I, Aki Tomoya, will not be a simp.

Does he look like a man who has been hurt in a relationship?

joke!

Tomoya Aki will never be troubled by love again in the future!

"An Yi, your homeroom teacher wants to see you."

Kato Megumi appeared beside them at some point; she had just returned from the office and was relaying a message from the homeroom teacher of Class 2-B.

"The first day of school is already a meeting in the office. Being a top student isn't easy!"

Uesugi Yoshihiko asked with a hint of schadenfreude.

"They're probably doing the same route survey as me."

Kato Megumi added at this point.

Having just returned from the office, she was also being questioned by her homeroom teacher about her whereabouts.

Because her grades improved in the last semester, her homeroom teacher even asked her if she wanted to raise her goals further.

Kato Megumi refused without hesitation. The reason was simple: things were fine for her as they were. Setting the bar too high was not suitable for her, and she didn't have much motivation before she had that wish.

Surveys of each student's progress and inquiries about their current situation after the start of the school year are routine procedures.

However, compared to the approach survey in the second grade, it's probably just a formality. It won't be until next year when they enter the third grade that the teachers will take each student's aspirations seriously.

A year is enough time for students with active minds to change many of their views.

"Of course, for someone like you, Yoshihiko, who doesn't need to worry about further education, the teacher will probably only start to take your application seriously in the second half of next year."

Aki Tomoya wasn't surprised by the meeting at the start of the semester; hadn't he been talked to before when he filled out his college applications last semester?

If Yoshihiko Uesugi wanted to use this incident to tease him, he would be making a big mistake.

Aki Tomoya's answer was particularly painful for Uesugi Yoshihiko.

The teachers' focus is still on students who want to pursue higher education. As for students who don't consider further education, it's not that the teachers are irresponsible, but if they fill in their application for employment, the recommendations are not arranged by the teachers, but by the school.

Before their senior year of high school, they don't make any changes, there aren't any major problems at school, and they don't need to worry too much.

Don't expect me to envy you, you bastard!

After exchanging a few jokes with his friend, Aki Tomo went to his office.

Compared to last semester, the teachers are more patient. After the deviation scores improved in the first semester, the teachers' attitudes also changed.

What should you do if your teacher shows concern in this situation?

Just be humble and polite!

Listen to advice when you should, accept concern when you should, and don't overthink it.

Aki Tomoya's back-to-school meeting was basically just the teacher talking to him while he maintained the same expression the whole time; at that point, a smile would have been enough.

Whether he was listening or not, only he knows the answer.

In short, when he returned to the classroom afterward, Aki Tomoya remembered about half of what the teacher said, but as for the other half, which was somewhat rude, he could only apologize.

The start of the second semester at Toyonosaki Academy was probably most significant for Aki Tomoya as a reminder that there were only a few months left in the year.

Chapter 80 The Person Is Gone (2/4)

After the opening ceremony, the first day at school was mostly spent talking about precautions, and students didn't immediately get into a learning mindset.

Generally speaking, Japanese high schools teach all the knowledge points of the national exam in about two years, and then the senior year enters the review stage. However, the effect of teachers doing the review stage in school is not as good as tutoring in cram schools.

Even in more lenient public high schools, as long as students don't act too blatantly in class, teachers probably won't do anything and will just continue teaching from the textbook.

Therefore, Aki Tomoya's focus has never been on school, but rather on the cram school.

September is the start of the school year, and the opening ceremonies for private and public schools vary depending on each school's schedule. Toyonosaki Gakuen's opening ceremony was a day or two later than the one in Tokyo.

Meanwhile, at Qingfeng Academy, the schools of those comrades-in-arms had all held their opening ceremonies one after another.

The biggest difference compared to summer vacation is that everyone is wearing uniforms now.

"good afternoon."

Kudo Sayaka, who had dyed her hair back to its original color at the end of August, had already changed into her school uniform. As she put her schoolbag aside, she greeted Aki Tomoya next door.

Like other students who have just started school, Sayaka Kudo seems much busier than during the summer vacation.

"I feel like the atmosphere is completely different now than before school started!"

As Kudo Sayaka took out her reference book, she looked around.

Compared to the summer vacation, the atmosphere at the academy gradually became more tense.

Having experienced bullying at school as a child, Saya Kudo is still somewhat sensitive to the atmosphere.

To avoid disturbing others, Aki Tomoya whispered to Kudo Sayaka, "Several students in our academy will be taking exams next year. It's already September, so there's not much time left."

Having started tutoring Aki Tomoya at Aomine Academy in April, he naturally knew more about the situation here than Kudo Sayaka, who arrived two months later.

The exam is next year, and two-thirds of this year has already passed. It would be strange if I wasn't nervous.

Moreover, although everyone was taking advantage of the summer vacation to study at the cram school, it was still summer vacation after all. In order to prevent the students from overworking themselves, Mr. Tsubota, with the help of Junko Harumi, kept a close eye on things.

The time for preparing for exams is already tight, and most of the holidays need to be used, making it impossible to relax properly. If you keep the tension so high, who knows if it will break?

If students cannot regulate themselves properly, then teachers, as external factors, naturally need to pay close attention to the students' situation at all times.

"Speaking of which, it's a shame that the old bridge really won't be coming back after summer vacation!"

Sayaka Kudo turned around and glanced at the empty space behind her.

Just as she had heard before, after the summer vacation, the girl of the same age, Fumino Furuhashi, who was hailed as the humanities genius of Ichinose, finished her tutoring.

It's probably because it wasn't very effective.

"She tried so hard back then, but it only had a slight effect. I wonder if she gave up after that?"

If even someone who works that hard would give up easily, shouldn't I also think about whether choosing Keio University is too demanding of myself?

Rather than lamenting the loss of a comrade at the academy, Kudo Sayaka's problem was that she had some misunderstanding about the meaning of hard work.

His exceptional talent in the humanities could be described as a blessing from heaven.

However, those who are so favored are also at the other extreme; no matter how hard they try, it all seems to be in vain.

But the idea that hard work pays off doesn't seem to work for those who are blessed by God.

"Kudo, people like us shouldn't talk about how hard work always pays off; instead, we should say that if we don't work hard, we won't have any opportunities."

Aki Tomoya shook his head and sighed.

Effort doesn't always guarantee a reward; sometimes, even those who work incredibly hard may be pushed into an abyss.

But if you don't work hard, you won't even have a chance, after all, being born into the right family is an art.

"Aki, you're really good at putting people down!"

Sayaka Kudo turned her head and muttered something, then took a notebook out of her bag and handed it to Tomoya Aki on his desk.

"Thanks anyway, I've finished copying my English notes."

Although he was taken aback by Aki Tomoya's words.

However, she should still express her gratitude, as Aki Tomoya's English notebook provided her with a lot of help and reference.

"You seem to be working quite hard too. You're getting closer and closer to Keio!" Aki Tomo put away his notebook. "And that Furuhashi-san doesn't seem like someone who gives up easily. I guess she'll find someone who can help her in the future."

No matter how you look at it, Fumino Furuhashi is not the kind of person who gives up easily, let alone when she is pursuing her dream.

Aki Tomoya thought that the girl would probably try to find a solution.

At the same time, Harumi Junko came over and placed two different sets of exercises in front of the two of them.

Although there was one less person at the academy after the summer vacation, the impact wasn't too significant.

"Teacher Harumi, will that Furuhashi student continue to look for other academies?"

At this moment, Sayaka Kudo asked a question.

"I guess so……"

Harumi Junko replied, then subconsciously glanced at the empty seat behind her.

Although they didn't spend a very long time together, during the tutoring process, both she and Mr. Tsubota could feel Fumino Furuhashi's determination.

Their unwavering pursuit of their goals radiates an admirable brilliance, yet their abilities are utterly disheartening.

"Seeing how determined Furuhashi-kun is, does Kudo-kun become even more determined to go to Keio?"

Harumi Junko's eyes lit up at this moment, and she asked Kudo Sayaka.

Ignoring Fumino Furuhashi's talent in humanities, just looking at her incredible aptitude for mathematics, she still manages to move so firmly toward her goal, and she hopes that others can learn from this momentum.

Sayaka Kudo nodded, a hint of emotion in her eyes.

Compared to her, Fumino Furuhashi's terrifying mathematical talent would make it much harder for her to get into the science department than for her to get into Keio University's Faculty of Letters.