Did Aki Tomoya and Hashima Iori make up?
If you say that, there's nothing wrong with it, but Aki Tomoya would rather say that he understands Hashima Iori now.
In the past, he didn't understand or agree, and unilaterally broke off his friendship with Hashima Iori.
Now, after both of them have figured things out, the other party still treats him as a friend, so Aki Tomoya is naturally willing to treat Hashima Iori as a friend.
"What's wrong, is it strange that I made up with Hashima Iori?"
Aki Tomoya led Eriri out of the crowd and onto the main road.
Perhaps the fact that he and Hashima Iori could make up seemed quite strange to Eriri.
After all, Aki Tomoya didn't agree with Hashima Iori's actions back then, believing that he was using his beloved two-dimensional world to package himself and was someone seeking fame.
But afterwards, Aki Tomoya found that Hashima Iori was still the Hashima Iori who loved the two-dimensional world, and this was also a fact.
Is it contradictory to use the two-dimensional world to package oneself, gain fame and fortune, while also loving this place?
To put it in a nicer way, turning a hobby into a career, with the determination to reach the top.
Therefore, Aki Tomoya would say sorry to Hashima Iori for saying that he would break the original promise.
It's a pity, it seems he can't reach the peak of the two-dimensional world. Please ask him to continue walking alone.
"No..."
Eriri didn't know how to express the restless emotions in her heart at this moment.
Even Hashima Iori could make up with Aki Tomoya and return to a normal relationship, so why couldn't they, a pair of childhood friends?
Perhaps this question shouldn't be asked of the boy in front, but should be asked of herself.
Aki Tomoya said that both he and Hashima Iori had figured things out, so naturally there were no problems.
But has Eriri figured things out now?
In Eriri's eyes, how far is the distance between Aki Tomoya and her?
"Tomoya, do you think I'm dragging you down now?"
Eriri asked something that made Aki Tomoya a little surprised.
Does she think she's dragging him down now?
Thinking of this, Aki Tomoya smiled bitterly in his heart.
"Why would you say that?"
Feeling the hand on his backpack loosen, Aki Tomoya turned around and looked at Eriri, who was lowering her head.
Eriri looked down and said bitterly, "Because didn't you say that it's tiring to be with me?"
Hearing this, Aki Tomoya really wanted to say that it was a good thing she could still see this, but this was not the same thing now.
"You're not dragging me down, you're dragging yourself down."
The person running in front can indeed make it impossible for the person behind to catch up, but Eriri is currently struggling to take care of herself, so how can she drag him down?
All along, the one who hasn't figured things out is Eriri.
Aki Tomoya is at most a little annoyed by this.
"The strange thing isn't whether we reconciled or not. Actually, the strangest part is that we, who are from two different worlds, both extended our hands towards the middle at the same time, causing our paths to intersect."
Aki Tomoya described their relationship like this.
Perhaps feeling that Eriri wouldn't understand, he asked again, "Among the peers you interact with because of your parents, how many of their parents graduated from Tokyo University, Kyoto University, or are alumni of Hitotsubashi? And how many are from early morning schools, whose alumni they are? Would you find that surprising?"
Upon hearing this, Eriri suddenly looked up, wanting to say something, but the words were stuck in her throat.
Because it's a fact, if you're interacting with peers whose parents are connected through your own parents, it's perfectly normal for those parents to have graduated from those schools.
So, why be surprised by something seen everywhere around you?
"I'm not exactly a poor boy, but you are definitely a noble lady."
Aki Tomoya said seriously, looking into Eriri's eyes.
Reality isn't a fairy tale, but if a poor boy can marry a noble lady in Japan, it's most likely because he graduated from a prestigious school and married into the family.
Marrying into the family isn't rare in Japan's upper class, and the sons-in-law who marry in are mostly those with true inheritance rights, raised like biological sons.
Eriri is very fortunate; after all, it's highly unlikely that she, as an only daughter, would be incapable and then have no chance to choose, being arranged for marriage by her parents.
"So it's very strange, isn't it? We were from two different worlds, yet our paths intersected at the point of two-dimensional culture."
Aki Tomoya stated this fact with a calm expression.
In this country with an incredibly heavy atmosphere of hierarchy, it was actually quite unreasonable for them to have their paths intersect when they were young.
"Eriri, you are not dragging anyone down right now. You not understanding this is just holding yourself back. If you're like this when you're not yet powerless, then when that moment truly arrives, you will be very desperate."
Aki Tomoya reminded Eriri.
"Sawamura Aunt and your father are good parents, but as your first Teacher, they are also unqualified."
So, does this count as a failed family education?
Aki Tomoya didn't want to judge; no one knows what Sawamura Sayuri and her husband truly think. Perhaps they simply have the means to let Eriri live a carefree life forever?
He only knew that when he first learned Eriri decided to collaborate with Kasumigaoka Utaha, he was quite happy.
But afterwards, when he realized this girl was running away again, he felt a fire in his heart that he couldn't let out.
"Stop running away! You wanted to collaborate with that Senior so badly, why are you running away? You have so few things to consider, yet you insist on leaving yourself with regrets."
Aki Tomoya started talking and even laughed at himself.
Actually, this isn't something he should be saying; Sawamura Sayuri and her husband are the ones who should make Eriri understand.
However, whether there were some intentions of Sawamura Sayuri in this, Aki Tomoya didn't want to guess. A Mother who could allow her daughter to have such an unclear relationship with him for over a decade must have a big heart.
Or perhaps they spoiled her too much!
"So, is that why Aki Tomoya wants to get into Tokyo University?"
Eriri looked up, and asking another question at this moment, she seemed to have already seen the gap between them.
Aki Tomoya knew what kind of answer Eriri wanted at this moment.
He closed his eyes, and after two seconds, a helpless smile appeared on his face: "Would you be happy if I said it was for you?"
Eriri didn't answer, but the expectation in her eyes was not fake at all.
This made Aki Tomoya feel a lot of helplessness while also sympathizing with her.
"Meeting you was both the luckiest and unluckiest thing for me. When we first entered high school, when everyone didn't know about our past, if you were willing to get to know me again, I would most likely use that answer now. But now, I'm aiming for Tokyo University purely for myself."
Just like a noble lady and an ordinary person in another story, people around them wouldn't think their paths would intersect, but a chance encounter might give the ordinary person a chance to fantasize.
But Aki Tomoya no longer had any fantasies about Eriri.
Remember this feeling. After losing something once, you will absolutely not want to lose the same thing a second time!
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