Chapter 2: The Youngest Voice Actress, Chinana’s Practice
The spring break ended, and the new school term began.
My routine in the classroom hasn’t changed even as a second-year student. I just sit at my desk, face my textbooks, and keep striving to better myself. That’s what school is for, after all.
If there’s one thing that hasn’t changed either, it’s that Kichijoji Ranka is in the same classroom. It’s been about a month since I was hired to work at her house, going there every day to clean, do laundry, and cook meals. But at school, nothing’s different from before—I’m still the friendless nerd, and she’s the charismatic idol everyone adores.
That’s fine. There’s no problem with that, really—
Except for that photo.
The photo sent to me the day my employment with the Kichijoji family was finalized—a picture of a younger me with three sisters. I still haven’t uncovered a single clue about it.
The photo arrived right after I gave my contact info to the sisters.
There’s no doubt one of the four Kichijoji sisters sent it. But the email came from some random free account, and my replies went unanswered, leaving me with no way to pin down the sender.
Unless I confront them directly, that is—
Of course, I considered that at first. But I’d just been hired, and bringing up something so creepy felt awkward. Plus, if that photo came from some mysterious outsider instead of one of the sisters, I’d end up scaring them. So, for now, I’ve shelved the issue.
…No… maybe deep down, I’m afraid.
When I looked at the photo, I tried to recall that time. I was probably around ten years old—judging by the clothes, it was summer. Back then, I was attending elementary school from a children’s home, and unlike now, I had plenty of friends to play with at school. I can still remember their faces and names…
But the girls in the photo with me? I can’t recall a single thing about them.
It’s as if some part of me—some unknown me—is warning me not to remember.
When and where was that photo taken, and why can’t I remember it?
Curiosity battles an equal measure of fear, making me hesitate to dig deeper…
Well, there’s no need to rush. The sender of that photo is still a complete mystery, but one thing is crystal clear.
Keeping such an old photo so carefully preserved… that message, ‘Will you choose me this time too?’… There’s no mistake.
The sender harbors an extraordinary affection for me!
Even someone as clueless about romance as me can’t ignore feelings that intense… One of the sisters in that photo—excluding Kikuri—must be pretending not to know me while secretly in love with me!
“…Heh.”
“…Yo, is that guy smirking or what?”
“Don’t look, don’t look…”
Whoops.
That was close. I let my lips curl into a smile at how heartwarming it all is. Yes, just heartwarming. Me, indulging in some fool’s pride like a sense of superiority? Never.
The important thing is, I don’t need to do anything. The other side will make a move eventually.
After all, they sent that email the moment they got my contact info… Spending every day so closely with them as their housekeeper, they’re bound to act on it!
—Or so I thought, and a month has already passed.
Strange… What’s their deal? Sending an email like that and then nothing?
Not that I was expecting anything, mind you. I just can’t stand leaving mysteries unsolved, that’s all. Really.
And so, in April, fully accustomed to my housekeeping job—amid the tentative buzz of a new class getting to know each other—a particular conversation caught my ear.
“Hey, you ever seen Ueno Chinana in person?”
Chinana? …But, Ueno?
They say people instinctively pick out familiar words from the noise around them. Even though I was focused on studying, my attention was naturally drawn to the guys’ conversation.
“Yeah, yeah, I have! Back in middle school, when she was still doing ‘Ryudia’! Even then, she was the kind of gorgeous that’d burn into your eyes just passing by!”
“No way! I’m jealous! I only found out recently she’s at our school—”
“You’re so late to the game, man! She was such a big deal back then! After ‘Ryudia,’ she’s only done minor roles, but she’s got the holy trinity: cute, talented, and cute! She’s definitely gonna blow up big time!”
“That’s only two things!”
“Double the cute, dude!”
Their loud laughter overlapped.
It’s just typical voice actress fanboy talk, but hearing a familiar name mixed in makes it hit differently.
That girl… She said she’s never landed a lead role, but she’s getting this much buzz? Even accounting for the bias of being at the same school, this level of attention is no small feat.
Cute, talented, and cute again, huh…
If she were just some idol voice actress, my life would probably be a lot easier.
“Have you ever done a moan?”
Chinana’s words made Ranka spew the tea she was drinking.
We’d just finished eating the meal I’d cooked for all the sisters (Kikuri was on her monitor, as usual), and a relaxed post-dinner atmosphere had settled in. Then Chinana dropped that bombshell out of nowhere, tearing through the calm. Even I stopped washing the dishes.
“M-Moans…!? Chinana, you don’t mean…!”
“You don’t mean what? …Oh, I get it.”
Chinana suddenly started wriggling her body seductively.
“That’s right. I just wanna satisfy Kiminaga-senpai even more… sneaky glance.”
“Kiminaga! You, in just one month…!”
“What the hell are you talking about!?”
I shouted, shoving plates into the dishwasher. Ranka half-rose from her seat, ignoring me, but the third sister, Meru, grabbed her arm.
“Chill, Ranka-nee. She’s probably talking about acting.”
“…Huh? Acting?”
Ranka blinked, caught off guard.
Chinana grinned cheekily, sticking out her tongue.
“Duh, obviously. What’d you think, Ranka-nee?”
Ranka’s lips twisted into a perfect gununu expression as she sat back down, fuming, and propped her chin on her hand.
“That’s still a problem! Chinana… you’re not doing some sleazy anime, are you?”
“No way, it’s totally mainstream. I’m still in middle school, you know. It’s just that the character I’m playing has to let out a few sexy sounds.”
“That’s exactly what’s wrong! You’re not being pushed into some weird marketing angle, are you? If you are, tell me right now! I’ll make sure that agency goes down in flames!”
“It’s not weird at all. Doing seductive acting is a perfectly legit part of being a voice actress. Even super famous voice actresses have moaned their way through their debut roles, you know?”
“But…!”
‘Don’t be such a kid, Ranka,’ the blonde high school girl avatar on the monitor drawled lazily.
‘She’s not doing some 18+ gig, so quit freaking out over a little moaning. What are you, some otaku stalking a voice actress’s blog on Christmas?’
“I just don’t want my cute little sister exposed to the filthy desires of men!”
‘It’s just a minor role, right? No need to worry—she’ll probably just mess up some classmate’s kinks at worst.’
“That’s exactly what I’m saying is bad!”
“If I think about it, knowing my acting could leave a lifelong mark on someone’s life… that’s kinda the dream for a voice actress, isn’t it?”
“Why’s she so into this…!?”
Ranka clutched her head, and Meru spoke up quietly.
“Chinana’s a pro now. We’re just amateurs. It’s not our place to butt in. Besides, if she was being forced into something sketchy, Mom would’ve already brought the hammer down.”
“That’s… true, I guess…”
The hammer? Just how much power does our school’s director wield?
I picked up the empty food dish from beside the curled-up cat, Hanasaka, and muttered, “So, what’s this all about, anyway?”
I usually keep to myself as the housekeeper, but the conversation was dragging on so much I couldn’t help jumping in.
Chinana clapped her hands together. “Right, right! So, my next role has a scene where I need to do those kinds of sounds, but sadly, I’ve never had the chance to practice moaning in my life, so I’m kinda stuck. I was hoping someone I know could give me some pointers.”
“Someone… you know?”
Ranka and Meru exchanged glances.
One’s a hardcore misandrist and a mega-popular streamer. The other’s a pro gamer who wakes up at sunset and spends all night glued to her PC.
Even I could tell—neither of them would have that kind of experience.
It should’ve been obvious, but for some reason, the sisters started radiating the tension of dueling swordsmen.
“…It’s gotta be Ranka-nee, right? You’re super popular at school, aren’t you?”
“You know my personality and you’re still saying that? What about you? FPS is a total boys’ club. Don’t you get hit on?”
“There are tons of girls in it these days. I barely talk to anyone outside of streaming.”
‘I mean, does it even have to be with a guy?’ the eldest sister’s avatar chimed in teasingly from the screen.
‘You’ve both got plenty of girls around you, right? You know, like that high school girl vibe—“Hey, did yours get bigger?” “Eek!”—that kinda thing! Heh heh.’
“No way that’s a thing!”
“…”
“…Meru?”
“N-Nothing. I don’t have anything like that.”
The female pro gamer emphasized her non-involvement a bit too much. I’d learned over the past month that her team is all women.
‘Why are you two dancing around it so much? If you wanna hear moans, just grab some boobs and get to it!’
“That’s an idea!”
Chinana smacked her fist into her palm.
I finally cut in. “Hold up, hold up. You’re not forgetting there’s a guy right here, are you?”
“Exactly! Getting a guy to do it would make it way more realistic!”
“No, that’s not what I meant!”
What does she think her sisters’ dignity is worth?
Ranka’s cheek twitched. “You think I’d let a guy touch my chest? Besides, I wouldn’t make a sound even if some loner nerd like him tried.”
“Hey, don’t drag me into this with insults.”
“Meru! You’d never let Kiminaga touch you either, right?”
“Hmm…”
Meru tilted her head, stared at my face for five seconds, then at her own chest for another five, then spent another five seconds kneading her ample curves.
Then she said, “…Yeah, no way.”
“Don’t think it over so seriously!”
“Why am I the one getting rejected left and right!?”
I know it’s to be expected, but it still stings a little.
While we were taking pointless damage, the virtual eldest sister flipped the topic again with another ‘Anyway.’ How many anyways does she need?
‘Is it really that bad? I thought Chinana was the type to nail anything.’
“I’m pretty hopeless, aren’t I? Even my teacher told me, ‘That was lifeless.’”
“Your teacher’s a woman, right…?”
“She also said, ‘Foreign AV does it better.’”
“She’s really a woman, right!?”
“Well, just give it a try for now.”
Meru said in her usual flat tone.
“We won’t know if you really need ‘reference material’ until we hear it.”
“Mmm… I’m kinda hesitant to let people hear my half-baked acting, but I guess there’s no helping it.”
‘Go for it!’
That eldest sister sure acts like it’s all someone else’s problem, hiding behind her screen.
Seeing things heading toward a performance, Ranka half-rose from her seat.
“Wait a sec! It’s fine if you’re gonna do it, but there’s a guy—”
“Here I go!”
Before Ranka could shoo me out or I could cover my ears, Chinana placed a hand on her stomach and started moaning.
“—Ahh, aahhh~~~n!”
“““‘…’”””
“—Ohh, oohhh~~~n!”
“““‘…’”””
“—Eee, eee~~~n!”
“““‘…’”””
In the living room, now dominated by silence, the most promising young genius middle school voice actress spoke in a crystal-clear voice devoid of any impurity.
“How was that?”
“““‘…Lifeless…’”””
It was like a wolf’s howl, another wolf’s howl, and a horse’s whinny.
This has to be fixed. For the sake of her future career.
“The First! Kichijoji Family Moaning Championship~!”
With an invisible mic gripped in her hand, Chinana officially kicked off the event.
In front of a sulking Ranka and Meru on the sofa, and Kikuri, whose detailed expressions were unreadable thanks to her Live2D avatar, Chinana grinned and pointed the invisible mic at me, sitting next to her.
“Our judge is Kiminaga Shikimi-san! Let’s give it up for him!”
“Let’s do this.”
I gave a small nod.
Seeing my reaction, Ranka let out an irritated huff.
“Why’re you so into this…!?”
“The acting she’s trying to master is aimed at a male audience, right? Since I’m the only guy here, my judgment is the only standard we’ve got.”
“Don’t talk all serious in a situation like this! Admit it—you just wanna hear our… our moans, don’t you!?”
“Heh… Talk to me when you can actually make a sound worth hearing.”
“Grrr…! Nothing’s worse than a know-it-all critic who’s never even tried it!”
“Agreed.”
Meru quietly nodded in solidarity. Still, the fact that they weren’t bailing showed they genuinely wanted to help their little sister.
I felt the same. This was way outside my housekeeping duties, but if there was something only I could do, I’d see it through properly.
In the spacious living room, Chinana, the only one brimming with enthusiasm, scampered across the hardwood floor and stood next to Ranka.
“Now, we’ll have the sisters take turns moaning! Kiminaga-senpai, please rate their sexiness on a scale of 1 to 10!”
“Got it.”
“Let’s get those moans loud and proud!”
And so, on the 30th floor of a downtown high-rise, the sultry voices of young high school girls began to echo.
“Entry Number 1! Ranka-nee!”
“Ah~n, ah~n… ugh, it’s that hater again.”
“Stop ego-surfing! Zero points!”
“Entry Number 2! Meru-nee!”
“An, an, an, anchi, anchi, anji, anji, anji, anji.”
“That’s your in-game callout tone! Zero points!”
“Entry Number 3! Kiku-nee!”
‘An, an, an♪ I love you so much~♪’
“Don’t mess around~♪ Minus ten points!”
The cat, Hanasaka, let out a big yawn.
Chinana sighed and shook her head.
“Geez… You sisters don’t have a single ounce of allure. Your good looks are totally going to waste.”
““Don’t you dare say that!””
Well, as expected, not one of them took it seriously.
Normally, people would hesitate to make such shameless sounds in front of others, and it’s tough to pull off on the spot. The fact that Chinana seems completely unfazed by doing it as acting is what’s abnormal here.
Chinana plopped down next to me, resting her chin on her knee.
“Senpai, do something about this. Get these dried-up sisters of mine in the mood.”
“If anyone could pull that off, it’d be quickest to start with you.”
“Hm? Wanna give it a shot?”
She shot me a sly glance, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.
“If that’s all it takes, I’m game. Make Chinana into a woman with those hands of yours, Senpai ♥.”
“…Listen, you… Don’t go saying reckless things, even as a joke—”
“Kiminaga.”
Meru’s voice cut in abruptly, and I turned to look at her.
She pointed at Chinana and said, “Pin her down.”
“…Huh?”
“I wanna get back to gaming soon.”
…In other words, hurry up and get this over with.
I’ll say it again—what do these girls think their sisters’ dignity is worth?
“Hold on, Meru. If you say stuff like that and this idiot takes it seriously—”
‘Yeah, do it! Go for it!’
Kikuri’s avatar egged us on from the screen, and in the moment Ranka’s attention was diverted—
As Chinana extended her pale hand, she suddenly yanked the collar of my shirt.
By the time I braced myself against the sofa’s armrest, her petite frame was already beneath me.
“…I wasn’t joking, you know?”
Her round eyes gazed up at me.
“I really do trust you, Senpai… You’re dependable, gentlemanly… and, well, kinda hot, too?”
Chinana let out a soft giggle, her slender throat trembling faintly.
The hollow of her collarbone, the subtle swell visible through her clothes, and the white strap of her bra peeking out from the slipped collar of her shirt—they all forced their way into my field of vision, whether I wanted them to or not. Her delicate frame, those soft curves, things a guy like me doesn’t have—every time I registered them, my thoughts helplessly blurred into a white haze.
“If I were to fall in love, I’d want it to be with someone like you, Senpai… Is that… no good?”
Pure, yet bewitching.
This girl, both innocent and perfectly formed—this is what people mean when they call someone a beautiful girl.
Well, I’ve got a little sister, so I’m not about to be swayed by something like this—
“So, what do you think, Senpai? Before Chinana-chan gets swept up by noisy fans as an idol—”
She reached out, gently touching my cheek, and whispered as if sharing a secret.
“(Why not stake your claim now?)”
…, ………………………………, ……………………………………………………….
“How long are you gonna keep this up!?”
The moment my mind melted into a sweet haze, a sharp, rolling yell snapped me back to reality.
The instant I came to my senses, a cushion slammed into my face with ferocious force.
“Obf!?”
I was yanked off Chinana and tumbled to the floor, only to have my stomach crushed under someone’s rear.
“You creepy perv…! I thought nothing happened in the past month, but of course this happens!”
Ranka was straddling my stomach.
She glared down at me with utter contempt.
“You were this close to falling for it, weren’t you…!? I can tell! That disgusting, lustful stare men give!”
“N-No, it’s not like that…!”
…I couldn’t deny it outright.
If we’d been alone in that moment, what would’ve happened? Honestly, I can’t say for sure. It was a first—this sensation that stole my ability to think!
“You should be praising Chinana’s acting! Everything but the moan was absolutely perfect—”
“Stop critiquing! Gross, gross, gross, gross!”
Bam, bam, bam! Ranka swung the cushion down on me repeatedly. I should probably be grateful it’s not her fists, but this is dangerous—the cushion’s gonna burst!
“W-Wait! Just calm down for a sec…!”
Amid the barrage of cushion blows, I flailed, reaching out—
And I grabbed something.
What?
I don’t know.
Just—a soft, yielding sensation, like my fingers were sinking in.
And then, I heard it.
A high-pitched, sweet sound, spilling from the depths of her throat—
“Nyaan!”
—A moan.
The cushion onslaught stopped.
As my vision cleared, the truth came into focus.
My left hand, gripping Ranka’s breast.
Ranka’s expression, frozen, slowly flushing with embarrassment.
And the sisters, watching from the sidelines with impressed looks.
After a moment of silence—their voices overlapped in the open living room.
““‘Ooh…!’””
“Don’t just admire it!”
A round of clap, clap, clap broke out, followed by a thwack! as a cushion slammed into my face with extra force.
As the soft sensation slipped from my palm, my mind wasn’t dwelling on that.
Chinana’s seduction… Was that really just acting?
Normally, I’d chalk it up to the naive misunderstanding of a hormonal teenager. But the memory of that photo made it impossible to say for sure.
“Tell you about Ueno Chinana?”
The next day at lunch break, Matsuba Mitsuba, sitting as usual by the cafeteria’s window, watching high school girls pass by in the courtyard, tilted her head at my question.
“What’s this all of a sudden? You turning into a voice actress otaku or something?”
“It’s not like that. I’ve been working at the Kichijoji house for a month now, but it hit me that I don’t know anything about the sisters’ public personas. I figured it’d be bad if I accidentally did something rude, so I’m trying to catch up.”
I recited my prepared excuse.
I couldn’t tell her the real reason—that Kichijoji Chinana might be the one who sent me that mysterious photo. So, I’d start with her work and gradually dig into her inner world.
Mitsuba was the only person besides my family who knew about my job, so I had no other choice. It’s definitely not because she’s the only person I ever talk to.
“Hmm… That’s a commendable thought, but wouldn’t it be faster to just look her up online? Didn’t you say they gave you a smartphone?”
“Surface-level info isn’t enough. Your insight into girls is pretty sharp, for better or worse.”
“It’s all better. My love for cute girls knows no bounds.”
“You don’t seem to care about the plain ones, though.”
“My love takes different forms.”
Classic lookism. What a shamelessly honest creep.
“Still, Kunshi-kun, lately every time we talk, it’s about girls. I’m getting a bit jealous, you know?”
“I told you before, I’d trade places with you in a heartbeat if I could. That job at their house?”
“I was hoping you’d consider the possibility that I, as a girl, might be jealous of the four Kichijoji sisters.”
“Don’t say creepy stuff like that. I’ve never thought of you as a girl.”
“Hmm…”
She gave me a meaningful sidelong glance, then suddenly grabbed my shoulder.
Before I could react, Mitsuba leaned forward from her chair, bringing her lips close to my ear.
“(So, you wouldn’t feel anything if I got this close, huh?)”
“W-Whoa…!”
I flinched, jerking back to shake her off.
Mitsuba pulled away, letting out a soft, almost seductive chuckle.
“What’s wrong, Kunshi-kun? You didn’t get all flustered, did you? Since you’ve never thought of me as a girl, right?”
…I meant that earlier as a gesture of camaraderie, but apparently, she’s got her own kind of feminine pride.
In that case, maybe she could quit this pervy habit of camping out by the cafeteria window to ogle high school girls.
“…Let’s get back on track.”
“Sure, sure. Voice actress Ueno Chinana, right?
With a somewhat satisfied tone, Mitsuba says,
“When it comes to Ueno Chinana, you can’t skip talking about ‘Inochi Uta no Ryudia’.”
“Anime?” I ask.
“It’s her debut work. The manga sold over five million copies before it was even adapted, a mega-hit, and of course, the anime became a cultural phenomenon—wait, you don’t know it? What kind of bubble are you living in, Kunshi-kun?”
“My Ebisu apartment,” I reply.
Sure, we’ve got a TV at home, but I don’t watch anime.
“Well, your detachment from the world ain’t exactly news,” Mitsuba says, brushing it off. “Anyway, in that anime, Ueno Chinana voiced a really important character. Her screen time was limited, but the fact that a thirteen-year-old girl pulled it off made waves. I mean, her acting was so damn nuanced, you’d never guess her age just from her voice.”
“Hmm… Guess youth always makes a splash, no matter the scene,” I say.
“It’s a clear stamp of talent,” Mitsuba replies, her tone carrying a slight edge.
She continues, “That role shot her into the spotlight. But after that, she’s mostly been stuck with mob roles, not exactly drowning in great parts. Still, compared to other voice actors with similar careers, she’s got a way bigger fanbase. She pops up in Lanca’s streams now and then, too.”
Lanca—Ranka’s handle, I assume.
“She said something about being on the verge of a breakout, didn’t she?” I say. “But if she made such a big splash, shouldn’t better roles just come her way?”
Mitsuba sighs. “Look, Kunshi-kun. Voice acting’s a grind. You’ve gotta audition for every single role, thrown in with newbies and veterans alike, clawing through dozens of others to get picked. It’s like job-hunting every three months. Fame doesn’t just hand you roles—not how it works, usually.”
“So, it’s all about skill, then? Doesn’t Chinana have plenty of that?”
“Well… yeah, I suppose,” Mitsuba says, hesitating as she rattles the ice in her self-serve water glass with a clink-clank.
“Everything’s got its ups and downs,” she adds. “It’s not like raw talent guarantees a win every time. The real world ain’t some old-school Jump manga.”
“Bad timing, huh? That’s why Chinana’s not shining right now?” I press.
“You sure don’t mince words, do ya? Ever been called tactless?” Mitsuba quips.
Yeah, I have.
“All I’m saying is, from an outsider’s view, that’s how it looks. It’s not like her voice changed or anything. And I don’t think she’s lost that youthful spark or sensitivity, either. So, what else could it be but bad luck? The stars not aligning, you know? …Not sure what she thinks about it, though.”
From what I’ve seen, Chinana doesn’t seem to be agonizing over her current situation.
But hearing this… it’s hard to imagine she’s just breezing through life without a care.
It’s not just about things not going her way.
The weight of her wildly successful past—her achievements—must be pressing down on her.
The idea that the past version of herself might’ve been worth more than who she is now.
Can she really face that reality and feel nothing at all…?
…Then again, no matter how much an outsider like me mulls it over, it’s probably just pointless worrying.
But if that’s the case…
Does she really have the mental space to be sending me old photos from our elementary school days, scheming something with that kind of nonchalance?
Next to me, lost in thought, Mitsuba laughs brightly and says, “As a fan, I’m just waiting for the day she lands a heroine role. Wouldn’t mind if it came with some steamy scenes, either.”
She’s practicing her moaning right now, you know.
I keep that one locked tight in my chest.
Go ahead and let her warp your kinks.
My housekeeping job starts right after school on weekdays and wraps up around 8 p.m. About four hours a day, give or take. The Kichijoji sisters’ complete lack of domestic skills is beyond description, and I’m lucky if I get one day off a week. But compared to sitting through classes all day, where I’ve gotta stay sharp, this gig’s honestly easier—less mental strain.
Today, like always, I finish classes and head to their Daikanyama tower mansion.
The job’s pretty much the same every day. But today, I’m staring up at the silver tower on the 30th floor with a specific purpose in mind.
From what Mitsuba told me, Chinana’s a young voice actress in a bit of a unique spot. That’s all I got from her.
But—
'Will you choose me this time too?'
That photo and that cryptic message… It’s clear the sender’s got some kind of feelings toward me. And right now, Chinana’s the only one acting in a way that shows it.
Sure, Chinana’s always been a bit of a tease, pushing boundaries like it’s her job. But even for her, that message felt like it crossed a line. If the other sisters hadn’t been there, who knows what might’ve happened? Honestly, she seems way too comfortable around me.
I remember something my little sister said once.
‘Listen, Shikimi-kun. Girls, by default, kinda dislike guys a little! It’s just natural for security reasons! So you’ve gotta be gentle with them!’
She said that when we almost got into a fight over my whole “gender equality” spiel. My sister’s usually a bit of an airhead, but sometimes she nails it. She’s right—security-wise, it makes sense for women to be wary of guys by default. Which means Chinana’s letting her guard down way too much.
Unless… she actually likes me.
…
If I’m wrong about this, I’ll die of embarrassment, but it’s the only thing that adds up.
If Chinana’s the one who sent that photo, her closeness makes sense—
Since the middle school classes end earlier than high school, when I head to the Kichijoji place right after school, it’s usually just Chinana there (technically, Kikuri and Meru are around too, but one’s holed up in her room, and the other’s still sleeping). With Ranka probably loitering in the classroom or making detours, now’s my chance.
I’m gonna probe her directly.
“Hey, Chinana, do you… like me or something?”
…
Now that I’ve said it out loud in my head, I’m losing confidence. But no backing down now. Like always, I punch in the room number at the lobby, and Kikuri unlocks the door remotely.
I take the elevator to the top floor and open the one door in the inner hallway.
The sprawling living room, with a clear view of a glowing red Tokyo Tower, is empty. The only movement is Hanasaka, the family cat, sauntering along the wall-mounted catwalk.
For now, I head to the kitchen to check the fridge. If we’re low on ingredients for dinner, I’d need to run to the store, but it looks like we’re good.
Next up, laundry.
I climb the stairs from the living room to the second-floor mezzanine. Right in front of the stairs is the washroom, connected to the bathroom.
The washing machine’s in a utility room next to the kitchen on the first floor, but these sisters, without fail, leave their clothes strewn about in the washroom. So, every shift, I head here first, gather up their scattered clothes, and haul them downstairs. Yeah, I get why they don’t bother taking them to the first floor—it’s a hassle—but still.
With the usual “time to get to work” feeling, I open the washroom door.
“…Huh?”
Chinana’s there.
She’s reaching behind her back, trying to fasten the hook of a light blue bra.
Must’ve just gotten out of the bath. Her delicate shoulders, slender thighs, and innocent cheeks are faintly flushed. She’s only in ninth grade, but man, she’s tiny. Her waist looks like it barely has room for organs. Maybe I should plan a menu that’ll help her put on some weight.
But right now, laundry.
I raise a hand casually and say, “Yo, my bad.”
“Oh, no, my bad,” Chinana replies, giving a quick nod as I pass by her to the laundry basket. Another jumbled mess of clothes. I’ve told them a million times to sort by material, but do they listen? Nope.
“—Hey, react!!”
Chinana suddenly shouts, making me jump and turn around.
“What? What’s with you?” I ask.
“Your reaction’s way too chill! Look at me! I’m in my underwear! This is sexy! It’s a lucky pervert moment! Where’s your teenage hormones at?!”
She clutches the bath towel to her chest, ranting. That’s what this is about?
“Meru chewed me out, alright? Told me not to get flustered over stuff like this if I’m gonna be a pro. I’ve finally trained myself not to react when she starts stripping in front of me.”
“That’s just Meru-nee!” Chinana snaps.
“Don’t worry. I’m used to this with my little sister, too. Just act normal, alright?”
“I’m(boku) the one who’s not used to it!” she yells.
“…‘I’(boku)?” I echo, catching the unfamiliar pronoun.
Chinana freezes, then presses the towel to her mouth.
“Crap… slipped out…”
“…Aha.”
I’ve got a little sister around Chinana’s age.
From that experience, I know girls her age sometimes switch up their first-person pronouns like it’s a game. It’s their way of trying on little bits of personality, carving out a sliver of individuality through something as small as a word choice.
“So that’s it… You’re one of those, huh? My sister went through a phase where she used ‘ore’ for a bit. Brings back memories…”
“N-No, I’m done with that! I’ve graduated from being a boku-kko! So just forget it, please~~!!”
Face redder than when I saw her half-naked, Chinana crouches down on the spot, practically curling into a ball.
(T/N: Here Chinana uses boku I (僕), a first-person pronoun that’s softer and more youthful than ore, which normally not used by refined girls and considered rather tomboyish for them. Hence why she is embarrassed about it now)
“…Sorry to keep you waiting.”
After sitting in the hallway outside the washroom for a bit, Chinana peeks out from behind the door, now dressed in a fluffy blouse and sporty shorts.
She’s got this sulky, almost pouty look—like my sister the morning after a fight, I note to myself.
“You don’t have to be that embarrassed about the ‘boku’ thing. I’m the same, aren’t I?” I say.
“Stop ignoring the gender difference! Chinana-chan is a girl!” she snaps.
“If anything, calling yourself ‘Chinana-chan’ is the weirder choice,” I retort.
“Where’d you toss your tact!?” she fires back. “I only ended up like this because I was trying to ditch the boku-kko thing!”
I nod, getting it. Come to think of it, after my sister dropped ‘ore,’ she went through a phase of using ‘jibun’ for a while. Sounded like she was training to be a self-defense force recruit.
(T/N: Jibun (自分) means oneself or myself and is a gender-neutral, reflexive pronoun in Japanese because it’s a neutral alternative to pronouns like ore or boku, often chosen for its lack of social or gender-specific connotations, making it suitable for formal)
Chinana steps fully out of the washroom, shuts the door with a pat, and leans her back against it, blocking it. Problem is, I’ve got business in there.
“Anyway… I’m kinda shocked, you know. Like, really shocked. You saw me half-naked…” she mutters.
“I’m sorry about that, alright? Thinking it over, yeah, I shouldn’t have lumped you in with Meru. She’s like a monk who’s shaved her humanity down to the bare minimum.”
“I didn’t go that far,” Chinana says, still pressing her back against the door before sliding down to sit next to me with a thump.
“Meru-nee’s actually one of the better ones, believe it or not,” she adds.
“Better? That Adam-and-Eve-before-the-forbidden-fruit type?” I ask, incredulous.
“There’s a naked tribe in our house,” she says.
Naked… tribe?
“No way… Ranka’s that type?!” I blurt out.
“Nope. Kiku-nee,” she corrects. “You probably haven’t met her in person yet, senpai, but Kiku-nee’s always naked in her room. When she’s gaming, drawing, streaming—hell, even when she’s talking to you through the screen.”
It’s been a month since I started this housekeeping gig, and I still haven’t met Kikuri face-to-face. At this point, I’ve just accepted that the blonde girl bouncing around on the monitor is her actual face.
“She never leaves her room, and that’s why?” I ask.
“Nah, she just thinks it’s a hassle,” Chinana says casually, pulling her knees to her chest and peeking at me from the side.
“But seriously, you really don’t get flustered, huh? That story just now—any normal high school guy would be losing it.”
“I’m not a high school guy here. I’m just the housekeeper. Otherwise, there’s no way I’d be allowed in a house full of girls, right?”
“Hmm…”
She lets out a knowing hum, then flashes a mischievous grin and pulls her smartphone from her pocket.
“Actually, the reason I was taking a bath this early is ‘cause I was doing a little exercise.”
“Exercise?” I ask.
“Yeah, just a quick jog around the block. Wanted to record this.”
Without warning, she presses the phone to my ear.
A sound—no, a voice—pours into my ear.
‘…Ngh… haa, haa… fuu… nku…!’
It’s a series of breathy, almost sultry gasps, unmistakably Chinana’s. The clear, crystalline quality of her voice, laced with a damp intensity, carries an undeniable sensuality, even though I know it’s not that kind of sound.
I’ve never heard anyone’s breathing—besides my sister’s—this close to my ear.
Before I realize it, my heartbeat’s picking up.
“—So, about that ‘shocked’ thing I mentioned earlier,” Chinana says, pulling the phone away. Her face is close now, grinning like a kid who’s pulled off a prank.
“The reason I was shocked is ‘cause you didn’t even flinch when you saw Chinana-chan half-naked. Girls have pride, you know? As someone who’s supposed to be a certified beauty, getting zero reaction after showing off my underwear? That’s a blow to my dignity.”
She giggles, pressing the phone to her lips.
“But looks like even the just-a-housekeeper guy’s got some teenage hormones after all, huh?”
“…Shut up,” I manage, finally getting a word in.
Chinana giggles even harder, clearly enjoying herself.
Feeling like I’m losing this round, I let out an “Ugh” and shift gears.
“Out of breath, huh? Smart move. So, did that solve your moaning issue?”
“Nah, not quite,” she says, shaking her head. “It needs more… fantasy vibe, you know? Ran-nee’s stuff yesterday was pretty close, but trying to replicate it myself is tough.”
“Then why’d you make them do all that moaning in the first place?” I ask.
“Tee-hee!” She sticks out her tongue exaggeratedly. Yup, just messing around, as expected.
Hugging her knees, bare from her shorts, Chinana gazes up at the ceiling.
“Maybe I do need to know a guy to get it right. What do you think, senpai? Wanna be Chinana-chan’s first?”
“Don’t joke about stuff like that,” I snap. “Yesterday, you—”
And then it hits me.
Right. I came here today to confront her about what she was really up to yesterday.
I try to keep my tone natural as I continue, “—you were pulling that seductive crap. So, what’s the deal? Do you… like me or something?”
Nailed it.
I can’t believe I managed to ask that cringeworthy question so smoothly, like it was nothing.
Keeping my cool, I study Chinana’s expression.
Well? Is it you? The one who sent that email—
Chinana’s lips curl into a faintly mature smile.
“You really… don’t remember anything, do you, senpai?”
…!
So it is her…! She remembers me from elementary school—!
“Two years ago, when I was a first-year, we met once, didn’t we?”
“…Huh?”
Two years ago?
Not elementary school?
“About two years back, I think,” she says. “I had to use the school’s PC room for an assignment, but I didn’t know how to use the computers…”
“Oh, right… the school’s PCs are Macs,” I say.
If you’ve only used Windows in elementary school, Macs can throw you off. I struggled with them when I first started here, too. And I remember how the new middle schoolers—
“—Wait.”
“You remember now?” she asks.
“Yeah… I helped a first-year girl with the PCs. That was you?!”
I take a good look at Chinana’s face next to me.
I had no idea… Sure, she’s gone through a growth spurt, but more than that, the girl in my memory didn’t have this dazzling beautiful girl aura. She was more… plain, the type who’d blend into the corner of a classroom.
Chinana gives an embarrassed chuckle.
“I had my reasons for keeping a low profile back then, and I hadn’t fully shaken that habit. But after my voice acting debut, I got a bit of a glow-up.”
“I’d believe it if you said you were Meru,” I mutter.
“Middle school girls grow in more ways than just their bodies, you know,” she says with a grin.
“Damn… they say you don’t recognize a guy after three days, but girls are just as bad.”
“I was shocked, too. The cool senpai who smoothly taught me how to use the PC was using some ancient flip phone like a relic.”
“I just don’t want to use school-issued stuff for anything but school,” I explain.
Our school hands out tablet PCs to every student and has 3D printers in the facilities, so it’s not like I’m bad with tech. I just didn’t have the money for a smartphone and thought it’d distract from studying. That’s all.
“So, you… you remembered me from the start?” I ask.
“Of course. You’re kinda famous, y’know? The super honor student who’s been top of the class since the third term of first-year middle school. I knew it was you the second I saw you,” Chinana says.
“I see… So that’s why you were the only one who was friendly from the get-go,” I reply.
“Well, I had to play dumb in front of my sisters. Plus, you didn’t seem to remember me at all,” she says, throwing me a glance.
“S-Sorry. But c’mon, how could I? You’ve changed so much,” I protest.
“Heh heh heh. Sorry for getting too cute! ♥”
Chinana rests her face on her knees, giving me a teasing, upward glance with a coy smile.
“So, yeah, I knew from the start—you’re a kind person, senpai,” she adds.
“That’s high praise, but still—” I start.
“Kind enough to not even try to push down a beauty like me, right?” she cuts in.
“—Guh!”
I choke on my words, and Chinana giggles, her laughter light and playful.
She’s got a point… Yesterday, when I ended up pinning her down, even if none of the other sisters had been around, would I have actually done anything? Forget desire or rationality—I don’t think I’ve got the guts for that.
The resolve to leave a mark on someone’s life like that.
“…So that’s how it is,” I mutter, letting out a small sigh.
Chinana remembered meeting me two years ago, but not from elementary school, not from the time that photo was taken. Sure, she must’ve been there with me back then, since she’s in the picture, but if she remembered that, she would’ve brought it up first thing.
Memories from elementary school are fuzzy at best—not surprising if she doesn’t recall much. Especially since she’s two years younger than me. She was probably, what, eight back then? I barely remember that far back myself.
“…If that’s the case, then who sent that email…?” I mumble under my breath.
Chinana tilts her head, curious. “What’s that?”
“N-Nothing, just talking to myself,” I say quickly.
That was close. I almost spilled it.
Maybe I’m overthinking this whole thing. So far, there’s no real harm done. Even if one of the four sisters sent that email, what’s it matter?
Getting all paranoid about it is probably the worst move.
Guess I’ll shelve the email mystery for now—
“…Anyway, I should get going,” Chinana says, standing up with her hands on her knees.
I look up at her. “Heading out?”
“It’s lesson day today,” she replies.
“Lessons? Didn’t you already debut?” I ask.
She gives a wry smile, almost apologetic. “I’m still a rookie, only a year with the agency. Just blindly auditioning won’t make me any better.”
No, that’s not what I meant… I was wondering why she was out running when she’s got lessons to attend.
“Meru’s like that too, but you’re pretty hardcore yourself, huh?” I say.
“Surprised? I don’t have much talent, so I’ve gotta make up for it with double the effort,” she replies.
“Isn’t that selling yourself short? I don’t know much, but debuting at your age is rare, right?” I ask.
“Just got lucky,” she says. “Real genius is… like my sisters. People who work their asses off without ever mentioning the word ‘effort.’”
Her words sound like a polished excuse, shaped by distant admiration.
Like she’s already sized up her own limits at such a young age.
It’s the complete opposite of her usual cheerful, energetic, quick-witted little-sister vibe—the opposite of her confident claim of being “on the verge of a breakout.” There’s a faint undertone of resignation in her voice.
“Proof’s in the pudding—I haven’t done anything big since my debut. My fame’s gotten ahead of me, thanks to that one role, so I’ve gotta catch up with my skills fast. That’s why I practice way more than others,” she says.
To a voice actor who’s never tasted success, that’d sound like a luxurious problem.
But the fear that her peak might’ve already passed—that’s something someone who’s never achieved anything wouldn’t understand.
The fear that she might not have the aptitude.
That she might not have the talent.
That even if she does, this might be her ceiling, with no room to climb higher.
That no matter how hard she tries, it could all be for nothing—
A bottomless swamp of struggle, a terror with no end in sight.
I’m just another nobody who’s never accomplished anything, but… looking at her small back as she walks toward the stairs, I can sense that fear seeping through.
If that’s the case…
I stand up and call out to her. “Y’know, back when I was in first-year middle school, my grades weren’t all that great either.”
Chinana stops mid-step, turning back with an “Eh?”
“When I was in first-year, my parents’ company went bankrupt. I had to become a scholarship student to cover tuition, so I studied like my life depended on it. Way more intense than entrance exams. First time I studied so hard I puked,” I say.
“That’s… pretty extreme…” she says, wide-eyed.
“Surprised, huh?” I echo her earlier line with a grin, and she opens her mouth in a small gasp.
I was taken in by the Kiminaga family because of my academic promise. My grades were what secured my place in the world. There was a time I thought I had no value without them—that studying was tied directly to my existence.
I knew it was a life beyond my means.
I knew it wasn’t a path I was suited for.
But I kept at it, doggedly, because it was all I had. And now, here I am—still holding the top spot in my grade, even while working this side job.
“Even if you’re in over your head, stick with it, and you might just grow into it,” I say, walking up to her and placing a hand on her slender shoulder. “Sorry I don’t have better advice, but—keep at it. You’ve got this.”
I can’t teach her how to act, like I taught her how to use a PC.
But as her “senpai,” who’s lived just a couple years longer, I can at least give her a push.
I don’t know if she’s got the talent or not.
But I can tell her I’m rooting for her.
I know from experience that even simple, lightweight words like these can be a lifeline sometimes.
Chinana stares at me for a moment, her big eyes growing even wider.
Then, lowering her gaze slightly, she lets out a soft, “…Heh.”
A small smile breaks through, and she gently places her hand over mine on her shoulder.
“Got it. I’ll keep going,” she says firmly, then adds with a playful smirk, “But in return…”
She pauses, her smile turning mischievous.
“I want hamburgers for dinner tonight.”
“…I was planning fish,” I say.
“You saw a future superstar voice actress half-naked. Hamburgers are a small price to pay, right?”
“Fine, I’ll get ‘em,” I concede.
“Sweet! It’s a promise!”
Clapping her hands in delight, Chinana turns and bounces down the stairs with a spring in her step.
God, she’s such a schemer… Definitely the savviest of the sisters.
◆
…My shoulder’s burning.
Even though I know his hand’s not there anymore, I keep reaching for it, over and over.
I (this is my pronoun now!) lean against the door of the Toyoko Line train, catching a faint glimpse of my reflection in the window. For some reason, my lips are curled into a soft smile. Like something great just happened—or like I’m about to go on a date with someone I like.
I never disliked senpai from the start.
He helped me out so kindly back then, and I thought it was pretty cool how he doesn’t even flinch around Ran-nee. But at first, that was it—just a passing thought, like, oh, this guy’s interesting, file that away. Nothing more.
But that moment when he said, “Keep at it. You’ve got this.”
I surprised myself.
My heart started pounding like crazy, completely out of control.
I think… all those heartbeats that had been sleeping, building up unnoticed all this time, woke up all at once.
Looking back, this past month, I’ve been watching senpai constantly. Because he’s rare. Because he’s fresh. Because he’s special. That’s what I told myself back then, but now, every single moment sparkles in my memory.
It’s an overwhelming rush of emotion, so intense it makes all my past acting feel fake.
What was it? His words, putting his hand on my shoulder—they were just the trigger. His looks? His personality? Neither feels quite right. He’s not that handsome, and his personality’s so chill he can brush off seeing someone change without blinking.
Then I think of the character I’m trying to play.
Did she feel this way, too? Her chest so full it could burst, aching, pushing past its limits, rising up from the back of her throat—
“—Ah.”
So soft no one could hear, I let that sound slip out.
I get it now.
I just need to let this feeling out.
◆
In the living room, with all of us gathered, Chinana stands up confidently.
I, Kikuri, Ranka, and Meru watch her with bated breath.
She gives a small bow and says with a gentle smile, “Thanks to everyone’s help, I’ve finished preparing for this role. I’d like to perform it for you now, if I may. Please listen.”
She takes a light breath.
The living room falls silent, but in the next moment—
“—(18+)! (18+)~! (18+)~~~!!”
A sultry, intoxicating moan, like it could drag you into a swamp, echoes through the open-ceilinged room.
Chinana exhales with a “Phew” and flashes a cute, age-appropriate grin.
“So? I got better, right?!”
We’re speechless.
Kikuri’s avatar freezes on the screen, Ranka’s face turns beet red as she slumps over, Meru covers her mouth and collapses onto the sofa’s armrest, and I’m sprawled out on the floor.
Tch… Better doesn’t even cover it!
How the hell did that wolf howl turn into this?!
As I’m crouched on the floor, unable to move, Chinana squats down beside me, propping her cheek on her knee as she peers at me.
“Se~npai ♥ What’s wrong? Your face is all red!” she teases.
“You…!” I manage to croak.
Giggling, Chinana leans in closer and whispers, “(If you want, Chinana-chan can help you… let off some steam?)”
“Guh…!”
I choke again, and her grin widens, clearly enjoying this.
“Was that sexy enough?”
I give up and admit the truth. “It was insanely hot, alright? Happy now?!”
“Heh, thanks! ♥”
Flashing a triumphant peace sign, she leaves me with no choice but to marvel.
Voice actors… they’re something else.
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