"I was standing in front of the mic with my heart racing, too" — An interview with Yuto Uemura from the anime "Haibara's Teenage New Game+"

—— Regarding the "youth ensemble" aspect, the interactions between Natsuki and his crush, Hikari Hoshimiya, feel very innocent and heartwarming (laughs).

Uemura: Kanon Takao-san, who plays her, has such a bright personality that it shines through in Hikari, so I was standing in front of the mic with my heart racing, too (laughs). Because of that, those momentary hesitations—the "what should I say?" feeling—came to me naturally. I think seeing Hikari pulled Natsuki right back into his youth in an instant.

—— That’s quite different from his interactions with the more assertive Miori Motomiya or Uta Sakura, right?

Uemura: Uta is very straightforward, so while she's a completely different type from Hikari, it’s a more... realistic kind of heart-pounding? Interacting with Uta was the most embarrassing for me; I was blushing the whole time (laughs).

Miori is the kind of girl who really pushes you forward, and I think she’s a reliable friend for Natsuki. She’s her own person, which makes her dependable. Also, Yuino Nanase has a great dynamic with Hikari; that’s interesting to watch too.

—— Finally, do you have a message for the fans looking forward to the broadcast?

Uemura: Natsuki’s proactiveness and how it drives the relationships between everyone is really fun to see. Things that didn't happen in the past are being born now, and that chemical reaction moves the story forward. Since it’s a story about youth, the nuances and "temperature" of the conversations deepen and change as the episodes progress.

Natsuki calls it the "Rainbow Youth Plan," and I’d be happy if you enjoyed the subtle differences in how things look and how the colors change.

How will this youth story unfold as he struggles to reclaim his teenage years through his own efforts following a time leap? Be sure to check out the broadcast!

Interview, Photography, & Text: kato

(C)雨宮和希・ホビージャパン／「灰原くんの強くて青春ニューゲーム」製作委員会