Chapter Twenty Eight: The Anticipated Day
March fourteenth dawned clear and chilly, with the faint scent of spring in the air. Kyoko felt optimistic about her day. Yes, she had filming that afternoon for VBR, and she'd been called in to test run a pilot for a few shows for the President. But she also got to have lunch with Ren today, and she was going out with the Box R girls for dinner tonight. It was going to be a good day, there was that feeling under her skin of incredible excitement that always precluded something happening.
Once she went downstairs, she found a package had been delivered to her, postmarked from California. She took it back upstairs and opened it. Inside the box was an outfit. In the accompanying letter, she found that it was an everyday outfit that Julie had designed for her from both of her adoptive parents (in-laws? Was it too early for that?). It was perfect, and Kyoko changed into it immediately. She added a little bit of makeup and ran a round brush through her hair. The girl in the mirror looked like she was ready to take on any challenge, and deep in her heart, among the angels and grudges, a feeling rose up of recognition. This is who she was inside, and she was ready for the world to see it.
Sebastian gave her a nod of approval when he picked her up. Once she arrived at LME, people gave her compliments on her look. Minako was talking to Sawara in his office when Kyoko walked in to get her assignments for the day.
"I like this look on you," said Minako approvingly. "It's youthful-mature. It'll definitely help with drawing attention to you for all the right reasons."
"Thank you," said Kyoko. "Julie Hizuri is helping me. I think she's visiting for Golden Week and has decided to take me shopping."
"Ah yes, you're quite close with the Hizuris," smiled Minako. "Developing your own style as you come to the forefront of the public eye is very important."
"Minako is right," said Sawara. "Here are your assignments for today. Chiori will be here in an hour – early morning photo shoot – and she'll help you with the pilot projects. And also this-" he offered her a small white wrapped box "- is for you. Please accept it, along with my gratitude for all of your hard work."
Kyoko accepted the box. She unwrapped it at Sawara's urging and found a box of chocolate truffles that had been dipped in white chocolate. She thanked him profusely and tucked the box into her bag. After clarifying a few points of the assignment, she went down to the LoveMe room to put her things in her locker. She ran into Hiroaki Ogata and was given a return gift from him as well, also chocolates. She made it to her locker and had put her things away when Maria came flying into the room, an excited smile on her face.
"Grandfather told me about you and Ren!," crowed Maria. "I'm so happy for you. My favourite people love each other, and that makes me happy."
"You're okay with it, Maria?" asked Kyoko hesitantly.
"Yes," said Maria firmly. "I knew since the day before the tarot readings. And I really thought about it and thought about my feelings and did some growing up. So I'm happy because you make each other happy. Because that's what matters."
"Your happiness is important too."
"Well yes," agreed Maria. "But I don't think that I'd really be happy with Ren, or that he would really be happy with me. But you're happy together, and it's real so I accept it and support you."
"Thank you Maria," said Kyoko, flinging her arms around her little sister. "That means so much to me."
Maria hugged her back, then spotted the cooler sitting on the bench beside them. "Is that for Ren?"
"Yes. I forgot to give him his gift on Valentines Day," said Kyoko sheepishly. "So I'm going to do it today."
"Well then go find him," said Maria, as though it was obvious.
"He's on set right now," pointed out Kyoko.
"Oh."
"Want to help me criticize bad romance shows?"
"Sure!"
They sat together quietly while the show played. Kyoko took notes and Maria made comments on the acting, the costuming, and the cheesy dialogue. When Chiori arrived forty-five minutes later, Kyoko had written a five page essay on what was wrong with the show and why it was bad, with emphasis on the scripting and direction. Chiori silently took the finished pages and began proofreading them before she had even put her things away. She made corrections and asked clarifying questions as she went. Maria watched her big sister and her friend as they finished the first part of their assignment for the day.
They were on the fourth show when the door opened again and Ren and Kanae walked in together. They were discussing the finer points of acting in a death scene, arguing the fine line between believable and overdone. Kyoko leapt to her feet and glomped an unsuspecting Kanae, who, after a moment, returned the hug. Once they let go of each other, Kyoko turned to Ren with a bright smile, which he returned with a smile so warm and tender it killed any doubts that he loved her. She leaned up and pecked his cheek, and he wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her hair.
"Ahem," said Chiori dryly. "We do still need Kyoko, Tsuruga."
Ren straightened up. "Right. Hello Miss Amamiya."
"It's nice to finally actually meet you," said Chiori. "Kyoko has said so much about you that I feel like I know you a bit."
"Kyoko has talked quite a bit about you as well," said Ren. "I'm happy that she has such good friends around her."
Chiori shrugged. "I think we're all happy to be around her."
"I have something for you," said Kyoko, a bit sheepishly. "I was going to give it to you on Valentine's Day, but I forgot and then I didn't have another chance that day. So here, for you." She handed him the cooler. He opened it and pulled out the box that was inside it.
"May I open it?" asked Ren.
"Of course," said Kyoko.
He unwrapped the cloth around it and found a pretty bento box. Opening the box, he found small balls of what looked like a kind of sweet. "What are these?"
"They're emergency snack balls," explained Kyoko. "They're healthy, with protein, fruit and carbs all rolled together. If you're in a rush between sets, you can at them quickly and still get your nutrients without all the salt from convenience store food."
"Thank you," said Ren, smiling broadly. "Will you teach me how to make them? They look wonderful, and if I can make them for myself then I'll have a supply so I won't go hungry. I promise to still eat meals."
"Good," said Kyoko. She beamed. "Try one and see if you like them."
Ren popped one into his mouth. He made a pleased sound, and a look of wonder crossed his face. "These are fantastic!"
"I'm glad you like them," said Kyoko.
Ren handed the box to Yashiro and reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box wrapped in white paper. "This is for you. Happy White Day, Kyoko."
She accepted the box. "Can I open it?"
"Go ahead," said Ren. Kyoko pulled the paper off and opened the box. Inside were two tickets. Kyoko picked them up and looked at them carefully. She gasped and looked up at Ren.
"These are for Yotsuya Kaiden!" said Kyoko. "I thought they were sold out for all dates."
"I went on the first day that the tickets were on sale and got them," said Ren. "You were talking about different kabuki performances that you'd heard about as a child, so I thought maybe you'd like to actually go."
"Youtsuya Kaiden is a great story," said Chiori. "Oiwa is a Mio, but more intense? More extreme? Yeah, that. You're going to have a great time."
"Make sure you take the whole day off, both of you," advised Kanae. "I was a ticket girl for a while, so I got to see little bits of different performances. If you're seeing the whole thing, then make sure that you have the time to do it."
"You'll go with me, won't you, Ren?" asked Kyoko worriedly.
"I would be honoured," said Ren. "I've never been to kabuki before. Maybe we can go over the story before we go?"
"I'd like that," smiled Kyoko. "This is the best."
"I'm glad you like it," said Ren.
"We have to go Ren," said Yashiro. "Don't make me kick you again."
"Right," said Ren. "May I kiss you?" Kyoko leaned up and met him halfway.
"Ahem."
They let go of each other. Ren waved awkwardly to the other girls and let his manager drag him out of the room. Once he was out of the room, Kanae and Chiori rounded on a still-dazed Kyoko.
"So, when are you graduating?" asked Kanae.
"Eh? Oh, no idea," said Kyoko happily. "We should go for lunch together sometime."
"So you're not going to forget us?" asked Chiori quietly.
"Of course not!" said Kyoko. "I love Ren, but I love my friends too. Differently, but that doesn't mean less important."
Kanae wrapped Kyoko in a tight hug, and after a moment, Chiori joined them. "We're gonna hold you to that, you know."
"I'm okay with that."