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TL: ALT
Chapter 34 – Mitsuru Wakai’s Setback
Ryota Endo is an excellent baseball player.
So, it makes sense that he knows a professional fighter through athletics.
But how did he meet Mitsuru Wakai, and how did they become close enough for him to introduce Wataru?
Wataru was able to quickly find the answer to his question.
“A senior introduced me to Wakai-san. He loves baseball, not just watching games, but also playing on a recreational team, and he takes it pretty seriously. There are a lot of people who are interested in baseball or play it themselves.”
“I see. Well, baseball is one of the most popular sports in Japan, after all. I’m actually a fan, so I’m excited to meet him.”
“I knew Wakai-san and even had dinner with him. Wataru, you’ll understand when you meet him, but you’ll be surprised by his voice. Just try not to react too much.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ll understand when you hear it. His beautiful voice is completely broken, and you won’t recognize him. I wanted him to get better, so I introduced you to him.”
Hearing Ryota’s slightly subdued voice, Wataru understood the seriousness of the situation as well.
Singers often suffer from sore throats and hearing loss.
Additionally, world-famous singers sometimes suffer from mental illness, taking a break from their careers or even attempting suicide.
The world that appears glamorous on the surface is actually dull and difficult.
Through his interactions with famous athletes, Wataru has come to understand this on a personal level.
“I was saved by Wataru, so I asked you to help him, too.”
“I’m not a doctor, so I can’t promise anything, but I’ll do my best to help him get better.”
“Okay. When Wakai-san gets better, let’s go to his concert. I really wanted to go, but by the time I had enough money, he had stopped performing.”
“I wonder if I can get good tickets as a reward for helping him get better… I’ll give it a try.”
“Hey, that’s not fair. Don’t forget to mention me when you do.”
“Hmmm, I wonder what I should do.”
“Wataru!”
He didn’t really understand how effective the potion was, but if it could regenerate cartilage like it had for Wataru’s grandparents, then it should also heal Wakai’s damaged throat.
He sincerely hoped Wakai would get better soon.
〇〇〇
A nasty sound came from his throat, followed by excruciating pain that left him unable to breathe.
That happened eight years ago in the spring.
That day, Mitsuru was performing a demonstration outdoors.
It was the middle of a nationwide tour, with venues filled from Hokkaido in the north to Fukuoka in the south.
Mitsuru, who was 32 years old at the time, was tired but still full of energy.
His tall, slender frame belied the incredible power of his voice.
He held the microphone far from his body and sang with the intensity typical of live performances.
He was in good form.
He shook his long hair and ran across the stage, sweating profusely.
When he stepped onto the performance platform, he noticed that the bolts were loose.
There was no resistance at all, and by the time he realized this, it was too late.
Mitsuru’s body collapsed onto the unstable platform, and he fell.
The platform collapsed on top of him, and the lighting and pillars fell one after another.
He didn’t know how many fell on his body.
Mitsuru was in critical condition and unconscious.
His ordeal began when he regained consciousness at the hospital.
He could resign himself to the severe pain, thinking it was unavoidable.
However, the doctor told him that the bones crucial for vocalization, such as his throat, upper and lower jawbones, and sphenoid bone, were severely damaged.
The doctor’s compassionate voice, trying to be as supportive as possible, was unforgettable.
“It is unlikely that you will be able to sing as you did before.”
He couldn’t believe it.
But it was reality.
The doctor said the intense pain in his throat and the discomfort he felt when swallowing saliva and eating were real.
Still, he thought the doctor was mistaken and that he would be able to sing again as before until he actually tried to speak.
He wanted to believe that.
When he rested and tried to speak for the first time in a while, his voice sounded so different that he thought it belonged to someone else.
No matter how hard he tried to control his voice or shout, he could no longer produce the clear voice he once had.
Realizing that he could no longer sing as he once did, he was left with a harsh, grating voice that sounded like a broken bell.
“I don’t want this. Please stop. Don’t take my voice away from me,” he said.
Tears flowed uncontrollably, but crying only made him feel worse.
He must have gained more experience and knowledge about using his body and singing than before.
He learned how to sing with his current voice. However, when he hears his voice on a recording, he feels nothing but despair.
Besides, the audience wants to hear his old voice, not his current one, which has changed.
It’s the voice he used to have, the one that left a lasting impression on people.
No matter how hard he trains or how much he begs people to listen to him, he is always compared to his former self.
Was he just getting carried away?
Since childhood, he has been confident that he can sing better than anyone else.
Although he was humbled when people said he had the voice of a god, he always believed his voice was special.
Now that his voice has been taken away, he can’t see any value in himself.
What was the meaning of his life?
Mitsuru considered suicide, but couldn’t bring himself to do it.
He was just existing.
Slowly but surely, people began to forget him, and stories about the amazing singer he used to be faded into the past. Then, one day, Mitsuru received a phone call.
“Is it really possible to restore my voice?”
He wanted to sing again.
He wanted to sing again with his former voice. With all his might.
He would sing with his heart and soul.
He wanted to be cured.
His voice trembled.
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