Teardrop

"Kyoko, are those all of the Return Gifts you got?" Chiori asked as she surveyed the little trinkets and nick-nacks that Kyoko had removed from her locker and packed up to finally take home, unaware of the curious ears on the other side of the door of the LoveME room.

Kyoko sighed. "Yeah, I thought I would finally them home. They're taking up a lot of room in my locker."

"So which one is Tsuruga-san's?" Chiori looked on trying to figure which gifts came from whom.

Kyoko looked up at her as if she had sprouted another head. "Chiori-chan, you know I didn't really give him anything really nice like everyone else did. Why would he give me anything? Besides, I'm just his Kohai."

Chiori furrowed her brow. That jerk! Kanae told me she worked on that Wine Jelly all night! "But... You worked on his gift all night! That's so much more than just some stupid box of chocolates or a stuffed animal and flowers! How ungrateful!" Chiori huffed. "Well I appreciate you." Chiori smirked inwardly. "How about you and I go for Karaoke after work?" She gauged Kyoko's mood. "I'll meet you at the Darumaya."

Kyoko leapt into a hug. "Oh Chiori-chan! You really know how to cheer me up! Of course!"

KNOCK... KNOCK...

A slightly miffed manager and his male charge entered to greet the manager's female charge. "Oh Kyoko-chan, are you packing up your Return Gifts to take home finally?" Yashiro gave Ren a quick glance.

Kyoko nodded. "If you don't mind Yashiro-san."

"Of course not." He looked over her tiny stash. "Oh I see the tea that Kotonami-san got for you and the candle holder from me, but who are these others from?"

She smiled softly. "The vanity set is from Bridge Rock and the tea set if from Ogata-san. Wasn't that sweet of them? I didn't really do anything. I just made them chocolates." She furrowed her brow. It was a tiny gesture, almost unnoticeable, but everyone in the room saw it. She plastered on her fake smile.

Chiori winced inwardly then had a tiny evil thought. "Yeah, I suppose it wouldn't really be much compared to something you stayed up all night making... Would it? But what do I know?" She shot a scathing glare at the pensive actor. "I'll see you tonight Kyoko-chan. Just remember, you'll always be important to me..." She hugged Kyoko, patted her on the back and grabbed her purse. "I'll see you tonight." Then she left whispering "Jerk." under her breath as she passed Ren.

Yashiro gave a quick barely noticeable nod to her as she left. He turned to Ren and looked at his watch. "Well Ren, you don't have anymore appointments today. I'm going to give Kyoko-chan a ride home and help her with her gifts. You can go." He gave him a quick look of disappointment, turned back to Kyoko and helped her with her little treasures. "Here, Kyoko-chan I'll carry that for you." He grabbed the slightly distracted actress' things and left the room leaving both Kyoko and Ren standing in silence.

"M-Mogami-san... Do you need help with anything else?" He asked with a bit of guilt in his tone.

She stared at the floor and he thought he could feel the sadness and disappointment emanating from her. "N-No Tsuruga-san. That won't be necessary. Thank you." She told him as she started to leave and catch up to Yashiro with her head down and her face hidden from him.

He grabbed her arm as she walked past him. "Mogami-san, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Tsuruga-san. You shouldn't worry yourself with someone like me." She murmured and pulled away, leaving the room.

Kuon watched as she left the room and stared down at the moist little droplet that fell upon the hand that had gently restrained her. Was she crying? Why?