347 Now It's Fantasy Time

"So… I'll be voicing Jasmine this time?" Shouko asked.

When this gentle girl got serious, the usual soft smile on her round cheeks gave way to a look of quiet determination.

Just a glance into those brown eyes was enough to feel her resolve.

She was trying to deduce the right role based on what the president had said earlier.

Since this was meant to be a trial-and-error process, it made sense to start with something simple.

A timid character like Jasmine seemed ideal.

Even if her natural shyness showed through during the performance, it might just add to the charm.

"Huh?"

Matsuda Kako looked at Shouko in surprise.

"Of course not! You're going to voice the big sister!"

With that loud declaration, the agency president announced their decision.

Jasmine might suit Shouko well, but the character barely had any lines—what a waste of such a precious opportunity!

With a rare chance to pick from the five lead roles, of course they had to choose the one that would leave the biggest impression.

Besides, timid characters with few lines are deceptively difficult to portray.

For Shouko, it was a bit too soon.

Flipping through her notebook, Matsuda listed out the pros and cons she'd carefully noted down.

"But in that case, shouldn't I go with Miu?"

That character hadn't originally been on Shouko's radar, but she gathered her courage to ask anyway.

Miu was the neighbor girl who jumped through the window into her sister's room every morning.

A walking disaster, constantly getting into trouble and loving every second of it—her favorite pastime was annoying others until they hit her.

If it was about standing out and being memorable, she seemed like the perfect fit.

Plus, Shouko could channel Sakura's personality to interpret the character's inner thoughts.

"Nope. The older-sister type is perfect for you, Shouko!"

Matsuda firmly rejected the idea—not out of some quirky preference, but based on a full understanding of Nishimiya Shouko's personality.

This was the girl Hojou adored to the point of wanting to install a bomb collar on her just to keep her safe.

On the surface, she looked delicate and gentle, but she had a surprisingly strong "big sister" aura.

Just look at the girls in their agency—grown women who still acted like kids.

When they played with Shouko, their go-to move was always acting spoiled, just to get her to agree to their strange requests.

She had that soft, glass-like empathy that made people want to lean on her.

Matsuda had even confirmed it with Hojou himself—Shouko really did have a younger sister, and apparently, she could be pretty assertive when needed.

When Shouko said things like "Dame!" in her soft but firm voice, there was a unique charm to it. It had the perfect blend of indulgence and conviction.

She was exactly the type of older sister who spoiled her siblings, but always stuck to her principles.

"Big sister…?"

Shouko blinked, and images of Yuzuru and Eriri flashed through her mind.

Onee-chan?

Though she was technically the older sister, Shouko had rarely heard Yuzuru actually call her that.

Her slightly childish little sister usually just called her "Shou-chan."

Only when talking to their grandmother or someone close like Kyousuke would she ever refer to her as "onee-chan."

Shouko had never minded.

It was just their own way of being sisters—nothing unusual about it.

And from Eriri, her "sister in everything but blood," she'd never heard the word either.

That blonde ojou-sama, even when curled up against her watching TV and whining for her to brush snack crumbs off her dress, always—

"Eriri is a senpai, after all~~"

Tiny and adorable as she was, she was still a year older than Shouko.

And now, out of nowhere, she was going to be voicing a big sister character?

One with four little sisters?

Just imagining herself at the recording booth, with so many senior voice actors calling her "onee-chan," made Shouko's cheeks flush.

Her eyes shimmered with tears of emotion.

Weirdly enough… this did kind of suit her.

What if—what if Kyousuke-kun laid his head in my lap and called me "onee-chan" in that lovely voice of his…?

The moment the thought popped into her head, Shouko felt like her soul might float right out of her body.

Her mind would go completely blank, her limbs would turn to jelly, and she'd collapse on top of him.

He'd probably have to soothe her afterward, too.

As she imagined it, her lovely brown eyes started to drift, her lips curling into a dreamy smile.

It was often said among the staff that Nishimiya Shouko had a tendency to space out after class, completely lost in her own thoughts.

She didn't care who was around—her face would just light up with a smile so blissful, it made everyone around her jealous.

But this was the first time Matsuda Kako had witnessed it for herself.

Just seconds ago, Shouko had a look of focused contemplation.

Clearly, she was thinking things through seriously. And then—boom! Her expression transformed.

Maybe it was her imagination, but Matsuda could've sworn she saw a cloud of pink bubbles rise around Shouko.

Her cheeks flushed, steam practically wafting off her head, and the whole aura of her body gave off a sweet-and-sour fragrance of first love.

Is this... is this what modern love looks like?

Matsuda Kako, a woman who had already passed the infamous "seven-year itch" in marriage, still considered herself pretty in-touch with youth trends—especially as the president of an entertainment agency.

It really is enviable—this kind of love where both people choose each other.

Having seen the darker side of the entertainment world, Matsuda could only hope Hojou would always stay this cautious and devoted.

Wasn't he trained in the Hokushin Ittō-ryū? He probably knew a few police bigwigs.

She'd suggest adding a round of background checks with official backing next time.

Of course, as long as she herself wasn't subjected to it again.

She was a good person.

Everyone knew that. No need to go overboard.

Yes, Shouko had to be protected.

She was like the delicate glasswork of Otaru—truly a national treasure.

"Shouko, come back to reality~"

Matsuda, though sorely tempted to keep admiring the girl's adorably shy expression and wistful aura of lost youth, knew there was still business to attend to.

As a responsible adult, her brain kicked back into gear.

Though honestly, if Hojou had been here, he probably would've sat beside Shouko with the gentlest smile, patiently waiting for her daydream to end.

Tch!

The moment that thought entered her mind, Matsuda wanted to slap herself.

How long have I been single to think something that cheesy?!

If Hojou really was here, Shouko wouldn't be fantasizing—she'd already be living her happy little fantasy in real life.

As Shouko finally began to come back to her senses, the middle-aged woman rubbed her temples.

'I must be too tired from work. Since when did I become such a hopeless romantic?'

Maybe this weekend, she'd drop the kids off with her mom and spend a full day alone with her husband.

Yeah… that sounded nice.

Shouko took a deep breath, as if trying to draw all those pink-tinted daydreams into her lungs—saving them to enjoy again later.

"Okay then! I'll take the big sister role—big sisters are the best!"

There was a barely noticeable excitement in her voice, a spark of confidence that was worlds apart from her usual timid self.

"Great! Hold on to that momentum and let everyone see just how powerful Our Voice's newest talent can be!" Matsuda echoed enthusiastically.

"Mhm! I'll do my best!" Shouko nodded with conviction.

Honestly, those words weren't even necessary.

From her focused attitude in class to the way she approached her roles, Matsuda had full confidence that Shouko would give nothing less than 120 percent.

Besides, any rookie voice actress debuting in a high-profile anime adaptation as one of the main leads would be crazy not to give it everything she's got.

Even if it meant taking on three part-time jobs just to afford the full manga set.

Memorizing every line from every character, and writing a 300,000-word character backstory… that was the kind of effort Matsuda had seen time and time again.

Efforts so sincere, even strangers couldn't help but tear up when they failed.

"Do your best, Shouko—for a bright future." Matsuda nodded, her voice softening.

There was nothing more to say.

"Yeah!"

Shouko's high ponytail bounced as she nodded, her chubby cheeks tense with determination and her gaze full of steel.

'For a bright future! For the dream of voicing every character in Kyousuke-kun's works!'

"I'll handle the negotiations on our end. You can head to class for now. I'll let you know once the script comes in," Matsuda said.

"Thank you very much for everything, Matsuda-san." Shouko bowed politely.

"Alright, off you go. We've got a company dinner tonight—don't forget to give Hojou a heads-up."

Matsuda waved her off with a smile.

"Got it. I'll let him know."

Shouko nodded naturally.

While most people might groan at the idea of a company team dinner, she wasn't the least bit bothered.

At their agency, these so-called "team-building" events happened practically every day.

Whenever there were a few people free from work and hanging around the office, dinner plans were made.

After the meal—on a split bill, of course—the ladies who liked to drink went out for another round, while the rest headed to karaoke.

Sometimes, Shouko went straight home. Other times, she'd join for singing. Believe it or not, not all voice actors could actually sing.

Take, for example, Kihara Saki—someone Shouko often mentioned at home.

She was best known for her queenly, commanding roles, always cast as the strict and strong type.

And yet, at karaoke, she could only sing children's songs.

There she'd be, that serious, elegant woman, standing in front of the screen with a jingle bell in hand, singing nursery rhymes with full enthusiasm—interacting with the group like it was some audience participation show.

The contrast was adorable.

That was exactly why Shouko liked going.

In that older colleague, she saw a little glimmer of Kyousuke-kun.

When Shouko returned to class, Mr. Kiya was already gone.

Having such a big name take time out of their schedule for even one lesson was already a rare luxury.

The new class was being taught by a music instructor, focusing on rhythm and vocal control—not a voice acting specialist.

As soon as Nishimiya Shouko walked in, every classmate turned to look, eyes practically sparkling with curiosity.

'What did the president want with her?'

'A new audition?'

'A lead role?'

'Did she get scouted?'

'Or maybe she's already graduating?!'

The instructor quickly noticed the shift. Everyone's attention had dropped to half of what it was earlier.

He sighed inwardly.

Shouko was obviously trying to stay low-key, and yet they were all eagerly throwing themselves at the gossip fire.

They needed to remember: what you don't know won't hurt you.

Sometimes, ignorance really is bliss.

Still, in a weird way, this was its own kind of social skill—knowing how to gossip.

It was times like these that reminded him students and teachers were ultimately the same.

Once the students started zoning out, so did the teachers.

Everyone was casually slacking together.

But then he noticed something odd.

The girl at the center of attention—Nishimiya Shouko—should have been emotionally unsettled after a meeting with the president.

But she wasn't. Quite the opposite.

She sat upright, eyes locked on the blackboard, laser-focused.

"Ah, right… Ahem. Whether you're singing or voice acting, vocal warm-ups are essential. Different techniques will yield different results and can even help you modify your vocal range…"

He cleared his throat and tried to refocus.

But under Shouko's eager, attentive gaze, he suddenly felt a pang of guilt.

'Why am I, living in the very country that invented terms like "salary thief," feeling bad about slacking off…?'

He desperately tried to recapture the blissful mental fog he'd been enjoying earlier.

But—

'Whoa… Since when did Nishimiya get so serious?'

She had the look of an older sister watching over her mischievous younger sibling—at least five years younger. That aura…

'Focus. Back to class!'

Shouko's eyes were locked on the teacher.

Her left hand pinned down her notebook, her right held her pen, and her mind…

…was completely filled with thoughts of Kyousuke.

Onee-chan~

'I wonder what Kyousuke-kun will think when he finds out I'm voicing a big sister…'

A mix of shyness and excitement bubbled inside her.

Just imagining her family sitting down to watch her as the big sister character made her cheeks burn.

'Would Eriri… maybe start seeing me that way too? Start calling me "onee-chan" someday?'

The girl drifted into another sweet daydream.

Unfortunately, the teacher wasn't yet familiar with how easily she zoned out.

Just as she got to the part where a sleepy-eyed Hojou opened the door and murmured, "Onee-chan~" in his soft, dreamy voice—

"Class dismissed," the teacher announced.

'Seriously?!'

'You don't focus during class and you still don't extend the time afterward?!'

Shouko, for once, felt a little pouty.

That was a rare and precious dream…

But she didn't have long to sulk.

She was quickly surrounded by a small crowd.

"Hey hey, Shou-chan, what did President Matsuda want with you just now?" It was Kamijou Nao in a white tracksuit, barging over without the slightest hesitation.

"Mm… I got a role," Shouko replied honestly.

Nao was probably the closest friend she had in class.

Shouko had never minded sharing news like this—even back in middle school, when she'd brought Kyousuke-kun to visit campus.

After meeting Hojou, the other girls no longer treated her like a threat.

They weren't worried that her beauty might steal away the attention they hoped for.

Competition in a training class like this was fierce.

Opportunities were rare, and only the best got them.

That was why Shouko never hid it when she got called in for auditions.

By being open, she showed her classmates there was no need to feel threatened—because with Kyousuke-kun backing her, she'd never be short on opportunities.

This was a social skill Shouko had picked up from Sakura and Naoka.

"Wait—what?! You're not just auditioning? You already got the role?" Kamijou Nao exclaimed in shock.

"Mhm, this time it's a little different than before," Shouko said, holding her thumb and index finger close together to emphasize the nuance.

"Wait, don't tell me—did a production company hear your demo and instantly fall in love with your voice? You got cast without even auditioning?" another girl nearby asked, just as surprised.

That's the perk of being with a big agency.

They help their talents record demos, and when animation studios start new projects, those demos get passed along to directors or producers.

It's a huge leg-up in such a competitive industry.

If you were an independent voice actor, you might not even figure out where the company's front door was.

Even if you did find the right place, and handed over your demo, they'd bow and thank you like saints—ninety-degree bows, borderline groveling—and toss your CD into the trash the moment you left.

Only open auditions or demos submitted through top-tier agencies were taken seriously.

"Mhm~" Shouko shook her head with a smile. "It's actually thanks to Kyousuke-kun. He got me the role."

That was one thing she wanted the whole world to know.

"Ohhh~~ The almighty Hojou-sama strikes again~" Kamijou drawled teasingly.

Let's see… he raised tropical fish, painted, did carpentry, fixed houses, cooked, aced his exams with terrifying perfection, won two consecutive national kendo championships, bagged a gold medal in the Japanese Math Olympiad…

And he was a manga artist and a light novel author on top of it all.

Even the agency president knew that Shouko had a tendency to zone out after class—so of course her classmates knew too.

One little question and she'd spill everything about "Kyousuke-kun" without hesitation.

That affectionate, slightly formal way she called him—"Kyousuke-kun"—dripped with unbearable sweetness every time it passed her lips.

Other couples might aim for respectful distance, but those two were endlessly consistent.

No matter what topic came up, it always circled back to Kyousuke-kun.

Tasty food? She wanted to go eat it with him.

Fun places? They had to experience them together.

Beautiful sights, lovely music—it all pointed to him.

"Ughhh~ I'm getting goosebumps! Is it some kind of anniversary or something? This is way too thoughtful a gift," Nao said, squinting at her in mock frustration.

"Hehe~ Not exactly," Shouko giggled, shaking her head. Then she tilted it to the side, as if reconsidering. "Well, actually… maybe it kind of is an anniversary."

"Huh? It really is?" Nao blinked. "What kind?"

"It's the anniversary of the first time I was officially cast in a role~"

Shouko smiled gently, and for a moment, the dust in the air seemed to turn into glowing motes of light.

The light took shape—the shape of a girl's radiant, blooming smile.

Nao froze, then glanced around at the other girls huddled around Shouko. They all looked just as confused.

And that's when the truth hit her.

"Ughhh! Shou-chan, that's way too sweet! Someone get a dentist! Let me translate for everyone: what she actually means is—every day she spends with Hojou-san is worth celebrating."

Uuuuugh—

As expected, Nao's interpretation was universally accepted. It was accurate, elegant, and deeply disturbing.

A wave of sugar-sweet nausea swept through the group.

"Hehehe~"

Shouko didn't deny it.

Kyousuke-kun always pinched her cheeks, teasing her about her baby fat and saying it was a sign of good fortune.

But she knew the truth—her plump cheeks weren't filled with fat.

They were full of happiness.

With a bit more coaxing, Shouko shared that Hojou Kyousuke had helped secure the role for her.

She didn't mention the part about choosing from five major characters or getting three side characters as a bonus.

That would've made Kyousuke-kun seem even more impressive, sure—but it would also stir up too much trouble for everyone else.

"Man… I want a boyfriend like that too," Nao said with a sigh of envy.

"Too bad for you, daydreaming at this hour's a little late," someone teased.

"Excuse me! You clearly don't understand the true value of daydreaming!" Nao huffed.

"The best thing about daydreams is they don't care about time or place or reality, alright?"

"No, no, what I meant was: if you wait a bit and daydream after class, then you can do it all night uninterrupted. Way better return on investment."

"Ahhh~ That makes perfect sense." Nao nodded, clearly convinced.

"But I'll pass. Boyfriends are just distractions from making money.

Right now, all I want is to be best friends with Shou-chan and wait for her to become a star so she can get me a role too~"

"Hey! No fair! I call dibs on being Shouko's best friend right now—no one's stealing my spot!"

"I wanna join the agency she starts!"

…

A mess of voices bubbled up around her.

These girls could joke like this because they knew.

They understood.

They weren't delusional—just realistic enough to know that envy wouldn't get them anywhere.

If you couldn't beat the best, the best strategy was to befriend her.

Class ended quickly.

The next one passed just as fast. For Shouko, every second she spent in class brought a real sense of progress—and that feeling was addictive.

It made her feel like her dream with Kyousuke-kun was getting a little closer each day.

"See you tomorrow, Shou-chan~" Nao waved, heading off to her part-time shift at the convenience store.

"See you tomorrow, Nao." Shouko smiled as she replied.

"See you tomorrow, Shou-chan~" Mikawa Miko gave a quick wave.

She was heading home to cook dinner for her family.

"Tomorrow, Miko." Shouko's smile continued.

"See you…"

And so on, like the owner of a doggie daycare sending off each little pup with a warm farewell.

Shouko stayed behind, waiting.

She was expecting her seniors from the agency to come pick her up.

This was already routine by now.

The seniors would only come down once the other students had left.

 It wasn't about pride—they just didn't want to cause her any trouble.

"Onee-chan! Hurry up and eat—I'm starving! I'm about to turn into a piece of paper!"

A high-pitched, cheerful voice rang out behind her.

Shouko's eyes widened in shock as she turned around.

Wait—what?!