I, Aki Tomoya, will not be a simp.

Aki Tomoya didn't dare turn on the light at this moment. He didn't want to wake Kudo Sayaka, who was definitely asleep by now.

He turned on the light when he got to the bathroom, and then planned to wash up and go to bed.

After a quick wash, he quietly went into the bedroom like a thief.

"Are you asleep?"

Aki Tomoya muttered to himself, and then he also felt a little sleepy.

"You smell of alcohol."

Just as Aki Tomoya lay down, a soft voice next to him nearly scared him to death.

"So you're still awake!"

He clutched his chest, still somewhat shaken.

Just then, I felt a warm and soft touch on my forehead.

"Actually, I fell asleep, but then I woke up again."

She whispered, then leaned close to Aki Tomoya and sniffed.

"I suddenly remembered that my dad was the same way. He used to come home drunk very late."

"It's only once in a while, and I only had a little sake... Hmm? Don't you hate it?"

Aki Tomoya said softly.

"Why don't you go take a shower first and change the smell?"

"Hey, shouldn't you be holding me tight and comforting me to sleep right now?"

"I hate the smell of alcohol, not you. I like you the most, so go on your way!"

"So perfunctory!"

Chapter 402 That Door

The best thing about being with Sayaka Kudo is probably that you can forget when you're tired.

We started dating at that summer festival, and now we're living together.

The days starting in the third year of university are actually quite tough, because although it's different from the five-year system in China, it's a six-year system with an extra year.

However, starting from the fifth year, students will have to undergo clinical internships, followed by several very important exams.

Learning is a lifelong process, but time is also very important.

Time is of the essence; we must hold it firmly in our hands.

Spending Christmas with Sayaka Kudo in their Bunkyo Ward apartment signifies that starting next March will be the final transition phase before starting clinical internships.

They wished each other a Merry Christmas and then began to welcome the New Year.

On New Year's Day in Japan, for the first time ever, Aki Tomoya brought her home and introduced her to his parents.

The next day, they went to visit Sayaka Kudo's family.

She asked, "Is this the time to meet my family?"

Aki Tomoya said that their families had not yet met each other, so they shouldn't overthink it.

The end of the New Year also means the end of winter break, and the end of the third year of college is almost over.

When I'm engrossed in my studies, spending time with my lover can feel like stealing a moment of peace.

However, there were two things that Aki Tomo was also concerned about. When Kasumigaoka Utaha graduated from Keio University, she suddenly told him that she felt very regretful, and then thanked him for giving her new inspiration.

This made Aki Tomoya feel regretful, and he couldn't help but fantasize about what it would have been like if he had been with this senior.

However, upon seeing Sayaka Kudo beside her, that thought vanished completely.

Is there any fairness in matters of the heart?

It would be a shame to say too much.

Then there's Eriri, who, after finishing her senior year, is going to Europe to study art and says goodbye to him in advance.

Aki Tomoya didn't know what to say on both occasions; expressing regret seemed inappropriate, and even apologizing seemed wrong.

As for whether he had let others down, it's hard to say, because if we really try to argue about it, it will only get more complicated. But he did feel a little ashamed, though he didn't regret it.

Since you've made this choice, you must take responsibility for it.

Therefore, the relationship could only remain at the level of childhood friends and ordinary senior-junior relationships. Although there was still contact, it gradually decreased.

It's not for any particularly special reason, it's just a very practical factor. Everyone has their own things to do, and they haven't even finished their own tasks yet, so how can they have time to think about others?

Just like Aki Tomoya and his best friend from high school, Uego Yoshihiko, they could hardly remember when they last contacted each other.

Aki Tomoya only hopes that she will never run into him in the hospital again.

A month before his senior year summer vacation, he was helping Professor Yano in the pathology research lab.

During a break in the meeting, Professor Yano asked him a question.

"An Yi-kun, are you planning to pursue a career in clinical medicine in the future?"

"That's right... cardiovascular surgery, I guess."

"Very good, stay at the university hospital?"

"Yes, Professor."

It was just a casual greeting, but Aki Tomoya saw something profound in Professor Yano's eyes.

He seems very interested in Aki Tomoya's career path.

Especially when Aki Tomoya explained that he would be staying at the university hospital from now on.

However, Aki Tomoya could still tell that Professor Yano was somewhat disappointed.

Because he didn't choose internal medicine, but instead pursued a career in surgery.

If it were internal medicine, Professor Yano would have more room to maneuver.

"Don't follow Okajima's example."

Professor Yano patted Aki Tomoya on the shoulder. He really liked young people, especially outstanding ones.

Because young people can invest.

However, his words left Aki Tomoya completely bewildered.

It wasn't until the end of June that he heard from others that Okajima had been one of Professor Yano's students, and after graduation, he stayed in the internal medicine department of the University of Tokyo Hospital, but eventually couldn't make it there and returned here.

When Aki Tomoya asked about this, Okajima replied with a forced smile, "I was Professor Yano's horse, but I couldn't stay at the horse farm."

His self-deprecating humor left him speechless and choked with emotion.

He thought the analogy was quite apt, because Professor Yano not only lingered in the medical school, but also touched things in the university hospital.

Aki Tomo doesn't know how many of his horses are in the university hospital, but Okajima is definitely not a good horse; otherwise, he wouldn't have stayed there to write papers for the professor.

Of course, this is not to say that writing papers is unimportant; on the contrary, it is an important task.

However, perhaps Professor Yano would prefer to stay at the university hospital and make the most of his abilities.

Because Professor Yano already has enough prestige in the university's medical school.

Hearing from others and gaining insights from Okajima, Aki Tomoya felt that he was gradually becoming Professor Yano's horse.

As for which racecourse it will be on, that's unclear.

However, he would be happy if Professor Yano could really become his patron.

However, he also needs to be aware that he is only one of them, and it remains to be seen how much influence Professor Yano has in hospitals affiliated with the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Medicine.

Before the summer break of their senior year, the professors and lecturers told them that after completing all the clinical courses in the next semester, they would begin a year and a half of clinical internship.

The fact that this was brought up at this particular time seems to be intended to put pressure on them.

Therefore, no one dared to relax even a little before the start of their clinical internship.

Clinical internships are just a few steps away from the white tower (medical training center).

As time went by, I got closer and closer to my clinical internship.

In the final stage of their senior year, before spring break, the medical school began arranging clinical internships for them.

The 97 people were separated and sent to various departments in the affiliated hospital of the medical school, and then rotated in batches.

As he approached the end of his senior year and was about to begin his clinical internship, Tomoya Aki felt a mix of excitement and nervousness.

Because I have already started my clinical internship, after this is over, I will formally take the medical licensing exam, then become a trainee doctor, and then a fully qualified doctor.

He didn't show much on the surface, but he was already eager to try it out and started to look forward to it.

Many others in his generation shared the same feelings.

For example, Suzuya, who was ranked first in the same period, had long planned to make a name for himself.

Takagi and Mashima, who were closest to Aki Tomoya, had expressions that said, "Finally, he's here," while Mashima's expression was calm with a hint of excitement.

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