Volume 1: Yes, No, or Maybe Half?

Volume 1: Yes, No, or Maybe Half? is the first volume of the Yes, No, or Maybe Half? light novel.

Characters

 * Kunieda Kei
 * Kunieda Kei's Mother
 * Tsuzuki Ushio
 * Minagawa Tatsuki
 * Asou Keiichi
 * Shitara

Chapter 1
Kunieda Kei hears that the studio have finished filming him after a nearly two hour television show. He alleviates the concerns production staff have over setbacks, that Kunieda was able to work around anyway.

Handed materials for tomorrow's on location shoot, Kunieda clarifies if they are for the animation artist assignment.

Declining drinks with a woman who wants to introduce him to her friend, Kunieda returns home and removes his facade.

He speaks comfortably with his mother with her concerned on whether he is eating right, and whether Kunieda has found a woman who accepts him for who he is.

Hanging up, he spends time watching his recordings analysing his body angle, accent and other matters that might influence whether an audience likes him.

After he watches recordings of Asou Keiichi in preparation for interviewing him and after contemplating him, he retires to bed for his four to five hours worth of sleep allotted for the weeknight.

Chapter 2
Before getting into the van that will drive the news crew to Tsuzuki Ushio's house, Kei chats a little with the director, who is quite obviously tired, Kei is irritated by this but continues to put on a smile and pretends to sympathize with the director. In his head, Kei thinks about how he hates when people complain about their jobs at work.

In the van, Kei and the director discuss the plans for the upcoming interviews with Ushio. The director explains the schedule and when the three minute segments will air.

When the crew gets to Ushio's everyone leaves the van and they all stand in front of what used to be a bike shop. The director then explains how the first floor is used as a studio, and the second floor is Ushio's private living space.

The AD rang the doorbell but no one responded, the AD then mentioned how Ushio might still be sleeping then rang the bell again. That time the door opened and Ushio apologized.

Tsuzuki Ushio looked like he had just woken up as he was still rubbing his eyes and was yawning loudly, this irritated Kei.

Everyone is introduced and as the crew gets shots of the exterior of the house, Kei waits inside. Kai then introduces himself in a polite manner and Ushio simply responds "sure..." then turns to the director and asks if the interviewer was supposed to be a woman. The director explains how the female reporter had scheduled another assignment and could no longer make it. Ushio then says its not a big deal. At this point Kei is very frustrated, he wonders why Ushio mentioned the female reporter if it wasn't a big deal. Kai then thinks about how Ushio claimed to be bisexual, but of course Kei didn't show or say any of this to the crew or Ushio.

After Kei apologizes for the miscommunication, Ushio says he just wants to get the interview over with, brushing away Kei and the crew. In that moment Kei wanted to Grab Ushio by the throat and punch him.

Before the director leaves to get some shots of the exterior he whispers to Kei about how Ushio is in a bad mood, and how he is normally pretty tame.

When Kei got inside Ushio went upstairs, as he was gone Kei looked around the studio and saw mini sets all around the room.

When Ushio came back Kei tried to make conversation about Usher's work. Ushio compares himself to an old man who builds things with toothpicks, and Kei is relieved that Ushio knows his place.

Kai then picks up a pad calendar, Ushio tells him to flip it over where he sees a pencil drawing. Usher explains that that is his storyboard, and he uses the calendars because a stationary shop went out of business and gave them their entire stock. Kai then flips through the pages and realizes each page is different and when you flip them fast enough they become an animation.

The crew then enters the building asking to take shots of the interior. The director tells Ushio he can hide anything he doesn't want seen and Ushio responds with "Ive got nothing to hide" and smiled for the first time. Kei felt relieved at the sight of Ushio smiling, but quickly shook it off.

Suddenly the AD yelled because his tripod snagged Kei's bag and spilled its contents everywhere. In response the cameraman called him an idiot and the AD apologized. Kai quickly rushed over to help the AD and asked if he was hurt by the heavy things in his bag, but in his head key was calling him a worthless piece of trash.

When Kei stood up he noticed Ushio watching him. Kai asked if something was wrong and Ushio said it was nothing.

The interview went smoothy and the crew left after discussing when they would meet next.

When they entered the van the director mentioned how much brighter Ushio had become after talking to Kei. Kei then offered a humble response and said he didn't do anything special.