Ok, sorry for the wait! I've been really busy with school. Well enough of my problems-

I rewrote this because I figured the story would be too long, so I'm starting around chapter 37. The old chapters might be used as flashbacks.

*Note* The timeline in this fanfiction will be completely different; this chapter actually takes place about 2 1/2 months after Kyoko is abandoned by Sho. (Still for Kyoko Mom Challenge [Huh. I wonder what this story could possibly be about?])

By the way, this chapter is pretty much from the manga until the end, so if you are bored, just skip to the end.

As usual, thoughts are in italics.

Chapter 1

No matter how many times she saw the Kurara commercial, Kyoko couldn't help but get flustered. I don't think I'll ever get used to seeing myself on TV!

As she stopped to watch the commercial, she overheard two guys talking. "Ahhh, it's the Kurara commercial again," began the first.

"The girls in this commercial are really cute," the other commented.

"If I had to choose though, I'd definitely say the long black haired one is more beautiful," said the first. Kyoko nodded; she acknowledged that Moko was much more beautiful than herself.

"Ya, the other one is kind of... ordinary. She isn't bad, but she's plain for a celebrity, don't you think?" Kyoko cringed at the words.

"Ya, she just lacks charisma in my opinion." Each word was like a knife cutting into Kyoko's pride.

Charisma, huh... I know I don't have the natural beauty Moko-san has... but for some reason... That really pisses me off! By this point, her demons had scared away everyone around her, including the boys who had said those things. Her aura was a void that killed all goodness in its way. Everyone stepped out of her path as she stomped off to LME.

As she entered the LME building, she realized why the comment had infuriated her so: "...plain...lacks charisma..."... "...plain with no sex appeal..."

SHOUTAROU! Why does everyone act like your minions?! She began punching the air furiously in an effort to release her anger. The ringing of her phone gradually pulled her out of her rage. Is it Moko-san? Maybe it's Sawara-san? she thought as she pulled out her phone. "Hello?"

"Hi," a familiar voice reached her ears. This voice... This tone... It can't be... Unable to respond, she just stood there like a deer in the headlights. "It always takes you so long to answer your phone." Hearing no response, Ren simply continued, "Also, as someone who has been on TV, you probably shouldn't be doing... whatever it is you are doing. Strange behavior tends to scare people away. As an actress and as a lady, you shouldn't make such scary faces!" The amusement in his voice was impossible not to hear. He's here! But where? She looked around for some sign of Ren. Kyoko heard a chuckle coming from above her head and looked up. Yashiro and Tsuruga-san! She dashed to the elevator and then to Ren and Yashiro.

"Hi, Kyoko!" Yashiro said with a smile. "I saw the commercial. Great job! You looked very cute in it!"

"Thank you very much...," Kyoko grumbled as her head drooped gloomily.

Eh? She seems angry, Yashiro realized.

Kyoko raised her head and faked a cheery smile. "Well let's change this boring topic and talk about something more useful to our time."

Boring? After she worked so hard for that job? Yashiro thought, thoroughly confused.

"Anyway... How did you get my cell phone number?" Kyoko inquired.

"Ahh... I was looking for you, so Sawara-san gave me it," Ren explained.

"You wanted to find me? Why?"

Ren ignored her question momentarily. "You're not wearing your LoveMe uniform. You're wearing your school uniform."

"Oh, that... I came straight from school so..."

"School... That's great! It suits you very nicely." A genuine smile crossed Ren's lips.

Kyoko turned red in an instant at the comment and gesture. "T-thank you, Tsuruga-san." She bowed slightly.

"I heard you got a perfect score on the entrance exam," Ren said, the smile still exuberant as ever.

"Wow, Kyoko! That's amazing!" Yashiro exclaimed.

"Ahh thanks!" Kyoko grinned. "Actually, it was you, Tsuruga-san, who helped take all the pressure off me. Thank you very much!" she gleefully said. She bowed in thanks.

Yashiro smiled at Kyoko before glancing over at Ren, only to find him with a look of blissful content on his face. Ren?! It wasn't a fake smile, but a real one full of gratitude and, possibly, love. Yashiro gasped silently. Is Ren... falling in love?

"The one who should be thanking someone should be me," Ren admitted. "You left so soon after you dropped me off at the set that I never even got to thank you for being my temporary manager."

He took the heart-shaped stamp book and gently pressed a stamp onto a page.

"I never thought you would be giving me any points for this because I just did normal manager duties. Cooking, looking after you when you're sick, making sure you have perfect attendance... Those are just things a normal manager would do, right?"

"No not really," Yashiro murmured too quietly for either to hear. "Maybe if they have a special relationship, but not normally..." Is Kyoko falling for Ren?! Yashiro's innermost thoughts were almost spoken aloud.

"Since it was just part of my job, I feel very flattered you decided to thank me. I mean, it would've been my fault if you had to miss a day. Anyway, I was just trying to do a manager's job to the best of my ability," she continued, rambling.

So it wasn't love, but self-satisfaction? Yashiro looked downcast. He was really a sucker for romance and hoped there would be mutual attraction between the two.

Ren's smile faded away and was replaced by a small frown tinged with disappointment. Neither Yashiro nor Kyoko noticed as he made several edits to the stamp page.

"Mogami-san... It's done."

Kyoko and Yashiro spun to face Ren, startled at how he addressed her. Anxiously, Kyoko accepted the book.

100... minus 10? "Tsuruga-san... What is this?"

"It's 90 points. Obviously."

"But why is there an 100 stamp and then a minus 10 stamp? What did you deduct for?"

"Oh, not anything in particular. I just used the wrong stamp at first. Sorry about that." The shiniest gentleman's smile Kyoko had ever seen crept over his face. Both Yashiro and Kyoko were struck with fear. Terrified, Kyoko began to walk backwards. She suddenly felt a dizzy spell overtake her; she swayed as she continued away from them.

"Let's go Yashiro," Ren commanded.

"But..." Yashiro whimpered. Ren had already begun striding away. Yashiro turned to make sure Kyoko, who had not spoken in quite a while, was all right. She was leaning against the wall, struggling to remain upright.

"Ren!" Yashiro called. "I think something is wrong with Kyoko!"

Ren spun around in an instant. His gaze settled on Kyoko, her form hunched over as she covered her mouth with her hand. Yashiro had already walked over to her and was rubbing her back in a circular motion. Faster than he had walked away, Ren made his way to Kyoko.

"Are you sick?" Ren asked. She shrugged in reply. He placed one hand on his forehead and the other on hers. "You don't feel too warm. Maybe you caught something when you were looking after me," he suggested.

"Nah, you had a cold. I don't think this is a cold," Kyoko managed to say before the nausea caused her to cover her mouth again.

He looked Yashiro in the eye, pleading silently for him to tell him what to do. Yashiro got the message and motioned for Ren to help support her.

Ren slid his arm under her arm and around her back. He gently lifted her off the ground, holding her princess style. "Let's get you to a doctor," Ren said.

"But... you have work...," she choked out.

"That's okay," Yashiro assured her. "We can cancel some things today. After all, it's the least we can do. You took care of Ren while he was sick, so we should do the same for you."

Kyoko smiled weakly. She opened her mouth to thank them but ended up vomiting all over herself and Ren.

So sorry if you liked the other version better! Thank you very much for reading!