I do not own Skip Beat!
Kyouko followed Ren's gaze down to their joined hands. She blushed furiously and pulled back. Ren's smile drooped a little, but he didn't resist.
"We should check the okonomiyaki," she said, hastily removing the cover and lifting up the okonomiyaki with a spatula. She dropped it in the table with a hiss off pain. In her distraction, she had bumper her arm on the hot edge of the lid.
Ren was out of his seat and by her side in a second. He dipped his napkin in his ice-water and leaned over her, taking her arm in one hand and using the other to dab the wet napkin on the burn.
"It's ok," Kyouko said, trying to retract her arm.
"We need to cool it off," he said, dabbing at the slightly pink spot.
"Tsuruga-san, it's really fine," she said. Her face was several shades darker than the minor burn.
He glanced from her arm to her face. They were mere inches apart.
"I'm really fine," she said, voice just above a whisper. "I'm sure it won't even show by tomorrow."
"You always get hurt trying to cook for me," he said with a frown.
"I've cooked for you lots of times without getting hurt," she said, looking up at him. She turned away again, realizing that he was still dangerously close. "Tsuruga-san. I need to finish the food."
"Ah, right," he said, clearing his throat. He returned to his seat and Kyouko finished the food. She flipped it over, waited until it was cooked the rest of the way, then topped it with okonomiyaki sauce, mayonnaise, bonito and aonori flakes. She then cut the savory pancakes into slices.
"Eat up," she said, glancing up nervously.
Ren tried a bite and smiled. "It's delicious."
"Really?" Kyouko asked. She tried a bite herself, smiled and closed her eyes, savoring the tasted.
"I think I like watching you eat more than actually eating," Ren said.
"I think you'd like being interrogated by the police more than eating," Kyouko said.
"Well, I wouldn't go that far," he laughed.
"I can't believe you admitted not having eaten and even went to far as to suggest dinner," Kyouko laughed. "You know, if we'd just talked on the phone, you could have avoided eating."
"But then I wouldn't have gotten to see you," he said.
Kyouko could feel her face growing red. She took another bite of okonomiyaki so she wouldn't have to say anything.
Ren sighed.
"Tell me about your new role, Mogami-san," he said. "That was, after all the purpose of this meal."
Kyouko visibly relaxed.
"You already know all about it, Tsuruga-san," she said with a laugh. "In fact, you probably know more about it than me, since it's your show."
"But I haven't gotten to hear your thoughts on the new part," he said. "And you're the one who makes Rika come alive."
Kyouko blushed at the compliment.
"Well, at first, I felt like Rika was hard to play," she said. "She doesn't have the impact of Mio or Natsu. She's just so…normal."
Ren smiled and waited for Kyouko to continue.
"But after I got to know her, I really began to like her," she said. "So when they wrote her into the rest of the drama, I was really excited."
"I'm glad they wrote her in too," Ren said. "I think the drama will be richer for having her in it."
"Really?" Kyouko asked, favoring Ren with one of her sweetest smiles.
"Absolutely," he said.
"Actually," Kyouko said, shyly, "I'm happy about this role for another reason too."
"Oh? Ren asked.
She felt her cheeks flame and her heart speed up. It was really embarrassing to say, but Ren was her sempai who'd always been supportive of her. She always went to him when she'd accomplished something worthwhile.
"Yes," she said, studying her now empty plate. "I feel like this role brings me a lot closer to my original goal in acting."
Kyouko ventured a glance up at Ren and was greeted by a dazzling smile, one that had not been turned her way in quite some time. Her brow furrowed in confusion and the color drained from her face. He was angry.
"Well, I'm glad I could be a part of it," he said.
A thud sounded in the background as the waitress was rendered unconscious by the brightness of Ren's smile. There was a commotion as other members of the wait staff rushed to the girl's aide.
The corner of the restaurant where the fallen waitress lay was no more tumultuous than the hearts of the patrons who had inadvertently caused the commotion.
Kyouko thought over her words, searching for anything she might have said to upset Ren, he was fine until she said that this role was helping her to reach her goal. She simply wanted to be worthy of working alongside Ren. It had been her goal since she was carried off the set of Ring Doh, to be able work opposite of Ren and hold her own. She felt that now, she would have the opportunity to try.
Was she being too presumptuous by thinking that she could face off against Japan's number one actor?
"Thank you for the meal, Mogami-san," Ren said, sparkling smile still in place.
"N—no, thank you," Kyouko said. "And thank you for listening to me. I'm sorry if I said anything to upset you."
"Why would I be upset?" Ren asked. "I got to enjoy a lovely meal with a lovely companion."
"Um, right," she said laughing nervously.
The drive home was awkward and silent. He walked her to the door when they arrived and thanked her for accompanying him, but his words felt hollow and flat.
Kyouko didn't know what she'd done wrong, or why she felt oddly like crying.
"Ah, Kyouko-chan," the Okami-san said, stepping into the hallway as Kyouko walked through the door. "How was your date?"
"It was fine," Kyouko said, smiling weakly and swallowing a lump in her throat. "I'm really tired though, so I think I'll go to bed early tonight."
The Okami-san's brow furrowed in concern. "Are you sure you're alright?"
"I'm fine, thank you," she said, climbing the stairs to her room.
She hung her dress back up and was putting on a pair of pajamas when her phone buzzed. Her smile revived a little when she saw the name displayed on the screen.
"Hello," she answered.
"Mou! If you're going to leave 37 messages, then keep your phone on you! I've been calling all night!" Kanae complained.
AN: Aaaaaaaaaaand I ruined it. But, it's not over, so please don't kill me before the end! :D If you'd like to let me know what you think, feel free to leave me a review :D