After finishing the entrance ceremony, the first day of school was mostly about discussing important points, and they didn't immediately enter a state of learning.
Generally speaking, high schools in Japan basically teach all the knowledge points for the National Examination in two years, and then enter the review phase in the third year, and what the Teachers do in the school's review phase is actually not as effective as tutoring in an Academy.
Even in more lenient public high schools, as long as students aren't too blatant in class, the Teachers usually won't say anything and will just lecture straight from the book.
So Aki Tomoya's focus has never been on school, but on the Academy.
September is the start of the school year; private and public schools have slightly different entrance ceremonies according to each school's arrangements, and Toyosaki Academy started a day or two later in Tokyo.
And at Aomine Cram School, the schools of those comrades had also finished their entrance ceremonies one after another.
The biggest difference compared to the summer vacation was that everyone was wearing their uniforms.
"Good afternoon."
Kudo Sayaka, who had dyed her hair back at the end of August, had already changed into her uniform, and while putting her bag next to her, she greeted Aki Tomoya next to her.
Similar to other students who had just started school, Kudo Sayaka seemed much busier than during the summer vacation.
"I just feel like the atmosphere is different after school started compared to before!"
Kudo Sayaka took out her reference book while looking around.
Compared to during the summer vacation, the atmosphere in the Academy gradually became tense.
Kudo Sayaka, who had experienced school bullying as a child, was still a bit sensitive to the atmosphere.
Aki Tomoya, who was next to her, quietly explained to Kudo Sayaka so as not to disturb others, "Our Academy has a few who will be taking exams next year; it's already September, and there isn't much time left."
Aki Tomoya, who had been attending Aomine Cram School since April, naturally knew the situation here better than Kudo Sayaka, who arrived two months later.
The exams are next year, and two-thirds of this year have already passed; it would be strange not to be nervous.
Moreover, during the summer vacation, although everyone was using their holiday time to study at the Academy, it was still the summer vacation after all, and in order to prevent students from overdoing it, Mr. Tsubota, with the assistance of Harumi Junko, had been carefully managing the intensity.
The time for exam candidates is already tight, and most of the holidays still need to be utilized; it's impossible to achieve a good balance of relaxation and intensity, and if a string is kept taut, no one can say whether it will snap.
If they cannot regulate themselves well, then as an external factor, the Teacher naturally has to pay attention to the students' condition at all times.
"Speaking of which, it's a shame Furuhashi really won't be coming after the summer vacation!"
Kudo Sayaka looked back at the empty seat behind her.
Just as she had heard before, after the summer vacation, Furuhashi Fumino, the girl of the same age who was hailed as Ichinose's humanities genius, finished her tutoring.
It was probably because it didn't have much effect after all.
"She worked so hard back then, but it only had a little effect, she wouldn't give up after that, would she?"
If even someone who worked that hard would retreat in the face of difficulty, shouldn't I also think carefully about whether my aspiration for Keio University is a bit too demanding for myself?
Rather than Kudo Sayaka regretting the Academy having one less comrade, it was more that she had some misunderstanding about effort.
Blessed with a unique talent for humanities, it could even be said she was favored by heaven.
However, someone so favored, on the other hand, is another kind of extreme; even if she works hard, it seems to be in vain.
But the idea that effort will be rewarded doesn't seem to apply to people favored by heaven.
"Kudo, for people like us, don't talk about effort definitely being rewarded, but think that without effort, there is no opportunity."
Aki Tomoya sighed, shaking his head beside her.
Effort really doesn't necessarily bring rewards; sometimes, even if someone works desperately hard, they might still be pushed into an abyss.
But if you don't make an effort, you won't even have a chance, after all, reincarnation is a skill.
"Aki, you're quite good at discouraging people!"
Kudo Sayaka turned her head and muttered something, then took out a notebook from her bag and handed it to Aki Tomoya's desk.
"But thanks, I've finished copying the English notes."
Although she was discouraged by Aki Tomoya's words.
However, what should be thanked still needs to be thanked; Aki Tomoya's English notebook provided her with a lot of help and reference.
"It seems you're quite diligent too; you're getting closer to Keio!" Aki Tomoya put away the notebook, "Also, that Furuhashi Fumino, she doesn't look like someone who gives up easily, I guess she'll find someone who can help her later."
No matter how you look at it, Furuhashi Fumino is not the type to give up easily, let alone when pursuing a dream.
In Aki Tomoya's opinion, that girl would probably continue to find a way.
Meanwhile, Harumi Junko walked over and placed two different sets of exercises in front of them.
Although there was one less person in the Academy after the summer vacation, the impact wasn't too great.
"Harumi Sensei, will Furuhashi Fumino continue to look for other Academies?"
Kudo Sayaka asked at this time.
"Probably..."
Harumi Junko replied, and then subconsciously glanced at the empty seat behind.
Although they hadn't spent too much time together, during the tutoring process, she and Mr. Tsubota could both feel Furuhashi Fumino's determination.
Steadfastly moving towards her goal emitted a light that was admirable, but her abilities were despairing.
"Seeing Furuhashi Fumino so determined, has Kudo Sayaka become more determined about Keio?"
Harumi Junko's eyes lit up at this moment, and she asked Kudo Sayaka.
Not looking at Furuhashi Fumino's talent for humanities, but only at her formidable talent for math and science, she could still steadfastly move towards her goal like that; Harumi Junko also hoped others could learn from this momentum.
Kudo Sayaka nodded, with a hint of emotion in her eyes.
Comparing them, Furuhashi Fumino's terrifying talent for math and science, trying to get into a science faculty, was much harder than her getting into Keio Faculty of Literature.
For someone in that situation to still be steadfast is truly astonishing.
Compared like this, Kudo Sayaka was indeed somewhat infected by that momentum, but whether she could utilize it depended on what she herself thought.
Whether she still viewed her first choice as a playful idea, or truly wanted to get in there, Kudo Sayaka gradually leaned towards the latter, which could be seen from her increasingly high learning interest.
She was not lacking in both doubts and encouragement around her.
"However, having said that, if Furuhashi Fumino can't find other Academies willing to help, we might meet again soon..."
Suddenly, Harumi Junko muttered another sentence.
Immediately after, puzzled gazes from two different directions focused on her.
"How should I put it, Tsubota-sensei's will not to abandon every student is truly enviable and admirable."
Harumi Junko exclaimed, and then began to explain.
At the end of Furuhashi Fumino's last lesson at the end of August, during Furuhashi Fumino's final meeting at the Academy, she and Mr. Tsubota once again experienced her invaluable steadfast spirit, and also knew that she would continue to consult schools and local Academies in Tokyo afterwards.
And just as Furuhashi Fumino was leaving, Mr. Tsubota, who couldn't rest assured, said that if possible, regarding Academies, if Furuhashi Fumino couldn't find an Academy that could help, she could still come to him for help.
Of course, Mr. Tsubota also made it clear that he was very willing to help, but considering his abilities and Furuhashi Fumino's situation, he still advised Furuhashi Fumino to find a Teacher who was a hundred times better than him.
After hearing Harumi Junko's explanation, Aki Tomoya and Kudo Sayaka both looked astonished.
"It really fits Tsubota-sensei's style!"
Aki Tomoya exclaimed at this moment, this was also the point he admired Mr. Tsubota the most.
And Kudo Sayaka on the other side also said emotionally, 'I really hope Furuhashi Fumino can get into her ideal place!'
"You two please also work hard; your situations are much more optimistic than Furuhashi Fumino's, especially Kudo Sayaka, Keio Faculty of Literature, please put in a little more effort!"
Harumi Junko used this to encourage the two of them, especially Kudo Sayaka; she still had a possibility of getting into Keio, but needed a push.
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