I am a voice actor, not your emotional support

Uehara Toru was sitting in the audience, feeling a little nervous. He had heard about Matsuoka's strength, but witnessing it with his own eyes still shocked him.

"Go all out, these are definitely not empty words."

He felt a deep respect for Matsuoka, and at the same time, he also felt an invisible pressure. He clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and waited for his name to be called.

"Next, it's my turn."

As Toru Uehara walked towards the microphone, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka patted him gently on the shoulder and gave him an encouraging look.

Uehara Toru nodded slightly and took a deep breath. He had been preparing for this role and this show for two whole months. This time, he even postponed his date with Sakura Ayane again and again because he was really unsure.

No matter how much preparation he made, he always felt that it was not enough. Because any tiny detail in the accompaniment could determine success or failure. And standing in front of an opponent like Matsuoka Yoshitsugu, he was under tremendous pressure, and it could even be said that he was carrying an indelible shadow.

However, the moment he opened his mouth, the atmosphere in the entire venue changed subtly.

Deep in Uehara Toru's heart, what echoed in his mind was not the specific techniques and lines, but all the accumulation and insights of the past two months:

He personally made replica dishes and had the experience of tasting them for Nina, Sakura Ayane, Reina, Nana, and Subaru;

Since he started living alone in Tokyo, he would rely on cooking to relieve his stress whenever he felt overwhelmed.

There is also the unconcealable, heartfelt love - the love for cooking and the joy of exploring ingredients and creativity.

“I really like cooking.”

This was the only simple and true thought in his heart.

This pure emotion is fully displayed in his performance.

His voice was lighthearted and joyful, yet full of power. It was as if he wasn't auditioning, but had completely transformed into Soma Yukihira, with that boyish smile that showed his endless love for cooking, naturally and vividly appearing in front of everyone.

“Countless trials and countless failures, it is precisely because of this process that the dishes will shine.”

His tone was playful and confident, with a warm and infectious appeal, and he portrayed Soma Yukihira's playful yet serious personality vividly.

"It is precisely because there is a possibility of failure that infinite possibilities lie dormant."

In this sentence, his tone gradually rises, revealing innocent pride and the boldness unique to teenagers, and the final ending is with a gentle smile, which perfectly shows the character's optimistic attitude towards challenges.

The audience thought that this audition would be another victory for Matsuoka. However, when they heard Toru Uehara's voice, everyone was stunned.

His performance is not just accurate or vivid, but full of pure joy - his love for cooking and his resonance with the character make his voice exude incredible vitality and radiance.

Wushui Yeqi sat in the audience with his eyes wide open.

What she felt was no longer just Toru Uehara's acting skills, but the change in his entire state - the Toru Uehara who was originally aloof, cold, and even somewhat otherworldly, now seemed to have warmth and radiate light, like a lively and ordinary person.

６ This made Mizuno Inori feel a long-lost emotion:

"What I like is not an illusory fantasy, nor a cold and perfect persona, but a real person."

At this moment, Uehara Toru's voice was full of joy and enthusiasm. There was no sense of compulsion or deliberateness in his performance, but rather he was enjoying it from the bottom of his heart, just like Soma Yukihira was expressing his emotions through cooking.

Matsuoka Yoshitsugu sat aside, watching all this quietly, with the corners of his mouth gradually rising.

4He laughed from the bottom of his heart and murmured:

"As expected, Toru...you never disappoint anyone."

Toru Uehara's performance is not just outstanding, but a complete liberation and breakthrough.

He told everyone in his own way - cooking, or acting, when it becomes a kind of love, it will make people shine.

……

The audition ended successfully.

When walking out of the recording studio, Matsuoka patted Toru Uehara's shoulder vigorously and a smile from the heart appeared on his face.

However, Uehara Toru was still a little confused. He didn't have a clear impression of the performance just now.

At that time, my mind was full of random thoughts, and it seemed that I was not focused enough.

but……

He felt happier than ever before.

An indescribable feeling of satisfaction came over me.

Even though the result of this audition was not satisfactory, he felt that he had nothing to regret and was already very satisfied.

Just as Toru Uehara was about to walk out of the recording studio, his cell phone vibrated with a message from Mizuno Inori.

When I opened it, there was a short text:

"Congratulations, Tetsu-kun."

Uehara Toru was slightly stunned, then replied:

"Congratulations? The results haven't come out yet. We'll have to wait at least three days for any news."

Soon, Mizuno Inori's reply popped up:

"That's not the most important thing anymore, is it? Congratulations on finding your own path instead of imitating anyone else. You deserve it very well, Toru-kun."

"It also reminded me of why I originally entered the voice acting industry. Thank you."

Uehara Toru was stunned for a moment, then looked up at the crowd and found Mizuno Inori looking at her. When the two looked at each other, she smiled shyly and waved the phone in her hand.

Uehara Toru couldn't help but smile slightly and responded with a lip signal:

"I am grateful to you, too."

At this moment, Tomokazu Sugita's voice came from beside him.

"Terhu, do you want to go have a drink later to celebrate?"

Not only Sugita Tomokazu, but also Nakamura Yuichi and several seniors have sent him 5 invitations. ≈

Hearing this, Uehara Toru smiled and shook his head: "Sorry, I have something special to do tonight."

Sugita Tomokazu immediately revealed an ambiguous expression: "I see, it must be something that all men love..."

Before she could finish her words, she was dragged away by several big men. Uehara Toru looked at their backs and shook his head with a smile.

After leaving the recording studio, he took a deep breath and felt the suppressed tension in his chest finally dissipate.

3.14 White Valentine's Day is just around the corner.

Although I didn't receive a gift from Sakura Ayane on Valentine's Day, it would be perfect to take this opportunity to give her a gift to make up for the neglect during this period.

However, rather than giving her gifts, Toru Uehara wanted to share his feelings at the moment with her.

"I really enjoyed the audition just now."

If he could have this feeling every time he auditioned, then dubbing would truly become his lifelong passion and joy.

Thinking of this, his steps couldn't help but become lighter, and anticipation for the future rose in his heart.

……

Sakura Ayane spent an entire afternoon preparing a love bento for Uehara Toru. She also knows some cooking skills and had secretly made one for him last time.

"It's my turn to take the initiative. Anyway, I've always been the one who took the initiative to talk to him and chat. Huh." Sakura Ayane looked at the beautifully arranged lunch box and nodded with satisfaction, but the kitchen next to it was a mess.

Mrs. Sakura, who was leaning against the side and watching her, said with a smile, "You must clean up here before you go out."

"I know, Mom."

"And, Ayane."

"Ok?"

"If you want him to understand your vision of love, actions speak louder than words."

"If he doesn't understand, you teach him."

"Um……"

Sakura Ayane smiled slightly.

"I got it."

Sakura Ayane stood in front of Uehara Reito's house, hunched her shoulders slightly, and felt the slight chill that still remained in the early spring weather.

She glanced at her phone and saw a message from Toru Uehara saying that he was on his way home and asked her to go in first.

"Then I am sorry to bother you."

She said softly, pushing open the door to the courtyard and entering the foyer.

Not long after entering the house, Sakura Ayane was stunned.

Walking out from the direction of the bathroom was a girl with long straight black hair who had just finished taking a shower. She was casually wearing a T-shirt that was obviously Toru Uehara's, and she looked a little embarrassed and shy.

"Ayane-sister?"

The other party was stunned for a moment, then started shouting.

Sakura Ayane recognized him. Isn't this An He Subaru?

Before she could speak, Rencai's voice came from upstairs, revealing a sense of dissatisfaction:

"Subaru, remember to bring your own clothes next time you take a shower! When Toru comes back and sees them, he'll definitely scold me!"

Then, she changed the subject, with a hint of sarcasm:

"Also, you've gained too much weight recently, haven't you? You can't even fit into my clothes!"

"That's because yours... is too small!" An Hesuba retorted angrily.

"I have lost ten pounds now!"

"Who are you kidding? I can tell just by pinching the fat on your waist!" Rencai's voice was getting closer and closer, and then she walked out from the corridor.

When she saw Sakura Ayane standing at the door, the expression on her face froze instantly.

"Long time no see...Ayane...Sister."

Nina greeted him, her tone a little reluctant, and it was obvious that she was not used to being called "sister", but in order to save face for Toru Uehara's girlfriend, she still tried to be polite.

Sakura Ayane looked at Nina and Subaru with a complicated expression, and her inner emotions were a mess.

The scene at this moment was a little hard for her to accept - An and Subaru were wearing Uehara Toru's clothes, and Nina was free to come and go at home. She had long known that these "sisters" had a deep dependence on Uehara Toru, but from the perspective of a girlfriend, this scene still made her feel sour.

"Subaru-chan, what's going on?" Sakura Ayane tried her best to keep her tone calm.

An Hesuba hurriedly explained:

"Ah... I fell on the road today and accidentally stepped on dirty water... Momoka-san's house doesn't have hot water for the time being, so I came to Toru-san's place to take a shower. I'm sorry, Ayane-san!"

Her attitude was very sincere, and she even bowed her head slightly to apologize.

After hearing these words, Sakura Ayane's dissatisfaction subsided a little, but she still felt an indescribable awkwardness. She nodded slightly, walked to the living room, and sat down on the sofa.

The insulated lunch box in her arms emitted a faint warmth. She held it quietly but said nothing.

Renai noticed that the atmosphere was not right, and quickly winked at An and Subaru, and the two of them quickly went upstairs to take shelter in tacit understanding.

In the living room, Sakura Ayane sat alone on the sofa, her thoughts churning.

"They are just little girls... but they are already 18 years old, right? Not much younger than me."

Moreover, as a girlfriend, how could I not feel a little uncomfortable when I found out that other girls were so familiar with my boyfriend's home?

Sakura Ayane sighed softly and clenched her lunch box.

She decided to wait for Uehara Toru to come back and have a good communication with him. After all, the relationship between two people needs to be based on mutual understanding and respect. If they can't even meet each other's demands, this relationship is meaningless.

"Senior, you need to love me more."

"Take care of me more, and I will repay you a hundredfold."

"But the prerequisite is that you really have such feelings for me..."

Sakura Ayane's expression gradually became bitter, and she looked down at her fingers in a daze.

When Uehara Toru walked out of the station, it was already dark. The dusk sky was foggy, as if it was going to rain, and the air was filled with a depressing and subtle atmosphere.

He hurried back home before it rained. As soon as he opened the door, he saw Sakura Ayane sitting quietly on the sofa, holding a thermos lunch box in her hands.

"senior."

Sakura Ayane raised her head, her voice still as sweet as before, which made Uehara Toru feel relieved.

"Why did you come here so suddenly? I was planning to take you out for dinner."

He hid the gift behind his back more discreetly and walked up to her with a smile.