When Kaoru, Homura, Dekapan, and Fuyu managed to get to the room after meeting Ken-san at the lobby and after trying to catch up to Hatabou, they were already expecting for the worst; upon meeting Ken-san earlier, who was trying to calm down a girl and her five identical sisters, he had immediately explained the situation. There was a creepy decapitated doll on the hallway, so if they see one, they shouldn't freak out. But other than that, Ken-san also told them some other interesting things; Yuki and Hana were knocked out, so obviously that got Fuyu and Homura worried. Kaoru also seemed to be worried for Iyami, Chibita, and Totoko, which made sense, since he was close to those three.
But then they heard other things.
"Sir Shonouske Hatabou has been murdered, sir."
And when they all frantically asked who did such a thing to Hatabou, Ken-san looked down, almost in shame for what he was going to say.
"It's..Sir Suuji Jyushi, sir. Sir Suuji Jyushi stabbed him repeatedly with Sir Suuji Ichi's katana. But there was something wrong with him.. he wasn't acting like himself at all, sir."
Dekapan wouldn't believe any of it, naturally. He refused to believe such a thing. But instead of getting angry at Ken-san for saying such things, he suggested they all hurry up before things could take a turn for the worst. Besides Ichi and Jyushi, he also knew Hatabou ever since he was born. Those three boys were childhood friends, and he refused to believe that the youngest one in their little group murdered one of them. Besides, why would Jyushi kill Hatabou? And where was Ichi when it all happened? Surely, Ichi wouldn't watch his beloved little brother kill one of his only friends!
There was no door, meaning someone had broke it. So when they stepped inside, they immediately noticed everything in the room; the unconscious bodies of Osomatsu, Chibita, Iyami, Yuki, Hana, Totoko, and Jyushi, as well as a corpse. And that corpse belonged to Hatabou. There were multiple weapons and items on the ground, such as a metal skewer, a butcher's knife, a scythe, a dagger, and a metal pipe.
Immediately, Fuyu ran over to her husband and placed his head on her lap, as Dekapan pulled out a long black fabric from the corner of the room and used it to cover Hatabou's body. "D-Dear?! Are you okay?!" But upon hearing his breathing, she calmed down. "Oh.. oh thank goodness.. I didn't know what I'd do if you were dead.. especially since.." Tears started to come out of her eyes. "Ah. No use for crying.. Yuki, dear, wake up. Please."
"Hana-chan!" Homura cried, placing her smaller friend on her lap. She almost looked like an actual doll with how peaceful her expression was as she slept, but that only worried Homura even more. "A-Are you okay?! Wake up! Wake up, please!"
With how loud Homura was crying, both Yuki and Hana cracked their eyes open. "Ergh.. Fuyu..? What..?" Yuki groaned.
Fuyu immediately smiled in relief upon seeing Yuki wake up. So her husband was alright.. well, that was good. If he wasn't.. it would have hurt her so much. "Yuki-kun. We're at the old Suuji Manor."
Hana wasn't as tired as Yuki was, however. "Homura-chaaaaaaan! You're crying is too loud! I can't sleep!" Hana suddenly whined, placing a hand against Homura's cheek as if to push her away. She then started to pat Homura's cheek repeatedly, but if it was meant as a slap, it didn't really hurt. "You do have a loud voice! I knew it.. give me five more minutes, no way in hell am I getting up. Also, gimme a pillow, blanket, a teddy bear-"
"No!" Homura hugged Hana. "You're not sleeping! You're awake, and I'm glad you are!" She started sobbing. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost my best friend.."
"Oof! Why so sappy all of a sudden? Geez, you're so sappy, you put trees to shame!" Hana was tiny compared to Homura, so her face was being pressed against Homura's chest. "Did something happen? Why is everyone so worried- oh my god!" She pulled away, jumping out of Homura's lap, and turned to Yuki. "Yuki-san, we were being mind-controlled! Remember?! Chibita-kun and I were looking around the manor because we split up! And then we met up with you and Iyami-san after being swallowed by some gross, dark thing! And then we saw Jyushi-san! He was being held captive by this creepy old man.. and that girl!" She pointed at an unconscious Totoko, and Kaoru seemed to be trying to gently wake her up. "It was her!"
"Ah! I remember!" Yuki clapped his hands together. "That man.. he had Jyushi-kun captive! And he told us that if we wanted him safe, we'd have to do as he says! And I remember facing off against Todo-san, with Kara-san trying to help him.. oh dear, I must have hurt him!" He looked around frantically. "W-Where is Todo-san and Kara-san?"
"I can't see Sir Ichi or that Lonely guy either!" Hana pouted. "They left us?! Meanies!"
"Geez, can you not be so noisy? Idjit.." Chibita growled, leaning against Iyami. Kaoru had managed to successfully wake both of them up. "Ergh.. I don't feel so good- KAORU-SAN?! YOU'RE HERE?!"
The ex-policeman looked at Chibita. Well.. he was still small, but he certainly grew a bit. He then remembered that it's been years since they last saw each other too. "It's a long story, Chibita-kun! Though I hope you'll stick around once the party's over. Oh, and please try to wake up Totoko-chan! I still have another person to take care of!" He stood up from his spot, rubbing Chibita's head, before walking over to Osomatsu. "What happened to you? You're sweating so much, Osomatsu-kun."
Osomatsu cracked an eye open. For who knows how long he fell asleep, but when he woke up and saw Kaoru's face, he jolted upwards. "K-Kaoru-san?! Wait, what happened.."
Then it clicked.
He passed out after having a panic attack over hearing Tougou's name.
Ah. So that's what happened. How shitty of me.. why the hell am I still scared over something that happened like eleven years ago?
Osomatsu never understood why he was still scared of Tougou. Didn't he get arrested? Ah, but that was at his dimension. In this dimension, Tougou was apparently Lonely's psychopathic enemy that had planned to kill Jyushi. But that was all he knew. He didn't even know how Jyushi ended up in this room, the last thing he remembered was bursting in here with some guy playing the piano, and upon hearing Tougou's name, he panicked. He also remembered Kara trying to soothe him, but after that, nothing else. He couldn't understand what just happened.
First, Todo kicked the door down.. and then Tougou started talking.. and then Choro yelled out his name.. I think I got a panic attack.. and that's it. Wow. I can't even remember anything. Dang, and they had a fight too? I missed out a lot!
Sitting up, he looked around him, and noticed that there was a blanket over what seemed to be another person's body on the floor. But besides that, Yuki seemed to be struggling to get up, but his wife was helping him stand. Hana seemed to be up and chipper, stretching and all, while Homura was kneeling down beside her, fussing over Hana's condition. Kaoru helped him stand up, though his legs were wobbly. Iyami did the same to Chibita, and helped him up. Dekapan, however, was still kneeling on the floor, gently stroking Jyushi's sleeping face.
Osomatsu walked over to where his phone was, picking it up carefully and inspecting it for any damages. He noticed another application on the screen.
So.. this must be it? Did.. did any of them use it? Where's Kara? And Todo, Ichi, and Lonely..?
"Who's underneath the blanket?" Osomatsu asked as he turned to Kaoru.
Suddenly, Kaoru looked at the ground, and so did Fuyu and Homura. Dekapan turned away from Jyushi with a somewhat hurt look on his face. Iyami, Hana, and Yuki looked at each other in confusion, while Chibita seemingly realized what happened.
"Me was unconscious." Iyami raised a finger tiredly. "Me remembers fighting Lonely.. and then having something hit me. Me passed out soon after."
"So was I." Yuki meekly added. "I was battling against Todo-san and Kara-san.. I think something was pulled out of my chest. I feel better now, though."
"And I was battling with him too, until something hit me!" Hana turned to Chibita. "Chibita-kun, do you know what else happened? I'm pretty sure we all passed out!"
Chibita looked at the body that was covered by the blanket. "...It's Hatabou."
Hana and Yuki looked at each other in confusion, while Iyami scowled. He would have crossed his arms, but he was doing as Kaoru told him; trying to wake up Totoko by gently patting her face. "Me thinks it's rude to cover up someone with a blanket like that!"
"It ain't rude if the guy's dead, Iyami." Chibita mumbled.
At that statement, Osomatsu suddenly flinched. "D-dead..?"
"..I was bein' controlled by something. And so was Totoko. Three of us were left standing before Hatabou died.. and that was me, Totoko.. and Jyushi over there." Everyone turned to the unconscious Jyushi on Dekapan's arms. "But.. I don't blame 'im. He was being forced to fight against his brother after all. I remember.. hearing Osomatsu scream out after hearing Tougou's name. Then he passed out.. but we were being forced to fight against you guys. Hana and Yuki were fightin' Todo, but Kara joined in to protect him. Iyami was fightin' Lonely. Totoko and I were fightin'.." He turned to Osomatsu. "..Wait a minute.. we were fighting you.. but we weren't..?"
"..Osomatsu was unconscious when we were all fighting." Iyami spoke up. "And the one you were fighting.. he wasn't wearing formal clothes, right? He was wearing a hoodie. And his hair was messy, his eyes were red.. it wasn't this Osomatsu. If me remembers correctly.. there were two Osomatsus that time. This one, but he was unconscious and Kara was holding him.. and another one was fighting alongside Ichi, Lonely, and Kara."
While everyone looked at each other in confusion, Dekapan joined in. "So are you implying it's the other Matsuno Osomatsu? The one of this world?"
"They're.. they're not implying anything." Osomatsu looked at them. "He was here. I know it. He was helping us.. the other me. He apparently saved Lonely from Jiguzou, and stopped Nyaa-chan from choking the hell out of Todo.. and I'm sure he helped the others as well." He could feel it in his gut, and it was best to trust his instincts.
Everyone else couldn't understand what they were talking about, and Hana voiced their thoughts. "I don't get it! Other Osomatsu? Two of them? Is that about the other-dimension-crap you guys were talking about earlier? 'Cuz I don't get it!"
"..Hana." Hana turned to Dekapan. "Osomatsu-kun right here.. he's not one of us. Now, I'm not saying he's an alien.. but he's not from this world."
Yuki jolted a bit. "I.. I always felt something around him. That something.. was off." He looked apologetic as he said that. "I'm not saying that I never trusted Osomatsu-san!"
Kaoru placed a hand on Osomatsu's shoulder, worry visible on his features. "But he has the same face as my Osomatsu-kun! Plus, he says he remembers every single moment of his childhood.. so who else could he be? This is Osomatsu-kun!"
"No he's not." Dekapan glanced at them. "He's Osomatsu from another dimension. Not ours. He's not Osomatsu-kun."
"S-so.." Homura twiddled her fingers together, sweating anxiously. "W-who is.. Osomatsu-san.. really..?"
"...I am me." Osomatsu replied, taking a deep breath. He saw Chibita and Iyami give him nods, as well as Dekapan. He didn't plan on getting this much people involved with his problem, but it seemed as if he had no choice. "..I know all of you, but.. in a way, you guys aren't you? I've been friends with Chibita, Iyami, Hatabou, Professor Dekapan, Totoko-chan.. but in a way, they're different from you guys." He was honestly so bad at explaining this, and he silently wished that Todo and Kara were around to help him.
"So.. what makes you different from the Osomatsu here?" Fuyu asked, trying to remain calm.
"..From where I came from, Homura-chan happens to be Jyushi's girlfriend, for example." At that statement, Homura turned red. "But in this world, I'm pretty sure Jyushi doesn't have romantic feelings for anyone. And from where I came from, Fuyu-san and Yuki-san aren't even married yet. They just started dating last Christmas." Fuyu and Yuki looked at each other upon hearing that. "And.. Katsuna Todo, Kyabarie Kara, Suuji Jyushi, Suuji Ichi, and Kodoku Choro, also known as Lonely.. they're my little brothers."
Out of everyone, Hana was the only one who seemed to be amazed at hearing such a thing. Iyami and Chibita looked at each other, before glancing worriedly at Osomatsu. Fuyu and Yuki looked shocked, as well as Homura, but Kaoru looked rather.. upset?
"So.. have you been tricking us this whole time?" Fuyu asked in disbelief. It made sense to her. Osomatsu had been pretending to be part of their world ever since they met him.
"Did you.. just use Jyushi and everyone else then..?" Yuki muttered. Jyushi trusted him an awful lot, and so did Kara, Todo, Ichi, and Lonely. It was odd enough that someone as carefree as Osomatsu could befriend someone like Todo and Ichi.
"Is your friendship with Jyushi-chan fake then..?" Kaoru added in.
"Does that mean.. that you're only helping us because they happen to look like your brothers?" Out of everyone, Osomatsu didn't expect Homura to deal the killing blow.
Hana remained silent, surprisingly.
This was what Osomatsu was afraid of since day one; that no one would believe him.
I mean, it seems so far-fetched..
"One of the reasons I'm helping you guys.. and one of the reasons I broke in Flag Corporation.. is because I need to find my way back. My brothers need me. And in this world, Matsuno Osomatsu is an only child. But from where I'm from, I'm not an only child." He could feel something warm streaming down his cheeks. "But.. I'm not here to make things worse.. if anything.. I just want everyone to be okay before I leave. I refuse to leave after seeing how dangerous everything is.. plus, I can't necessarily just leave either. I need to have the other versions of my brothers with me. But.. I don't want to see any version of my brothers suffer! Even if they're as timid as Kara, as dangerous as Todo, as naive as Jyushi, as prideful as Ichi, or as painful as Choro.. my brothers don't deserve to suffer."
Deep down, they're the greatest little brothers anyone could ask for.
"I just.. want them back. But I'm not letting other versions of my brothers suffer." Osomatsu looked down. "It's not right.. and deep down, I'm their eldest brother. It's my job to protect them."
..Am I crying?
"Despite what I want and the measures I'll go through just to get them.. not once have I ever thought of using anything against them."
And that's the truth.
"..I believe you!"
Osomatsu looked up at the one who spoke.
Hana?
The smallest girl in the room nodded. "I said so before, didn't I? On the day you met our president!" Hana chirped, smiling brightly and walking over to him. "I don't think Osomatsu-san is a bad person! Sure, I'm kinda.. upset, that you didn't tell us what was really going on! I mean, you technically lied to Jyushi-san by saying the reason you broke in was because you wanted to visit him.. but besides that, you've been.. protecting him and everyone else, haven't you? When I first saw you, I noticed you were protecting Kara-san and Todo-san! And you didn't seem to be willing to fight against the president, even if he did point a katana at you!" She grinned. "But Flag Corporation finds a way! If you told us about who you really were, then maybe we could have found a way to get you back home!"
"..I mean, we found a way to get your information from another dimension. It wouldn't be hard trying to find a way.." Dekapan mumbled under his breath.
It was loud for Hana to hear though. "What?! You guys never told me!" She suddenly pouted. "What else are you guys keeping from me?! Better say it now, before I throw a tantrum!"
Yuki looked at his wife for a moment. "Um, Fuyu and I are expecting a child-"
"EHHHHHH?! WHAT NEXT?!" Hana balled her fists.
"I used to be a policeman before becoming the captain of the bodyguards!" Kaoru suddenly joined in, but it seemed as if he wanted to tease Hana.
"HAH?!" Hana was going to die from a heart attack if she kept acting like that. Homura worriedly looked at her, and seemed to be experiencing second-hand embarrassment. "Whatever! I'm asking each and every single one of you later! But for now," She turned back to Osomatsu. "At least that we know something's special going on with you! Now that we know, you won't be sugar-coating anything anymore, Osomatsu-san! We know, and I believe your intentions are good! So of course I believe in you!"
"...I as well." Homura meekly stammered out. "A-And I'm sorry for saying such a thing earlier! Forgive me!"
Yuki bowed apologetically soon after. "What I said was definitely unnecessary.. I'm sorry for doubting you, Osomatsu-san."
Fuyu nodded in agreement. "By the way you act.. you're not as suspicious as Yuki and I thought you were.. you're just a lost kid."
Dekapan huffed. "..You have expressed nothing but genuine concern towards Jyushi these past few days. I believe you now."
Osomatss could see Chibita and Iyami silently cheer for him.
Everyone..
"Ah, but do you happen to know anything about the thing that controlled us then? Seeing as you're from another world.. you must know something about weird shadows popping out and eating us?" Hana suddenly piped up. "Hey.. there's definitely something supernatural going on here!"
"You just noticed that now..?" Chibita sweat dropped. "I couldn't understand much of what that old man was saying, sorry."
"..I did hear a few things.." Osomatsu looked up. He couldn't understand them.. but even in his unconscious state, he heard what everyone was saying. "Something about a man in white.. giving Tougou power.. to control people-" Something clicked. "Man in white! That's it!"
"Did you find something out?" Iyami asked him. It was a miracle that Totoko was still unconscious with the noise they were all making.
"It's Kamimatsu!" Osomatsu grabbed Chibita by the shoulders, shaking him. "Kamimatsu must be in this world too! If the other me is here, and has weird-ass powers.. there's a chance he got it from Kamimatsu! Plus, he's the only guy I know that wears white from head to toe and has magical bullshit! I mean, he's the reason I ended up here in the first place!"
"Lemme go, idjit!" Chibita slapped Osomatsu's hands away. "But if he's here.. how did Tougou get powers?"
"Didn't he say something about trading Osomatsu-san for Jyushi-san?" Hana spoke up again. She seemed to be extra-chatty tonight, Osomatsu noted. "Whoever that man in white is, he definitely wants Osomatsu-san! But Tougou seems to want Jyushi for his own reasons.. so even if they did trade Osomatsu-san for Jyushi-san.."
"There's a chance that's fake. This 'Tougou' person would most likely take Jyushi-chan with him after getting Osomatsu-kun too." Kaoru added in. "Tougou.. I swear, I've heard that name before! Before Chibita-kun, Totoko-chan, Hatabou-kun, and Iyami met Osomatsu-kun.. I was the first one to know Osomatsu-kun, the one from this world. But.. I think I remember something involving him? What is it..?"
"B-but!" Homura stammered out again. "We're going off-topic! What truly happened here? Who killed Shonouske-san?"
Ah. She's right.
"There's no doubt it was Jyushi." Chibita clicked his tongue. "Totoko and I were the last ones to get knocked out.. I saw Jyushi try to stab Ichi. But Hatabou was fast enough to jump in and protect him.. and Jyushi stabbed him multiple times."
Fuyu gasped, then covered her mouth with her hand. "J-Jyushi couldn't have done such a thing, Chibita-san! Jyushi may be a bit scared of him at times.. but Jyushi admires him! He thinks of him as a second older brother too!"
"Ken-san said something about Jyushi not acting like himself, correct?" Dekapan looked at Jyushi's sleeping face. "If Hana, Chibita, Yuki, and Iyami were mind-controlled.. who is to say Jyushi didn't end up the same way?"
"And Totoko-chan was in the same state, wasn't she?" Kaoru looked at Totoko worriedly. "Poor girl."
So we got those figured out; Hatabou was murdered.. because of Tougou using Jyushi as a puppet to kill him. So it's not Jyushi's fault, it was Tougou's. And that Tougou has powers from Kamimatsu.. still doesn't explain where the others are though.
As if to answer all his questions, Osomatsu suddenly heard a voice.
"Other me. I see you're finally awake."
He jolted. "Oso?" He turned around the room, looking around frantically for another person that resembled him. But there was nothing.
"Osomatsu-kun?" Kaoru worriedly placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. "Are you alright?"
"Other me? Where are you?" Osomatsu looked around. "Where's Lonely? And Kara, Todo, and Ichi?"
"Calm down. You can't see us, but we'll explain later. But can you do me a favor?"
"A.. favor..? Of course."
"Jyushi is.. well, there's something obviously wrong with him."
As if to prove his point, Jyushi suddenly made a pained cry as his face scrunched in pain. Dekapan brushed some of Jyushi's hair out of his face, placing a hand on his forehead. "Jyushi?"
"Is he okay?" Fuyu and Yuki walked over to Dekapan. "He's sweating.."
"Is he having a nightmare?" Homura asked worriedly.
"The girl's right. Jyushi is having a nightmare."
"Ah! Really?"
"Oi, Osomatsu, who're you talking to?" Chibita asked with a raised eyebrow.
"..It's the other me." Everyone's heads snapped to his direction. "I don't know how he's doing it, but I can hear his voice in my head! And he's talking to me.."
"..I'll explain later. For my favor.. I want you to wake Jyushi up."
"Hah? Wake him up?" He glanced at Jyushi. It seemed as if he was having a hard time to breathe, and he was also sweating. Dekapan shifted a bit, so that Jyushi was lying on his lap. Fuyu took out a small fan from her dress and started to fan him, wondering if it was too hot in the room. Hana and Homura were now kneeling beside him as well, worriedly glancing at one another every few seconds. As for Yuki, he had taken out a handkerchief, and started wiping Jyushi's cheek, as it was stained with some of Hatabou's blood from earlier. "He's having a nightmare, right?"
"..It's not any normal nightmare."
"Huh?"
"Do anything in your power to wake him up. If you don't.. well, he's going to die, basically."
In an instant, Osomatsu had run over to the small group on the floor. "Dekapan-san, please give me Jyushi for a minute." Without hesitation, Dekapan gently handed the sleeping Jyushi to Osomatsu. Jyushi's body was on his lap, but his head was lying on Osomatsu's shoulder. "Alright, other me. I just have to wake him up, right?"
"Yes."
"Well that's good. I mean.." He let out a sigh. "I'm the absolute worst brother to sleep next to in the futon after all."