As night was about to fall, the streets of Tokyo were already packed with people, and the festival on the temple street had begun.
Aki Tomoya navigated around the pedestrians and slowly turned back into the Academy.
Tokyo was very lively tonight.
"As expected of a Summer Festival, it's really nice."
Walking into the Academy, Aki Tomoya heard Harumi Junko by the window sighing at the dense crowd outside.
The main event tonight was the Fireworks Display, the lantern festival, and the fireworks.
This is pretty much the summer of Japan, isn't it?
"Harumi Sensei talks as if she's never been to a Summer Festival before. Is it that K怜?"
Aki Tomoya walked up to her, looking out the window at the bustling people immersed in the Summer Festival.
Harumi Junko leaned by the window. All afternoon, because of Furuhashi Fumino, she and Mr. Tsubota felt a sense of helplessness.
Now, looking at the people in the Summer Festival outside during their break, they felt even more emotional.
"I did have time after graduation, but when I was a student, I really had no rest time at all."
Harumi Junko remembered her past.
Under her Mother's arrangements, she only needed to think about one thing.
She didn't need to care about other things, or rather, she couldn't think about them.
"Aki-kun, you also said that Tokyo University isn't everything in life, so failing the exam can't be labeled as a complete failure in one's entire life, right?"
Without exaggeration, for the first half of Harumi Junko's life, getting into Tokyo University was pretty much everything.
After the disappointment caused by failing the exam, she labeled herself a failure, and her subsequent life became bleak.
"It's a setback, not a failure, right?"
If we talk about failure, countless people become failures every year.
Aki Tomoya views failing the exam more like a setback in life.
But many people treat this one setback as everything, like Harumi Junko, who hasn't been able to fully escape the shadow of this setback for over a decade.
"It doesn't seem strange that you'll get into Tokyo University."
Harumi Junko sighed.
Compared to her mindset back then and the mindset of the boy next to her now, it doesn't seem so surprising that she failed.
Always striving for first place, but stumbling at the last moment.
All the efforts of the first half of her life went up in smoke.
Looking back at such a past, it is indeed full of many regrets.
For example, on a day like the Summer Festival, she had never enjoyed it during her student days.
All arrangements were made to prepare for the exam. She didn't dare to fall in love, didn't dare to think about other things, and even when facing the petty actions of jealous girls, she could only grit her teeth and endure.
"I used to always compare myself to others, but I didn't notice my own flaws. Aki-kun, you must not become like me."
As she spoke, Harumi Junko remembered the letter she wrote to her future self.
Although the memory of the contents was a bit blurry, Harumi Junko seemed to have found the answer at this moment.
"To the past me! I didn't get into Tokyo University, I didn't become the adult I dreamed of, I failed completely!"
If she could write back to her past self, she would first write this passage.
"But, the failed me is now helping others achieve their wishes. Please don't worry about our future."
In her thirteenth year of life's setbacks, Harumi Junko, who was passing her days as a cram school Teacher, had found a new goal.
She plucked up a little courage and felt a bit of longing for the future.
And before she knew it, the break time was over. The Academy, striving for the future, seemed isolated from the outside world.
Tonight at Aomine Cram School, the hardest working person was Furuhashi Fumino.
Many people at the Academy thought that this liberal arts genius wanting to study science was a joke, but judging by her desperate momentum, she was serious.
Ten minutes before 8 PM, Mr. Tsubota had everyone temporarily stop.
"The 8 o'clock Fireworks Display is about to start, let's go upstairs."
Yesterday, he had agreed with the people staying at the Academy tonight to go upstairs and watch the fireworks together.
Except for Furuhashi Fumino, who was confused about this, everyone else tidied up and prepared to go to the rooftop together to watch the fireworks tonight.
"Furuhashi Fumino, relax a little too. There's no need to rush this. Tsubota-sensei and I will do our best to help you with this during the remaining time of the summer."
Harumi Junko said to Furuhashi Fumino, but although she said that, she didn't have much confidence in her heart.
Even though it was only the first day, Furuhashi Fumino's negative talent in science had already caused quite an impact on Harumi Junko.
Furuhashi Fumino's liberal arts and science were two extremes.
Afterwards, Furuhashi Fumino nodded, her expression somewhat troubled, and she sighed softly at the same time.
Following the students of the Academy to the rooftop upstairs, there was only a short minute left until the start of the Fireworks Display.
"This summer is also coming to an end soon."
Someone sighed at this moment.
After the Fireworks Display, there wasn't much time left until the start of school.
Among the students at Aomine Cram School, several are taking the University entrance exam next year.
For them, the remaining time to sprint is only about half a year.
"It's almost half a year."
Aki Tomoya looked up, watching the projectiles with long trails of fire ascending into the high night sky.
It had been almost half a year since he entered Aomine Cram School and his two lives merged.
"Tamaya!!!"
A shout rang out among the students.
The brilliant fireworks scattered across the night sky of Tokyo like countless stars.
From here, they could see Tokyo Tower in the distance.
Adorned by the fireworks, it was as if it had bloomed and borne fruit, with countless brilliant lights blossoming in the night sky.
"I must get into Ryukoku University! Ah!!!!!"
One boy shouted loudly at the fireworks as if venting his frustration.
A burst of kind laughter erupted around him.
That boy is taking the exam next year.
Seeing someone venting pressure in this way, Aki Tomoya silently wished him good luck with his exam.
The fireworks were brilliant, but they burned out in an instant.
Countless fireworks scattered across the sky. Standing beneath the fireworks, the dazzling and brilliant light illuminated everyone's faces.
Aki Tomoya's eyes reflected the brilliance of the fireworks, and he was a little lost in thought at this moment.
"I have to work hard too."
As if influenced by the boy who had shouted to vent, Aki Tomoya murmured softly.
Meanwhile, Furuhashi Fumino, standing beside him, watched the fireworks in the sky like countless stars, more mesmerized than anyone else.
People in different parts of the city looked up at the brilliant fireworks, each with their own thoughts and feelings.
But one thing is certain: summer is coming to an end soon.
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