Cast Comments from ALIVE Series SOARA on Drama CD 3: "On That Day, We Were"

[nebulancer]

--In this work, the members of "SOARA" are in the setting of telling their wistful memories as a result of stepping up due to the Tsukipro live and creating a new start for themselves. Please tell us some wistful memories you have as part of "SOARA."

Ono: When I first met (Sawashiro) Chiharu, we were swapping places for "SOARA's" recording. Since Chiharu said, "I'm recording after," I went, "Do your best!" and I heard from him, "I actually had to retake the recording......" after... I thought, seeing him like that, "I wonder what kind of voice actor he'll be." That's a memory Chiharu and I have in common. Chiharu, when that happened, how did you feel?

Sawashiro: Everyone else had their characters set, and mine was the only one who took a lot of time to be decided. The staff pointed out everyone's parts that they had to retake, so they corrected the recordings in that place, but in my case, I'd just begun work as a voice actor, so......

Murata: You were told, "Retake the recording later"?

Sawashiro: Yes. Mine was the only one that was left after everyone's recordings had finished, and then finally the staff told me, "Go ahead with the retake." I only felt a sense that I was living (laughs).

Ono: I can only be saying this now, but... Why did they choose him! (laughs) Even with that, the staff continuing to have Chiharu to voice Nozomu was amazing of them.

Sawashiro: That definitely is so. I was raised up by the productions, by my character, and by the Tsukipro staff. Thank you very much.

Ono: You've changed unbelievably a lot from then, haven't you. That's a wistful memory I have of Chiharu and SOARA as a whole.

Toyonaga: Even though I had some worries at the start, I had a feeling that, with these members, we could have some fun. Sora-kun, who I voice, originally had something in his past he wanted to forget, so I voiced him with the consciousness that he had a bit of a shadow. At first, I worried about how to express his slightly dark times. Morihito and Soushi were the ones to cheer him up during his dark moments, give him energy, give him support, and I have an impression that, now, Sora-kun's heart has cleared over. For that, I worked hard myself to voice that kind of Sora-kun, so I feel that a sense of being in the role and the teamwork came out.

Furukawa: For me especially, "Tsukipro" was the first work I was in that I sang in front of an audience. As the "Tsukipro Live 2016 in Nakano" and "A.L.P. 2017 SUMMER" lives accumulated on each other, the stages and production accumulated as well, and I think a relationship of being newly connected came through. I think it'd be great that, While these warm relationships are being connected, we can continue having all kinds of performances as "SOARA." So, I'm especially looking forward to the "TSUKIPRO LIVE 2018 SUMMER CARNIVAL" in June. I never would have thought we could be performing at the Fuji-Q Highland when we first formed.

Murata: The Nakano live was also my first, so I felt that it was a huge event for both me and Ren. When I heard that I would be participating as a member of "SOARA," I felt like saying, "Thank you very much!" Even though it's a work that involves singing, I thought, "I can be relieved" when it wasn't my character who would sing, but the twin vocals would start it off. At that time, my feelings that I was weak in singing were very strong (wry laugh). But everyone else told me, "Let's sing, too!" and then......

Furukawa: "Come on, let's start the music," like that?

Murata: That’s right. During recordings, Toyonaga-san taught me many things, and I learned all sorts of things about how to sing; and I realized again that there's a lot I get from singing in front of other people.

Toyonaga: You're a lot like Ren.

Murata: I was swept away, getting so nervous, my stomach tensed up so much it hurt. I experienced "SOARA's" story while connected with Ren.

Sawashiro: Murata-san, you were reading the voice training book up until five minutes before the performance, weren't you?

Murata: Stop exposing me!!

Ono: You were reading up until five minutes before?

Murata: I couldn't help the worried feeling that I had to do something about it.

Ono: You're a lot like Ren in that aspect. You're very connected with him. (laughs)

Murata: In that moment, I wasn't only making a character, but I really was Ren. (wry laugh)

--In this time's drama CD, Morihito and Soushi have bittersweet pasts they talk about. Could you tell us your bittersweet pasts?

Ono: I thought it was nice to see scenes of Soushi's past and the state of the relationships among "SOARA" this time. When I was a student, I injured my leg and had to give up on continuing playing soccer. That to me was extremely frustrating, but because of that, I entered this industry and, because I've met everyone here, I can say it now. I'm grateful I was injured. Also, being able to dig down into the past of a character, you get to feel the depth of the characters, so they can shine even brighter.

Sawashiro: For me, every day for me is bittersweet, so...... Every day, I reflect on myself when I get back home. Things like, "I couldn't read that kanji." It's not as if I didn't try to search it up beforehand, but once the reading started......

Murata: You enter Chiharu zone?

Sawashiro: Yes. I'm not very skilled, so I feel that I have to read into the script more than anyone else and practice a ton. When that happens, I try to do the recording, but most of the time it doesn't go well.

Murata: I remember something that happened during my high school graduation ceremony. I was part of the Track Club, and I'd started to get along with a girl from the Tennis Club. When the graduation ceremony ended, and I was getting on my bike to go home, the girl talked to me. I thought it'd only take a bit of time to chat, but my bicycle's handle got caught on a net close to it, and with a great amount of momentum my body flipped around. With that, my entire bicycle fell and got dirty...... I knew that the net was there, so I should have been able to notice it, but it was only that day the handle got caught... And, of all things, it was in front of her... during the graduation ceremony...... That's my bittersweet memory.

Ono: Did she confess to you, or something like that?

Murata: We got along somewhat, but the two of us didn't really meet up halfway, and even though it was our last chance at the graduation ceremony...... This is the first time I've talked about this (wry laugh).

Toyonaga: From the 6 years of elementary to middle school, I'd liked this girl with all my heart; on the middle school's graduation ceremony, I handed her a love letter with "I'll meet you a week later at ○○" written on it. My bittersweet memory is that the girl got the date wrong, and the day we promised to meet up that week later never came. Also, even though I talked about having loved that girl with all my heart, about three months of that, I liked a different girl (laughs). Because I liked both of them one-sidedly, I spent my summer of eighth grade thinking, "Is this what you'd call being unfaithful......?"

Murata: Was it being unfaithful in your imagination?

Toyonaga: It was. During those 6 years, I kept thinking, "Sorry......" to that girl. But there wasn't anything to be sorry about, and I didn't want to cause trouble for anyone, so I thought "Sorry" to myself unconsciously.

--Finally, before the TSUKIPRO LIVE 2018 SUMMER CARNIVAL in June, please say something that you're looking forward to.

Sawashiro: To make up for the parts I'm not skilled in, I'll just be energetic, jump around a lot, and sing the loudest I can! Please look forward to it.

Murata: I'm not going to jump around so much (laughs). Somehow, I want to be like Ren in that way of thinking. I want to show everyone an amazing stage, bringing a voice training book with me and improving myself up until the very last moment.

Ono: I couldn't participate in the previous "A.L.P 2017 SUMMER," so I'll be ready to stand on stage with the five of us as "SOARA." Although I couldn't participate, Morihito was there talking, and everyone was wearing his image color, green, in items they were wearing, and even in the "SOARA" illustration by Shijima Tohiro-sensei, Morihito was in the drawing that gave the impression he was there. Everyone's feelings came to mind even though I was somewhere else, so I'd be glad if we could feel the same together on the stage this time. I think everyone has the same idea of it, so let's have fun spending the days until the event comes.

Furukawa: I was happy we were able to take part in the Nakano event as the five of us, but I realized that the last event was almost more than a year ago. In the past, "SOARA" didn't have many songs to sing, and neither did ALIVE. Since then, lots of songs were sent out, and on top of that, we had lives through the anime. I believe there are many new songs that you could be surprised by. I'm looking forward to performing a lot. I truly think we can show a new ALIVE and a new "SOARA," so please enjoy it. We'll work hard to meet everyone's expectations as well.

Toyonaga: I'm glad we can participate in the ALIVE series as the only band. Even if we compare these members to the others in the productions, seeing these characters, you'd have to think, "Aah, these are members of 'SOARA,' aren't they." I believe a sense of bonding and comfort among only the five of us was created. Since that bond has grown so much stronger, our connections have gotten better, we've put on more lives...... Our own love toward "SOARA" can be felt. Instead of just faking, or putting on airs, I feel that "SOARA's" charm lies in being able to have fun with everyone, as if you're at home. We're on the verge of stepping onto the live's stage, so I'd be glad if you can have fun with "SOARA" until it.