After confessing all of this, Takanashi Akiko fell into a long silence. Her eyes lost their luster, staring blankly at the table as if she could see through the wood into the past. The weight of decades of secrecy pressed down on her shoulders, visible in the slump of her posture.
In this state, she probably needed a warm listener to provide understanding and comfort—someone to help her slowly emerge from the vortex of pain that had consumed her for so long.
However, Kuroha Akira did not comfort her, nor did he judge the right or wrong of her actions. Because he was not the party involved and could not forgive her on behalf of Takanashi Mirai. That was a decision that only Mirai could make, and she deserved to hear the truth first.
But it was very meaningful to hear her say all of this herself, and Kuroha Akira also intended to delve deeper into the details. There were still gaps in the story that needed filling.
"So, Mirai isn't your biological daughter, Aunt Akiko…" He leaned forward slightly. "Then, whose child is she?"
At Kuroha Akira's inquiry, Takanashi Akiko regained some of her composure. She took a shaky breath, but she just shook her head dejectedly.
"I don't know that child's background either." Her voice was hollow. "Only Director Fuyumi , who brought her, knows about this. But she didn't tell me Mirai's origins—she only said to me, 'It's better not to know.' So, I guess she might be the illegitimate daughter of some important figure. Someone who needed to be hidden away from the public eye."
Now, Takanashi Mirai's background became even more mysterious—a puzzle within a puzzle.
"When Mirai was just one year old, Director Fuyumi found me and asked me to take care of this child." Akiko's eyes grew distant with the memory. "She even prepared this house for me… And at that time, I happened to be unable to fully immerse myself in the role of a married woman with children due to lack of experience. I needed that lived authenticity for my voice acting. So I accepted her arrangement."
"Uh…"
So even this house was prepared by that Director…
It made sense. This was Chiyoda Ward—a single-family house here would cost hundreds of millions of yen, which translated to tens of millions of yuan in his previous life's currency. Takanashi Akiko certainly couldn't have afforded it on her own back then. After all, Takanashi Akiko only became famous in the last few years; before that, she was in a state of more than three years of struggle.
So she had been completely manipulated from the start.
Thinking about it, perhaps from the very beginning, Saotome Fuyumi's reason for taking in Takanashi Akiko wasn't because her obsession to become famous was strong enough. Perhaps, at that time, she was already looking for a suitable adoptive mother for Mirai, and she herself might not have been able to raise the child personally due to work or other constraints.
Then, after accidentally discovering Takanashi Akiko—a desperate young woman with no prospects, no family, and an incredible thirst for success—she saw her obsession to become famous and her somewhat mature vocal cords, and thus secretly selected her as the adoptive mother. The pieces fit together too perfectly.
So, her recommendation for Takanashi Akiko to focus on wife and mother roles was probably an arrangement made for later, when she would give the child to her. Saying such emotionally stirring words, but in her heart, she had already arranged everything for the other person—all to achieve her own goals.
Saotome Fuyumi, Kuroha Akira thought with a chill. What a terrifying woman.
After understanding these reasons, Kuroha Akira seemed a bit hesitant, but still felt that Aunt Akiko had the right to know all of this. He spoke up carefully.
"Aunt Akiko, this Director Fuyumi , she…"
Takanashi Akiko interrupted him with a raised hand. From her expression, Kuroha Akira realized that Takanashi Akiko wasn't foolish—she had already understood the full scope of the manipulation.
"I know, Kuroha-kun. You don't need to say it." Her voice was calm, accepting. "But, even so, I am very grateful to Director Fuyumi. Because in the end, she did save me at that time and allowed me to gain the qualification to continue in this industry. Without her intervention, I would have been nothing."
"…"
Yes, Takanashi Akiko simply couldn't refuse. Perhaps even this point had been calculated by Saotome Fuyumi—this was a top-tier open conspiracy.
Generally speaking, if someone suddenly brought a baby and told the other person to raise this child, they would definitely find it inexplicable and refuse this huge trouble. But who was Takanashi Akiko?
She was someone who, at the age of fifteen, had run away from Hokkaido to Tokyo to become a voice actress despite her family's objections—she was definitely not someone to be trifled with.
And later, she spent seven years in a large voice actor agency, and even after being swept out by the agency, she didn't give up. Her mental fortitude was truly remarkable. Perhaps she didn't have outstanding talent in voice acting, but Takanashi Akiko's mental resilience was absolutely top-notch—unyielding and indomitable!
An ordinary person would definitely think, 'Is it necessary to go to this extent to become a voice actress? Even raising a child who has no relation to you?' But it was precisely because she went to this extent that she was able to become a national-level Motherly Voice Actress.
I see… 'Reckless madmen.' Saotome Fuyumi's term for such people is indeed apt.
Achieving goals by any means necessary—this was already an obsession akin to a 'seeker of the Dao.' It was probably similar to a certain Great Love Immortal Venerable's obsession with seeking longevity. Beneath that gentle, motherly exterior, there was actually a hidden madness—a willingness to grasp the spider's thread no matter what.
This squinting fake wife was actually a hot-blooded type at her core!
"So I don't blame Director Fuyumi." Akiko's voice was firm. "If she hadn't pointed me in the right direction, I would definitely have returned to Sapporo a failure. And she also supported me to the greatest extent possible."
"Can you elaborate on that?" Kuroha Akira asked, genuinely curious. "I'm very interested in how you climbed to where you are."
Kuroha Akira wanted to understand Takanashi Akiko's rise to fame as a reference, so even though it had nothing to do with Takanashi Mirai, he still asked. At the same time, he also wanted to change the subject and alleviate the heavy feeling in Takanashi Akiko's heart. He could see she needed a lifeline to lighter waters.
"Hmm…" Akiko considered the question. "Although I have indeed gotten an important role now and am considered quite famous in this industry, when I first transitioned, I couldn't even get a decent job. So at that time, Director Fuyumi arranged some 'special jobs' for me…"
At this point, Takanashi Akiko seemed a bit hesitant to speak, as this job was truly not considered respectable. Especially since Kuroha Akira was a boy in his adolescence—perhaps he had even played 'that kind of game' that she had voiced, listening to her moans and vulgar lines with headphones on.
Then, seeing her expression, Kuroha Akira already guessed what she was struggling to say. After all, Mirai had mentioned it before—otherwise, he wouldn't have deliberately planned to 'catch her in the act' this morning.
"It's voice acting for H-games, isn't it?"
"Ugh…!" Akiko winced, her face flushing.
Kuroha Akira said seriously, his tone unwavering.
"Aunt Akiko, I won't look down on you because of this. This is also a legitimate job, and you haven't truly sold your body—you're just doing 'professional voice acting.' There's no shame in that. It's still art, just a different genre."
You know, he thought, being able to make people listen intently is also a skill.
Moreover, compared to those who did suggestive ASMR, Takanashi Akiko's voice acting for late-night anime and H-games was considered 'proper' by industry standards.
Seeing that Kuroha Akira—who had been secretly glancing at her chest earlier—could still maintain a serious expression at such a moment, Takanashi Akiko's shyness naturally receded, and she regained her mature composure. He didn't discriminate against her work at all—what a good boy… Such a boy was worthy of Mirai, wasn't he?
As for liking to look at chests, Takanashi Akiko didn't think Kuroha Akira was vulgar. Rather, she believed that liking to look at large breasts was a sign of healthy growth for boys. And she wasn't wearing any revealing or provocative clothing—she was fully covered, and he was merely appreciating the shape from a respectful distance.
So, Takanashi Akiko was actually a little happy. After all, she was almost forty years old, and someone was still willing to appreciate her body… It showed that she still had charm, didn't it?
In short, with Kuroha Akira's understanding, Takanashi Akiko was able to talk about her 'underground' work without shame.
"That's right… At that time, Director Fuyumi arranged H-game voice acting work for me, and she even paid for it, specially building a recording studio for me at home."
"Oh, that's your home studio, right?"
"Yes. At that time, H-game voice acting was a blank market." Akiko's voice grew more businesslike as she discussed the logistics. "Among the 2,500 voice actors, less than 10% were female and willing to accept H-game voice acting work. It was a niche with almost no competition."
For actors, doing adult films was like "going into the sea"—a career move that was hard to come back from. So for voice actors, doing 18+ works was equivalent to "going into the sea," right? But actually, it wasn't the same thing at all. The stigma was different, the career implications less severe, and the path back to mainstream work was much more navigable.
"And because voice actors almost all live near Tokyo—although there are a few in Osaka—many H-game development teams are actually located in more rural areas to save costs." Akiko explained, her voice taking on a professional tone. "However, inviting voice actors to voice is very expensive because of travel expenses and so on, which is a considerable expense for small studios."
"Indeed, and it's not just about inviting voice actors, is it?" Kuroha Akira nodded, following the logic. "You also need to audition them to see if they're suitable for the role. That's another round of expenses."
"That's right." Akiko smiled ruefully. "If it goes smoothly, it can be finished on the same day. But if not, you have to come back another day to record, and then pay another fee. So, many small studios simply can't afford voice actors at all. At this time, remote voice actors with 'their own recording studios' became a huge advantage—they were cost-effective and convenient."
Kuroha Akira's eyes lit up. This was the prototype of working from home!
Indeed, for a job like voice acting, it could actually be done remotely. One might say that when hiring foreign voice actors, it was certainly impossible to have them fly over for voice acting—it was basically done through remote video conferences. However, general voice actors didn't have their own recording studios and sound engineers. Voice actors also needed to voice according to the instructions of the voice director, so they still needed to go to the site for proper direction.
But H-games didn't have these restrictions, because many were small studios. Plus, they were basically short lines, so it was relatively more casual. The production process was more flexible and less formal.
Moreover, Saotome Fuyumi had even paid out of her own pocket to set up a professional recording studio for Akiko. That was truly a significant investment—a vote of confidence that went beyond mere business. Of course, it was also because Akiko had agreed to adopt Mirai that she went to such lengths, right? The child was the leverage that made the investment worthwhile.
"And then, how should I put it… There aren't many mother roles in general works, and they are often minor characters with few lines." Akiko's voice dropped. "But in R18 H-games and late-night anime, there is an extremely massive demand for mothers…"
"I understand."
After all, in the 'underground' realm, there were quite a lot of works where 'the natural order is reversed'—one could even say they occupied half the market. The sister-themed light novels Kuroha Akira wrote were actually touching on similar themes. Even melodramas loved to use such plot devices, which showed it was a popular theme among the masses.
Taboo sold.
"It was truly astounding." Akiko's expression grew distant. "At my busiest, I could only sleep four hours a day… Kuroha-kun, you asked me earlier 'what kind of voice acting needs to be done at night'—well, it was those jobs. The demand was relentless."
Takanashi Akiko recalled the intensity of her work at that time, and a look of admiration appeared on her face—admiration for her younger self's endurance.
"Those people who make games seem to live in an alternate dimension with no concept of day or night. Even if I recorded late at night and sent it over, I would get an immediate reply." She shook her head with a laugh. "At first, I was a bit scared by their intensity. I thought they were machines."
"Haha… That's how it is with making games…"
Otherwise, I wouldn't have died suddenly, Kuroha Akira thought grimly. Game developers are miserable no matter what world they're in. The universal suffering of crunch culture.
"But also because the feedback was very fast, I could immediately make changes if there were problems." Akiko's voice brightened. "It was at this time that I accumulated a large amount of voice acting experience for married women and mother roles. I was getting constant, high-volume practice."
I see, Kuroha Akira realized. So that's when she leveled up her proficiency. That's really efficient—like grinding in an RPG with a high XP multiplier.
And then, once she had accumulated enough proficiency, it was time to 'make a splash'—to showcase her skills on a larger stage.
Sure enough, just as Kuroha Akira expected, Takanashi Akiko's career entered an upward trajectory.
"And so, after a few years, when Mirai first started kindergarten, Director Fuyumi found me some localization voice acting jobs for movies, and I started taking on legitimate voice acting work." Akiko's smile was warm with the memory. "It felt like coming back to life."
From the 'underground' to the mainstream—Takanashi Akiko, who had been silent for a long time, began to reappear before the public. The transition was carefully orchestrated.
"Later, she found me a narration job for a historical drama, and my partner was another senior in the voice actor industry—Ms. Tamami Takagi, the third-generation voice actress who voiced Katsuo, the female protagonist of the anime Miss Seashell."
This definitely wasn't a coincidence.
Judging from Saotome Fuyumi's previous arrangements for Akiko, this was clearly a setup by her. It was precisely to allow Akiko to come into contact with Ms. Takagi that she had helped her find those unusual voice acting jobs. The historical drama narration was just a vehicle for the introduction.
"At that time, Ms. Takagi's health was deteriorating, and she was already thinking about finding a successor for her iconic role." Akiko's voice grew soft. "Then, about three years ago, she contacted me on her own initiative, asking if I was interested in taking over the voice acting for Miss Seashell. She said my voice was very similar to hers and very suitable for the role. So I naturally took on this important task."
"And then you became completely famous, right?"
"Yes." A modest smile crossed her face. "After all, it's a national anime, and a change of voice actor is a big deal. At this time, the media also began to widely report on me, this 'unknown voice actress,' even digging up my past of being abandoned by a voice actor agency. They said I worked hard for seven years only to be mercilessly abandoned, and now I'm back for revenge or something—it was very exaggerated…"
"That's just how the media are." Kuroha Akira shrugged. "They love a good narrative."
However, the media did not disparage her—instead, they praised her extensively. This most likely meant they had been paid, and this must also have been Saotome Fuyumi's doing. The woman was a master of PR.
"In short, after the topic was hyped up, more people supported me. And coupled with the fact that my voice was indeed very suitable, the audience finally accepted my voice, and I became completely famous." Akiko's tone was one of quiet satisfaction. "Now, whenever a married woman or mother character with children is mentioned, many voice directors immediately think of me and invite me to voice them. The remuneration is also very generous…"
"To be able to become a 'representative' in this niche field, I am already very content." She paused, her eyes growing misty. "I never thought I could climb to this position. Even now, I occasionally wonder if I'm dreaming. Heh…"
From this perspective, Saotome Fuyumi's thinking was very similar to Kuroha Akira's. It was just that Saotome Fuyumi, as the head of a voice actor agency, possessed 'channels' and 'resources' that Kuroha Akira couldn't even begin to compare with. She was Kuroha Akira's Promax upgraded version—operating at a level he could only aspire to.
So Kuroha Akira became intensely interested in this Saotome Fuyumi.
He was currently helping Shion find a suitable voice actor agency. Wasn't a voice actor agency with such a strong-willed head the perfect place for Shion? The more he learned about Fuyumi's methods, the more he realized she was exactly the kind of mentor Shion needed.
Now he had no choice but to help resolve the conflict between the Takanashi mother and daughter. He could make Akiko owe him a favor, and then use that favor to get her to help with an introduction to Fuyumi. It was the perfect plan—a favor cascade.
"Although there was an element of luck," Kuroha Akira said thoughtfully, "there is no doubt that you, Aunt Akiko, personally fought for the results you have today."
He first affirmed Takanashi Akiko, then asked with a hint of doubt.
"However, you are completely famous now, aren't you? Do you still need to continue taking H-game voice acting jobs?"
Takanashi Akiko's face was awkward, and she stammered, saying,
"This… after all, I've cooperated with some game studios for many years, so it's not good to turn them all down…"
This is a lie.
In fact, Takanashi Akiko had been completely 'whitewashed.' To prevent anyone from discovering her past as an 'underground' voice actress, Saotome Fuyumi did not let her go to the recording site from the very beginning. This was also preparation for her later transition. During that time, Takanashi Akiko never showed her face and used a pseudonym. Her past was sealed.
So some of the current 'bad' voice acting was actually just a personal hobby—not work at all—and it hadn't leaked out. This was something she truly couldn't bring herself to say, even if it killed her.
At first, Takanashi Akiko had mainly continued because she had a daughter but had never raised a son. She wanted to gain more experience in that area for her voice acting—to understand the dynamic of mother-son relationships from a different angle.
As a result, an incredible maternal instinct and a certain 'itch' had emerged. She became completely addicted to that kind of 'humming and hawing,' much like singing loudly in a karaoke room. It had already become a way to vent her desires—a guilty pleasure she couldn't shake.
Even though Takanashi Akiko had never truly been married, she was already fantasizing about 'the hen crowing at dawn' scenarios. The taboo was part of the thrill.
*"a hen announcing the dawn". Today, the phrase is generally used negatively or critically to describe situations where a woman acts dominantly, usurps authority, or takes control of a situation traditionally reserved for men.
And this morning had been the same. The reason she secretly came to her studio while the children were asleep…
It was actually because Takanashi Akiko had 'not-so-good' fantasies about Kuroha Akira.
If Kuroha-kun became my son-in-law…
Then wouldn't that mean he's my son?
Although it wasn't reality, this 'setting' was enough to serve as Takanashi Akiko's 'side dish'—a fantasy that fueled her secret recordings.
Kuroha Akira probably never dreamed that even though he had no intention of being a 'Cao Cao'—a historical figure known for taking others' wives…
His future mother-in-law was already fantasizing about him as the 'little horse' in her private, forbidden scenarios.
(a euphemism for a younger man).
The irony was almost too perfect.