"Ren, do you know why I called you here right?" Lory seriously asked the actor before him.
"Yes, it's about the remake of Tsukigomori."
He nodded "It looks like you are the same with Ogata-kun. You want to surpass Tsukigomori from twenty years ago or something like that, right...?"
"Yes."
"Forget it. I won't let you." Ren snapped his eyes on him.
"Please don't decide it before I've tried."
Lory blew the smoke from his cigar "I know it already. Although I noticed that your 'romance' in front of the camera has improved a little, I still won't let you act the part."
"Why? This my first step in surpassing him, if my Katsuki will be better than him, then –"
"That is the reason why I won't let you." Lory cut him off "His Katsuki in Tsukigomori is where he was discovered in Hollywood. I don't want you act the role with that kind of thinking." He sighed "You and Ogata-kin have the same goal in mind, and that's to surpass the original, but Ren, if you insisted to act it out you'll only copy his performance, but copying will not exceed the original."
Ren clenched his fist. I would rather die than to copy his work.
"Can you really act Katsuki without getting pressured?"
"I can!" He exclaimed, Lory raised his eyebrow and doubtfully look at him "Please boss, give me a chance to play this part. I will show you that I can surpass him."
"You are so stubborn! I know you will get stuck somewhere in the middle, and I won't help you!"
Ren reluctantly smiled at him "I will surely make my own Katsuki with my own strength, boss." He stood up and bowed at him. His assistant escorted him to the door.
Fool. You don't know the weight of your father's name until you will get stuck in the middle. Lory thought.
"You have to let go of your desire to surpass him in order to surpass him, Kuon."
Kyoko was humming while running an errand for her Love Me request when she heard a soft sob. She froze, she looked around and noticed that there are no employees around, but the sobs are getting louder.
D-don't tell me this part of the building is haunted? She shivered at her own thoughts. She peeked to where the voice came from and saw a blond and fair-skinned man.
He's so pretty! A bishounen! She shook her head from her rude descriptions to the man. She saw Yashiro-san approached the man.
The bespectacled manager handed him a cup of coffee.
"Ren is still in the meeting with the president, director. Let's wait for the good news. He said that he will accept the part."
Shaking her head, Kyoko was ready to leave, scolding herself for being an eavesdropper.
The director shook his head "No matter how much Tsuruga-kun wants to participate, if President Takarada oppose to it then I have no choice but to replace him."
She stopped. Eh? W-what...? Why would president do that to Corn?
"Do you perhaps know the reason for the President's opposition?"
"Excuse me gentlemen" Kyoko sit on the floor in front of them and placed the pile of papers beside her. "I was about to walk away but I'm really curious in your conversation. I'm already eavesdropping so I'll sit here and let me join your conversation openly."
Yashiro-san snorted. What kind of reason is that? What a superb frankness Kyoko-chan! Hahaha!
The director tilted his head "Eh? Uhm... Who...?"
"Sorry for my rudeness, I'm Mogami Kyoko, I'm from Love Me Section. I heard you talking about President opposed in Tsuruga-san's acting on a role, and as his junior in the industry, I want to know about it."
Yashiro-san bit his tongue to control himself not to laugh "Oh Kyoko-chan, this is Director Hiraoki Ogata, the director of Ren's new drama series, Tsukigomori."
"It's nice to meet you, Kyoko-chan."
"Same to you director. So back to topic, what's the reason for the President's opposition?" She asked Yashiro-san's question earlier.
"Oh, he said that Tsuruga-san will likely be pressured in acting Katsuki on the climax of the series."
"Why would he?" Both Yashiro-san and Kyoko asked him.
"Because the original Katsuki was performed by the now famous Hollywood actor, Hizuri Kuu. Hizuri-sama was discovered in Hollywood thru his Katsuki, and President Takarada said that Tsuruga-kun can't handle that kind of pressure."
Kyoko was stunned. Hizuri Kuu... His father... He'll going to remake the role of his father... Of course there's pressure, but Corn can do it... He will surpass his father's Katsuki, and then he can finally open his wings and soar in the sky...
"Director!" Kyoko stared at the bishounen director "He can do it! Tsuruga-san can do it! Just believe in him and he will give you the Katsuki that only he can portray!" She stated seriously.
Ogata-san was taken aback at Kyoko's firm statement. Is she perhaps... He mentally shook his head, now is not the time to think about that.
"Thank you, Kyoko-chan. I also believe in him, that's why I personally choose him. I don't know of any other actor who can portray and surpass the Katsuki from twenty years ago."
"Director..." The three turned and saw the actor in the topic approaching them. "I will play the part." He informed him.
"Eh? What about President Takarada? Did he give you an 'okay'?"
Ren softly smiled "Reluctantly, yes."
"But yes is a yes, right?" Kyoko smiled at him.
"Yeah..." He whispered.
The director was delighted with the good news and thanked him before leaving the building, he can now arrange for the press conference.
"Good luck, Ren!" Yashiro-san patted his shoulder "This will be your first heavy romance drama."
"I'll do my best." Then he glanced at the teenager "Don't you have a work to do?" he asked.
"Eh?" The actor pointed at the pile of papers on the floor. "OH MY GOD! Sawara-san will kill me for being late!" She exclaimed in horror.
Ren chuckled as he watched her running to the elevator.
The actor woke up by the scent of freshly cooked breakfast. He softly smiled, he can't get used to it. Ren get up from his bed and went to the kitchen, and there he saw her cheerfully humming setting the table.
The TV was on and the entertainment news was talking about the remake of the most watched drama from twenty years ago, Tsukigomori, which will be titled in English, Dark Moon.
"Good morning, sweetheart." He hugged her from behind, Kyoko yelped in surprise and blushed. He can't help but softly laughed at her reaction.
After all this time... He amusingly thought.
"G-g-g-good morning, Corn. You have press conference today right?"
He nodded "Yeah. Will you watch?"
"Of course! I will spare a time to watch it." Kyoko felt he tighten his embrace on her. "Are you... nervous?"
"Yes..." He whispered "Because the original Katsuki is simply amazing."
Kyoko maneuvered herself in his embrace to face him; she brushed his bangs and stared at his beautiful green eyes. She warmly smiled at him.
"You are amazing on your way, don't compare yourself to him. Show us, show me, the Katsuki that only Tsuruga Ren can portray."
He mirrored her smile "I will."
"Now, take a bath and I will prepare your suit and let's have breakfast."
The actor let go of his embrace and went to bathroom. He stared at his reflection in the mirror.
Can I really act Katsuki that will surpass his? 'Ren' asked his inner self.
You can, and you must. We can do this, and then we are a step closer in stepping out from his shadows.
Yeah...
We will show him, them, that we have talent that's greater than him. 'Kuon' firmly stated.
'Ren' clenched his hands. And then no one will ever dare to say that we are only riding on his fame.
'Kuon' softly smiled. Right, and for Kyoko-chan... I want to make her proud.
Me too... 'Ren' whispered.
Ren drive Kyoko to her school. Taking some courage, she quickly planted a kiss on his lips wishing him good luck and jumped from his car - blushing hard, leaving a squealing bespectacled manager, and stunned and bewildered actor.
He laughed softly and drive to the studio, amused at her capriciousness behavior.
At break time, Kyoko joined the other students gathered in the cafeteria, watching at the Dark Moon's live press conference.
"Ah! I can't wait to watch Tsuruga-san's Katsuki~" One of the female students squealed. Her peers chorused in agreement.
"I'll make sure to watch it, because it's Tsuruga-san's first romance drama."
Kyoko softly smiled at the positive feedbacks she was hearing.
Look Corn, it's not only me who was looking forward to your Katsuki.
But a certain voice made her mood foul.
"Hmp! What's so good about Tsuruga Ren? Mimori's Sho-chan is way more talented and better than him!" Mimori exclaimed, together with other Fuwa Sho fangirls behind her.
No one minded her snide remark for Director Ogata fainted when one of the reporters mentioned about his father being the director of the said drama twenty years ago and the press conference was in panic.
I see... So like Corn, he was also haunted by his father's shadow... Kyoko thought sadly.