Speak now or...

Overload... OVERLOAD! Chika Tetsu was acting flirty with me! My heart! My heart! My brain's gonna blow, my heart's gonna blow! I'm gonna self-combust here, but Chika Tetsu praised me! I'll take that as my win to, hopefully, another world.

"Alright! We're gonna start recording. Could you do some tests for the mic?"

The words roused me from my daze. Of course. Chika Tetsu's gonna do the PV, but the PV is only for Belinda...

"Ara, you want me to check you? Is this close enough?" Chika's voice suddenly permeated through the room.

I can see the guild, the castles, the orcs-

"Alright, everything's good here. Give her the thumbs-up and we'll start recording."

Nope, no isekai world for me yet. Chika Tetsu is going to voice one of my characters, say the words I wrote. I need to hear this.

With a deep breath, I calmed myself and assumed a brooding pose as Chika's voice echoed in the room once more.

"Heh? You tryin' to dam me with those broomstick arms? Too bad, this is already close enough for me to LEAP!"

My lip slowly curled into a frown, increasing as more lines were spoken, and remaining until the end.

"And looks like everything recorded. How about we replay it and you tell us what you think?" the director waved.

I wearily nodded and heard the tape play back once more. The staff here all thought it sounded good, and yes, fundamentally, it does. But it just doesn't sound right to me. Belinda may be the main lead of the story and may be a pink-haired hottie, but she was not made with the intention that Chika would voice her. Chika does best with older sister and milf types, Belinda's more yankee genki. Yes, it's stimulating to hear Chika project her voice in that style, but I just don't think the role is the right fit for her.

But at this stage, I don't think I really can be assertive with things. This is just the PV, not the first episode. In fact, now that I think about it, I haven't really seen the animation for the PV itself. Most of the lines they chose for Chika to speak are just standard banter lines from Belinda, usually when she's about to do a slam dunk, or make a long shot. I assume based on those lines alone, they'll likely be showing scenes of her making all those epic shots, which while flashy, isn't coherent as they all happen at different points in the story. But most importantly, there's Chika's performance itself.

It just doesn't fit. I can tell she's trying, but these kinds of characters just aren't her forte. Belinda's mother would be perfect for her, but I doubt we can just change the PV at this stage. Hah, guess I'll just have to swallow the pill.

"So you think this is good?" one of the staffers asks me.

"Oh, uh, I couldn't see the animation-"

"Ah, don't worry about that. We'll mostly be doing a montage of some of Belinda's best plays. That way it'll get things pumped."

As I figured.

"I get it... It's just..."

"Something wrong?"

"No, no, I see the angle you're going for with the PV. But in terms of epic moments... Hmm..."

I was conflicted. In the book, the most epic and emotional moment in it in my opinion is the one-on-one match between Belinda and her mother. It comes at a time when Belinda is beginning to lose herself to arrogance, so her mother challenges her to a high-stakes game to test her true worth and resolve. If I'm being honest, I feel that match was where I put the most love and passion into my writing. That being said, I myself realize why scenes from it can't be used for this PV.

First off is the vibe. The staff clearly wants this to showcase Belinda's haughty confidence and skill, while the match with her mother has her gritting her teeth in frustration and sweating buckets, just barely able to keep even. I also realize the merits in saving that moment for viewers to experience when it happens, but even then, if we could just end the PV with a shot of Belindda's mom, Rie, spinning the ball on her finger and dropping that "If you can't even beat me with such gracious conditions, you have no business being on a team of dreamers aspiring for true glory" line, that would make a perfect tease for that moment. 

"Sir?"

"Ah, ah, sorry. It's nothing. Just spacing out about something."

"Most importantly, I want to ask you how you feel about Chika Tetsu's performance. If it's good, we'll go ahead and cast her as Belinda for the main anime."

I could feel my lip curling into a scowl. This was where I felt I needed to speak up, but to deny Chika Tetsu... Yes, I'm her fan, but a fan that can recognize when the role is best for her or not...

###

As I finished recording the lines, I glanced over into the viewing booth to see the staff in conversation with the author. I can't hear what they're saying, but I can imagine exactly what it is. They're clearly asking the author how he felt about my performance. Personally, though I feel I brought out my best, this kind of role is always one I tend to struggle with. I just don't think I can nail these smug confident jock types. I'm more suited for the mature playful flirty type, but I'm not revered for nothing. Despite my reservation, public sentiment is that I'm the best of the best, so surely I can handle any role.

To my surprise, the author didn't appear happy in the slightest, shaking his head as he spoke with the director. With his back to me, I couldn't see the director's face, so I know not what his reaction was. Whatever the words spoken though, I'd know soon enough as everyone exited the viewing room.

"Chika... We have a snag. Seems the author felt the performance wasn't quite up to par, so we'll have you redo the lines after he gives you a little guidance," the director sighed.

Ah, it seems I really am leaving nothing but bad impressions on this poor man.

The author shuffled nervously before me, visibly beginning to tremble, yet the look in his eyes wasn't shaken. "To be honest... I feel you don't do the role justice."

Gasps rang out, yet I raised a hand to calm things, allowing the author to elaborate further.

"I'm a big fan of your work, but for Belinda, I just don't think you mesh well. Belinda's mom would be a different story, but-"

"You mean Rie?" I asked.

The author's entire expression changed, shifting back to that jaw dropping shock he had when I first stepped in.

"Y- You know her name?"

A chance at redemption.

"I did my research, and read your story before coming here," I proudly huffed as I waved my finger. "And if I'm being honest myself, Rie feels like a better role for me anyway But for today-"

"Then could you do Rie's "true glory" line!?"

Now it was my turn to be surprised, but not for long.

With a smile, I slowly rose my finger as if to simulate spinning a basketball atop it before assuming a serious scowl. "Bell, if you can't even beat me with such gracious conditions, you have no business being on a team of dreamers aspiring for true glory."