A dazzling light trailed a long tail flame as it ascended, then bloomed in the sky.
The brilliant Fireworks Display lit up the night sky of Tokyo.
Fireworks Display, summer vacation was also nearing its end.
This year's Summer Festival and Fireworks Display were also spent at the cram school.
Last year, a group of people watched the fireworks from the rooftop, and this year was no exception.
However, the people shouting their determination to get in had changed; they were now getting comfort from the mouths of those who had shouted before, and there were only a little over four months left.
After next month's mock exam, there would only be the one at the beginning of december, and then after the New Year, they would head to the examination hall.
It could be said that there wasn't much time left.
"Last year's seniors also shouted towards the fireworks that they must get in. How about you shout this year too?"
Aki Tomoya suggested to Kudo Sayaka next to him.
Several seniors from last year achieved their first choice, so it might be worth imitating. What if shouting actually helped them get in?
Kudo Sayaka first gave him a glare, and then she really shouted. She genuinely wanted to get into Keio.
The Fireworks Display is very short; the fleeting fireworks completed their mission, while the group of applicants beneath the fireworks would only see their results next year.
The fireworks ended on the fifteenth, and on Saturday the eighteenth, Harumi Junko received the Entrance Judgement express mail for Aki Tomoya's entrance mock exam at the cram school.
She waited until Aki Tomoya arrived before opening the express mail.
"As expected, I'm only in the upper middle. The group of people who took the exam with me are really strong."
Aki Tomoya's rank was in the upper middle, which was about what he had expected, and a bit risky.
Because with this rank, if he could get in, it would likely be at the very bottom.
Only now did the people around Aki Tomoya truly understand what he meant by 'not good'.
"It just depends on what can be achieved in the remaining time!"
Harumi Junko looked up, her eyes full of encouragement.
This judgement, in Aki Tomoya's words, wasn't good, but it certainly couldn't be called bad. There were still over four months left, which wasn't a lot, but it was enough for the final sprint.
"If you're really unsure, then apply for Riki I or Riki II, and transfer to Todai Faculty of Science III later."
At the same time, Harumi Junko also mentioned the final measure.
Prioritize getting into Tokyo University, and then, in University, compete a second time to successfully transfer into Todai Faculty of Science III.
However, Aki Tomoya shook his head: "The current situation is already quite ideal. The key now is how to push forward in the remaining time. I can try to improve my scores in Japanese and English. Relying solely on Science and Math won't work; they are all people extremely confident in Science and Math. I need to create a gap in Japanese and English."
For the Tokyo University second stage exam, besides Science and Math, Japanese and English are also tested.
And people who take the science stream exams for Tokyo University are all very confident in Science and Math. The gap you can create in these subjects isn't that large. You still need to rely on the scores in Japanese and English to fight for more points.
The current situation is still enough to support Aki Tomoya's optimism.
The final sprint is crucial.
After discussing the study plan for the remaining days with the two tutors at the cram school, Aki Tomoya returned to his seat with his Entrance Judgement.
"Final sprint. There are two mock exams left. Good luck to you, Kudo."
Aki Tomoya whispered to Kudo Sayaka next to him.
Recently, everyone around him had been on edge, including Kudo Sayaka.
Summer vacation was about to end, the third mock exam was approaching, and not much time was left in their final year of high school.
The tension was increasing.
"...Your deviation score is always so enviable."
"Enviable? Too bad I can't share it with you. You work hard yourself."
However, no matter how enviable, the deviation score couldn't fly over to Kudo Sayaka.
Now, take a deep breath and sprint with all your might in the remaining time.
Kudo Sayaka twirled her pen. Her Keio red book was already filled with bookmarks, and marked sections were everywhere.
To her right, there were quite a few more reference books.
And Aki Tomoya's reference books were only more, not less, than Kudo Sayaka's.
For the September mock exam, Kudo Sayaka hoped she could get a B.
At the same time, Furuhashi Fumino, who was behind Kudo Sayaka, had started sprinting very early.
Perhaps seeing there was hope this time, Furuhashi Fumino attached great importance to this mock exam.
Unconsciously, August quietly passed.
Throughout the entire summer vacation, until school started, Aki Tomoya did not do anything else in the end.
Besides reviewing, it was still reviewing.
Just like that, until school started in September, he began to make the final preparations for the third national mock exam.
"Did you not go out to play for a single day during the summer vacation?"
In the classroom, Eriri turned back and looked at her childhood friend's increasingly obvious dark circles and asked.
Aki Tomoya replied while organizing his notes, "I don't have time."
The entire summer vacation, there was no time to go out at all.
The Saturday and Sunday during the Summer Festival period also happened to be the time for the entrance exam mock test, and on the day of the Fireworks Display, he also watched fireworks with everyone at the cram school.
"My entrance judgment is not good."
At this moment, Aki Tomoya suddenly looked up and smiled.
His words suddenly stunned Eriri.
Hearing the result of the mock judgment from his mouth, Eriri wanted to comfort him, but found that Aki Tomoya himself didn't need it at all.
On the contrary, precisely because he himself knew that this entrance judgment was not good, he worked even harder.
The notebook in Aki Tomoya's hand and the reference books beside him had been changed again and again, and sets of past papers were piled up again.
"Is getting into Tokyo University really that important?"
Eriri asked in her heart, and then the answer immediately sounded in her heart.
Getting into University, for her, was very simple; Kasumigaoka Utaha last year also gave her a feeling that getting into a top cram school like Keio seemed like something that could be done easily.
However, in reality, people who can easily get into top Academies are too few.
Eriri savored the smile Aki Tomoya had just now when he said his entrance judgment was not good.
It wasn't forcing a smile at her, but rather that he hadn't given up yet and still had confidence.
Silently clenched her hand, Eriri quietly watched Aki Tomoya finish organizing his notes, and then open a reference book and concentrate.
At this moment, she also remembered last August, when Aki Tomoya told her that they were in two different worlds.
"If Aki Tomoya hadn't stopped being an otaku and wasn't preparing for University, what would he be doing?"
Eriri couldn't help but think in her heart, and then didn't dare to think.
Because she already knew how much influence prefixes like Tokyo University, Kyoto University, and Waseda University have on a person.
And some people can easily obtain them, some people must work desperately, and even if they work desperately, they might become stepping stones for others.
"You can easily get into Tokyo University of the Arts, perhaps this is the difference..."
In late September, the third mock exam ended.
Kudo Sayaka still didn't get her B grade judgment; all were C grade judgments, but this result didn't make her too discouraged, after all, having a C grade judgment was still comforting.
Aki Tomoya's results improved slightly compared to the last mock exam, and the passing rate for the first test was steadily rising.
For the third mock exam, the most satisfied person should be Furuhashi Fumino.
She had a B grade judgment, although it wasn't a B grade judgment for her first choice.
She, holding the third mock judgment and giving it to her Father, didn't seem to have changed much; from what she said, Reiji Furuhashi was still finding it difficult to face her.
"The good news is that he doesn't oppose me much anymore..."
Not knowing what exactly happened to her Father Reiji Furuhashi, his change, and what was behind some of his seemingly strange actions, but Furuhashi Fumino believed that no longer opposing her should be the only thing her Father could do now.
The other party had something difficult to say, and because she didn't know the specific reason, it was also difficult for her to speak, for fear of any further accidents.
As for this matter, the two cram school lecturers at the cram school knew some hidden details.
"Professor Furuhashi hasn't said it yet."
Harumi Junko in the office looked through the glass at Furuhashi Fumino in the cram school.
"After all, thinking about not fulfilling a Father's duty for over ten years, no matter who it was, it would be difficult to face it now."
Mr. Tsubota also felt a bit emotional about this.
The conflict between the Father and daughter arose ten years ago; subsequently, there was no normal parent-child communication, and the obligation to teach and guide their child was not fulfilled; now it seems like they feel it's too late.
"However, I think Professor Furuhashi should still tell her about his wife's matter sooner; Fumino also has the right to know her Mother's last words."
Harumi Junko sighed at the end of her sentence.
Reiji Furuhashi had found them, it is said that he found his wife's belongings and finally received his deceased wife's last words, but now it was very difficult to face Furuhashi Fumino.
Being asked to please help his daughter, although the two cram school lecturers had no reason to refuse, they also felt a bit emotional about the Furuhashi family's matters.
If it had been like this earlier, such intense conflict wouldn't have erupted; guiding Furuhashi Fumino earlier, whether it was liberal arts or science, there should have been great hope.
"If Fumino were told that her Father had secretly come to see her, she would definitely be startled."
Harumi Junko couldn't help but sigh with emotion at this moment.
"But it's better now, everyone at the cram school has finally settled down, with no distractions..."
Without external interference, if they can maintain this during the final period, hopefully everyone will have a satisfactory answer next March.
September passed by in a flash, and when it came to October, time also became increasingly tense.
The first test in late January next year was also getting closer and closer.
Commuting between school and the cram school every day, and also having to schedule time on Sundays.
After that, until the end of november, Aki Tomoya's rest time had been compressed to the point where it couldn't be compressed any further.
Since the entrance exam mock test in August, he had once again given full power and adjusted his own engine to maximum power.
Also thanks to this, the dark circles under his eyes also became deeper and deeper, and by the end of november, people had already started making fun of his dark circles.
"Compared to the beginning of the year, you're almost turning into a giant panda now!"
On Wednesday at the end of november, Kamigō Yoshihiko pointed at the dark circles under Aki Tomoya's glasses in the classroom and teased him.
"You're not far behind either, and in my cram school, someone is already almost turning into a giant panda."
Regarding his friend's teasing, Aki Tomoya didn't mind, and instead couldn't help but smile.
Everyone says to rest well, but as soon as they think there's not much time, everyone is studying until late at night.
However, their bodies haven't been hollowed out yet, and they can still hold on.
"Aki-kun, you two should still rest a bit."
"Don't talk about us, Kato-san, you clearly squint more and more often when we study together recently."
They were all reminding each other to rest well like this, but they all knew there was only a little over a month left.
The beginning of next month is the last national mock exam, and then the results will come out, and in a few dozen days will be the National Center Test, which is also the first hurdle for Aki Tomoya.
Whether he can get the stepping stone to enter the second test depends on the first test a little over a month from now.
But before that, let's finish the last mock exam first.
"Eriri, you've already received a recommendation, right?"
Suddenly, Aki Tomoya asked Eriri at the front desk.
Eriri's first choice intention was Tokyo University of the Arts; same as him, it also belongs to a National University.
It's already the end of november, Eriri should have received a recommendation by now.
"Mmm, it's confirmed, Tokyo University of the Arts."
Eriri smiled somewhat awkwardly; what she needed to do had all been done, submitting the application, written materials, most things actually didn't go through her hands, someone helped her finish them.
The recommendation spot for Tokyo University of the Arts had already been obtained, there would almost certainly be no accidents.
Based on the awards she had won over the years and her own ability and talent, Aki Tomoya also felt this was a matter of course.
However, the awkward smile on her face made him a bit confused.
"Isn't this something to be happy about?"
Aki Tomoya asked strangely.
Even though she had already received the recommendation, she, who should have been happy, didn't dare to show such a happy smile in front of him.
He thought for a moment, and then asked softly, "You aren't afraid of discouraging me, are you?"
"...Are you that easily discouraged?"
Eriri pursed her lips.
In the past two years, she had never seen when Aki Tomoya had been discouraged.
Just getting more and more desperate, and his body still hasn't been hollowed out yet, she also admired him.
"From elementary school all the way to high school, but when it comes to University, we won't be in the same school, what a pity!"
Eriri cupped her face in her hands, thinking of elementary school and junior high, all the way to high school, they were all in the same school, now that it's time for University, they each had to go to different places for different goals.
"But we are still in Tokyo."
"Yes, we are both in Tokyo, if we want to meet, we can meet right away."
Not the same University, but still in the same city, Eriri used this to comfort herself.
Starting preparations for exams in the second year of high school, it's finally coming.
"Aki Tomoya's birthday is the eighteenth of next month, right?"
"You still remember?"
Aki Tomoya looked at Eriri in surprise.
december eighteenth, his and Hyodo Michiru's birthday, who was born on the same day.
As for birthdays, because he was always alone before, his Parents would mention it, but celebrating alone was truly meaningless.
And Eriri now seems to have some idea?
It's a good thing to have someone remember your birthday, but in reality, Aki Tomoya didn't have time to celebrate such things as birthdays.
The last mock exam is on december eighth and ninth.
Then during that time in between, he still had to continue reviewing, and the first test is on the twenty-third and twentieth of January next year.
"Thank you for thinking of it, but let's forget about it, I don't have time."
First, he thanked Eriri for remembering, and then explained that he didn't have time to celebrate any birthday.
So unfortunately, topics like birthdays were not within the scope of Aki Tomoya's interests.
However, the other party could still remember, he was quite thankful for this.
After that, entering december, the last month of this year, the last national mock exam on the eighth and ninth was also getting closer and closer.
"Just thinking about the official exam coming soon, I feel very nervous!"
After this month passes, which means after this year passes, they will have to prepare for the official entrance exams at the start of the year.
Kudo Sayaka doesn't need to participate in the first test, but for the crucial in-school exam, she still felt a bit nervous.
For the last mock exam, if she could get a B for her first choice, Kudo Sayaka thought, then the hope of getting in would still be good.
On the other hand, with Furuhashi Fumino no longer obstructing, the review situation was very good.
The last mock exam on the eighth arrived in the blink of an eye.
The day before the last mock exam, Aki Tomoya still heard Kudo Sayaka next to him praying, "B grade!!!!"
Shouting so hard, if she didn't get a B grade, she would probably explode.
Thinking this, the next day, they each went to different test centers to participate in the last national mock exam of the year.
The eighth and ninth were split between the humanities and sciences.
After finishing the test, the group of people breathed a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
This was the last mock exam; the next test would be the national first stage exam next month.
The results would come out on the fifteenth, and by the time the last mock exam ended, the cram school had already put up a countdown for the first stage exam.
There was only a little over a month left until the first stage exam next year.
On the day the results came out, the fifteenth, Aki Tomoya, as soon as he received the mock evaluation, tore it open and took it out to look.
"All A's?!"
Kamigō Yoshihiko, who was peeking from behind, cried out in surprise.
In the previous national mock exam, he failed to break through the B grade evaluation, but in the last mock exam, Aki Tomoya's mock evaluations for his three choices finally reached A.
"Todai is stable now?!"
"The first stage exam should be very stable, but the second stage exam..."
Seeing this mock evaluation, Kamigō Yoshihiko was even more excited than Aki Tomoya himself; he even thought that with such an A grade evaluation, getting into University of Tokyo, Faculty of Science III was very stable.
However, while the pass rate for the first stage exam is stable, the second stage exam cannot be taken lightly at all.
Aki Tomoya did not continue speaking, but Kamigō Yoshihiko could also tell that getting into University of Tokyo, Faculty of Science III was not that easy.
"How about yours? Your evaluations for the last mock exam should be pretty good, right?"
Putting away his mock exam evaluation, Aki Tomoya asked Kato Megumi and Kamigō Yoshihiko about their results for this last mock exam.
When asked about their results, Kamigō Yoshihiko smiled, "Although it's not on the same level as yours, my first choice is still very hopeful."
"Fujikawa Faculty of Law, I should have hope too."
Kato Megumi was as usual; even though the evaluation for the last mock exam was indeed pleasing, she wasn't overly excited.
In the morning at school, he received the results of the fourth mock exam and saw the achievements of those two classmates.
When he arrived at the cram school in the afternoon, he saw Kudo Sayaka sitting anxiously in the seat next to him.
She hadn't opened her results yet; presumably, the last mock exam held great significance for her.
In contrast, Furuhashi Fumino, clenching her fists, let out a sigh of relief as if a burden had been lifted; it seemed her results were quite good.
"Phew!"
Kudo Sayaka let out a breath, then turned to look at Aki Tomoya.
"What are you laughing at? Am I that funny?"
Noticing Aki Tomoya next to her was suppressing a laugh, Kudo Sayaka immediately said testily.
Aki Tomoya shook his head and explained, "Your expression just now was quite interesting... Open it, whether it's life or death, you'll only know after opening it."
"I know!"
Although she understood, Kudo Sayaka was still very nervous.
She picked up the unopened envelope and walked over to Mr. Tsubota, saying with courage, "Tsubota-sensei, I haven't looked at this mock exam evaluation yet, could you please help me take a look?"
Mr. Tsubota nodded. He reached out and took Kudo Sayaka's mock evaluation, then picked up scissors to cut an opening, taking out the test paper and the mock evaluation sheet inside.
"First choice Keio University Faculty of Letters... B grade evaluation, congratulations!"
"That's great!!!"
Finally getting a B grade evaluation for her first choice, Kudo Sayaka raised her hands and cheered.
"It seems I don't need to help you with the rest, do I?"
Mr. Tsubota looked at Kudo Sayaka being so happy and couldn't help but smile at this moment.
Keio, the University she wanted to attend most, finally received a B grade evaluation in the last mock exam.
However, she shouldn't be too happy yet; the official Keio University entrance examination is still in February next year.
"Aki-kun, how about your evaluation this time?"
Harumi Junko walked behind Aki Tomoya, looking with concern at the envelope on Aki Tomoya's desk.
"All A's, the first stage exam next month shouldn't be much of a problem."
december fifteenth, there are still thirty-eight days left until the national first stage exam.
There is also only a little over a week left in the second semester of the third year.
Aki Tomoya's high school is about to end. Whether he can get into Tokyo University, whether he can walk into Tokyo University, which he has thought about for two years, amidst next year's cherry blossoms, everything depends on the last two remaining exams.
Although the countdown has begun, perhaps because everyone achieved their desired results in the last mock exam, the atmosphere wasn't as tense as imagined.
When Aki Tomoya returned home, his parents had already started cheering him on early. He marked his schedule for the fifteenth, looking at the last thirty-odd days remaining.
When Kudo Sayaka returned home on the day she received her last mock exam evaluation, she happened to see her Father burning her brother's baseball equipment, telling her brother to say goodbye to baseball. She clenched this mock evaluation and walked over.
Furuhashi Fumino and her Father, Reiji Furuhashi, were still the same; since July, they had maintained a subtle distance, but their communication was gradually increasing.
...
On the morning of the eighteenth, Aki Tomoya opened his eyes, wrapped himself tightly in the blanket, and climbed out of bed.
His phone kept ringing; he fumbled for it following the sound, then answered the call.
"Aki, do you want to celebrate your birthday together today? I can come over tonight!"
"I refuse!"
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