Tokyo Soft Rice King.

Because Akiko Takanashi's journey is the most authentic reflection of her own life.

"Besides, Kuroba-kun, do you think becoming a voice actor is the end? Becoming a voice actor is just the starting line."

"Currently, there are about 1,400 voice actors in Japan, plus newcomers still training in agencies, making a total of about 2,500. Doesn't that sound like a lot?"

"However, a single episode of an anime requires about 5 to 10 voice actors, and the voice actor lineup for an anime series will not be changed until the end. There are about 30 anime series in a season, and some voice actors will participate in multiple anime series, so the number of available roles is even smaller... Even disregarding this factor, there are only about 300 voice actors who can actually get roles."

"In other words, less than one-fifth of voice actors can actually support themselves, and the rest can only find other jobs to supplement their living expenses when they can't get any work."

"Many voice actors have to endure for many years before they can get important roles, and some may even remain unknown in the end... Kuroba-kun, do you really think that these can be overcome by just 'hard work'?"

Kuroba Akira was speechless, and in the end he could only sigh.

"You really know the voice acting industry..."

"These are all things that someone once told me, and I'm just using them as I'm learning them."

Has someone ever said something so realistic to her?

Isn't saying this just advising the other person not to be delusional and to give up their unrealistic dreams as soon as possible?

However, Akiko-san eventually achieved the status of a national-level voice actress, which was a slap in the face to her opponent.

"But I've heard that you, Aunt Akiko, are already a very accomplished voice actress, a household name. I'm sure you weren't always famous, but since you've reached this level, can't you give some guidance to your future... your own daughter?"

"..."

At this time, Takanashi Akiko showed a very sad smile.

It looks like she's laughing, but it also looks like she's crying.

Kuroba Akira intuitively felt that this place was most likely the source of all the mysteries!

After being silent for a while, Akiko Takanashi suddenly asked a strange question that seemed to have nothing to do with the current topic.

"Kuroba-kun... do you believe talent truly exists?"

"It should exist, right?"

After all, one can 'personally' see the word "talent" engraved on the right hand.

"I believe in talent, just like you, but I'm someone who hasn't been blessed with it..."

"No, no, no, how could you not be talented..."

He's already a national-level voice actor, so this should be at least an S-class rating, right?

As he spoke, Akira Kuroba looked at Akiko Takanashi's right hand, which was holding the spoon...

Wait, it seems there really are no words?

what?

Startled, Kuroba Akira immediately stood up and, without saying a word, grabbed Takanashi Akiko's hand and pulled her in front of him.

Akiko Takanashi, who was still immersed in sad emotions, was suddenly held by the hand by a boy who was decades younger than her. She blushed and spoke in panic like a little girl who had just fallen in love.

"Hey? Um, Kuroba-kun, this is a bit..."

Kuroba Akira had no time to pay attention to Takanashi Akiko's reaction, because he immediately witnessed an astonishing change.

The moment Akira Kuroba grasped Akiko Takanashi's hand, he saw words appear on her right hand.

[Mother-type voice actress EX]

EX?

If it's "Extreme," meaning the limit or the highest point, does that mean it's the ultimate level?

But what is a "mother-type" voice actress? Are there really people with that kind of talent? Isn't that too limiting?

The talent style, which he had never seen before, left Kuroba Akira completely dumbfounded.

So, is being a voice actor actually a talent?

At this moment, Kuroba Akira realized that Takanashi's future S-rank talent would also be [online streamer]. Now that he thought about it, that was quite strange.

The other two A-level talents are e-sports and editing, which are clearly 'abilities', but online streamers are 'professions'.

Generally speaking, becoming a profession requires certain abilities, and talent refers to those abilities, right?

Just like Ziyin's three S-rank talents, they are all abilities, not corresponding to a specific profession, although it is easy to think of some professions just by looking at those talents.

However, both the mother and daughter from the Takanashi family have 'profession' engraved on their right hands.

This completely overturned Akira Kuroba's understanding.

However, the right hand represents talent, while the left hand represents proficiency; this is merely a conclusion drawn by Akira Kuroba himself after observing and summarizing.

The lack of a systematic explanation is what makes this difficult; it's impossible to verify whether one's guess is correct.

Furthermore, why were there no words on Akiko Takanashi's right hand at first, and why did they only appear after she grasped it?

Kuroba Akira immediately saw an even further change.

He saw with his own eyes the words "[Maternal Voice Actor EX]" slowly 'decompose' into "[Voice Acting D]".

"Nah...ni!"

It's changed!

No, can the words on the right hand change?

What on earth is going on?!

Chapter 214 She Risked Her Life

Kuroba Akira was stunned; this was the first time he had ever seen anything like this.

And they were actually relegated?

How can it be!

How could someone with only D-level voice acting skills possibly achieve what they have today!

No... we can't be that certain, that would be too extreme.

Calm down... In short, calm down first.

Aunt Akiko herself admitted that she has no talent...

Let's hear what she has to say first.

Thinking of this, Hei Yuming first explained his abrupt action of grabbing Aunt Akiko's hand.

"Well, you said you have no talent, so I thought I'd let you read my palm..."

"So you can read palms, Kuroba-kun? That's a really impressive skill."

Akiko Takanashi also believes in this. Before, when Mirai Takanashi took the high school entrance exam, she went to the newly built Inari Shrine to pray for a lucky charm to pass the exam. Later, when her daughter passed, she donated a large sum of money to fulfill her vow.

In this industry, many people actually believe in metaphysics, and the higher up one's position, the more one believes in it, because in the film and television industry, whether a show can become a hit or not really depends on luck, because it is very possible for a show to be critically acclaimed but commercially unsuccessful.

Whether a voice actor can get a role also depends a lot on luck.

Akiko Takanashi was also very clear that although she was not favored by the God of Talent, she was favored by many gods of luck along the way.

"I can read a little bit, but your palm... how should I put it, it's quite complicated."

Is it that bad?

"Uh... I wouldn't say it's terrible, but it's a huge contrast to who you are now... and I really don't understand why there's such a difference, which is why I was so surprised just now..."

"What a letdown..."

Akiko Takanashi squinted her eyes again, looking thoughtful.

Hearing Kuroba Akira say this, she believed that he truly possessed abilities.

Because most people only see her success and fame, but they don't see the price she paid for it.

At this moment, a boy more than twenty years younger than him saw through the fact that he was actually 'mediocre'.

Even the usually carefree and easygoing Akiko Takanashi felt a slight ripple in her heart at this moment, and she actually wanted to tell the boy in front of her about the hardships she had gone through.

Qi longs for someone who can understand her.

Then Akira Kuroba continued to explain where the difference lay.

"Yes, because you've already achieved great success as a voice actor, so your palm shouldn't be..."

"Shouldn't it be a palmistry sign with no future prospects?"

Akira Kuroba nodded silently, but Akiko Takanashi gave him an "I knew it" look.

Just as Aunt Akiko herself said, she knew very well that she had no talent.

That's why it's even more incredible.

Because the most desperate moment for a person is when they realize they are 'powerless'.

That feeling of powerlessness is equivalent to being sentenced to death.

However, Akiko Takanashi persevered and even achieved incredible feats.

If she had A-rank talent, Kuroba Akira wouldn't be so surprised, but she's only a D-rank!

This isn't a high-end cup, where bigger isn't always better.

In other words, this is a classic case of a small fry from the village entrance turning into a super-powerful villain!

With questions lingering in his mind, Kuroba Akira continued.

"From my personal perspective, the voice of you, Aunt Qiuzi, that I heard carries a very delicate emotional expression, which can convey a feeling of warmth and care. Even a layman like me feels at ease and comfortable listening to it. So I don't think you got to where you are today because of luck."

In fact, this is a common characteristic of the voices of married women, emphasizing gentleness, thoughtfulness, and caring for others, possessing the attributes of a Yamato Nadeshiko (ideal Japanese woman).

The more Akira Kuroba thought about it, the more accurate the description of her profession seemed. She was indeed the most suitable voice actress for traditional mother roles.

But judging by Aunt Akiko’s hidden secret work… maybe she is also worthy of the abnormal mother role.

Akiko Takanashi had become accustomed to praise since she became famous, but Akira Kuroba's sincere compliment still made her a little shy, and she touched her cheek as she spoke.

"You flatter me, Kuroba-kun. But this is because I practiced for a long time to transform it into what it is now. As a result, I used this voice for a longer period of time, so it is now my everyday voice... Actually, my voice when I was young was very different from my voice now."

"You're amazing..."

It turns out that her voice was forcibly altered to its current form.