Let's turn the clock back a little.
While Miyamizu Mitsuha and Yukinoshita Yukino were in the middle of discussing whether Hojou's inability to dance was more the teacher's fault or the student's.
And while the former grilled Yukinoshita using collectivist arguments, and the latter almost began to wonder if she was just a game NPC who existed to hand out tutorial experience—
At that moment, Shouko had just finished her own voice acting class.
Her instructor that day was none other than Ayano Kitani, a legendary voice actress who had been active since the golden age of Japanese anime.
Though she was nearly seventy years old, her vocal range remained astonishing.
From shounen anime protagonists to little girl heroines and even icy, high-and-mighty onee-samas—any role she took on was practically guaranteed a voice acting award nomination.
In today's anime world, whether it's due to changing trends or the rise of voice actor idol culture, recognizable voiceprints have become a selling point.
Many voice actors now treat the ability for fans to instantly recognize them by voice as a mark of success.
From the idol marketing perspective, that's a clear win—it boosts commercial value and ensures that producers will think of them first for similar roles.
But from a performance standpoint… it's also a step backward.
The craft of voice acting is narrowing, forcing actors into tighter typecasts.
Yet even in this climate, Ayano Kitani remains a force of versatility, bravely taking on diverse roles against the current.
Within the voice acting industry, she's affectionately known as:
"The Chameleon Witch Whose True Identity No One Knows."
A witch pushing seventy—it fits, somehow.
At "Our Voice," Shouko's greatest respect wasn't for the upperclassmen who doted on her with snacks after class, or even for President Matsuda Kako, who cared for her like a daughter.
It was for Kitani-sensei, who, despite her fame, still came in every week to personally teach the newcomers.
Just having one voice and sticking to one character? That won't cut it.
Even though she was still a total amateur—so shy that she'd stammer and blush whenever asked to deliver a cheesy line in front of the class—Shouko carried a secret ambition deep inside.
'If possible... I want to be the only voice actor Kyousuke-kun's anime studio ever needs.'
'No matter the character—leave them all to me, Shouko!'
Of course, she knew she wasn't a genius like Kyousuke-kun.
She wasn't even close to Eriri's level.
But what she did have was an overwhelming desire.
Just like she told him back in middle school:
"Shouko—Shouko really wants to appear in the movie called 'The Life of Hojou Kyousuke.' From beginning to end.
No matter the scene. No matter the plot. Whether he's praised or underestimated, no matter what...!"
Even if Kyousuke-kun was just lying under a tree, napping, she wanted to be the cloud above, shielding him from the sun.
If he walked down a narrow sidewalk, she wished she could be the flower petal that landed softly on his collar.
If he…
Her very first wish had simply been to do something—anything—to repay the boy who once saved her.
Even if it was just a small, trivial thing.
She knew Kyousuke-kun didn't help her expecting anything in return.
But still… she wanted to.
Then one day, at the riverbank in Suimon City, on that small bridge near her home, he held her close and said:
"You're the one who made me realize I have the power to change someone's fate."
"Shouko, you're not just some background character who gets in the way.
You're one of the most important people in my life. Just watching you grow and shine makes me believe this world is real."
Those were his words.
Her eyes and mouth had filled with tears—she couldn't say anything in reply.
But in her heart, she was screaming:
'Me too. I feel the same!'
Just being able to say "good morning" to Kyousuke-kun or Sakura every day was enough to fill her heart with happiness.
Speaking.
Every word she said was a luxury her childhood self could never have imagined.
Living.
Speaking.
Seeing Kyousuke-kun.
Talking to him.
Going to the same school…
Voicing a character in his anime...
Aaaah~~~
Voicing a character in Kyousuke-kun's anime~~ Ehehe~~ Working on something with Kyousuke-kun~~
Just thinking about it made a dreamy smile bloom across her chubby little cheeks.
She'd been teased plenty at the agency for that goofy look.
But since everyone already knew her heart belonged to Hojou Kyousuke, they usually just teased her a bit and let her off the hook.
Aaaah~ To let so many people hear her voice in his anime…
Even just imagining it was enough to make Shouko's heart burst with happiness.
With both hands cupping her flushed cheeks—whether to hide her embarrassment or cool herself down—she grinned to herself.
"Shouko, thinking about your boyfriend again?"
A gentle voice spoke up beside her.
Startled, Shouko sprang to her feet, assuming she'd zoned out in class again.
"I— I'm sorry, Sensei! I won't do it again!"
Her reflexes were well-practiced by now.
The other students, who'd been chatting softly, broke into laughter and turned toward Nishimiya Shouko.
"It's okay," Kitani-sensei said kindly, hand over her mouth in a smile. "Forget class time—there's no force on Earth that can stop a girl who misses someone she loves."
She was an elderly woman with a warm aura, from her fluffy, cauliflower-shaped silver hair to her round, gentle face that barely showed any wrinkles.
"Ahhh…"
Shouko realized what had just happened.
She didn't even need to look around to know exactly what kinds of expressions her classmates were making.
'Ahhh nooo, I can't come to class tomorrow. The senpai are definitely going to mess with me!'
But even so, she made no attempt to deny it.
Because just like Kitani-sensei had said:
No one can blame a girl who's in love.
Her heart belonged to the stars and the sea.
And that boy—he was her entire universe.
Just as they were about to continue chatting, the classroom door opened—and the secretary to the agency president appeared.