The TV anime "'I Have No Intention of Loving You,' But for Some Reason the Next Duke Starts Dotingly Doting on Me (KimiAi)," based on the manga serialized on the web manga platform "COMIC Polaris" (Flex Comics), will begin airing on TV Asahi's anime block "NUMAnimation" every Saturday at 1:30 AM starting July 4th. This heartwarming romantic comedy, filled with "too precious and heart-fluttering" moments, begins when Elsa Yukalainen, a poor but optimistic young lady from a fallen noble family, and Julius Royas, an elite but clumsy and complicated future duke, enter into a "contract marriage" on the very day they meet due to a convergence of interests. The key point is that it's not just a "heart-fluttering" feeling, but a "heart-fluttering" feeling. We spoke to Yui Ishikawa, who plays Elsa, and Soma Saito Saito, who plays Julius, about the behind-the-scenes of the recording and the "heart-fluttering" aspect of the show.
◇ Julius, clumsy but giving it his all
--Was it an audition?
Ms. Ishikawa, I auditioned via tape. Now that I've heard that it was a "unanimous decision," I feel a sense of awe, wondering if I was able to live up to everyone's expectations. After reading the original story, my first impression of Elsa was that she's a cute, fluffy, and somewhat naive girl, but I also felt that she has a strong will to live and act for the sake of others, so I tried to convey that in my performance.
Mr. Saito, I also auditioned for this project, but I had previously received an offer to play Julius in a voice comic that you produced. It's a wonderful work, and I always thought it might be made into an anime someday, so when I received the offer to audition, I really wanted to be in it again since I had the opportunity to play the character once before. I was fortunate enough to be given another opportunity to play the role.
--Did you change your acting style for this audition compared to your voice comic performances?
When I worked on the voice comic for Saito-san , I received specific instructions from the original author and others, such as "please do it this way," so this time I decided to stick with that approach and not change it. I think there are many different ways of thinking about this, but personally, I haven't had much success with any superficial tricks or strategies. I think that expressing my honest feelings is more likely to lead to good connections.
--What kind of person did you imagine Julius to be when you played him?
Is Saito a clumsy person? I think he's probably the kind of person who keeps his feelings hidden. Especially in the beginning, he has a hard time realizing what he really thinks. But he senses that Elsa is different from everyone else. He has trouble figuring out what those feelings are and how to express them. He's human and loving, but rather than being the type to express himself skillfully, I think he's the kind of person who clumsily gives his all.
As Ishikawa- san and Soma-kun also mentioned, he's quite clumsy. He was able to interact with women while doing espionage, but when it comes to Elsa, he suddenly becomes incredibly naive (laughs). There are some lines that even I find a little embarrassing to hear, and the contrast is really endearing. Because they care so much for each other, their relationship doesn't progress easily, and their misunderstandings are truly frustrating. I really hoped that they would never forget those feelings and would remain pure.
--The feeling of frustration is the key point.
Ishikawa-san , that's right. From the viewer's perspective, you might think, "Just do something already!" (laughs). You feel like giving advice. But because it was nurtured slowly, there are things that can be shared, and I think this pace is what makes the work so good.
◇Elsa is more than just fluffy
--What about Elsa?
Saito-san said that Julius's transformation and growth begin when he meets Elsa, so I think she is an irreplaceable presence for him. Personally, I also find Elsa to be a very attractive person because she is calm, kind, and deeply compassionate. And yet, she has a strong sense of self, she is not easily swayed, and she has energy. She can grow vegetables and has amazing life skills. What's so appealing about her is that she's not just fluffy and airheaded, and I even found myself suddenly talking about things like that to Yui-san during the recording (laughs).
Ishikawa's Elsa is truly kind-hearted and not just fluffy and airheaded. She genuinely thinks of others and has absolutely no ulterior motives, so I was really impressed by her. I tried to portray her as honestly as possible, making sure no ulterior motives crept in. There are some funny scenes where she's fluffy and naturally airheaded, so I wanted to make sure I could clearly show the contrast between those moments.
--What did you feel while working together?
I've worked with Ms. Saito several times before, and I always thought she was a wonderful actress. This time, when I heard that Yui Ishikawa would be playing Elsa, I felt nothing but relief. Elsa has a fluffy side, but she's also strong at the core, so I think she initially considered whether to go for an energetic or fluffy portrayal. But in the end, she found the perfect balance, and Julius can be stubborn because Elsa gently accepts him. As Julius, I can naturally think, "Was my tone a little cold just now?" She helped me in many ways, and it was a joy to work with her. Also, she never stumbles over her words. So I couldn't stumble either (laughs). The recording itself went smoothly. It was fun.
Ishikawa-san, that's not true. I do stumble over my lines (laughs). Elsa has a lot of lines, including monologues, so I tried my best not to stumble. I've worked with Soma-kun before in roles like the protagonist and heroine, and he's so wonderful; he's intelligent, but also has a few flaws that make him endearing. He remembers a lot of things so well, and he'll remind me when I forget something about the production, so he's really reliable. It's been a while since I've had so many scenes with another actor, but I enjoyed every single one.
◇ An itchy, frustrating feeling
--As the title suggests, Julius says, "I have no intention of loving you."
Ishikawa's Julius is the first to say, "I have no intention of loving you," and Elsa is so oblivious that she mistakes her beating heart for an irregular heartbeat (laughs).
In the first episode of Saito-san, Julius isn't really lying with that line. If anything, he says it with good intentions. That initial misunderstanding has long-lasting consequences, and Julius regrets what he said from the beginning, but he regrets it so much that he can't even say anything positive. It's frustrating, but from the viewer's perspective, it's a story that you can enjoy. Both of them are clumsy, but at their core there is love and kindness, and they are both charming people, so you want to watch them closely.
Even Ishikawa-san's first comment stemmed from consideration, didn't it?
I think Julius meant to say, "You don't have to force yourself to conform," in his own way, Saito-san . He didn't have to say it so coldly, though (laughs). He's just not used to expressing his kindness. I think it's fortunate that he meets Elsa and is able to bring out his true good qualities. Julius is inwardly shaken and excited, but Elsa, who has a somewhat unique sensibility, doesn't really notice. But the balance where the people around him do notice is interesting. Julius is pure and incredibly straightforward, but his troubled moments are also endearing. I think that's part of his charm. However, he's a little lacking in words.
--I know this might be unnecessary, but...
Saito-san isn't even able to articulate what's necessary properly (laughs).
There are times when Ms. Ishikawa tries her best to communicate, but the timing is bad and she can't get her message across. It's quite difficult.
--That's what makes it so "awkwardly sweet," isn't it?
Saito-san's feelings aren't just simple heart-fluttering; there's a kind of restless, frustrating feeling to them.
I first learned about Ishikawa-san through this work.
--Which scene in particular made you feel a "flutteringly sweet" feeling?
In Ishikawa's version , Julius is about to confess his feelings for Elsa when he's interrupted. As for me, I can hear his monologue and I know they love each other, so it was frustrating. It felt like they were teasing me.
The more Saito keeps us waiting, the more the heart-fluttering moments feel when they finally arrive. Especially the scenes later in the story where they drift apart are sad but also heart-fluttering. It might be different from the "frustratingly heart-fluttering" feeling, but there are scenes that make me tear up when I think about them. (Manami Anima/MANTANWEB)
