyushi then grabbed Ichi's face, but unlike Ichi who made sure to do it gently, Jyushi was practically squishing Ichi's face with sleeve-clad hands. It wasn't long before Jyushi realized that Ichi looked like a blow fish, because he starts patting on Ichi's cheeks repeatedly, until he was giggling and no longer crying or upset. "Niichi looks like a fish! Ahahaha! Blub blub blub! And he has squishy cheeks too! Osomatsu-niisan could squish these!"

Ichi tried to stifle his chuckles. Jyushi was truly like their mother, who often tried to cheer up Ichi by doing silly things. "Ah.. he could.." He put a hand over Jyushi's sleeve-clad hand gently, running his fingers through the fabric. "I should.. swallow my pride and apologize, hm?"

"After Kare-Kare gets back!" Jyushi chirped, letting go of Ichi's face and flapping his sleeves. When Ichi looked at him questioningly, Jyushi's smile only brightened. "He says he really wants to get along with you! So I told him to stop by Flag Corporation and tell Hana-san and Homura-san to borrow your chessboard at your office! I gave him a letter with my signature too, so security can't do anything to him!"

Ichi doubted Jyushi had a signature in the first place; everyone in Flag Corporation could recognize Jyushi's handwriting and his signature that was a mess of scribbles. But no one would dare to turn him down. "But.. why my chessboard-?"

"He wants to play chess with you! So that you and him would get along!"

..Ah.

Well, if Kareshi's making an effort to get along with him, Ichi should do the same.