My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 399

"I roughly categorize voice actors into three types based on their voice quality. Then, I design three character options to match these types. ...For example, imagine Yui's voice. What would it feel like to have that voice portray a character—or rather, a character I want her to portray?"

"As for Yui-chan... because she's usually very composed, she'd probably be better suited to a lively and cheerful type. Her hairstyle would probably be twin tails..."

"Izana, in theatrical terms, this is called tailor-made."

"Made to order?"

"It's about creating a character based on a pre-conceived idea of ​​the actor who will play the role. A famous example is Franky from One Piece, a character created specifically for the voice actor."

"But... is it really okay for me to design the characters...? The script has already been finalized...?"

"Sure. This project was originally started by Yoshino specifically to use your illustrations. That guy can't possibly say no."

If I design three character options, then I'll need three versions of the script... At least all the lines will have to be rewritten... For my whims... But if this is allowed...

"Mizuto-kun... in that case... um... could I be a little more willful...?"

Tell me about it.

"Can boys draw too?"

There was a faint gasp on the other end of the call. But I couldn't stop.

"I was thinking, since that's the case, wouldn't it be more interesting if boys could also be voice actors...? If we make one set for each of the three types, then that would be six different options..."

"Are you sure you're okay with this? We're going to draw six characters now, okay?"

"no problem"

I gripped the paintbrush again with the hand that wasn't holding the phone.

I will finish it before tomorrow.

"How are you feeling...?"

As soon as lunch break started, Yoshino and I gathered around Isana's seat and peered at the tablet she handed us.

"Oh..."

"oh--!"

We all gasped in amazement. Just as we had heard yesterday, there were six character designs, one for each of the three girls and three for each of the three boys.

"I categorize girls into cute, cool, and passionate types..."

"Where are the boys?"

"Gloomy type, Depressed type, and Energetic type"

So, in Isana's mind, male characters are divided into these three categories...? It's not entirely incomprehensible. Yoshino stared intently, practically pressing his face against the tablet.

"Isn't this amazing! The previous ones were good too, but this one... well, how should I put it..."

"Much cleaner"

"Yes, this is it! It feels so clean!"

On the female side, they are clearly distinguished by hairstyles such as pigtails, short hair, and long hair, while their personalities are expressed through expressions, postures, and small accessories added to their uniforms. Compared to the vague impression of previous female protagonists who seemed to have terminal illnesses, this time the sense of realism is much stronger.

On the boys' side, creating differences in height is probably one of Isana's most appealing aspects. Visually, subtle differences are created by having them wear hoodies and unbutton their shirts, and their facial expressions, including eye size, are also excellent. Rather than being geared towards women, it feels more like a design somewhere between a shonen manga and a seinen manga.

"That's great... Although I had you practice before, I didn't expect you to be able to draw male characters to this extent."

"Hehe... Just thinking about what it would sound like if Mizuto-kun's voice were on it makes me excited."

"Are you planning to have me match all types...?"

"Hey, stop flirting in front of me!"

Just as Yoshino finished his grumbling, tinged with genuine resentment, several figures suddenly loomed over him from behind.

"What's wrong? Has the character design been completed?"

"There are boys too! Huh? Is Irito-kun going to be a voice actor too!?"

"Which one should I pair with? Which one should I pair with?"

"As expected, she's still the melancholic type!"

"No, no, no, the best is a delinquent with a delicate voice!"

"No... I haven't even said I wanted to do voice acting yet..."

My rebuttal was drowned out by the girls' noisy chatter. Oh dear, thank goodness Jie was at the executive committee. If she had seen this, she would definitely have thrown a tantrum—

Nan was looking this way with a mischievous grin. I gave her a bitter look.

I'm going to tell Yui-chan! ♥

Absolutely not!

I responded to Nan, who only mouthed words, with my own mouth.

I suppressed the urge to sigh. It wasn't time to relax yet. Izana had done an excellent job. Now it was my turn.

"Yoshino, introduce me to the screenwriter who wrote that script."

Ignoring the girls who were chatting and fantasizing about character design, I said to Yoshino.

Yoshino tilted his head awkwardly.

"Well, that's true. We definitely need to ask her to revise the script..."

"Is everything alright on her end?"

"She said to let her know if there are any changes I want, so it should be fine, right?"

In order to fully realize the value of Isana's character designs, the script had to be revised. That was my job to negotiate. Well, of course, it was Yoshino's job this time too.

"Okay. I've already contacted them. Let's meet up after school."

"You should tell me by now. What kind of person is the guy who wrote that script?"

"I call her Meiyang."

Yoshino said with a smile.

"You could call her my hot female friend?"

After school, Yoshino and I went to the floor where the first-year classrooms were located. Even though it was a floor I had passed by every day just a few months ago, I already felt a little nostalgic. The first-year students coming and going looked even more innocent than I remembered myself from last year.

Yoshino walked towards Class 4 of the first year, opened the door without hesitation, and shouted loudly inside.

"Miyo~? Are you there~?"

Honestly, they just casually walk into classrooms of other grades...

"Um, Miyo-san said she went to the library...? She said she'd let Yoshino-senpai know if he came..."

"Oh? Is that so?"

Yoshino checked his phone.

"Really, they messaged me..."

"You actually remembered to watch it?"

"It's so noisy, it was just sent!"

Has the location been changed? For someone named Miyo, with the cultural festival preparations accelerating, helping with other classes' activities and talking in the classroom might indeed be inconvenient.

So we moved to the library.

It's been a long time since I've been to the library. Izana has completely shifted her focus from reading to creating, and we talk more often on our phones or in her room now.

Amidst the festive atmosphere that permeated the entire school, the library remained eerily quiet, as if forgotten. Behind the counter, the librarian sat quietly, head bowed, reading; the reading area was deserted.

"Huh? Where's Miyo?"

"Is it inside?"

"As expected of a literature enthusiast, he seems quite familiar with the library."

"It's just that you don't come to the library enough."

"Don't make me sound like an idiot! I'm Luo Lousheng, after all!"

Seriously, how did this guy even get into this school? It's one of the seven unbelievable things about college admissions.

Isana and I used to chat by the window, but that's where the light novel shelves are. I figured she wouldn't be there, so I looked further into the bookshelves.

There stood a female student, looking down at a thick, hardcover book.

Whether it's her composed face with glasses or the braids hanging over her shoulders, at first glance she looks like a serious female student commonly seen in top schools.

However, this impression was overturned by a touch of pink highlight woven into her black braids. That single highlight made her look like someone in a band. The sight of such a girl reading a hardcover book in the narrow, dimly lit space between bookshelves was all the more striking.

"Ah, I'm here! Miyo~!"

Upon hearing Yoshino's voice, the girl with dyed hair looked up from her book. Then, looking in our direction, her expression instantly brightened.

"Yoshino-senpai! Thank you for your hard work!"

She put the hardcover book back on the shelf, jogged over, and gave Yoshino a high five.

Although I heard she's a hot girl friend, is it really this seemingly frivolous girl who wrote that script? You can't judge a book by its cover, but even so, my impression doesn't match up.

"Yoshino"

"Oh, I'm so sorry."

Seeing my urging, Yoshino finally introduced me.

"Just as I said in the message, this is Mizuto. Like I said, he's not very likable, is he?"

"What kind of introduction is this?"

Ever since that school trip incident, Yoshino has started to treat me with hostility. Unlike when Yui first started living with me, she's not as sharp-tongued, but rather teases me in a lighthearted way like this. But that incident seems to have really given her a strong sense of frustration.

There was no other way, so I had to give my name myself.

"Second-year student Irito Mizuto. I've read his script. I think it's exceptionally well-written."

"Really? I just wrote it down casually, and I think it's just so-so."

"No need to be modest. If that's the truth, then you're a genius."

"No, no, I'm embarrassed to be told that by one of the most outstanding scholars in our school, Shui Dou."

The first-year student, known as Meiyang, spoke with a slightly fawning, shy smile.

"Miyo, she was in the arts club in junior high."

Yoshino went around behind Miyo and grabbed her shoulder.

"She was my junior high school classmate. I knew that's why I asked her to write the script."

"I'm happy to be able to help my senior."

The Literature Club... it looks more like the Light Music Club.

Although I was a little wary because I heard she was a hot girl, in reality, she was a gentle and polite woman. That makes the negotiations for the changes likely to proceed smoothly.

"Well then, please allow me to get straight to the point. I think Yoshino has already told you that we want to revise the script, especially the dialogue—"

"Oh, I'm sorry."

Meiyang spoke with a warm smile.

"I regret to decline."

The reason the screenwriter wanted to discuss things with me in Chapter Two of Volume Thirteen

◆ Irito Mizuto ◆

She was already waiting in a booth by the window when she entered a restaurant near the school.

"Ah, hello, hello"

As she said this, she waved her right hand in a cat-paw motion near her face. After sitting down directly opposite her, she rested her chin on her hand on the table and chuckled.

"What's wrong?"

"Wow, this feels like meeting with a cartoonist to discuss work."

"Isn't he a novelist?"

"Do novelists really meet up with people in family-run restaurants?"