Ren laughed. It started as a bitter chuckle, then spiraled into a hollow, echoing thing that filled the room with the sound of a cracked bell. It was the laugh of a man who had become a ghost in his own life.
Kuroda smiled. It was a terrifying smile. seyuu danshi
Ren continued his normal life. He still voiced the talking cat. He still did grunts for monsters. But now, when he went to the supermarket, he’d overhear teenagers quoting his lines. Ren laughed
The first was , 19. Kaito was the new golden boy. Discovered at a mall talent contest, he had the voice of an angel and the face of a sculpted protagonist. He’d already landed the lead in the season’s most anticipated shonen anime, Chain of Destiny . Kaito was kind but oblivious to his own privilege. He’d walk into the recording studio with a latte and a smile, apologizing for his "bad voice day" while hitting every note perfectly. Ren would be in the corner, nursing cold coffee, rehearsing a grunt for a monster that would be killed in three seconds. Kuroda smiled
The opportunity came in the form of an anonymous script. No title. No character descriptions. Just a single line: "Looking for the voice of the 'Faceless King' — a character who wears a mask. Open audition. No appearance requirements. Bring only your voice."