Chapter 7

A/N: Finally, after three months of not updating, I'm back. Feel free to kill me now, I know. Anyway, there must be some errors in there so you could point them out to me and tell me what you think. I just recently acquired the most dangerous and fatal disease a writer could come face to face with—Laziness.

It might not be continued straight from where Chapter 6 left off but I have my plans so just read it, okay.

Well, please enjoy Chapter 7

NORMAL POV

It had been a full week after 'that' day –runaway groom incident—as Chiori playfully referred to it, much to her protests and dismay but still she made no effort to prepare herself for work, nor any desire to get out of bed. She felt disappointed, cheated and above all pissed. It was her idea in the first place to treat the relationship as something trivial and by the time she considers it over, she'll be the one who ends up victorious. However, situations succeeding her ingenious plan to use Sho as a shield suddenly backfired all to her. Tomo, her slowly opening and warming up to his father, agreeing to get married to him and finally being left at the altar on her wedding day—none of these had been a part of her original plan but it did happen. Why, you ask?

Well, perhaps fate seems to have taken a huge liking on her life and decided to screw everything up. That is why no one has any reason to blame her if she decides to stay coop up at home for a week, a month, a year, or how long it would take for gossipers to stop talking about her and for her to finally regain her confidence to start working again under the scrutiny of the public eye.

'Negative thoughts, Go away' Kanae made a dispelling motion of her hand in front of her face and silently pleaded that she would stop reliving these stupid memories and instead focused on getting herself sleepy again as she buries herself in her huge, blue pillows.

Without opening her eyes, she tried finding her mobile phone on her bedside table rather successfully, and said a bored hello when the voice from the other line succeeded in knocking all hold of sleep in her system with one childish whine of…

"Moouuukooo-saaaaaan!" being totally surprised she accidentally pushed the end call button at the same time ungracefully hitting her head on the wooden headboard in the process.

"Ow, what was that about?"

She was given no time to process what just happened when her cellphone rang again and she answered it her voiced laced with irritation and impatience as usual "What now, Kyouko, I swear you make my ears bleed I'm blocking your number on my cell phone, right now!"

The supposed to be annoying whine of Kyouko was replaced by a mocking yet perky tone belonging to a certain Love Me member flowing through the line, " Kotonami-san, harsh as always, you really didn't have to shut your phone on Mogami-san… she was just worried, you know?"

Kanae mentally face palmed so it was Chiori and another one of her specialty— slamming guilt trips right on your face, for some reason this girl found pleasure in seeing a rise out of her. But today, she won't indulge her; give her any entertainment by arguing with her for argument's sake.

"Is that all you have to say? Because I'm so BUSY right now" Giving emphasis on the word, "I'm hanging up"

"I won't do that if I were you, not when I have interesting news to tell"

The second Love Me member stopped her finger from pressing the end call button and said curiously, "Okay, I'm listening"

Chiori Amamiya smirked victoriously from the other line basking on the triumph that she easily managed to capture the latter's attention, "Well, remember last time I told you about Hio-san wanting to work with you?"

"Yeah, the guy who never showed up" she replied sourly "Like I could forget about him, he managed to make it to the people I'd-rather-not-work with list"

"Kotonami-san, that's your fault for not reading the message I sent you" Amamiya chided her obviously amused at her comment.

"What about him?" she replied boredly, ignoring Chiori's last comment. She still believes it wasn't her fault.

"Apparently, it turns out that the drama he is starring in is one of the biggest productions LME will be producing this year!"

"So? That's good but that has nothing to do with me"

"Ah, I just thought it would be a waste since from what I heard from my reliable sources their lead actress recently got injured and today's the casting auditions is reopen for the role of -"

Kanae was not able to hear the rest of Chiori's news as she hurriedly snapped her phone shut and rushed to the bathroom to prep herself up .'This exactly what I need to get a move going in my career, no use holing myself up in this house!' she reminded herself as she move around in her room in record time.

Meanwhile…

'I am a genius!' Chiori brilliantly thought as she turned to Kyouko who is now sitting on the farthest corner of the Love Me girls locker room surrounded by her aura of gloom despairing perhaps on the fact that her 'Mouko-san' is mad at her.

"Mogami-san, don't worry too much, Kotonami-san says she's not mad at you."

"Really?"

"Ah, Er?"

Kyouko looked at her now with tear-filled eyes, "You're just saying that!" and she's back to her corner crying loudly than ever.

'Damn it, why must all the members of this group be a handful, am I the only sane person in this group?' she asked herself while gathering her wits to calm Kyouko down.

"If I say Kotonami-san is on her way here would you believe then that she's not mad at you?"

At the mention of 'on her way here', Kyouko's tears dried up instantly, "Really?"

"Yes, Really!" Chiori smiled affirming

"Thank you" And just like that Chiori experienced first hand the death hold Kyouko had disguise as a hug.

"Ack, Mo...gami-san, I c-can't breathe" Kyouko realizing what she's doing abruptly pulled away and gave her friend a sheepish smile "Sorry I was just so happy, I couldn't help it"

"Well, remind me next time to never make you so happy before you attempt to murder me by depriving me all the oxygen in my body" Chiori muttered audibly while rubbing her chest.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing" Chiori lied, giving her friend an innocent smile and suddenly she realized why Kanae was so adamant about reminding Kyouko about distances whenever they meet. The girl had the grip of death, literally.

Inside the President's Office

YASHIRO'S POV

We took a deep breath, Ren and I, as he gently knocked on the two gigantic wooden doors. We both know by now that we shouldn't be shock by what we are about see as it was 'The President's Office' were entering, knowing the President and his crazy ideas, we both know for a fact that the office would certainly not look like an office. Well, President Lory firmly believes in the saying that there's nothing more permanent than change and he adheres to this statement by using his ever changing theme in his office and clothes.

At the sound o f the door opening, a faint strumming assaulted our ears and we've adjusted to the light inside the room, our vision was greeted by a Lory Takarada in perfect imitation of the Greek God Apollo complete with the harp and the tree by which the god usually lounges in singing to his unrequited love who had preferred to be a tree rather than to be with him.

"Tsuruga-kun, Yashiro" The flamboyantly dressed President finally turned his attention to us after one of his assistants announce our arrival. "Glad you made it, want some wine?" he offered it to us as we made our way to the couch sitting opposite him.

The two of us declined his offer both agreeing on the fact that it is not good to start a day of work with a wine lest your president of the company or agency in these situation.

Then, the two started talking about the new drama that wanted to cast Ren as one of the lead stars. The President was asking me if Ren could still handle it but deep down I know he will still abide by whatever Ren decides so I tried to give signals (I practically looked like a praying mantis, praying literally to Ren that we can't accommodate the project anymore) Good thing, Ren listened for once as he politely explained the reason's why he can't take the project, sugarcoating words and coming up with the most probable lies however halfway through his explanation the President butted in and simply let out a mournful sigh of…

"It's okay Ren-kun"

'Notice that he use the first name, never a good sign as far as I know since it means he will be asking a favor that Ren simply cannot refuse'

"Actually, you don't need to apologize for that matter, I completely understood" he even reached out and patted Ren's shoulder before he stood to face the glass window of the said room with a contrived pained expression and continued, "But it's just that it pains me to broke this news to somebody who had been looking forward to be your co-star."

'Oh no, I do not like where this is all leading, I think I know what the President is plotting, God, Ren why couldn't you see he's acting! Feigning hurt! You're an actor for sanity's sake!'

"Really? Well, who might this be so I can apologize to him in person" Ren asked.

"Well, he's not actually a he but a she, I'm sure she'll be able to understand" The President chose this moment to look him in the eye and said, "It's Mogami-kun"

And there goes the magic name and Ren's resolve of declining disappeared like bubbles in the air. I had seen this coming, of course what better method to persuade Ren than use Kyouko-chan, it was one of the things I've learned from President Lory himself and I must admit it prove to be effective. Everyone could see how Ren is head over heels in love with the girl (except for himself and the girl in question) and he wouldn't pass this opportunity up not when he had heard that the love of his life wants to be his co-star.

I stole a sideway glance at the President before we left his room and I swear that he had a smirk in place of his usual beaming smile.

'That cunning old man!' He wasn't planning on giving him a choice to decline in the first place that look gave it all away, it was the look that says, and 'I'm making you agree to me one way or another'

Noticing my silence, Ren tried to explain to me "Uh, Yashiro-san"

I raised a hand to him as if to silence him, though Ren may have taken it the wrong way as he continued to apologize. I release a deep sigh, without looking at him who is quietly following from behind…

"Ren, quit it with the kick puppy expression." I turned to faced him "I'm not angry at you, okay. Of course, it's given that you would want to participate in a drama with Kyouko-chan. It would actually be weird if you don't"

A gentle smile graced across the man's lips as he said, "Thanks"

"Anything for a friend, Ren"

Wow, you're actually supportive Yashiro-san"

"You only realize that now? Aren't I the biggest fan of you and Kyouko-chan?" I playfully teased him though what he said next caught me off guard.

"Just like a father would be"

Now if I was eating something, I most probably would have done these two embarrassing things: either I choke on my food ungracefully or scatter my half-munched food all over the place creating big fool of myself. Fortunately, I was not eating at the moment and so nothing of the two happened. 'What a relief!'

"E-excuse me, what did you just say?" Not trusting my ears, I finally turned to face him.

"You're supportive for once?"

"No, no, the one after that…" I gestured my hand in reverse circular motion in front of him.

"Just like a fat—"

Ren didn't get to finish before I quickly muttered a "You go ahead first, I need to go to the bathroom"

When he was a good five meters away from me and after checking from right to left if there's any person around, 'None, good' I shouted a horrified "NO" till I reach the bathroom to clear my mind.

Ren thought he had heard his manager hollering in the hallway but quickly shrugged thinking that nerves and stress might have got the better of his usually composed manager.

'Oh well, he'll probably come around'

Ren thought too happy to think of anything other than to see a particular girl who apparently so wanted to be his co-star.

KANAE'S POV

'Calm down, calm down, okay, I'm calm' I chanted to myself as I after years of not going to work, okay not really years but you get the feeling. I feel like its been years since I last saw glass doors of LME, since I last saw the two lady receptionist at it's front desks, since I last saw how wide and spacious this building is and in general since I last saw this many pair of eyes suddenly looking at me. I bet they weren't expecting me, of all people to show up at work like nothing happened.

I lifted my nose in the air and pretended I didn't see their wary glances or the lot of them whispering from the sides though I hear bits of what they're talking about , something along the lines of- "That's her!" or "The girl who was left by Fuwa Sho at the altar" and "Shh, she might hear us"

'Of course, I'm hearing you! Stupid girls with absolutely no talent, if you really don't want me to hear you then maybe you should stop talking while I'm still within hearing range'

As I strode down the studio where they're holding the casting for that female lead role that Chiori told me on the phone about, I put all the confidence that I could muster I had no time to be self-conscious, if I want to get this goddamn role. As soon as I step inside, I was immediately greeted by the sight of a lot of female talents from LME most I had come to remember from the first day I had applied here at the agency.

'Okay, I definitely got this I mean what kind of talent could possibly outshine mine?'

Suddenly a familiar and painful to the ears whine greeted my vision and in mere seconds I had myself enveloped by Kyouko and her childlike-ish behavior.

"Mouko-san! I miss you! So is it true you're here for the casting audition?" She enthusiastically said while I try to pry myself away from her grip as now more than ever I would like to appear as a formal and mature individual and I wouldn't achieve that when Kyouko is clinging to me while wearing her embarrassing pink overalls.

"Yeah, it's true."

"Uwaah! I'm so excited we'll be working alongside each other"

"Huh? I didn't know that" I looked at Chiori who was playing with her hair to confirm if it was true but then again Kyouko answered it herself.

"You didn't know? I got casted as the best friend of the lead character. It was supposed to be Rurika-san but she had injured her foot on the set on one the taping of another of her dramas." She trailed off and looking really sad about the girl's current condition "Well, I'm still sad about that but after knowing that they had a special audition for that lead role and Chiori-san said you'll be trying out for it I was overly happy. You and I will be co-stars finally!"

I felt a small blush of embarrassment rise to my cheeks "We still don't know if I'll get the part or not" I whispered looking anywhere but her eyes.

"Of course, we know. You're the best of 'em all" She said giving Amamiya a nudge, "Right, Chiori-san?"

"Just show them what you can do" Chiori added giving me thumbs up.

I felt myself smiling inside thanking them for their vote of confidence though I tried to hide it when I heard one of the director's assistants calling all the girls auditioning to come to the adjacent room outside.

HIO'S POV

"Okay, Next"

My ears are ringing it had been almost an hour and I don't think I can take any of this stupid girls take the stage anymore just to show me some more of their lame talents. They look the same, they smile the same, and they do the same.

'Arrgh, why does Rurika-san have to be injured when you needed her most, I thought we had it all wrapped in the bag. I have no time for this. I shouldn't have agreed to that eccentric President when he said that it was necessary that it should be me who will be one to select one of my co-stars. For all I know it could just be one of tricks to avoid this long, complicated process.'

A tap on my shoulder made me look up and I see Director Okuya looking at me through his shades.

'Honestly, who wears shades inside a dark room?'

"Bored already?"

"Do I look bored?" I replied equally using his same carefree tone.

"Well, I have to say you have a very good skill in making it look as if you're not bored" he replied amused.

"So you think I'm bored then?"

"I didn't say that you are but don't worry I'm sure there's something to look forward to in these girls" He said not even looking at me anymore but to the remaining ten girls left.

"Number 17" A raven-haired woman in baby blue blazer polo and matching skirt stood at the stage. I recognized her immediately to be Kotonami Kanae, whom Amamiya talked to me about, you must be guessing why I know Amamiya well I met her on my first projects before, well, it's a long story so moving on even though its my first time meeting this Kanae I recognized her instantly as she was exactly as Amamiya describe her to be. A mature looking woman who wears an air of self-confidence and looks at her rivals as if they were dust not worth of her time.

'Well, Kotonami Kanae let's see what you've got'

She walked in front of a mic and handed us a thick book. I raise my brow questioningly, wondering what she's going to do—recite a poem. A story? However, what she said next surprised me.

"Ask me any line from any page from there I'll recite it for you."

"Any line?" One of Okuya's assistants asks, she nods as an answer.

"Okay, er,um line 56-59 page 29"

She closed her eyes breathed a little then recited the line, "Wordlessly, Robbie piled her box on top of his. They slid to his chest and he walked up the stairwell without much struggle. Emma watched him and tried not to judge the gaping knee holes and paint flecks on his jeans. He was a chief set designer at Surreyburg."

A murmur of amazement went across the room,' she can recite anything from memory that's amazing' is probably what most people thought though I am different, who knows if she had reread that book over and over again to memorize that line and so I went through my belief and voiced it.

"Kotonami-san, that's is very impressing –" a curt smile splayed on her lips "but you wouldn't mind if I test you for another time, cause I'm not so sure if you've been reading that book for lot of times already. It must be some sort of coincidence"

The smile disappeared altogether and the beginnings of a scowl started to form though she's trying hard to suppress it "Are you insinuating that I am cheating just because I've used my own book?"

'How dare you accuse me of cheating? Okay, I'll show you what I can do, after this you will have to admit that I'm the best amongst these bitches out here'

"No, I'm not insinuating anything, but I just want to reconfirm if you really can recite everything from memory." I said calmly yet in a challenging tone that I know people with determination like hers wouldn't hesitate to accept. 'Don't be a coward, say yes'

"Sure, go ahead" She said, smiling again with the fire in her eyes to prove me wrong. 'Don't be too surprised when you see how good I am'

This time I turn to Okuya and was surprised when he handed me the script "this is what you wanted to asked for, right?"

I smiled back, he was finding all this amusing I'm sure and so without further ado I gave Kotonami-san the 10 page script and gave her time to read it. After five minutes, she handed it back to us all confident… "Okay, Let's start"

"Line 24-29 page 2"

"What is happening to me? I can see through all their lies. Have I gone crazy? I must be dreaming. Right, I am dreaming. I just have to close my eyes and one, two, three, they'll be gone." She paused then looked me straight in the eye, "Is that good enough?"

"Yes, it is" After that she exited the stage after a loud applause lead by Okuya himself who was simply praising her for her talent. There were remaining talents who have yet to show us what they can do but judging from the look Okuya and I exchanged, we knew it had already been decided.

Outside the audition room

THREE HOURS LATER

KANAE'S POV

"You did it, Mouko-san! You're so amazing"

"You weren't even inside, how are you supposed to know that I'm amazing huh?" I pretended to not be too happy like her but inside I'm laughing maniacally because of my win. I knew it no one could outshine my talent.

"She is amazing indeed, I was inside and I saw it firsthand" A male voice popped in on our conversation and my pretend scowl immediately turned into a real one as I saw who decided to butt in on our conversation. No other than the teenage arrogant jerk who tried to accuse me of cheating, if I remember his name was… was… It was…

"Uesugi-san!" It was Amamiya who immediately filled us in on this jerkhead's name. "So you were one of the judges huh? See, I told you Kotonami-san was a surprise wasn't she?"

"Yes, she is," he trailed off catching my gaze, "Definitely a surprise" then he turned back to Chiori, "What about you? Amd what's with 'Uesugi-san' way of calling me if I remember right you're definitely much older than me stopped trying to address me like an old man and What is that you're wearing?"

Chiori tinted red from embarrassment, 'Oh, Don't mind it, it's just a unique uniform"

"Unique uniform, my ass. Look at you, you look hilarious! Wait 'till I tell this to the others" He took out his cell phone and snapped shots of Chiori who started covering her face while trying to get the cell phone at the same time from its owner.

I was a little surprised as these two started to talk like they're long time buddies, it was probably noticed by Kyouko as she too asked me…

"Who's he?"

I shrugged my shoulders, "I don't know."

Finally, the arrogant guy and Chiori both looked at us, then Chiori cleared her throat, " Ah, before I forgot, Hio my friends in this agency. She pointed at us," Mogami Kyouko and Kotonami Kanae this is my friend Uesugi Hio"

This Uesugi guy nodded at both of us but his eyes were still trained at me which is somehow getting me irked "Nice to meet you, Mogami-san."

"Nice to meet you too, Uesugi-san" Kyouko took his hand, then he turned to me, "Nice to meet you too, Kotonami-san" He stretched his hand to me.

I took his in mine and fake a glad smile, "Likewise" I was still irked by what he put me through during the auditions earlier.

"Congratulations on getting the role, I hope you're as good as what the others told me about" he said nonchalantly then as he noticed the tense atmosphere and my fierce glare he smiled, "Just kidding, want some coffee? I'll treat you all…"

'See, I told you the guy is arrogant and now, he expect me to sit down and have coffee with him? No, freaking way! Wait, must act professional'

"Sure!" I smiled amiably at him.

"Where to?"

"I know a good coffee shop two blocks from this building" Amamiya butted in.

"Great!" I said smiling like a Cheshire cat, grinning from ear to ear, "The three of you can go ahead"

The arrogant teen looked at me and I don't know if I just imagined it or was he really disappointed when I said that I couldn't come, anyway, "Yeah, sorry I remembered I have to do something" I said then walked away to the opposite direction.

'It was not a lie okay, since I really do have something to do. What was it again? Ah, to get as far away as I can from here and from that annoying brat. I can't believe the first major project that I have will be to work with him, oh well, beggars can't be choosers'

YASHIRO'S POV

After sending a text message to Ren that I'm not feeling well and receiving a reply that he can drive himself to his next photo shoot and other appointments and just kindly asked someone to accompany him. I walked right to the parking lot, fished out the key in my pockets and started to drive my car out of the agency when my phone started buzzing off and I regretted that I even answered it.

"Hello?"

"I'm at the back, Drive me home"

'Here comes Queen of Orders' I tried my best to sound as polite as possible since the one from the other line sounds seriously pissed. "Ah, I'm out of the agency, I'm at XXXXXXX already, and besides don't you have a car?"

"DO you seriously think I want to ride in that out dated car of yours, if I have my car with me right now, I would've drove straight at home and not here begging you on the phone to take me back. Seriously, come back here now" She was not shouting but there is urgency in her voice that clearly translates as 'Leave me here and you know what'll happen' type of tone.

'Wow, she's begging at that rate huh, well, I'm scared to know how she orders other people around'

"Okay, Okay, I'm coming back, give me ten minutes okay"

I put the earpiece down and proceeded to vent my frustration on the road cursing to myself.

'Why did I ever agree to what she said to me during that time?'

A/N: I have to cut in here because I still don't know how to write the other things I've planned in mind. Anyhow, I think I'll be regularly updating now like once a week. I don't know I don't want to disappoint since that's is what I have been doing to other people these past few days and to myself. And enough about me, tell me what you think about the story well, if you still care to read bout it... (insert teary-eyed self here)

P.S. I know that Yashiro doesn't know how to drive but Because this is my story and it's a fanfic. Guys, Gimme a break… haha, he is driving ;D

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