Life As Tomoya Aki Chapter 3: A Farewell to the Past

Chapter 3: A Farewell to the Past

But those were all the fruits of Tomoya’s hard work.

Eriri knew better than anyone how deeply her childhood friend loved the world of anime and manga.

Just as Tomoya had once strived to defend his interests, he was now setting his sights on the University of Tokyo, and he wasn't joking.

He was proving his determination through action, willing to say goodbye to the anime, manga, games, and light novels he loved to compete with the talented and exceptional individuals vying for admission to that prestigious institution.

While she was shocked by Tomoya's resolve, Eriri couldn't fully understand it.

This drastic action was akin to a warrior severing his own wrist, making Eriri feel unfamiliar with Tomoya.

"The University of Tokyo, the top university in Japan, does not allow such aspirations unless your deviation score is at least seventy. Even with a score above seventy, who can guarantee that they will get in? Don’t underestimate this battleground, Eriri."

Noticing her confusion, Tomoya seemed to explain to himself rather than her.

It was precisely because he was headed toward this fierce battleground that he needed to have such awareness.

Moreover, during spring break, Tomoya had spent several days in contemplation, ready to bid farewell to his past—after all, this was his "new beginning."

"And a deviation score of forty-five doesn't mean there’s no possibility of getting into the University of Tokyo. Even if you have a score of seventy-five, it merely increases your chances slightly for a good score; it doesn’t guarantee admission."

Not believing in yourself is far more frightening than anyone else’s disbelief.

Tomoya wasn’t being overly optimistic; the lack of support was secondary. If he didn’t believe in the possibility of getting into the University of Tokyo from the outset, then he shouldn’t even set it as a goal.

"Do you understand, Eriri? This is a process that is fair, but the outcome is not. If I want the result to be fair, I need to sacrifice a lot in this process. Everything I do serves that outcome, and it’s just like your painting."

Tomoya wasn’t trying to persuade her. If he were, then his calm demeanor wouldn’t come off to Eriri as so harsh and unfamiliar.

"When Eiri Kashiwagi is creating her new work, it's unlikely she lacks confidence in producing something good. Perhaps the biggest similarity between me and Eiri Kashiwagi right now is that we support ourselves, while the biggest difference is that she has a whole group of people supporting her."

Tomoya simply stated his position, without any unnecessary embellishment.

In laying bare the facts before Eriri, he made her feel embarrassed enough to blush.

When doubting others, should one consider what efforts they put in?

Maybe that’s why more people place greater importance on results.

Seeing the blush of shame on Eriri’s face, Tomoya felt no sense of triumph.

Just as he hadn’t felt anger when Eriri doubted him and urged him to abandon his dreams of attending the University of Tokyo.

There was no point in feeling upset over unnecessary things. What was there to be angry or happy about?

Perhaps it was a chance for Eriri, his childhood friend, to re-evaluate him, especially since she had been the one to maintain distance.

Left speechless by Tomoya's words, Eriri’s face turned crimson, her pitiable appearance eliciting sympathy.

However, before Tomoya, those words had no effect at all.

Despite being childhood friends, whether it was due to her tsundere personality or perhaps an element of teasing, Tomoya no longer wanted to view their relationship as particularly close.

In his eyes, their bond was just slightly better than that of ordinary classmates.

Fortunately, he had always had a good temperament; otherwise, they would have already had a falling out by now.

After all, finding a comrade like Yoshihiko Kamigo was far rarer and more precious than a mere secret ally.

At the same time, Tomoya couldn't help but sigh. Being an otaku in Japan was really troublesome, but luckily, he had no intention of continuing that lifestyle.

“It’s getting late; your friend is probably waiting for you. I need to work hard for my dreams too. The University of Tokyo is indeed a lofty goal!”

Tomoya glanced out the window; students were gradually heading toward the teaching building or the club activities building as they left the cafeteria.

Anyway, since she always acted like she didn’t want anyone to know about their relationship, then let it continue like this. It was exactly what Tomoya wanted!

So, had they really had a falling out?

Tomoya certainly didn’t think so. If Eriri viewed it that way, it only indicated her own level of maturity.

After everything he said, if she still didn’t understand, he didn't feel the need to elaborate further.

It didn’t matter whether others supported or understood him; Tomoya only knew that he yearned for the University of Tokyo and was willing to strive for it.

Therefore, he wouldn’t waste his motivation on thoughts of making games.

With this newfound determination, the chances of getting into the University of Tokyo would surely rise!

Returning to the present, Eriri looked at Tomoya’s departing figure, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

With her head lowered, tears welled in her eyes as she bit her lip in frustration.

She felt utterly struck down, completely overwhelmed by her childhood friend, Tomoya.

In front of him, she felt like a shallow and selfish person; his words had nearly stripped her bare, exposing the selfishness within her.

Even though they were childhood friends, and their relationship was not outwardly harmonious, had Eriri become more brazen because of Tomoya’s past indulgence towards her?

She had no right to criticize others' dreams and efforts.

Feeling ashamed was only natural.

Beyond shame, the blonde girl known as Eriri Spencer Sawamura felt an overwhelming sense of regret—after seven years, the delicate balance of their relationship had been ruthlessly torn away by Tomoya.

The emotional distance between them had become greater than she ever realized.

With a heavy heart, the possibility of reconciling with Tomoya seemed almost nonexistent.

“Yeah... I hadn’t realized that I still hadn't reconciled with Tomoya...”

Eriri took a deep breath, her hands clenched tightly into fists, feeling lost with nowhere to vent her emotions.

Meanwhile, Tomoya walked into the quiet library, putting thoughts of Eriri out of his mind.

As for reconciliation? Perhaps he had considered it casually before spring break, but now, he no longer believed he had done anything wrong.

He certainly didn’t think he should be the one to reach out to Eriri for a reconciliation after having indulged her for so long.

Was it really strange to take the initiative to make amends?

After all, he was the one who had been betrayed back in elementary school.

“Japanese history and modern history—these dreadful weak spots will take a lot of time to tackle."

Tomoya's fingers glided over the neatly arranged books on the shelf. If he wanted to study, he first needed to identify his weak subjects.

If he were to rank his subjects by weakness, Japanese history and modern history, along with national language studies and essay writing, would definitely come out on top.

He pulled out a small notebook from his chest pocket, along with the pen inserted into it, and opened the compact notebook. The first several pages were filled with a schedule and a preliminary study plan.

"The teachers at the cram school recommended three books from here. Although I don’t have to go today, I’ll have another intensive study session after school!"

Tomoya muttered to himself, glancing at the three thick books with a faint sigh.

Just as he took down the three books, he heard faint footsteps approaching from nearby.

Instinctively, Tomoya looked to the side and noticed a figure with a very low presence, almost like a ghost.

“Kato-san, sneaking up on someone is really scary, especially in a library!”

Tomoya remarked, imagining that if he had shouted in fright just now, he would have attracted the disapproving stares of all the other students in the library.

The girl with the last name Kato showed a hint of surprise on her face, then quietly replied, "The homeroom teacher is looking for you, Aki-san."

Though she tried to keep her voice calm, Tomoya could detect a slight tone of astonishment, which left him feeling a bit puzzled.

"Aki-san is really a strange person, isn't he?"

While Tomoya was wondering about the implications of her words, Kato Megumi quietly expressed her thoughts again.