Kuroha Akira found it very strange after hearing that.
Why would she specifically forbid her daughter from becoming a voice actress? It seemed completely counterintuitive.
Because Akiko herself was a voice actress—did she know how difficult the industry was?
That didn't make sense either, because Akiko wasn't a failed voice actress struggling to make ends meet. Since she could afford a house in Tokyo and even heavily invest in anime and manga collectibles through her voice acting career, she must have achieved both fame and fortune. She was clearly a success story.
If that were the case, shouldn't she, as an experienced veteran, fully support her daughter's path? With her established connections and industry knowledge, Mirai's journey would be infinitely easier than starting from scratch. It would be like having a walkthrough guide for a notoriously difficult game.
Most of the time, shouldn't families hope for children to follow in their parents' footsteps? Or rather, daughters following in their mothers' footsteps? It was practically a trope in entertainment families.
Why was she, instead, preventing her daughter from becoming a voice actress?
Could it just be a misunderstanding? A classic case of miscommunication?
Kuroha Akira rubbed his chin and asked for clarification.
"Did Akiko herself tell you that she doesn't allow you to be a voice actress?"
Takanashi Mirai shook her head, her expression turning thoughtful.
"No… she never said that to me directly. But when I mentioned wanting to be a voice actress before, my mother didn't show a happy or surprised expression. Instead, she looked worried. Like I'd just told her I wanted to join a dangerous gang."
"It's a bit far-fetched to conclude that Akiko doesn't agree with you becoming a voice actress based solely on that, isn't it?"
"Of course, it's not just that." Mirai's voice grew more serious. "The crucial thing is that after that conversation, my mother never brought up anything related to her work in front of me again. Even when we talked about anime, she would deliberately skip over the CV list. But she used to tell me which voice actors she knew, what they were like, and share little stories from her workplace… Now, it's like that part of her life doesn't exist."
"Oh…"
That was indeed very deliberate. It was like when they were kids and saw a kissing scene in a movie or TV show—adults would immediately change the channel, simply not wanting children to be 'badly influenced.' The avoidance was too obvious to be coincidence.
So, not mentioning anything about voice actors was definitely intentional. It clearly indicated that she didn't want her daughter to enter the voice acting industry.
But why? What was the hidden reason?
Kuroha Akira truly couldn't figure it out, so he just asked directly.
"So, why is that?"
Takanashi Mirai pouted her lips and called out, clearly depressed.
"I don't know either!"
"You don't know either…"
This made things complicated. They were now entering the phase of trying to guess the other person's thoughts—a notoriously difficult minigame in any relationship.
However, Takanashi Mirai wasn't completely unaware of the situation. She began to talk about the clues she had discovered.
"But I suddenly noticed some unusual things… though the reason was because of that bitch's nasty words."
"That bitch?"
"Yes, you must have already heard, right? The reason I was suspended was because I hit Yoshimura…"
"Oh! I remember now—the first time I saw you, you were wearing an eye patch!"
Recalling her swollen eye from a while ago, Takanashi Mirai instinctively covered her now-healed right eye and clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"Tsk… I only slapped her, but she actually punched me in the eye. I thought I was going blind then… I had to wear that stupid patch for two weeks."
"So why did you hit her?"
"Because she insulted my mom!" Mirai's voice flared with righteous anger.
"I see. Well, you did a great job." Kuroha Akira nodded approvingly. "Good for you. You should have hit her harder."
Hearing that Kuroha Akira was completely on her side, Takanashi Mirai's mood improved considerably. She hadn't told Takanashi Akiko the real reason for the fight—that she was protecting her mother's reputation—because she didn't want to burden her. Takanashi Akiko still believed her own daughter was in the wrong for striking first, which made Takanashi Mirai feel very wronged.
But she really didn't want to tell her mother about it, after all, what that bitch had said was too nasty to repeat.
Takanashi Mirai hugged her knees and continued, her voice softening.
"I can't stand it when people badmouth my mother… because I know how hard she works, and I know how amazing she is…"
At this point, she showed a somewhat proud expression and boasted.
"Speaking of which, since you, Akira, set the voice actress career path for the Goddess, you must know how amazing my mother is as a voice actress, right?"
"Uh…"
Kuroha Akira showed an awkward smile, the kind you give when you've been caught not doing your homework.
Seeing his expression, Takanashi Mirai rolled her eyes again, very speechless. This guy was just a country bumpkin who didn't know anything about the entertainment industry! And he called himself the Goddess's Producer—too incompetent!
No choice, she thought. I'll have to educate you myself!
"That's enough, Akira—how little attention do you pay to the entertainment industry? You've been at my house for a while, and you don't even know what level of voice actress my mother is?"
"I'm sorry, I'm ignorant…" Kuroha Akira bowed his head in mock shame.
He had previously researched voice actor agencies and learned about some younger talents, but his knowledge of veteran voice actors wasn't extensive enough. However, he had been attracted by Akiko's gentle, wife-like voice the first time they met, so he could conclude she was certainly no ordinary talent.
"Then looking at all these things in my house, you should know how amazing my mother is, right?" Mirai gestured around the room. "These were all bought with the money she earned herself, including this house. There's no loan—it was bought in full!"
Takanashi Mirai boasted about how rich her family was, like a nouveau riche child showing off, but in reality, she just wanted to show how amazing her mother was. Pride radiated from her.
"You should know that among so many voice actors, only a handful can earn this amount!"
"Yes, that's truly impressive."
Actually, just by looking at Akiko, one could understand how much a top voice actress could earn. If Shion could also earn that amount of money, it would be considered a huge success. Then he could take the money she gave him and fully enjoy her incredibly beautiful body… Thinking that way, Kuroha Akira felt like he was a complete scumbag. But a comfortable scumbag.
"Of course it's amazing!" Mirai continued, now on a roll. "You must know the anime Miss Seashell, right? If you don't even know that, I'd start to doubt if you're even from this country!"
Sorry, he thought, I'm really not… or rather, only half. My body is, but my soul isn't.
However, upon hearing the name 'Miss Seashell,' which sounded somewhat familiar, Kuroha Akira immediately thought of the famous Sazae-san. Although not as famous as Doraemon, Chibi Maruko-chan, or Crayon Shin-chan in international circles, this manga was a super long-running series enjoyed throughout Japan, having been serialized for decades. It was a cultural institution.
The animated adaptation was still airing, and it must have already broadcast thousands of episodes.
There are only fifty-two weeks in a year, and if there are two episodes a week, that's just over a hundred episodes annually. Broadcasting thousands of episodes would take decades—a testament to its enduring popularity and cultural significance.
It essentially tells the story of family life centered around the housewife Sazae-san, reflecting the daily lives of ordinary Japanese families with gentle, heartwarming humor suitable for all ages. It's the kind of show that grandparents and grandchildren can watch together without anyone feeling awkward.
The most crucial point is that the anime's viewership ratings aren't just stable—they firmly hold the number one spot, consistently exceeding 15%. That's practically unheard of in modern television. Closely following are Chibi Maruko-chan and Crayon Shin-chan, and then Doraemon. These are the first-tier anime in terms of viewership, the elite of the elite, followed by Detective Conan and One Piece. To even be in the same conversation as these shows is a mark of legendary status.
Indeed, slice-of-life anime have the broadest audience and the longest lifespan. They're the evergreen of the anime industry—benchmark works that stand tall above the rest, immune to shifting trends and fads.
"Of course I know that," Kuroha Akira nodded. "Since it's a work spanning decades, the voice actor must have changed several generations… Could it be that Akiko took over?"
"Yes!" Mirai's eyes sparkled with pride. "And she's the CV for the main character—Miss Seashell herself! I knew you didn't notice the change in the CV list. In fact, most people didn't notice, but this precisely proves my mother's skill!"
She was absolutely right. If the voice acting wasn't truly identical, a CV change would be easily noticed, especially in such a beloved, long-running anime. Moreover, people usually dislike it when things they're accustomed to change—the reaction to a voice actor change is almost always 'it's not as good as the original.' The backlash can be brutal.
However, Akiko, with her unparalleled skill, had withstood the wave of public opinion and gained people's recognition. She hadn't just filled the role; she had made it her own.
"Besides this work," Mirai continued, now on a roll, "the mothers of the protagonists in several other top-rated anime are also voiced by my mother!"
Kuroha Akira looked at the anime Takanashi Mirai listed again—all the first-tier anime in terms of viewership she'd just mentioned. And they were all mother characters. The kind, gentle, warm mother figures that anchored the shows.
Speaking of national anime mother characters, the mothers one could recall were basically all voiced by Akiko. She had practically cornered the market on maternal roles.
"This is too amazing…"
Kuroha Akira was truly filled with admiration. Although he had guessed that Takanashi Akiko was a very skilled voice actress, he never expected her to be this amazing. This wasn't just about being a top voice actress anymore—this was a national-level treasure! A living legend!
If there truly was a 'finish line' for the voice actress path Shion wanted to take, then Takanashi Akiko was undoubtedly someone who had already reached it. And probably lapped it a few times.
However, after learning about Akiko's brilliant resume, Kuroha Akira understood even less.
She's a national-level voice actress, isn't she? Letting her daughter become a voice actress—wouldn't that just be a matter of her saying the word?
With her connections, her reputation, her industry clout, even if Takanashi Mirai was a talentless good-for-nothing, she could still make a living in this industry. Nepotism existed everywhere, and in entertainment, it was practically the default setting.
...
After excitedly boasting to Kuroha Akira about how amazing her mother was, Mirai's mood immediately dropped. Because next, she had to talk about what that gossipy Yoshimura had said.
"And then that day… that Yoshimura said my mom must have used backdoor connections to get Miss Seashell's CV—sleeping with the animation director to land the role… When I heard that, my head got hot, and I slapped her across the face."
Kuroha Akira felt his own anger surge upon hearing this. He spoke in a low, sinister voice,
"You're still too gentle. You should have beaten her to death. Torn that woman's mouth to shreds and seen if she still dared to spout such nonsense."
"I thought the same thing at the time," Mirai admitted, her fists clenching. "But then she said something that stunned me, and she took the opportunity to hit back…"
"What did that bitch say now?"
"She said I must also be a bastard." Mirai's voice trembled. "She said she'd never heard of my father's existence—that a famous voice actress's husband had never appeared anywhere. She asked if that was even possible? She just assumed my mother must be some big shot's mistress, which is how she achieved her current status… Of course, I knew she was talking nonsense, but I couldn't say anything to refute her at the time… because even I haven't met my dad."
"Didn't your dad pass away?"
"Yes, he did pass away—my mom said so too, but…" Mirai's voice faltered. "Is that really true?"
Takanashi Mirai showed a confused expression, the kind of uncertainty that had clearly been eating at her for a long time.
"Huh? Why don't you believe your mom now? If he didn't die, what else could it be?"
"Because I've really never met him!" Mirai's voice rose with frustration. "I haven't even seen a picture! Do you think that's normal?! If Dad really passed away, she should have kept a photo somewhere, right?! A memorial, a grave to visit—something!"
This was indeed a bit extreme. When a husband passes away, generally, a photo would be kept—after all, there are memorials, and children would also be allowed to see their never-before-met father. Even just a single family photo. The complete absence of any evidence was suspicious.
Is there something hidden here?
"Oh… I see." Kuroha Akira nodded slowly. "You suspect Akiko is hiding something from you—that your father didn't actually pass away from an accident when you were little, and that they might have just gotten divorced?"
"Not just that…" Mirai hugged her knees tighter. "I now suspect that I might not have a dad at all…"
"Huh? No, how could you not have a dad? If you don't have a dad, then how were you born?"
Takanashi Mirai couldn't possibly lack basic health and physical education knowledge, could she? She was a high school student, after all.
"No! Akira, you idiot!" Mirai's face flushed with embarrassment. "What I mean is—my mom never had a husband! And I'm not her biological daughter!"
"Oh… I get it." The pieces clicked into place. "You mean you were adopted?"
"That sounds too harsh…" She pouted. "I mean I might have been adopted. Anyway, I probably wasn't born to my mom, and this matter is very likely related to her not wanting me to be a voice actress."
"I see." Kuroha Akira stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I probably understand your line of thinking. You think that because you're not Akiko's biological daughter, that's why she doesn't want you to inherit her career?"
"Hmm… otherwise?" Mirai shrugged helplessly. "My mom clearly loves the voice actress career immensely—it's her entire life—but she doesn't allow me to step into the voice acting industry… If she truly loved me, she shouldn't stop me from becoming a voice actress, right?"
Kuroha Akira pondered with his arms crossed, feeling that this possibility couldn't be ruled out, yet also feeling it wasn't Akiko's style. The gentle, warm woman he'd come to know didn't seem capable of that kind of deception.
"Actually, these are all just my guesses…" Mirai admitted. "I don't know exactly what's going on, which is why I decided not to go to school anymore. I needed time to think."
"You want to protest by not going to school—to force Akiko to tell you the truth?"
Takanashi Mirai nodded firmly. This was the real reason she had become a shut-in. Not laziness, not social anxiety—a desperate search for answers.
"Pretty much… Another reason is, if I don't become a voice actress, I don't know what else I'd do in the future." She sighed. "I don't have any other dreams."
And then there were her personal reasons.
"Because my mom never specifically demanded anything from me. She doesn't particularly care about my academic performance, so she doesn't restrict me from playing games either…"
"Isn't that good?" Akira asked. "So much freedom."
Who knows how many students wish their parents would adopt such a hands-off approach to education. It sounded like paradise.
"It is good… but I feel very uneasy." Mirai's voice dropped to a whisper.
"Uneasy?"
"Hmm… because I only have my mom. No dad. No siblings. So the family will have to rely on me in the future…"
"Ah…"
Kuroha Akira felt a pang of empathy. He could absolutely understand this feeling—it was exactly like his thoughts in his previous life. I'm the only one in the family. I'm the sole pillar. I have to step up. I have to find a way to make money… And then he'd become a pathetic corporate slave.
Because family was his only concern. The only thing that mattered.
"So even though I didn't know what I could do in the future, I still worked hard and got into Hibiya High School…" Mirai smiled bitterly. "Honestly, I feel like I studied all the books I'll ever need to read back then."
So, despite her punk clothing style and her shut-in lifestyle, Takanashi Mirai was actually a super good kid! Not rebellious at all! She wasn't just thinking about herself—she was thinking about her mom, her family, and her uncertain 'future.' She carried a weight that most teenagers never had to bear.
She truly was a good girl in every sense of the word.
"But this also made me realize something important," she added. "As long as I'm willing to put in the effort, even the hardest schools to get into, I can still get in…"
Although Japan primarily focused on happy education, the competition was fierce if one wanted to get into a good high school and a good university. Especially within the Tokyo area, the pressure to get into higher education was similar to what he'd experienced in his home country. Being able to get into Hibiya High School—a school with a very high deviation score—by her own ability indicated that she had indeed put in a tremendous amount of effort. She had the discipline and drive.
However, unlike his hometown, in Japan's high schools, not everyone wanted to go to university. Because in Japan, attending university was a 'very expensive' proposition—not every family could afford the tuition, especially private universities where fees were even more astonishingly high. Moreover, there was no guarantee that a degree would lead to a good job. Sometimes, university graduates might even be less successful than professionals who entered the workforce earlier, gaining experience while others were buried in textbooks.
At this point, Takanashi Mirai's eyes became even more confused, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"But… what then? After graduating from university? Join an ordinary company and do a job I don't like?" She shook her head. "In that case, I definitely wouldn't earn as much money as my mom, right? What if I work hard, only to find out in the end that it's not even as much as the pocket money my mom gives me… At that point, I'd definitely be hit hard and become a full-time NEET. Since I'll end up as a NEET anyway, why not start now… I'm just accelerating the process."
So that's it.
This was the downside of having a national-level voice actress as a mother. Her mother was too famous, too amazing. Growing up watching such an incredible woman, she naturally yearned to follow in her footsteps. But now she was being rejected by the very person she admired most—and that had thrown Takanashi Mirai into endless confusion. And precisely because of this confusion, she had been instantly captivated by the decisive Shion, who knew exactly what she wanted.
The main reason was simple: besides being a voice actress, she couldn't think of anything else she could do—or wanted to do.
Then, this was Kuroha Akira's cheat zone. Don't know what you want to do? I can give you enlightenment! Let me see your talent! I'll definitely show you the way!
Kuroha Akira once again approached Takanashi with the mindset of unearthing a hidden genius, ready to perform his palm-reading persuasion technique.
"I understand everything… So, let me read your palm."
"Huh? Palm reading?" Takanashi Mirai blinked, completely bewildered.
"That's right. Since you don't know what you can do in the future, let me guide you!" Akira grinned confidently. "I'm super good at palm reading. Shion also firmly embarked on her voice actress path after I helped her read her palm!"
Since Takanashi Mirai had already become Shion's devoted fan, Kuroha Akira naturally used her as the breakthrough point for his persuasion. It was the perfect bait.
"Really? No way…" Mirai's eyes widened with curiosity.
"Really! So, extend your right hand, and I'll help Mirai read her 'future'!"
"I always feel it's suspicious… but whatever, it doesn't matter if I let you see…" She hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly extended her right hand, palm up.
Kuroha Akira finally confirmed her talents.
[Web Streamer]S
[E-sports]A
[Editing]A
Huh?
There was an S-rank! And two A-ranks! Most importantly, these three were all perfectly complementary—like a pre-built combo kit for success.
So that's it, he realized. No wonder she had such good showmanship when playing games…
Takanashi Mirai was a natural-born streamer saint! The kind of talent that could captivate audiences without even trying.