Chapter 7
When attending a job interview, you must dress formally. Cosplay and all that is better left for comic-cons.
Youguo's writing speed was very fast, and the simple data form was filled out in just a few minutes. After consulting with the front desk about the interview time, she turned around and walked out the door.
The number of interview slots is limited, and the number of applicants is quite large. Yu Guo didn't expect to pass the interview on the same day and get into the industry with such a good opportunity. Although she's not a realistic girl, reality has made her understand many things.
Having nothing to do, I went for a stroll on the nearby commercial street.
On the large screen outside the department store, an advertisement for cosmetics was playing. The girl in the ad was a new idol who had recently become extremely popular, wearing a pink dress and heavily made up. Her voice was sweet and soft, singing a catchy tune.
"Alas..." Yu Guo sighed, and upon hearing her own low, husky voice, she quickly closed her mouth again.
Just in time, she returned home and Yui quickly changed into a blue old-fashioned sports suit that she wore at home, helping her parents prepare lunch.
The neighborhood where the Izumis live is an old and worn-out place, but it's surrounded by a gradually rising commercial district with office buildings. Many working people and young singles know about the Izumi's bento shop, which offers good food at reasonable prices, and occasionally they can even catch a glimpse of their cute but not very talkative daughter.
After a busy lunch, Yu Guo finally had the chance to sit down. She took off her apron with some oil stains and sat on the sofa. The corner of her eye caught sight of her handbag, she reached out and pulled out her phone.
I just wanted to browse the web and kill some time, but when I saw those dozen or so missed calls, I was scared out of my wits.
Although it was an unfamiliar number, Yūka still quickly dialed back.
"Ah, Miss Quan Shui, I've finally found you." The voice was unfamiliar, but the tone seemed strangely familiar.
"Hmm... sorry, who are you?" Yūka searched her mind for a bit, but still couldn't remember.
"Ah, haha. I'm the receptionist of AtomicApe, we met this morning. So, originally your interview was scheduled for next Tuesday, but now suddenly someone can't make it, are you free this afternoon? This spot can be yours." The other party immediately reported her identity, not giving Youguo a chance to think, and spoke a large amount of words in rapid succession.
"Is it okay? I'm free this afternoon and can rush over." Youguo didn't think much about it, she just felt that if there was an opportunity, she should seize it quickly.
"That's great. The interview starts at 2:30, I've arranged for you to be in the last group, so when it's your turn, it'll probably be around 4 o'clock, can you make it?" The other person seemed to have already arranged everything and was just waiting for Yu Guo to agree.
"Uh... no problem!" Yūka looked up at the wall clock and saw that it was almost two o'clock, but since her house is close to the train station, she should be able to make it if she hurries.
"Okay, I'll wait for you." Before hanging up the phone, Youguo seemed to have heard a man's voice, but thought it was just someone passing by and didn't pay attention.
"Mom, I'm going out this afternoon, don't wait for me for dinner!" Yu Guo put down his phone and quickly grabbed his coat and bag before rushing out the door.
When Yūka arrived at Atomic Ape, it was exactly three thirty. She took a glance inside the entrance and saw that some people were frightened. The lobby which was empty and cold when she came in the morning was packed with people, and many of them wore strange costumes, as if they were having a school festival.
Those people wearing kimonos, with five-color six-color wigs, holding paperboard-made weapons, are they really here for the interview just like her?
Lowering her head to take a glance at the outdated blue tracksuit she was wearing, Yuuko felt like a normal person again.
"Hey, Senpai, Senpai, over here!" Having navigated through the dense crowds of people, the receptionist, Ono, surprisingly spotted Yuka. She stood up and waved at Yuka.
She quickly walked in through the door and squeezed up to the front desk, "Hello, I'm Izumi Yui, I've come..."
"I know, I know, hurry up and go in. The second last room on the corridor, it's about to start." Ono pushed Yuka with a push of his hand and pointed in one direction.
"Oh, okay." She squeezed out of the crowd and followed Yuka through the corridor to the door of the room that Ono had mentioned.
The partition of this room is all glass, so the situation inside the room can be seen clearly.
A dozen or so girls and a few boys sat in this room that looked like a classroom, most of them looking around idly. But there were a few who seemed to know each other, sitting together, talking seriously with solemn faces.
She pushed open the door and walked in.
After closing the door, Yu Guo only discovered that the soundproofing in this room was quite good. The noisy sounds from the living room couldn't be heard at all.
He walked with his head down to the last row and sat in a seat by the window.
"How many times have you come for an interview?"
As soon as Yu Guo sat down, a girl next to him came over and asked. Her voice was very clear and pleasant to listen to. The only drawback was that there was a hint of sharpness hidden in her tone. Just these few words made Yu Guo feel a little goosebumpy.
"For the first time." Yu Guo turned his head and saw some people being amazed.
This girl is extremely beautiful, with skin that is both white and radiant. Her long hair cascades down her shoulders without any dye, quietly falling on her shoulders. Moreover, her attire is also very fitting, a white silk blouse, a navy blue pleated skirt. And then there's the sweet fragrance that wafts over when she's near, carried by the wind.
She turned her face away, and Yu Guo felt that his own face must have turned red. Not to mention the dusty and worn-out sportswear, even the smell of soy sauce and oil fumes on himself made people feel embarrassed.
"Wow, your voice sounds so comfortable." The girl laughed, her laughter was very clear and crisp. "And it's special, you might succeed in this interview."
"How many times have you interviewed?" Yūka asked casually, but after saying it out loud, she realized that the question was a bit rude. "Oh, I haven't even introduced myself yet. My name is Izumimizu Yūka."
"Hehe, nice name." The girl didn't seem to mind, she stretched out her hand and grasped Yuka's, "My surname is Aoba, Aoba Yuzu. Look, our names are both related to fruit!"
"Haha, yeah." Yu Guo's tense and shy emotions eased a lot, she was somewhat relieved that she sat next to Aoi.
"Alright, everyone quiet down." At this time, a man wearing a gray suit walked in, holding a stack of materials in his hand. "You are the last group, so don't delay everyone's dinner time. No more nonsense, let's get started with the interview directly."
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"Why are you so excited every time a new person tries out?" Sugita still held his PSP in hand, not diverting any attention to the large glass room across from him.
"Why are you not excited to hear the voice of a young and beautiful girl? Are you going to become a monk or come out of the closet?" Seki glanced at Sugita with a hint of disappointment.
The two of them in this room can hear the situation inside the opposite room through equipment, and they spent an afternoon here. Guan Zhiyi is still full of energy, while Sugita is clearly exhausted, almost half-paralyzed on the chair.
"I didn't hear any sound that would get me excited, Kousan, are you just looking at faces?" Sugita dug his ears and also rubbed his earlobes, "No, you're looking at breasts!"
"Because the best is usually at the end, right?" Seki smiled and helped Sugita put his headphones back on, "Just like when you eat cake, you save the strawberry on top for last."
"I'm not that kind of M person, I've always eaten the best from the start." Sugita put down his PSP, raised his hand and adjusted the position of his headphones.
"She saw the snow-white house shining in the autumn leaves that had turned red, beckoning her to come and welcome her. She felt the quiet atmosphere of the countryside at dusk, like a sense of happiness during prayer, surrounding her. She felt the dew falling on the vast green and white cotton fields, and saw the bare red earth and lush pine trees on the rolling hills."
A soft, seemingly unpolished female voice sounded in his ear. After listening to a whole afternoon of Moe voices and pseudo-female voices that were even more delicate than those of real girls, Sugita was finally able to soothe his ears. He closed his eyes and quietly listened to this slightly awkward reading.
Kanji didn't disturb him either and put on his headphones, enjoying himself.
The company has always had few female voice actors, and it's been dominated by strong performers. This time's plan is also a kind of transformation. In this era where voice actors are idolized, the president will also consider following the trend to reform.
Thinking of this, Guan Zhiyi couldn't help but look at the room next door with some worry.
This girl's appearance is not bad, but this voice is obviously not what the president wants. On the other hand, another one, who looks like a big sister, is more suitable for the content of this plan. Although the vocal range is a bit narrow, that beautiful face can completely cover up this shortcoming.
"Scrambled eggs, grilled ox tongue, salmon salad, salt-roasted autumn knife fish, buckwheat noodles, cha siu ramen, potato pancake, eel hand rolls, roasted pork skewers..." Sugita suddenly started reciting, and all the contents were food.
"Are you hungry?" Kōshi Ichii took off his headphones and asked in puzzlement.
"I'm hungry." Sugita smiled and rubbed his slightly rounded belly, "But it's this girl's voice that made me hungry."
