Do I really have a thing for female voice actors?

"You are strong enough."

"That's not true at all. If I were truly strong, I wouldn't want to see you right now, trying to extract courage from you to fill myself up. I could sleep soundly alone under this pressure, and nothing could upset me."

“Ah… Tou-kun.”

"If one day, I mean, if I fail to be elected again, and leave this city disheartened, I will go back to my country shrine to be a shrine maiden, spending my days cleaning the lonely courtyard."

How long will you remember me?

"I remember there was once such an ordinary country girl who ventured out alone in the big city, suffered all kinds of grievances, and could not get what she wanted. In the end, she ran away with her tail between her legs."

72. Night at Asukayama (Part 2)

I was born just an ordinary person.

An ordinary background, an ordinary appearance, carrying ordinary worries, and thinking ordinary things.

But I don't know if this is a girl's nature, that she is inevitably dissatisfied with the status quo and wants to pursue a better version of herself.

No, that statement might be incorrect.

I don't want to become better in order to please others or myself.

Instead, she wanted to become a girl who was incredibly special to some people.

Even an ordinary, unremarkable girl like me can become someone's "special" self, genuinely wanting to be the sun that illuminates someone's life.

It doesn't need to emit intense sunlight; even if it can only illuminate one person, that's fine.

I want to be a little sun, a shining sun.

That's why I named her "Mika Kohinata".

"Tou-kun, how long will you remember me?"

"I remember there was once such an ordinary country girl who ventured out alone in the big city, suffered all kinds of grievances, and could not get what she wanted. In the end, she ran away with her tail between her legs."

Actually, I didn't suffer any great injustice, and I never felt like a pitiful person whose talents were not recognized.

The voice acting profession is already so demanding, so by comparison, the fact that I've managed to get a few related jobs already puts me in a much better position than many others.

But it seems that in front of him, I always can't help but show him the side of myself that I've been hiding.

Pets that are left alone at home all day while their owners are away at work, playing and sleeping without worrying about food or livelihood.

After its owner comes home from get off work, it deliberately acts pitiful and looks for petting, only satisfied when it gets a certain answer from the owner.

"Unforgettable."

"Will you remember me for the rest of your life?"

"I can remember it for at least a hundred years. Why don't you come and ask me again then, assuming I don't get Alzheimer's?"

"We won't live that long."

His eyes were clean and clear, just as he said, they seemed to be eyes that could discover beauty.

At this moment, in this quiet park late at night, only the moonlight and streetlights illuminate us.

In those eyes, I could only see myself, the reflection of the ordinary girl, "Mika Takagi".

So that's how it is; deep within his pupils, I am so clearly seen.

So, can I be considered "special" about him?

Once the thought popped into my head, my heart started pounding, like a rock song going into its chorus, with the bass drum, tom tambourine, and slapstick being pounded deafeningly and haphazardly.

Even the constant gurgling of the fountain next to me was drowned out by the thumping of my chest.

If he suddenly puts his ear to my chest, I'll be speechless.

Strangely enough, I wasn't this vulnerable before. When I couldn't get any work, when I failed an audition, when I got up early to deliver newspapers, when I was scolded by rude customers.

There were many things in the past that were even more unbearable than this, but now Mika Takagi is constantly looking for someone to rely on.

I've become so weak without even realizing it.

However, I don't think there's any harm in doing so.

Just seeing the girl in his eyes almost made me faint with joy.

"Meixiang."

He called out my name very naturally. Although I have long since started calling him by his name, hearing him call me that still made me feel more shy.

But habit is a terrible thing. If he calls me Ms. Takagi again, I will definitely not be able to sleep all night, tossing and turning in bed, wondering if I have done something to upset him.

Even I can't help but sigh, girls are such a hassle.

"I can't guarantee your audition results, and others can't see the effort you've put in."

"I've heard many people say that hard work is the least valuable thing, and that there are countless people in the world who are both talented and hardworking."

“In the past, I thought those people were mocking me. They thought I was someone who was both talented and hardworking.”

"I think they're right."

I genuinely believe those people are right. Shouldn't someone as talented and hardworking as Tou-kun deserve success and praise? We can't give those recognition to lazy people, can we?

I would absolutely not agree to that.

"Hmm... I think this is perhaps the same principle as love."

"Huh?! Love, romance?!"

Hearing that word from him, I couldn't help but make a huge sound.

How should I put it? I feel that Tou-kun's personality is really not compatible with these two words.

He's the kind of person who would never interact with girls in his entire life for the sake of music; he's an extreme character you only see in comics.

Perhaps my view of Tou-kun is filtered through a lens, but deep down I truly hope he is that kind of person.

In that case, Tou-kun won't befriend other girls.

As for an ugly duckling like me...

Even fantasies have their limits; otherwise, how are you any different from an otaku who fantasizes all day about falling in love and marrying a female voice actress?

"Yes, in love."

"It is said that liking someone is irrational. Some people like girls with beautiful eyes, some like girls with small feet, and some like girls with graceful posture. Everyone has their own preferences, and no one can convince anyone else."

Sometimes Tou-kun says things that really baffle me. I don't know if it's because I'm too clumsy, so I tilted my head and asked, "What does this have to do with what you said earlier?"

He chuckled softly.

Although I'm used to seeing that smile, seeing it so close to me still made me quite excited.

There's nothing wrong with admitting it. Even I like beautiful and attractive things; it's only human nature.

But I am confident, though I can't say where this confidence comes from, that even if Tou-kun didn't look like this, I would still be unable to look him in the eye because of his smile.

"And I seem to have a natural affinity for people like Mika, who are willing to work tirelessly for their dreams."

"Eh?"

For a moment, I felt my heartbeat and breathing stop.

I understand.

This is not a confession of love.

It has nothing to do with romance or anything like that; it's simply his personal values.

"So, although I don't want to say anything discouraging, if you don't get elected, please don't go back to the countryside."

"Well……"

I couldn't help but beckon with my finger, slowly looking into his eyes, meeting the gaze of the incredibly formidable Takagi Mika I had never seen before.

If only I could become the Mika Takagi he sees in real life...

Enough.

"Tou-kun, can you please keep a proper eye on me?"

"I will always be watching over you."

Suddenly, I wasn't scared at all.

73. Final audition.

After getting off the train, Tazaki Toru returned to the familiar Tsukishima Station.

It was late at night, and the tram would soon stop running.

When I got home, the living room was pitch black, except for the glaring glow of the LCD TV, which was silently playing advertisements.

Tazaki Toru turned on the living room light and was about to turn off the TV when he discovered a small animal curled up on the sofa.

It's not really an animal; to be precise, it's a humanoid cat. In simpler terms:

It's Hina Aoki.

At this moment, the girl on the sofa was covered with a thin blanket, breathing evenly, her smooth and fair face round and very cute.

The sudden illumination of the living room lights caused her eyelashes to tremble slightly, and she quickly opened her eyes a crack.

Upon spotting the figure standing not far away, the petite girl lying on the sofa immediately revealed a familiar, adorable smile, her voice carrying a hint of lazy huskiness.

"Tazaki-kun, you're back."

"Hmm, you're back. Why are you sleeping here?"

"I don't know how I fell asleep. I was watching a TV series, but wait? It's already over."

Hina Aoki rubbed her eyes, looking sleepily at the TV. The movie segment had already ended, so she chuckled and scratched her head.

Her hair was a little messy from sleeping, making her look like a fluffy little kitten, which made people want to reach out and smooth it out.

Fortunately, Toru Tazaki is not a cat lover.

"By the way, have you had dinner yet?"