Chapter Twenty Seven: Legends and Myths
Minako's office was meticulously clean and organized. The rest of her team sat in open cubicle on either side of an aisle that led to a door with her name plate on it. When Ren and Kyoko entered the Public Relations department of LME, the entire office was waiting for them. There was applause and smiles and gestures of support from the various people there. Kyoko couldn't stop her blush or small smile, and Ren decided to not let go of her hand. Minako was waiting for them in the doorway to her office, and once they reached her, she ushered them inside.
To no one's surprise, President Takarada had taken over Minako's desk and was beaming at them. Minako perched herself on one of the corners of her desk, and gestured Ren and Kyoko into the uncomfortable looking guest chairs in front of her. The head of PR glared at them, and clicked a pointer at a projected image on the wall of a celebrity news site that was streaming pictures and speculation. The Kyoko in the pictures was a glowing, happy girl on a date with the man she loved. The Ren in the pictures was an unguarded and content Ren on a date with a girl he obviously adored. Minako clicked her tongue at them.
"Of all the reckless things you could have done," began Minako harshly before a genuinely pleased smile crossed her face, "I am pleased that it was this. Tracking you through Disneyland would have been a nightmare."
"We were headed to Disneyland when you called," said Ren.
"I am more interested in the details," said President Takarada. He leaned forward eagerly. "So? Who confessed to who? Where did you do it? Have you spoken to your parents, Ren? Have you spoken to your guardians, Kyoko? How did Kotonami take it? Amamiya? Are you comfortable? Would you like a glass of water?"
"Water would be appreciated," said Ren firmly. "If you're going to grill us like a talk show host the least you can do is hydrate us."
The president poured them all glasses of water.
"To answer your questions," said Ren, "I confessed to Kyoko first, in a side hall near the LoveMe room. No I haven't spoken to my parents yet, as I've been a bit busy and so have they. Yes, we've had a conversation with Kyoko's guardians. Miss Kotonami seemed supportive when I met her earlier today. I have yet to meet Miss Amamiya. I am very uncomfortable in this chair. Thank you for the water."
"Kyoko?"
"Ren confessed to me," said Kyoko. "I confessed back though. I was going to confess anyway because I was getting hurt by not saying anything. I haven't met Ren's parents yet. My guardians are supportive but cautious. They don't want me to get hurt. Moko-san is supportive because she wants me to be happy, and she knows that I'm never going to forget about our friendship. Same with Chiori. These chairs are rather uncomfortable. I was a bit thirsty before, so thank you for the water."
"So Tsuruga Ren confessed first," said Minako, smirking. "Well well well. None of us thought that you'd do it. Majority of bets were on Kyoko speaking up first."
"Why?"
"Because she's braver than you."
President Takarada was frowning. "You didn't tell her?"
"Tell her what?" asked Minako.
"Tell me what?" echoed Kyoko.
"Not yet," fidgeted Ren. "There's time for that."
"Ren."
Kyoko placed a hand on his arm. "Tell me what?"
Ren sighed heavily.
"Is it something I've done? Are you really engaged to a beautiful princess? Will your parents expect someone better than me?"
Kyoko's increasing hysteria snapped Ren out of his staring contest with the president and turned his full attention to her. He leaned forward to kiss her forehead, which stilled her.
"They won't expect someone better than you because they think that you're amazing and too good for me," said Ren with a self-deprecating half-smile. "You've, ah, met them already. They've been threatening to adopt you, they like you so much. You're the only beautiful princess I'd want to be engaged to. And the only thing you've done is be incredible and amazing and wonderful."
"I've met them?" said Kyoko, confusion written across her face. "When?"
"You didn't meet them as Ren's parents," said Ren. "You met them as your mentors. My dad decided to mentor you and support your career after he met you, and he talks to you regularly to give you tips and support. My mom recently gave you makeup tips and a wardrobe makeover. She was really excited, she forgot to exaggerate her bad health to make me feel bad for moving away."
"What."
"You know how Ren Tsuruga is a stage name, and that I said I'd tell you what the real one was eventually?"
"I remember."
"Ren Tsuruga was born Kuon Hizuri. February 10 19-, Los Angeles, California. I left after my best friend died trying to save me. I wanted to make a career for myself, without my father setting the bar so high I could never jump over it."
Minako whirled on the president. "No wonder you said that his parents were more important than I thought! Kuu and Julie Hizuri! Of all the people in all the world."
"Not now, Minako," hissed Lory. "Not the time. But eventually, we're going to have to reveal who he really is to the world."
Kyoko was still and silent. Ren was vibrating in his chair with anxiety, waiting for her to speak. After an agonizing ten minutes, she did.
"Father is your dad? Mother is your mom?"
"Yes."
"And they really like me?"
"More than they like me, I think."
"They want me to be their daughter?"
"Very much."
"Me?"
"No one but you."
"Oh."
Ren reached out to take her hand, thought the better of it, retracted his hand, thought the better of that, and slipped his hand into hers. She squeezed his hand hard enough that he felt the bones move. Lory looked between the two of them, his own anxiety growing. Minako pulled out her phone and went through her departmental memos that the outer office had been sending her regarding various talents at the agency.
"What do I call you?" asked Kyoko finally.
"I mean, you could call me Ren in public and Kuon in private, if you wanted?" suggested Ren. "I'm still figuring out who I am under my public persona. It's a challenge, but I think it's a worthwhile one. But I'd like to be Kuon to you."
"Corn?"
"Yes?"
"I love you."
"I love you t—wait, you called me Corn."
"It was you, wasn't it? The fairy prince I met in Kyoto and Guam?"
"Yes."
"I thought so. I have something to tell you too."
"Yes?"
"My first acting job was for a variety show. I got fired on my first day for being unprofessional, but was rehired due to massive popularity of the character I'd created. The director still doesn't like me, even if the rest of the cast and crew do, and so do the guests. You know the character really well because he's like your shrink."
"You're the chicken?" said Ren in disbelief. "No way."
"Yup," said Kyoko. "I'm the chicken. I had no idea that you had feelings for me specifically. I guess I didn't want to hope. But I'm glad that I could help you find Katsuki and the courage to tell me – actual me – how you feel."
"Wow."
"Are you disappointed?"
"More stunned than anything. I should have guessed though. No one has the same energy as you do. And going after Fuwa with a badminton racquet is exactly the kind of thing then-you would have done."
"It was a little immature," agreed Kyoko. "But watching him freak out was pretty worth it. He was sweating bullets and tackled me, trying to rip the mascot head off."
Ren laughed. "I can't believe that we've been collaborating to get us together this whole time. Almost two years of convincing, and I find out that you've been trying to convince me to ask you out without knowing it was you I was interested in that whole time."
"Please never share that part of the story with the press," instructed Minako. "It'll be funnier when it comes out at the wedding."
"Minako, please," said Kyoko. "Don't jinx it. I just want to enjoy what we have and build on that slowly so that we can have a solid relationship."
"I second that," said Ren. "Marriage is a long way away right now. But I still want it to be part of our story. Just not right this moment."
"You two are a mess," said Lory, standing. "My favourite mess, but a mess nonetheless. Off you go to enjoy the rest of your day together. Just, a little more discrete please."
"Yes, president," they chorused. Minako shooed the three of them out of her office, and Lory strolled out of the room like a cat with cream and a canary, followed by smiling and blushing Ren and Kyoko. Yashiro, Maria and Chiori tackled the happy couple as they left the PR offices and the happy laughter echoed through the halls of LME, confusing everyone who didn't know the happy news.