Someday, We’ll Meet Again

The next morning, perhaps because the sky was about to darken, the sunlight was blocked by clouds.

Teraoin Hane walked through the door of the recording studio, her mood at this moment slightly strange.

Today was the last few recording sessions. It was said that the official trailer would be released after this recording session ended.

That is to say, this was the last few times she would cooperate with Kazakami-san.

Although there was a possibility of cooperating again, that would be a long time later.

She pushed open the door of the waiting room and found a familiar figure already on the sofa inside.

Kazakami Ritsu, wearing a black T-shirt, sat on the sofa, looking at the script in her hand with sleepy eyes.

After seeing Teraoin Hane enter, she looked up and greeted her with a smile.

“Good morning, Teraoin-san. I hope the recording goes smoothly later.”

Teraoin Hane nodded, looking at the dark circles under Kazakami Ritsu’s eyes, feeling somewhat puzzled.

‘Eh, did Kazakami-san not rest well last night?’

Thinking this, she held her script and sat on the other side of the sofa.

“Kazakami-san… you don’t seem to be in very good spirits.”

After hesitating for a long time, Teraoin Hane mustered her courage and took the initiative to strike up a conversation with Kazakami Ritsu beside her.

Kazakami Ritsu was slightly stunned upon hearing this, and reached out to rub her somewhat dry eyes.

“Ah, is it obvious? Because I might be auditioning for a new role later, I stayed up until midnight reading the original work yesterday.”

Actually, she had already finished reading all the novels she bought yesterday with amazing reading speed.

She had to say that light novel authors here in Japan were indeed quite skilled in setting up the early plot.

The protagonist of the whole book, Ul, was not invincible from the start like in those “toilet paper” works. Instead, he took a different path and was shaped into a growth-type protagonist.

Kazakami Ritsu’s answer caused ripples in Teraoin Hane’s heart.

‘A new role… then do I have a chance to continue cooperating with her?’

Teraoin Hane lowered her eyes, seeming to ponder how to ask about the information of that new work.

But at this moment, Sound Director Arashima, with a messy hairstyle, and a group of staff members walked in, yawning.

“Yo, you all arrived quite early. We’ll try to finish recording all the plots related to the consciousness space today. I’ll go debug the equipment with them first.”

After greeting the two, Sound Director Arashima walked into the recording booth with a tired expression.

‘If we finish recording all the plots of the consciousness space… doesn’t that mean I won’t be able to see Kazakami-san tomorrow?’

Teraoin Hane gripped the corner of her clothes tightly. After taking a deep breath, she suddenly looked up at Kazakami Ritsu.

“Kazakami-san, may I ask… which work is the new role you just mentioned from?”

Kazakami Ritsu, leaning comfortably against the sofa cushion, was slightly stunned by this question.

‘Eh? Is a noble lady like Teraoin-san also interested in Isekai light novels?’

“Hmm… it’s that recent light novel with a high topic level. It seems to be called something like, Isekai something Conquest.”

Because the name was too long, Kazakami Ritsu couldn’t remember the name of the book for a moment.

‘Isekai… Conquest?’

Teraoin Hane lowered her head and pondered for a moment, and a possibility came to her mind.

“Could it be that… work called Isekai Reincarnation: World Conquest from Zero!?”

“Yes, yes. Have you read it too, Teraoin-san?”

Kazakami Ritsu glanced at Teraoin Hane with considerable surprise, only to find a joyful smile on the girl’s face.

‘If it’s that work, then I and Kazakami-san can cooperate again!’

Thinking that she would play the female lead role in that work, Teraoin Hane felt very happy.

Teraoin Hane’s reaction made Kazakami Ritsu somewhat bewildered, but before the two could discuss it, the staff had already informed them that the equipment debugging was complete.

Kazakami Ritsu and Teraoin Hane exchanged a look.

The two stood up from the sofa together and walked into the recording booth door with their respective scripts.

In the demo footage, two girls were strolling on a barren land.

Suddenly, one of the girls stopped walking.

“Shu… if I go back, does that mean I’ll never see you again?”

The girl lowered her head and asked the girl leading the way in front of her in a slightly timid voice.

The girl called Shu was slightly stunned by her words and revealed a gentle smile.

“Of course not, Akira. You should be able to see me after you go back, I promise.”

Listening to the firm yet incredibly gentle voice in her ear, Akira squatted on the spot and buried her head in her legs.

‘How is that possible… Liar! Shu is a big liar!’

Akira silently accused in her heart, tears uncontrollably dripping from her eyes.

Shu walked up to Akira and placed a hand on her head.

“Akira, believe what I say. If you don’t go back, we will both disappear forever.”

“If you go back, then this world, which uses your consciousness as a carrier, will still exist, and we will still exist.”

The girl carrying the title of “ideal self” bent down, reached out, and pulled the other self, who had yet to bloom, into her arms.

Feeling the warmth from Shu, Akira, who was originally just sobbing softly, cried even louder.

She didn’t want to lose this friend who understood her and could understand all her thoughts.

The other world was too cruel. If she could stay in this world forever, it wouldn’t seem like a bad thing.

But… if she didn’t leave, everything here would “disappear” because of her.

‘What on earth should I do?’

Just as Akira was at a loss, feeling the pressure about to crush her…

Shu’s voice rang in her ear again.

“Let’s go. I will walk with you through the last part of the journey.”

“Walk together? But then you will…”

“It doesn’t matter. I also want to meet you again, so… don’t be afraid. Nothing will happen.”

With Shu’s encouragement, Akira slowly raised her head.

Her ideal self was standing right in front of her, extending her hand just like the first time they met.

Akira looked at the figure before her, seemingly wanting to completely imprint it in the depths of her memory.

This was her ideal appearance, and also her best friend.

The two hands were held together again, and Shu began to explain patiently just like at the very beginning.

“After you leave, make more friends. Muster the courage to do what you want to do.”

“Don’t be afraid that you can’t do anything well. As long as you put in effort and determination to learn, you will definitely achieve results.”

“Don’t be afraid of being bullied by others. Those guys who bullied you will be punished by me in the future.”

Speaking to this point, Shu’s voice suddenly paused.

Before them was a white door, which didn’t look particularly special.

Shu let go of her hand, the smile on her face not diminishing in the slightest.

“The sooner you can become your ideal self, the sooner you can see me again. I will be waiting for you here. Don’t make me wait too long.”