I, Aki Tomoya, will not be a simp.

Meanwhile, Fumino Furuhashi was more mesmerized than anyone else as she watched the fireworks in the sky, which resembled a sky full of stars.

People in different parts of the city looked up at the magnificent fireworks, each with their own thoughts and feelings.

But one thing is for sure: summer is almost over.

Chapter 76 Differential Treatment (2/4)

Countless fireworks bloomed in the night sky. The annual fireworks display starts at eight o'clock, which is also the time when the crowds are at their largest.

Eriri and Kasumigaoka Utaha met at Senso-ji Temple at noon, and when the fireworks festival started at 8 o'clock, they watched the fireworks launched from the boats and blooming in the sky with the others by the river.

When the fireworks display ended, Eriri exclaimed from the bottom of her heart, "Summer festivals should definitely be watched with friends!"

On days like these, having to wear a mask to face those hypocritical people is truly disgusting.

Unfortunately, Eriri doesn't have many friends, and at this time, only Kasumigaoka Utaha is by her side.

"Should we go to Chiyoda afterwards, or to Tokyo Skytree?"

Eriri, whose interest was growing, asked Kasumigaoka Utaha, who was standing next to her.

Kasumigaoka Utaha turned to look at Eriri with curiosity, and asked somewhat strangely, "When did we become so close?"

Strolling through the festival together at the summer festival and watching the fireworks, it felt just like being really good friends.

In reality, they often don't get along at all.

In Kasumigaoka Utaha's eyes, Eriri seemed to have suddenly changed her personality.

Or rather, they no longer harbor the same hostility towards her as before.

"Um... we're practically partners, aren't we?"

Eriri said somewhat awkwardly.

She was indeed a bit carried away today; this should have been her most relaxed day since the start of the semester.

After the doujinshi convention a few days ago, Eriri's slight hostility towards Kasumigaoka Utaha because of Aki Tomoya had actually disappeared.

After all, it's no longer necessary.

Why not simply follow your heart and become a like-minded partner with Kasumigaoka Utaha?

"You're starting to become someone I don't recognize."

Kasumigaoka Utaha's tone made no attempt to hide her surprise.

Eriri's change didn't make Kasumigaoka Utaha feel bad; she just couldn't adapt to it at first.

The same applies to this invitation; Kasumigaoka Utaha initially had a misunderstanding.

However, she gradually became surprised after discovering that Eriri's motives were not what she had thought.

Her change actually made things much easier for Kasumigaoka Utaha.

Kasumigaoka Utaha deeply admires Eriri's painting talent, just as Eriri loves her works.

Otherwise, Kasumigaoka Utaha wouldn't have thought of Eriri immediately after getting the inspiration for her new work.

Even if you say that, I still…

Eriri looked at Kasumigaoka Utaha with a mix of amusement and exasperation, when she suddenly remembered the embarrassing incident that had occurred at Senso-ji Temple at noon.

At that time, Kasumigaoka Utaha asked her, "Don't you like Aki Tomoya?"

Eriri didn't answer at that time, but instead chose to change the subject.

Kasumigaoka Utaha also felt that she had misunderstood Eriri, so she didn't bring it up again.

"Kasumigaoka, you asked about it at Senso-ji Temple at noon, right?"

Eriri's sudden mention of what happened at Senso-ji Temple at noon surprised Kasumigaoka Utaha once again.

Although she had already realized that this was probably related to Eriri's change, Kasumigaoka Utaha would definitely not dare to ask again if Eriri didn't intend to say it.

However, the fact that Eriri brought it up now was something Kasumigaoka Utaha hadn't anticipated.

"On the 12th, I broke up with my boyfriend, and I was with that guy, Tomoya."

After Eriri said those words, Kasumigaoka Utaha couldn't understand why she could still laugh now.

In terms of experiencing heartbreak, she went through it earlier than Eriri.

And this happened shortly after the start of the school year.

And then Eriri was finally sunk too?

Kasumigaoka Utaha's expression was somewhat moved. Although she had warned the other party beforehand, she still went up to see her off.

But the reality is quite different from what Kasumigaoka Utaha had imagined.

"We apologized to each other, and thinking back on my past self, I felt like a complete idiot. Who was I even taking revenge on?"

The word "revenge" that Eriri used was something Kasumigaoka Utaha had heard last year.

After learning each other's identities, they understood the relationship between Eriri and Aki Tomoya, and also learned that Eriri pretended to be a pampered young lady who could not possibly know an otaku like Aki Tomoya, but in reality, she was the popular illustrator Kashiwagi Eri.

She called drawing books revenge, revenge against those who were prejudiced.

Eriri struggles through life because of the trauma she experienced in elementary school.

"Caring about a group of people who will have almost no connection to me in the future, only results in running away and letting opportunities slip by time and time again. Isn't that ridiculous?"

Eriri spoke in a self-deprecating tone.

She was secretly doing what she liked, and along the way she barely maintained a fragile relationship with Aki Tomoya, but the gap between them only widened, and opportunities slipped through her fingers one after another.

"When we entered high school, even though no one knew about our past, Tomoya said that even if I had pretended to sympathize with him and said a few words back then, it would have given him a glimmer of hope. I guess I'm not suited to be a rich girl. It's easier to be friends with each other now that I'm a homebody. He also encouraged me to seize the opportunity and do what I want to do."

As Eriri spoke, the expression on her face gradually relaxed.

Everyone apologized to each other and admitted their mistakes, but in the end, because of her childhood friend privilege, she received special care from Aki Tomoya.

“I don’t want everything around me to be destroyed again like it was in elementary school, so I really want to work with Shizuko Kasumi.”

For the first time, Eriri showed such sincerity in front of Kasumigaoka Utaha.

The latter's pupils contracted slightly, then he sighed, "Is this what they call differential treatment?"

After finishing her sentence, Kasumigaoka Utaha sighed heavily, her eyes revealing undisguised jealousy towards Eriri.

Differential treatment, real and tangible differential treatment.

"In that guy's heart, a senior he's only known for a year is definitely not as good as a childhood sweetheart he's known for over ten years!"

Kasumigaoka Utaha's eyes were filled with resentment, as if she were recalling the way Aki Tomoya looked on the rooftop that day.

Fueled by her resentment, Eriri instinctively shrank back. To this day, she still had no idea what had happened between Aki Tomoya and Kasumigaoka Utaha that day.

"What's going on between you two is none of my business. We're partners now, right?"

Eriri doesn't know what's going on between them, and she doesn't want to get involved or be caught in the crossfire.

"Before pretending nothing's wrong, at least tone down that smug look of yours. Blonde twin tails, childhood friend type!"

Chapter 77 The Three Giants! (3/4)

A week has passed since the fireworks display ended, and there are not many days left in August this year.

With the end of August, summer vacation naturally comes to an end, and the start of the second semester in Japan is just around the corner.

Lately at Aomine Academy, aside from Fumino Furuhashi joining midway through and the fireworks festival, nothing particularly special has happened.

At the same time, everyone was in high spirits because the new semester was just around the corner.

Sayaka Kudo's suspension will end after summer vacation, and she has already dyed her hair back to black.

Because of the punishment game with Mr. Tsubota, she can't wear false eyelashes or get manicures. And with summer vacation ending, she has to dye her hair back to its original color, so naturally, she can't help but complain a bit.

"Time to go to school again!"

During lunch break, Sayaka Kudo slammed her hands on the table and shouted in a complaining tone.

The thought of facing her annoying homeroom teacher upon returning to school immediately dampened Sayaka Kudo's spirits.

She still felt that Aomine Academy was better than that girls' high school.

Of course, her friends are still at school, so even if Sayaka Kudo dislikes her homeroom teacher, she won't take it out on others.

"Guqiao, are you okay?"

Behind Sayaka Kudo, Junko Harumi gently patted Fumino Furuhashi, who was lying on the table.

At this moment, Fumino Furuhashi is lying on the test papers she has just graded, reflecting on her work.

Despite doing the same exercises every day, Fumino Furuhashi's scores rise very slowly, and sometimes even fall. The fact that she hasn't given up yet is something that surprises everyone at the academy.

"Ichinose is a genius in the humanities..."

Kudo Sayaka sighed, unable to understand why Furuhashi Fumino, who could easily get into her first choice, insisted on applying to the Faculty of Science.

Moreover, the other person's mathematical abilities are truly terrifying, a world apart from her own humanities abilities.

If it weren't for the rescheduling of her tutoring classes this week, which clashed with Fumino Furuhashi's schedule, she probably wouldn't have known about Fumino Furuhashi until summer vacation.