Shortcomings

After summoning her emotions and finishing the entire segment of lines, Kazakami Ritsu took a breath and waited for the Sound Director’s next instruction.

However, Hasegawa Rai did not issue any further commands. Instead, with a solemn expression, he made a hand gesture.

“Let’s stop here for now. We will send you the results of this audition via email.”

After saying this, Hasegawa Rai disdainfully pushed away the Animation Director who was trying to snatch the headphones from his hands.

Because she didn’t receive a direct confirmation of passing from the Sound Director’s mouth, Kazakami Ritsu walked out of the recording booth with a tinge of regret.

As long as she didn’t get an affirmation from the Sound Director right then and there, the probability of being screened out in the subsequent selection process would increase significantly.

“My breathing was fine, my emotions seemed fine, and my timing was precise. So where exactly did the problem lie?”

Kazakami Ritsu, who was walking with her head down pondering where her performance had gone wrong, suddenly discovered an obstacle in front of her.

She looked up and found it was Sano Nana, who had come to the audition with her.

The blonde girl seemed to be in a very good mood. Seeing Ritsu come out of the recording booth, she greeted her with a face full of excitement.

“Kazakami! How was it? With your strength, you should have easily secured this role, right?”

Hearing her words, Kazakami Ritsu was stunned for a moment, then shook her head with a bitter smile.

“Actually, I’m not sure either. There were no issues with emotions or breathing, and I didn’t misread any lines, but…”

Kazakami Ritsu didn’t continue with the rest of her sentence. After all, just as that manager had said…

Failing an audition seemed to be the norm faced by the vast majority of voice actors.

Not everyone could be like her, having the opportunity to play a named character right upon debut and even attracting a lead role through her voice alone.

Seeming to notice that Kazakami Ritsu was in low spirits, Sano Nana, who had already passed her audition and successfully obtained the role of the Goddess Priestess, decided to splurge a little to comfort her good friend.

“Anyway, the audition is over now. Do you want to go eat something? My treat!”

Kazakami Ritsu first glanced at Sano Nana’s expression, then sighed lightly.

“Forget it, let me treat you this time. After all, I’ve already received a lead role.”

Sano Nana, who had been somewhat depressed by the first half of the sentence, instantly revitalized upon hearing the second half.

The two left the recording studio together and strolled down the street.

It wasn’t until they crossed the intersection along the crosswalk that Kazakami Ritsu suddenly snapped her head around, twisting her neck.

“Sano-san, why do you keep staring at me?”

“H-Huh? Eh? Was I staring at you? I didn’t even notice, ahaha…”

Ever since she said she would treat her, this blonde before her seemed to have become strange.

It would be one thing if she just stole a glance or two every now and then, but why did she have to reveal such an eerie smile that felt very wrong?!

Thinking this in her heart, she deepened her tone.

“That’s right, you’ve been looking at me the whole time. Is there something strange about me?”

Kazakami Ritsu stopped walking, narrowing her eyes and crossing her arms with an expression that said, “I’m not moving until you explain clearly.”

Sano Nana seemed taken by surprise, lowering her head with slightly flushed cheeks.

“Actually, actually it’s nothing really…”

In this situation, how on earth was she supposed to say the words, “I’ve always admired you, Kazakami, so I want to work hard and practice together with you”?

Noticing that Sano Nana seemed quite dejected, Kazakami Ritsu pursed her lips, feeling a headache coming on.

‘Sure enough, even after becoming a girl, I still can’t understand what goes on inside their heads.’

‘However… there is a method that can instantly improve the mood of the vast majority of people.’

“Sano-san, wait for me here for a moment.”

“Wait, Kazakami, where are you going…”

Before Sano Nana could finish speaking, she saw Kazakami Ritsu walk straight toward a beverage shop not far away.

Soon, Kazakami Ritsu returned to her side holding two triple-scoop ice creams piled high.

Sano Nana took the ice cream handed to her with a dazed expression.

Staring at the three scoops of chocolate ice cream, all covered in a thin, crispy shell, she looked for a good while before suddenly turning her head.

“Kazakami, how did you know I like chocolate-flavored ice cream?”

Kazakami Ritsu, who was enjoying her own matcha triple-scoop ice cream, paused for a moment and revealed an expression as if she were looking at an idiot.

“Are you stupid? I not only know that you like sweet foods like chocolate, but I also know you like grapes. Didn’t you write all these things yourself on the registration form?”

‘Wh-what! There was such a thing?!’

Sano Nana’s eyes went wide; she had long forgotten about filling out a form on the day of the official photo shoot.

‘Why does Kazakami remember these things? Should I also try to learn more about her?’

Just as Sano Nana’s CPU was spinning at high speed, seriously considering whether to implement this, a notification sound for a received message came from Kazakami Ritsu’s pocket.

She took out her phone to take a look; it was an email.

Kazakami Ritsu opened the email and discovered it was a response message from the project she had just auditioned for.

Kazakami Ritsu’s eyes, which were originally somewhat languid, underwent a change after opening that email.

Inside the recording booth, Hasegawa Rai rubbed the space between his eyebrows, which was throbbing with pain, looking somewhat melancholy.

“What a pity. That kid called… what was it again… oh right, that kid called Kazakami Ritsu is actually quite talented, but in the end…”

He felt some regret; after all, a voice actor so young and talented was already a rare sight in this era.

The Animation Director, standing to the side with his arms crossed, heard his words and revealed a cold, stern expression.

“Idiot. Didn’t you already send her a message that was more of a lecture than a reply? What’s the point of saying such soft words now?”

Saying this, the Animation Director stood up from his chair with a face full of displeasure.

He reached out and pointed at the soundproof glass of the recording booth.

“Have you forgotten? What did you tell me back then? What do you think the place inside there is?”

“I know. But she just debuted, and possessed such vocal timbre, such sound quality. If polished properly…”

Hasegawa Rai didn’t continue with the rest of his words.

Indeed, time was the most helpless thing.

What players cared about was emotional resonance, not a gorgeous but hollow tone, or a performance that had the right emotions but lacked feeling.

If voice actors were just like tools, churning out various characters like products on an assembly line…

Then in the industry of that time, would there really be any need for the existence of people like them, who harbored various ideals and wanted to present what was in their hearts to everyone?