Do I really have a thing for female voice actors?

It's not surprising that Toru Tazaki, who is so young, only 21 years old, could compose a song that made it onto the mainstream media.

What she couldn't understand was why such a musical genius would be doing short-term work at a live house.

Her feelings at this moment could only be described as unbelievable. Could this kid be a spy sent by the rival live house?

"If there are no problems, I'll move on to the next assignment," Toru Tazaki said calmly.

"Alright, alright! It's all yours now! My life is in your hands!" Yoshimura shouted, clinging to Tazaki Toru's arm.

What would I do with the store manager's life?

In short, when Tazaki Toru produced the results, Yoshimura, the store manager who had been living in fear and anxiety, was finally relieved.

Yoshimura felt from the bottom of his heart that it was great that he was a guy who judged people by their appearance.

Initially, they only kept Toru Tazaki on the job because they thought he was handsome and could attract female customers. Little did they know that this decision would become his greatest gain.

To be honest, Tazaki Toru still had many techniques he hadn't used. It wasn't that he wanted to hide his talents, but he wasn't the composer of this piece and didn't want to add too much of his own ingenuity to someone else's work.

……

……

Since the day the store manager commissioned her to arrange music, Oshima Haruna has come to listen to the live performances every day, but she has never spoken to Tazaki Toru again.

Even whenever Toru Tazaki unintentionally passed by her, she would subconsciously take a step back and look at Toru Tazaki with a wary gaze.

Additionally, during the live performance, when female customers came to redeem drinks, Tazaki would give them his signature alluring smile, and he could always sense a sharp gaze from them.

Like a mouse scurrying through a dark alley in search of food, it was targeted by a haughty black cat perched on a rooftop.

Tazaki Toru had a clue as to why this was happening.

It was probably the first night I was arranging music in the lounge that I stretched out.

Even today, Toru Tazaki still doesn't know what he encountered that night.

He dared not ask, fearing it would be interpreted as sexual harassment.

As a result, from then on, Toru Tazaki seemed to be completely regarded as a frivolous guy.

That noon, Toru Tazaki arrived at the live house and worked alone in the lounge arranging music.

The manager was waiting early and asked Tazaki Toru about his well-being, whether he had eaten or was hungry. Then, he quickly ordered Tazaki Toru some premium sushi.

Tazaki Toru wanted to advise him that he didn't have to do this, but seeing that he seemed to enjoy it, Tazaki Toru was worried that he had become part of some kind of play.

Maybe this is what rock and roll is all about.

Click.

The door to the lounge opened, and a petite figure walked in.

Haruna Oshima just graduated this year; she's a graduate of a proper music university.

She started learning piano at the age of five and regarded music as her lifelong career. Naturally, she also tried composing and arranging her own music, and even released a CD.

While the sales figures may not be outstanding, she personally loves it and considers it a piece that she can play without tarnishing her reputation, no matter the occasion.

But when she heard the piece composed by Toru Tazaki from the shop manager, she suddenly found it unbearable...

I can't stand the fact that I've become complacent with the status quo without even realizing it.

Upon hearing that piece of music, Oshima Haruna's first thought was to become even better.

I want to understand more about what music really is.

She felt no other emotions, only a thirst for knowledge about music, which could never satisfy her hungry heart.

The monster called "music" lurking within her was completely drawn out by Tazaki Toru's music.

Haruna Oshima is that kind of girl.

Just as she said, she would die without music.

Unlike last time, when he sensed someone entering the lounge, Toru Tazaki immediately turned around and saw the girl walking towards him with great momentum.

Tazaki Toru thought she was about to make trouble, but Oshima Haruna stood behind him without saying a word.

With beautiful, cat-like eyes full of curiosity, she stared intently at the computer screen in front of Tazaki Toru, almost reluctant to blink.

One second passed, two seconds passed...

Time passed quietly, and the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

Even Toru Tazaki, who is usually quite quiet, couldn't stand it and started making conversation.

"Is there no traditional recitation today?"

"It's been moved to the evening."

She spoke in a very calm tone, as if she wasn't angry.

According to the store manager, Oshima Haruna is a stage actress with a little bit of fame, and she is busy with stage play rehearsals during the day.

In the evenings, I would go to live shows, specifically watching bands with great guitarists and imitating their electric guitar techniques.

This drive probably aligns with the principle that "effort will not let you down."

In fact, Oshima Haruna's efforts did not disappoint her; she was secretly selected to participate in a major project.

But now, she is more interested in Toru Tazaki's music.

Tazaki Toru thought that perhaps now was the right time for him to apologize.

“Ms. Oshima, I didn’t mean to touch you that night…”

"Ai."

Oshima Haruna suddenly interrupted Tazaki Toru.

"Are you going to start composing?"

"Eh?"

"Can you show me how you arrange music? I promise I won't say a word and will sit quietly."

Completely bewildered, Tazaki Toru met those inquisitive, cat-like eyes and slowly nodded.

"Thank you."

Tazaki Toru couldn't understand the girl's thoughts at all. He unplugged the monitoring headphones, connected them to the speakers, and let Oshima Haruna hear the sound.

So Tazaki Toru silently continued working, and Oshima Haruna, just as she had said, sat beside her without saying a word, her body curled up, her feet on the stool, her arms tightly wrapped around her knees.

Only her ten toes wriggled restlessly; every time Toru Tazaki added a melody to the track, her toes would excitedly bounce up and down.

It looks just like a tamed wildcat.

Suddenly, Toru Tazaki slowly spoke: "...I'm sorry about that night."

Her fingers continued to play the melody on the MIDI keyboard. Tazaki Toru glanced sideways at the girl's beautiful, expressionless face, which resembled a masterpiece that had just been completed.

Her toes suddenly stopped moving, curling up little by little and shrinking towards the soles of her feet.

"Yes, I know it was an accident, so I'm not angry."

"Phew... Thank you, Ms. Oshima..."

“Aoki,” she said abruptly.

"Eh?"

The girl looked at Toru Tazaki: "Because you are very impulsive, I am worried that you will call me by my real name in other situations in the future, so I have to make you change how you address me now."

Tazaki Toru suddenly remembered the name printed on the pick he had picked up when they first met.

It turns out that was her stage name.

"Then... Miss Aoki?"

"Ah."

The girl smiled with satisfaction and urged:

"Quick, let me see how you compose the next melody, Tazaki-kun."

11. To make music for a lifetime. (Seeking monthly votes)

During this period, in order to complete the music arrangement work assigned by the store manager, Toru Tazaki had to stay in the live house for nearly ten hours every day.

The store manager covers his meals, pays him extra overtime, and he also gets a fee for arranging music.

Admittedly, compared to my previous life, this kind of underground work, which couldn't be published in mainstream media, was just a small-scale operation.

But Toru Tazaki felt that music was music, so he enjoyed this job.

puff.

I picked up a can of black coffee from the vending machine and stood on the street, drinking it silently.

Occasionally, pairs of high school girls would sneak glances at him, their undisguised stares gracing his handsome face.

It's become a habit.

Tazaki Toru has pretty much adapted to his current life and is no longer surprised by it.

Smelling the faint scent of cherry blossoms in the spring breeze, Tazaki Toru stared blankly at a telephone pole not far away. The dental hospital advertisement on the pole had its phone number 5 or 8 worn so badly that it was hard to tell.

Back at SHELTER, the manager and Ms. Kuroki seemed to be talking about something, and Toru Tazaki went over to greet them.

"Tazaki-kun, how's work?"

Upon seeing Tazaki Toru, Ms. Kuroki's first words were to interrogate him about the work progress.

"It went quite smoothly."

"Tsk tsk, that's why geniuses are so annoying."

After spending some time together, Toru Tazaki had a general understanding of the temperaments and habits of the people around him. He knew that Ms. Kuroki was just joking, so he just smiled.

He glanced subconsciously at the empty stage, and suddenly the image of someone dragging a heavy violin case down the stairs flashed into his mind.

Hina Aoki hasn't been to SHELTER for a long time, whether it's to play the piano or watch a live performance.

Practicing the piano is indeed a tedious task, but Toru Tazaki doesn't think of her as a lazy person.