Every year, people go to view cherry blossoms. Tokyo's cherry blossoms generally bloom successively between late March or the end of March and mid-April. This is the time to view cherry blossoms in Tokyo.
"I heard cherry blossoms fall at a speed of five centimeters per second."
"I beg you, please stop talking."
While at school, Eriri muttered about the cherry blossom tree in the courtyard whose blooming season was about to end, and the next moment, Aki Tomoya's retort sounded.
By mid-April, the cherry blossoms in the Tokyo metropolitan area had successively bloomed.
Cherry blossoms are beautiful, but the blooming period for each tree is very short.
If he had time, Aki Tomoya would be very willing to go cherry blossom viewing with his family or friends.
However, everyone around him, including himself, was a busy person. His parents' work also became increasingly busy before Golden Week, and business trips and assignments were commonplace.
A year had already passed. Aki Tomoya thought about what he had done from last year's spring break until now.
Recalling this time last year, he glanced at Kato Megumi to Eriri's right.
When he saw Kato Megumi under the cherry blossom rain on the slope during last year's spring break, the idea of wanting to make a game was born. After being scared by the subsequent plans in his head, Aki Tomoya immediately firmed up the idea of wanting to take the University entrance exam.
He had been preparing for the exam for a year now. The first mock exam was finished last month, and the next mock exam was still in June.
Unconsciously, they had already reached their third year of high school.
After the blooming season in Tokyo, studying until the end of April meant welcoming Golden Week.
This year's Golden Week arrangements for Aki Tomoya were the same as last year. It should be said that since the cram school classes were changed to six days a week, his schedule hadn't changed much.
Most of the time was spent on reviewing, with occasional breaks.
April 27th. This year's Golden Week starts tomorrow. Except for the first two days of May which have classes, the coming week will be full of red-lettered consecutive holidays.
"Aki Tomoya, are you free to hang out during Golden Week?"
When school ended, Kamigō Yoshihiko asked.
"Sunday is fine."
For Aki Tomoya, Golden Week was no different from ordinary days. Seven days a week, six days were at the cram school, and Sunday was for free arrangement.
On Sundays, he occasionally reviewed with friends at the Tokyo Metropolitan Library.
This year's Golden Week, for the most part, was also spent at the cram school. His parents were either traveling or returning to their hometown in Nagano.
"It's still the same. Thanks to you, I also have no time to play during Golden Week."
This year, he also had to prepare for further education, so Kamigō Yoshihiko spent most of his time reviewing.
But after all, their goals were different, and Kamigō Yoshihiko's pressure was much less; it wasn't that he truly had no extra time to arrange.
After chatting for a bit after school, Aki Tomoya rode his bike to the cram school.
...
"Eriri, do you want to go on a trip this Golden Week?"
As soon as Eriri returned home, her Mother, Sawamura Sayuri, asked her.
The remaining days in late April were consecutive holidays, and except for the first two days of May, the other days were also consecutive holidays. This was Japan's Golden Week.
Taking advantage of this time, traveling was the first choice.
Compared to last year when they didn't go anywhere, Sawamura Sayuri seemed to have made a detailed travel plan this year.
However, what disappointed her was that Eriri had no interest in this matter.
"No thanks, I also have a lot to do during Golden Week."
Eriri replied lackadaisically, sighing at the same time, as if regretting something.
Hearing her beloved daughter's reply, Sawamura Sayuri exclaimed in surprise, "Eriri, you're even busier than before after going mainstream!"
After going mainstream as a doujin artist, instead of rushing manuscripts before the doujin convention like before, her life became another kind of more fulfilling one. Sawamura Sayuri, as her Mother, saw all of Eriri's changes.
After the doujin convention last year, Eriri had thought clearly about many things.
"I can still continue to use the name Kashiwagi Eri to do what I like now. After going to Tokyo University of the Arts, I don't know what will happen in a few years."
Eriri replied casually.
Eriri didn't know how long she could still use the name Kashiwagi Eri, but now that she had gone mainstream and was collaborating with Kasumigaoka Utaha, she was quite happy.
"Eriri, just do what you want to do, Mom will support you."
Sawamura Sayuri stroked Eriri's head.
Eriri smiled when she heard this, not taking it too seriously.
However, her Mother's words still moved her a little, but who could say for sure about the future...
Just as Eriri was about to go upstairs, Sawamura Sayuri suddenly asked again, "Eriri, do you plan to stay in Japan permanently, or do you want to study elsewhere in the future?"
Hearing her question, Eriri paused, thinking slightly in her eyes, "That's something for much later. Staying in Tokyo is fine for now!"
As if wanting to avoid this topic, after Eriri finished answering, she quickly went upstairs and returned to her room.
Eriri hadn't started thinking about things after University; she felt it was still too early.
But for now, staying in Tokyo was better than going anywhere else.
"She's really changed a lot. That kid Aki really did a good job..."
Sawamura Sayuri murmured.
To be honest, raising Eriri into a naive otaku girl without instilling her with necessary "common sense" sometimes caused Sawamura Sayuri a lot of worries when she thought about it.
At least, the current Eriri was much better than before.
Sawamura Sayuri was now worried about one thing: "Is there still a possibility between that kid Aki and Eriri?"
Deep down, she still quite admired the current Aki Tomoya.
In the past, she thought it was suitable for Aki Tomoya and Eriri to be friends, but being lovers or something like that would be a death sentence.
But now, if only Aki Tomoya were to take the exam for Humanities I, her family had considerable resources locally in Japan.
Those who came out of Tokyo University's Humanities I had many options for their own paths.
However, Sawamura Sayuri could clearly sense from Aki Tomoya that the kid was not interested in that kind of thing at all, and was even quite resistant.
Or rather, very vigilant?
During the subsequent Golden Week, along with cooperating with the publisher's promotions and scheduled interviews with Kasumigaoka Utaha, their work was doing very well.
However, during Golden Week, Eriri once again received an invitation from Hongzaka Akane.
Compared to Kasumi Shiko, Hongzaka Akane seemed to favor Kashiwagi Eri more.
Eriri had no interest in this at all.
She used to admire that Senior very much, but now, being an ordinary person who likes their club's work was fine.
Eriri was very clear about who she wanted to collaborate with and what she wanted.
As Golden Week was nearing its end, when she was discussing this matter with Kasumigaoka Utaha as usual, the other party wasn't very concerned and talked about other things: "Aki has a girl he's on very good terms with at his cram school. That girl is taking the Keio entrance exam. Do you think he might suddenly change his mind next year and go to Keio with that girl? Supporting each other, encouraging each other, Eriri, you need to be careful."
...
Although it was the first time Eriri knew that Aki Tomoya was also on good terms with a girl from another school, she didn't think Kasumigaoka Utaha was genuinely kindly reminding her.
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