Keep on trying
Disclaimer: I do not own Skip Beat~! or any of it's characters.
Chapter 50
Nothing left to prove
Yashiro looked at Ren concerned. His client was looking outside the car window with an emotionless expression on his face. With earphones put over his ears, he gave Yashiro an easy to understand message. 'He really doesn't want to talk about it… . I hope I could help him somehow.' He sighed deeply, checking Ren's speech once more. They said that it was perfect, but he still doubted the word choice. 'Somehow it sounds as if he wanted to take a break from acting.' He could not imagine it. Tsuruga-san's schedule was always full. It didn't have to be this way. If Ren had some other hobbies or close relations with someone, he could have changed it. But years have passed and he was the same as ever – working all day long with no breaks or time to rest. 'What would he do with his life, if he gave up on acting?' Yashiro didn't want to think about it.
When they arrived, Ren came in quickly, totally ignoring all the paparazzi. At the same time Yashiro tried to block the way for the crowd. The press wasn't the problem itself. Ren's manager found it difficult to stop his teenage fans. Usually the young actor would smile at them and made them nosebleed and become less dangerous taken as a whole. Today however, his gloomy face gave the reporters some good article material. Yashiro didn't like it at all.
Ren met the actor, who would be in charge of playing Katsuki in his place. They smiled politely and chatted for a while, but everyone could see that they didn't get on well with each other. Luckily director Ogata came into the room, improving the mood quickly. He bowed to everyone and talked about the most important things. Yashiro found that a perfect moment to cheer Ren up. "Are you stressed?" his client ignored his question, trying to look like he was deep in thoughts. It didn't work. "Ren, don't ignore me please. I want to make sure you're OK with it." Finally he looked at him. "Truth be told, I'm not OK with it, but is there any chance to change it?" It made Yashiro quiet. Ren was rehearsing his speech and soon it was his time to start the press conference.
"Don't worry too much. It's not like you're being thrown to the wolves." he tried comfort him. "Oh, is it?" Ren could only answer. And so he put the best of his smiles on his face and walked into the meeting room. The flashes from the cameras made him blind for a moment. Some reporters were already asking some uneasy questions. 'Now or never.' he thought.
"Good afternoon. I'm glad you came here. There has been some rumours going around about the shooting of Dark Moon. Today I will explain everything and then you will have a chance to ask me any of your question." He was proud of himself. He hid his true emotions and managed to keep his voice firmly. "It is said that I failed as a Katsuki. To be honest, he's not an easy character to act. His feelings are most of the time smothered and he can not show them to the people he truly loves. Twenty years ago a great actor managed to create a perfect Katsuki. Today our aim is to conceive the better version of that drama and we can not let anyone fail this mission." Ren took a deep breath.
"That is why I'm resigning from this role." The room was filled with murmurs and whispers and some of the reporters took a photo of him. He kept a straight face, while trying not to look as heartbroken as he felt. It reminded him of his early years as an actor. Failing. Letting down. Being frustrated. He really wanted to perform the best Katsuki, yet he underwhelmed everyone once more. 'Enough of it!' he thought to himself. 'I won't let it break me. I have something else to do.'
"A week ago I had a pleasure to meet some aspiring, young actors. Most of them didn't act well and some of them were like a professionals. But it doesn't matter now, really. What I saw in everyone's eyes was their determination. And happiness. Then I realised that I lacked it. I didn't enjoy acting as someone, who I can't understand. So not only for the sake of the production, but my sanity as well, I will gladly let someone else create the new Katsuki that you're all waiting for. Are there any questions?" he ended with a rhetorical statement.
"What was the most difficult part in acting as a Katsuki?", "His feelings." Ren didn't hesitate a second. "I've never been in forbidden love and I wasn't able to fake it realistically.", "Is there anyone you're going out with now?" Tsuruga-san did his best not to sigh. They would ask the same thing, no matter the topic of the conference. "No, I'm not. And predicting your next question – I'm not in love with anyone currently."
"But is there anyone you want to see right now?" the reporter wasn't convinced. Suddenly the image of Kyoko flashed in front of Ren's eyes. 'Why did I think about her?' He wondered. 'I guess that I'm worried about her health state.' The journalists noticed his hesitation and made some photos quickly. Ren managed to come up with a story about someone important, so they were quite satisfied. 'Maybe they will create some kind of rumour that will outshine my statement?' he really hoped so.
"Are you scared of the actor taking your place?" They asked and asked. It took him another fifteen minutes to answer. Then his replacement was introduced and he had a moment to relax. It all ended quickly. No controversial accusations made it easier of course. Ren noticed Lory in the end of the room. He pointed the room next to the one they were then and Tsuruga-san knew that he was expected there. So he left that place and hoped that the next conversation wouldn't be more difficult than the previous one.
Ren didn't notice a deadly glance from the actor in charge of Katsuki's role. It didn't last long, so no one could read his heart. 'It's the beginning of your end, Tsuruga-san. Just wait for me to steal your first place.'
AN/ Hello everyone! It's been a looong day! As always, thank you for your support :). You make my life! Look at this cover! My friend told me that it's only a sketch, but I love it already! I hope you have a great day and see you soon~!
