Sawamura Sayuri was very troubled by Eriri. Some things that shouldn't be considered at this time were placed before her, making it difficult for her to adapt for a while.
Very few people knew Eriri's true identity. Aki Tomoya was one of the few who knew.
When interacting with others, Eriri put on the demeanor of a young lady from a prominent family, also to avoid embarrassing her parents.
Simply put, Eriri was currently feeling lost.
"With such an excellent child, there's no need to be so humble. She draws very well, and given time, she will definitely achieve something."
Aki Tomoya replied as if casually.
"But do you think the things she draws now are not worthy of being displayed in public?"
Sawamura Sayuri said calmly.
Both knew that what Eriri drew the most were doujinshi.
"She won an award at a painting exhibition last year, didn't she? As for her other works, in that field, they would also be good works, right?"
Aki Tomoya looked into the other person's eyes, his gaze calm.
Doujinshi indeed cannot be discussed openly. It's fine to enjoy it within the Japan circle, but don't forget, Eriri also won an award at a formal painting exhibition last year.
Aki Tomoya didn't understand why Sawamura Sayuri suddenly brought up Kashiwagi Eri.
Unlike the Sawamura Sayuri he remembered from before, the current Sawamura Sayuri was speaking like an adult.
This made Aki Tomoya slightly more serious.
"Could it be that Eriri looks down on her own works? No way, no matter how her temper is, well, even if it's sometimes difficult to control, she wouldn't vent her anger on her own works, right?"
Aki Tomoya really wanted to say that Eriri's hidden young lady's temper was quite bad, but in front of her Mother, he still didn't say it directly.
But Sawamura Sayuri should understand that Eriri shouldn't look down on her own identity, right?
"But the problem is, that child is walking alone now, and it looks like she can't be a solitary warrior!"
"So, is it a situation where parents' support is important, and friends' support is also needed?"
"Not entirely. It's just that friendship, in her eyes now, seems to have become much more fragile. Friendships from student days, with each person going in different directions, being diluted by time is a common occurrence."
"Friendship, this kind of thing is divided into stages. There are different friends in student days, and different friends after becoming an adult. It's impossible for Eriri not to find genuine friendships in the future. Although her temper is not likable, I'm not the only one who can tolerate her."
Aki Tomoya relaxed a bit at this time.
Everyone experiences some degree of confusion like this, but for Aki Tomoya, he was already used to this kind of thing.
Going separate ways after graduation, from keeping in touch often, to occasionally, to only remembering the friendship at a class reunion, and then smiling at each other.
"Sawamura Aunt, you aren't trying to blame me for Eriri no longer seeing friendship as pure, are you?"
Aki Tomoya said, laughing in spite of himself. This kind of thing, given Eriri's family background, shouldn't she have understood it much earlier?
In Japan's social environment where the concept of hierarchy is deeply ingrained, especially with a family background like Eriri's, who does she usually interact with? Doesn't she have a clue?
In the Japan TV dramas I watched before, in the gatherings of a group of wives, they would compare with each other, forming different statuses in the circle of wives based on their husbands' positions. The hidden rules were simply appalling.
"Aki-kun just brought out something she would have to face sooner or later. In her eyes, various relationships before should have been relatively pure, and recently, her appearance of rejecting other children has given me a slight headache."
Sawamura Sayuri did not mean to blame Aki Tomoya, because this was the truth.
People who fawn over others are really common in Japan. If Eriri sees those who were previously rejected flocking to her again after seeing her, her perspective will be further influenced.
"A carefree young lady, if possible, are you planning to continue creating such an environment for Eriri, Auntie?"
Aki Tomoya had a smile on his face.
A person's growth is inseparable from the environment and human factors.
And in that kind of environment, Sawamura Sayuri raised Eriri to be an otaku. Although the beauty praised in the two-dimensional world is not absent in reality in Japan, the adult world is clearly much more complex.
Sawamura Sayuri did not answer. Since that was the case, Aki Tomoya assumed she was tacitly agreeing.
Therefore, with the influence of the Sawamura family in their local area, plus Eriri's Father's capital in his home country, it seems they indeed have such strength.
"Sawamura Aunt, are you making me feel honored?"
Aki Tomoya seemed respectful, but the smile on his face was somewhat fake.
In Sawamura Sayuri's eyes, with a little more practice, Aki Tomoya's professional fake smile could rival her Father's secretary.
"Is Aki-kun jealous?"
Sawamura Sayuri's eyes lit up, and she asked in a matter-of-fact tone.
"I don't envy my friends, but I admire them."
Aki Tomoya shook his head.
Why would he be jealous of a girl he had known for over ten years? Is it because the other person is better than him?
Well, in terms of drawing, she is indeed better than him, but her brain isn't good!
Family background?
The Aki family is considered one of the better-off families in Tokyo. Aki Tomoya felt that the resources he had were already fortunate compared to others.
It's admiration, I guess.
Aki Tomoya would admire people who can do what they like without worries at a young age, because he also wants his life to be close to his ideal state.
"You're quite bold, aren't you, kid? It's just a spring break, are you really a student?"
Sawamura Sayuri put down her folding fan and looked at Aki Tomoya carefully again.
The current Aki Tomoya clearly knew what he needed, what he had to do, had clear goals, concrete plans, and corresponding action.
Accepting his environment and trying to change it, compared to those who only complain about everything, he was infinitely stronger.
Is this still the otaku from before?
Sawamura Sayuri felt that Aki Tomoya's changes were truly interesting.
"May I ask, Aki-kun, are you interested in Tokyo University's Faculty of Arts Type 1?"
Sawamura Sayuri asked with interest.
"I'm sorry, I'm not interested!"
Almost as soon as she asked, the latter had already answered.
"Eh, such a decisive answer?"
Sawamura Sayuri pouted.
Tokyo University's Faculty of Arts Type 1, simply put, is law.
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