Disclaimer: I don't own Skip Beat! Or any of its character.

Chapter 2: Party for two

February 10, 7:10PM, Ren's car on the way to Yashiro's apartment.

"Here Ren, before I forget to give this to you." Yashiro handed Ren a red envelope.

"What is this?"

"Sawara-san gave these to me this morning when I passed by." Showing another red envelope with his name printed at the front. "It's from the President. It's an invitation for a meeting. I don't really know what it is about. It just says that the meeting is at LME conference room 3 at 9 am. And it says 'Attendance is a must'.

"Ok, I guess we'll find out then what is all about." Ren said dismissively. He can't really concentrate on anything else all day. He did this work on auto pilot today. All he can think about is the girl who was supposed to be at his apartment right now cooking his birthday dinner. He hasn't felt this excited about his birthday in a long time.

"So Ren, any plans for dinner today? Maybe I should call Kyoko-chan to cook for you."

"Mogami-san is busy today, so just let her be and don't bother calling her to cook me dinner." Ren said with a straight face trying to hide his excitement. He didn't tell his manager about his dinner plan because he didn't want to be teased all day.

Kyoko's schedule must have change, because when he checked it last Friday she didn't have anything scheduled for today except for a meeting about a new commercial in the morning, Yashiro thought.' Ren must be disappointed, that's why he was distracted all day today. But he looked happy all day, maybe Kyoko called this morning to greet him a happy birthday. Or maybe she stopped by his apartment to give him a present.' Yashiro was deep in thought that he didn't notice that Ren had stopped in front of this apartment.

"Yashiro-san we're here."

"Oh, sorry Ren. I was just thinking of something. Anyway have a pleasant night. Are you going to be ok brining all your present in your apartment?" Yashiro asked after remembering all the present in Ren's booth. The rest of his presents from various friends, director, actresses and admirers are still in Yashiro's office at LME. Fan and other acquaintances that wanted to wish him a happy birthday usually sends their present at LME.

"Yeah I'll be fine with them. I'll see you tomorrow." As soon as Yashiro got out of the car and closed the door, Ren drove off.

Same day, 7:30PM, Ren's apartment.

Kyoko was putting the finishing touch on the cake that she'd baked for Ren. She just needed to write 'Happy Birthday Ren' then it's done. Kyoko placed the cake inside the fridge. She went back to the stove to check the soup. 'That should be ready in fifteen minutes.' she thought. She's been thinking about what Moko said to her. 'just confess to him and tell him you love him. He'll be happy and you'll be happy. Make your confession as part of his birthday present'. Would Ren really be happy if she confess? Is she ready to confess? There are so many questions in her mind. But the biggest question really is: Does she have the courage to confess? She thought of so many scenarios on how she would confess, if ever she confesses today, to Ren.

Her positive scenarios started while she was cooking the main meal:

Scenario one:

Ren eating the cake and he got some icing on the side of his mouth. She reached out her hand to clean it and her hand lingers on his cheek.

K: Ren I want you to know that I Love you.

R: Oh Kyoko I've been waiting for so long to hear you say those words. I love you too.

Ren reach up to touch her hand on his cheek and turns his head to kiss her palm.

R: Kyoko would you be my girlfriend?

She will nod with tears of happiness in her eyes. Ren leans in to kiss her lips.

That scenario earned a blush from Kyoko but she decided that it's unlikely to happen because Ren is to clean to get icing on his face. She could pretend that he's got icing on his face. 'No, next scenario' she thought.

Scenario two.

Ren opening her gift:

K: I made that with all my heart because I Love you Ren.

R: Then I'll cherish this with all my heart like the way I will cherish you forever because I love you too Kyoko.

Ren gives her a tight hug and kisses her on the lips.

'No those lines are too cheesy' she thought 'next scenario.'

Scenario three:

Kyoko grabs Ren's face with both her hands and Kisses him passionately. Then she steps back and say:

K: I love you Ren!

R: I love you too Kyoko (saying breathlessly)

Ren pulls her back and kisses her again passionately. No she can't do that because she's not bold enough to do it.

Kyoko finished making the perfect main meal. She started making the soup and mind started producing negative scenario.

Scenario one:

Ren eating the cake and he got some icing on the side of his mouth. She reached out her hand to clean it and her hand lingers on his cheek.

K: Ren I want you to know that I Love you.

R: I'm sorry Kyoko I could never accept your feelings I'm in love with someone else.

Ren reach up to grab her hand on his cheek and put it down gently on her side.

R: Kyoko I wish we could still be friends?

She will nod with tears in her eyes. Ren reach out to pat her head

This scenario is likely to happen because Ren is a gentle person.

Scenario two.

Ren opening her gift:

K: I made that with all my heart because I Love you Ren.

R: Then I could never accept this. (gives back the gift) I could never think of you as more than a friend. I'm sorry Kyoko if you continue to be like this then we're better off not seeing each other.

That would hurt to much if she can't see her beloved senpai again.

Scenario three:

Kyoko grabs Ren's face with both her hands and Kisses him passionately. He pushes her away yelling:

R: What are you doing?

K: I love you Ren!

R: That's disgusting Kyoko! I could never love you!

Ren grabs her things and trows her out of the apartment.

By the time she thought of the third scenario Kyoko realised that cooking and negative thinking shouldn't be done together. She just ruin her soup by putting sugar instead of salt in it. From then on she decided to concentrate on cooking.

But now that she's not concentrating on anything in particular her mind started to drift back to her conversation with Moko earlier. 'She really did make a good point' she thought. 'How I wish it's true. I'll be really happy if that happens.'

Beep beep beep.

Kyoko walked towards the kitchen timer to turn it off. Then she checked her soup and turn off the stove. Everything's ready. She took her apron off and went in the bathroom to fix herself up.

"I'm home!" Ren said when he entered his apartment. Kyoko rushed out of the bathroom to greet her beloved.

"Welcome home Tsuruga-san and Happy Birthday." She said shyly. She gave him a bright smile which made Ren's heart beat faster.

'Oh God she's so lovely,' he thought. 'I just want to grab her, hug her and kiss her.' But of course he didn't, because he didn't want to scare the poor girl. But instead he just smiled back at her and thank her. If he had put his thought into action maybe Kyoko would have more courage to confess to him.

Upon seeing Ren's heavenly smile Kyoko was reminded of her third scenario. How she would just love to grab hold of Ren and kiss him. But she's too scared that the outcome might not be in her favour. So she just said:

"Ummm...the dinner is ready, if you would like to start now."

"Ok lead the way Mogami-san."

After their meal, Kyoko took the cake out of the fridge, lit the candles and sang happy birthday to Ren. Before blowing his candles, Kyoko told him to make a wish.

"So what did you wish Tsuruga-san?"

"It's a secret Mogami-san. But I'll tell you when its granted."

Kyoko cut the cake and handed Ren a slice. Ren took the first bite. While Kyoko watched she was again reminded of one of her scenarios. This is her chance. Could she really pretend that he's got icing on his face? She decided that she's a good enough actress to make it believable but she doesn't want to start a confession with a lie. Another opportunity missed.

Kyoko gathered all the dishes after dissert and Ren stood up to help her, but she told him to relax because it's his birthday. After she put the dishes in the dishwasher and cleaned up, she returned in the living room with a small box in her hand. She handed it to him without saying anything.

"What is this Mogami-san."

"Your present."

"I thought the dinner was my birthday present?"

"It is. And that too."

"Can I open it now?"

"If you want to. But it's nothing big."She said blushing.

Ren lifted up the lid and took out a small charm. This is her second scenario. Should she just tell him that she made it because loves him and wants him to be safe all the time.

"I've notice that you don't have a phone charm so I made one for you. That charm is supposed to keep you safe whenever it's with you. Since you bring your phone with you all the time means that that charm will always be with you." She started babbling out of nervousness "I mean only if you wanted to use it. You don't have to if you don't want to."

"Kyoko-chan" Kyoko was silenced by shock upon hearing Ren use her first name. "It's a lovely gift. And I'm happy to know that you made this thinking about me and my safety. Thank you." Ren leaned in and kiss her cheek. Kyoko was stunned.

'Wow! This is so close to my scenario' she thought 'I should just say it now?'

"Mogami-san can I use this now?" Ren asked

"Huh? Oh, sure Tsuruga-san." Ren got up to get his phone from inside of his jacket pocket. As he took out his phone a red envelope fell on the floor. Kyoko recognised it.

"Tsuruga-san you also received the red envelope?" She asked, puzzled as to why her senpai would receive one. 'Didn't he ask anyone to be his date? I'm sure it's not because no one wants to date him.' She thought.

"Oh that Yashiro gave that to me. He said it's from the president. He got one too... wait you said also, does that mean you got one too?

She nodded.

"Mogami-san do you know what the meeting is going to be about?"

She nodded again.

"Mogami-san can you tell me this is all about?"

"Well it means that you will have a blind date on Vain.. I mean Valentine's Day courtesy of the President."