I, Aki Tomoya, will not be a simp.

However, she also noticed that Aki Tomoya's influence was evident in TAKI's reappearance on the forum and Eriri's rare display of strength.

"Trying to find comfort in Eriri, I'm such a fool!"

However, she had to admit that it was because Eriri genuinely cared about their work that she borrowed Aki Tomoya's account to bring Taki back to the forum, attracting her attention. Not long ago, Eriri also asserted herself in front of her, demanding a voice, which allowed her to sort things out properly.

Therefore, she should not only thank Eriri, but also treat Eriri kindly.

Similarly, he also indulged the deputy editor-in-chief, Machida Sonoko, on an unusually large scale.

The first wake-up call, the second wake-up call, and now the third wake-up call.

Hearing this third warning from the very person who had spoken those words to Eriri, Kasumigaoka Utaha's feelings were anything but simple.

Chapter 143 First Mock Exam (4/4)

On the day of the national mock exam, Aki Tomoya put on his uniform and planned to leave early to go to the exam venue.

"Rinya, you're up way too early."

His commotion as he went downstairs caught his mother's attention in the kitchen.

The mother hurried out, looking somewhat helplessly at her son coming down the stairs.

On the 17th, the first national mock exam of the year began, and Aki Tomo did not slack off at all.

"I have to rush to take the mock exam, I can't get up early."

As he spoke, he walked into the living room.

His mother had already prepared breakfast for him at the dining table.

After eating a quick bite, Aki Tomo rushed out the door and ran to the entrance hall.

"Wait, don't be in such a hurry!"

The mother caught up with him at the entrance and tapped Aki Tomoya on the head as he was putting on his shoes.

"Don't force yourself."

"Mom, I've never forced myself to eat. Thank you for breakfast."

After putting on his shoes, Aki Tomoya stood up, smiled at his mother, and then picked up his schoolbag and went out.

"Slow down, it's okay if you don't do well on the mock exam!"

However, Aki Tomoya, who was in a hurry to get to the subway station, didn't hear what his mother was saying at all. He only heard her voice behind him and raised his hand to wave.

He walked briskly to the subway station; many students like him left home early.

About forty minutes later, Aki Tomoya arrived at the examination room.

At the first national mock examination, Aki Tomoya saw the notice board at the entrance and the people in front of him directing the students to the venue.

Students from different schools came to the same exam room to take the exam, and all sorts of uniforms were displayed around Aki Tomoya.

Compared to entrance exams for specific schools, such as the University of Tokyo's entrance exam, the national mock exams are based on the National Test Center exams.

The entire mock exam will be held over two days, with the humanities and science subjects taking place on the first and second days respectively.

Tomoya Aki needs to ensure a high overall score in next year's exam, so he has to take all subjects and participate in two days of mock exams.

As for Sayaka Kudo, who takes the exam in other areas, she only takes today's humanities exam.

Following the instructions and his admission ticket, Aki Tomoya found the examination room and sat down in the seat with his examination number on it.

Shortly after he sat down, all the candidates entered the examination room, and the time for the exam was drawing ever closer.

The atmosphere inside the examination room was tense, and Aki Tomoya noticed that many people looked slightly nervous.

Although it's just a mock exam, many people still value the assessment results of mock exams.

Before we knew it, the exam time had arrived, and the papers were distributed to everyone.

The examiner at the front of the room called out precisely at the right moment, "Begin the answering!"

On the 17th, the first mock exam began. Aki Tomoya opened the exam paper and started answering the questions on the answer sheet.

……

The mock exam lasted two days and ended on the afternoon of the 18th.

As the examinees who had finished their last exams emerged from the venue, Aki Tomoya, one of them, could occasionally hear the sighs and lamentations around him.

"ended."

Standing in front of the venue entrance, looking at the notice board, Aki Tomoya let out a heavy sigh.

After finishing his first mock exam, Aki Tomoya's recently tense nerves relaxed considerably.

But it was already March 18th, the first mock exam was over, and almost a quarter of the year had passed.

Lingering at the entrance of the venue, Aki Tomoya could already feel the temperature starting to warm up as spring arrived.

"Phew, a C grade. It's good that I only need a C grade for the first assessment!"

Aki Tomoya looked at the darkening sky and thought to himself.

Although he had given it his all, he wasn't greedy. A C grade on the first mock exam would be good enough.

Among the people who are close to Aki Tomoya, Kato Megumi and Uego Yoshihiko, who are in the same class at the same school, have already finished their exams yesterday, as has Kudo Sayaka, who is in the same cram school.

Among the familiar people, he remembered that the person who was also taking the math exam today was Fumino Furuhashi, the humanities genius from Ichinose Academy.

But none of them were assigned to the same area.

"Let's go back."

Noticing the gloomy sky that looked like it was about to rain, Aki Tomoya prayed that he could get home before it rained.

After leaving the venue, he quickened his pace and headed towards the subway station.

Toot——

Just then, a car horn sounded, as if it were being honked at Aki Tomoya.

He subconsciously turned his head to look at a black minivan parked on the side of the road, but just as he was about to look away, he saw a familiar face through the rolled-down window.

"Teacher Harumi?"

Aki Tomoya looked at Harumi Junko, who was waving at him, with surprise.

After the mock exam, I unexpectedly ran into a teacher from the academy.

Harumi Junko pushed open the car door and stepped out. At the same time, Aki Tomoya saw a man in the driver's seat who was about the same age as Harumi Junko, handsome, and exuding an elite aura completely different from Harumi Junko. He was the other extreme from Harumi Junko whom Aki Tomoya had just met a year ago.

"Harumi-sensei, you've finally figured out how to hook up with rich guys?!"

When Harumi Junko came up to him, Aki Tomoya asked in a low voice in surprise.

Is this still the same oblivious Junko Harumi who is destined for love?

Harumi Junko was taken aback at first, then replied with a wry smile, "That's my relative, what do you mean by 'fishing for rich men'? What are you talking about, Aki-kun!"

With work taking precedence, Harumi Junko has no time to think about romance.

Moreover, Aki Tomoya's misunderstanding is quite significant; the person in the car is her cousin, who doesn't fall within Harumi Junko's understanding of the opposite sex.

"I misunderstood, I'm sorry."

He apologized while looking at the other person with curiosity.

Harumi Junko, noticing Aki Tomoya's confusion, explained, "The mock exams are over today, and I've come to check on Aki-kun and Furuhashi-kun."

"I don't need to worry about my side, but Furuhashi is taking the exam in a different area than me."

"It's alright, I'll treat you all to a meal today so you can relax. Now let's go pick up Furuhashi-kun. Kudo-kun and the others are waiting for you. We also need to formally celebrate Miki-kun and the others getting into their first-choice universities. Have a good time today!"

"Thank you very much."

"Hurry, hurry, hurry!"

It was hard to refuse such an invitation, and everyone else in the academy was going too, including the three seniors who had already secured their first choice from the academy. So there was no reason for me to refuse.

And since it was right after the mock exams, Harumi Junko's suggestion to take the opportunity to relax was a good idea, especially since she was the one treating.

Pushed into the back seat by Harumi Junko, Aki Tomoya politely greeted Yakumo Masashi in the driver's seat: "Hello, I'm Aki Tomoya. I've always been grateful for Harumi-sensei's help. Thank you."

"No, no, no, it's her who has been taken care of by you. My name is Yakumo Masashi, and I'm Shun's cousin."

=

I think I did okay on Chapter 144 (Progress 4)

Yakumo Masashi, Harumi Junko's cousin.

During the ride, she told me that this Mr. Yakumo Masashi was a graduate of the Faculty of Arts, Class 2, at the University of Tokyo, and a true business elite.

They went to the same school back then.

As a result, Masashi Yakumo passed the Tokyo University Faculty of Arts II exam smoothly, while Junko Harumi fell off her horse during the Faculty of Arts I exam.

Junko Harumi's life began to deviate from that moment.