[Vol 1] A Romantic Comedy About Flirting and Getting Married to a Popular Voice Actress Chapter 1
June, 2022. The clubroom of the Anime Research Society was lively as always.
『Take this! My ultimate attack, Explosive Magic Bullet Pretty Blaster!』
『Uooooohhh! Go──── Marika────!』
While watching the climactic battle scene from the final episode of the anime 『Magical Girl Majika☆Marika』, my junior, Narumi Rion, and I shouted in unison.
On the screen, the protagonist Marika, who had transformed into a magical girl after squeezing out the last of her strength, unleashed her signature finishing spell toward the monster villain, saving the world from destruction.
“Man, 『Maji☆Mari』 really is the best! This sense of excitement never gets old, no matter how many times I watch it!”
“Right? Right!? There aren’t many recent anime with battle scenes this intense! And Marika-chan’s cute underwear peeking out during the action scenes… honestly, it’s super hot…!”
“I know, right!? That passion and that ecchi charm are what make this anime great! Damn, talking about it is getting me hyped again…! I want Season 2 already…”
“I can’t wait either! There’s still no official announcement, but I’ll be fully nude standby until the day comes!”
Rion agreed enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling.
Yeah. This girl really gets me. It’s rare to find a girl who resonates this strongly with my tastes. I mean, this anime is basically made for guys anyway.
“And the voice acting is amazing too! Nekoyama Aki-san, who plays Marika, has such a beautiful voice! That crystal-clear tone is perfect for a heroine!”
“True. She definitely deserved the Best Lead Actress Award at the Popular Voice Actress Awards last year. …But, Comrade Rion. If we’re talking about voice actors from this anime, there’s one person we absolutely cannot forget.”
“Someone we can’t forget…? Who is it?”
“Obviously, my oshi! Aizaki Yuka-chan!”
Aizaki Yuka—better known as Ai-chan. In 『Maji☆Mari』, she voices the magical-girl side character Miyanaga Kana. She’s a rookie voice actress who debuted only two years ago, known for her adorable and sweet voice.
“Kana-chan, the character Ai-chan plays, is seriously cute. She’s an angel. She’s kind, timid, but still steps up to fight in front of everyone for her friends… it just makes me want to hug her quietly…”
“It’s true you’re really into Kana-chan, Senpai. But this voice actress… I looked her up, and it seems like she’s struggling. She appeared in 『Maji☆Mari』 about half a year ago, but hasn’t done much since. 『Maji☆Mari』 itself is a relatively minor title, too. The rest of her roles are all background characters…”
“Stop! Don’t say such ominous things! She’s just recharging right now! Next season she’ll definitely bless us with her cheerful voice again!”
Sure, not hearing your oshi for a long time makes you ridiculously anxious! But I’ll believe in Ai-chan! Believing in your oshi is all an otaku can do!
“Anyway, my ultimate oshi is Ai-chan! Alright, since we’re at it, I’ll teach you the greatness of Ai-chan too, Rion! Time for a 『Maji☆Mari』 marathon, round two!”
“Eh? We’re watching from Episode 1 again? We just finished the final episode…”
“No problem! We’re only watching Ai-chan’s scenes. Specifically, Episode 3, starting at 18 minutes and 22 seconds—the scene where Kana-chan first appears.”
“How do you even remember that!? How much do you love Ai-chan!?”
“Of course I do! I’ve rewatched all her scenes dozens of times. You do the same with your favorite characters, right?”
“…Well, yes. I watch those episodes at least five times a day.”
“As expected of Rion! Truly a comrade!”
“I didn’t expect to be praised for that… but if I’m Senpai’s comrade, then I’m honored!”
“Good! Then let’s analyze Ai-chan’s voice together! This is our duty as the Anime Research Society!”
“Yes, Club President! Understood!”
Well… even though we’re called the Anime Research Society, Rion and I basically just watch anime we like together. Last year, when the seniors were still here, they tried making their own (terrible) anime and failed, and they also tried writing papers about anime to post online but failed… so compared to that, our activities are actually pretty normal.
But Rion and I are satisfied with what we do now. We aren’t bothering anyone, and we’re enjoying ourselves. Might as well live in the moment. With that in mind, we resumed watching anime together.
『I’m Kana! The newest magical girl! My ultimate attack, Love Innocent Great Whirlwind Hurricane!』
『Monster… I will never forgive you! I’ll take you down!』
『I have… no regrets… because… I love you all…』
“Kana-chaaan! I love youuu!”
“Senpai, you really do love her. But yes, it is a cute voice. I want to hear her play another character.”
“Exactly! That’s exactly what I mean! Ahhh! I want to hear Ai-chan’s voice again soon… If that’s impossible, then I wish I could at least date her…”
“Impossible. No way. Dating a voice actress? You won’t even have the chance to meet one.”
“Yeah… you’re right… realistically, it’s impossible…”
“Instead, I’ll watch anime with you. Be satisfied with that.”
“…Yeah. I guess just being able to talk about anime with a girl is already a blessing in itself…”
Having a junior who shares my hobbies this closely… I guess I’m pretty lucky.
And just like always, we enjoyed watching anime together until the final school bell rang.
※
On my way home after parting with Rion.
Before heading back, I made my way to the shopping district near the station. Weaving through groups of chatting students and office workers on their way home, I slipped into one of the back alleys.
At the end of it was a small bookstore. I stepped inside.
“Excuse meee. Is anyone here〜?”
Calling out toward the back of the shop, I scanned the narrow interior lined with bookshelves. Then──
“Oh my, Kanata-kun. Welcome.”
A familiar woman appeared from the back room, hurrying over to me.
A beautiful, mature-looking woman. Her long black hair and plain-looking glasses gave her a calm, clean, composed vibe. Despite that, she had a great figure, her large chest swelling softly against her clothes.
“I was wondering when you’d show up, Kanata-kun. I thought maybe you weren’t coming in today.”
“No way, Nene-san. I messaged you that I’d stop by this evening, didn’t I?”
Saeki Nene-san. She’s the daughter of the owner of this shop, 『Tsubasa Bookstore』, and she’s usually the one watching the counter at this hour. She’s a year above me, and always spoils me for some reason. She even attends the same high school as I do.
“So, did that thing I asked about come in? It releases today, right?”
“Yes, of course. Here you go.”
Nene-san handed me a book. The title read: 『Kuudere joushi ni amayakasareru dake no oshigoto”』(Being Pampered by My Kuudere Boss Is the Only Part of My Job.)
“Fufu. This is what you came for, right?”
“Yes! This is it! Thank you so much!”
I took the book and grinned at the cover illustration of the blushing kuudere heroine.
Thank goodness! I managed to get it! This was the thing I’d been looking forward to the most today…!
“I’m glad you’re happy. ──Oh, more importantly, our sales have been really good this month. It’s thanks to you recommending those titles so I stocked more of them.”
“Really? I’m glad I could help.”
Sometimes Nene-san asks me for advice on things like how many copies to order for new releases. Well, to be honest, I just tell her my preferences and whatever people online are saying.
“So, about the next order… do you know anything that looks like it’ll sell well?”
“Let’s see… For the next batch, the safest bet is the new volume of 『Love Sharing.』 The anime last season was really good, and its popularity shot up.”
“Ah! 『Love Sharing』 was great, wasn’t it! I became a fan because of the anime too.”
Her eyes sparkled as she latched onto something unexpectedly.
“So you knew it too, Nene-san? The story and the animation were both really delicate and well done.”
“Yeah. The way they portrayed the characters’ emotions as their relationship kept missing each other… it felt so real.”
“The voice acting was great too. They expressed the characters’ emotions painfully well.”
“…Eh…!? Th-the voice actors…?”
Nene-san suddenly reacted awkwardly.
“Huh? You didn’t pay attention to them? The voice acting was one of the strongest points of the whole show! Especially the voice actress for the side heroine, Himeki! Ezaki-san! I’d never heard her act before since she’s still a rookie, but that sexy yet clear voice of hers had such a unique charm that nobody else could pull off! I seriously love her voice!”
“I-I see… So… Ezaki-san was good…”
Nene-san lowered her gaze, avoiding eye contact. Maybe she doesn’t really like voice actors? I wanted to keep talking about it, but for now, I should probably drop it.
“Anyway, 『Love Sharing』 will definitely sell. I’ll think about some other options before next time.”
“Got it. Thank you. Honestly, you’re really dependable, Kanata-kun.”
Nene-san smiled warmly again.
“Your eye for these things has helped me so many times. I should really give you some kind of reward.”
“Huh? A reward?”
What? That sounds nice. What kind of reward…?
Right as I wondered, Nene-san moved.
“Then here. Go ahead.”
“Huh──!?”
Nene-san cupped her impressive chest with both hands. Then she pushed it forward, emphasizing its shape.
“N-Nene-san!? What are you doing!? Why your ch-chest…!?”
“Why? To make you happy, of course. I’ll let you do whatever you want with my boobs for now. You can touch them, squeeze them, or if you insist… even suck them.”
“Wh──!? Are you serious!? And no, I absolutely do NOT want that!”
“But Kanata-kun, you like lewd manga and light novels, right? Aren’t you curious about these kinds of things?”
“W-Well…! That’s…!”
“Then I can teach you lots of things about girls. Hands-on… in real practice.”
Nene-san swayed her chest, showing off its size, softness, and bouncy elasticity. My eyes were completely glued to them. I knew I shouldn’t stare, but I couldn’t look away. Before I knew it, I’d taken a step toward her.
And that’s when it happened.
Because the move was completely unconscious, my foot caught on something, and I fell forward. Nene-san’s large chest rushed toward my field of view.
“Mmgghhh!?”
The result was my face being swallowed by her chest.
Uwaaaaah! Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaah! What is this, this is bad! So soft────!
The marshmallow-like softness enveloped my entire face, allowing me to relish the full luxurious sensation.
“Fufu. How bold. Don’t hold back. Enjoy as much as you like. It’s your reward, after all.”
She wrapped her arms around my head, pressing me even deeper into her chest.
“Mmggh! Mmmgggggh…! Nnnnn… nnnnnnn…!”
The springy yet supple sensation… nothing else compared to how erotic and blissful it felt. I was so happy I felt myself drifting away…!
“Oh my… if I keep going, you might suffocate, huh?”
“Puhah!”
With a murmur, Nene-san released me. I took a deep breath, letting oxygen fill my entire body.
Ahh… I thought I was gonna die… But still… her chest really was soft…!
“Sorry. I just wanted to make you happy. If you want, we can do it again?”
“Y-You don’t have to! Really, that’s more than enough…!”
If she keeps doing stuff like that, no amount of self-control in the world would be enough…
“Fufufu. You’re all red and flustered. You really are cute, Kanata-kun♪”
Nene-san smiled mischievously as she said that. That expression alone told me everything. She was totally messing with me, wasn’t she?
“But maybe I did get a little carried away. I’m really sorry, Kanata-kun. As an apology, why don’t you stay for some tea? The shop is closing soon anyway, and my parents are out, so we can relax and talk just the two of us.”
“Ah, no… I appreciate it, but I should head home soon. It’s already pretty late.”
A glance at the clock showed that it was already seven. Even if she invited me, staying any longer wasn’t really appropriate.
“Eh? You’re heading home already…? I’m still fine, you know…”
Her expression instantly deflated. Seeing that face, my chest tightened.
Honestly… that made me a little happy. Knowing she’d make a face like that just because I’m leaving…
“That’s too bad… But it is late, you’re right. Then let’s get your book rung up.”
“Yes. Got it── wait, no, crappppp!”
The moment I pulled out my wallet, I screamed as a horrifying realization hit me.
“What’s wrong? Why the sudden loud yell?”
“I forgot to withdraw money…!”
Only a few coins sat pitifully in my wallet… Not even enough for a single book. Even if I went to withdraw money now, by the time I got back, the store would already be closed…
“I’m so sorry, Nene-san…! I’ll withdraw money tomorrow and come buy it then!”
“Fufu. Can’t be helped, huh? Then I’ll be waiting for you tomorrow.”
Even though I was apologizing, Nene-san responded with a smile that looked genuinely happy.
※
“H-Hey… what is this…?”
After saying goodbye to Nene-san and leaving Tsubasa Bookstore, I stopped by an ATM inside a nearby supermarket. Today was the day I was supposed to receive money from my parents.
My parents are photographers, and they’re currently staying overseas for a long period. They send me living expenses every month, but unless I withdraw that money first, I can’t buy manga—much less tonight’s dinner.
Up until last month, all the money they sent me went straight into otaku stuff—buying discs, buying CDs—so of course I don’t have any savings. Well, I’ll probably end up spending this month’s allowance the same way.
While thinking about what else I should buy besides manga this month, I started updating my bankbook. A moment later, the machine spit it out, and I happily looked over the entries.
The result… remaining balance: 202 yen.
“Fah!?”
W-What…? Why? What do you mean…?
Why isn’t the deposit there…? Where did my food money and entertainment budget go…?
Thinking it might be some kind of machine error, I updated it again. I pressed the buttons and inserted the bankbook.
Then I checked the balance again. But… the result was the same: 202 yen.
“No, what the hell is going on with this balance───!?”
Something’s wrong! This is definitely wrong! At this rate I can’t even buy dinner tonight!
Don’t tell me… my parents… they forgot to send the money…!?
Panicking, I immediately called my father overseas. Time difference? Don’t care. My life is on the line here!
“Hello~? What’s up, Kanata? I’m about to get to work, so if it’s important keep it short, alright?”
“Ah! Dad!? The allowance for this month hasn’t been deposited yet!”
I asked him right away about the money, ignoring the carefree tone in his voice.
And then, as if it were obvious, he said…
“Allowance…? We won’t be able to send that for a while, you know?”
“Hah!? Why!? I won’t be able to live this month!”
I don’t want to pressure the people supporting me, but not being able to eat is a serious problem!
“Well, your mom and I are going deep into the mountains for a few months to photograph wildlife. So we won’t be able to send money for a while. But I’ve been sending extra for about half a year now, right? I told you over the phone to save that and use it during the time we can’t send money.”
“Huh…?”
“Don’t tell me… you forgot?”
Come to think of it… yeah, he did say something like that over the phone about half a year ago…
Ah crap. I completely ignored it. I did notice that the allowance had increased lately, but I thought it was because they loved me and ended up spending all of it on otaku stuff…!
“Judging by your reaction… there’s nothing left, huh? You didn’t listen to me at all, did you?”
“Ugh…!”
“I’ve already sent you more than enough, you know? If you spent too much, then that’s your problem to deal with. Bye.”
“No, wait, wait! Huh? Seriously!? What about asking for an extra loan or something…!”
“Don’t be spoiled, idiot. You probably splurged because you got extra money, didn’t you? Take this chance to reflect on your actions and try getting a part-time job. A second-year high schooler should be able to get hired somewhere.”
“Guh…! A part-time job…!”
That’s a pretty high hurdle…! Even just school takes up my time with homework, tests, and otaku activities—adding work on top of that…
“And if you don’t work, you might not be able to pay your school fees, you know? Your private school requires tuition every half-year. The next payment is in October—can you pay it?”
“Eh…?”
“We won’t be able to come back for a while. Kanata, you’re on your own, okay? Later!”
“No, wait! Don’t just gloss over the important stuff── hey, Dad!? Hello!? Ah, he hung up!”
Oh no… This is bad… This is seriously bad…! So basically, until my parents come back, I have to earn my own living expenses and tuition…?
For now, I can cover the next few days with my New Year’s money savings at home, but paying tuition? That’s way too much.
At this rate, forget otaku activities—my entire life is in danger. And of course, I don’t want to drop out of high school. If I suddenly get thrown into society as a middle-school graduate because of something like this, I wouldn’t even know how to survive. I need to earn money before the next tuition deadline somehow.
And to do that… I have no choice but to make up my mind right now…
“If it’s come to this… then I just have to do it…!”
If I don’t have money, I just have to earn it.
Following that simple rule of the world, I steeled myself—determined to work part-time for the first time in my life.
※
As they say, there’s no time like the present—so that very night, I immediately started looking for a job.
I searched job sites for positions that allowed high school students, applying to anything I could find—convenience store clerk, event staff, whatever. But maybe because I had no experience, I wasn’t getting hired at all.
But after job hunting for about two weeks, spring finally arrived for me.
“You seem good. You look serious enough—you're hired.”
“Y-Yes! Thank you very much!”
The job I got was a part-time position at a talent agency in Tokyo called 『Light Road Co., Ltd.』 My role was office assistant, mostly simple miscellaneous tasks. And maybe because the company was doing well, the pay was higher than a typical office job.
Alright…! If I can work here, I won’t have to worry about living expenses. And I should be able to pay my tuition! Looks like I might be able to escape from the looming threat of dropping out.
Then, a few days after the interview. On my assigned first workday, I visited the office again.
“Phew… I'm still kind of nervous…”
This was my first job ever, so I couldn’t calm down. I paced around the reception area restlessly.
According to the explanation I received beforehand, my supervisor would come pick me up if I waited around here… but what kind of person would they be? A buff athletic type? A flashy popular guy who looks like a total extrovert? I really hoped not. I have no idea how to deal with those kinds of people.
Just as I was thinking that—
“Excuse me. Are you Shidou Kanata…?”
“Huh…?”
I turned toward the voice calling my name. And what entered my vision was a woman with overwhelming presence.
Long black hair, a shirt tightly pushed up by her huge breasts. Her sharp, narrow eyes gave off a cool and reliable impression, and the faint cleavage she exposed bounced softly with every movement. Her arms and legs were slender and elegant, and her chest looked like it was about to burst out of her clothes.
Conclusion: there was a woman with incredibly huge boobs standing there.
“Um… could you please respond? Are you Shidou Kanata?”
“Eh…? Ah, yes! That’s me!”
Oh no, oh no. I almost lost myself thanks to the sheer presence of her chest…
“I’m Nikaidou Maya. I’ll be your supervisor, so I look forward to working with you.”
“Ah, yes! I look forward to working with you too!”
So this is the supervisor they mentioned on the phone… I never imagined I’d be working with someone with such an erotic figure… Things are about to get interesting!
“Well then, I’ll guide you to your desk. After that, I’ll explain the details of your work. Though I believe most of it will just be miscellaneous tasks.”
“Understood! I’ll do my best!”
“Ah, also—let me say something important first…”
Just as she began heading toward the desks, Maya-san turned back to me, her chest bouncing slightly.
“Please refrain from staring at my chest so much. I will not hesitate to file a complaint.”
“Fah!? S-So you noticed…?”
“With eyes that lewd? Anyone would notice. Kanata-san, you’re a bit creepy.”
Gwaaaaaah! A woman just told me I’m creepy with a completely straight face!!
This hurts…! I mean, sure, I’m at fault! But anyone would stare at those things! Seriously, what cup size even IS that!? Can I touch them just a little?
“Come on, hurry up. I’m not free, you know.”
“Ah, yes… I’m sorry…”
With my heart already wounded, I trudged after her in defeat.
※
“So then… I’ve given you a quick rundown—any questions?”
“Ah, no. Nothing in particular. I’m fine.”
A few hours later, I’d been shown around the office and given a run-through of the basic tasks.
Fortunately, the work mainly consisted of paperwork and making tea—miscellaneous things I could manage.
“For the rest of today, please handle the filing I mentioned earlier. If you have any questions, call me over. I’ll be here all day.”
“Understood. I’ll do my best!”
Maya-san returned to her seat right next to mine.
Alright… this is my job now. My very first part-time position—I’ll do it properly!
I braced myself and stared down the stack of documents on my desk.
“Wait, Manager!!”
At that moment, a girl’s voice rang out across the office.
“What does that mean!? Explain properly!”
“I’m telling you—it’s exactly what it sounds like. We can’t afford to keep taking care of you anymore. Sorry, but once your next job is finished, it’s over between us.”
“That can’t be…! Kisaragi-san, you told me before, 『The agency’s counting on you—take it step by step and you’ll improve!』”
“Yeah, well, things have changed since then. It’s gotten pretty tough, you know?”
Near the office entrance, a man and a woman were arguing. The man had blond hair and an annoyingly smug vibe. The girl looked about my age.
From the way he spoke, he seemed to be the girl’s manager. I guessed she was a talent the agency handled and that they were on the verge of cutting ties. It looked brutal.
But more than that, something snagged at me—that girl’s voice sounded strangely familiar.
“Um… excuse me. Who are those people?”
I asked Maya-san beside me because I couldn’t help but be curious.
“Ah. The man is Kisaragi Akito. He’s one of the agency’s managers. Though he’s actually the company president’s son, so he’s like an upper manager.”
Ah—a future company heir, then. No wonder he acted so full of himself.
“And the woman is the talent Aizaki Yuka. She’s mainly active as a voice actress.”
“Oh—Aizaki Yuka… I feel like I’ve heard that name somewhere…”
Wait… hold on. Aizaki Yuka—that name… could it be…?
“Kanata-san? Are you all right?”
“W-Wait a second… That Aizaki Yuka—is she… Ai-chan!?”
“Ai-chan…? Oh—now that you mention it, that is her nickname…”
“Whaaaaaaaaaaat!? Ai-chan!?!”
No way, seriously!? The real Ai-chan!? The actual Ai-chan is right here!?
Now that I looked properly—I’d seen her on a 『Maji☆Mari』 video clip before. The video was low quality, so I didn’t recognize her at first, but seeing her up close left no doubt—it was Ai-chan. And she was even cuter in person than I’d expected!
No way… my favorite voice actress is standing right in front of me!?
“W-Why… why is Ai-chan here…!?”
Could this agency be involved with voice actors too? The odds of me randomly getting a part-time job at a place and then running into my oshi were insane!
I was freaking out. My heart felt like it would explode. Ai-chan—my oshi—was right there…!
“I can’t just stand here!”
“Eh… Kanata-san…!?”
I snatched up the papers and a pen on my desk and ran toward her.
Bowling into the midst of their argument, I thrust my head forward and shouted.
“Ai-chan!!! Please—please give me your autograph!!!”
“Eh…!? Kyaa! What!? What are you doing!?”
Pushed by my momentum, Ai-chan stumbled backward three steps. I pressed a sheet of paper and a pen toward her and begged at the top of my lungs.
“Please! I’ll do anything—sign for me! I’m your huge fan! Kana’s role in 『Maji☆Mari』 was perfect! Every time I hear your voice, my ears are happy… I’m literally living in a Happy Year because of you! Happy New Year! My ears are always New Year’s Day thanks to you!!”
“Um… I don’t really understand what you’re saying…?”
“Anyway, I love you! So please give me your autograph—oww!?”
“Stop it, Kanata-san. You’ll ruin my Happy Year.”
A dull pain exploded at the back of my head. Maya-san had come up behind me and whacked me with the corner of a file.
“Honestly… don’t try to get a talent to sign corporate documents. It’s not just gross—it’s terrifying. Looks like you need some firm guidance, huh?”
“S-Sorry… I lost it for a moment…”
I crouched, embarrassed and contrite. I’d babbled nonsense from sheer excitement.
“Yo, Maya-chan~. So who’s this kid?”
“He’s Shidou Kanata, the new part-timer starting today.”
“Ah, I see! You’re the new guy! I’m Kisaragi Akito—nice to meet you!”
He stuck his hand out casually; we shook hands.
“Wait—you’re a fan of Ai-chan? You were asking for an autograph and all.”
“Yes! I’m a huge fan! I watch everything she’s in!”
“Huh! That’s rare. Ai-chan hardly ever has big roles.”
“Even so, I’m a fan! Her voice is amazing!”
“Well, isn’t that great. Lucky Ai-chan to meet such an enthusiastic fan right before leaving the agency. She can go out with no regrets now, huh!”
…Wait, no. This isn’t the time to be happy just because I met her. Thinking it through, this situation meant Ai-chan might be about to leave the industry entirely.
“Manager… I don’t want to leave…! I don’t want to quit yet!”
“Ahh… even if you say that, it’s already decided.”
“But I want to stay in this industry! I want to work hard and become a voice actress who wins Best Lead Actress at the Popular Voice Actress Awards! Please—give me more time. I’ll do better!”
“Hmm… to be blunt, we’re short on managers. I’ve been busy lately, and we can’t keep pouring resources into a rookie who hasn’t shown results after nearly two years. Right, Maya-chan?”
“Well… honestly, yes. Harsh as it sounds, we can’t allocate many resources to a low-expectation newbie. It pains us, but—”
"…………"
Ai-chan fell silent, looking down. Kisaragi-san nodded satisfied.
“So yeah. Sorry, but that’s it—we’re done with her at the end of this month.”
Kisaragi-san patted Ai-chan’s shoulder.
“Really a shame. But you probably won’t become popular anyway—”
“Um… could you wait a moment?”
Just before he finished, I snapped. I’d had enough and couldn’t hold my tongue.
“Oh? What do you want, rookie?”
“Please… don’t speak ill of Ai-chan.”
I couldn’t stand to hear her belittled any longer. Even if their assessment was accurate, I couldn’t just watch my oshi get hurt and stay silent.
“I think her voice is amazing! That sweet, adorable tone is something only she can do! Dropping her now would be a huge waste!”
“Really? I think we can find someone to replace her in no time.”
“That’s an awful thing to say! It’s disrespectful to Ai-chan!”
“She almost never passes auditions. I don’t feel any talent there.”
“Maybe that’s just because her manager’s doing a bad job! Isn’t that possible!?”
Kisaragi-san’s smile froze at my words.
“W-What are you doing, Kanata-san!?”
“A manager is supposed to be a partner who supports a talent, right? If you don’t understand her appeal at all, no wonder she’s struggling!”
I ignored Maya-san’s attempt to cut me off and kept railing at Kisaragi-san.
“If it were me, I’d make her famous! I know her appeal because I’m a fan—I’ll support her with everything I’ve got. Someone who badmouths their partner like you is unfit for the job!”
“Oh? You’re bold… You’re saying you’re better at being a manager than me!?”
“At least when it comes to Ai-chan, I’m better!”
He gave a twisted smile.
“Alright then—fine. If you’re so sure, prove it. If you can do better than me, take over!”
“W-What!?”
“If you can support Ai-chan as a manager and make her popular, do it. You sure you can do it, right?”
Me—as Ai-chan’s manager…?
“W-Wait, Kisaragi-san!”
Maya-san suddenly stepped between us.
“Are you serious!? You can’t hand a talent over to someone who just started!”
“He talked big, so why not? He’ll learn how to do the job from the other seniors. Are you saying he can’t do it?”
Kisaragi-san glared at me like he was licking his chops. I’d really pissed him off.
But this could be a chance. If I handled it well, I could cancel her firing.
“Fine! I’ll do it—I’ll prove it!”
“Kanata-san! What are you saying!? That’s unacceptable!”
Maya-san shot me a dagger look.
“Trust me, Maya-san. I’ll still do the miscellaneous tasks you taught me. On top of that, during downtime, let me be Ai-chan’s manager!”
“No, but—how could you be a manager…?”
“Come on, Maya-chan. Give him a chance—he’s Shidou Kanata, right? Cut him some slack.”
Kisaragi-san smirked and backed me up with that smug grin. He’d said something insulting to provoke me, and now he was trying to set me up to fail. Not on my watch.
“I will make Ai-chan more popular than she is now! She’s the kind of talent who could become number one in the industry! If I succeed, you withdraw the termination, right?”
“Of course. Alright… if she lands a lead or main heroine role within three months, we’ll renew her contract. If not… she’s fired. And you too, rookie.”
His words made Ai-chan tremble at the shoulder—and I probably trembled too.
“Wait! Why do you even include Kanata-san!?”
“Well, he really made a fool of me earlier, so he’ll take responsibility.”
“No problem! Ai-chan will get the lead role, I promise!”
“Alright. I’ll be watching. I’ve got work on set—later.”
Kisaragi-san left the office. That bastard—he’d mocked my oshi to the core. I’m going to make him regret it.
“Wow… this is a lot. You’re even putting your own neck on the line…”
Maya-san looked at me, stunned.
“Are you really okay with this? If he’s serious, I can’t protect you. And can you even manage a talent?”
“I’ll do my best! For Ai-chan, I’ll go all out!”
I looked Maya-san in the eye and declared my determination.
She watched me for a while, then sighed, her chest heaving slightly.
“…Fine. I won’t stop you.”
Finally, my direct superior gave me permission. She added, "But for now, please continue with your clerical duties,” and returned to her seat. That left me and Ai-chan alone.
“U-Um… Ai-chan. So—uh, please take care of me for now.”
“Y-Yes…! Please…”
She looked flustered and confused, and we bowed to each other.
I returned to my desk and began the tasks I’d been assigned.
※
After all that commotion, I finished the miscellaneous tasks I’d been assigned and wrapped up my first day on the job without incident.
Still… what a day. I never imagined I’d meet the real Ai-chan. And more than that—I never imagined I’d become her manager.
──Wait. Back then I was all fired up about protecting my oshi, full of passion, but… if I think about it properly, from now on I’m supposed to be her work partner.
When I really mull that over… didn’t I just say something ridiculously ambitious? I’m just a high schooler. Can I suddenly be a voice actress’s manager? I have no idea what I’m supposed to do on the job. And my own neck’s on the line for this…
Getting fired, huh… That’s seriously bad. This job matters for my whole high school life—if I get fired, given my current finances, dropping out is basically guaranteed. That’s the one thing I absolutely have to avoid.
But that situation back then was unavoidable! I couldn’t just ignore Ai-chan being in trouble!
Thinking all that, I headed for the office entrance to leave—when──
“Um…! Good work today…”
“Ah, thanks—whaaat, Ai-chan────!?”
“Kyaa!? D-Don’t suddenly scream like that! You startled me…”
No, you startled me! My oshi just appeared in front of me! Even though I’d already met her once, seeing the real Ai-chan up close still felt brand-new!
“Wait…? Why are you here, Ai-chan? Do you have some business at the office…?”
“Um… not exactly. I was actually waiting for you…”
“R-Really!? Waiting for me !?”
This is straight out of my fantasies! Ai-chan waiting for me at the school gate after class, spotting me, running over and hugging me tight while whispering 『Kanata-kun, welcome back, I chu chu love you!』 into my ear!
“Um… are you okay? Your eyes look kind of vacant…”
“──Ah! Damn it. I drifted into fantasy land for a second. Uh, um! Nice to meet you again! I’m Shidou Kanata! I’m seventeen! Pleased to meet you!”
“Oh… we’re the same age? I’m Aizaki Yuka. Nice to meet you, too.”
Ai-chan bowed politely. Ah—so her stage name is her real name… Ai-chan… I’m so happy!
“Um… about earlier, I’m sorry! I got you involved because of me…!”
“No, that was me—I couldn’t just stand by and watch. Was it inconvenient for you?”
“It wasn’t an inconvenience at all! If you hadn’t stepped in, I would’ve been fired by now…”
Ai-chan’s shoulders trembled as she said that. She must’ve been really scared. Poor thing. I want to hug her and make her feel better.
“Um… if you don’t mind, shall we walk and talk? You’re heading to the station too, right?”
“Y-Yes! I’m going! I’ll go—I’ll go so hard I’ll die for it!”
Whoa whoa whoa!? I’m walking home with Ai-chan!? No way! This is terrifying—in a good way! I’ve probably used up my lifetime luck just today!
Walking side by side with Ai-chan like this…! And she smells nice! Like a beautiful flower—sweet and comforting!
“Um… can I ask you something right away?”
“W-Wha—!? What is it!?”
Just outside the office, Ai-chan spoke up. My voice cracked from surprise and nervousness.
“Um… why did you go out of your way to stand up for me…?”
“That’s obvious! Because I’m a huge fan of yours!”
I loved Ai-chan and I absolutely didn’t want her to retire. That single feeling is why I confronted Kisaragi-san.
“A fan… huh… You did say that earlier, didn’t you…”
For some reason Ai-chan’s voice dropped a little.
“But… is that really true…?”
“Huh…?”
“I… honestly can’t believe it. That there would be fans of me…”
She said that and looked down sadly.
“N-No way…! I really am your fan—genuinely! I love you! If I weren’t a real fan, I wouldn’t risk sticking my neck out to protect you!”
“B-But… hardly anyone even knows my name. Even as a voice actress, most of my roles are background parts. The only credited role I had was a supporting character in a minor anime. Someone becoming this invested in a rookie like me… I can’t imagine it…”
“That doesn’t matter! I simply love your voice and your acting—that’s why I became your fan! If you want, I can even prove it!”
I said that confidently, and Ai-chan lifted her head a little.
“Prove it…?”
“Yes! A true fan has every appearance and role memorized! Kana from 『Maji☆Mari』, right? Then the schoolgirl D in 『ma boroshi no machi』 (Phantom of the Town), the female knight F in 『fantomunaitsu』 (Phantom Knights), and the clerk in 『ashita no kyoumade sayounara』 (Goodbye Until Tomorrow)—”
“W-Wow…! Apart from Kana, they’re all background roles—how do you even remember that!?”
“And I remember the lines too! Kana’s entrance line: 『I’m Kana! The new magical girl! My ultimate attack, Love Innocent Great Whirlwind Hurricane!』 Schoolgirl D: 『Something’s wrong with this town…! I was trying to leave, but—!』 The female knight F: 『This is truly Olympia!』”
“T-That does sound familiar… I only remember them hazily myself…”
“Also, from the 『Maji☆Mari』 radio show when Ai-chan lost a mini-game and had to wear cat ears—her line was 『Myan myan! Kana is everyone’s idol myan──』"
“Kyaa────!? Stop it, don’t say that! You know that too!?”
Ai-chan’s eyes widened and she trembled. It looked like she’d finally been convinced.
“I-Is it… really true!? Are you really my fan!?”
“Yes! I swear on God! I am a genuine Ai-chan fan!”
I hammered the point home. Ai-chan froze as if struck.
Watching her closely, I waited—and then she exploded.
“Waaaaaaaaah! I’m so happy! I’m so happyyyyyyyyy!”
“Woa!?”
Ai-chan burst into tears and leapt toward me.
“There was someone in the world who liked me! I’m so happy! Thank you!”
Oh no no no no! She’s so close! My beloved is at zero distance! She smells so good! I need to take deep breaths so I don’t pass out!
“No way no way no way! This is too much joy! I might reincarnate! Fans are real! If you keep working hard, you really do get fans──!”
Ahhhhhh! Ai-chan grabbed my right hand and—gwaaaah!?
She touched me…!? Ai-chan is touching me!? This is real!? Not VR!? I’m going insane!
And Ai-chan’s reaction—what’s up with that!? Why is she this overjoyed!? Her reaction is even bigger than when I begged her for an autograph earlier!
“Waaaaaaah! This is amazing—a miracle! I might even be crying───!”
…Yeah, she’s really happy about this!
My blood pressure’s already at hospitalize levels from meeting the voice actress I’ve liked for so long, but somehow her energy is so overwhelming that I’m starting to calm down. That’s how intense her excitement is.
“Um… Ai-chan? Are you really that happy to meet a fan…?”
“Of course I am! It’s a fan! Someone who likes me as a voice actress and actually supports me in real life—meeting someone like that is the best thing ever!”
“I-I see… So that’s how it is…”
“Also, this is my first time meeting an actual fan… I never thought anyone would be a fan of me. Nobody talks about me online at all…”
Sure enough, on voice-actor boards and the like, she’s barely mentioned. During 『Maji☆Mari』 people talked about Kana, but not about Ai-chan herself.
“So I’m so happy to meet you like this! Really, thank you… Kanata-kun!”
“Guh!?!”
She suddenly used my name──! No, stop it! My chest! My chest just did a thing! My heart is pounding like crazy! It feels like we’re already dating!
“Oh—by the way… since we’re here, is there anything you want me to do for you?”
“S-Something I want you to do…!?”
“Yeah! I want fans to be as happy as possible… So I’ll do anything I can for you, Kanata-kun!”
Ai-chan said that with a shining smile.
What a pure heart… I’ve heard stories about idols and VAs who treat fans poorly, but my oshi is this kind of sweetheart…!
“What should I do…? For starters, should I perform something?”
“Eh…?”
Suddenly Ai-chan linked her arm with mine and pressed herself close, then said with a radiant grin, "I’m Kana! The new magical girl! My ultimate attack, Love Innocent Great Whirlwind Hurricane!”
“Woooooooooooah!?”
That voice…! It’s Kana from 『Maji☆Mari』! It’s Kana’s voice live!
Holy—this is insane! It’s the real Kana! A live 『Love Innocent Great Whirlwind Hurricane』!
“Here’s more! 『I will never forgive you… that is my kindness!』”
“That line!? It’s the famous quote from episode seven—when she single-handedly defeated that heinous monster commander!”
“As expected, Kanata-kun—you remember details! Next: 『Waaah…! Marika-chan, where did you go…? I’m so scared I might pee my pants…』”
“Yes! That’s Kana’s line from episode five when she got separated from Marika during the test of courage!”
Ai-chan kept performing line after line from the anime. What an incredible fan service! For fans of the original and VA-lovers, there’s nothing better.
Plus, since she’s linked her arm with mine, something soft presses against my arm. This softness and bounce… could it be… bo��—boob—booba—!
“Ehehe… I’ve never done fan service like this before. I’m so glad you like it.”
She loosened her face into a blissful smile and hugged my arm tighter.
Ughhhh! So cute! I’m being purified!
Her reaction is adorable! She’s genuinely enjoying giving me fan service!
Ah—Ai-chan, Ai-chan… I can’t…!
I want to stare at her face forever. That’d be enough for a lifetime.
No, wait—I can’t lose my head. For Ai-chan’s smile, I have to work hard. I have to do everything I can to keep her contract going…!
“Ai-chan…! Let’s talk about the plan from now on. I’ll do my best for the next three months so you can keep working as a voice actress!”
“Y-Yeah…! Your job’s on the line too… I won’t give up—I’ll do my best!”
“That helps a lot. I’m literally putting my life on this too!”
I told her about my financial trouble and the risk of dropping out of high school.
“R-Really!? Then we have to work even harder! I have to protect my important fan!”
Ai-chan clasped her hands and struck a guts pose. Everything she does is so cute.
“Honestly, I’m in a huge pinch… If I don’t land a lead or main heroine in three months, I’ll be fired. It feels basically impossible.”
Hearing that again, it really is dire. My chance of dropping out suddenly seems real.
But of course I believe in my oshi. With both our lives at stake, I’m nervous, but I have to trust her.
“But in a way, it’s freeing! Things can’t get worse, so from here on it’s only up!”
“I guess that’s true… There’s some sense in that…”
“You can’t be pessimistic now! If you think ‘it’s over,’ you won’t even try what you can do. Stay positive and do your best!”
Ai-chan forced herself to be upbeat.
Then suddenly her phone rang.
“Oh—what could this be…? Hyaaah!? It’s my workplace!”
Her face went pale and she hurriedly answered.
“M-Manager! Sorry I’m late without notice! Today I got caught up in all sorts of chaos and I couldn’t—no, I tried hard but I couldn’t come! I’ll head there right away! …What? You’re saying I don’t have to come anymore starting today? No—please wait, I’ll work properly, Manager────!”
The call ended abruptly with a chirpy tone.
“Ai-chan…? What happened?”
“…I got fired from my part-time job.”
She answered in a voice like she might die.
“I got so wrapped up in the commotion at the agency I totally forgot about the job…”
Oh no… she lost her job because she skipped without notice.
“I can’t believe I could get fired twice in one day… I can only laugh at how awful this is…”
“Ai-chan!”
I caught her as she nearly collapsed, laughing weakly. If she got hurt it’d be awful.
“I didn’t think things could get worse than the worst… But I can’t afford to be down. I need to find a new job quickly… But if I start working elsewhere, it could mess with my voice-acting schedule…”
Right now this is her biggest moment to hold on—she doesn’t need any extra hassle.
“Also—before that—I need to find a new place to live! They’re kicking me out of the dorm…”
“A dorm…? Ai-chan, you live by yourself…?”
“Yeah… I moved here against my parents’ wishes to pursue voice acting. Studios and such are all in the city…”
So living outside the city makes voice acting tough.
“I was living in the company dorm for my job, but now that I got fired they told me to leave immediately… What should I do…? I have no savings, and if I go to my parents they’ll force me to go back home…”
Ai-chan buried her head in her hands with worry.
She has to land a lead in three months and her living situation is collapsing. That’s brutal—too harsh a reality to chase a dream.
But I don’t want her to give up. Even if my own job at risk, I want her to keep going. I’m her fan, pure and simple.
So the words slipped out of my mouth before I even thought.
“Um… if you want, would you live at my place…?”
“Eh…?”
Ai-chan stared blankly, then slowly asked, “You mean… your house, Kanata-kun…?”
“Yes. That way you could focus on voice acting without worrying about living expenses. …Oh! I’m not inviting you for any lewd reasons, okay!?”
I hurriedly added that because I worried she’d misunderstand.
“I only want to help in any way I can! I won’t attack you or anything—I’m your fan and your manager! So please trust me! I won’t make a move!”
“Ah… I see…”
…The more I desperately explain, the more suspicious it sounds.
Honestly, asking a girl to come and live with you is borderline inappropriate no matter the reason. From her point of view it’s scary. I’d better apologize.
But then she said, “Then I’ll take you up on that offer! Please let me stay at your place, Kanata-kun!”
“Wha—!?”
I squeaked at the unexpected answer.
“W-Wait, are you serious!?”
“Yeah. I have nowhere else to go… If you let me stay, it would help a lot.”
“I—well… I’m the one who suggested it, but staying over at a guy’s house you’ve just met—”
Honestly, I’m honored. Having my oshi come to my house is the luck of a lifetime.
But if she accepts so easily, it worries me. Mainly about her safety and awareness of danger.
“Also, nobody else lives at my house right now… Aren’t you at least a little cautious?”
“No. I trust that my fans wouldn’t do anything terrible to me!”
…Huh?
“You’re my fan, right? Then it’s fine! I trust you, Kanata-kun!”
She said that with pure, trusting eyes, as if the world had no lies or theft or tax evasion.
No way… she’s way too pure!!
Is she seriously saying that for real? My oshi is unbelievably innocent!
“So if you’re okay with it, could I stay with you for a while…?”
“W-Well… I’d be happy if you felt comfortable staying, Ai-chan…”
“Really!? Thank you! You’re my lifesaver—twice over!”
She teared up and bowed repeatedly.
“No—don’t worry about it. I’m happy to have you around too.”
I can’t believe how pure my oshi is. She’s an angel.
But this is a huge responsibility. If I ever let desire win and do something to betray her trust, I’d destroy her faith in fans.
I have to restrain myself and not get carried away.
“F-For now… I’ll show you to my house. It’s nothing special, though.”
“No, thank you! This helps so much!”
And so I ended up walking home side by side with my oshi.
※
Waaaaah… this is insane…! This is seriously insane…!
“Um… then—may I come in…?”
“Y-Yes! Please, don’t hold back!”
My oshi, the voice actress I adore, came to my house… my oshi came to my house!
Living with the voice actress I love—something I’d only ever fantasized about actually happened.
“Wow… Kanata-kun’s house is three stories. It’s pretty big!”
“N-no, really! It’s nothing special! It’s just a totally normal house!”
“But my family’s place is an apartment. Just having a detached house is enviable!”
Ai-chan wandered around, looking at everything with wide eyes.
So cute… so damn cute! Watching her happily tour my house is too adorable!
“Kanata-kun… thank you so much for today. Not only did you protect me from Kisaragi-san, you offered me a place to stay… And meeting a fan for the first time made me so happy!”
“No—thank you ! I’m the one who’s glad I met you, Ai-chan!”
I should be the one thanking her for letting me get this close to my oshi.
“It was a rough day, but thanks to you I feel motivated again… Right! I have to practice for auditions properly now!”
“Huh? Auditions?”
Ai-chan pulled a stack of papers from her bag.
“Ah. These are scripts for the audition! It’s for an anime based on a novel called 『My Niece Is Not Only Strong But Also S-Rank Cute.』 It’s the only chance I’ve got right now…”
“I see… What kind of role is it this time?”
“An apprentice mage in the protagonist’s party. It’s not a lead—if I pass, it still might not overturn the contract termination. But I’ll practice my hardest! I need to improve bit by bit!”
If I were the director, there’s no way someone with a voice this cute would fail, but there are other talented voice actress out there. She’s probably working desperately to beat them.
“Sorry, but can I practice for a bit? The audition is coming up.”
She took a deep breath and looked down at the script. After a beat—
『Please… somebody help────!』
She began to read her lines.
『No… no! I don’t want to die! I can’t be eaten yet!』
“…Oh… ohhhh…!”
Hearing her new character’s voice for the first time in a while felt like a treasure to a fan.
『Stop, don’t come here…! Don’t come here…! I told you not to—!』
It was probably a scene where the character is being attacked—serious, forceful lines. This role was different from Kana or the other mobs; it was a new type for her to perform.
『Ah… I’m going to die now… Everything ends here… Why was I born…? I don’t even understand that…』
Listening to Ai-chan, I was reminded again: her voice is incredible. Not only is it cute, but she can shape distinct performances for different characters.
I’m just an amateur, but as a fan I can say with confidence that she has something special. Even if she’s currently unknown, she can rise higher.
I want to fully support Ai-chan and help her grow. I’m not sure I’m cut out for manager duties, but that worry comes second to my desire to be there for her.
“Phew… that’s about it for now…”
She finished one take and stared at the script, probably critiquing her own performance. I clapped.
“Ai-chan, that was amazing! Great! That line was really good!”
“R-Really…? Thank you…”
Despite my praise, Ai-chan looked unsatisfied.
“Ai-chan…? Were you unhappy with your performance?”
“Yeah… I wanted more tension… a voice that shakes with fear—something that terrifies the listener. But—maybe my voice isn’t suited for that… Maybe I don’t have the skill yet…”
She hung her head, unsure.
“Don’t say that! You can do it, Ai-chan!”
I replied emotionally.
“I believe you can! Auditions will be a breeze for you!”
“Ahaha… thank you. I’ve never had someone cheer me on like that—flattery or not, I’m glad.”
“It’s not flattery! Out of all actresses, I love your acting the most!”
I blurted it with passion.
“R-Really…? You actually like my acting…?”
“Of course! Your high, cute voice from the Kana role that triggers protective instincts—if you lean into that charm, people will notice you. You could even win Best Lead Actress at the Popular Voice Actress Awards!”
“………!”
The Popular Voice Actress Awards are decided by fan votes for the most memorable voice actress. Winning a lead actress award is a huge honor. From the conversation earlier with Kisaragi-san, I knew Ai-chan wanted that. I really believe it’s not just a dream—for I’m a fan who loves her pure, unforced voice and cute acting.
“Th-Thank you, Kanata-kun…”
“But honestly… pushing too far into serious acting might not suit you.”
“Huh…?”
Ai-chan’s face clouded for a second.
“I mean, doing serious characters is fine, but you shouldn’t force your voice. You should bring out what’s good about you. That’ll be way moe! If you force a voice and fail, even if you pass, you’d suffer later.”
“……!”
“So use your strengths and compete that way! As a fan, I want to savor your voice and acting!”
I rattled off my nerdy take at top speed, then thought, oh no, maybe I went too far… and stared at her face.
Ai-chan suddenly smiled.
“…Maybe you’re right, Kanata-kun.”
“Ai-chan…?”
“If I lose sight of what makes me me, I can’t give a good performance. Got it! I’ll take your advice to heart!”
W-what!? She’ll use my suggestion ! This is insane—I might die of happiness!
“Thanks to you, I feel a bit of a path opening up. You were right to stand up to Kisaragi-san—you're really dependable as a manager!”
“T-Thank you! I’m honored!”
“You’re exaggerating. —Oh, right! As a fan service bonus, I should do something to thank you.”
Fan service…!? The sweetest sound in the world!
“What would make you happy, Kanata-kun? Anything you want?”
“Uh… something you want to do for me…?”
Of course, I thought wildly—a full-on naked cuddle, etc.—
“But, no lewd stuff, okay!? That’s way too embarrassing!”
“I know! I’m not thinking that!”
If she actually slept naked next to me, I might betray the pure fan image…
“For me, the biggest fan service is seeing Ai-chan succeed as a voice actress. So prioritize your growth over fan service.”
“Kanata-kun…! Understood! I’ll work hard for you!”
She clenched her hands in determination. Still… I wouldn’t mind the all-nude cuddle.
“Oh—one more thing. Can you stop using honorifics with me? We’re the same age, and I don’t want a weird distance.”
I see… It’s awkward to use casual speech with my oshi, but if she prefers it, I’ll do it.
“Yeah… got it—no, I mean, I’ll do my best to be casual.”
“Great! Then—Kanata, please teach me things as my manager from now on!”
“Y-Yes! Ai-chan! I have no experience, but I’ll do my best!”
We shook hands firmly. And just like that, I officially became her partner.
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