Kyoko releases from the kiss with Ren first and says, "That's strange."
"What is strange?" asks Ren.
Kyoko gives a short laugh and says, "I was waiting for the music to start. I had imagined this moment so many times in my head and each time it was always accompanied with music."
"And then?" asks Ren with a smile.
"What do you mean?"
"What happens after the music?" asks Ren, his smile turning seductive.
Kyoko stares tongue-tied. 'There it is, his "king of the night" smile. I had forgotten what a playboy he could be. Ahhh stop, before I lose control." she thinks.
Being an actress, Kyoko was always super-expressive and Ren had always been able to read her well. He can plainly see what is going through her mind. But he is in no mood to relent. As he waits, Kyoko gradually turns beet red.
"I didn't imagine that far.," she splutters.
"Don't worry," says Ren. "I am sure we can more than make up for your lack of imagination."
Back at the hotel, Shin wakes up. Quite late, in fact. He had been the stage manager for Kyoko and Carl at the alley. Armed with a flashlight and crouching at the second-floor window of the building just next to the alley, he had signaled when Ren had come close enough and then once more when he was just about to turn the corner. But he had not expected Kyoko-san to actually get hurt. He too had noticed her last-second movement in the direction of where the glass bottle would hit.
"That was not the plan, Kyoko-san," he says sitting up in bed with a groan. Turning and seeing the still empty Kyoko's bed, he is worried. Kyoko has not come back yet and Shin does not know what to make of her continued absence. When he had dashed madly downstairs and to the alley, he had found neither Ren nor Kyoko. Only a half-scared, half-angry Carl gingerly rubbing his neck. He hadn't been able to go in search of them as Carl had immediately caught hold of him and yelled a constant stream of words in English that Shin had not altogether understood.
Sitting in bed and gingerly rubbing his wrist where Carl had grabbed him, Shin hopes that Kyoko is with Ren. His instincts scream for him to dash to Ren's apartment - he knew where it was since Kyoko had told him. But he is afraid of spoiling Kyoko's one shot at uniting with her "prince".
What he doesn't know is that he would definitely not want to interrupt them if he knew what they were up to at that second.
So he saunters about in the snow rather aimlessly. Making some snow angels, randomly throwing snowballs at shuttered shop windows. Soon he reaches residential neighborhoods, and the people of Danville have somehow made this year especially wonderful and magical in terms of Christmas decorations. Shin passes an animated reindeer, a helium balloon Santa entering a chimney, and a Lego nativity scene before it strikes him, tomorrow is Christmas day and he needs to get a gift for Kyoko. He starts walking back quickly and with purpose.
Back at Ren's apartment, Ren and Kyoko seem to be floating in a cloud within which time and other practical things like lunch do no exist.
"I just couldn't feel anything without thinking of you Ren-san!" Kyoko is saying animatedly. "And Shin figured it out. I'm telling you that boy is amazing."
"I can't help feeling a little jealous of Shin," Ren replies.
Kyoko looks at him with alarm and relaxes when she sees him smiling.
"Oh yeah, you mean like all the times you acted cozy with some actress or other to keep up your appearance as Japan's number one eligible bachelor?" she teases him back.
Ren makes a mock sad face, "Are you saying I don't deserve to be Japan's number one eligible bachelor?"
"Oh definitely not!" cries Kyoko, "That honor should go to Fuwa Sho."
Ren stiffens at the name. 'Are you seriously bringing him up now?' his look seems to be saying. He looks away hurt.
"Ren, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring him up." Kyoko says penitently.
"No.," Ren replies. "It's not that. I had hoped, no not hoped. Thought. Guessed more like." he struggles to find the words.
"What is it?" Kyoko asks turning his face to her side.
"I thought that the way I left not giving you any hope of ever seeing me again, that there was still a chance you would go back to acting despite my intentions. I thought that if you did and if you stayed in the entertainment industry, you might even consider getting together with him. On my darkest days when even an alcoholic stupor was not enough to keep thoughts of you away, I would imagine you... and him. And..."
"No.," says Kyoko simply. Her face is one that brooks no doubts as though she is making a statement of absolute truth. And Ren accepts it.
"Although, Kijima-san did propose to me," Kyoko says slyly.
"What?!"
"Of course, I said no. But he knows about what happened to us, by the way."
Ren turns thoughtful at that.
"You don't need to worry," says Kyoko. "He won't tell anyone."
"It's not that. I keep coming back to the same question. If, I mean, when we go back to the entertainment industry, how will we continue to deal with our combined publicity? It was bad enough when I garnered more attention. Now I've been away for a few years and your star has really risen. And I am at a disadvantage when it comes to dealing with jealousy, I don't think I'll be able to do handle it at all."
Kyoko places a hand on Ren's and says, "Let us think about that later, ok?"
Finally, having made all the preparations for the next day and having had a really late and meager lunch cobbled together from vending machines in the hotel lobby, Shin makes his way to Ren's apartment as the sun decides to call it a day. As afternoon turns into evening and shadows lengthen on the snow, he knocks gently on their door. From within he hears what sounds like people grabbing stuff and putting them on but he pretends not to hear.
As the door opens, Shin first sees Kyoko holding a cup that is empty but she pretends it is not. Ren is collecting used bandages near the bed along with other things that Shin pretends not to see.
He sighs, 'These two make me feel like an adult.' he thinks.
Aloud he asks, "Have either of you given any thought to something called food? You know, the thing that makes young people like me grow into responsible adults?"
Kyoko smiles sheepishly. "It's late, isn't it? Let's go get lunch."
"Hai, Stop.," says Shin holding up a hand, "I will forgive you since you hit your head. Although I shouldn't since you did it on purpose. But at least I will not yell at you for forgetting."
"Forgetting what?"
"Today is the 24th."
"Okay..."
In the background, Ren suddenly stiffens from his work. But quickly recovers and continues.
"Tomorrow is the 25th." continues Shin. "Which makes today..." he pauses expectantly.
Kyoko simply stares back at him puzzled, "24th, you said that already."
Shin hangs his head, "December. We are in December. Do you remember that?"
Realization slowly dawns on Kyoko's face. "Oh! Christmas Eve! How wonderful. Although this year I got my present early," she says shyly looking at Ren.
"As much as I am happy that you finally got together with your old husband..." begins Shin.
Ren interrupts with, "Who're you calling old, you scallywag."
"I don't care if you got back together with the devil. I am super hungry. It is no longer lunchtime. And no restaurant is open because it is CHRISTMAS EVE!"
