Chapter 4: Preserving the Kindness; Totoko's Concern

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The shutters of Totoko's fish shop clattered down with a final metallic rattle. She let out a long sigh, stretching her arms high above her head as the crisp night air swept through the now-quiet street. The neighborhood had wound down for the evening; only the hum of distant televisions and the faint rustle of wind against signage remained.

As she turned to lock up, her eyes naturally drifted toward a familiar silhouette just down the road—the Matsuno household. The windows glowed with warm light, and even from here, she could hear muffled laughter and shouting spilling out into the night. Typical.

Adjusting the strap of her bath bag over her shoulder, Totoko began walking. It was her usual routine to stop by on the way to the public bathhouse, and tonight was no exception. But as her boots tapped gently along the pavement, her thoughts drifted back to earlier that day—to the boy who had timidly stepped into her shop.

Haruto.

At first, she'd brushed off his awkwardness, assuming he was just another one of those Matsuno slackers—maybe slightly more polite. But the more she thought about it, the more he didn't sit right in her memory. There was something off. He had been too quiet. Too careful. Not sarcastic. Not lazy. Not loud. Not like them.

He had been... kind.

As she approached the front door of the Matsuno home, her steps slowed. She could see figures passing by the windows, and the occasional thud of something falling echoed faintly. A typical night in the chaotic Matsuno house.

She knocked once.

Osomatsu (grinning): Totoko-chan! What brings you here so late? Missed me already?

He opened the door with his usual smug smile, leaning casually against the frame like she hadn't heard that same line a hundred times before.

Totoko (rolling her eyes): Don't flatter yourself, Osomatsu. I'm heading to the bathhouse. Just thought I'd check in.

She stepped past him and into the familiar, cluttered entryway. Her eyes scanned the living room, expecting to see Haruto somewhere among the chaos.

Totoko (curious): Speaking of which, where's Haruto? Is he still alive, or have you six worn him out already?

Osomatsu (chuckling): Haruto? He's fine! Probably off reading or doing something totally normal and boring... you know, not our thing.

Totoko (frowning): You better not be giving him a hard time.

Her voice lowered, and she crossed her arms firmly.

Totoko (serious): He's not like you guys. He's... different.

Osomatsu (raising an eyebrow): Different how?

Totoko (snapping): Different as in better. He's sweet. He's polite. He actually tries to help people. You could learn something from him.

Osomatsu (waving it off): Oh, come on. You know we're harmless. Besides, Haruto's tougher than he looks. He survived your shop, didn't he?

Totoko (firm): That's not the point.

She stepped in closer, her tone sharper than usual as her gaze pierced him.

Totoko (quietly): He's... I don't know, too nice. Like he doesn't realize what he's gotten himself into living with you guys. I mean, have you even paid attention to how he talks to people? It's like he still believes the world's full of sunshine and friendship and all that idealistic stuff.

Osomatsu (smirking): So what, you're saying he's too nice to survive here?

Totoko (hesitating): I'm saying... he might not realize how much you guys could take advantage of that. If you're not careful, you'll crush that out of him. And then what?

Osomatsu's grin faltered slightly. He leaned back against the doorframe, eyes drifting away for a brief moment—quiet, unusually thoughtful.

Osomatsu (low): You really think we'd do that to him?

Totoko (softly): I don't know, Osomatsu.

She looked past him, toward the heart of the house, where laughter and shouting still rumbled like thunder in the background.

Totoko (gentle): But I know you six can be overwhelming. Just... don't let him lose whatever light he's carrying, okay? He's got something special. And it'd be a shame if living here dulled that out of him.

Before Osomatsu could respond, a loud crash echoed from the living room, followed by the unmistakable sound of Jyushimatsu's laughter and Haruto's panicked shouting.

Haruto (shouting from inside): Hey! I said don't throw things at me!

Osomatsu (sighing): See? He's already learning how to shout back. That's something, right?

Totoko (raising an eyebrow): Learning to survive and learning to change aren't the same thing.

She turned toward the door again, pausing with her back to him.

Totoko (quiet): Just... keep an eye on him, alright? He might be tougher than he looks. But even tough people have their limits.

As Totoko left for the bathhouse, Osomatsu closed the door behind her, his usual grin replaced by a rare moment of quiet reflection. Haruto had certainly surprised them all in the short time he'd been there. Sweet or not, he was starting to prove he could handle the madness of their world.

When Osomatsu returned to the living room, he saw Haruto dodging a flying pillow with a mix of panic and determination. Jyushimatsu was doubled over with laughter, while Choromatsu berated the others for making a mess. It was chaos, as always.

But Totoko's words lingered in Osomatsu's mind. Maybe they did need to be a little more careful with their new brother. After all, sweetness like Haruto wasn't something you found every day.

End Of Chapter 4

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