[Sket Dance] Vocal Synthesis Software
Title: Vocal Synthesis Software
Fandom: Sket Dance
Genre/Rating: General/Angst // PG
Characters/Pairings: Switch, Bossun, Himeko, Switch's brother
Summary: Switch, on the events after he stopped talking, his own voice and software.
Notes: Spoilers for Switch's backstory. Written for 'Virtual Reality' at cliche_bingo. Sket Dance is the property of Kenta Shinohara.
Vocal Synthesis Software
Switch forgot how to talk a long time ago. It was something that happened partly out of choice, and partly out of loss of habit. Like how a bed-bound patient forgot how to use their legs, he forgot how to use his vocal chords.
It wasn’t something that bothered him particularly. If he wanted to say something, he’d type it. It felt right. It felt safe. His laptop was always by his side, his specially adapted harness keeping his hands free and his brother’s vocal synthesis software loaded and backed up, ready at a moment’s notice. It had taken some getting used to, especially since people wouldn’t wait for him to finish typing before continuing their conversations at first, but now his teachers and classmates rarely batted an eyelid, and gracefully paused once his fingertips touched the keys.
Bossun had been responsible for that, he was sure of it. He’d barely spoken to him before, only giving passing greetings if they met in the corridor, and all Switch really knew about him was that he wore a weird red hat all the time and was often seen around Onizuka-san, so much so that some of the girls were convinced that they were an item. He’d also heard that he was trying to set up a club, but again they were only rumours. So when, three days after he decided never to speak again, this boy suddenly climbed through his open window and tried to drag him out of his room, he was definitely surprised.
“You haven’t been to school for three days!” Bossun had cried, and indeed, Switch had spent the entire time in his room. “We all know you’re going through a tough time at the moment, so we were worried. The whole class is worried about you!”
Then, in a quieter voice, he asked: “You can’t go to school, can you? I know it’s hard to go. I know it feels pointless at the moment…
“So come and join my club.”
Upon hearing those words, Switch felt an odd sense of warmth light up inside him.
It was something.
The next day, Switch was in school, his laptop out in front of him and his brother’s voice synthesis software up and running. He’d downloaded it off his brother’s computer last night, with Bossun’s help. It felt appropriate really, and Switch was far from ready to talk. The school day was tough to get through, but he managed it. A major achievement. And just as he was packing up after the last lesson, Bossun approached him, Onizuka-san at his side.
He joined their club. He looked forward to it every day, and gave him enough incentive to get through his lessons. And as the days went by, he found his footing once again.
*****
/Behold!/ Switch was standing up, determined. Bossun and Himeko stopped bickering for a few moments to glance up at their friend. There was a triumphant gleam in his eyes.
“What is it Switch?”
“What’ve yer found?”
/I’ve perfected the art of imitation,/ he declared, typing away. /I can now alter my voice synthesis software to sound like Bossun./
“What?” cried Bossun, leaping up and running over to Switch’s desk. “So you can sound just like me?”
“Why would you want a useless thing like that?” commented Himeko from the sofa.
/Watch,/ Switch typed in a few silent commands, and the computer spoke: /My name’s Bossun. Pleased to meet you./
“Woah!” Himeko leapt up. “That’s amazing Switch! It sound’s just like him!”
“Say something else!”
/I’m an idiot./
“Hey, wait a minute! Switch!”
“It’s a perfect likeness! Ya did it, Switch!”
/I pick my nose while watching girls undress in the changing rooms!/
“Switch!”
/I’m also secretly an otaku. Shoujo manga is my favourite genre. I hope to someday become a beautiful bride./
“SWITCH!”
*****
With the software, it was as if he and Masafumi were talking at the same time, in harmony. That was why using the software seemed so natural to him. So right, and so much better than his own deceitful voice.
He could almost hear his little brother’s voice in his head, watching the scene: “That’s amazing, An-chan. I could never do that with it!”
I’ll do it for you then. Don’t worry.
THE END
Fandom: Sket Dance
Genre/Rating: General/Angst // PG
Characters/Pairings: Switch, Bossun, Himeko, Switch's brother
Summary: Switch, on the events after he stopped talking, his own voice and software.
Notes: Spoilers for Switch's backstory. Written for 'Virtual Reality' at cliche_bingo. Sket Dance is the property of Kenta Shinohara.
Vocal Synthesis Software
Switch forgot how to talk a long time ago. It was something that happened partly out of choice, and partly out of loss of habit. Like how a bed-bound patient forgot how to use their legs, he forgot how to use his vocal chords.
It wasn’t something that bothered him particularly. If he wanted to say something, he’d type it. It felt right. It felt safe. His laptop was always by his side, his specially adapted harness keeping his hands free and his brother’s vocal synthesis software loaded and backed up, ready at a moment’s notice. It had taken some getting used to, especially since people wouldn’t wait for him to finish typing before continuing their conversations at first, but now his teachers and classmates rarely batted an eyelid, and gracefully paused once his fingertips touched the keys.
Bossun had been responsible for that, he was sure of it. He’d barely spoken to him before, only giving passing greetings if they met in the corridor, and all Switch really knew about him was that he wore a weird red hat all the time and was often seen around Onizuka-san, so much so that some of the girls were convinced that they were an item. He’d also heard that he was trying to set up a club, but again they were only rumours. So when, three days after he decided never to speak again, this boy suddenly climbed through his open window and tried to drag him out of his room, he was definitely surprised.
“You haven’t been to school for three days!” Bossun had cried, and indeed, Switch had spent the entire time in his room. “We all know you’re going through a tough time at the moment, so we were worried. The whole class is worried about you!”
Then, in a quieter voice, he asked: “You can’t go to school, can you? I know it’s hard to go. I know it feels pointless at the moment…
“So come and join my club.”
Upon hearing those words, Switch felt an odd sense of warmth light up inside him.
It was something.
The next day, Switch was in school, his laptop out in front of him and his brother’s voice synthesis software up and running. He’d downloaded it off his brother’s computer last night, with Bossun’s help. It felt appropriate really, and Switch was far from ready to talk. The school day was tough to get through, but he managed it. A major achievement. And just as he was packing up after the last lesson, Bossun approached him, Onizuka-san at his side.
He joined their club. He looked forward to it every day, and gave him enough incentive to get through his lessons. And as the days went by, he found his footing once again.
*****
/Behold!/ Switch was standing up, determined. Bossun and Himeko stopped bickering for a few moments to glance up at their friend. There was a triumphant gleam in his eyes.
“What is it Switch?”
“What’ve yer found?”
/I’ve perfected the art of imitation,/ he declared, typing away. /I can now alter my voice synthesis software to sound like Bossun./
“What?” cried Bossun, leaping up and running over to Switch’s desk. “So you can sound just like me?”
“Why would you want a useless thing like that?” commented Himeko from the sofa.
/Watch,/ Switch typed in a few silent commands, and the computer spoke: /My name’s Bossun. Pleased to meet you./
“Woah!” Himeko leapt up. “That’s amazing Switch! It sound’s just like him!”
“Say something else!”
/I’m an idiot./
“Hey, wait a minute! Switch!”
“It’s a perfect likeness! Ya did it, Switch!”
/I pick my nose while watching girls undress in the changing rooms!/
“Switch!”
/I’m also secretly an otaku. Shoujo manga is my favourite genre. I hope to someday become a beautiful bride./
“SWITCH!”
*****
With the software, it was as if he and Masafumi were talking at the same time, in harmony. That was why using the software seemed so natural to him. So right, and so much better than his own deceitful voice.
He could almost hear his little brother’s voice in his head, watching the scene: “That’s amazing, An-chan. I could never do that with it!”
I’ll do it for you then. Don’t worry.
THE END