Lately, my life has felt like an endless cycle of chaos, each day more exhausting than the last. My mind, once restless and full of ideas, now barely managed to keep up with the monotony of it all. For the first time, I felt completely drained. Sleep, which used to evade me for hours, now came easily.

The day had been especially tiring. As I climbed up to the top bunk, I muttered to myself, "I just want to sleep." The words weren't just a statement—they were a plea. The moment my head hit the pillow, the world around me dissolved into darkness.

I awoke under the shade of a sprawling maple tree. The air felt fresh, the kind of cool breeze that carried the scent of grass and sunlight. Above me, the leaves rustled gently, creating a rhythm that felt both calming and familiar. For the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn't anxious. I wasn't tired. I was simply… at peace.

As I stared up at the shifting patterns of light filtering through the branches, a voice broke the silence.

"Hoon! Wake up, you lazy bum!"

I blinked, my surroundings snapping into sharper focus. Standing over me was Taiga, his face scrunched in exaggerated annoyance. Before I could respond, another voice chimed in, light and teasing.

"Boo! It's me, Sakura!"

I turned my head to find her leaning down, her face inches from mine, grinning mischievously. She looked like she was about to pounce, her golden hair catching the sunlight.

I stared at her, too groggy to react.

"Come on, Hoon! At least flinch or something," she complained, crossing her arms.

"Leave him alone, Sakura," Taiga said, though he sounded more amused than serious. "He's hopeless anyway."

Taiga had always been the quieter one among us. With his buzz cut and an unassuming face that didn't leave much of an impression, he was easy to overlook. But his kindness set him apart, even if he didn't know how to show it in obvious ways.

What did stand out about Taiga was his family's wealth. He never bragged about it, though; instead, he used it to make small gestures—like the popsicles he handed us now.

"Here," he said, tossing one to me.

I caught it with a lazy hand. "Thanks."

"Finish it quick so we can play!" he urged, already unwrapping his own.

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"You two go ahead. I'll stay here and enjoy mine," I said, leaning back against the tree.

As they ran off, their laughter filled the air, mingling with the rustle of leaves. I watched them, a quiet smile forming on my lips. For a moment, life felt simple, almost perfect.

Later, as the sun began to dip below the horizon, we sat together under the tree. The light had softened, bathing everything in a golden glow.

"Hey, Hoon," Taiga said suddenly. "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

I paused, caught off guard by the question. No one had ever asked me that before.

"I don't know," I admitted at first. But then, as the words settled in the air, I added, "Maybe… an actor."

Taiga's eyes widened with interest. "Really? Can you act like a robot right now?"

I hesitated, unsure if I was ready to put myself on the spot, but his eager expression made it hard to refuse.

"Uh, sure. R-r-r… I… am… a robot," I stammered, stiffening my body and moving in exaggerated jerks.

Taiga doubled over with laughter. "You're terrible!"

I scratched the back of my head, grinning sheepishly.

"You have to act with your soul," he said, his tone mock-serious. "Make it real!"

His words lingered, even as the moment passed.

"What about you?" I asked. "What do you want to be?"

Without hesitation, Taiga said, "I want to be Sakura's husband!"

The boldness of his declaration made me laugh. "Sakura, huh? I mean, she is pretty," I admitted, thinking about her golden hair and lively spirit.

"Don't you dare!" Taiga interrupted, glaring at me with mock fury. "She's mine!"

I raised my hands in surrender, chuckling. "Relax. I'm not interested."

The next day, as I wandered through town, something caught my eye: a Gameboy displayed in a shop window. My heart leapt at the sight of it. I'd wanted one for ages.

I stepped inside and asked the shopkeeper, "How much is it?"

"1,900 yen," he replied.

I fished through my pockets, pulling out a handful of loose change. Twenty-five yen. That was all I had.

Disheartened, I left the store and wandered aimlessly until I found myself back at the maple tree. Taiga and Sakura were there, laughing about something I couldn't hear.

An idea formed in my mind.

Taiga had money—more than enough. Maybe, just maybe, I could use that to my advantage.

The next afternoon, I approached Taiga with a rehearsed plan.

"Hey, Taiga," I began, feigning casualness. "You like Sakura, right?"

He looked at me, confused. "Yeah, why?"

"I know some things about her," I said, lowering my voice. "Secrets. Things that could help you win her over."

His curiosity was immediate. "What kind of secrets?"

I shrugged, playing it cool. "I could tell you… but it'll cost you."

Without hesitation, he pulled out a 100-yen coin and handed it to me.

I smirked internally. "Alright," I said, leaning in. "Sakura likes it when someone pats her head while she's asleep. It makes her smile."

He looked skeptical but intrigued. Later, when Sakura fell asleep under the tree, Taiga carefully reached over and patted her head. To his delight, she smiled in her sleep.

"Wow! It worked!" he whispered excitedly.

I watched, a small pang of guilt tugging at me. But I pushed it aside. I only needed a few more coins to reach my goal.

Over the next week, I fed Taiga more "secrets," each one earning me more money. It felt harmless enough—just small lies to make him happy. And then, one day, I crossed a line I hadn't meant to.

"Sakura likes you, too," I told him, pocketing the last bit of money I needed.

His face lit up with hope. "Really?"

I nodded, forcing a smile. "Really."

But when Sakura joined us moments later, I quickly made an excuse to leave.

That evening, with the Gameboy finally in my hands, I should've felt happy. But as I walked back to the tree, I saw them talking.

"Sakura," Taiga said, his voice trembling. "I love you."

Her expression shifted, and she looked at him with soft regret. "I'm sorry, Taiga… I don't feel the same way. Actually, I… I love Hoon."

I froze.

Taiga turned to me, his face a mixture of betrayal and heartbreak.

I couldn't face him. Without a word, I dropped the Gameboy and ran.

The next day, Taiga didn't show up.

By the end of the week, the news reached us. They found him in the forest. He'd taken his own life.

I stood under the maple tree, staring at the place where we used to sit. My lies, my greed, my thoughtless games—they all came crashing down.

The Gameboy sat untouched in my room. I couldn't bear to look at it. All I could hear were Taiga's last words to me, echoing in my mind.

"I thought we were friends."