This can't be true. How? No, why? Why would anyone learn to act like this for revenge? "Your acting skills have improved in a very short amount of time." It really has. "R...really!?" Yes, in my opinion I would say that it has. "You did well playing the character's role. Not only are your lines accurate, even your expression is quite good." Is this what she's been learning at the acting academy? "I...learned this from school! In the lesson where they taught 'don't only depend on a script for acting!' I learned that it could be the same setting, but depending on the role, it could give a different mood! In class, students had to perform many times using dialogue exchange. Because I've never done it before, I had to pay extra attention!" I don't get it she seems to be glowing, like she's actually happy. "Even though it's very hard, I'm very happy..!" Eh?! What was that? Why would she be happy? "Why...you...learned acting...isn't it for revenge against Fuwa?" Tell me the truth…. "No way! Who would do it because of him? My goal wasn't to get revenge on him when I went to study acting!" Did she have to scream so loud? I-I think I've temporarily gone deaf. I should probably say something. If I say something maybe my ears will start working again. Besides I want...no I need to know her reason "...then for what reason?" What is it? "Maybe it's to change to a new Kyoko Mogami. I have never done anything I've wanted to do since I was young. Every time I did something, it was for someone else. I always lived for other people until now. But, it's different now. Learning how to act, I feel like I'm doing it for myself...using it to create my new self. This makes me very happy. I want...to experience more things, absorb more and open up my own world." Ah I see….she's like me. She wants to recreate herself into someone better, someone that she can like. I don't know why, but I feel as if a great burden has been lifted from my heart. I'm happy for her. I'm happy to know that there's something inside of her other than hate. I really do believe her.

3:05 AM

Oh geez...she fell asleep studying on the floor. She looks really cute and peaceful. Wait, cute? I better wake her up or she may be the one with the cold. "Missy...you'll catch a cold sleeping here. There's a bed in the guest room. Go ahead and have a good sleep" I'd feel bad if a girl got sick because she was taking care of me. "Ahhhhh!" What kind of reaction was that? How rude. I don't think I've ever had someone, especially someone of the opposite sex yell at me in...how would I describe it? surprise? fear?...when the see my face. "You didn't sleep last night because you were taking care of me right? Even if you are taking an exam, there's a limit to studying." Really this habit of hers hasn't changed. "You're acting as if you must get a perfect score." Heh...her smiling and laughing form is very endearing. I think I better drive my point home. "Working hard is a good thing, but nothing should be overdone. Or else, it would be a shame to faint on the day of the exam." Geez...it clearly says that I hit a bullseye. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if the huge improvement in her acting was because of her scary perseverance.

Later that Same Day

Hahahaha...I don't remember the last time I had so much fun. I can't help myself when I'm around her. Her strict code of propriety and extreme behavior makes it ten times more enjoyable when I tease her. Especially about her sleeping in the bath and accidentally walking into my room. Pfft...her feelings are written on her face, but the things that come out of her mouth can be so bizarre. To think she was able to help me keep my perfect attendance record by biking us to the shoot location while avoiding a mob of fans. Heh...I need to make sure to thank her the next time I see her.

Next Week

I know Sawara-san said I'd see her here during this time, but I still haven't seen hide nor chestnut brown hair of Mogami-sa….wait a second….there she i- pfft...what a scary face...I wonder how she'll act if I call her. "Hi. It always takes you so long to answer the phone. Still not used to using your cell phone? Also, you count as an artist who has been on TV already. You should not walk on the streets with a scary face. No, my bad. Even if you aren't an artist, a lady should not make such a scary face. Am I right?" Hahaha...seriously because of her antics, every time I see her, she makes everything just a bit more interesting. "Tsuruga-san, how did you know my number?" Oh yea. There's a reason I was looking for her. "That...actually I've been trying to find you, so Sawara-san gave me your number." Yup... "Find me? Do you need anything?" Yup...I need to properly thank you. "Yes, but because I've been busy, I have not had a chance to contact you. Luckily, Sawara-san told me I might see you here today. I heard that it is part of the Love Me Section's work, but you're not wearing that uniform of yours." She really looks cute in her school uniform and to think she managed to get full points on her entrance exam. I've known of her studying prowess, but even I'm impressed. What is she saying? "Though you may have said those words unconsciously. I must...thank you." So adorable. "The one who should be saying thank you...should be me. This is also why I came to find you today. That day...thanks to you, I managed to get there on time." Yes, thanks to her….I made it on time. She also did so much for me. For me...without a thought to herself. It made me feel… "...I...never imagined you'd give me a point Tsuruga-san because I...didn't think I did anything worth thanking for." Why would she say that? "Look after you when you were sick, cook and protect your attendance...is something a manager should do…" Wait… "Y-you are so modest Kyoko-" ...wait…. "Eh...what!? Isn't that your job? This would be part of my job in taking care of Tsuruga-san when he's sick, or else if Tsuruga-san had to take a day off, then wouldn't it be my fault? That kind of thing, I definitely can't accept." she… "Anyways, I am only doing what is given to me...to the best of my abilities!" -she didn't do it for me. She did it for her own self-satisfaction. Well then I will just have to remedy what I just awarded her. "Mogami-san. Okay, I'm done. Here." Heh...yes, here. "What is this?...this…" Serves you right. "Need to ask? Doesn't it clearly say 90 points? What does she have to complain about? "I'm not asking about that! I-it w-was….you clearly stamped 100 points…! Why...did you deduct 10 points…!?" That's because you did it for yourself. "Ohh. Because it was the wrong stamp. I didn't realize it wasn't the 90 points stamp. Sorry about that." Now think of it as you will Mogami-san. "Faaaaaaaake! That smile is fake! I bet you suddenly changed your mind!" Heh! Whatever. Let her think of me as she will.

Next Week

"Oh...it's Kyoko-chan." Huh? Mogami-san? "Ren...did you tell Kyoko-chan...that we have to film elsewhere, so we'll be leaving Tokyo for a week or so?" Why would Yashiro be asking me that? "Huh? Nope. Why do we need to tell her?" Weird. "You two...were very friendly to each other last week, right?" Were we really? I didn't think so.. "Really? We were always the same, nothing changed…" Seriously what is Yashiro thinking? "The most obvious change is the way you look at Kyoko-chan...your eyes are more gentle now." What? That's impossible. "...Re...really…?" Th-that's not… "Yeah..a soft gaze that'll melt the heart of even the most cold hearted girl." I never realized that. I didn't think I looked at her that way. It's probably because that now the misunderstanding between us is gone, I see her in a new light and I feel happier after learning she didn't learn to act because of Sho. I don't want her to use revenge as a purpose to act. I don't want her to waste another moment of her precious life with that feeling in her heart. If she's using revenge, then I hope she forgets him and they don't meet again. I hope she doesn't ever meet Sho again.

2 Days Later

Phew...the photoshoot is going well. Everything is going as scheduled and… "I really do not get you." What is it now? "What is it?" I finally get a break and now Yashiro is asking cryptic questions. "You are a prudent person in both judgement and decision. It is a first for you to carelessly stamp something. Was it honestly a mistake? Oh geez...again? "You're still on that? Didn't we already discuss this on the airplane? I really gave her 100 points by accident." Why won't he believe me? Probably because he knows me. "Poor Kyoko-chan. Even if it was a mistake...to giver her a minus stamp after you've given her 100 points...even though she worked herself half to death for your sake!" *sigh* Yashiro she didn't do it for my sake. She did it for the job. "That girl's effort wasn't really for my sake. That girl was not trying to make sure that I did not have trouble with my work. She did it out of a sense of duty and because of that self-satisfaction, I can't give her 100 points." *sigh* "I see...so you really did initially give her 100 points, but after hearing about her self-satisfaction, you gave her minus points." Ah...shit...did I say that aloud? "Oh….so that's it...I also thought that it wasn't the whole story." Crap… "Was I being childish? To change her score afterwards." Well...looking back it probably was very childish of me. "Yeah...you were, but I can understand your feelings. You believe that she tried her best for your sake and were shocked to find out she did it out of a sense of responsibility. And this from the girl that you like." The what? What did Yashiro say? "Eh?" That's impossible. What Yashiro is saying is impossible. "It is true that I don't hate her. But when I gave her the minus point It was because she didn't understand what it means to be in the Love Me section. It has nothing to do with the sentimental thing you're talking about." Yup that's exactly it. That's the exact reason why. Why would I like Mogami-san? Yashiro is a bit of a weirdo so I won't think anything of it.

Later that Night

*sigh* Another day complete. Another scotch on the rocks. Yashiro's words have been echoing in my head all day. Why would that thought even cross his mind? There's no way that can be true. I've never felt that way about anyone before. At least not to the extent he was describing. Well whatever. *yawn* Yashiro is Yashiro after all. I won't let what he said bother me anymore. I better get some rest now. I have an early day tomorrow.


Thank you for reading Chapter 7 of Who Am I. I always loved this chapter of the manga because of Ren's blossoming feelings and Kyoko's transformation (you'll have to read the manga since this part had nothing to do with Ren). Please continue to review so that I may continue to improve. Let me know your thoughts! =)

~Kaede Itsuki~