Don’t come any closer!

With complex emotions swirling within her, Kazakami Ritsu took a taxi back to her rented one-bedroom apartment.

Unable to sleep due to the excitement of passing the audition, Kazakami Ritsu stayed up studying until three or four in the morning, only to feel utterly conflicted when the alarm clock woke her up the next day.

She knew that the voice acting industry was difficult, but she didn’t expect it to be so difficult that even someone who considered herself a genius felt somewhat unconfident.

Just the variations in different vocal tones, along with knowledge related to breath control and emotions, made her head spin.

Climbing out of bed, she leaned against the wall behind her, gazing blankly at the sunlight streaming into the room through the French windows of the balcony.

She had to go to the company today; it was something she had agreed to with Tooru-nee yesterday.

Due to the unique nature of their profession, voice actor trainees at the Japan Narration Institute didn’t have to squeeze onto trains during rush hour like ordinary students and office workers.

While completing their daily coursework, they had more time to accumulate work experience.

Pulling back the covers and stretching languidly, Kazakami Ritsu slipped into the narrow bathroom next door, wearing her slippers and yawning, with the clothes she planned to wear today in hand.

After taking a shower, Kazakami Ritsu styled her hip-length hair into a high ponytail.

The workplace was like a battlefield, so she, who would be participating in an audition this afternoon, should look like a Valkyrie about to step onto the scene!

However, being a Valkyrie wasn’t a very good profession; the danger index and benefits were completely disproportionate.

She would first go to the convenience store to buy breakfast, then go to the agency for the photo shoot. Once that was done, she would see if there were any suitable part-time jobs available…

After planning out her itinerary for the day in her mind, Kazakami Ritsu began to change her clothes in front of the mirror.

Soon, gazing at her reflection in the mirror, Kazakami Ritsu nodded in satisfaction.

Her smooth, black hair clung to her forehead because it hadn’t completely dried, her deep indigo-purple eyes, and her small, well-proportioned nose paired with cherry-colored lips.

‘Yes, she’s a very pretty girl.’

‘As expected of me. With this face, even if the path of voice acting doesn’t work out, I should still be able to walk the path of an entertainer, right?’

Thinking this in her heart, Kazakami Ritsu checked her belongings and put on her shoes at the entrance before heading out.

The train route map in Tokyo looked like a tangled spider web from a distance.

Just as she entered the nearby train station and squeezed onto the train, Kazakami Ritsu was shocked by the office workers radiating resentment inside the train.

Office workers of various ages seemed to have different levels of resentment.

Interns who looked younger and were dressed neatly mostly had empty eyes, looking like soulless shells.

Middle-aged men, who were slightly overweight, blatantly showed their fatigue from work.

‘Terrifying! The workplace here is terrifying!’

Kazakami Ritsu, feeling awed by the workplace here, quietly shrank into a corner at the joint of the carriages, shivering slightly.

The atmosphere inside the train was quite oppressive, with only some ambiguous sighs and coughs to be heard.

Kazakami Ritsu looked out the window, and the bustling buildings of Tokyo made her feel a little lost.

Would she also be like a fish stranded on the beach, drying up in the sun, squeezing into a metal can called a train every day until she was completely eaten clean?

Her time spent lost in thought wasn’t long. After arriving at her destination, Kazakami Ritsu easily escaped the metal can of her imagination.

Kazakami Ritsu, who was already somewhat pessimistic, walked out of the train station, her heart, which had been extinguished by reality, felt as if it were blowing in the cold wind.

After strolling along the street for a while, she arrived at the office building with the planet logo and the words Galactic·Sound hanging on it.

Walking through the front door, she easily took the elevator to the office area on the second floor.

Just as she stepped out of the elevator, Kazakami Ritsu nodded, gazing at the efficiently divided and aesthetically pleasing office area before her.

Each workstation was far apart and separated by opaque glass, giving each employee a large amount of personal space and freedom of movement.

This meant that the president of the agency wasn’t an idiot; he not only knew how to spend money but also had a strong awareness of privacy protection.

“Kazakami, you’re here.”

Just as Kazakami Ritsu entered the office area, the manager, wearing a gray business suit and high heels, popped up.

“Perfect timing. The photographer and Sound Director are in place as well. Follow me.”

Listening to Koconoe Tooru’s words, Kazakami Ritsu blinked in surprise.

“Eh? Sound Director?”

Seeing that her talent looked confused, Koconoe Tooru then patted her head.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you. When registering your official profile photo and information, we also need to record a few audio clips as a showcase.”

‘Hey! You should have made this clear beforehand!’

Kazakami Ritsu narrowed her eyes and before she could even open her mouth, she spotted a familiar figure walking toward them.

Before the person even arrived, a spirited voice had already traveled over.

“Yahahello, isn’t that Kazakami! Are you here to take official profile photos today too?”

A girl with dazzling blonde hair walked over with a beaming smile, wanting to hug Kazakami Ritsu’s arm.

‘This, this woman! Why does she still like physical contact so much!’

Kazakami Ritsu took half a step back, reaching out to block the girl’s outstretched hands, and replied with a forced smile.

“Good morning, Sano-san… Are you taking official profile photos too?”

The blonde-haired girl, whose resistance had failed to succeed, huffed in dissatisfaction.

“Of course! We’re classmates from the same period, shouldn’t we be closer?”

‘That’s true… but I haven’t adapted to your constant desire to stick close!’

This blonde-haired and blue-eyed beauty before her was Sano Nana, a rookie who had entered the Japan Narration Institute in the same period as her.

Kazakami Ritsu pursed her lips, casting a look of plea toward Koconoe Tooru, who was covering her mouth and chuckling to the side.

Koconoe Tooru coughed lightly, restraining her smile.

“Alright, Sano, it’s time to go take photos.”

She said this, feigning seriousness. Sano Nana responded gloomily, glaring at Kazakami Ritsu with a face full of unwillingness.

Kazakami Ritsu felt somewhat helpless; she was really not good at dealing with girls with this kind of personality.

“Next is the official photo shoot. Please make actions according to my instructions.”

Inside the photography area of Galactic·Sound agency, Kazakami Ritsu and Sano Nana, who were sitting on the sofa waiting, nodded obediently in unison after hearing the photographer’s words.

She originally thought that the official profile photo shoot was just ordinary photography, but the development of events had completely exceeded her expectations.

Not only did they have to collect personal information first, in order to facilitate the company’s application for a wiki encyclopedia, they also had to record promotional recordings with corresponding emotions based on the script prepared by the company.

Before Kazakami Ritsu could even complain in her heart, the photographer had already issued his first instruction.

“First is Ritsu-chan, come on, look in the direction of the camera…”