--Runako is an impish little sister type who clearly expresses her feelings and is very physically affectionate with Eiyū. Could you tell us about the unique chemistry between Runako and Eiyū compared to the other childhood friends?

Hiratsuka: Runako-chan is usually childish, innocent, and cheerful, but as she interacts with Eiyū, you start to see a more mature side—an unfathomable part of her that seems to see through everything. I find that gap really attractive.

--She definitely has a mysterious side. Shio tries to plan things but fails because she’s a bit of a ditz, and Akari is pure and clashes with Eiyū without any calculation. It made me wonder what Runako is really thinking deep down.

Hiratsuka: I received direction that her mature, "little devil" side isn't something she does calculationally. So, it was very difficult to balance the performance—showing that she isn't a master schemer, but rather that her innocent and pure feelings for Eiyū just happen to come across that way.

I actually did many retakes, but as I played the role, it gradually clicked for me that it’s not that she’s thinking mature thoughts and letting them slip into her lines, but rather that those things come out precisely because she's so pure.

--Runako gets 100 on her tests, so she is smart. That makes it seem like she’d be calculating, but you're saying she’s not.

Urao: She’s seriously trouble! Because she’s a "natural-born" little devil (lol).

Everyone: (laughs)

Urao: I think she's a formidable rival even from the perspective of the other heroines. If you’re a guy, you’re bound to be swayed by her (lol). Actually, when Runako appeared, Shio and Akari were pretty panicked.

Hiratsuka: They definitely were!

--On the other hand, in the scene where Eiyū and Akari end up staying overnight after going to the beach (episode 7), Eiyū lies about it being about a "friend" (a lie that's immediately obvious), and Runako believes him completely at first.

Hiratsuka: She totally fell for it (lol).

--Hearing this now, it makes sense why she pouted at the end when everything clicked—it’s because she really didn't realize it until then.

Hiratsuka: Just like how she pouts at the end, she does have a sense of possessiveness over Eiyū. Like, "Big bro is mine!" That feeling makes her pout, so that balance was really tough to strike.

--Mr. Urao, could you give us your impressions of the chemistry between Eiyū and Runako?

Urao: Unlike Shio and Akari, Runako hadn't seen Eiyū for five years, so her way of interacting with him is quite different. Eiyū has this internal conflict where he feels he has to act like a big brother, but there are scenes where you catch a glimpse of him genuinely feeling that way.

Because of that, Runako’s appearance made me realize a new side of Eiyū, and I felt he became even easier to play from episode 4 onwards.

--Specifically, what kind of side did you notice?

Urao: Well, I guess you could say the 3D image of Eiyū became clearer. While he gets frustrated with his childhood friends, he protects them when he needs to and cherishes the people important to him. I felt there were more moments where you can see he's just a fundamentally good guy.

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