Do I really have a thing for female voice actors?

Miss Tachibana couldn't wait to grab her pajamas and head into the bathroom, ready to shower and then log in to her account to boost her score.

Hina Aoki went upstairs and gently pushed open the door to the music room.

He was right there.

The moonlight in midsummer, unlike the tranquility of spring, carried a hint of melancholy as it streamed through the window and fell upon him.

Watching his slender fingers lightly tapping the keyboard from afar, one's heart seems to stir slightly.

I never felt this way before.

Ah, yes, it must be summer's fault.

The scorching summer sun made this normally lively and carefree cat dizzy and hallucinate.

He exuded a refreshing catnip scent, and she wished she could rub her head against him to relieve the sweltering heat that was hard to shake off.

"Tazaki-kun, I'm back," the girl said softly.

Welcome home.

She walked slowly to his side and subconsciously looked at the handwritten lyric book and sheet music in front of him. Her favorite Mitsubishi 0.5mm mechanical pencil was in his hand, which made her breath catch in her throat slightly.

Even a mere mechanical pencil dares to hold his hand and write his lyrics and musical notes.

If you keep doing this, I won't buy your pen refills next time.

Miss Aoki thought angrily.

"How's the writing?"

Hina Aoki blinked her beautiful eyes, staring curiously at the papers on his desk.

"It went smoothly, probably thanks to Miss Aoki."

"I?"

"This arrangement is so pleasing to me: the windowsill, the moon, the piano keys, the paper, and your mechanical pencil."

“Every time I sit down in this corner, it’s like a 2000W searchlight is shoved into my head and it’s shining with bursts of inspiration for songwriting.”

Thank you, mechanical pencil.

I'll buy your favorite pen refills again next time to feed you.

"May I take a look?"

"of course."

Now that the two of them have come clean and know that they are both part of the project, showing her the lyrics and melody here is not something to hide.

She picked up the sheet music from the table, hummed a couple of lines, and then beamed with joy.

"Tazaki-kun, one day I will open your head and see what's inside before I'm satisfied."

"I hope you don't break my 2000W searchlight."

Hina Aoki immediately burst out laughing again.

The girl thought to herself, she liked it.

I love his lyrics, his melodies, and these wonderful, incomprehensible words he casually utters right now.

I like everything.

No matter how much effort she puts into things outside, or who she negotiates with, it seems that as long as she returns to this music room, this little world that belongs only to the two of them, she can take off all the burdens she carries.

There's no need to be a liar.

This made Hina Aoki feel particularly relaxed.

No wonder he always looks so peaceful and content.

I suppose that's the benefit of not lying.

Until now, Hina Aoki seems to have been ignoring this issue.

She was certain that she liked his work.

It is "Spring Shadow" and "The Lost Star".

Hina Aoki is still the same Hina Aoki, the same girl who was willing to give everything for music and encouraged him to study guitar well when they first met, so that he wouldn't waste his talent.

She thought she would never change.

Even a slow-witted girl like Tachibana Rin seemed to notice the changes in her.

So, is there no other way but to admit it?

I admit that I have indeed become somewhat different.

"Tazaki-kun".

Hina Aoki placed the sheet music back on the table and spoke softly.

Tazaki Toru shifted his gaze to the girl.

"Our new bassist today is a very lovely girl. Although it was our first time playing together, we were surprisingly well-matched. Would you like to come and watch our practice next time?"

Okay, it will come.

"How's her bass playing?"

"Hmm... her technique isn't particularly impressive, but she's very gentle and steady, much more reliable than Rin-chan. It's the kind of voice I like."

Tazaki Toru chuckled softly, "I knew you would like it."

Aoki Hina's gaze flickered slightly as she looked at Tazaki Toru: "Could it be that Tazaki-kun knew Kohinata-san a long time ago?"

"Yes, we know each other."

Without any hesitation or doubt, her answer was crisp and clear, exactly as she had imagined Tazaki Toru to be.

This is the kind of reaction that Toru Tazaki should have.

"So that's how it is. There are such coincidences in the world."

Her calm demeanor at this moment seemed genuine, revealing a deep well of doubts, confusion, and a faint trace of anxiety.

Once you meet his clear, bright eyes, all those emotions vanish.

"Tazaki-kun, are you quite familiar with her?"

"She was the first person in this city to reach out to me, and she is a very important friend to me, an incomparable one."

"I see."

They spoke of it so solemnly, but since it's the first one, there's nothing that can be done about it.

Hina Aoki's mood at this moment was much calmer than she had expected.

"what about me?"

"Naturally, they are also friends."

"Not yet 'important'?"

"Of course they're important, but I don't want to categorize my friends into different classes in my mind. You're asking me this because you want to know who's more important than whom?"

"Absolutely right."

She was honest for once.

Tazaki Toru sighed softly.

"Actually, I understand that this is human nature. As people get to know each other better, it's inevitable that there will be a first priority and a second priority. I'm no exception."

Even so, I still don't want Miss Aoki to misunderstand.

"I'm not trying to categorize friends as superior or inferior. People's hearts aren't grade boards that clearly display each other's names, classes, and scores, nakedly exhibiting them."

"I'm just an ordinary person, and it's difficult for me to clearly distinguish between how to conduct myself and how to treat others."

"All I know is that I value all my friends, no matter what kind they are, and I have never forgotten the help I received in this city."

"Manager Yoshimura, Mr. Fujita, Ms. Tachibana, and Ms. Aoki."

"I have met such kind people like you all, so I can only do my best to become someone who can repay you."

The girl gazed quietly at the man before her, observing his expression, manner of speaking, choice of words, and the sincere thoughts he revealed.

These things, when combined, brought a genuine smile to Ms. Aoki's face.

She has completely figured out the true nature of this feeling.

"Rin-chan is superfluous, isn't she?"

Tazaki Toru suddenly burst into laughter.

"I'm still living in her house for now; the rent here is quite cheap."

Hina Aoki slowly stood up, stood in front of the keyboard, and reached out to stroke the black and white keys. She thought that if she could be like this keyboard, clearly distinguishing her emotions, perhaps she wouldn't feel so awkward.

She looked at Toru Tazaki.

“Hey, Tazaki-kun.”

Tazaki Toru gazed intently at the girl before him.

"I want to... play 'Spring Shadow' for you."

"Now?"

"Hmm, for some reason, I feel that I can play the most satisfying music right now."

"it is good."

As the gentle melody flowed out, the music room seemed to be enveloped by a sky full of musical notes.

The girl's nimble fingers, like fish swimming in a spring stream, shimmered with light.

The overflowing spring air almost swept away the stuffiness and heat of midsummer, replacing it all with countless flower petals that blanketed the entire music room.

As the last note faded, she looked up slightly, gazing at the dazzling overhead light in the music room, her eyes almost squinting.

The girl exhaled softly.

Tazaki Toru's gaze remained fixed on her.