I, Aki Tomoya, will not be a simp.

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However, she did not show it in front of Aki Tomoya.

It's because the other person is a medical student, and it's not like they're really too busy to meet.

Where do you want to go for Christmas?

Christmas is just around the corner, and Aki Tomoya wants to spend that day with Kudo Sayaka.

So at this point, you should ask the other person in advance if they have any places they'd like to go.

"I'm fine with anything, as long as I'm with you."

"I am touched by what you said, but if we end up choosing a place you don't like, I will feel guilty even if you don't say anything."

Kudo Sayaka's words truly warmed Aki Tomoya's heart.

However, if possible, he still hoped that she could choose a place she wanted to go so that they could have a perfect Christmas.

"Christmas is fine with me, but your birthday is coming up soon, haven't you thought about that day?"

At that moment, Sayaka Kudo suddenly reminded him of another important thing.

Aki Tomoya's 20th birthday is coming soon, it's on the 18th of this month, there are only a few days left.

More than Christmas, she cared about what Aki Tomoya planned to do that day.

Last year on his birthday, Takagi took the initiative to make arrangements, but this year, knowing that Aki Tomoya already had a girlfriend, he wisely kept quiet.

If Aki Tomoya invites him, fine; if not, fine too. He doesn't want to be a third wheel, even if he's going with his girlfriend alone.

"I had completely forgotten about it until you mentioned it..."

Lately, he's been busy either preparing for exams or dealing with things at the pathology classroom, and he also has to find time to spend with Sayaka Kudo. As for his own birthday, Tomoya Aki really didn't realize that it was almost here.

Now that Kudo Sayaka has mentioned it, he understands that she seems to want to give him a proper birthday celebration.

So at that moment, he couldn't help but reply to her with something similar to what Kudo Sayaka had just said: "How you spend your birthday doesn't matter, what matters is who you're with!"

That's exactly what Kudo Sayaka meant, and Aki Tomoya has now given a similar reply.

Actually, how you celebrate your birthday isn't that important, as long as you're celebrating with Sayaka Kudo.

"Isn't this just turning into a series of difficult questions? I ask you to prepare for Christmas, and you ask me to prepare for my birthday?"

Sayaka Kudo replied.

Their similar responses led them to face different problems.

"No, I mean it. I didn't really do anything special for my birthday. I'm just happy that you came to celebrate with me."

"Then it's the same on Christmas Day. Anyway, there's no real Santa Claus, so it's just a formality!"

When I first learned that Santa Claus didn't actually exist, it was when Sayaka Kudo was in high school.

At that time, common sense was lacking. If she hadn't gone to Qingfeng Academy, she would have naively believed that there really was a Santa Claus in the world.

They both felt the same way, but when they considered each other's feelings, they felt they couldn't just let it go, and suddenly they both started having headaches.

They each have their own principles, but when it comes to asking for the other's opinion, the latter will say they don't care, which leads to some awkward situations.

Things that should have been deadlocked have become deadlocked at this point, and no result can be reached for the time being.

"Pfft!"

Despite being in different places, the two of them burst out laughing at the same time.

If they keep yielding to each other like this, there probably won't be any results for several more hours.

"If we keep going like this, we'll probably be talking about this all night!"

Aki Tomoya couldn't help but criticize their current behavior.

If this continues, it won't lead to anything in the long run.

"That's true. I don't even know why we're being so polite with each other. It's a little awkward..."

There seems to be nothing wrong with being polite to each other like this, but it's clear they can't continue being so polite now.

"Why don't we just listen to me on my birthday and to you on Christmas?"

In that case, there shouldn't be any contradiction.

As soon as Aki Tomoya sent out his suggestion, he quickly received a positive reply from Kudo Sayaka.

"That's settled then. On my birthday, I'll do whatever you say, and on Christmas Day, I'll do what I say!"

Now there really isn't a problem.

The division of labor for his birthday and Christmas has been clearly defined.

It was his birthday, so it was only right to let him decide. Even if it didn't need to be anything special, it was Aki Tomoya's own decision, so there was nothing to worry about.

The same applies to Christmas Day; the decision will be left to Sayaka Kudo then, and there's nothing more to say.

……

Before the big exam, Aki Tomoya made a special trip to the UDI Research Institute.

Since it's the end of the year, and considering the situation after the third year, he also came to UDI to explain what will happen in the future.

Although I haven't started discussing it with Director Kamikura Yasuo yet, it's highly likely that I'll just quit my part-time job.

I walked into the director's office and sat down opposite him. The director's expression was quite serious.

"You still came, Aki-kun."

"After all, it's something that has to be decided sooner or later, so it definitely has to happen."

After the third year, due to the heavy academic workload and the work in the pathology classroom, Aki Tomo was unable to continue working part-time at UDI.

In that case, we really have to cancel our plans with UDI.

"I understand the situation. Thank you, An Yi-kun, for your contributions to the research institute. We are proud of you!"

The director spoke very formally to Aki Tomoya.

Since you're leaving, then give them a proper send-off.

It has been a year and a half since Aki Tomoya joined the research institute.

During this period, Aki Tomoya made many contributions to the normal operation of the research institute. Moreover, he helped the police solve the case of Takase Fumito, preventing them from losing an excellent forensic scientist. As the highest-ranking person in charge of UDI, the director remembers all the things that Aki Tomoya did.

"Thank you for your care and attention during this time, Director!"

At this moment, Aki Tomoya also stood up and formally returned the greeting to the director.

The director had also done him a favor; he was able to get into the university's pathology classroom thanks to the director's help.

"No need to be so polite. We should have a chance to meet again in the future, right?"

"Definitely!"

Smiles returned to their faces.

It's not a farewell, it just means I can no longer work part-time at UDI. If we want to meet, it's easy.

"Focus on your studies from now on, and please continue to help Professor Yano as well."

"That's for sure. Professor Yano is a very kind person, and I was just doing my bit."

After handing over my final matters with the director before leaving, it was time to say goodbye to everyone else at the institute.

We won't be able to meet at the research institute as often as we used to.

"I never thought this day would come. Aki-kun is leaving..."

Tokai Rin Yuko exaggeratedly wiped away non-existent tears with a handkerchief. Aki Tomoya didn't want to criticize her over-the-top acting, but instead laughed from the bottom of his heart.

"There's nothing I can do. After all, I'm only doing this part-time. We'll have to see if Kube-kun can make it last!"

Aki Tomoya looked towards Kube Rokuro's direction.

The other party has decided to pursue forensic medicine as a career, so it's not as simple as just being a recorder. Whether they can become a true forensic scientist in the future depends solely on their ability to endure hardship.

Moreover, without the support of his family, Rokuro Kube is now having a very tough time.

"Although it's tough, I will persevere!"

Kube Rokuro and Aki Tomoya bumped fists. Since it was the path they had chosen, they would grit their teeth and continue on it, and they couldn't let their families look down on them.

The person most excited about Aki Tomoya leaving is probably Sakamoto Makoto.

"Thank you so much, Aki-kun. I will try my best to live on after you're gone!"

"Hey, Dr. Sakamoto, Dr. Nakado wouldn't kill you, would he?"

Makoto Sakamoto's words left Tomoya Aki both amused and exasperated.

His words made people think that after he left, the Zhongtang faction would go on a killing spree.

However, after Takase Fumito was arrested, he knew that he had no hope of taking revenge himself. But when Takase Fumito was tried and all his crimes were made public, he was able to put an end to a knot in his heart.

"Aki-kun, it's a pity you didn't choose forensic medicine, but I'm sure you'll become an excellent doctor in the future!"

Mikoto Misumi still has high hopes for Tomoya Aki, even though it's a pity he wasn't brought into the forensic medicine camp.

However, if he chooses clinical medicine, we hope he can achieve great things and become a renowned doctor in the future.