Irony (Osomatsu-san Fanfiction)

Two New Problems

I'm back after like... forever... I'm so sorry I haven't updated lately!

Keiko looked down at the two males still sitting in the sand, her eyes half lidded and sharp. Quickly, she turned and grabbed her shoes slipping them on, ready to leave.

"Haha! Where do you live, Keiko-chan?!"

Keiko went rigid, her eyes widening. "Setsushi... don't call me Keiko... I don't consider you a friend, nor an acquaintance..." she snapped through clenched teeth.

The fifth Matsuno flinched slightly, a sweatdrop rolling down his cheek.

"Ah...Sorry...!" He apologized as his smile faltered slightly. The messy haired male beside him noticed and clenched his jaw.

"And where I live is absolutely none of your business..."

The two men stood up from the sand, grains falling off their clothes, as they moved to walk past her.

"Tch..." Ichimatsu tutted.

As soon as these strangers were out of sight, Setsushi Keiko began to walk home, a frown on her face.

'Who the hell do they think they are?! Trying to stop me from jumping, what a bunch of idiots!' She thought bitterly, as the scenery around her began to grow less pleasant, houses deteriorating, apartments with bars on the windows and doors, and a lack of lively people. The woman's inner turmoil began to fester as she arrived at a small traditional home on the outskirts of the city.

Setsushi unlocked the door and slid it open softly and stepped inside, closing it with tender movements. Although she was furious, she refused to take out her anger on the home, this was all that remained of her past.

The monochrome woman slipped out of her shoes, resting them near the exit, then entered the kitchen, pulling a small portion of a rice bowl out of the fridge. Her small boney fingers wrapped themselves around the remaining ingredients that resided within the cool box. Keiko continued, her movements fluid.

This was all muscle memory. Religiously she'd prepare her dinner, albeit small portions, and rest in the living room, her bowl on the kotatsu. Like an AI programmed to work in an assembly line, constantly repeating actions over and over in recession for hours on end. Like a tape played on a loop, constantly rewinding and playing... rewinding, playing, rewinding, playing...

~~~~~~~~~

Dull grey eyes slowly drifted up to a few picture frames; The first, a family photo. A mother, a father, and a single child. All three close knit and smiling... one smile dimmer than the others. Small beams of light filtered through the windows as the sun made its descent, and reflected off of the glass. Now, in this moment, a child and two parents, the latters' faces whited out from the glare. The second held a photo of an elderly couple, smiling brightly, as if to try and outshine the sun in the sky. The third lay on its face, the photograph hidden from view.

Grey eyes now glazed over with sadness along with... a small slithering vine of envy.

Keiko let out a grunt of controversy, emotions and thoughts amalgamated inside her brain.

"I-I..." She wheezed out, a tightness coiling in her chest, ready to explode like a ticking time bomb.

Tick...

Tick...

Tick...

A croaky, orotund sob filled the small living space, coupled with a muted thud, indicating that her body now lay curled in a fetal position upon the worn-out tatami mats. Salty tears streamed down pale grey cheeks, silvery strands of her locks messily strewn around her head and face. Over the span of thirty minutes, her petite quivering body stayed in place, what once were sobs reduced to whimpers, and ultimately soft relaxing breaths.

Although anxious thoughts and negative words were still fluttering around in her mind, she deemed herself calm enough to get up and get ready for bed.