2 <CHAPTER 2: Thanks or No Thanks>
The next day, I attended the VA lessons in the morning with Mr. Swirly Glasses, the new VA instructor. He so persistent and annoying because he made me study the proper characterizations and voice techniques. He even made me sing a song that made my voice hoarse… I may be a voice actor but I'm not a singer. I might have a good voice, but for god's sake, it's not suitable for singing…
As I made my way home to watch anime, I saw the park in so much peace, maybe because there are lesser kids now. And I also saw the bench under a big tree and made a conclusion.
"That tree is seducing me to lie down and take a nap on it… No one could blame me since it's located at a perfect spot!! And it's really seducing me… that bench is a bad bench" I said while smiling and making way to the bench.
I sat down and I can feel the breeze of January, it feels so great, not too cold, not too warm… just perfect.
I am utterly being seduced by everything in here.
I lay down the bench, put my phone down and take a nap. After a stressful lesson, it is good for the body to lie down for a while…
"This is life" I said while smiling as I'm starting to get succumbed into comfort.
--
"(Stare)" … "He looks single though… he might be lonely. His white hair is perfect just like a cat, yes, he resembles my cat back home… a cute cat should not be lonely. (Looks down)… PERFECT!!"
(Grabs the phone)
"he's really single, he doesn't even have a password… hehe… little fur, you should be happy this time okay? (Smile) (Tap the calendar and typed something on selected dates) (Shut the phone) good luck little fur…"
I open my eyes with the sudden noise and even my eyes is a little blurry, I still managed to see that a man is looking at me while smiling…
"W-Who are you?" I sit down while rubbing my eyes.
"Oh? Little fur… did I wake you up? Hehe sorry then." The cute black haired man in his early-20 is crouching near me and stand up after
"don't look at me like that" he said, he looks disappointed.
He found me looking at him suspiciously.
"I'm totally not someone suspicious, I-" he said with a relaxed tone.
"All suspicious people say that…" I replied.
"Eh??" he started to feel some panic "Little fur… I-I'm definitely telling the truth!" he waves his hands in front of me.
"(What a suspicious looking person)" I thought.
"Hey!! You're definitely thinking of 'what a suspicious looking person', right?" he guessed. He sounds like he's certain about it. "I-I wasn't really anything suspicious at all. I was just staring at you a little bit while you were sleeping" he explained.
"Hm? I think that's a pretty suspicious activity, though" I rebut.
"Fine then… it looks like you're not gonna believe me though. I'm just saying, you should thank me little fur." He said.
"Little fur? Thank you? Why should I? And don't call me little fur… I'm taller than you" I asked and cleared his statement.
"Eh? O-okay, then, Big Fur, you should thank me, you'll know when the time comes. Ah! Always check your phone… that's my advice to you Big Fur… I hope you'll become happy the next time we meet, okay?" he wave at me then leave the park.
"This place is not safe for napping anymore… by the way… thank you Mr. Bench… you did a great job… I slept well" I tapped the bench and make my way home.
--
At home
"Oh! Welcome back home!" a dark blondie slim man is inside my apartment room.
"Eh? Who are you?" I asked him suspiciously. People nowadays shouldn't be trusted anymore.
"H-How can you not know me? I'm shocked!" He looked blank… and sad… and shocked… and… okay, he don't look blank… he's shocked.
"Ah, I guessed I haven't introduced myself to you before, sorry about that. My bad. Anyway, I'm your new landlord, Smith. Nice to meet you Keito" he smiled and offered his hands for a shake.
"Oh! Hello there…" I shake his hands and let go after.
"You don't sound happy meeting me…" he was frozen after our shake.
"Ah? Who will be happy to meet the person who will forcefully take my money away every month" I murmured while smiling.
"On the contrary, I am still very happy to meet the person who will give me money every month. Hahaha" He laughed evilly. "Okay, pay your monthly regularly okay, always lock the door at night. That's all I want to say… Bye-bye" he bid farewell and close the door after him.
"What's that?" I confusedly asked myself. "I'm not sure if I can get along with the landlord, though his cuter than the last before him. Hehe"
Dudududu
My phone vibrated. I take my phone and found a text from To-chan.
"Eh? To-chan? What could it be?" I opened the message and read it "A new job opening? Should I go back to the agency now?"
--
"Do you want to stay in the company?"
"Then get the Seiyu Award."
"The award ceremony will be at the end of the year, you have a year to prepare to get the award, until then, we'll talk about whether you'll stay or you'll leave... Do you understand?"
--
"On the contrary, I am still very happy to meet the person who will give me money every month. Hahaha" He laughed evilly. "Okay, pay your monthly regularly okay?"
--
"Ey? What's with these people… their killing me!! (Sob sob) I have to make money, and I also have to get the award… my dear anime… let's meet a little later okay?" I dejectedly head to the agency.
I reached the agency and walked towards the office computer to take a look for the job that To-chan mentioned.
"A supporting role for 5,500? Isn't it too low… job nowadays pay lesser and lesser? Well at least I can make some money… let's just accept it." I clicked the reserve button and input my name "the road to Seiyu Award is far, but at least there's a road to take on… hehe"
"It's great to see that you are enthusiastic about this Keito…" To-chan approached me while smiling. There are no sunshine this time, but still, I can see halo around him… why is my boss this good looking… it's unfair!
"Hey, To-chan!" I smiled at him.
"Did you read the description of the role?" To-chan asked, still smiling.
"Description? What's that?" I asked innocently.
"I knew you wouldn't bother reading them" To-chan removed his eyeglass to rub his forehead a little then bring the glasses back "the description contains important information about the role you're taking in. It contains the audition date, recording date, explanation about the role and the requirements to fulfill before the audition…"
"Why need to consider so many things before clicking a simple okay… that's too troublesome To-chan" I said lazily.
"At the very least, take note of the audition date and its requirements…" To-chan advised "Did you saw the audition date?"
"A.u.d.i.t.i.o.n.d.a.t.e? Is it near the 5,500?" I asked confusedly.
"You haven't seen them, right?" he said as if he's so sure about it. I nod to him since I only look at the payment… I'm in most need of money "in the 16th of January, today is the 8th, so prepare before the audition, okay?"
"Yes sir!"
"Good. I'll be waiting for the good news then" To-chan head to his office just behind the computer and close the door.
"Well, then, where should I go now? Park? No… it's not safe there now… Café? I don't have money yet, should I go window shopping again?" I said to myself and head to the mall at the district.
--
The mall seems busier now… I walked to the escalator when I saw a tall man looking to his left and right… maybe he's looking for something or for someone…
"this is not the place!" the man said, he move to the next store "this isn't also…" he looks around when his eyes met mine and he move towards me…
Wait… is he going to me? Oh? I'm not yet ready… w-wait… this feels like… dejavu?
"Excuse me? Uh, do you know where the department store is?" he asked me half-smilingly, he seems like a bit awkward. "I have to buy something important but I can't seem to find it…" he really looks so disappointed.
"Um… I-it's right in front of you" I pointed at my back where the department store is.
"HUH?!" now that I look to him closer, he really looks familiar… his athlete-built, tall body, brown hair, innocent eyes, and dog-like appearance… he really looks familiar
"ahh… you're right… hehe… Thank you, thank you very much! I've been here since 10 am and still can't find it. I finally found it… you saved me! I have to go now… thank you again." He said hurriedly.
"There he goes…" I took a step forward when I saw the familiar man take the left side going to the wrong store "w-wait!" I tried to go after him, but the man has already lost from his sight.
--
It's turning dark, I should go home and make it up with my anime… they should be disappointed of me leaving them alone at home…
I'm on my way towards the exit when I saw someone in the grocery…
"To-chan? HEY, TO-CHAN!!" To-chan turn around and wave at me, I run to him and enter the grocery "What are doing here To-chan?" he showed me his empty cart.
"Grocery? What for?" I asked.
"I'm not like you who's eating noodles all the time… I cook my own food" To-chan's tone is a bit ridiculing. But still, this doesn't make him any lesser man, but it only showed that he's really a husband material. "By the way, what are you doing here?"
"I want to spend time with you of course!" I said cheerfully.
"Why do you want to spend time with an old man like me?" To-chan looked a bit down. Maybe talking about his age makes him like this.
"Just because. And don't worry To-chan, you looked cool for an old man!" I smiled at him as if there's nothing wrong with what I've said.
"So you're not denying the 'old man' part huh!" He looked more down now "Do as you like then" To-chan gave me a list "Go and buy me carton of milk, some celery, and a packet of eggs!" Then To-chan passed me a trolley and get his own.
"You know what, I'm feeling a sudden itch to get inside this trolley…" I said while staring at the trolley in my hands.
"Stop playing around, this is a public place" he said without looking at me "I hope you gain experience in doing grocery after this and make your own."
"That's 99.9 percent impossible To-chan." I replied.
"Unfortunately, that's what I'm also thinking about…" To-chan said holding himself from laughing "okay, I'm making my way to get the other groceries, buy those goods, okay?"
"Yes Sir!" then we made our separate ways.
--
"To-chan! I've brought what you want!" I showed him my cart with carton of milk, some celery, and a packet of eggs "I did a good job right?"
"…" To-chan grab the 'celeries' " These aren't celeries... these are lettuce! Keito"
"is that so?" I looked at the 'celery' "well, they're both green, so…"
"I'm starting to worry about your future Keito" He took the lettuce and put it back to Keito's cart "that will still do, it's a good alternative though"
We head to the counter and the cashier is looking to both of us, I looked at her and To-chan did as well, she smiled and blushed, she take the goods after. Maybe the cashier is crazy, I think.
"Okay we're done… I should go home" To-chan said after the cashier gave back the card.
"Okay, let's go home" I take the groceries and hug it.
"Where do you think you're going?" To-chan grab the grocery bag.
"Home!" I replied.
"You are going back to your own apartment!" To-chan pass by me as if he's all alone.
"CHEAPSTAKE… STINGY…" I said loudly and the cashier burst out from laughing but she manage to go back to her posture immediately.
"Whatever" To-chan ignored.
