[Karamatsu hadn't even realized what he'd been doing until Ichimatsu muttered that. Already, instinctively, he'd been putting himself in the place of the eldest, trying to comfort Ichimatsu even though things weren't okay. They wouldn't be okay, not for a long time.

That question is like a shot to the heart. Actually, it's not even a question. It's more like...a statement needing to be clarified.

And Karamatsu doesn't have it in him to answer. But he knows it's his responsibility to.]

We...we needed to find you because we...we didn't know how much longer it would be, Ichi. A-and mom...wanted us all to be there.