For what reason does Kitaru feel a measure of relief about failing his exams?

Kitaru tells Tanimura that while part of him worries that his late start on college is not very productive and that it also may cause him to lose his girlfriend, he also feels relief. Tanimura does not understand, so Kitaru expands upon his thoughts, saying that he knows that if he had gotten into college at the same time as his long-time girlfriend Erika, they would both be on the fast track to a perfect, settled, perfectly ordinary life. In this way, Kitaru appears to resist the idea of taking a conventional path in life.