Chapter 7 – Hyuuga Haruka: I won’t Compromise on This (1)
I returned to my room from Wataru's place and collapsed onto the bed.
I never expected the word "sly" to come out of my mouth when referring to Aoi. Even though I know she's not sly, she's incredible.
Saying something like that was a reflection of my own inadequacy and weakness.
I hope Wataru didn't hear it...
Once again, I'm drowning in self-loathing.
Despite being the cheerful and energetic Hyuuga Haruka, it seems my worth lies only in that persona.
The study materials spread out on my desk haven't progressed at all.
I sighed as I looked at the polaroid photo hanging on the wall.
It was taken during our middle school festival, with Aoi.
Before auditioning for voice acting, back when Aoi invited me.
Both of us were innocently smiling.
Should I have skipped that audition?
Should I quit being a voice actress right now?
Questions with unchangeable outcomes and those with clear answers swirl in my mind.
Interrupting these thoughts is the sound of dishes breaking coming from the living room.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to scrape rice against the edge of the bowl?"
"You're too picky about small things! Who cares how you scoop the rice with a rice paddle?"
"I told you to use chopsticks!"
My father, a teacher who often works late and even on weekends, and my mother, a nurse with shift work that includes night shifts, rarely cross paths.
But when they do, it's always like this—arguing over trivial matters.
For me, the word "family" is most closely associated with "shouting."
It wasn't always like this when I was younger.
I don't know when my parents' relationship soured, nor do I care to find out.
Despite being strict, as long as I maintain decent grades in school, they're not in a bad mood.
They even allow me to continue my voice acting work, despite their reservations.
To escape from my parents' shouting, I plug in my earphones connected to my smartphone and watch the anime sent by my manager as reference material.
I may be a supporting character, but it's been a while since I landed a regular role.
And above all, it's the long-awaited sequel after ten years to an anime we used to watch together.
A nostalgic work—"Galaxy Nurses."
I'm thrilled to be part of it.
I can't wait to share the news with Wataru. Waiting for the official announcement is agonizing.
As for telling Aoi... it might be a bit awkward if the opportunity arises.
She truly loved this series.
"Galaxy Nurses" is a cult favorite absurd comedy anime. Wataru and I used to laugh uproariously while watching it. Aoi, on the other hand, had a unique way of being moved by it.
Since then, Aoi's distinctive sensibility has become her weapon as a VTuber.
As an idol voice actress who often appears on camera, having individuality is crucial for me too.
While I enjoy acting, selling myself is honestly not my strong suit.
I can immerse myself in roles through my work, but shaping my own identity is challenging.
And that's likely the reason for my current waning popularity.
While I receive praise for my performances, surviving in this industry isn't as easy as that.
The agency hopes I'll gain fans while I'm still young.
I understand, but I just can't seem to do it well.
Suppressing tears of frustration, I focus on the screen.
I may not be as popular as Aoi (Violet), but voicing "Galaxy Nurses" is something I won't compromise on.
I'll give it my all.