Do I really have a thing for female voice actors?

"It really is..."

Hina Aoki turned her head slightly to look at Mika Kohinata's somewhat timid and ordinary face, her tone gentle:

"Mika-chan seems reluctant to go out alone with me."

Am I bothering you?

253. The Cinderella of the South House.

The train rattled along.

Am I bothering you?

Hina Aoki's voice was as sweet and gentle as ever, like a cat basking in the sun on a residential wall, swaying its long, graceful tail back and forth, cute and charming.

"No, no... that's not true. I've always wanted to get along well with Hina-chan."

This is no lie; Mika Kohinata genuinely wants to make her band even better.

However, the country girl hadn't yet recovered from yesterday's events, so her voice sounded slightly stiff.

Hina Aoki smiled sweetly: "That's good. I was worried that Mika-chan would distance herself from me because of the strange things I said yesterday."

"No, no way!" Mika Kohinata hurriedly waved her hands.

"I will keep yesterday's events a secret and will not tell anyone about them," Mika Kohinata said confidently.

"Yes, I understand, that's why I felt comfortable telling Mika-chan."

Mika Kohinata forced a smile, unsure whether she should be happy about what he said.

"Hina-chan is so cute, plays the guitar so well, and can compose and write songs. I think... Toru-kun must really like you too."

Mika Kohinata's tone was slightly bitter.

"Perhaps," Aoki Hina said, not denying it.

"........."

Such confident certainty made Mika Kohinata feel a slight tremor in her heart.

Such words could only come from the mouth of an outstanding girl like Hina Aoki.

She firmly believes in her talent, just as Mika Kohinata firmly believes in her ordinariness.

"But his liking is different from my liking for him."

“Mika-chan should know very well that Tazaki-kun treats everyone with gentleness and impartiality. His kindness towards me is like sharing 100% equally with everyone around him.”

Aoki Hina's words deeply resonated with Kohinata Mika.

Mika Kohinata felt the same way.

He did say he was special, but could it be because everyone he met was unique and special to him?

If everyone is special, then what's the difference between being special and not being special?

Seemingly seeing through Mika Kohinata's thoughts, Hina Aoki slowly shook her head.

"But I can see that Tazaki-kun is willing to give you ninety percent of that one hundred points."

"Perhaps, this is what I hope he can give me."

Mika Kohinata looked surprised as she stared blankly at Hina Aoki.

It took him a while to gradually understand the meaning behind her words, and he waved his hand in denial without hesitation.

"Um, Hina-chan... I think you've misunderstood something. Toru-kun and I are just very good friends."

"That's really all there is to it!"

Her uneasy appearance suggested that she had accidentally broken a precious crystal shoe that didn't belong to her after failing to try it on.

This Cinderella from the countryside had never attended a ball, never met the prince she longed for, and the glass slipper that seemed so far away had never appeared on her feet.

It was as if everything she had experienced so far was just a figment of her imagination, a dream.

"So, Mika-chan doesn't mind?"

"Eh?"

"Even if I confessed to Tazaki-kun, Mika-chan wouldn't care at all?"

"I……"

Of course! In fact, it would be strange if a guy like Tou-kun didn't attract girls.

Some people like his music, while others like him as a person.

But I couldn't bring myself to say it.

I don't care at all. Whatever happens, it's none of my business.

Mika Kohinata simply couldn't bring herself to say such insincere words.

If she could, she really wanted to shout it out here and say some harsh words to tell her not to be so smug.

No talking is allowed on the bus.

Mika Kohinata is not the kind of girl who would do that kind of thing.

All she could do was put on a silly, goofy smile and scratch her head in a foolish manner.

However, at this moment, she had no heart to even do such a simple gesture as raising her hand.

At that very moment.

Hina Aoki gently stroked Mika Kohinata's hand. Mika trembled like a startled rabbit, but dared not pull her hand away.

He just lowered his head even further.

Suddenly, the gentle melody he had played for her on the night she failed her audition echoed in her mind.

That crystal shoe was not just her imagination.

He put crystal shoes on her, transforming her into a magnificent princess.

The crystal shoe that once gave her confidence and courage still seems to be on her feet to this day.

It will appear as long as you pray.

With slightly sweaty palms, she gently clenched the hem of her clothes, and with her lips moving, Mika Kohinata uttered a soft yet stubborn voice.

"Regardless of how Tou-kun views me or you."

"Even if he is no longer gentle to me or writes songs that move me, what I want to do will not change."

The girl bit her thin lips lightly, her slender, beautiful fingers tightly gripping the hem of her clothes, as if she were squeezing courage from it.

"I just want to be Nagasaki Motoyo."

This is the simplest of truths.

Having no special skills, the only thing I could do was to bring this hard-won role to life and breathe soul into it.

He will definitely look at himself.

Aoki Hina couldn't help but sigh inwardly, thinking that Kohinata Mika, this girl, seemed clumsy and useless.

But she could discern what was most important in her heart and move towards that goal without hesitation.

She is far more resilient than she appears.

Could this be what they call profound wisdom appearing as foolishness?

An announcement came over the loudspeaker that the train was about to arrive at its destination.

Hina Aoki let out a sigh of relief and looked out the window at the scenery, which seemed to be slowly receding as if a time-lapse filter had been applied.

"I... I really like Tazaki-kun, and I also like everyone in the band."

"Therefore, I don't want to be enemies with Mika-chan, I just want to tell Mika-chan that I will do it."

"Throughout history, no victory has ever been won by waiting."

"But I don't want to do anything that would hurt Tazaki-kun."

"I don't want to let down the song he poured his soul into writing for MyGO."

"Just like Mika-chan said, we can only gain his attention by playing the role well."

"But I still can't help but fantasize in my heart, imagining myself as his perfect version."

"It's not 80 points, nor 90 points, it's a complete, clear 100 points."

"And where there are winners, there are also losers."

"I hope that by then, we can still be good partners in the same band."

"We're friends."

Mika Kohinata kept her head down, but then she saw the girl's fair hand in her line of sight.

She slowly raised her head and met Aoki Hina's bright smile.

"Let's compete fairly."

"The loser is not allowed to cry."

254. It's time to treat you to some cold dishes.

Inside the hotel room.

Having finally seen off that troublesome female voice actress, Tazaki Toru felt exhausted. As soon as he closed his eyelids, he began to breathe evenly.

Not long after, the outer sliding door was opened.

"Tazaki, I left my phone..."

Rin Tachibana walked into the room on her own. Before she could finish speaking, she saw the handsome man lying in bed.

"What? I was only gone for a little while and you fell asleep. Is dealing with me this tiring for you?"

Rin Tachibana muttered something, her tone displeased, but her voice was very soft, as if she were afraid of disturbing him.