Anime rating game

"When people are doing what they love, it's hard to care about what others think. No matter how others see you, it doesn't really matter."

"I wonder what you were feeling when you sang on stage? But I think... looking back, you definitely won't regret doing it."

Being stared at by everyone, Akiyama Mio inexplicably had the thought that "escaping is shameful, but it's useful."

If she could, she really wanted to escape to a deserted place and stay there quietly.

But having already come this far, there's clearly no way to escape.

I want to sing.

The sudden sound from the side startled Masamune, who then realized that the voice belonged to Mashiro.

Because she spoke very softly and her expression remained unchanged, he was somewhat puzzled.

"Do you want to sing?"

"Ah."

"Why? Why do you suddenly want to sing?"

Masamune was somewhat taken aback. He had come today to train Akiyama Mio, but he didn't expect Mashiro's side to react first.

However, their situations are different.

Mio is too timid and shy. She is immersed in the world of painting all year round and has a vague understanding of concepts such as common sense and emotions. She is not actually introverted.

"I don't know, I just suddenly had this idea." Mashiro quietly looked at the microphone in the distance.

"Okay, so can you sing?"

"I've never sung it, so I don't know."

Noticing the commotion nearby, Mrs. Hudson glanced at Mashiro with curiosity, seemingly lost in thought.

If the girl named Akiyama Mio is just shy and timid, then the blonde girl next to her is strange in a different sense.

From a worldly perspective, it is what most people consider to be a lack of everything.

While being introverted isn't necessarily a bad thing, it can make communication with others very difficult and create many unnecessary challenges in life.

"Since this blonde young lady wants to sing, why don't you give it a try?"

Led by Mrs. Hudson, Mashiro stood behind a microphone not far away and softly hummed a song from K-On!, which is the anime's opening theme.

It was clearly a very cheerful song, and her voice was beautiful, with all the notes matching perfectly, but the song she sang gave people an extremely empty feeling.

It wasn't the ethereal quality unique to her paintings, but rather an emptiness devoid of anything, like a synthesized sound produced by a machine.

As the music ended, while Mrs. Hudson and Mashiro were having an unconventional conversation in the distance, Ritsu Tainaka gently nudged Mio Akiyama twice with her elbow.

"Mio, someone is using your song to provoke you. Aren't you going to fight back?"

"Mashiro sings very well."

"Really? Although it's not appropriate to talk badly about people behind their backs, I still prefer Mio's version."

“Go, Mio.” Hirasawa Yui looked at her expectantly. “Let them see the strength of the Light Music Club.”

Noticing the eager gazes of the people around her, Akiyama Mio felt even more pressure.

In the band, most of the time it is the extroverted Yui and Ritsu who communicate with others, and they don't need to say much.

Even if they occasionally need to sing, they don't feel any psychological burden when singing in a group.

But singing solo, especially in front of a large audience, is a different story.

"I'm sorry, I really can't do it."

"Don't be afraid, we'll be with you." Kotobuki Tsumugi placed her hand on the back of Akiyama Mio's hand and said softly.

Finally, after more than a minute of internal struggle, Akiyama Mio nervously stepped onto the stage.

The voice, initially trembling, gradually became natural the moment it came out, accompanied by the melody in her mind.

Watching Akiyama Mio sing alone on stage, Tainaka Ritsu suddenly realized why he had come to Kabukicho with Mio because of Masamune's suggestion.

Although the band is fun and it's enjoyable to be with everyone, Mio's solo performances also have an indescribable charm.

This mixture of shyness and strength, when paired with Mio, is truly captivating.

When the song ended, many people couldn't help but applaud.

"That's amazing, Mio!"

Masamune noticed that Mashiro next to him was also clapping softly. Although he couldn't see any expression on her face, he could vaguely sense from their time together that she was actually in a very good mood.

"Mashiro, what are your thoughts?"

"I like Mio's songs."

"That's it."

Mashiro doesn't lie, so her expression of affection must be genuine.

So, the reason you went to sing earlier was to demonstrate for her, or to encourage Mio in your own way?

Thinking of this, Masamune felt a sense of relief:

This trip was definitely worthwhile. Not only Mio, but Mashiro also took another step forward.

Admittedly, this step will not make Mio less introverted, timid, or shy, nor will it make her boldly and shamelessly stand on stage and sing loudly, but it is by no means meaningless.

Chapter Sixty-Eight: Nothing in the world is more cruel than this

Mid-November, Saturday.

Today, Masamune is on leave and does not need to go to work.

The production of the two anime series in this season is currently in the original drawing stage. The voice acting for "Rose Eyes" is underway, while the voice acting for "Seitokai Yakuindomo" has not yet started because the training of Amakusa Shino and others has not yet been completed.

Meanwhile, it took several days to persuade Amakusa Shino and others, which is also the reason for the difference in the progress of the voice acting for the two anime.

In contrast, Mashiro's work as an art director has also decreased significantly. With the manga completed this week and five chapters remaining, she is currently on a leisurely vacation with nothing to do.

With nothing else to do, Masamune asked Mashiro to bring his sketchbook and they went to the park to sketch.

Do you want to draw too?

Sitting in the passenger seat, Mashiro noticed another set of art supplies in the back seat and couldn't help but ask about it.

"of course."

Masamune responded casually while driving:

"I want to become an excellent screenwriter. Although written descriptions are fundamental, visual composition is equally important."

"Imagine interesting scenes in your mind and accumulate them; you never know when you might be able to use them as material."

Mashiro seemed lost in thought. When she came to her senses, she realized she had missed the familiar park by the roadside and softly reminded him:

"The car went too far."

"Not yet, it's still a long way off."

Masamune paused for a moment, then explained with a smile:

"If I want to go to the park near my home, I can't drive, it's only a few minutes' walk."

"Today we're going to a place a little further away. My mom told me that she and my dad went there on a date. It wasn't too crowded and the scenery was very beautiful."

"Ah."

Mashiro responded softly and began to quietly admire the scenery outside the car.

Around 10 a.m., in a sparsely populated park, Masamune and Mashiro sat on their own chairs, each with a drawing board in front of them.

The fiery red leaves danced in the autumn wind, contrasting beautifully with the azure sky, creating a stunning scene in late autumn.

After glancing at the park scene on the white canvas, Masamune remained hesitant.

Unlike Mashiro, who draws whatever comes to mind, he always overthinks.

Red leaves, scenery, pure white—there are so many things I want to paint, but none of them really feel like I want to paint them all.

I held the paintbrush in my hand for more than ten minutes, but still couldn't put it to paper.

As I pondered, a series of slightly melancholic melodies began to play in my ears.

Masamune snapped out of his daze and subconsciously looked around.

In the distance, under a red maple tree with the most fallen leaves, only a few dozen remaining, a blonde girl is playing the violin.

Although it was late autumn, she was wearing a summer school uniform that I had never seen before, and the music exuded a sense of sadness and resentment.

The scene was so beautiful that Masamune's paintbrush moved unconsciously.

Beneath the red maple tree, a blonde girl with her eyes closed played one violin tune after another.

About twenty minutes later, just as Masamune finished drawing the outline, he noticed that the blonde girl, who was holding onto the tree trunk, involuntarily fell to the ground.

He forgot all about drawing and rushed over.

"Are you alright? How are you feeling? I'll call an ambulance for you."

"I am fine."

The blonde girl struggled to her feet, managing a weak smile:

"Sorry, did I scare you? I'm a little anemic and I caught a chill outside. I'll be fine after resting for a while."

Anemia? A cold?

This doesn't seem that simple at all, does it?

It's obvious that the other party used this excuse to avoid worrying strangers.

In such situations, if you don't intend to develop a deep relationship and only consider each other as passersby in each other's lives, there's no need to ask further questions.

However, I still feel a little uneasy.

After a moment's hesitation, Masamune slowly spoke:

"My name is Hayase Masamune, and her name is Shiina Mashiro. You look familiar. May I ask your name?"

The blonde girl paused for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh.