Title: You Don't Love Me, Right?
Genre: Romance
Summary: Takes place after chapter 270. After the staged kiss between Ren and the famous older actress, Kana Kusunoki, a rumor begins circulating that Ren and Kana are dating. A chance encounter between Kyoko and Ren that same day gives them a chance to explain to each other the details of their separate photographs. But will Ren tell Kyoko the truth? Or will more misunderstandings push them further apart?
Disclaimer/Letter from the Author: Hey guys! I'm back.
I just read the newest chapter of Skip Beat and wow, finally! Can I just say, finally! I think we are finally going to get the developments we've been waiting for and I think now it won't be too much longer before Skip Beat ends. I'm sure we still have a long, long way to go. I don't want to go into too much detail about the chapter just in case some of you haven't read it yet or have not kept up with Skip Beat in the recent years. With that in mind, this story is a spoiler. So if you're confused and with good reason (such as not knowing what I'm talking about) then you should stop reading.
Skip Beat and affiliated characters are property of mangaka Yoshiki Nakamura. I do not claim the Skip Beat universe, however this story and plot line is the creative work of Marie Meyers. Please ask permission before any reuse of any part of this FanFiction.
Ch. 1: Ren Tsuruga Has A Girlfriend?!
She stared at him, like a deer caught in headlights.
Just her luck, running into Tsuruga-san now.
Kyoko had spent her whole trip to LME googling the famous actress Kana Kusunoki. She had walked there, after going out to eat briefly with her coworkers from set. By the time she was across the street from LME, a dark cloud hung over Kyoko. Kana Kusunoki was beloved. Maybe even more than Ren was. One of Japan's top actresses. She and Ren had kissed, and the masses speculated that she was Ren's lover. Kyoko knew that couldn't be true. She knew he was supposed to be in love with a high school girl four years younger than him. He had seemed so hurt whenever she, as Bo, spoke to him.
So why had he and Kusunoki-san kissed?
She wanted to deny the plausibility that Ren could actually be attracted to the older actress, but after reading about the actress, even Kyoko knew that by society's standards, Kana Kusunoki was the perfect partner for Ren.
Why wouldn't he want to kiss a woman like Kana Kusunoki? Kyoko sighed heavily as she crossed the street, thinking back to her thoughts from earlier that day. Maybe Ren had actually lied? But why? She was tired of asking that question in her thoughts and found herself becoming a little irritated. Maybe he just stopped liking the other girl; that was simple enough, right?
But it wasn't simple. If Ren was really with a woman like Kusunoki-san, then...would she ever have a chance? Her heart fluttered and she found herself berating herself instantly. Don't Kyoko! she thought, shaking her head crazily. Snap out of it!
She walked through the LME doors and looked up...and her stomach lurched as she halted. Ren was right in front of her. What timing. His eyes were wide and he too seemed to have stopped in front of her. A pregnant pause. It was the first time seeing him since she told Yashiro that she wanted to ride to work separately. Yashiro spoke.
"Kyoko-chan! What a surprise," he said anxiously. "Work is over?"
"Hello, Yashiro-san," Kyoko bowed, "and hello Tsuruga-san," she added quietly. "Yes! I finished working and went out with my coworkers before coming here."
She nervously peeked up at Ren. They honestly hadn't spoken much since they last fought, and she was panicking. She had never messaged him like she had intended, nor had she called him back as she intended. She hadn't properly apologized yet and she was also so preoccupied with the news of he and Kusunoki-san. She didn't feel ready to face him yet.
"I see! So work is going well?"
"Yes, Yashiro-san. Thanks to all your help!" She responded graciously, beginning to feel her palms sweat. Ren wasn't saying anything...was he still mad?
Was he thinking about Kana Kusunoki?
"Kyoko?"
Kyoko jolted back to her conversation with Yashiro, "Ne, I'm sorry, what was that, Yashiro-san?"
"I said, there is no need to be so grateful. I was happy to help Kyoko-chan...but Kyoko-chan, is there something the matter? You were, erm, staring at Ren rather strangely...?"
"Ah! Well..." she flushed and fidgeted. She bit her bottom lip, and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear as she stalled. There was no reason why she couldn't ask Ren about the photo. After all, even her photo had a story, and so...maybe there was more to the situation than she thought.
Mustering up her courage and hoping she was right, she glanced nervously towards Yashiro and Ren, "Actually, I saw in the entertainment news this morning...Tsuruga-san was kissed by the actress Kusunoki-san. Even my coworkers showed me a magazine article this morning...I know it isn't any of my business!" she said nervously, laughing lightly, "I just wasn't aware that Tsuruga-san had a girlfriend."
"Kyoko-chan!" Yashiro said hastily, as if he just remembered something, "Actually, that information is—"
"You are right that it isn't your business, Mogami-san. I didn't know you were the nosy type of person." A very gentlemanly smile, and Kyoko shrunk. As I thought, he's still very angry! Kyoko balked.
"Ah...um, a-about before, Tsuruga-san! I apologize for how I responded...You were making assumptions about my relationship with Shotaro and I got angry about that...there's no way I could ever love that guy again!...but the situation turned out like that...so I thought maybe about this photo towards Tsuruga-san, I-I mean..." she struggled with the words and shut her eyes tightly in embarrassment as she bowed low. "Of course, no one is objecting to your choice of partner, Tsuruga-san! Kusunoki-san is beautiful and talented, and is very suitable to be with Tsuruga-san..."
"And if it's not?" Ren suddenly said, and Kyoko's words instantly died on her tongue.
"Eh?"
Ren continued, "If my situation is not the same as your situation?"
"Eh?"
"Does it matter if it's more than just a photo?"
Something...dropped in Kyoko's chest. A dull ache and flutters in center of her chest. She snapped her eyes open and said quickly, "Ah, ne...of course it doesn't matter...I apologize for prying. I am going to be late, I have a meeting with Sawara-san. Please excuse me." She turned quickly, walking away as fast as she could.
"Kyoko-chan!" Yashiro called in a frantic voice, but it was too late and Kyoko was not going to stop now. He was definitely very angry with her and more than that, he hadn't denied the rumors.
He'd confirmed them.
She was near tears and it wouldn't take her long to reach Sawara's office. She kept her head down and when she saw the bathroom she hastily went inside.
She placed shaking hands on the counter and stood in front of the mirror.
What was she honestly thinking? That Ren had to love a high school girl that way she, a fellow high school girl, could have a chance of being loved by him? As if he could ever love her.
Ren...with Kusunoki-san...
Tears streamed down her face. Again, loving Ren proved to hurt so much.
:TBC:
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