Melody of the Heart
Chapter 2 – New Offers Part 2
Unbeknownst to her pink counterpart, Kyoko was having the same thought, and was in a deep gloom as she desperately prayed that the offer wasn't going to be something like that. She had started running through the possible bad-girl-slash-evil roles in her mind to steel herself for the upcoming blow and had come across the serial killer one only to have the thought train get stuck on that one for a while and her creative over-imagination escalating the evil deeds to outrageous proportions.
Kyoko's form now resembled a slime dragging itself across the floor as she finally reached Sawara-san's desk. The middle aged man called Sawara Takenori, or Sawara-san, looked up to the talent who had so silently approached and jerked in his chair when he saw the dark face of the talent in front of him.
"I am ready, Sawara-san," Kyoko's doom-filled voice said slowly, as if she was meeting her executioner.
"Hah? What are you ready for?" The talent head said, utterly confused by her tone.
Kyoko just moved her head in the direction of the bright pink folder that had the LoveMe logo printed boldly in the center.
Following her glance, Takenori gathered his wits that were frayed by the same tingling feeling that he got when he met this pink-clad girl for the first time. "Ah, your offers!"
Clearing his throat, he continued, "You have received several decent offers this time, a few of which will definitely bring you even better offers if you complete them successfully."
"Honestly, for an actress who has only been in the industry for just around a year, sometimes I feel like I am witnessing a real life Cinderella story."
Some of the gloom left with the mention one of her favorite fairy tales, and Kyoko looked up at Sawara-san as he continued, "Well, the first offer is for a make-up commercial that will not be starting immediately, but in a few months." More gloom left, and Kyoko's eyes finally had a glimpse of sparkle in it as another one of her favorite words was mentioned.
"It is a brand that likes to use Visual Kei celebrities to endorse their product, called Breeze. Ah, right! Your friend, Fuwa Sho, has done a couple of their commercials, and is going to be participating in this as well!"
The gloom returned to Kyoko with an extra shade of red, and she clenched her fists to control the dark aura from taking shape at the mention of the number one top musician in the industry whom she had sworn to make feel defeat under her hands.
Takenori continued, ignoring the sudden yet familiar chill, "In fact, it was the angel look in his PV that you participated in that made them interested to use you for their next commercial. It seems that Fuwa Sho recommended you, so they are trying to have you for the princess role that ends up in a happily ever after scenario with the prince."
The dark aura started expanding and shrinking repeatedly, as Kyoko was torn between the offer for a non-bad-girl role, that was a princess no less, and the twist of fate that would make her have to act out a disgusting happily ever after with the person who threw her away that she once worshipped as a prince.
At least, it wasn't a bad girl role. Maybe the others will have a princess role too! As she came to the conclusion that she rather not consider this offer until she heard the rest.
Several grudges popped out of the gloom and quickly tucked that offer into a far corner of the mind pending the trial, and the gloom steadied itself again.
Meanwhile the talent department head continued, "The second is a small role in a film that looks like it may end up with either a PG-13 or R rating. You would play the male lead's substitute home tutor that ends up in one of his daydreams thanks to his S and M inclinations."
"S and M?" Kyoko asked, curiously.
Takenori looked up at her from the sheet without moving his head and said, "I have a teenage daughter and would rather not explain that to you. So, if you don't know, you better look it up before you choose to accept this one."
Still confused, she mentally noted to look that up later somehow.
"Anyway, the next offer is…" Kyoko patiently continued to listen to the next three offers.
There was a commercial for a fizz drink similar to Kyurara but directed by some not-so-well-known director (Sawara-san's words, not hers), a guest star role for an ongoing teen TV drama to play a distant cousin that comes back for a visit to add some spice and twists to the plot for a couple episodes, and another small role in a movie, where she only has a few lines and gets killed off by the sinister serial killer early in the movie.
She shuddered at the last one, remembering her earlier thoughts. She definitely preferred being killed rather than being the killer. Though the role itself didn't seem too interesting. Kyoko filed that in her mind as a 'Probably Not'.
"And the last one I have for you today is the most special one," Takenori announced, more cheerily now that the gloom level had reduced to a very light gray aura.
Kyoko flinched internally, and prepared herself again for the finishing blow.
"This is a very exciting one for the President, for a few reasons," he started. Kyoko waited not-so-patiently for him to continue. "Firstly, this is going to be the first drama series in 5 years that Director Takamura Usagi will be heading."
"She is a close friend of the President's and has just returned here from America after a personal hiatus. She had it in her head to start this drama series, and came to the President for permission for her less-than-normal request."
Kyoko's eyes widened slightly as she considered the last part, but Sawara-san answered her question by continuing, "Which leads to the second reason the President is so gung-ho about it – she wants it to be an all LME series."
Brightened at the thoughts of being able to act alongside Moko-san and all her friends from LME, she took a step closer, excited to hear the rest.
"Furthermore, the story is very well thought out, and includes a wide range of emotions, including the President's favorite…" Takenori was interrupted by an intense pressure around his throat as he tried to say the word 'Love'.
Kyoko's grudges slowly released their hold as their master told Sawara-san that she understood what he was saying, and politely asked him to continue. Clearing his throat that was now free from restriction, he continued, "Yes, uh… well, the President thinks this will be a great opportunity to develop better relations between the people in LME. Everyone, from the actors to the gaffer, will be LME staff."
"He has especially high expectations for you, and wants you as one of the main actors in this series. "
"He believes the role is well within your means, and that it will do good for your career. Of course, you are allowed to choose for yourself whether you want to accept the offer after you read about it," He held out a folder for her.
Gulping, Kyoko nodded warily and reached for the outstretched folder. But the head of the department did not let go of the folder.
"But…"
Uh-oh.
"Should you choose to decline the spot, you will not be allowed to participate in the series at all."
Downcast, Kyoko thought that it must be a bad girl role and that there weren't any other roles that she'd be offered to play in that series.
"So take a look at the story and your role, and let me know what you want to do about it tomorrow," he finished, finally letting go of the folder.
"Yes sir," Kyoko said quietly. Bidding her superior goodbye with a bow, she started to leave.
"And if you were wondering," Sawara-san said as she reached the door, "I will be talking to Kotonami-san tomorrow about her part in the series. She's being offered the other lead female role in the series."
Turning around quickly, her face alight with joy, Kyoko bowed again deeply to him and replied with an enthusiastic, "Thank you, Sawara-san!"
When the door closed behind her, he remained looking at the wooden frame.
She probably already knows that her admired sempai, Tsuruga Ren, is also being casted for the series, since it IS an all LME project, the talent head thought to himself. Besides, what girl would mind being able to act as the love interest of the number one heart throb of Japan.
A/N: I edited this chapter to change the way Sawara-san called Kanae to Kotonami-san. As pointed out by Shiroyuki76. Thank you for your review and critiques.