Chapter 41 - Volume 1 Short Story

☆To the Grim Reaper in Love☆

…When I was in middle school

Everyone knew me as an otaku who was very talkative.

I spent a lot of time talking about stuff like anime and manga with my close friends.

That was the kind of girl I was.

Maybe that’s the reason I stood out. I don’t know.

Around the summer of my 2nd year in junior high, an influential girl in my class started messing with me.

At first, I just put up with her treatment, but…

My close friends stopped talking to me, probably because they didn’t want to get dragged into it.

It felt like a thread had been cut.

In the winter of my 2nd year, I stopped going to school.

I was scared of going to school.

That’s why I shut myself at home, reading light novels, reading manga, and watching anime.

I wanted to find somewhere that was as far from reality as possible, somewhere that could cheer me up.

And as I spent my time at home like this, I gradually began to imagine how nice it would be if I could make a world like that myself.

But I had no talent, both for writing and for drawing.

Then I remembered, Ah… but when I was really young, there was that one time I was praised for my voice…

Even back then, I always had a tendency to act on the spur of the moment. Once I set my mind on something, I’d do it right away.

Even though I was skipping school, I thought, This is the one thing I have to do!

So, I took the Shinkansen and left my hometown as I headed to Tokyo.

I took the audition for『Love Idol Dream! Alice Stage ☆』

I never thought… Not even in my wildest dreams, that I would pass the audition.

“Hello. I’ll be working with you starting today.”

The first time I entered the office.

Hotta-san greeted me kindly, but I was so nervous that I just kept quiet and bowed repeatedly. I’m sorry.

After graduating from junior high school, I moved to Tokyo and started living alone.

I became a voice actress, called Izumi.

And I more or less started going to school.

I guess it was just as I expected… I got really nervous at school, and I couldn’t talk to people very well.

But, whenever I did my work as a voice actress, I was somehow able to talk to people.

I’d talk a little too much though, and that wasn’t good.

Then, I became Yuuna.

I breathed life into Yuuna as Izumi Yuuna. And my first line was:

“Yuuna-chan will always be right by your side~ So, why don’t we both smile together~”

Even though the line was short, it didn’t go well at all. I couldn’t voice the line properly.

The sound producer was shocked too.

I felt so depressed.

I thought that if I became a voice actress, I’d be able to make a fresh start in life.

But in the end, no matter what I do, it’s just useless, huh…

That was how I thought as I spent my days feeling depressed in my empty apartment room.

A short while after that.

My manager told me that a letter from a fan had arrived in the mail.

Fan? Even though I’ve only been voicing Yuuna for a short period?

Even though Yuuna’s popularity is insanely low?

It must be a prank letter.

I opened the letter with that thought in mind, and I started reading it.

■From: The Grim Reaper in Love■

Nice to meet you, Yuuna-chan. The moment I heard your cheerful laugh… I, who had been depressed, was able to cheer up and be happy again. I was able to jump out and engage with the world once more. Thank you, Yuuna-chan. I love you so much. I will be supporting you from now on, forever and ever.

…From that point on.

I worked very hard, keeping the words of『The Grim Reaper in Love』 close to my heart.

I’m still very young and inexperienced, but…

I learned that even someone like me… can bring a smile to someone’s face.

That’s why, when my father brought up the topic of a “marriage proposal”, I honestly felt upset and irritated.

What was he thinking at such an important time?

I was definitely going to turn it down.

That’s what I thought, but…

……Yuu-kun.

Even before we met each other, you’ve always been supporting me.

Now, I want to be able to support you.

As your bride… I want to make sure you can always have a smile on your face.

I’m going to keep doing my best for you!

So, please… I’d be overjoyed if you let me stay by your side, forever and ever!

☆From Izumi Yuuna – Watanae Yuuka☆

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Last chapter of v1. I’m taking a long break until April 11. Next volume is coming out on May 20 so you won’t see me until then. Also, I know that School Goddess is winning but the old translation group might pick it up again apparently. Not very sure. I’ll just wait and see.

Ko-fi