I am a voice actor, not your emotional support

Volume 5: Chapter Where did you go last night! (k)

In a cozy izakaya, the aroma of wine and laughter are everywhere.

The guests drank and chatted in a lively atmosphere, and the shop assistants were busy running around, yet they were warm and attentive.

Originally, the agent wanted to treat Toru Uehara to a big dinner, but Toru Uehara knew that the guy didn't have much money, so he just decided to settle the matter nearby.

Moreover, his mood at the moment could not be easily soothed by a delicious meal.

The results of this audition were announced very quickly. Unlike in the past, when an email was sent out after a few days, the email arrived within half an hour after the audition.

Lost.

What to say, was this expected?

Toru Uehara had this feeling when he saw the performances of his two competitors, Matsuoka Makoto and Seki Toshihiko, on the spot.

Although he also felt that he had no problem and could do it, the fact was that he couldn't.

There's no excuse.

The agent felt the heaviness of Toru Uehara's low pressure. His memory seemed to be pulled by this atmosphere and returned to the scene five years ago. That was the first time he met Toru Uehara. Everything was still vivid in his mind.

At that time, Toru Uehara had just stood out from the voice actor selection. It was quite rare at that time for someone like him to quickly pass the voice actor school and make his debut so smoothly. Most people needed to study for one or two years, or even three years, before they could be selected.

But he was different. He entered the school in April and was selected in February of the following year. It can be said that the actual time he spent studying was no more than one year.

The agent had just entered the industry at the time and felt that he had found a treasure. When the two were drinking, they were full of ambitions for the future.

Now, sitting in the izakaya again, the wine glasses are still clinking and the aroma of skewers is still wafting in the air, but the atmosphere and mood between the two are completely different.

Uehara Toru was drinking in silence, while his manager said, "Oh, it's just an ordinary audition. This year has just started, so we still have plenty of opportunities."

"Your career is actually on the rise now. You know, I checked the data of you and Ms. Sakura's radio yesterday. Your radio show has become the program with the highest number of on-demand viewers at the same time every week. The agency is very optimistic about your development in this area."

"Then let's talk about other auditions. Your experience in auditioning for Demon Slayer will become a very good resume for you. Previously, you got few roles and didn't have any big production experience, but this time it's different."

"Next time we go for the audition, you'll be able to get some preferential treatment. I estimate that next week, yes, next week we'll be able to get you a new role. Cheer up, there will be absolutely no problem."

"Also, I heard from other people's agents that several roles in Demon Slayer this time were specially selected by voice actors. In other words, they were assigned roles, which is completely different from you who auditioned for two roles yourself."

"Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is a work that many people in the industry are aiming to turn things around. They also need the fame of the voice actors to help boost it... so..."

The agent frantically made excuses for him and kept comforting him, but Toru Uehara just drank quietly without saying a word.

The agent's words died down, his eyes still fixed on Uehara Toru.

After a period of silence, Toru Uehara slowly drank the beer in his glass.

He raised his head slightly, his eyes met his agent's, and the corners of his mouth forced a bitter smile.

"Xiaotian, to be honest, do I actually have no talent in this area?"

"Once or twice, I don't think it's a problem. I've been believing in it for five years. But recently, I've been trying to change myself and have learned a lot of new things. But it seems that I really lack talent..."

"Bang!" With a deafening slam on the table, Oda stood up excitedly, his eyes flashing with angry red light. He stared at Uehara Toru and shouted, "What nonsense are you talking about!"

"What are you angry about? Do you want to give up?!"

"I'll say it again, you're the most talented voice actor I've ever seen!" Oda's voice was almost a roar, his eyes were firm and blazing: "They didn't choose you, that's their loss, do you understand?!"

Oda's voice was like thunder, shaking the entire izakaya and attracting everyone's attention.

However, he seemed not to care about it at all, just pointed at Toru Uehara's nose angrily and scolded loudly.

Uehara Toru stared at his emotional agent with red eyes in front of him, and was slightly startled. Then his voice was soothing: "Okay, okay, I understand, you sit down first."

At this time, the waitress came to them tremblingly: "Excuse me, my dears, if you want to quarrel, please..."

"We didn't quarrel." Uehara Toru shook his head.

At this time, the agent said, "Give me five beers!"

"Five, five cups?"

"Yes, right away!"

"Okay, okay!" The shop girl didn't even have the time to steal a few more glances at Uehara Toru, and she was so scared that she left quickly.

Toru Uehara looked at his agent who was sulking with him at the moment, and he felt a little helpless.

Faced with the emotional agent in front of him, Toru Uehara was also a little shaken.

He was not willing to admit his lack of talent at this time.

It was only at this audition that he truly felt the gap between himself and the top voice actors.

However, Toru Uehara currently has no idea how to narrow this gap. He is not even sure which path he should choose to find the right direction.

Should I continue to stick to my own ideas, or continue to learn from others?

If you want to learn, who should you learn from?

The beer was brought to the table. The agent didn't say anything more to Uehara Toru. He raised his glass and began to drink in big gulps as if he was quenching his thirst.

One cup, two cups, three cups...

In just a few minutes, the agent had already drunk three large glasses of beer, and the effect of the alcohol quickly caused a blush on his cheeks.

After a pause, he pushed one of the cups towards Toru Uehara.

"Come!"

"drink!"

"After today's meal, we'll start over. You don't have to think about your five years of experience. It's all bullshit. Just think of yourself as a new person and we'll find our own way."

"You can't fail, understand? So don't say those discouraging words that don't fit your image in front of me, do you hear me?!"

The agent's face was already a little drunk. Uehara Toru took the glass and nodded slightly: "Yes, I heard it."

"It's good to hear it, it's good to hear it..."

"Five more glasses of wine! Big ones, please!"

Toru Uehara wanted to say something but stopped talking when he saw his agent's aura at the moment.

"It's my treat today, Uehara, just drink and eat!"

"Row."

Two hours later.

After a few drinks, the agent's consciousness began to become blurry.

Seeing this, Toru Uehara didn't say much, just stood up silently and paid the bill himself.

Then he came back and helped his agent walk out of the store, preparing to call a taxi for him to go home.

This scene seems so familiar.

He sighed inwardly, but before he had taken two steps, he heard his agent's drunken words.

"Uehara, I'm not good enough. I haven't done enough as your agent. If I could be smarter and help you find more suitable roles, you would have been successful a long time ago..."

"I know you can do well even without being a voice actor, but I sincerely hope you can succeed on this path..."

"I'm sorry, Uehara... I'm really sorry..." The agent, a grown man, suddenly hugged Uehara Toru tightly and burst into tears uncontrollably. His cry was filled with helplessness and self-blame, like a wounded child.

Uehara Toru felt a little overwhelmed for a moment. He smiled bitterly and patted his agent on the back, saying with a hint of joking in his tone: "Alright, alright, I know everything. You should go home quickly. You reek of alcohol."

Toru Uehara was not that sad at first, but his agent's tears and emotional outburst made his mood complicated.

After hailing a taxi, the agent slowly let go of Toru Uehara. He took out a bank card from his wallet and pressed it in Toru Uehara's hand.

"This is the money I owe you for surgery two years ago. There is still some balance. You never asked me to pay it back. I remember it all. Take it."

Just as Uehara Toru was about to say something, his agent continued, "Don't bother with me. You're not a woman."

"If you don't succeed as a voice actor, I will be single for the rest of my life."

“You’re so disgusting…”

The agent laughed, with tears in his eyes, then got into a taxi and waved goodbye.

"Uehara, don't give up, this is just the beginning."

After leaving the last words, the agent took a taxi and left.

Uehara Toru stayed alone in the night, breathing the fresh night air, and his thoughts became confused. He shouldn't have such emotional fluctuations, but his agent's words just now made it difficult for him to remain calm, and he couldn't help but get a little excited...

Under the light, the handsome young man lowered his head slightly, and a glimmer of crystal light seemed to appear in the corners of his eyes.

Just then, Mizuno Inori finished dinner at the restaurant across the street and came out to breathe some fresh air, but unexpectedly witnessed the scene between Uehara Toru and his agent.

Toru Uehara couldn't see her, but she could see Toru Uehara.

Is he sad?

Seeing his appearance at this moment, Mizuno Qi's thoughts couldn't help but drift back to his past.

On the road to becoming a voice actor, she received training in an idol agency and suffered countless cold stares and ridicules. Until the night she was eliminated, she felt deeply frustrated.

Mizuno Qi was silent for a while, and was about to take the first step forward, but stopped.

She thought about how the two of them had an unpleasant argument the last time they parted.

At that time, she was indeed out of control and said some things that now seem excessive. But... Sakura is indeed the most unbearable person for her. If she doesn't get rid of Sakura's influence, Mizuno Inori really can't imagine that she can become a true friend with him.

However, he rejected me so coldly. In that case, why should I treat him sincerely?

Despite some hesitation in her heart, Mizuno Inori finally took a step forward.

Just as she was about to cross the street, she noticed two male figures appearing behind Uehara Toru.

She knew both of these people, and they were her seniors.

Matsuoka Makoto and Shimazaki Nobunaga...

The two men patted Uehara Toru on the shoulders, and Shimazaki Nobunaga was the first to ask in a friendly manner, "Are you okay?"

Uehara Toru was stunned for a moment, then turned around and looked at the two men.

Matsuoka Makoto said a little embarrassedly: "Just now...we all heard your conversation in the pub..."

"Nobunaga and I were sitting next to you... If I had known, we would have had a drink together."

"..."

Shimazaki Nobunaga smiled and introduced himself: "My name is Shimazaki Nobunaga. If you don't mind, you can just call me Nobunaga."

He is the kind of man who gives people a refreshing feeling. Although he is not particularly handsome, his bright smile and gentle tone make it difficult for people to dislike him.

Uehara Toru did not follow them, but nodded: "Matsuoka-senpai, Shimazaki-senpai..."

Matsuoka looked at Uehara Toru sincerely and said gently, "Actually, I don't think you need to be too pessimistic. Your acting skills are very good. But as your agent said, I was specially invited to audition for this role..."

Shimazaki Nobunaga smiled and said, "Yes, I was there at the time, Uehara-san, your acting is really impeccable. When it comes to the ability to switch voices, you are one of the best in the industry."

After being praised by two seniors in a row, Toru Uehara didn't know how to react for a moment.

Matsuoka Makoto and Shimazaki Nobunaga looked at each other and said with a smile, "Mr. Uehara, do you have time later?"

"If you don't mind, how about you accompany us to find a place and have a few more drinks?"

"Yes, honestly, I really want to discuss acting with you. Your roar obviously sounds more scientific."

"I voice the character of Inosuke. Every time I finish yelling, I need to take a day or two to recover. To be honest, my throat is a bit tired..."

As Toru Uehara watched them having such a natural conversation, his depressed mood slowly recovered.

“Actually, I was like this at the beginning…”

"right!"

"Come on, let's chat all night long!"

"Stay all night long is too exaggerated..." Although Matsuoka Makoto complained like this, he was obviously very excited.

Looking at the backs of the three men walking side by side, Mizuno Qi stopped and did not follow them.

"Xiao Shui, sorry for waiting!~" The voices of other voice actor friends sounded behind me.

"Ah, what are you looking at?"

Iba Anju put his arm around Mizuno Inori's shoulder and asked curiously.

Mizuno Qi retracted her gaze and replied with a smile: "Nothing."