I, Aki Tomoya, will not be a simp.

Junko Harumi was in the academy office, looking through the glass at Mr. Tsubota's teaching methods and getting familiar with the situation. At this moment, she couldn't help but think about the fact that someone from Aomine Academy had volunteered to attend Tokyo University.

Junko Harumi, who failed her entrance exam for Tokyo University and was disillusioned with life, couldn't help but think of her mother's disappointed gaze whenever she thought of that place.

"Harumi-sensei, cheer up!"

Mr. Tsubota walked into the office and sighed to Junko Harumi.

Her depressed demeanor could negatively impact the students.

Junko Harumi and Mr. Tsubota were about the same age, but their styles were completely different.

Carrying the banner of Aomine Academy, Mr. Tsubota, determined not to abandon any student and to do his best to send them to their desired universities, was full of hope for the future. His charisma was like magic, infecting the students of Aomine Academy.

Harumi Junko had seen many teachers like this at the Sanno Gakujuku before.

It may not be exactly the same, but take the tutor from the special advanced class for Tokyo University at Sanno Gakuen, where she had previously studied, for example; that person was also full of confidence.

In Tokyo, Sanno Gakujuku is quite well-known, completely different from Aomine Gakujuku.

It wasn't that Harumi Junko wanted to compare Sanno Gakujuku with Aomine Gakujuku; it was just that she was truly devastated. Even after being dismissed, she found herself surrounded by confident people elsewhere.

In contrast to them, Junko Harumi, as a loser or a disappointed person, has a particularly striking aura of failure.

"Sorry……"

Feeling listless, Junko Harumi habitually gave up on herself again.

But then she thought about it again. After being fired, when she was on the verge of falling into the abyss of failure, there were still people who could give her a chance. At least in the workplace, Harumi Junko was still barely surviving.

"Harumi-sensei, are you settling in alright?"

The president, dressed in neat work clothes and with gray hair, walked in and asked a question.

In the school, the president was inconspicuous. Most students just regarded him as a quiet cleaner. When the student council noticed him, he was either tidying up the school or cleaning outside the school. They would never associate him with the president.

"Thanks to your guidance, President, the atmosphere at the academy is excellent!"

Harumi Junko quickly turned around and replied to the president.

Compared to my time at Sannoh Gakujuku, there's not much difference in the learning atmosphere.

If you think this is just a primary school and you can regain some confidence here, then there's little chance of that happening.

Just as Harumi Junko often thought, the label of failure was already stuck on her the day she failed the entrance exam for Tokyo University and could not be removed.

Just thinking about her life before and after the exams, the stark contrast left Junko Harumi feeling utterly powerless.

“Please come on.”

The president nodded, then turned and left the office without saying anything more.

The students at the academy, who were engrossed in their studies, had initially shown some curiosity about Junko Harumi, but now had no time to think about anything else.

Throughout the school, Mr. Tsubota, as always, either stayed in his seat or walked among the students.

Although there is now an extra tutor at the school, today is just the formal introduction of Harumi Junko to the students. There are still many things that need to be explained and familiarized to them.

Night had fallen outside the window sometime earlier, and Tokyo's night view was as dazzling as ever.

As the numerous private schools scattered throughout the city gradually produce students who have finished their exams, further education is not the only option, but many people choose this path. At night, what you can see in the city is not only the corporate slaves coming out of izakayas, but also the army of students preparing for exams coming out of private schools, including many who failed the exams and are repeating their studies.

Of course, at this time, there are also students who don't need to think about the future or who haven't chosen further education as their path and are out having fun.

This city, which ranks among the most densely populated in the world, does indeed look quite prosperous, but for most people in this city, the towering steel forest can be suffocating.

"knock off!"

At Aomine Academy, Aki Tomoya closed his book and rubbed his sore neck.

Looking out the window and then at the time, I realized that most of the other students in the academy had already left.

It's about time.

"Thank you for today too. See you the day after tomorrow, Mr. Tsubota."

After packing his things, Aki Tomoya went to Mr. Tsubota to say goodbye.

Mr. Tsubota smiled, then stood up and replied, "See you next time, Aki-kun."

After the last student left, only Mr. Tsubota and the newly hired Junko Harumi remained in the academy.

Mr. Tsubota, as her senior, approached Junko Harumi again and asked, "Ms. Harumi, are you getting used to things here?"

It's the exact same problem as the previous president's.

Harumi Junko nodded and replied politely, "It is an honor to be able to teach students here!"

Whether it was just polite talk or the truth, Mr. Tsubota didn't care about that; he just hoped that Junko Harumi could get into the zone as soon as possible.

After all, even as a senior in the academy, he didn't have much time to take care of Junko Harumi.

The school had a dozen or so students. Although it couldn't compare to those smaller schools, one person was still responsible for a dozen or so students and had to cater to each student in different ways. He was often too busy to keep up.

Although a new tutor has joined, seemingly relieving some of the pressure, Junko Harumi is, to be honest, quite worrying.

Mr. Tsubota has seen many people like this who are down on their luck, but even he could tell that Junko Harumi's family background was quite good.

At this age, she sometimes appears颓废 and disappointed. Coming from a good family, if he wasn't mistaken, Harumi Junko actually still harbors a little bit of longing in her heart.

If someone like Harumi Junko were to completely give up on herself, she might as well just marry anyone. Otherwise, she wouldn't have seized this insignificant opportunity at Aomine Academy.

Mr. Tsubota's conjecture was almost identical to Harumi Junko's current situation. The only thing he didn't guess correctly was that Harumi Junko had been going on blind dates, but each time she failed.

Junko Harumi is an absolute disappointment!

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Chapter 37 A Bumpy Road Ahead

Harumi Junko walked out of Aomine Academy, and after taking a few steps down the street with her head down, she couldn't help but look back at the window with the four Chinese characters "Aomine Academy" still shining through, which was covered by a faint ray of light.

Mr. Tsubota wasn't in a hurry to leave; it seemed he still had a lot to do.

"I'm so envious, having a goal to strive for..."

Harumi Junko's lips curled up slightly, revealing a bitter smile.

The cool night breeze ruffled her long, beautiful hair, but even with such an outstanding appearance, it couldn't hide her dejected heart.

Does she, who is over thirty, look like the "auntie" that students jokingly refer to?

Before getting close to Junko Harumi herself, there had been quite a few young rascals who wanted to chat her up.

However, in the end, he probably changed his mind after being shocked by the disappointing aura emanating from her, and then ran away while laughing at her.

Life goals!

Junko Harumi is missing this right now.

Even without the solemn prefix "life," Junko Harumi has not achieved a single small goal in more than a decade.

After being dismissed from her previous school, Junko Harumi was once in despair.

How much of a failure is it to face a failed blind date, unemployment, and a life that can no longer be planned?

"I still have a job!"

Harumi Junko patted her cheeks, thinking, "Things aren't so bad after all!"

Having lived for thirty-one years without ever truly being in a relationship, and then getting a job when I was practically facing certain death in my career, I couldn't be luckier than before!

Despite her current optimism, Junko Harumi still has no intention of properly planning the rest of her life.

Losing your job during Golden Week, finding another job during Golden Week – for a semi-independent woman like me, it's not a complete failure!

Junko Harumi, stay optimistic!

There couldn't be a worse situation than this. At Aomine Academy, where the pressure was relatively less than at her previous academy, Harumi Junko felt that she could still shine and demonstrate her value.

Of course, as long as we don't have to deal with that student who's preparing for the University of Tokyo entrance exam, it'll be fine!

Thinking this way, Harumi Junko felt that helping other students get into relatively good private universities was also fulfilling her responsibility as a teacher.

Just then, a boy wearing a stand-up collar school uniform walked out of the 24-hour convenience store in front of them, carrying a fast food bento box. He came into Harumi Junko's view as soon as he stepped out.

"Ah, a student from the University of Tokyo!"

Harumi Junko looked at the boy wearing glasses and blurted out unconsciously.

Aki Tomoya stared blankly at Harumi Junko on his right. When he heard the words "University of Tokyo student," he coughed as if he had choked.

Aki Tomoya couldn't possibly be unfamiliar with Harumi Junko, the new tutor at his own academy, especially after comparing her to Mr. Tsubota, which highlighted her dejected state.

Although he didn't have much contact with her, Aki Tomoya still has a deep impression of her.

Good evening, Harumi-sensei.

Unbeknownst to him, the teacher had given him the nickname "Tokyo University student," and Aki Tomoya couldn't help but chuckle at that moment.

Aki Tomoya really couldn't treat Harumi Junko as a regular teacher.

If we were to use a typical example to describe Junko Harumi, "a failed adult" would be a very fitting description.