"I'm turning the light off."

Choromatsu flicked the switch, plunging the room into darkness. Slipping in next to Osomatsu and Jyushimatsu, he silently hoped that tonight they'd actually be able to get some rest for once. It looked promising so far, all was silent aside from their soft intakes of breath as they slept soundly, completely quiet. Completely peaceful.

He should have guessed that wouldn't last long.

Osomatsu lay, eyes wide open staring at the ceiling and drew out a long exaggerated sigh. When no one payed attention to him like he wanted, he turned to his side and gave Choromatsu a hard poke. He yelped a little response, giving his older brother a tiresome look.

"Quit it." he whispered sharply.

"I can't sleep."

Choromatsu turned over opposite to him with an irritated groan. "That's your problem not mine."

"Come on ChoroFappyski don't be like that." Osomatsu whined.

After not getting anything in response, he instead jabbed Choromatsu in the side, causing him to let out a loud shriek.

"Would you two please shut up! Unlike some people I actually have a social life and would appreciate not being a sleep deprived mess tomorrow!"

"Sorry Totty." said Osomatsu sheepishly with a small grin.

Following Todomatsu's out burst the second oldest sat up and wiped the sleep from his eyes, blinking and drearily looking around in confusion.

"Why is everyone yelling...?"

"Ask Osomatsu. I'm going to sleep." Todomatsu muttered. He had a tendency to get pissy when he was tired. "Actually don't, everybody please just be quiet."

Once he closed his eyes, Karamatsu whispered, "Why is everyone yelling?"

"I can still hear you!"

"I can't sleep." Osomatsu replied, completely ignoring Todomatsu's furious glare his way.

"Oh well if that's the case I can sing you a lullab-"

"I'M AWAKE!"

Todomatsu and Choromatsu collectively groaned. Once Jyushimatsu was up there was practically no chance of falling asleep. On the other hand Osomatsu was happier then ever, almost all of his brothers were awake now.

"I guess that just leaves Ichimatsu then." Looking over to the left side of the futon furthest away, a mischievous smile tugged at Osomatsu's cheeks.

"Hey Ichimatsu are you awake?"

"No."

"Figures. I'd be surprised if he was asleep with all the racket Osomatsu is making."

"You're making more noise then anyone Todomatsu." The eldest stated in defence, receiving a scowl and stream of incoherent mumbles in return.

"What now?" Jyushimatsu questioned with his usual open-mouthed smile.

"We go to sleep." Choromatsu muttered. "Right Osomatsu?"

The eldest acted as if he hadn't even heard him, much to Choromatsu's annoyance.

"So I've been wondering... What are you guy's afraid of?"

"Oh my god." Todomatsu groaned into a pillow. He seemed to be doing that a lot lately.

"What we are afraid of? Do elaborate." Karamatsu who now seemed fully attentive asked with a questioning look.

"I mean like, what is everyone's worst fear?" Osomatsu replied, not even bothering to whisper anymore.

"No one cares!" Todomatsu complained, but was promptly ignored.

"Oh! Me first! Me first!" Jyushimatsu yelled cheerfully, having quickly regained his boundless energy.

"Shh you're gonna wake up Mum and Dad!"

Jyushimatsu thought for a moment, then as if just remembering something bounced back to his normal self.

"I don't like it when I can't move around!"

Blinking his tired eyes Choromatsu gave him a look of half surprise and half concern.

"You're claustrophobic?"

"That's new." Ichimatsu muttered, having given up pretending to be asleep.

"What does clostophobic mean?" he questioned with an ignorant smile.

"Claustrophobic. It means you're afraid of small confined spaces."

"Nice! Claaauuusstrrophhobic." he drew out the newly learned word.

Osomatsu grinned, how had they never talked about this before? There were still so many things he didn't know about his brothers even after living together for so long.

"What about you Choromatsu?"

"Why me?" he complained, a frown etched on his face.

"Why not?

"Ugh fair enough, but you have to promise not to laugh."

"We won't!" Jyushimatsu promised with a smile that was probably trustworthy. Probably.

"Get on with it." Todomatsu said, having gained a sudden interest.

"Okay..." Choromatsu let out out a deep breath.

"The ocean."

"Wait, seriously? Not being able to hold it in both Todomatsu and Osomatsu burst out laughing.

"You said you wouldn't laugh!'

"Jyushimatsu, did. I didn't."

"It's nothing to be ashamed of." Karamatsu said but Choromatsu didn't look convinced.

"Psh, what's so scary about the ocean?" Ichimatsu questioned glumly.

Face growing red with embarrassment Choromatsu attempted to explain himself. "Do you realise just how many people die from ocean related causes a year?"

"Here he goes." Todomatsu groaned.

"Over three hundred!"

"We all know you can't swim Choromatsu, you can just admit it already." Osomatsu teased, a conniving smile spread across his face.

Choromatsu's face only grew redder. "I-I can swim!"

"You really can't." Todomatsu giggled. "Remember when Mum tried to get us to join the swimming team?"

"You had a huge breakdown!" Osomatsu laughed at the memory as Choromatsu buried his face into his pillow. He took that as a sign of defeat.

"Heh, my fear goes much deeper then that I'm afraid." Karamatsu began with confidence. "I fear that which mankind can not yet understand, nor comprehend. It is a fear of separation of the material objects closet to us, leaving them behind on a break of life's hardships."

"Todomatsu, translation."

"He's afraid of travelling." the brother in question answered, rolling his eyes.

"Bingo." Karamatsu confirmed, snapping his fingers.

"That one makes even less sense." Ichimatsu grumbled, pausing to let out a yawn.

"Well what about you?"

"Huh?" Half lidded eyes turned to face Karamatsu.

"What are you afraid of?"

"Nothing."

"He's lying!" Jyushimatsu yelled out cheerfully from the other side of the futon.

Ichimatsu gave a panicked look of betrayal towards Jyushimatsu who just continued smiling.

"Come on you can tell them!"

Ichimatsu let out a defeated sigh, knowing they would never let him forget this.

"...Fine."

Five pairs of eyes locked on Ichimatsu in anticipation for his response.

"Dogs." He mumbled quietly.

"What was that?"

"Dogs." Ichimatsu only reduced in volume.

"Again?" Choromatsu questioned with a frown.

"DOGS!"

There was a short, stunned silence before more then a few of the brothers doubled over laughing.

"I'm... Actually not that surprised."

"Wait, every type of dog? Even Chihuahuas?"

He didn't answer, trying to hide a faint blush.

"That means yes." Jyushimatsu imputed.

"That's hilarious! And you have the nerve to call my fear unreasonable!" Choromatsu laughed.

"It's not unreasonable, you have no idea... They're cold, heartless monsters."

"Speaking of cold heartless monsters," Osomatsu started, having just recovered from a fit of giggles. "Your turn Totty!"

"Do I have too?" He whined, sending his older brothers a pleading look.

"Yes." They all replied in unison.

Rolling his eyes for the umpteenth time, he listed off counting each on his fingers.

"Lets see... Bugs, socks with sandals, bad Internet connection, autocorrect..."

"Boo!" Osomatsu complained loudly.

"Well what am I supposed to say!? You guys already know my main fear."

"We do?"

"Yeah... You know..." he trailed off, refusing to make eye contact.

"Know what?" the eldest questioned with a voice drenched in ignorance.

"Don't make me say it."

"I honestly don't know." Osomatsu faked innocence to which Todomatsu only scowled at in return, finally giving in.

"The dark! I'm afraid of the dark!"

"Oh yeah.. I remember now."

"I can't believe you still haven't grown out of that yet."

"Shut up!"

"Your's might actually be the most ridiculous." Ichimatsu added.

"Like you can talk." Todomatsu tried to maintain his hostile expression but failed half way.

"Oh well that's that, I guess we should get some sleep now." Osomatsu lay back down, pulling the shared blanket over himself.

"Wait."

"Huh?"

"Don't give me that! We still haven't talked about your fear!" Todomatsu snapped.

Osomatsu considerably paled, visible even in the dark.

"Mine isn't really all that interesting... Seriously!"

"No way, you can't get out of this. Not after you started it."

"I'm sure it's not that bad." Karamatsu gave an encouraging smile.

"We won't judge!"

"As if anyone can trust you anymore Jyushimasu." Choromatsu grumbled, to which he simply laughed in response.

"Come on!"

"Just say it!"

"I would if you gave me a second to speak!" Osomatsu shouted over his brothers' prodding and complaining. Everybody went quiet, as Osomatsu sighed.

"...Mimes." He finally said, ducking under the blanket, knowing what was sure to come. As expected, his brothers were all laughing hysterically.

"Those guys that copy what you do and stuff?"

"What's so scary about that?!"

"Okay, that tops it."

Osomatsu, blushing madly continued to hide under the covers. Of course they wouldn't understand.

"Wait a moment... Isn't there a like a fair thing this week?" Todomatsu retrieved his phone from next to the futon and rushed to confirm it. In that instant Osomatsu shot up straight with a worried look in his eyes.

"Don't you even think about it." He snarled, but went unnoticed.

"Do you think they'll be mimes there?"

"Probably." Ichimatsu replied, and evil smile already creeping onto his face.

"It's in a few days." Todomatsu said reading off the article he'd found. "And there is a mine act."

"Please don't make me go! I'll anything!" Osomatsu pleaded, giving each of his brothers a terrified look.

"I want to go!" Jyushimatsu cheered.

"I do also." Karamatsu sent an apologetic glance his way.

"Looks like that's settled." With a smug expression, Choromatsu followed his older brothers example and slipped back under the covers.

"Wait." Osomatsu said sharply. Five identically tired faces turned his way.

"What now?"

"If I have to go to the circus, you have to go to the ocean." The eldest declared triumphantly, pointing an accusing finger Choromatsu's way.

"Jyushimatsu has to be kept in a small space, Karamatsu has to go on vacation, Ichimatsu has to pet a dog, and Todomatsu has to go to the bathroom without any of our help for once!"

"I am not agreeing to that." Choromatsu spoke quickly, already horrified at the very idea of swimming in the ocean.

"Neither am I." Todomatsu crossed his arms in defence.

"I'll do it!"

"Are you sure Jyushimatsu?" The fourth born asked, concern noticeable in his voice.

He nodded his head vigorously. "You should too Ichimatsu-niisan! It'll be fun!"

"I'm not sure..."

If the rest of my brothers are willing to, so will I." Karamatsu said, but the remaining brothers still looked unsure.

"I will... Probably." Ichimatsu mumbled.

"Fine." Todomatsu poured as much venom into the word as possible.

Osomatsu looked at Choromatsu, who was still strongly against the very concept of facing his fear.

"Come on Choromatsu! Please?"

Letting out an exasperated sigh, he finally gave a hesitant nod.

"Lets do this."