I, Aki Tomoya, will not be a simp.

"You really have time right after the exam, you're really working hard!"

Iori Hashima understood that Tomoya Aki probably hadn't given him much time to rest.

Summer, the most important season, is just around the corner, leaving him with only six months left.

"I'm alright, things will be much easier after the exams next year."

I guess so……

I wish you success in your exam.

"Thank you. By the way, what brings you here? You didn't just want to catch up, did you?"

After finishing speaking, Aki Tomoya picked up the drink on the table and took a sip.

If it's just a simple reminiscing, there's definitely no problem. Right now, having just finished his exams, Aki Tomoya doesn't have anything else to do.

I want to confide in you.

"It's really strange that you would come to me for comfort..."

Noticing the change in Iori's expression, Tomoya Aki became curious about what had happened to Iori recently and why she needed to meet up with an old friend to change her mood.

Perhaps his journey wasn't always smooth sailing.

"If you're in a bad mood, it's best to find a girlfriend to comfort you."

"Stop teasing me. When it comes to attracting women, I'm nowhere near as good as you!"

Iori Hashima chuckled lightly at her friend's teasing.

After losing contact during their time in Japan, they reunited last year and became friends again. Iori Hashima truly considers Tomoya Aki one of her few genuine friends.

Iori Hashima wanted to vent about her recent troubles, but then hesitated to speak.

After thinking it over carefully, he decided not to say anything. Tonight, it would be enough for Aki Tomoya to have a good time with him.

What does Tomoya do when he's having troubles?

Iori Hashima rested her chin on her hand, looking out the window at the darkening sky, and slowly asked a question.

"Probably like you, going out with friends to have a wild time."

Aki Tomoya pushed up his glasses and answered almost without thinking.

The other person didn't say what happened, but judging from his unusual expression and the troubled look in his eyes, he was probably having some worries.

"...Climbing to the top of the industry isn't easy. Tomoya, are you planning to stay at the university hospital from now on?"

Feeling somewhat seen through, Iori Hashima asked with a smile.

"Probably, but if I can't make it, I'll become a private doctor. I won't starve, and I might even come back to you for help."

If I can pass the exam next year, it will be six years of study, two years of medical training, and then I can stay at the university hospital or pursue further studies.

There are many options, but the prerequisite is that you can successfully get into the medical school.

Actually, it's hard to say what will happen in the distant future. Right now, Aki Tomoya is thinking more about how to get into university.

Because all ideas must ultimately be based on whether or not one can pass the exam.

"I'm truly flattered!"

Iori Hashima replied in an exaggerated tone.

"Speaking of which, you've always been so confident in everything you do, it's rare to see you like this. Did you get dumped by that Akane Akasaka?"

"Do I take this as schadenfreude? If so, I'm truly sorry. At least for now, my future in that club looks bright, even if I don't stay long."

"Why does what you're saying sound so contradictory? Your future is bright, and you won't be staying long. It sounds like you've been entrusted with an important task by Akane Kousaka, yet you're so troubled now..."

Aki Tomoya couldn't help but chuckle.

Iori Hashima shrugged and remained silent.

He has been troubled lately precisely because he has been entrusted with such an important task.

At the same time, she felt that her time in Akane's club was almost up.

"I just feel it's time to break free. Being controlled by others is unpleasant. Now I'm thinking, with what I've accumulated over the years, can I build up a group of people on my own?"

"Ambitious and far-reaching."

"Heh, sounds like it, doesn't it?"

For some reason, Iori Hashima's words sounded rather self-deprecating, making one wonder what he had been going through recently.

"You look so sentimental right now, it's giving me goosebumps!"

"That's an exaggeration!" Iori Hashima frowned, then sighed with a wry smile. "It's just that I've been feeling inadequate lately. The big promises we made together before are really hard to keep."

"What's so difficult about it? We're already in one of the top clubs in the industry. We can just overthrow the old guard and bring down Akane Kousaka!"

"Hahaha, everyone said you were exaggerating!"

As for overthrowing superiors, forget about it when it comes to Akane Kousaka.

Before she was completely taken over, Iori Hashima decided to carefully consider her future plans.

"I'm really curious about what happened to you. Would you mind telling me?"

Aki Tomoya looked intently at Hashima Iori, his concern evident in his eyes.

"...Our club secured the game adaptation rights to the works of Shizuka Utako-sensei and Kashiwagi Eri-sensei, but I'm being manipulated like a puppet by that Akane Akasaka, it's so frustrating..."

"I see... Pfft!"

"Don't laugh!"

Iori Hashima rolled her eyes at Tomoya Aki, who couldn't help but laugh.

The latter waved his hand sheepishly.

In short, I learned a good lesson!

After Aki Tomoya learned that this was the case, he couldn't help but feel helpless.

After considering the other person's personality, Aki Tomoya immediately understood why the other person had come to him for comfort.

It seems that his friend Iori Hashima's last bit of pride has truly been utterly destroyed by Akane Akasaka.

But this is also a good thing. It's better to be taught a lesson now than to suffer a loss later.

I understand why Iori Hashima is unhappy, but Tomoya Aki still has to smile.

"Actually, you're a bad guy, aren't you?"

A look of helplessness crossed Iori Hashima's face.

It's a shame to talk about this, but after being impressed by Akane Akasaka's actions, Iori Hashima realized that he wasn't quite there yet.

While admiring Akane Akasaka, I was also both shocked and afraid.

"No, no, no, but are you really planning to start your own business? In Akane's club, you can make your wish come true very quickly!"

Aki Tomoya stopped whispering and asked seriously.

Starting from scratch is not something you can just talk about casually!

"Starting afresh? Forget it, it's just a different place to showcase my value. Under Akane Akasaka's shadow, people are mostly focused on Akane Akasaka!"

"A traitor?!"

"It's about stepping out of Akane Akasaka's shadow to show our true value! Don't misunderstand!"

Chapter 160 Optimistic Dog Head (4/4)

Aki Tomoya understands what Hashima Iori is thinking.

This friend was always so shrewd; Akane Akasaka was also used to enhance his resume.

He was undoubtedly a sophisticated egoist, as well as an ambitious fellow.

This guy has a lot of ideas, and Aki Tomoya could only wish him good luck at this point.

After having a great time in Tokyo with Iori Hashima that evening, Aki Tomoya decided to head back as it was getting late, since it was Sunday and he had to go to school the next day.

The second mock exam has ended, and the results will be available in a week.

Before the results are released, most people are no longer as nervous as they were the first time after experiencing the first mock exam.

Therefore, in Aki Tomoya's view, the biggest advantage of the national mock exam is this kind of atmosphere.

Of course, the atmosphere during the actual test will be even more tense than during the mock test.

After the exam, we would usually ask each other how it went and joke around.

While they were bragging, the day came when the results were released.

Yoshihiko Uego finally got a B in his third choice, and Megumi Kato's grades were also steadily rising, getting closer and closer to her first choice, the Faculty of Law.

More than half of the students in the class took the mock exam, comparing their results, and then sighing and praying.

Finally, when everyone's attention was focused on Aki Tomoya, he knew that there was no escaping it.

Most people are more curious about what their first-place finisher in the school year is.