Tied.

"Once you become successful... Let's get married!" A five-year-old girl once told me. Right after seeing my parents fail at making a functional family, her words sounded like a hymn.

From then on I made it a goal to become successful. The thought of having a happy family of my own sounded like salvation.

I got the highest grades in class. Gave up on youth. Studied to become the top of year- year after year. And after getting through all of that, I managed to get admitted into the best tech inst. in the country.

I was ecstatic.

But the ecstasy lasted a short while.

"Ichi-kun meet Yuuji. He's my boyfriend now. You see I was in charge of taking care of this delinquent and then we finally managed to hit it off. I wanted my childhood friend to meet my first boyfriend!"

Shattered, but composed I looked at the guy she was introducing me to.

Tall, fake tan, tattoos, scars. He wasn't successful. He was the type of guy who enjoyed his youth. Drinking, smoking. All while I spent my time slaving away trying to get better than whatever this trash of a being was.

I felt pathetic.

I wasn't the main lead. I wasn't even the second lead. I was just that inconsequential childhood friend who blessed their friend's relationship.

Feeling betrayed, I ran away to college.

Changed my image. Under all the years of sabotage and unhealthy habits, I had a body that could function. I looked good when my bangs didn't cover my face. My voice sounded good when I tried to speak up. I was tall when I wasn't hunched over.

I didn't deserve this. I was better than him.

But I did deserve it. I lived for a future that I didn't even know I could achieve.

It didn't take long to realise that what I felt wasn't love. Saeko didn't romantically interest me. It was just that the life she promised me was enticing.

Saeko was a mere goal for me. I was the one who wronged her back then.

A petty part of me thought I would feel better watching her repent.

I didn't. Seeing her crying next to me in this car just made me feel bad for her. After all, she was the person I spent the most and the happiest times with.

Saeko wasn't crying to garner my pity or get my attention. She was crying this loudly because she couldn't do this in front of anyone else. I wouldn't get fooled by her. I was much dirtier of a man than her. I had more experience in life than she did.

The only thing she had over me was her pregnancy. But that was something I couldn't achieve anyway.

I patted her back but didn't ask her to calm down. She didn't. Do I say something?

"Hey... Saeko I could always take care of you. I don't think I could love you. But if it's as a friend then I wouldn't min-"

"I don't need your help." Her answer was fast and quick. But it was also one she gave without consideration. My help wasn't what she thought it was.

"I don't mean financially. You were always sincere so I assume you had that base covered. What I want is to help you get through this without going insane."

Saeko shivered for a second before muttering-

"Then please help me."

"Let me be clear. I am helping you. And you only."

Her sobbing curled up figure made me want to protect that part of her. Hypocritical, yes, seeing how I haven't been able to protect myself from all the hurt. But as long as I can do something.

"Yeah yeah, I figured."

She continued sobbing for a while.

I drove up through the gravel and through the thick of the dead trees the lake came into view again. There were people skating around the edge. Some were even fishing.

"I want to help you be happy." I wished upon the sight.

"Then help me."

"I want you to not be distant."

"Then close the gap."

"I want you to start seeing another future."

"Then let me dream."

"I want you to live."

"P-please..." Saeko's voice cracked. And so did the wall. She wasn't hiding anything from me. Her personality was naked.

"In that case." I reversed the car and headed out on the road towards the town. It was the one that lead to her part of the town.

Soon enough we were where the date started.

I got out of the car and helped her get out as well.

"Get your stuff out, we're leaving." I opened the door.

"Leaving?"

"Just get it out."

Looking timid. Probably embarrassed of crying she was rather docile. She wasn't the oh woe is me type anyway. Sometimes life just pushed the wrong button.

I headed inside and the first thing I saw was the shrine. Well kept. A part of my heart hurt. The other was angry. And the other just felt pity.

The man who got in an accident after getting drunk. Without even knowing he was going to become a father. How sad.

The house was small. But it was all in pristine condition.

It didn't take long for her to pack her stuff up. The reason was obvious.

After she got her stuff together I put it in the trunk of my car and we headed back to my part of town. This time, though, I did not park in my garage. I travelled one house further and pulled up next to Saeko's house.

"Why are we here?"

"Because you're moving back today."

"Bu-" Her face screamed but her voice was practically dead from all the wailing.

"You were probably scared of disappointing your parents so you tried to delay it as much as you can. Not to mention you were almost ready to move out so you were just hesitating." I said rather coldly.

That was what the readiness of the luggage showed.

"I know but you can't just forc-"

"Your workplace is closer to here. The travel time is shorter and the risk to the baby is even lesser." Sound arguments. Saeko couldn't win against those even if she tried.

So she sighed.

I got the stuff out of the trunk and rang their doorbell. This wasn't the first time we met this week. I was friendly with our neighbours. They were second in line to tell me about my mother's remarriage.

"Oh! If it isn't Ichi-kun!" The old friendly lady I was familiar with opened the door. "What brings you here? Is this just another visit for old time's sake?"

"I wish that were the case auntie... But today I came here to bring your stray cat home." I moved aside and auntie's expression changed as she gazed at her daughter.

Luckily, it wasn't the look of contempt. She just looked sorry.

"Now if you'll let me!" Before the drama unfolded, I headed inside with the suitcases and carried them over to Saeko's room. "Oh no. I think you guys might have to move up. It would be better for the pregnant girl to stay on the first floor." I said while putting the luggage down inside.

The commotion caused her father to come outside too. He had the same look as the mother did.

Except for me, everyone was frozen in place. I had to yank them out of their shells if this were to work.

Really, what was I doing trying to fix someone else's family while mine was in shambles?

"Let's have a talk shall we?"