March 19th, the day before the Tokyo University results were posted.
Aki Tomoya experienced the feeling Kudo Sayaka had on the day the Keio results were posted.
He was indeed a little nervous.
The first choice is the first choice after all. Compared to second and third choices like Juntendo University and Keio, the first choice, University of Tokyo, Faculty of Science III, truly made his blood boil uncontrollably.
Seeing that Kudo Sayaka had achieved her first choice was truly inspiring news.
Everyone at the cram school was aiming for private Universities. Now, the only one left waiting for the final results was Aki Tomoya.
The night before was the longest. Aki Tomoya wanted to sleep but couldn't easily fall asleep.
This was the first time he had stayed up all night in two years, partly due to nervousness, but also mixed with excitement.
Was getting into a good University considered success?
It was just the beginning. University is a platform. The kind of University you get into means how many opportunities you can grasp and what kind of people you will meet.
True reality and life only begin to reveal their true colors at University, which is the closest point before entering society.
That's why what he wanted most was this ticket to Tokyo University. It wasn't about being stubborn; it was the overall social atmosphere in Japan that prompted him to choose this way. Background matters, and there's a reason why Tokyo University is mythologized here.
Aki Tomoya didn't sleep all night and left home early as soon as the sky began to lighten.
Walking on the deserted street, the temperature in March hadn't risen much. It would probably only really warm up around the graduation ceremony.
Sitting alone on the train, he even had a slight reluctance to get off when he reached the station.
But he had already arrived, and it was impossible to go back without seeing the results.
He waited outside the Tokyo University gate early, and before he knew it, the crowd around him gradually increased.
In this era, it's very convenient. Whether you got in or not, you know immediately online. But personally going to the University to see the results on the day they are posted is definitely more surprising than seeing it online. However, if you fail, the disappointment is just as great.
Aki Tomoya had already seen what it looked like to be utterly dejected when he accompanied Kudo Sayaka to see the list at Keio last time.
When it was time for the results to be posted, standing in front of the Todai Faculty of Science III bulletin board, eagerly watching the University staff slowly put up the list, Aki Tomoya heard the breaths of many people around him gradually becoming longer.
As the list was unrolled on the bulletin board, Aki Tomoya took a deep breath and slowly looked at the list of those who passed the second exam, from the beginning to the end.
His gaze slowly moved from the front, and he tightened his grip on the examination ticket in his hand.
"Didn't get in again, sigh..."
It was some senior student who was retaking the exam, who left after saying something extremely profound before turning and leaving.
Although that person had already retaken the exam for a year to get into Tokyo University, it was a pity that they only made it this far.
There were only 96 names on the list, the fixed number of people who could get into Tokyo University through Todai Faculty of Science III each year. Ninety-six names.
Aki Tomoya saw the end of the list, and his clenched fingers had already relaxed.
...
"Is Fumino really planning to retake the exam?"
On March 21st, a substitute holiday, a group of people gathered at Aomine Cram School, looking back at the past and then towards the future.
Many people achieved their first choice, such as Kudo Sayaka, who successfully got into her first choice, Keio University Faculty of Letters. She received blessings from those around her, and her family was very excited, her Mother crying tears of joy.
Similarly, there was Furuhashi Fumino, who planned to retake the exam.
She actually got into her second and third choices, but she planned to retake the exam.
"I really want to go to my Father's University, and my Father also said he would help me. Please take care of me again this year, both Teachers!"
Furuhashi Fumino did not feel regret but explained in a very happy tone.
She actually got into her original first choice, but what surprised her more than that was that her Father later found her and asked if she wanted to retake the exam, instead of advising her to use her first exam score to go to Waseda.
Reiji Furuhashi told his daughter that if she planned to retake the exam for another year, he would tutor her this year and would also continue to let her study at the cram school.
The reason Furuhashi Fumino decided to retake the exam wasn't that the Universities she got into were too inferior compared to Waseda and Kyunyu University where her Father was, but because her Father, Reiji Furuhashi, was willing to support her.
Moreover, if she retook the exam, the pressure wouldn't be too great. In fact, if she retook for a year and had a better chance of getting into the University where her Father was, choosing to retake the exam would be the optimal choice from this perspective.
"Please take care of me again this year!"
Mr. Tsubota and Harumi Junko replied, flattered.
"Go Fumino, make your old man look at you with new eyes!"
Kudo Sayaka hugged Furuhashi Fumino and also knew that Furuhashi Fumino had actually gained something even more valuable.
They were still missing one student who was about to graduate; everyone was waiting for him.
Because of this, Kudo Sayaka even specifically went outside to wait.
"It's rare for Aki-kun to be late!"
Mr. Tsubota laughed. Aki Tomoya was already late today.
Just as they were wondering what to say when Aki Tomoya arrived, Kudo Sayaka's voice suddenly rang out from the doorway.
"Aki, you're too late! Where have you been?!"
"Don't pull me, you're too strong! I barely escaped from my Mother and relatives!"
Aki Tomoya's voice came from outside.
Everyone looked intently and saw Kudo Sayaka dragging Aki Tomoya in with great effort.
"Everyone, the dignified Tokyo University student is a guy who isn't punctual!"
Kudo Sayaka pulled him in front of everyone and exclaimed dramatically.
The latter smiled sheepishly at them: "Sorry, I'm late!"
"Congratulations on passing the Tokyo University entrance exam!"
The next second, everyone's congratulations rang out in unison, instantly filling Aki Tomoya's chest.
He passed the second exam somewhat narrowly, shamefully, he was still fifth from the bottom.
Looking at the results afterwards, he had done his best in math and science and hadn't been pulled behind. It was English and Japanese that pulled him up, especially English, which really gave him a boost.
Exams really do require strategy. Afterwards, Aki Tomoya could only be glad that he hadn't neglected English and Japanese. Mr. Tsubota and Harumi Junko hadn't lied to him back then. To win among a group of people confident in science and math, it's better to think about how to widen the gap in Japanese and English while maintaining the same level as everyone else.
"Thank you everyone! And congratulations to everyone for successfully passing the entrance exams! But it's not over yet. I still have an interview, and I need to take time to prepare the materials properly."
Aki Tomoya thanked everyone for their congratulations.
Although there was still the final interview, everyone present knew that once the University entrance exam was passed, the interview was just a formality, unless some melodramatic plot really occurred, like a Professor who liked to make things difficult.
But that wasn't going to happen. They didn't even know him, so who would target him?
After spring, Aki Tomoya would officially be a new Tokyo University student.
"Furuhashi Fumino, please keep up the hard work this year too! I'll be quietly cheering you on at University!"
Aki Tomoya also learned about Furuhashi Fumino's decision to retake the exam.
If Furuhashi Fumino retook the exam, her family's financial situation wouldn't be much of a burden, and she had the conditions to strive for something better, so this choice was definitely not wrong.
Afterwards, he also heard that her decision to retake the exam was discussed with her family, and the relationship between father and daughter had also improved significantly. Knowing this later, Aki Tomoya was genuinely happy for her. It was great that she could have her Father's official support!
"Aki, if you don't know how to talk, don't talk!"
Kudo Sayaka slapped Aki Tomoya on the back.
Aki Tomoya staggered two steps, then turned back to look at her with a pained expression: "That hurts!"
"It's supposed to hurt, remember that, hehehe!"
=
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