Freed.

It took a while but everything got neatly tied up. I was sitting next to the wheezing girl.

"Are you fine?" I ran my hand through her fingers.

"Do I look fine?"

"Hell no. You look straight out of a horror film."

"Thanks, that helped."

Well, if she had that much energy she would be fine. I tried to set her messy hair into something slightly more presentable.

As we got her stuff together, the one who was being worked on was now heading back to us. Neatly wrapped up in cloth, the baby was now ready to reach her arms.

The baby looked cute.

"Do you still feel indifferent about the kid?" Saeko asked smugly.

"You brainwashed me into liking her."

"Oooh... so your feelings aren't voluntary."

"No."

"Well, that's fine she'll stay with me."

"Hell nah, I'm taking. You can just live alone miserably trying to earn some money.."

"Shut up." She retorted while playing around with the kid.

"Umm, Saeko-chan you should feed the kid as soon as you're ready." The doctor came in for a second.

"Well, give me the food." Saeko replied and the doctor just looked at her. She didn't even do the research. I couldn't bear watching this.

"Your food is in your rack." I put my finger between the baby's hand. She grabbed it.

Soooo cute!

"Oh..." Saeko sighed. "How do I do that?"

"Lift your shirt up and put the baby's mouth on the boob triggers. Hormones should trigger prolactin and you should be able to produce milk. The first milk is rather important and has a lot of bacteria essential for immunity... yatty yatta.. that's what google said."

"Ichi-san you did your research... also you could just say nipples." The doctor corrected.

Yeah, no way.

After the explanation, Saeko glared at me.

"Do you expect me to do that in front of you?"

"Come on I've already seen you naked plenty."

"We were kids!"

"Did your boob triggers change over the years?"

"No..."

"Then it's fine."

It was just the motherly act of feeding milk. I wouldn't get aroused by it.

Thereafter she fed milk while making tonnes of unexpected expressions. Before she just resorted to looking satisfied.

"I half expected there to be piercings. It would have been expected judging by how bashful you were."

"Shut up." She said, annoyed.

"Not even a tattoo." Her skin was stretched and had marks over it.

After she was done breastfeeding, both our families came in again. And everyone got acquainted with the baby.

Saeko's father couldn't keep his stern manly image anymore and melted at the first sight of the baby. Her mother got attached. My father and mother just wholesomely watched over.

Saeko and I got acquainted with our feelings after the birth. We crossed another plateau in our relationship. The second hardest one yet. Her dating Yuuji was still number one.

No one fell in love yet. That was still a while off.

But we were all together.

"Have you thought of a name?" I asked Saeko.

"Nhnn. Her name will be Iroha."

***

Spring came and the cursed winter ended. I didn't like winter any better even after unravelling it. But the promise of spring made it bearable.

The one-week extension quickly turned into almost a month's worth before I had no choice but to leave. Taking care of a baby was a longer process than I thought. Even with our parents' help, it took a month to get into the groove of stuff.

And yet, the tiredness was often rewarded with the sweetest sounds I had ever heard a human make. Rewarded with the kindest expressions a human could display.

I felt that I could stay one more day.

On the other side of the spectrum, the early supplies were hard on Saeko's budget. Her parents had to lend a hand. They were fully on board with the baby and now considered it a privilege. I would say they were the most attached with Iroha.

Finances aside, Saeko couldn't go to work. And we barely had any time to sleep by how much Iroha cried.

Her life wasn't sustainable.

"Hey Saeko..." I called her silently while sitting next to her on the ground.

Her head was on my lap and Iroha was in my arms, sleeping.

"I'm going back tomorrow."

The news got her up really quickly.

"Why??"

"I'm a working adult too, you know?"

"But then if you're gone... then." She looked troubled.

"Who'll help take care of Iroha?"

"Yeah!"

"I will."

"Eh?" Saeko turned her head.

"Why don't you come with me to the city?"

"All of a sudde-"

"Remember how I said I was thinking about liking you?"

"Did you make up your mind?"

"Yes. But that aside, I like Iroha and I'm taking her with me. I have the money I can send her to the best of schools. And raise her up as the best parent. Now it's up to you whether you come with us."

"Hey! She's my ki-"

"Shhh... you'll wake her up."

.

.

.

"Are you hell-bent on taking care of us? We'd come in a double package. I can work, I redid my art portfolio from high school, and have been eyeing a vocational course. But that is still some ways off and still required my parent's input. If you are doubting yourself then you should stop now. I'll get Iroha and myself through this somehow."

"I wouldn't be saying this if I wasn't." Love might have been fickle but resolution towards a dream wasn't. "Say, Saeko."

"What?"

"I decided that I really do like you."

"Oh, is that your answer?" She fell back a little.

"Yep."

"I guess I don't mind you."

"Hmm... that works. You see I was planning my future too."

"Don't you already have everything sorted?"

"I did, but then Iroha happened. So I reconsidered a lot. Now I just want a happy family. Say, Saeko..."

"What?" She asked again. This time her question was a little expectant. Almost wary.

"I'm successful now. Do you want to marry me?"

"Are you kidd- You garbag- Is that how you propose? NOW?!"

"Be happy I'm the one proposing to yo-"

Before I could finish gloating, a pair of lips greeted mine. A decent minute. By far the most passionate kiss I had ever had. Saeko went back down and wiped her lips.

"Take that as an answer."

The two of us blushed like we would have if our love was fulfilled when we were teens. But if that had happened the baby in my hand wouldn't be here.

Life worked in mysterious ways. From running away to the city. To coming back in solitary. From not being able to fit in, to not being able to be left out.

I had a place. I had my own people I could be proud of.

Even years later.

"Daddy..." A light whisper echoed in my ears. "I want to build a snowman!"

The winter became slightly warmer and lovelier.