“I get that her environment’s not great...but y’know I’m a sound director, right? I can give her voice trainin’ to a certain extent myself.”
“Oh, there is that side to a voice actor’s world too? That has logic to it.”
“Y’know, there are tons of cases of successful people thinkin’ they can pass down their individual talents to just anyone, so they give all this messed up guidance that ends up ruinin’ their students. ’N’ I don’t want Kohinata pickin’ up bad habits just ’cause some first-rate actress had some spare time on her hands.”
What the heck were these sparks?! And how was I supposed to put them out?!
These two were fighting over me—but wasn’t this usually the kind of fight that happened between two guys? Why were these girls having a standoff over this? Thank God Murasaki Shikibu-sensei wasn’t here, or I’d be wrapped up in another of her 3D yuri ships!
I was still panicking when somebody from the crew shouted over to us in English.
“Hurry up! It’s time to start!”
“Fuck!” Mizuki-san replied with a gentle smile that said “I’ll be right there.”
There seemed to be a total disconnect between her words, her expression, and her tone, but that was probably just down to my less-than-perfect English.
“Your name was Otoi-san? I want to show you with Iroha-chan. How is that?”
“Hey, yeah! You should totally come with us, Otoi-san!” I didn’t waste any time in accepting Mizuki-san’s offer on Otoi-san’s behalf. I liked both of them; I didn’t want them to stay at odds with each other. Also, this was kinda pathetic of me, but I’d feel way better with someone I knew well, rather than being by myself in this world where everyone was speaking English.
I gave Otoi-san my best-ever puppy dog eyes, while she scratched awkwardly at her cheek and mulled it over. Then, she scooped up everything that was left in her parfait glass—the mochi, the fruit, the cream—and stuffed it all together into her mouth.
“I guess I could learn somethin’, seein’ a professional set. I’ll come along.”
“Yes!”
“Uh, it was Mizuki-san, yeah? Thanks for the opportunity, I guess.”
“Yes. Otoi-san, it will be good. Please enjoy it.”
I was relieved to see them treat each other with a semblance of respect. Their first impression of each other might’ve been bad, but they’d probably figure things out after spending some time together, right? They were both adults. Well, Otoi-san was a teenager, but her mental age was way higher.
“Oh, that’s right.” Mizuki-san turned to Otoi-san. “You are a young girl. I want to call you friendly. With your first name and -chan.”
“Aaah!”
“Oh? I am surprised by your strange, abrupt yell. What has happened, Iroha-chan?”
“You can’t ask Otoi-san what her first name is! You’ll trigger her!”
“Why? Calling her first name is an honor; a proof of a friend. I don’t think it’s an embarrassing thing. Or is there a possibility the first name is embarrassing?”
Otoi-san wasn’t saying anything—and it was terrifying! This was literally the top entry on her list of things that made her mad! Were these two fated to just never get along?!
“Hmm, girls of age are difficult. You are the same difficulty level with Mashiro. It’s mysterious where the triggers are; you never know. Then, now I will call you Otoi-san. Please, can I?”
“Yeah. ’Sokay for now.”
“Oui. I understood. Now, let’s go.”
“R-Right!”
I could hear from the last sentence’s change in tone that Mizuki-san had switched modes. Her expression was that of an actress—this was work now. She was no longer the mysterious beauty who seemed to know more than she let on; she was someone else—though it was hard to describe exactly who. Usually, I’d say she’d put on another mask, but it was more like something had come out from within her and was now clearly visible on her face.
That change in her expression got me to focus again as I followed her to the film crew.