Tokyo Studio Branch Studio, Sakura City.
At the head manager's office, two women were about to have an important conversation.
"Good afternoon, Miss Amano! I'm great, thank you so much for this opportunity!" Nana exclaimed with a voice filled with gratefulness.
"No need to thank me. You were chosen because our team saw enormous potential in you. Please sit, we have some things to talk about before you sign the contract." Rio replied with a smile as she pointed at the seat in front of her desk.
"Okay." Nana nodded and happily took her seat. Who would not feel good when her soon-to-be boss said that she saw potential in her?
"First of all, you are here because you were selected to play one of the female side characters of the Sword Art Online Anime, Lisbeth." Rio started.
"Oh, Lisbeth? I think I know her. I read all the chapters SAO published and I remember she appeared a couple of times." Nana suddenly said excited by the prospect of knowing which character she would play.
"Yes, it is her, Lisbeth." Rio replied with a smile.
"If you read carefully, she is just a supporting character to the story." She added.
"It is more than enough for me!" Nana almost shouted in excitement.
She did not care it was just a side character, as long she participated in the production, she would be the happiest person in the world.
"So, you agree to join the production of the SAO Anime as a voice actress?" Rio asked.
"I agree! There is nothing more that I want in the world!" Nana agreed without any ounce of hesitation.
She was waiting for this opportunity for years and years, and she was not crazy to refuse even if she did not how much she would receive for the job.
To Nana it did not matter the money she would get out of it, it mattered that she was finally realizing her dream and that she was finally noticed by someone for her talent.
"I see that you are excited about it. You didn't even read the contract yet to know the conditions and perks." Rio chuckled.
Nana blushed a little when she heard that.
"But I understand you. This will be your first employment as a voice actress, right? Everyone would get excited if they were in your shoes." Rio said with a gentle smile.
"And you don't have to worry about the contract, we will give you all the perks that voice actors deserve. And your salary will be to your like too." She added.
Nana heaved a sigh of relief when she heard that, she was new to these things and she was relieved that the woman in front of her was patient and gentle with her.
"But before I give you the contract for you to read and sign. I have something else to talk about with you." Rio suddenly said.
Nana nodded and waited nervously for Rio to continue talking. She could not imagine what else such an important person as Miss Amano would want to talk with her.
After all, she was hired only to play a side character and not one of the main characters. Logically, the head manager of the studio did not have to meet with her.
And Nana was right in her guess.
Rio had already hired an HR Department personnel, they were the ones responsible to talk with voice actors and get them to sign the contract. Rio did not meet the voice actors at all. Even the two voice actors selected to play the main characters of the SAO Anime would talk with Rio. When they arrived at the studio, they would all be directed to the HR Department.
Only Nana was different, as her case was special.
"You may remember when you were auditioning for the part last Saturday, two people were watching the audition from a screen." Rio started.
"Yeah, I remember." Nana replied as she recorded their faces.
She remembered that two young people watched the scene, and they were extremely beautiful. Especially the guy.
Nana blushed a little when she remembered his handsome face looking at her.
"And I don't know if you are aware that this studio where we are today is only a small branch studio of the Tokyo Studios." Rio continued.
"Really?" Nana said in surprise.
"Yes, this branch studio is only responsible for handling the voice actors and recording their performances. As the entire body of voice actors in the country is gathered here in Sakura City." Rio explained.
"But the headquarters of the studio is located elsewhere. In Elffire City, capital of the Bluecorn State. It is there that the headquarters of the studio is located. And it is also there that we produce our animations. Which means the heads of the studio are also there."
"The two people you saw there are my bosses. The woman was the Head Director and CEO of the studio, and the man was the owner and Creative Director of the studio." Rio explained with a smile.
Nana was shocked by the amount and content of the information she had just heard about it.
As a person involved in the anime industry, she knew that every animation studio was located in Sakura City. It was highly unusual that a studio built its headquarters outside the capital. But she was even more shocked that those two young people had such high standing in the studio.
The Head Director and the Owner of the studio!
She could not believe such important people watched her audition.
Rio almost could not contain her laugh as she watched Nana's disbelieving face.
But she managed to hold off as she said, "The Tokyo Studio is newly opened. Which means we are searching for talent everywhere. And when Theo, the owner of the studio and creative director, watched your audition, he immediately saw your potential."
"He said that the male voice you performed was the perfect fit for the male lead of our next anime. This anime will be produced just after the SAO Anime production ends." Rio explained as she observed Nana's reaction.
And just as expected, Nana froze as she heard Rio's words.
She could not believe what she was hearing.
The owner of the studio wanted her to play the male lead of their next anime.
It sounded so ridiculous that she sneakily pinched her arm to check if she was dreaming, but the pain made her realize everything was real.
"I don't know if you heard of the Naruto manga." Rio suddenly.
"Yeah, I love it. It is from the same publishing house as the Sword Art Online Light Novel. I love the manga. Wait a minute..." Nana replied when suddenly she realized what Rio was insinuating.
"Do you mean?" She asked with wide eyes.
"Yes, Miss Ozawa, we are inviting you to work as the voice of Naruto in the Naruto Anime."
"Do you accept this proposal?" Rio asked with a wide smile on her face.