Yes. [It's depressing, to think that in the best of all possible universes, they still parted ways after Erik accidentally crippled him.
But, at the same time, they're here. They're still friends, they reconciled somewhere along the way, they can still joke and play chess and be there for each other when they need it, or even when they don't, and he knows it's stupid to get his hopes up, that things might actually change, but. If Erik graduated, they could leave together and accomplish great things. This could be the best of all possible scenarios, with no strings attached, with no caveats about if things were different.]
[Spam]
But, at the same time, they're here. They're still friends, they reconciled somewhere along the way, they can still joke and play chess and be there for each other when they need it, or even when they don't, and he knows it's stupid to get his hopes up, that things might actually change, but. If Erik graduated, they could leave together and accomplish great things. This could be the best of all possible scenarios, with no strings attached, with no caveats about if things were different.]
I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing.