Tokyo Sound

"Why don't you invite us to dinner? Oh, by the way... we only have one or two fish, which is not enough. Why don't you ask us to eat out?" asked Asamiya Kazuki.

"Other people are busy with their work, and it takes a lot of time for them to come here temporarily. Of course I have to hurry back." The man sighed.

"Is that so?" Asamiya Kazuki asked cautiously, "So what did you talk about?"

"Of course, it's the areas that all men brag about - dreams and careers!" Someone waved his hand.

"So, what was the result?" Asamiya Kazuki was extremely curious. "Did they come up with anything big?"

"not at all?"

The man and the girl walked down the stairs and into the corridor, and he looked outside.

The winter here is a bit cold, and there are few pedestrians on the asphalt road. It is a good opportunity to hum your favorite songs in your headphones.

There is already a thin layer of snow on the trees along the road, and warm white air rises from the sighs. Time washes away the things created by man with silent steps, turning it from a joyful spring into a withered winter.

Frost and snow can cover the chilly spring breeze, and winter can freeze memories, but it cannot freeze confidence.

"The future is too hard to predict. Otherwise, how can some words be called dreams and fantasies?"

……

"Kashiwai-san, you're amazing. I heard that you've been invited to play the main role! The voice actors you brought in are too good. You can take the job yourself and play the main role. It will save you a lot of trouble!"

A colleague passed by the workstation and greeted the agent who was sitting inside, busy sorting documents.

"Haha, really? That's great."

The agent raised his head, revealing a face that was as otherworldly and kind as Maitreya Buddha.

"What's wrong? You seem unhappy. What's there to be unhappy about?" my colleague was puzzled.

"No, look, don't you think I'm very happy?" Kashiwa Ippei's heart was bleeding, but he still maintained a fake smile.

Chapter 79: Precision and Elegance

Maaya Uchida was waiting for the train on the platform.

It rained last night and the temperature dropped sharply. The streets outside the window were already covered in white.

Elderly people dressed warmly went out with brooms to sweep the snow, drivers were busy clearing away the layers of snow on the hoods and cars, students wearing scarves walked sleepily towards the school. Only the children were the happiest, they chattered and clattered, grabbing, pinching and throwing things at will, and it was a real sword fight. Their smiling faces and red hands were very eye-catching in the light-colored scene covered in silver.

Uchida Maaya stamped her feet repeatedly, as if trying to drive away the chill in the air. The white air she exhaled floated high up and was then blown away by the wind.

Uchida Yuuma even went out earlier than her today. And during breakfast, the little brother was either sneering, or acting deep, or as firm as a mountain, with a variety of emotions.

I asked him if he had any worries, or if he had trouble working in the theater. He didn't answer. Finally, he drank the milk in big gulps, and his slender back as he pushed the door and walked away looked shocking and great.

It exudes a strong sense of tragedy, a determination to fight against fate and ultimately defeat it.

Maaya Uchida felt that this was probably a belated rebellious period.

The train arrived as scheduled. She walked into the carriage with the crowd and came to a corner. She watched in silence for a while at the winter city passing by outside the window. The tall buildings were glowing with gray light.

She then took out a novel and read it slowly. Although the producers said that they would change the plot, it would definitely be a good thing to know more about the original work.

She won first place in an audition last week and was qualified for the leading role.

She originally had little chance of winning.

Kyoto Animation's previous works have all been of very good quality, and "Hyouka," which concluded not long ago, also won the status and achievements of the season's overlord.

This is the first time that our company has animated a work from its own library. From the perspective of corporate management, this is a very strategic step. Naturally, we will definitely put a lot of effort into the production, so it has attracted much attention from people in the industry.

However, as a voice actor, Maaya Uchida doesn't quite understand the changes and upgrades within the animation company.

But she knew that the competition at the audition was very fierce. There were well-known seniors and veterans, as well as resilient newcomers who were just starting out. Almost people from all levels came.

Honestly speaking, it is hard for young newcomers to muster up confidence in such an expansive and difficult match.

Maybe it was because she had no hope and felt relieved that she performed better, or maybe it was luck that blessed her. In any case, after she tried to perform, she saw the sound monitor talking to other people for a few minutes, and finally heard the clear word "congratulations".

The agent was also very moved when she learned about it. She also didn't expect it to be successful. After much thought, she could only attribute it to "luck."

"But it's not 'luck' in the usual sense. It's the synchronization rate between you and the character."

The agent is a 40-year-old woman with the temperament of an elementary school Chinese teacher, and she always seems very kind.

"The story typed out word by word and the carefully sketched image are integrated into flesh and blood, and the voice is the last piece of the puzzle to build the character's soul. Among all the candidates, you and her are the most compatible. This fate transcends acting skills and fame. So it's more like destiny than luck—"

Uchida Maaya felt like it was unreal.

But the shaking of the car and the rubbing of the pages told her that she was now the book in her hand, a projection of the weak-hearted girl in the story.

……

After finishing her morning schedule, Uchida Maaya hurried to another recording studio. She arrived too early, and there was no one else there except the regular staff.

But soon, partners from the same commune arrived.

"Oh, Uchida-san, hello." Matsuoka Yoshitsugu walked in with a chill from outside.

"Matsuoka-kun, why are you wearing so many clothes? You look two sizes fatter," Uchida Maaya joked with her colleague. Matsuoka is a skinny guy, but now he's wearing three pieces inside and three pieces outside, and his belly looks big.

"There's nothing I can do. It's so cold and I won't be warm if I don't wear enough." Matsuoka Yoshitsugu was helpless.

"There are special styles for winter, how can they not keep you warm?"

"...That one is usually more expensive, so I always choose quantity over quality. This is how I dealt with previous winters, but it seems to be particularly cold this year. I'll buy it later when I have time." Matsuoka Yoshitsugu said this while touching his bulging, fake belly.

"It is said that people gain weight when they reach middle age. You won't look like this in the future, will you?" Uchida Maaya smiled.

"That's absolutely impossible." Matsuoka Yoshitsugu was very confident. "I exercise every day, so my intake and expenditure are basically equal. How can I gain weight? Some people, on the other hand, eat and drink to their heart's content every day, and are very comfortable and relaxed. They don't have the awareness of being prepared for danger in times of peace. In the future, they will definitely develop horizontally. It's a pity that their originally handsome faces are ruined."

"Are you talking about..." Uchida Maaya hesitated.

"Yes, it's Nobunaga." Matsuoka Yoshitsugu agreed, "I'm really worried about him."

"Oh." Uchida Maaya nodded silently.

The two then chatted about some recent events. They used to be in the same class in the training center, so they had no trouble finding things to talk about.

"Suruga is working towards the broadcasting field, and has also accepted a recurring small role in a long-running anime. Haruka seems to have accepted a job at IMAs, and she may even be able to sing on stage in the future. I have always thought she is pretty good, and she will definitely have no problem working as an idol. Sakura-kun's workload has been reduced, after all, she is still in school and has exams to take."

Matsuoka Yoshitsugu counted on his fingers and said, "This is the end."

"…Also, I saw another person in the class group saying he wanted to change careers."

"It seems that there are only a few people left in our class who are still working as voice actors, right?" said Maaya Uchida.

"Yeah. Actually, if you roughly calculate, it's only been a few years, but there are only a small group of people left." Matsuoka Yoshitsugu sighed, "It's really hard to do... I'm lucky. I wanted to give up before, but someone held me back."

"Luck"?

Uchida Maaya thought.

Come to think of it, Matsuoka-kun also has such a role, a role that he should play.

With the help of that opportunity, he completely reversed his downward trend and is now in the rising period of his career. He has been appearing in a number of light-adapted animation dramas and has even earned the nickname "the dark horse of the audition."

Uchida Maaya was a little hesitant.

She was well aware of the strength of this old classmate, and compared to her, she was still far behind.

Thinking of those who left, I couldn't help but ask myself, am I competent enough, can I live up to the expectations of being chosen, and can I continue my career path well in the future...

I wonder if a true genius would feel hesitant?

"By the way, it seems your brother is here too?" asked Matsuoka Yoshitsugu.

"Yes, he is very persistent. I told him that this job is not easy, but he just wouldn't listen and is stubborn." Uchida Maaya shook her head whenever she mentioned her younger brother.

"You have to have this kind of energy. Someone like your brother who is not afraid of setbacks will definitely be able to persevere." Matsuoka Yoshitsugu said affirmatively, "I heard that he has joined the agency? How is it going? Has he received any work?"

"He participated in his first commercial dubbing this morning, so a few hours ago, he made his successful debut."

When talking about her debut, Maaya Uchida still shook her head with a pessimistic look.

"I don't know how he's doing. Although he doesn't say it, he's still very nervous in private. He keeps studying his lines every day. He woke up very early today. It's really worrying."

"That's it. How could he fail if he prepared so carefully? You should try to trust him," said Matsuoka Yoshitsugu.

"It's hard to say, maybe they have even re-recorded it." Uchida Maaya said in a low voice.

"Not really. Generally speaking, people will do their best to debut, and since it's their first time, they will be fully prepared. It's impossible to re-record a debut." Matsuoka Yoshitsugu didn't believe it.

"But I heard that when Takizawa-kun debuted, the sound director ordered him to re-record all the lyrics?" Uchida Maaya asked curiously.

"… Well, that was an isolated case. He talked to me about it later and said frankly that it was 'purely bad luck' and 'fate' or something like that." Matsuoka Yoshitsugu scratched his head.

Of course, he asked his friends about his debut experience. After all, it was his first professional battle, and the impression was very deep. For example, his first battle was about 20,000 nameless clones running through the streets without clothes. It didn't have much content, but it was still very memorable.

Friends must have a deeper understanding of life, right? Those experiences can be learned and applied in actual combat.

Someone simply said "it was just bad luck" to this question, and then seemed to think that this was not emotional enough, so he gritted his teeth and added "maybe it was destined to happen."

"Is it fate..." Uchida Mare suddenly realized. So, this is what that person believed to be the fate, and it started the road of interpretation. And, Alredo is now bound to that person, and it can be said that they have achieved each other.

The girl took a deep breath, trying to calm her nervousness. She had to perform well in the official recording, in order to live up to expectations and to continue to do better and further in what she loved.

……

"Are we going to be late?" Uchida Yuma kept looking at his mobile phone screen, saying anxiously.

"Impossible, we will definitely arrive on time. Look, aren't we all downstairs?"

Yin Ze pointed forward and said confidently.

"According to my calculations, we can even go to the convenience store to buy a bottle of water. Oh, you asked me to treat you, right? Come on, let's go together. Brother, you can choose whatever you want to drink."

"We're almost there, what else are we going to buy? Let's just run to work!" Uchida Yuuma suggested, keeping his eyes on the time.

"Now that things have come to this, what's the difference between running a few steps and walking? Then what's the point of you insisting on walking with me and wanting to learn my style?"

Yin Ze frowned.

"You just entered the industry, so you don't know. But I've been to various major film studios in Tokyo over the past few years, and I know which vending machines in the corridors have good drinks and which ones don't. The drinks sold by this one are very non-mainstream, and it will be too late for you to regret it if you go there!"

"What if the elevator stops at a certain floor because of the cleaning lady? Are you sure there won't be any accidents? One minute more or one minute less will result in huge losses due to lateness and absenteeism!"

"No, the recording studio is on the third floor, so it's no problem to take the stairs."

"... Ohnishi, look at your senior, why don't you talk about him!" Uchida Yuuma was at a loss. He was in a very ambiguous relationship with someone, and they were in a passionate love mode, with their arms and shoulders locked. So much so that if he wanted to run to work, he had to carry the weight forward.

"I have just entered the industry and I still have a lot to learn from my seniors in everything." Saori Ōnishi gave a formal answer.

"..."

In the end, Uchida Yuuma had no choice but to admit that he didn't want to treat the guests.

So someone moved forward with great speed, with a newcomer on his left hand and a direct junior sister on his right hand.

Arrived at the recording room.

The time is precise and accurate.

Chapter 80 This day is too cold

"Have you ever heard of the term 'Chuunibyou'?"

A voice narrated slowly.

"It is said that this is an extremely terrible disease that is easy to contract when a child enters puberty in the second year of junior high school."

"The combination of unfinished self-awareness and daydreaming will eventually lead to people doing all kinds of weird things..."

"|The person who only read boys' comics yesterday suddenly picked up Faust in German today. He has no idea of ​​the essence of bitterness, but is obsessed with black coffee. He is more convinced that he has unknown, special powers. It's this kind of thing."

“And I, in junior high school, was also a severe case of Chuunibyou. I called myself the Black Flame Messenger, and my signature line was—”

The voice suddenly became higher.

"Be consumed by the flames of darkness!"

With side bangs covering his right eye, his past self used a deep, charming, yet immature voice to chant and shout in a majestic manner.

"..."

The boy knelt on the ground, silently looking at the junior high school notebook that he had filled with various settings, spells, and crooked illustrations.

The shame transcended the distance of time, creating turbulent waves in the heart, making the scalp tingle and the back cold. In the end, it was only when I rolled and trembled on the tatami floor that it could be dispelled.

This is a terrible disease that makes people feel socially dead just by recalling it.