I, Aki Tomoya, will not be a simp.

Page 107

"Because we're childhood sweethearts."

"...Oh, that seems to be the case!"

Eriri couldn't refute it, and all her resentment vanished instantly because of Aki Tomoya's words.

Because they are normal childhood friends, it really doesn't matter what we said before.

They've known each other since elementary school, and now they're about to enter their senior year of high school. It's been almost half a year since their relationship normalized again.

Compared to Aki Tomoya and Kasumigaoka Utaha, Eriri felt like she really got a great deal.

The fact that they were childhood friends meant that Aki Tomoya would take care of her to a large extent.

"Rinya, you and... never mind, it's nothing."

Eriri looked at Aki Tomoya and suddenly wanted to ask him something, but she swallowed the words back.

The latter looked at her with some confusion, the words on the tip of her tongue, but she didn't know what she wanted to ask.

However, since Eriri had already decided to take it back, Aki Tomo didn't intend to ask any further questions.

"She has exams next week, I hope it won't affect her..."

Next Saturday is the first test, and Kasumigaoka Utaha will also be participating.

Most applicants will take the first test first, and Kasumigaoka Utaha is one of them.

For the past three years, he has maintained the top academic ranking, and he has consistently received an A grade in mock exams.

Now it's finally time for the official test, and most people who know Kasumigaoka Utaha probably have faith in her.

Taking the national exam should be a piece of cake for Kasumigaoka Utaha.

"It's really interesting that people who don't have to take exams are worried about those who are guaranteed to pass."

Aki Tomoya wholeheartedly acknowledges that Kasumigaoka Utaha is a genius.

Maintaining an excellent level in both aspects is a talent that is truly enviable.

The national exam on January 20th this year should pose no difficulty for Kasumigaoka Utaha, given that Aki Tomoya is taking it.

If you get a good score in the first round of exams, then take the early school entrance exams, and finally just wait to enroll in April.

In Aki Tomoya's imagination, Kasumigaoka Utaha is the kind of person who can easily reach the pinnacle of life.

But even the most outstanding people are not perfect; everyone has flaws.

It can only be said that outstanding people have far more luck than ordinary people.

Meeting Eriri and a great editor like Machida Sonoko, the worst thing in Kasumigaoka Utaha's life was probably meeting Aki Tomoya.

"It's people like me who discouraged that genius..."

Thinking about this, Aki Tomoya felt no joy at all.

To find pleasure in someone else's pain, what deep-seated hatred could there be?

Although Aki Tomoya said a lot of hurtful things back then, I don't know if he felt any remorse afterward.

What have you been muttering about for a while?

"I'm just lamenting the impermanence of life; life is always accompanied by regrets."

"Starting with that old-fashioned tone again?"

"Hehehe."

Old-fashioned?

Aki Tomo didn't have much to refute; it was just a statement used to cover up something, and Eriri could think whatever she wanted about it.

But at that moment, he was thinking about something else.

"Sometimes when people act, there are always misunderstandings. They think that their actions are for the other person's good, and I think I am no exception."

There's something that Aki Tomoya now has to admit.

Compared to how he treats Kasumigaoka Utaha, he is really biased towards his childhood friend.

Perhaps it's because of how long we've known each other, or maybe it's because I used to prefer Kasumigaoka Utaha.

Did she feel resentful?

Aki Tomoya thought of this and felt a bit conflicted.

Thinking in this direction, even with Machida Sonoko, with whom he had a past disagreement, Aki Tomoya now gets along fairly well with her.

Not to mention, his relationship with Eriri is now as normal as it gets.

"Eriri, I think I messed up something too."

Aki Tomoya gave a wry smile.

However, Eriri didn't understand what he was saying.

Hearing Aki Tomoya's wry smile, she simply looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"What's wrong with you?"

"I never imagined that someone I used to admire was actually much more fragile than I thought."

Aki Tomoya replied in a complicated tone.

At the same time, I couldn't help but sigh that humanity itself is an incredibly complex being, and there are many differences between individuals.

However, one thing is certain: when faced with harm, the body's own mechanisms will react to protect itself.

Just as Eriri mentioned before, Kasumigaoka Utaha is wrapped in layers of clothing in her new work.

"Eri, when you're with that person, do you often mention me?"

Aki Tomoya asked a question that was of great concern to him.

"what happened?"

"It looks like it is."

Aki Tomoya finally understood why, as a companion, Kasumigaoka Utaha couldn't even fully trust Eriri, the illustrator she admired.

Ultimately, it all comes down to him.

Perhaps when Kasumigaoka Utaha first found Eriri, she still regarded her as a comrade-in-arms who shared the same fate.

But the truth is the opposite; Eriri, in a way, did achieve her wish.

"I see."

Chapter 130 National First Examination (3/4)

On January 20th, the first national exam was held, and countless candidates entered the battlefield.

Kasumigaoka Utaha, as a recent graduate, is one of those destined to stand out.

"I am leaving."

After closing the door, Kasumigaoka Utaha, like most test takers, headed to the examination hall with her parents' instructions and expectations.

Holding their exam numbers, candidates from all over the country, like Kasumigaoka Utaha, flocked to the exam venues to take the test.

One test cannot determine Kasumigaoka Utaha's fate, but it can definitely determine the fate of most people.

After the results of the first exam are released, most people know which universities they can apply to.

Those who wouldn't care about the results of the first test are probably only a small group at the very top of the pyramid of test takers.

Fortunately, Kasumigaoka Utaha wasn't worried about the first attempt; "effortless" would be the most fitting description.

It's not just because the university I applied to wasn't a national or public university; although the questions for the first round were based on the internal exams of national universities for the second round, the difficulty was definitely not as high as the second round.

Furthermore, Kasumigaoka Utaha is not among the elite students selected by national universities, or rather, she has no reason to choose a national university.

Kasumigaoka Utaha's goal is to become a top-tier private university that combines the strengths of Waseda and Keio Utakata.

They don't take standardized test scores into account much; they place more emphasis on internal school exam scores and interviews.

However, this doesn't prevent anything. You should still participate in the interview if you want to, and it's good to add an explanation to your written interview materials.

Ding--

The phone rang. Kasumigaoka Utaha took out her phone and looked at it. The sender's name was "Kashiwagi Eri".

Good luck on your exam!

Kasumigaoka Utaha was a little surprised to receive Eriri's blessing at this time, because the two of them hadn't been in touch much lately.

Although she used the excuse of having to take an exam, in reality, Kasumigaoka Utaha was a little unsure how to get along with Eriri.

Kasumigaoka Utaha was still bothered by what she was told off on the school rooftop last time.

In addition, she recently learned that Eriri had obtained an account from Aki Tomoya. Seeing how they tried to get her attention, Kasumigaoka Utaha had to reconsider her current standards.

"Let's talk about it after the exam..."

Kasumigaoka Utaha put away her phone and murmured to herself.