<CHAPTER 5: Why Me!?>

"Uhmm, do you have something to say?!" I took almost all of my courage and held back any tears that might come out just to ask a simple question.

After saying that, the punk's stare become gentler and… shocked?!

"(Why is he… shocked?)" I asked myself. He didn't answer and just continued staring at me again. "(Who said that stare cannot kill, it's absolutely what happening to me, this punk is killing me.)?"

"Sorry for the wait Keito-san, here's the ingredients… have a happy dinner." Little Beauty smiled at me and I took the grocery from her arms.

"Nice timing!" I whispered to Little Beauty as I make my way to the cashier. As I walk, I turn around and wave at him to bid goodbye, just in case he has some problems with me, at least I can leave a good impression right?

He looked shocked again but I made my way already… my heart can't take it anymore.

--

"Alright, time to go home- no… I mean let's go to To-chan's place…- wait! Where is it again?" I asked myself as I forgot where To-chan's house is. I only got there today… how am I supposed to know it already?!

--

After some time, is suddenly remembered that his place is on top of the agency and hurriedly head there.

"You're late!" To-chan is waiting at the door but strangely, I can see some beads of sweat in his forehead… is it hot here?

"Sorry, I kinda forget where your place were." I honestly answered.

"How can you forget something as easy like this?" To-chan grab the grocery and head to the kitchen to prepare the food. "At least you made your way and reached this place safely"

"Yeah…" I ran to the bed as I'm so tired.

After 30 minutes, To-chan wake me up from my sleep and put the dish on the table. It smelled good and looks so appealing…

"Okay… have a taste!" To-chan gave me spoon.

"I'm digging in!!" I hurriedly ate the food and as the smell and looks of it, it also tasted great.

--

The next day

It is the day of recording

BEEP BEEP BEEP

"Hmmm… 5 more minutes… I'll-" I said as I get back to slumber.

"Geez, he's not waking up even with the alarm" a familiar voice said. "Wake up"

I felt something blew in my ear and my ear is my most sensitive part, thus making me wake up immediately. The moment I opened my eyes, I saw To-chan's face very near me… it's as if…

PAK!

"Get up already!" To-chan flicked my forehead

"Ah!! That hurts!!" I hold my forehead as if it will ease the pain.

"Today is the recording day, so get up and prepare, you should be in your way to the recording studio just to leave a good impression… okay?! Get up I'll get you there." To-chan leave the room and I started to prepare myself.

--

"Good Morning!" I said enthusiastically as soon as I enter the recording studio, there I found Mr. Producer with other staff.

"Good Morning Keito!" he replied. "We will be recording Rion's lines, so keep on standby." He added. I nod as a form of recognition.

As soon as I found a seat, another one enter the studio, a tall brown haired man.

"Good Morning!" he said with smile all over his face, even his eyes are smiling, he looks like an obedient pet dog. The producer replied and made him standby as well which is paid with a nod.

"Ey! Lost Dog!" I waved at him as surprise strike me, I didn't even think of what I'm saying.

"Eh?" his expression immediately changes as he looked at my direction sizing me up. "Oh…OH! You're that kind person who helped me out… but I didn't made it there, as soon as I realized I'm already outside the mall." His expression saddened but his energy gets back as soon as it get lost. "What are you doing here?!"

"I'm here to record a line… are you recording as well?" I answered and asked.

"Yeah! So we meet again and it's surprisingly here at the recording studio… by the way, I'm Shiba Ryo… but you can call me whatever you want!" he said with smile plastered in his face.

"Whatever I like? Then how about Hachi?" I said immediately.

"Ehh, why Hachi?" he asked.

"Because you are Shiba." I said proudly. "Shiba Inu." "Hachiko." "HACHI!"

"…" he was blank for a while "please call me whatever except Hachi!" he pouted like a kid but it only makes him look more like a puppy.

"Shiba, we'll record your line, please be ready!" The producer called him.

"Ah! O-okay, I'll be leaving then, see you later…" Shiba seems to asking for my name.

"Keito." I said.

"I see, Keito, is it? Nice to meet you! See you later!" Shiba enter the recording room as the producer assisted him. He looks so professional while inside the recording room, if I don't know him, I'll think he's a professional Voice actor.

A moment later, it's already my turn.

"Whooo… okay… let's do this! … doki! doki! doki!"

"What are you doing?" the producer asked me.

"I'm expressing my inner nervousness" I replied.

After that, I managed to pull it out somehow. This isn't my first time recording, but it is my first time doing it with ambition.

"Okay that's a wrap, congratulations everyone… good job all!" the producer announced.

I received my wage and as expected, it's really small. The producer told me that it's normal, but as we go higher, we can get a larger wage… I should make a name for myself and get higher wage, in that way, I can pay the rent with ease!

I head back home after I and Hach- Shiba bade farewell and promised to get out someday. Today's activity really tired me out.

As soon as I get to my bed, I grab my phone and called To-chan…

RING RING RING

"Hello" after some time, I heard To-chan's voice.

"Hi To-chan!"

"…? Keito?" To-chan's tone is a bit different. Did I interrupted him? "Why are you calling me? Do you ness something?"

"Huh? Why did I call you? Ah… to… have a chat, I just want to have a chat with you."

"Don't you have any better things to do?" he said.

"Nahh, I already finished my animes, and the TV is broken. And also isn't it better to talk with you than to watch anime?"

"Stop it! Isn't there any person you can call instead of me?" Why does it sound like To-chan is pushing me away!

"Well unexpectedly, I only became active this past few week, so yeah, I don't have much friends." I said happily.

"Forget it" He sounded irritated. "You still sounded happy even without much friends?"

"But I have yo-"

"Stop!" To-chan interrupted me. "You didn't call me this late just to talk about this right?"

"Oh… so... what are we supposed to talk about?" I asked curiously.

"… You should have think about it before you made a call." Why does To-chan sounded irritated.

"Oh... okay, then I should be resting now… take a rest as well To-chan…"

"Hmmm" I ended the call and shut my phone. I stare at the ceiling and think about my dream again.

"Now I am certain that To-chan is on my dreams… his voice is starting to become more familiar, but is he really the person that kissed me? The person that yearns for me? Nahh... that's impossible, To-chan is as straight as an iron bar that can never be bent. I will just put my hopes up if I continue thinking about him."

--

The next day, I received a message from To-chan saying that there's a new voce actor in the agency. I hurriedly go to the agency and what I found almost blew me out…

"Oh… Keito you're here! Finally" I found a smiling To-chan the very moment I opened the door, and his smile is a smile that's full of… relief?

"T-To-chan!! I heard that there's a new VA? So where is he? Is it a he? Or a she? It would be better if it's a he… a very good looking he. Hehe" I joked at him.

"He's right beside you!" To-chan's smile never waver. I looked at my side and saw a … 'bomb!'

The punk at the grocery… "(what is he doing here?!)"

When I looked at him, the punk, as usual, stares at me… he's still staring at me… even after a while, he's still staring at me, I feel like he's peeling my skin!

"Can you introduce yourself? Please?" even To-chan is being polite at him.

"Kazu Tori, pleased to meet you" Tori bowed and after that, he stared at me again. There's silence everywhere, and it's deafening… it's a deafening awkward silence.

"I think that's it…" To-chan break the silence "I just remembered that I have something important to do… so, Keito… I put Tori in your hands" To-chan pats my shoulder as if saying 'Keito, You can do it!'

So that explains To-chan's smile… it's an awkward smile, a smile of relief, and this time, it's my time to wear this smile. "Hehe" I awkwardly laughed at the both of us.

Tori keeps on staring at me and I really feel like he can see through my clothes.

"Uhmm" I took up my courage again! "Why do you keep on staring at me like that? Are you a fan of mine or something?" and that's the beginning of my sweating!

But unexpectedly, or expectedly, he was shocked again! Did I provoked him?

"W-well… I'm just kidd-"

"YES, I'M A FAN!" Tori replied

"ing…" I was utterly shocked that this punk and I really lost it for a while, I mean this guys is a fan of mine?

"I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable… did I make you feel so uncomfortable?" and now he's … blushing? WHAT THE ----!!

"W-Why?" I never had a major project that made me stand out…

"I-I really love you in 'Luxury', as well as at 'Moving out', also at 'Provoke', and your last project at 'Last Line', you're interpretations of the characters made you stand out…." Tori said in one breath.

"You really know those anime's then… hehe…" I awkwardly replied.

"…!" and here he was staring at me again…

"So the reason why you keep on staring at me is that you're a fan and not to threaten me?" I want to clear things out.

"Y-yes, I'm sorry if I scared you…" he apologized. Then I stare at him…

"W-W-W-W-WHY ARE Y-YOU S-S-S-STARING AT M-ME!!" his head turned into a tomato… from his head to his neck… he's all red!! He's so cute!! Well, I should control myself.

"Well, if you keep on staring at me, so it's only fair to return the favor!" I smiled at him gently.

I managed to clear any misunderstanding between me and Tori, and I found him really cute and adorable, I think adding him as a friend will make this year more fun!