Why Kisumai Toshiya Miyata continues to create stories despite suffering | Interview commemorating the release of “Kyoukai no Melody 2” | Isekai2nd

Samuraier appears for the first time on a drama CD. The three cast members are brilliant in their roles and show off their best performances.

–The special edition of Volume 2 also comes with a drama CD. Yuma Uchida will play the role of Samuraier Takeshi, Shunsuke Takeuchi will play Makoto, and Soma Saito will play the role of Minoru. Please tell us about the casting and what you thought after watching the recording.

Miyata:It was amazing! First of all, Yuuma-kun's name is Takeshi, and it fits perfectly. That passionate feeling is perfect, and Yuuma-kun is a really good singer. Actually, I think I wrote too much about Takeshi's singing voice in the story (lol). I wrote something like, “Takeshi's singing voice is unique, and he's a genius!'', so I thought, “I wonder if there's someone who can play him?'' (laughs) But I thought that Yuuma-kun was able to pull that off with ease.

Takeuchi-kun's deep voice was the deciding factor for the role of Makoto. During the recording of the drama CD, he was always wearing sunglasses. This matched perfectly with Makoto, and I was so hooked on the role that I felt like he really came out of the series. However, isn't it difficult to read the manuscript? That's what I thought (laughs).

–Wearing sunglasses to get into the role…?

Miyata:It seems like he usually wears sunglasses. After all, he said that it was difficult to read the manuscript (lol). Regarding Minoru, I had Soma-kun's voice in my head since I was writing the first volume. Casting is not something I can decide on by myself, but Souma-kun was chosen to play the role of Minoru, and when he actually played the role, he was a perfect fit, and I was moved and thought, “Wow!''

――Mr. Miyata also has the opportunity to direct as the original author…?

Miyata:Am I…? (lol)

All:(lol)

Miyata:For me, all I can think is, “Thank you! Actors are gods!” (laughs) Actually, I didn't have to say anything because it matched exactly the image I had in my head. Also, the atmosphere on set was good. When they weren't acting, they were always laughing and looking friendly and having fun, and I thought it was a really nice set. When it became an anime and I saw these members doing the dubbing, I felt like I was going to cry when it actually aired.

Also, on set, Souma-kun and Kento Ito-kun (who plays Kyosuke) were talking to each other, asking, “What kind of music do you think Samuraior is?'' I thought it was really cool. If I have the opportunity to compose music, I would be happy if I could have both of them compose it for me.

–Among them, Daisuke Sakuma (Snow Man) also continues to appear as Kai.

Miyata:Sakuma doesn't have that much experience as a voice actor, but his acting is really good. That's what I'm talking about, but he plays the Kai that's in my head so beautifully. Because Kai is joking around 90% of the time (lol). I felt that way when I was writing the manuscript, but I think it would be difficult to act out that role. Kai is playful even with a straight face, and playful even with a playful face, and I think it's amazing how he can express the difference between them. When I have dinner with Sakuma, I sometimes talk about acting and say, “I want to be able to do this kind of acting,'' and I feel like he's evolved a lot, and I respect him as an actor.

–Mr. Miyata himself is also in charge of the narration, continuing from last time.

Miyata:The narration was recorded at the end, but there were many parts where I made adjustments because I thought, “I don't need a narration because the story is being conveyed through the play.'' The quality of everyone's acting is so high that I think it's okay to cut it if the tempo of the play deteriorates even if I record it for the time being.The quality of everyone's acting is so high that the scene is conveyed well. There is already a super group like Real Madrid in the world of voice actors, and I thought it was amazing once again.

Sakuma also joined Real Madrid and is able to play soccer (lol). The other day, when I was drinking with Ito-kun, Soma-kun, and others, I said, “Sakuma-kun is amazing.'' “Miyata-kun is amazing too, and our business is already going up.'' I'm afraid to say, “No, no, no” (laughs).

–(lol). Also, LAM-sensei is also working on the illustrations for Volume 2, just as he did for the previous work, how do you like the finished product?

Miyata:It's the best! The cover of the regular edition is an illustration of a samurai that is based on the content of the main story, and the cover of the special edition is an illustration that is based on the if story of the drama CD, where five people, the samurai and Kanatama (Kyousuke and Kai) are walking on the streets of London. I felt deeply moved, wondering if this would have happened if Kai had been alive.

The visuals and atmosphere of the design are still vague in my head, but when LAM draws them, they become clearer. While I was writing the manuscript for the drama CD, the cover illustration for the special edition came up, and seeing it made me enjoy writing, so the manuscript was completed very quickly. The image is similar to Neon's (=Nostrad) Nen ability from “HUNTER x HUNTER'' (lol).

▲Left: Special edition with drama CD / Right: Regular edition

–Did you originally plan the visual setting for Samurai?

Miyata:I had an image in mind, but it became clearer after LAM drew it for me. When it's in my head, it's a more ambiguous existence, but when LAM gives it shape, it becomes a clear existence, like, “This is it!'' I can't draw, so I can't give shape to my images, but LAM understands my intentions from the information I give them and makes them come true.

During the production of my previous work, I went out to eat with them several times, and they got to know me better. It seems that there was a stronger sense of “this is it!'' with Samuraier than with Kanitama.

–And on the same day as Volume 2, Volume 1 of the comic version will also be released. How is it involved in comicalization?

Miyata:People from various media asked me, “Would you like to create a comic for us?'', and I was surprised and thought, “What?!'' (lol), but as the discussion progressed further, I found out that Ikura Sugimoto-sensei would be in charge of it, so I said, “Are you serious!? Please!!'' and things moved forward.

Mr. Ikura Sugimoto really reads my work. The expression in a novel and the expression in a manga are different, so if you try to realize exactly what I said, it will lose its merit as a manga. I ask them to create a name based on those aspects, and then I check the name and tell them the elements that I really want to focus on.

–Your name will also be checked…!

Miyata:It's so much fun! When I receive a name once a month, I sometimes discover things like, “This is how it's going to turn out!'' Also, there are times when Sugimoto-sensei asks me, “What's the point here?'' when translating it into a manga, and I get impatient and say, “That's crazy, I didn't think that much about it…!'' (lol)

–It's even more exciting when a work that you've put so much effort into is released on the same day.

Miyata:I never expected something like this to happen, so I'm really looking forward to it! (Seeing the Animate staff present) Thank you again this time! (lol)

–Please tell us about Miyata-san's future goals and challenges, not only in the “Boundary Melody” series, but also in your creative activities.

Miyata:I believe that creating stories is a job that you can do no matter how old you are. When I previously appeared in a drama by Satoshi Kuramoto, he said, “I will write until my last day.'' I felt that it was wonderful to continue producing things like that.

I love creating stories, and since I was a boy who lived in delusions since I was a child (lol), I want to continue writing novels like this. As for Melody of the Boundary, there are times when I think, “I don't think there's any future development for it, right?'', and if the publisher says it's okay to create a new work, I'd be willing to take on the challenge.

I also want to create my own style and continue writing novels and light novels. I like it. It's painful, but I want to continue. I'm a really masochistic person (lol).

–Certainly, you mentioned at the beginning that you would be working hard from New Year's on…

Miyata:After all, I love working. (Looking at the editor) But around the beginning of September, I reached my limit, and I was so mentally exhausted that I couldn't move anymore, so I had the work done that morning delivered to a later date.

There were a lot of things going on at the same time, like Kisumai's tour and the last spurt of dubbing for Cardfight!! Vanguard Divinez. However, I was afraid to use my voice at all because I thought that if I lost my voice, I would no longer be able to do any work. My body was tired and my muscles didn't have any strength, and there were moments when I felt depressed and felt like I couldn't do anything, but… well, once I got over it, it was no good. Even when it's hard and you think, “Oh no, I can't do this anymore,'' you're surprisingly able to overcome it. That's how a person's capacity grows (lol).

――I can't imitate Mr. Miyata's capacity because the scale is so different (lol). Please be kind to yourself…

Miyata:Thank you, but not at all. Because I'm in the prime of my life! (lol)

Also, I think it's really important as a human being to take time to concentrate during difficult times, and if you don't do it, you won't be able to do it. It's the same with creativity, and I think if you don't imagine things regularly, you'll lose your imagination. Whether it's a play or a dance, the way you express something comes from your imagination. I believe that if we continue to work hard, we can continue to improve the quality of everything we do. It's also a time to face your feelings. Despite the pain of childbirth, I still love creating stories.

That's why I created “Boundary Melody 2'' with that in mind, and it's truly amazing, so I'd be happy if you read it!