On Mon, 31 Aug 1998, Philip Hacker wrote:

In the Japanese, Futaba is 14 years old and attends 8th grade at 
Komatane *Middle* School. Thus, if Futaba is now in 10th grade with 
Akane, it is about two years since the start of FKC, and more than a 
year since the series' end. Everything prior to Kurin's arrival had 
already happened before his mother's death. Futaba went to live with his 
uncle because he was still in middle school. Futana was old enough to 
survive on savings until she could go away to college.

Futana was already in college.