Tokyo: To reiterate, this is not a dating system.

21. Hatsune Miku Yuuko Diva Project

After finishing their daily archery training, as usual, Genji Aoyama and Yuko Asahi returned to their apartment after buying groceries.

Downstairs at the apartment building, he said to Yuuko Asahi, "I have something to do, Asahi, you can go up first."

He eventually gave up on calling her "Yuyuko"—because this woman kept calling him by strange names on his way home from school, which was extremely despicable.

She didn't even realize that the pronunciation was exactly the same as when she called him "Grandpa".

That doesn't matter; Genji Aoyama wouldn't take advantage of that.

The key point is that it makes Genji Aoyama think of a certain organ that he has but she doesn't, and hearing it from a beautiful girl's mouth is just very strange.

Yuko Asahi definitely has no talent for naming things, that's what he thinks.

"What is it, Ji Ji?" Asahi Yuko looked at him with a smile.

"Yamete!"

Aoyama Genji looked like he wanted to die: "Please stop calling me by that name!"

"So what is it?"

He explained the situation.

Basically, while he was still in school, Genji Aoyama received a call from the deliveryman informing him that the items he had ordered online had arrived.

Because of its high value and the fact that Aoyama Genji was not home, the deliveryman simply left the item at the manager's office.

"Then...do you need my help?"

Yuko Asahi remembered that on her way home from school, Genji Aoyama had said that he might need her help with something.

Genji Aoyama sized up the girl's small figure; although beautiful, it was very slender, especially since she was carrying a bag of vegetables.

"Could you help me carry my backpack upstairs?" Genji Aoyama thought for a moment, then added, "Oh, right, there are a few love letters in the backpack. Could you take care of them while you're at it?"

Yuko Asahi glanced at him, then turned and went up the stairs.

Genji Aoyama watched her go upstairs—unfortunately, her skirt was too low, and she was wearing safety shorts underneath, so apart from white stockings, nothing could be seen.

He knocked on the door of the administrator's office, and after a short while, the door opened a crack: "Come in."

"Hello, I'm Genji Aoyama, a tenant on the fourth floor," he said, handing the building manager a snack he'd bought on his way home from school. "Just a little something to say."

The items aren't expensive, but they still show your thoughtfulness. Especially when you need someone to help you with something, even if it's something within your job description, it can make you feel happy.

"You're too kind, Aoyama-san. I was just signing for the package on your behalf; it's what I should do as an administrator."

The administrator was a young man in his early twenties. Aoyama Genji only knew that his surname was Shimizu. He seemed a bit of a shut-in and spoke in a gentle tone.

Shimizu looked at the boy in front of her and felt that he was well-mannered and had a friendly smile, making her want to do something for him.

"Oh, by the way, do you need help carrying this upstairs?" Shimizu felt she should say that and do that.

Genji Aoyama glanced at the pile of packages inside—neatly packed, but a huge pile.

"Thank you, you've been a great help." He smiled.

A dozen minutes later, the two went up to the fourth floor again, where the doorway to Genji Aoyama's room was piled high with cardboard boxes.

He thanked her again, and then revealed what he really wanted Shimizu's help with.

"There's one more thing I need Shimizu-san's help with."

"Please speak."

"Squeak—" Genji Aoyama opened the door in front of Shimizu, the hinges groaning under the strain, and then closed the door again with a soft "bang" between the door and the frame.

That's about it.

Shimizu, who worked as the apartment manager, naturally noticed the problem. He thought about it for a moment and then looked at the situation inside and outside the door.

"Perhaps there's a problem with the hinge connection, or perhaps the door leaf or frame is warped. That would be troublesome. We'd have to contact the landlady to arrange for repairs or replacement of the door leaf. In short, we can't just leave it unattended..."

Shimizu muttered to himself for a while, then looked up at Aoyama Genji: "Aoyama-san, please wait a moment, I'll go get the tools and do a preliminary check."

"Then I'll have to trouble you!" Aoyama Genji gladly accepted.

During this time, he moved all the boxes piled up at the door into the room.

I bought the whole machine, especially that big box, which was quite heavy.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." Soon, Shimizu arrived at the door carrying his toolbox.

After using the line gauge to check if the door was straight, Shimizu measured the width of the top, middle, and bottom of the door leaf. Only after confirming that there was no problem did he explain with a smile:

"It's probably because the hinges are old or loose. I'll fix them a bit first, and then I'll contact the landlady and confirm the replacement time with Mr. Aoyama."

Aoyama Genji didn't understand these things, but seeing that Shimizu seemed quite professional, he agreed.

(Promise me you won't study architecture or think about becoming a designer after graduation. I have a friend who regretted it after studying interior design and quit after a short time.)

Once everything is arranged,

Genji Aoyama stood at the door and glanced at his room—the space, which was not large to begin with, now looked even more cramped because of the addition of a computer and some other equipment.

Fortunately, although the apartment was old, it had free Wi-Fi, which was choppy but barely usable.

He walked up to the desk that served as his desk, dining table, and now computer desk, and stuck a sticky note on it, setting himself a small goal.

I'm aiming to buy an apartment in Tokyo before the end of the year.

It's all up to you, Yuuko!

During the meal, Genji Aoyama mentioned to Yuko Asahi that he needed her help with something.

"Collecting sound sources?" Yuko Asahi put down her chopsticks and looked at Genji Aoyama in confusion. "What's that?"

Genji Aoyama opened his mouth, thinking about how to explain it in simple and easy-to-understand words, but after thinking about it, he still felt that it was a bit obscure.

"It's roughly what I need to clearly read aloud the Japanese syllabary (hiragana and katakana), various syllable combinations, and vocal samples under different tones and emotions."

This is Aoyama Genji's plan: to use Asahi Yuko's voice source as a sample.

Then, using the relevant knowledge he had acquired through hard work, along with some less-than-professional equipment, he created the first-generation virtual singer.

In his previous life, he had played some rhythm games when he was very young, so he had some understanding of virtual singers and knew that the sound source was not synthesized out of thin air.

Just like Hatsune Miku's voice source, it was collected from a certain voice actress.

As for professionalism, it's not a problem at all. When CRYPTON selected Fujita Saki, she was also very inexperienced.

Although Asahi Yuko is still a high school student and a bit young, her voice is pleasant and melodious, and she has a youthful charm. In Aoyama Genji's opinion, she is more than capable.

Of course, it is also related to the fact that Genji Aoyama is currently short of money and does not know or afford to hire voice actors from agencies, which may account for less than 1%.

"Unreasonable, unreasonable."

It took Yuko Asahi a while to understand, and she shook her head in refusal.

Just thinking about it or reading these things aloud in front of others makes her feel a little embarrassed.

"Even money won't work?" Genji Aoyama said with a smile.

"How many?"

Yuko Asahi decided to listen, because Genji Aoyama didn't sound like he was joking.

"Before we discuss this... could you please hold the half-eaten scallion from the refrigerator in your hand?"

Yuko Asahi is cute and has a very flat chest; she's definitely a beautiful girl, without a doubt.

Aoyama Genji, attacked by the green onion, once again came to a conclusion.