I, Aki Tomoya, will not be a simp.

After carefully reading and reviewing each question, Aki Tomoya's eyes and mind never stopped working as he wrote furiously.

We only live once, so let's just get it done!

On the first day of the exam, at the same time but in different locations, this year's candidates wielded their pens, fighting for their future.

Time flies when you're focused on something, and you don't even notice it passing.

When he was halfway through, Aki Tomo wasn't sure how much time he had left, but he certainly didn't have time to think about it.

The first day of the national unified examination was for humanities subjects, and the second day was for science subjects.

Two days can determine the fate of most people, especially those who have been preparing for this day for a long time. For example, in order to get a spot in the second round of the exam, they have to desperately step on other people's heads to climb up the first hurdle and get a ticket to participate in the second round.

Chapter 175 Exams Are Never Short of Stories (2/?)

Not everyone needs to take the exam.

If life is like a race, then different people start from different points.

Various factors combined result in different ways of moving forward on the track. Some crawl, some struggle to move an inch, some run, and some take shortcuts by car with a driver.

Family background, talent, and all sorts of other factors...

But should we complain?

Or should we accept the status quo?

Aki Tomoya can't demand anything of others; he only has one set of standards for himself.

Accept the status quo, but don't compromise; strive to change it and seize opportunities when they arise.

There are definitely many people like him, but whether they can succeed is still questionable, because even if someone adjusts their mindset and gives it their all, they will only become a stepping stone for others.

Family background, talent, hard work, luck!

Besides talent and hard work, having no capital really requires a bit of luck.

Effort is indeed a prerequisite for success, but will effort always be rewarded?

There are countless people in the world who work their hardest, but how many of them succeed, have their edges worn down, and end up just another ordinary person?

After two years of preparation, Aki Tomo still didn't know the outcome until the very end, but he was definitely luckier than most people in the previous two years.

Achieving the desired result is Aki Tomoya's only wish at this stage, although it was clear from the moment he set his sights on the University of Tokyo that this would not be an easy goal.

But it was precisely because he set such a high goal and demanded so much of himself for two years that Aki Tomoya had the confidence to get this far.

Think carefully, and finally write down your answers on the answer sheet.

You should definitely do your best in the first exam, and the focus should be on the second exam, but it's never a bad thing to get a good score in the first exam.

On the same day, all the candidates were writing furiously in different examination rooms, and Aki Tomoya was just one of them.

There are also many people who don't need to take exams.

"What are you thinking about absentmindedly? Are you worried about how your childhood sweetheart did on her exams?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at Eriri across from her, who was gazing absentmindedly out the window, her eyes filled with worry.

After asking the question, she took a long sip of her drink through the straw, the lukewarm liquid moistening her throat.

It's really easy to guess why Eriri is so absent-minded right now. Even without asking, Kasumigaoka Utaha could probably guess the reason.

Today is January 23rd, the first day of the nationwide preliminary examination.

And right now, there's a boy they both know taking an exam in the exam hall. This exam is very important to him.

Although she wasn't particularly interested in the University of Tokyo, Kasumigaoka Utaha was aware of the application process.

Only those who pass the first round of testing qualify for the second round, and then they compete with a group of other people.

To be honest, I'm quite interested in Kasumigaoka Utaha.

It's not that she suddenly became interested in the University of Tokyo again, but rather that she was interested in what level Aki Tomoya could achieve in the next two years.

"Give it a try, there shouldn't be much of a problem, after all, I got all A's in the last mock exam..."

"Then what's there to worry about? If you get all A's, at the very least, there's no chance of anything unexpected happening. If you perform normally, there's an 80% chance you'll pass the test."

"I'm not worried about him, I'm thinking about... things after graduation."

Eriri's eyes turned white as she looked at Kasumigaoka Utaha.

Eriri's obvious insincerity was not hidden from Utaha Kasumigaoka at all. The latter just pursed her lips and did not expose Eriri's little scheme.

Kasumigaoka Utaha placed her hands on the table and said in a teasing tone, "Todai and Toei University, they're quite a good match."

"...Sometimes, I really don't know what kind of mood you're in to joke like that. Is this how girls grow up after a breakup?"

"I know it's a great humiliation to be looked down upon by you, so I don't want to dwell on the past alone."

Kasumigaoka Utaha replied casually, while subtly rolling her eyes at him as she returned the message.

Unlike Aki Tomoya, Eriri received a recommendation from Tokyo University of the Arts, and after graduating in March, she can focus on attending Tokyo University of the Arts without worry.

Both of you here are students from prestigious universities.

"By the way, do you think that guy can get into Tokyo University, especially a science major..."

Kasumigaoka Utaha made no attempt to hide her curiosity.

Now that things have come to this point, even she has become interested in it.

Whether he gets in or not, he won't go to Keio University. Keio's medical school is only his third choice.

“…Did you do this on purpose?”

Kasumigaoka Utaha's smile gradually froze.

Eriri's smiling reply just now left Kasumigaoka Utaha extremely embarrassed.

She doesn't seem to have ever expressed a desire to see Tomoya Aki enter Keio's medical school, does she?

The sudden mention of Keio, and the blonde guy in front of me, is definitely doing it on purpose!

However, Eriri smiled slightly: "It's not like I'm taking the exam, how would I know? I can only say that I really hope he gets into his first choice."

So, does asking this question mean I didn't ask it at all?

Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't care too much about this issue. Whether Aki Tomoya could get into the University of Tokyo, and which university he would ultimately attend, frankly, it didn't have much to do with her.

But whenever she thinks about how Aki Tomoya has been preparing for the exam for less than two years, she becomes very interested in what the result will be.

The first day of the test, which was held on January 23, ended after the final English exam.

When Aki Tomoya came out of the examination room in the afternoon, he was still a little reluctant to leave.

"The humanities exams are over, tomorrow's the science exams, I need to get a good night's sleep tonight!"

Aki Tomoya checked the time; it was getting late, but he wasn't in a hurry to leave immediately.

Kato Megumi, who was in the same class, was also in the same venue. When they met at noon, they agreed to go back together.

It's perfectly normal to discuss the exam with classmates afterward.

"An Yi, this year's English test was a little more difficult than last year's, but looking at you, I feel an indescribable surge of emotion."

"Please don't say such frightening things with such a calm face, okay?"

For a fleeting moment when Kato Megumi appeared, Aki Tomoya thought he was about to be stabbed in the back.

Judging from what she said, it seems that the afternoon's exam did not go very well for Kato Megumi.

Did you fail the exam?

Aki Tomoya asked somewhat nervously.

If it was because he failed the exam, then all he could do was offer his sympathy.

Upon hearing this, Kato Megumi shook her head and replied calmly, "It's alright."

If she says it's just average, then it probably really is just average.

As an ordinary high school girl, an ordinary candidate taking the first exam, and an ordinary classmate, Kato Megumi's words left no room for doubt.

"Science tomorrow..."

"Tomorrow's science exam doesn't seem to have anything to do with me. I'll just take it easy and let things take their course."

"So decisive!"

As expected of her!

Chapter 176 Stay Calm, Don't Panic! (3/?)

After the first day of the test, Aki Tomoya felt that he did alright.

Meanwhile, Kato Megumi, who was also at the same venue, was just average, and naturally, she gave up on the science subject the next day.

It was indeed a decision to give up, and that was not wrong.

She did take the first exam, but Kato Megumi's focus for college entrance was on the entrance exam at Shinazugawa University. At the same time, both her first and second choices were humanities subjects, so when she was reviewing, she basically just glanced at the science subjects and that was it.