Beneath the... (Chapter 16)
Title: Beneath the…
Rating: G for this chapter.
Characters: OT5 (All Arashi members as brothers)
Genre: AU, drama, family, angst
Disclaimer: Only the plot is mine~
Summary: 2 years ago Osayama Satoshi was involved in a terrible accident that made him lost partial of his memories. Even though he survived the impact, he becomes mentally incapable and has to depend on his younger brothers to lead normal life. What he didn’t expect when waking up though was to find all his once caring brothers had turned into people who were completely different from his memory. Sho has changed into a hot-tempered workaholic, Kazunari becomes an introvert who refuses to talk with anyone, and Jun drowns himself in party, alcohol and women every single night. To make it even confusing, nobody in the house is allowed to speak about Masaki who for some unknown reasons has disappeared without a trace.
Will Satoshi find the answer he is seeking for in the end? Or something…is actually is hidden beneath the mess?
A/N: Their surname is Osayama. Un-betaed!
Chapter 16 : Beneath the pain
A week has passed since the huge revelation. As if finding out about the truth which has been haunting Jun is not worrying enough, the fact that they fail to contact Masaki since the day Takayama and Togawa went to talk to the latter makes Kazu grows even restless. He already tried so many ways to look for Masaki from calling the other man’s cellphone until visiting his house, but nothing worked. There was no track of the other man anywhere. Even when he and Satoshi went to the bakery where the latter is supposed to be working at, all the staff gave them the same answer - that Masaki has taken an unknown amount of days off. Nobody also seems to know where Masaki has left to including the landlord of his apartment who told him that Masaki only informed him he has some errands to do and won’t be around there for quite a long time. After spending several more days in effort to look for the disappeared man wellbeing to no avail, in the end all he, Satoshi, and Jun can do it just to wait for Masaki to return. They understand that Masaki might need some time alone to cool down since what had happened to the latter must be more than tolerable blow already.
In that mean time, he and Jun are still trying hard to keep the amount of problems that occurs in the company to as minimum as possible. Despite the doctor’s warning to not forcing himself until he is fully recovered, Kazu insists to come to the office so he at least can keep an eye on the sneaky directors. Though Jun clearly doesn’t like the idea of letting his injured brother to work in such a hectic environment, the youngest brother can’t bring himself to oppose it since he is more than aware that he won’t be able to cope with everything alone due to his lack of experience plus ‘the problem’ which is currently taunting him day and night. And what make it even worst for them, each time they enter Sho’s office to check some important documents, they will notice the increase of resignation letters that has been left on Sho’s desk, especially by the brighter employees who probably realize that they are in the bigger risk of being fired once the company changes hand to the directors. It seems like everyone already predicts the worst ever outcome to happen and there is nothing they can do to convince the otherwise.
Unfortunately, those are not the only problems that they have to deal with. After Sho’s melt down incident a week ago, they begin to realize about Sho’s weird behavior like how often the elder brother suddenly daze off when other people are talking or just staring outside of the window when he is alone until he lost track of time. The sick man doesn’t seem like in mood of interacting with others too since he tends to not talking too much even when it is related to the company that one time ago he was literally risking his life for to save. It as if he already loses his hope of anything and just waiting for the end to come. Just this morning he came to give the older brother’s a clean change of clothes and noticed how serious Sho’s face actually was as he read through an agreement with a stack of resignation letters is occupying the small table next to his bed. The fact that Sho signed it before asking him to give it to their father on the different floor makes his heart clench, especially since Sho shortly told him that it is related to the future company’s management. It feels like a huge blow is given to him since he is now more than realize that he and Jun has failed to protect the employees and the company. They just waste the effort of their father and elder brothers after working so hard for it for this entire time.
Speaking of which, lately Kazu also starts to notice that he has encountered Takayama in Sho’s ward quite frequent. The talented secretary always seem like he is having a difficult time of coping between the company and his superior judging from the exhausted expression and the fact that Kazu had caught the man apologizes to Sho more than twice. He was pondering if he should ask deeper what was the reason behind the latter’s change of behavior, but after he accidentally saw Takayama gave Sho an envelope and bowing down really low while repeating his appreciation a few days ago, he knows it is not his place to intrude them. He still remembers how cold Sho’s expression was at that time as the latter seemed like not paying any attention to his secretary’s words and just kept on looking outside of the ward again. For him, it is more than clear that Takayama was actually begging for Sho to letting him go as well before the situation in the company turn even worse than it already is.
And now, Kazu feels like he is turning into a zombie as he helplessly wanders inside the company to see how each department is going. The fact that almost all the face he sees in there are full of frustration and exhaustion due to delay, unrealistic expectation, and several more problems make him sad. Once he arrives at another department, he wants to personally come and see each of them to at express his gratitude for staying by their side until this far, but surprise when two of the irritating directors already stop on his way with their smug smile.
“Just what kind of superior you are for letting them feeling this down? You don’t know how to motivate your own people, little brat?”
The mocking tone burns Kazu’s temper. Yet, the younger man knows better than creating trouble in a crucial moment like now.
“You said you want to take over until your brother recover, didn’t you? What happened with that spirit now? Or perhaps you just realize it now that handling a big company is more than hitting and throwing a ball like you did before? I feel sorry for your brother who work his *ss off just to feed spoiled guys like you who can’t do anything for good.”
The venom-like sarcasm makes his old wound open. He can feel he is getting teary by the constant guilt and helplessness that has been burdening him for this entire time, but he reminds himself to stay strong by clenching his fist tight. No matter what happens, he cannot appear weak to those jerk. And no matter what they say, he will endure it to not at least jeopardize the situation of those poor workers who have been helping them after this while. Now, he knows this is what Sho and Masaki had to go through every day after they had to take over their father’s place to watch over the company despite being new and inexperienced about how the business world works.
“Your time is over, brat. We just received a confirmation email from your father about tomorrow’s meeting regarding the reorganization to the company’s president position.” the last sentence hit him like no other. It feels like his wall slowly crumbling down and there is nothing he can do to stop it. His mind suddenly becomes blank as he watches those two arrogant men in front keep on talking and laughing about whatever funny things they thought before eventually walk away and leave him behind. The shock was clearly too much for him to process until he doesn’t have any idea for how long he was just standing there like dumb. Later, when he finally can force himself to turn around and leave, he is surprise to find some workers already gathering near him with worried and confused expression. Those helpless eyes which are now staring back at him for explanation make him struggle to look for the right word though to no luck. In the end, he only can close his eyes and slowly bow down at the frozen workers as he mutters to the between his clenching teeth.
“I’m sorry…”
***
Jun just quietly stare at his phone screen as he sits on the hospital waiting bench. It has been five days since she tried to reach him and the sudden loss of contact makes him grow even restless than ever. He knows that Kazu was right when the latter told him that he can’t run away forever and still needs to make a decision in the end, but he is scared. The thought haunting him enough that he cannot drown himself with alcohol and party anymore unlike he always does when he thinks he is going to break down. Receiving calls from the other one is scary enough, but not getting any sort of caller also nearly make him turn to paranoid due to his imagination with what the latter is thinking about now. Frustrated by the unresolved misery, Jun let out a heavy sigh and massages his forehead. Just what he is supposed to do now? He doesn’t have that much time longer to think.
“Osayama Jun-kun?”
The sudden call startles him from his thought. Realizing that Sho’s doctor already standing in front him with a smile, the youngest son of Osayama family quickly get up and greet him back. As the two of them start to walk toward Sho’s ward without any rush, Jun finally can’t hold himself from asking the reason behind their meeting today.
“Is my brother getting better?”
The doctor turns to him with his calm feature which makes Jun to grow even anxious.
“We try to help him as much as he can, but it seems like he doesn’t want to open up with anyone else yet. Did your brother talk about his troubles or feelings to anyone else?”
Jun is stunned by the question. He tries to recall as much as he can from his experience, but cannot say much about it. In the end, he only shakes his head and mentions about Sho’s frequent anger burst during the recent years when anything gets into his nerves.
“I see. Did he take any days off to go vacation or just rest at home lately?”
That makes Jun speechless for the second time. Again, he shakes his head and tells the doctor about their brother’s workaholic behavior and how often he spent his entire in the office even during weekends. As their conversation going deeper, Jun begins to more and more realize how the real root of Sho’s problem probably is not entirely from what they thought it is. The three of them had a talk about Sho’s worrisome mental health before and assume that the cause is due to combination of overworking and anger management issue after Masaki’s left. Now when he thinks about it again, it indeed related to the third brother in a way, but it is much more than that.
And he knows it is partly because of their ignorance toward the second brother’s situation.
“Listening from you and your brothers’ stories and how Sho-san’s behaves toward his job, for now I can assume that he has chronic anxiety. He probably had unpleasant experience in the past that makes him to act like now since you said it started from a few years ago. Sho-san probably bottled up everything from that point and the anxiety just worsened his situation.”
Unable to find a right word to say, Jun just quietly nod. He tries to process all the doctor says and make a mental note to talk about it with Satoshi and Kazu later. Looking by the huge responsibility the latter has after replacing their father’s important position, the constant harassment from the tricky directors, and the sudden loss of Masaki who is both was supposed to be his talented and most trustworthy right hand, it is understandable if Sho eventually crush under the pressures. Not to mention about the tragic accident that turns their eldest brother to become mentally incapable like now which leads Sho to no other choice, but to take over all the matters that related to their family as well. Just imagining how suffocating it feels to carry such burden saddens him for their lack of attention to the problem from the first place.
Before he realizes it, they already stop in front of Sho’s ward. He just silently watch from behind when the doctor knocks the door twice before opening it and find Sho is sitting on his bed while staring outside of the window. Satoshi who is sitting on the guest chair not far from the dozing man immediately turn to them by that before hurriedly comes closer when Jun signals him to. Once seeing the doctor begins to examine their sick brother’s condition while talking about the weather and some random topics, both Satoshi and Jun leave the room and walk a little further away.
“How’s Sho?”
Satoshi just sadly shakes his head.
“He did-n’t ta-lk to me. I tri-ed to talk a-bout any-thing, but he ig-nored me.”
Jun just pat the elder brother’s back while saying that he did really well. Later, they take their seat on the nearby empty chairs where they suddenly become quiet for a very long time. Neither knows what they are supposed to say in this matter as they just stare at the passing people, sometimes to the playing young patients until Satoshi eventually speaks.
“It’s our fau-lt too, ri-ght?”
The youngest brother turns to the elder man by that, but doesn’t say anything back. His eyes dim as he remembers what the doctor has told him before taking his gaze to the front again.
“Sho was clea-rly stress-sed, but…we ju-st sta-yed and wat-ched. Ju-st if I trie-d to do some-thing be-fore…”
“Nii-san, I admit…it’s partly our fault too, but don’t forget Sho always keep all his thought, his feelings - everything to himself. He won’t open up that easily to others. Doctor told me that he probably has chronic anxiety and that makes him difficult to trust other people. And after Masaki left the company…it possibly worsened since he both can’t longer share his work-related problems and lost his trust on others. But…I won’t say it’s not our fault too. It’s partly our fault, but…I guess it’s everyone’s fault in this matter. We should pay more attention about people around us…and not only overthink about our troubles alone.”
Satoshi chews his lip by that, but not saying anything in return. After a while, they finally see the doctor comes out from Sho’s ward and reassure them to think more positively about their brother before excusing himself from there. Jun is about to follow the eldest one to go back inside the ward, but a sudden message to his cellphone startles him. By the time he reads the short text that Kazu just sent, his heart drops as he immediately stops on his track due to shock. Satoshi who notices about the sudden change on his younger brother’s expression comes to halt as well and shows his questioning look to the seemingly frozen man.
“Jun? Is some-thi-ng wro-ng?”
The question startles Jun from his thought who immediately shakes his head.
“It’s nothing. There’s a small problem in the company and I have to go back there now.” a small smile appears on his face when Satoshi understandingly nods and wish Kazu and him all the best. Yet, as soon as he sees the eldest brother disappears back into the ward later, Jun’s posture instantly slumps. His feet turn heavy as he drags himself away from there, his brain at the same time blanks when recalling the text Kazu had sent to him about the meeting regarding reformation of system to the company that will take place tomorrow. It is not difficult to understand that the older brother was trying to imply nothing, but the fact that the company’s power will change hand to the directors. His heart clenches just by the thought of failing to fulfill his promise and responsibility to the workers and the thought of what fate will be waiting those people in the end. Who would imagine that he will care about their family company which he used to curse a lot for bringing jinx to their life before this much? However, after witnessing himself why their father and Sho tried really hard to protect it, he begins to understand just how powerful it can affect the life of even mere office boys who have done nothing wrong but just doing their job.
Unable to think properly any longer, he immediately stops near the reading space to calm himself down first before driving back to the company. With all his other three brothers are injured and sick while Masaki is nowhere to be found, he can’t afford to let anything to happen to him as well or they will fall into a very serious trouble. Just when he is about to take deep breath and brace himself to face another huge issue in the company later however, he accidentally sees headline of small news on the lying newspaper near him. That is when his eyes open wide due to surprise as he rereads it properly.
‘MAN IN LATE TWENTIES WAS FOUND CRITICAL AFTER ATTEMPTED SUICIDE FROM 5TH FLOOR BUILDING’
The moment he realizes that the stated location is no other than the place where Masaki is living at, he tries to ease his racing heart by remind himself that Satoshi and Kazu had said before how suicide attempts happened quite frequent in the area. Yet, when he fails to calm down even after a while, he finally decides to contact Masaki’s phone and see if someone will answer it. It feels like a torment as he waits for the call to go through while hurries to outside with the newspaper until much to his surprise, the line are connected. However, as the ring continues, Jun can’t longer hide his fear and walks around the hospital garden to wait for the unknown. He is about hang it up when nobody answers it after a long period before someone finally picks it up.
“Masaki? Is that you?” Jun can’t longer content both his anxiety and excitement for the eventually successful try. He is about to throws the older man with a lot more questions, but the realization that the person in the line is seemingly speaking to someone else makes him stops.
-‘Masaki? Ah yeah, that’s his last name when we checked through his phone. His nameplate only wrote Osayama.’
Jun’s heart drops when realizes the voice belongs to a woman. His hands already tremble as he asks who is speaking to him right now.
-“Ah, sorry. We are his neighbor. Just to clear it up to you, we are not trying to steal his phone or something, okay? Police told us to keep this for him. If you want to take it back, you can come over. That fellow is too critical so-” Jun can’t longer hear the rest of the woman’s words as he quickly hangs up the call. With a pale like ghost face, he doesn’t waste any second longer to drive back to the company so he can speak to Kazu as he himself can’t longer think properly with all the mess that is happening around him. Just when he thinks the situation can’t get any worse, another thing happened. But to think that the always optimist and cheerful Masaki will try to commit suicide is definitely just worst of the worst.
It is not happening.
It should NEVER be happening.
***
>...I won't comment anything for this chapter and the next one...
>As always, Thank You SO much for reading until this far! Comments are loved!
Rating: G for this chapter.
Characters: OT5 (All Arashi members as brothers)
Genre: AU, drama, family, angst
Disclaimer: Only the plot is mine~
Summary: 2 years ago Osayama Satoshi was involved in a terrible accident that made him lost partial of his memories. Even though he survived the impact, he becomes mentally incapable and has to depend on his younger brothers to lead normal life. What he didn’t expect when waking up though was to find all his once caring brothers had turned into people who were completely different from his memory. Sho has changed into a hot-tempered workaholic, Kazunari becomes an introvert who refuses to talk with anyone, and Jun drowns himself in party, alcohol and women every single night. To make it even confusing, nobody in the house is allowed to speak about Masaki who for some unknown reasons has disappeared without a trace.
Will Satoshi find the answer he is seeking for in the end? Or something…is actually is hidden beneath the mess?
A/N: Their surname is Osayama. Un-betaed!
Chapter 16 : Beneath the pain
A week has passed since the huge revelation. As if finding out about the truth which has been haunting Jun is not worrying enough, the fact that they fail to contact Masaki since the day Takayama and Togawa went to talk to the latter makes Kazu grows even restless. He already tried so many ways to look for Masaki from calling the other man’s cellphone until visiting his house, but nothing worked. There was no track of the other man anywhere. Even when he and Satoshi went to the bakery where the latter is supposed to be working at, all the staff gave them the same answer - that Masaki has taken an unknown amount of days off. Nobody also seems to know where Masaki has left to including the landlord of his apartment who told him that Masaki only informed him he has some errands to do and won’t be around there for quite a long time. After spending several more days in effort to look for the disappeared man wellbeing to no avail, in the end all he, Satoshi, and Jun can do it just to wait for Masaki to return. They understand that Masaki might need some time alone to cool down since what had happened to the latter must be more than tolerable blow already.
In that mean time, he and Jun are still trying hard to keep the amount of problems that occurs in the company to as minimum as possible. Despite the doctor’s warning to not forcing himself until he is fully recovered, Kazu insists to come to the office so he at least can keep an eye on the sneaky directors. Though Jun clearly doesn’t like the idea of letting his injured brother to work in such a hectic environment, the youngest brother can’t bring himself to oppose it since he is more than aware that he won’t be able to cope with everything alone due to his lack of experience plus ‘the problem’ which is currently taunting him day and night. And what make it even worst for them, each time they enter Sho’s office to check some important documents, they will notice the increase of resignation letters that has been left on Sho’s desk, especially by the brighter employees who probably realize that they are in the bigger risk of being fired once the company changes hand to the directors. It seems like everyone already predicts the worst ever outcome to happen and there is nothing they can do to convince the otherwise.
Unfortunately, those are not the only problems that they have to deal with. After Sho’s melt down incident a week ago, they begin to realize about Sho’s weird behavior like how often the elder brother suddenly daze off when other people are talking or just staring outside of the window when he is alone until he lost track of time. The sick man doesn’t seem like in mood of interacting with others too since he tends to not talking too much even when it is related to the company that one time ago he was literally risking his life for to save. It as if he already loses his hope of anything and just waiting for the end to come. Just this morning he came to give the older brother’s a clean change of clothes and noticed how serious Sho’s face actually was as he read through an agreement with a stack of resignation letters is occupying the small table next to his bed. The fact that Sho signed it before asking him to give it to their father on the different floor makes his heart clench, especially since Sho shortly told him that it is related to the future company’s management. It feels like a huge blow is given to him since he is now more than realize that he and Jun has failed to protect the employees and the company. They just waste the effort of their father and elder brothers after working so hard for it for this entire time.
Speaking of which, lately Kazu also starts to notice that he has encountered Takayama in Sho’s ward quite frequent. The talented secretary always seem like he is having a difficult time of coping between the company and his superior judging from the exhausted expression and the fact that Kazu had caught the man apologizes to Sho more than twice. He was pondering if he should ask deeper what was the reason behind the latter’s change of behavior, but after he accidentally saw Takayama gave Sho an envelope and bowing down really low while repeating his appreciation a few days ago, he knows it is not his place to intrude them. He still remembers how cold Sho’s expression was at that time as the latter seemed like not paying any attention to his secretary’s words and just kept on looking outside of the ward again. For him, it is more than clear that Takayama was actually begging for Sho to letting him go as well before the situation in the company turn even worse than it already is.
And now, Kazu feels like he is turning into a zombie as he helplessly wanders inside the company to see how each department is going. The fact that almost all the face he sees in there are full of frustration and exhaustion due to delay, unrealistic expectation, and several more problems make him sad. Once he arrives at another department, he wants to personally come and see each of them to at express his gratitude for staying by their side until this far, but surprise when two of the irritating directors already stop on his way with their smug smile.
“Just what kind of superior you are for letting them feeling this down? You don’t know how to motivate your own people, little brat?”
The mocking tone burns Kazu’s temper. Yet, the younger man knows better than creating trouble in a crucial moment like now.
“You said you want to take over until your brother recover, didn’t you? What happened with that spirit now? Or perhaps you just realize it now that handling a big company is more than hitting and throwing a ball like you did before? I feel sorry for your brother who work his *ss off just to feed spoiled guys like you who can’t do anything for good.”
The venom-like sarcasm makes his old wound open. He can feel he is getting teary by the constant guilt and helplessness that has been burdening him for this entire time, but he reminds himself to stay strong by clenching his fist tight. No matter what happens, he cannot appear weak to those jerk. And no matter what they say, he will endure it to not at least jeopardize the situation of those poor workers who have been helping them after this while. Now, he knows this is what Sho and Masaki had to go through every day after they had to take over their father’s place to watch over the company despite being new and inexperienced about how the business world works.
“Your time is over, brat. We just received a confirmation email from your father about tomorrow’s meeting regarding the reorganization to the company’s president position.” the last sentence hit him like no other. It feels like his wall slowly crumbling down and there is nothing he can do to stop it. His mind suddenly becomes blank as he watches those two arrogant men in front keep on talking and laughing about whatever funny things they thought before eventually walk away and leave him behind. The shock was clearly too much for him to process until he doesn’t have any idea for how long he was just standing there like dumb. Later, when he finally can force himself to turn around and leave, he is surprise to find some workers already gathering near him with worried and confused expression. Those helpless eyes which are now staring back at him for explanation make him struggle to look for the right word though to no luck. In the end, he only can close his eyes and slowly bow down at the frozen workers as he mutters to the between his clenching teeth.
“I’m sorry…”
***
Jun just quietly stare at his phone screen as he sits on the hospital waiting bench. It has been five days since she tried to reach him and the sudden loss of contact makes him grow even restless than ever. He knows that Kazu was right when the latter told him that he can’t run away forever and still needs to make a decision in the end, but he is scared. The thought haunting him enough that he cannot drown himself with alcohol and party anymore unlike he always does when he thinks he is going to break down. Receiving calls from the other one is scary enough, but not getting any sort of caller also nearly make him turn to paranoid due to his imagination with what the latter is thinking about now. Frustrated by the unresolved misery, Jun let out a heavy sigh and massages his forehead. Just what he is supposed to do now? He doesn’t have that much time longer to think.
“Osayama Jun-kun?”
The sudden call startles him from his thought. Realizing that Sho’s doctor already standing in front him with a smile, the youngest son of Osayama family quickly get up and greet him back. As the two of them start to walk toward Sho’s ward without any rush, Jun finally can’t hold himself from asking the reason behind their meeting today.
“Is my brother getting better?”
The doctor turns to him with his calm feature which makes Jun to grow even anxious.
“We try to help him as much as he can, but it seems like he doesn’t want to open up with anyone else yet. Did your brother talk about his troubles or feelings to anyone else?”
Jun is stunned by the question. He tries to recall as much as he can from his experience, but cannot say much about it. In the end, he only shakes his head and mentions about Sho’s frequent anger burst during the recent years when anything gets into his nerves.
“I see. Did he take any days off to go vacation or just rest at home lately?”
That makes Jun speechless for the second time. Again, he shakes his head and tells the doctor about their brother’s workaholic behavior and how often he spent his entire in the office even during weekends. As their conversation going deeper, Jun begins to more and more realize how the real root of Sho’s problem probably is not entirely from what they thought it is. The three of them had a talk about Sho’s worrisome mental health before and assume that the cause is due to combination of overworking and anger management issue after Masaki’s left. Now when he thinks about it again, it indeed related to the third brother in a way, but it is much more than that.
And he knows it is partly because of their ignorance toward the second brother’s situation.
“Listening from you and your brothers’ stories and how Sho-san’s behaves toward his job, for now I can assume that he has chronic anxiety. He probably had unpleasant experience in the past that makes him to act like now since you said it started from a few years ago. Sho-san probably bottled up everything from that point and the anxiety just worsened his situation.”
Unable to find a right word to say, Jun just quietly nod. He tries to process all the doctor says and make a mental note to talk about it with Satoshi and Kazu later. Looking by the huge responsibility the latter has after replacing their father’s important position, the constant harassment from the tricky directors, and the sudden loss of Masaki who is both was supposed to be his talented and most trustworthy right hand, it is understandable if Sho eventually crush under the pressures. Not to mention about the tragic accident that turns their eldest brother to become mentally incapable like now which leads Sho to no other choice, but to take over all the matters that related to their family as well. Just imagining how suffocating it feels to carry such burden saddens him for their lack of attention to the problem from the first place.
Before he realizes it, they already stop in front of Sho’s ward. He just silently watch from behind when the doctor knocks the door twice before opening it and find Sho is sitting on his bed while staring outside of the window. Satoshi who is sitting on the guest chair not far from the dozing man immediately turn to them by that before hurriedly comes closer when Jun signals him to. Once seeing the doctor begins to examine their sick brother’s condition while talking about the weather and some random topics, both Satoshi and Jun leave the room and walk a little further away.
“How’s Sho?”
Satoshi just sadly shakes his head.
“He did-n’t ta-lk to me. I tri-ed to talk a-bout any-thing, but he ig-nored me.”
Jun just pat the elder brother’s back while saying that he did really well. Later, they take their seat on the nearby empty chairs where they suddenly become quiet for a very long time. Neither knows what they are supposed to say in this matter as they just stare at the passing people, sometimes to the playing young patients until Satoshi eventually speaks.
“It’s our fau-lt too, ri-ght?”
The youngest brother turns to the elder man by that, but doesn’t say anything back. His eyes dim as he remembers what the doctor has told him before taking his gaze to the front again.
“Sho was clea-rly stress-sed, but…we ju-st sta-yed and wat-ched. Ju-st if I trie-d to do some-thing be-fore…”
“Nii-san, I admit…it’s partly our fault too, but don’t forget Sho always keep all his thought, his feelings - everything to himself. He won’t open up that easily to others. Doctor told me that he probably has chronic anxiety and that makes him difficult to trust other people. And after Masaki left the company…it possibly worsened since he both can’t longer share his work-related problems and lost his trust on others. But…I won’t say it’s not our fault too. It’s partly our fault, but…I guess it’s everyone’s fault in this matter. We should pay more attention about people around us…and not only overthink about our troubles alone.”
Satoshi chews his lip by that, but not saying anything in return. After a while, they finally see the doctor comes out from Sho’s ward and reassure them to think more positively about their brother before excusing himself from there. Jun is about to follow the eldest one to go back inside the ward, but a sudden message to his cellphone startles him. By the time he reads the short text that Kazu just sent, his heart drops as he immediately stops on his track due to shock. Satoshi who notices about the sudden change on his younger brother’s expression comes to halt as well and shows his questioning look to the seemingly frozen man.
“Jun? Is some-thi-ng wro-ng?”
The question startles Jun from his thought who immediately shakes his head.
“It’s nothing. There’s a small problem in the company and I have to go back there now.” a small smile appears on his face when Satoshi understandingly nods and wish Kazu and him all the best. Yet, as soon as he sees the eldest brother disappears back into the ward later, Jun’s posture instantly slumps. His feet turn heavy as he drags himself away from there, his brain at the same time blanks when recalling the text Kazu had sent to him about the meeting regarding reformation of system to the company that will take place tomorrow. It is not difficult to understand that the older brother was trying to imply nothing, but the fact that the company’s power will change hand to the directors. His heart clenches just by the thought of failing to fulfill his promise and responsibility to the workers and the thought of what fate will be waiting those people in the end. Who would imagine that he will care about their family company which he used to curse a lot for bringing jinx to their life before this much? However, after witnessing himself why their father and Sho tried really hard to protect it, he begins to understand just how powerful it can affect the life of even mere office boys who have done nothing wrong but just doing their job.
Unable to think properly any longer, he immediately stops near the reading space to calm himself down first before driving back to the company. With all his other three brothers are injured and sick while Masaki is nowhere to be found, he can’t afford to let anything to happen to him as well or they will fall into a very serious trouble. Just when he is about to take deep breath and brace himself to face another huge issue in the company later however, he accidentally sees headline of small news on the lying newspaper near him. That is when his eyes open wide due to surprise as he rereads it properly.
‘MAN IN LATE TWENTIES WAS FOUND CRITICAL AFTER ATTEMPTED SUICIDE FROM 5TH FLOOR BUILDING’
The moment he realizes that the stated location is no other than the place where Masaki is living at, he tries to ease his racing heart by remind himself that Satoshi and Kazu had said before how suicide attempts happened quite frequent in the area. Yet, when he fails to calm down even after a while, he finally decides to contact Masaki’s phone and see if someone will answer it. It feels like a torment as he waits for the call to go through while hurries to outside with the newspaper until much to his surprise, the line are connected. However, as the ring continues, Jun can’t longer hide his fear and walks around the hospital garden to wait for the unknown. He is about hang it up when nobody answers it after a long period before someone finally picks it up.
“Masaki? Is that you?” Jun can’t longer content both his anxiety and excitement for the eventually successful try. He is about to throws the older man with a lot more questions, but the realization that the person in the line is seemingly speaking to someone else makes him stops.
-‘Masaki? Ah yeah, that’s his last name when we checked through his phone. His nameplate only wrote Osayama.’
Jun’s heart drops when realizes the voice belongs to a woman. His hands already tremble as he asks who is speaking to him right now.
-“Ah, sorry. We are his neighbor. Just to clear it up to you, we are not trying to steal his phone or something, okay? Police told us to keep this for him. If you want to take it back, you can come over. That fellow is too critical so-” Jun can’t longer hear the rest of the woman’s words as he quickly hangs up the call. With a pale like ghost face, he doesn’t waste any second longer to drive back to the company so he can speak to Kazu as he himself can’t longer think properly with all the mess that is happening around him. Just when he thinks the situation can’t get any worse, another thing happened. But to think that the always optimist and cheerful Masaki will try to commit suicide is definitely just worst of the worst.
It is not happening.
It should NEVER be happening.
***
>...I won't comment anything for this chapter and the next one...
>As always, Thank You SO much for reading until this far! Comments are loved!