'Pull yourself together Ichimatsu... You promised you'd get over it today.'

I licked my lips together as the angry butterflies in my stomach grew. I never cared a lot about my looks up until now. My brothers seemed to notice this, Jyushimatsu being the first.

"What are you up to, Ichimatsu-niisan?"

The loud voice startled me as I turned to face Jyushimatsu, nervously smoothing down the flannel I bought yesterday.

"N-Nothing..." I swallowed, mentally kicking myself for lying.

I swear he could see right through me sometimes, and I already wasn't convincing enough. My worst fears became reality when he bounced over to me, closely inspecting my outfit.

"Hmm..! You're really dressed up today! Did you get a job or something?" He wrinkled up his nose.

I shook my head, hoping he wouldn't catch on.

"Ah! I know! You're going to see a special someone, aren't you Ichimatsu-niisan?" Jyushimatsu danced around.

Shit. His intuition was just too good.

The truth is, I am meeting someone. None of my brothers know about it, but we've been dating for a year now. I can't face being ridiculed or being told that I'm finally outgrowing my NEET status.

"Y-Yeah, how unlikely that would be..." I laughed nervously, trying to brush off the question.

'But I can trust Jyushimatsu to support me, right?'

I could trust him, but I just didn't have the confidence to say I was going out with someone.

Why did I have to be such trash?

"Okay, just be careful out there.." He replied quietly.

He shuffled out of the room, leaving me with my churning guilt and raging anxiety. The next test was getting out of the house with no other interruptions, but I was stuck in our bedroom with the miniature balcony. I could sneak down and probably risk a fractured rib or two.

'Yeah, smart move Ichimatsu.'

I sighed, tuning into the other noises I heard inside the house.

"Oi, give me some money for the slots, Choromatsu!"

"When the hell are you going to get a job already?"

"When you get a girlfriend!"

"Dear brother, I could give you some -"

"Choromatsu! Are you even listening to me?!"

I rubbed my forehead, already feeling a migraine catching on. It's going to take all of my willpower and the bit of luck I have to get out unnoticed. My brothers were idiots, but be damned if they wouldn't see me dressed like this. For Shittymatsu it was normal, but for me...

"Hey, has anyone seen Ichimatsu around? He still hasn't came for breakfast.." I heard Choromatsu ask.

I felt a surge of panic. No, they can't see me like this.

"I could get our dearest brother!" Karamatsu volunteered.

"Nah, he hates your guts. I should do it." Osomatsu chimed in.

They argued for what felt like forever. I was on death sentence as my heart pounded. I wish it would just burst so I could be spared the humiliation. My luck wasn't that good as I heard them all trampling up the stairs. I looked frantically for a place to hide, but I found none.

'Please, please, don't let them open the door. I just want to get through today with no -'

"Ichimatsu! Where've you been? We were looking for - huh?" Osomatsu stopped mid-sentence.

I didn't see his face because I had shut my eyes, silently praying they all wouldn't start laughing.

"Ichimatsu.." He called again, but softer this time, "hey, why are you dressed like that?"

"Osomatsu! I told you not to...oh! Ichimatsu! You look nice today!" Choromatsu trotted up behind him.

"Could it be? He's starting to embrace his manhood?" Karamatsu snuck in as well, wearing a smirk.

I wanted to slap that shitty grin off his face, but oh well. The point is I didn't get teased like I thought I would. The worst of the storm was over, but I have yet to say I am in a relationship.

'Yup, just another great day.'