Today started as normal I guess?, Of course getting up and looking at myself in the mirror was more of the usual. The next-door woman blasting the news as always, and I late to work. I didn't even bother making breakfast, I rushed to get dressed and pick my phone. (yes I did use the bathroom if you where wondering) After Jumping over the old fence (which will be the doom of me) Hopping in my trusty bike, speeding to the entertainment district. I always thought I'd end up homeless, but life looking up. Got a nice apartment near Fourth East High School and next-door convenient store. Not going to lie I'm pretty set for life. Well not entirely, I have my eyes on a girl I work with. I know a bit cliché for me, but only was a matter of time before it happen. As an adult voice actor, I tend to give life to not so safe characters. Don't get me wrong-love the job, but I do get shy at times.
Luckily for me I hide my identity very well, I voice-over some pretty cool anime like Chrono Mirage, Mech Dynasty: Neo Regalia, Kaiju Chef, and Shadow Bloom: Curse of the Sakura. But the one that made my career shine was "Falling from the Sky". How could I forget the innocent kid that is the ruler in another world. Pretty cool, right? I was the protagonist or rather, I voiced him. Its so awesome to see people wearing our anime merch and cosplaying at the annual Comicon and Expo. To be honest, people love the girl that my character well, shares a romantic moment with. No shame in it, they paid me a lot for that role. From there my career skyrocketed to fame, and my Alias "Hikomo Himoko" became a well-known name. I know pretty original, besides today we are recording the last episode of "Falling from the sky" I've got to give myself credit for coming up with such an amazing title, along with props to the team for bringing it to life.
I put on my usual work mask—a simple white fox mask. Enough to cover my face and give me freedom to speak, without compromising my identity. I can't have some crazy people stalking my every move. I'm not going to be the next, Harpie Nathaniel. He was a fellow voice actor who tragically died because of a deranged fan. He refused to date the guy thinking it would not be a fit for his life style. The guy had been stalking him obsessively and lost it when Harpie refused to date him, saying it didn't fit his lifestyle. What happened next was horrifying—Harpie was found dead, his head on the stove beside a twisted devil figurine. I won't let that happen to me.. I'm glad public safety was there to step in—things have gotten messy ever since the first cases of fans going crazy over their idols. That's exactly why I'd rather be safe than sorry.
The lobby of the entertainment district was buzzing with life. The moment people spotted my iconic mask, they went wild. The staff quickly worked to move me into a corner for safety, and yes, I did sign a few autographs. Sometimes I forget how incredible is to be famous, I did notice the crowd outside forming, the news of the my arrival had spread like wild fire. Never in my life saw so many people, the staff went to panic after seeing the people pouring in the lobby. They told me they had it controlled but I knew it was a lie, I mean; I could see the sweat going down there faces as they called in backup. "As always, so early to the show, Mr.Hiko." Those words cut straight to my core, sending a thrill down my spine and under my skin. t was none other than the stunning Yakimo Hekimoto. Odd name for a woman, sure, but who cared?, she is hot, I am hot, we are hot. I'd be lying if I said that tight red and orange dress didn't hug her curves so perfectly it made my hands ache to touch them. "Mr. Hiko, I see you like my dress," she said with a playful smirk. "Glad you do. I picked it with you in mind—for the photo at the end of the recording." All I could do was smile and reply, "Let's just say it catches more than my attention."
Her laughter, that sound was worth every excruciating recording seconds worth it. I admit my favorite parts where on the experimental side of things. The part we had to portray both characters sharing body heat was something new to me, we were in the same room pitch, black. Sharing the same microphone. I remember her hands sliding down to my chest. Slowly moving way to close to my inner thigh, making my voice hitch and a giggle escape me. The producer though we are just voice acting as normal, though in that room I could feel how wide her hips where. Wen the moment came, we shared a kiss my mind knew it was work, but my heart said otherwise. Shortly after, the lights came back but suddenly, it was as if nothing had happened I knew, through that red fox mask, that she could feel it too.
"So, are you going to give me your hand and take me upstairs for the entrance?" I should have said anything, but I felt like a loyal dog, If asked me to bark, I would do it no shame. I stood up and nodded put her hand on my arm walking to the elevator, I knew the last recording would be live. I only had my usual shirt and cargo pants, next to her felt like a Normie. "Ooh, and your manager called saying he had your suit" Normand I love you, but not in that way "Yeah, we talked yesterday about my attire. I'd hate to look so normal next to a well-dressed woman like you." My words were slippery. I knew I was skating on thin ice. "Sure, Hiko. Do you forget I'm your voice partner in booth sometimes?" Just as I gain confidence, I lost it. She really is perfect in every way.
The elevator doors opened, and I walked Yak to the backstage, I dashed toward the changing room. Normand was there, greeting me with a slap and a coffee. "You are a imbecile, I called you four times" I knew he was mad; he had every reason to be. "Ouch, and Morning!" My hand went to the back of my neck rubbing away the sting. "Get dressed idiot, we are going live in twenty minutes" I knew he was acting tough, deep down he really cares about me. "I will, and thank you Norm." His head made a bobbing motion, I took it as a way to say thanks. "I will be out in a minute or two" The Suit really suits me, catch the pun? "You ready!?" I stepped out feeling like I could make Yaki love me, just as much as I loved her. "Norm do you think I-" "YES, you can just ask her out, sometimes I feel like I'm more than just your manager you know?" Hate to agree but he was right, like always. "OK, fine I will try" The sudden slap on my back, and a laugh from Norm was more than enough to give me the confidence I lost in the elevator.
Waking backstage was never so awesome like today, and there she was, Yaki. I could see it from her mask, she was stunned. It was my first time using a suit like this in-front of her. "I thought I would be the one grabbing the hearts of fans especially young fans~" Her voice made me feel a bit shy for a moment. "Looking good for the only woman that I share a booth with~" I have to admit, I was proud of how well the tease was shot. The giggle she made after was confirmation that I did a good job.
We got called to stage, the crowd erupted with cheers and ground men squealing like little girls. "I want to say thank you to all the great views, and want to say thank for joining us in this journey for the last couple of months, want to thank the great crew, and the production team for the awesome work" the announcer was a man in his peak thirties, even though I was scratching the twenty mark myself. "I want to personally thank Sally the main producer of all this mess, Hiko, Yaki, John, Kelly, Norm, and Havana. This people gave there all to make this possible. Managers, voice actors, and production team." I could feel my whole group light up in cheers, I simply stood up and walk towards the microphone.
The announcer shook my hand and passed me the microphone "Thanks..." I laughed into the microphone. "I talk for the team wen I said it was a few panful months, I can't believe that we made a whole two hundred episodes in less than a year" The sudden claps and people cheering was almost deafening. "Want to give a big thanks to Sakubo Animation, for the none stop chapters, making season two, three, and four in less than a year." The cheer of the crowd kept getting louder and my adrenaline kicked in. "As a last gift from the production I would like to give you the big announcement, A new game "Falling from the sky the New Generation, take it away production!!" The white screen rolled down with the video playing. I head back towards the booth sating next to Yaki. "I bet that tie was really tight?" The giggled escaped from her mouth. "Kelly, your tongue's sharp as ever, but that ego of yours? It's on another level." She was sooner to respond back. "Sure, a long tongue—and an even longer appetite for trouble, especially when it comes to pretty boys with long d-" "As much as I'd love to hear more, can we keep it PG until the afterparty?" Norm was fast to shut us up, but it only made Kelly want me more.
The Q&A was next in the list. "Hypothetically speaking, if Manji and Erica ended up spending the night... in each other's bodies, would Hellen rush to defend Manji's honor? Or would she... take matters into her own hands?" The question hit like a curveball, making me choke on my water. Manji and Erica... aka me and Kelly? My mind raced, flashing back to that recording session with Yaki. Just imagining doing something similar gave me goosebumps. Yaki grabbed the microphone, her confident grin lighting up the stage. She didn't even hesitate, leaning into the question like it was just another line in the booth. "Let's be real," she said, her voice silky smooth, "if Hellen found out Manji and Erica were swapping bodies and spending the night? Oh, she'd definitely jump to defend him. But not before making sure Erica knows exactly who's in charge." She paused, letting the audience's laughter ripple through the room." Yaki paused for a moment, lifting a playful hand to her ear as the crowd erupted into whistles and cheers. "Well," her tone playful yet sultry, "if Hellen were to actually walk in on something like that, forget episode six of season two. She'd make that scene look like a little tease. Hellen isn't one to back down, and she'd probably take things even further—right there, in front of Erica."" The crowd cheer mostly girls with a little of boys mixed in the cheer.
I swallowed hard, the heat rising in my face as the implications hit me. Yaki was fearless, turning what could've been an awkward question into something that had the entire room hooked. "Hellen doesn't just raise the stakes—she takes the whole game to another level." The crowd cheer as the cosplayer stepped down the stage. The next coplayer was roughly my size. "OK, Umm... Soo, If Manji where to find a way back to his original world would he take it?" The question hung in the air for a moment, and I could feel the weight of it. The audience quieted, clearly intrigued, waiting for my answer. It was a question that carried the potential to shift the entire arc of my character. Would Manji, the protagonist I'd voiced through so many twists and turns, really want to go back to his world after everything he'd been through in the alternate one?
"No," I said, my tone firm, "Manji has way too much to lose. Getting Hellen to fall for him wasn't easy. Trust me, even I had to convince myself to put in the full effort, to make it feel as organic as possible. It wasn't just about playing a role—it was about building something real. And for him to give that up? It wouldn't happen."" That feeling of being so connected made me appreciate more my work. "Miss Yaki is it true you are going to work for the Public Safety Department wen you finish your contract?" The air in the room shifted instantly. The excitement that had been there moments ago now felt like a distant memory, replaced by a wave of tension. I could feel my heartbeat pounding in my chest, every word Yaki spoke hitting me harder than I expected. "Yes... I will. I've been offered a better job," My throat tightened. For a split second, the world seemed to slow down around me. Yaki, the person I'd shared so much with, the one who had always been there on the other side of the booth, was about to step into a new chapter of her life. It felt like everything was falling apart in front of me FUCK! What the hell was I supposed to do now?