"I'm Too Embarrassed to Watch It Yet" – Takehiro Urao and Rin Kusumi Share Embarrassing Recording Session Episodes [Interview for 'You Can't Be In a Rom-Com with Your Childhood Friends!']

——Shio does quite deliberately cute things to get Eiyū's attention, doesn't she? The fact that it doesn't work out very well also becomes part of her charm, but how did you approach balancing the performance?

Kusumi: While she is fundamentally airheaded, I've never really understood why Shio-chan is called an airhead... Even now I don't fully grasp it, but I think Shio-chan's true essence is being bright, kind, and considerate of others' feelings.

——Even in the original manga, her efforts to help people were impressively depicted.

Kusumi: I don't really perform her as an excessively airheaded character; I think she's quite serious herself, but her actions end up being airheaded as a result. So as a performance, being serious and trying hard with all her might was the foundation.

Shio-chan also has a smart side where she can observe her surroundings and maintain balance, so I performed while hoping people would understand that aspect too.

——Was it quite challenging in terms of character development?

Kusumi: In performing the role, I never had doubts about (Shio's) actions or emotions. With other characters, there's work involved in interpreting their words and actions during the performance, but with Shio-chan, I didn't need any deep consideration. I suppose it means our thought processes are similar, but when it came to performing, I never had trouble understanding her emotions.

——From your perspective, Kusumi-san, how was Urao-san's performance?

Kusumi: I thought his performance really feels like a protagonist. Also, I don't know if Urao-san will be happy to hear this, but his slightly cynical side comes through really well...

Everyone: (lol)

Kusumi: Protagonists often have personalities that aren't straightforward in some way, right? I think that kind of complexity of the heart is really similar to Urao-san's nature (lol).

Urao: Whether or not Eiyū is cynical aside, I am cynical (lol). Also, I think there's this basic desire to look cool in front of important childhood friends. ...I really feel that way too.

Kusumi: So you try to act cool!

Urao: Rather than sitting in the middle (of the recording studio seating), I might have been thinking "I'm cool" being on the edge...

Kusumi: Ahaha (lol). Like how sitting by the window in a classroom is cool? The fact that you can say that honestly is also kind of charming, isn't it!

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