B-PROJECT Ryusei＊Fantasia/Cast Interview Chiba Shoya

Cast Interview

Now that the recording has finished, outside of your own role, what other member made an impression on you or changed your previous perception of them?

Because they work so closely together, it has to be the members of KiLLER KiNG. My final impression of them did not change, but understanding that both the good and bad aspects of their personalities played an important role as their backbone up until now and that KiLLER KiNG are currently the way they are because of the sorts of phases they went through made me really happy.

There are many scenes where you can see some realistic relationships with a good contrast between each member’s method, rather than them having a good chemistry and things always working out from the start… All the members became more human-like. For example, Haruhi is sincerely cheerful but there is this part of him that made me strangely wonder if something was happening inside of him and the game showed me a glimpse of his inner world so I came to like him even more.

As for the other groups, Momotaro and Yuta impressed me. Momotaro really does pay attention to his fellow members, I thought. In this game, he amply realizes that everyone’s feelings are changing even when they do not communicate and that made me happy. Yuta is always cheerful, between Gochin and Kento he also shows all sorts of emotions… He definitely is a human being, he does have his worries, is what I thought.

CAST INTERVIEW

In this game, each member gets an episode that focuses on the Bambi (trainee) days. Please tell us, without spoilers, if there are aspects you want us to pay attention to or that caught your eye.

The episode about his debut phase is one of Akane’s key points, but, even though the game is also written around that, I guess he is mostly depicted gaining experiences around members of different ages during the most sensitive years of his life. I was really happy about the fact that there are scenes where you understand that Akane was relied on since that time. Improving himself through friendly rivalry with MooNs… I was surprised too, I didn't think he could talk about so many different topics with the other members. I feel like being able to build such relaxed relationships and trust supports the fact that Akane is actually a hardworking person.

I believe that anyone of the B-PRO members matching up with any other will be great together, so the groups and units that we have now feel like miracles.

Also there are these scenes in particular that I love a lot, where he talks with Ryuji about the time THRIVE was formed and when KitaKore debuted, so I want you to focus on those (laughs).

In addition, I had to speak in a higher pitch for the Bambi days related scenes and I paid extra care to how I spoke “before” and “after” overcoming something. I wonder if the fact that making it through with a smile whenever there was a problem has to do with being young... His range of voice is much higher than other people so it was a challenge (laughs).

CAST INTERVIEW

Akane, who you are voicing, is a character whose favourite foods are dishes like tonkatsu and onigiri and who loves to eat. If Chiba-san could have a meal together with Akane, in what kind of situation would it be and what would you like to eat?

 I would like to eat yakiniku that produces lots of smoke one-on-one with Akane. It doesn’t have to be in a restaurant with a beautiful private room, even though it would be super delicious, I just want to eat lots of food with him in a yakiniku restaurant downtown, like normal people! I think I will most likely get nervous around Akane, so such an ordinary restaurant works better to have a relaxing talk (laughs).

CAST INTERVIEW

Lastly, please give a message to Sumisora Tsubasa (A&R) with whom you overcome hardships in this game.

 There have been a lot of scenes in which Akane stands besides Tsubasa and thinks about KiLLER KiNG or the other units, but in this game there are scenes where he opens up to Tsubasa; I was delighted that this pair, “Tsubasa and Akane”, properly exists.

But above all, Tsubasa really has it hard (laughs). Everyone will personally be able to experience these hardships as the A&R in the game this time.

I feel like I understood by the magnitude of Tsubasa’s existence… that not anyone can give you a dream only by being a talented, charming and hardworking person alone. It is without a doubt thanks to communication with her that everyone matured and that makes me think that she is an irreplaceable being to them. Tsubasa is said to be the “15th member”, but I felt like it is because Tsubasa is with them that a perfect B-PROJECT can go beyond. Please look out for Akane from now on as well.

CAST INTERVIEW