Chapter 36: Do You Like A Jian?
“Since we’re selecting lines, of course we’ll hire voice actors.” Kaji Keiko said without hesitation, “But I also need to explain it clearly to Sakamoto Sensei in advance. After all, it’s just a short video for promotional attempts, not a real animation adaptation, so the company won’t invest too many resources.”
“I understand.” Sakamoto Ken expressed understanding.
“Yeah, so we will definitely hire voice actors, but they won’t be famous ones.” Kaji Keiko said, “The production side will assign the task to the voice actor agency, and in the agency, work like this is generally given to newcomers for practice.”
“Will this matter be announced to the public in advance?” Sakamoto Ken asked.
“What Sakamoto Sensei means by announcement is…”
“Notifying readers that my manga is making videos, hiring voice actors, and so on.”
“Of course not.” Kaji Keiko waved her hand and said, “The entire plan is in a small-scale experimental state within our company. Saying it this way might lower Sakamoto Sensei’s expectations, but if this attempt doesn’t work well, it might not be done later. Things that might not be reliable won’t be publicly promoted.”
“That’s good…” Sakamoto Ken breathed a slight sigh of relief.
He was afraid Shueisha would do something like a fan work solicitation event, advertising for voice actor recruitment on the serialization page.
In that case, Natsume Mio, who was following his manga updates, would probably be the first to apply…
No matter what, it was some kind of risk for more contact.
In this round, Sakamoto Ken’s primary goal was safety, and everything else had to be done under safe conditions.
So, he was particularly cautious about this kind of “relationship advancement” opportunity.
Sakamoto Ken continued Kaji Keiko’s words: “It’s best if it’s experimental. When it’s formally adapted into animation later, we can hire the top voice actors then.”
Hearing this, Kaji Keiko couldn’t help but smile: “Sakamoto Sensei is quite ambitious.”
Sakamoto Ken crossed his arms and said matter-of-factly: “If it can’t be a hit, why draw manga?”
Kaji Keiko nodded approvingly. She admired confident writers like this.
“Alright, the main matters are all discussed.” She closed her notebook. “So… shall we talk about the conception for the manga’s follow-up? Sakamoto Sensei has plenty of manuscript now and can think carefully about the next plot and character development.”
“I have these all figured out in my mind.” Sakamoto Ken was about to continue.
Suddenly, a “buzz buzz buzz” vibration sound came from the direction of the entrance doorway.
He turned back doubtfully and glanced.
“What sound?” Kaji Keiko also asked curiously.
……
“Buzz buzz buzz! Buzz buzz buzz!”
Outside the door, Natsume Mio suddenly clutched her backpack as if electrocuted.
She fumbled to pull out the still-vibrating mobile phone.
On the mobile phone screen, the caller ID showed two words—Store Manager.
She glanced at the time on her phone, and her heart sank, thinking “I’m screwed.”
She was already ten minutes late for her part-time job!
She didn’t dare answer immediately, but held her breath and carefully retreated toward the stairwell.
Going downstairs, pushing the door, only after leaving the apartment building did she sprint at 100-meter speed toward the street corner ahead.
Hiding behind the wall, panting heavily a few times, she then swiped to answer.
As soon as the call connected, she apologized: “Sorry! Sorry sorry, Store Manager! Today I… um… I, on the way I ran into something that delayed me, late… late…”
On the other end of the phone, Store Manager Grandma’s voice was as gentle as ever: “It’s okay, it’s okay. As long as Mio-chan is safe, can you still come to the store today?”
“Yes! Two minutes! Right away!”
Natsume Mio had already dashed toward the convenience store.
……
The convenience store’s automatic door opened, playing the welcome message music.
Natsume Mio panted for breath, her fair cheeks flushed with a thin layer of red from the intense exercise.
“Store Manager, I’m here…”
Store Manager Grandma was slowly wiping the cash register. Seeing her like this, she put down the cloth, her face showing concern: “Oh my, Mio-chan, no need to run so fast. Be careful on the road.”
“Sorry! Store Manager, really very sorry!” Natsume Mio gave Store Manager a standard ninety-degree bow.
“Okay okay, go change into your uniform quickly.” Store Manager waved her hand, her smile still kind.
“Yes!”
Natsume Mio responded and rushed into the back room changing area like she was escaping.
“Click.”
The changing room door closed, shutting out the outside world.
In the narrow space, there was only her own heavy breathing.
She leaned back against the cold door panel, her body slowly sliding down to sit on the ground, burying her face between her knees.
From Sakamoto Ken’s apartment to the store, it actually wasn’t far to run.
Her stamina was good; she had even tried a half-marathon. This little distance was no burden on her body at all.
But that frantic run just now made her feel a bit suffocated.
Mainly, it was the regret and self-blame in her heart.
She slowly lifted her head and looked at the dressing mirror on the wall.
The girl in the mirror had the same hairstyle as the heroine in A Jian’s manga, but her expression was completely different. She didn’t have Makima’s strong aura that showed at any moment.
There were even teardrops at the corners of her eyes.
What did she hear just now outside A Jian’s apartment door?
She heard A Jian and that woman discussing manga content and promotion—anyway, it was all work.
There wasn’t the slightest bit of the scene she had imagined in her mind earlier…
That mature woman she had seen as a romantic rival wasn’t some rich woman keeping A Jian… She was just A Jian’s editor.
And me?
I’m like a pervert.
Sneaking behind, hiding at the doorway to eavesdrop.
Even imagining all sorts of dirty plots for A Jian in my mind…
Mio, oh Mio, how can you think like that?
A Jian… his life is already so hard, no parents, living alone in such a rundown apartment, desperately drawing every day, and finally getting a debut opportunity at Shueisha.
He’s working so hard, and I… had such malicious suspicions about him.
Mio, oh Mio, you’re really too bad…
In that dream, A Jian did end up with another woman, but that was just a dream after all!
Right, that was basically my own dark inner imagination. I arbitrarily imagined A Jian as such a scumbag.
Natsume Mio felt somewhat ashamed. She apologized softly to herself in the mirror, in a voice only she could hear.
“Sorry, A Jian…”
“A Jian… you can make me do anything…”
She messily wiped away her tears with the back of her hand, took a deep breath, and forced herself to calm down.
She was still at the store now, and Store Manager Grandma was waiting.
Natsume Mio stood up, carefully wiped the tear marks from her face, and changed into the convenience store uniform.
Only when she felt she had composed her emotions did Natsume Mio push open the changing room door, her face now wearing a business-like smile again.
While she was organizing the shelves, Store Manager Grandma came over slowly from behind the cash register, hands behind her back, with a meaningful smile on her face.
“Store Manager.” Natsume Mio stopped her actions and asked doubtfully, “Is there something you need?”
Store Manager Grandma chuckled. She glanced at the shop entrance, confirmed no customers had come in, and then turned her gaze back to the girl in front of her.
In a very casual tone, she asked softly:
“Mio-chan, do you like A Jian?”
