Their First Interview(s)
Kyoko sat in the makeup chair, hands clasped as she took deep, even breaths. Muse-sama was brushing powder over her cheeks, keeping up a steady stream of conversation that Kyoko did her best to keep up with. The woman had styled her, picking out a dress that made her look just a little older. It was more mature than her typical look, the heels giving her a few extra inches. And even though it hurt to walk in them, she figured that if it made her look like the kind of person that Ren would be with, she would put up with it. Not that she thought this was going to work. But the president had insisted. And Ren had agreed. And she was outnumbered.
It was a Friday evening, and she was tired from a full day of filming and Love Me work and dodging questions from her coworkers about that photo of her and her relationship with Ren and whatever else they could think of to ask her. Already her face ached from fake-smiling and she wondered if this was how Ren felt after a full day of interviews...or after ten minutes with Sho. People at all of her jobs wanted to know everything…even people she'd barely spoken to before. When had she and Ren met? Had they been dating in secret? Was he a good kisser? That last one had made her want to leap from the nearest window just to escape the hellish conversation she'd found herself trapped in. How could they ask her something like that so brazenly? And she couldn't exactly say that they hadn't kissed yet! Then everyone would just know that she was a little child and Ren had chosen the wrong person and…
"Kyoko?"
She jumped, looking up to find Ren towering over her, dressed in a dark suit that made her want to run her hands over his chest, which was a thought that she immediately dismissed with a flush. Why was she thinking about something like that now? Kyoko could hear the music coming from the stage, and she knew that they didn't have much time, but suddenly all she wanted to do was run. To make a break for it. How was she supposed to do this? How could she convince the whole country that she deserved to be by this man's side when she obviously didn't?
"Are you alright?"
He must have arrived when she was changing, she realized as he took her in, looking concerned. "It's not going to work," she whispered, shaking her head as Ren knelt in front of her, his hand reaching for hers. "Ren…it won't work."
"What won't work?" he asked, thumb rubbing soothing circles over the back of her hand.
"This. This interview. No one is going to believe it! No one would ever believe that I'm the person you're in love with! It doesn't make any sense! I'm…I'm plain and boring and I'm barely an actress. I'm not even pretty! You could be with anyone! Any woman in the country…no one will ever think I'm good enough for someone like you."
Ren just stared at her for a long time, lips pursed, his hand still holding hers. It was quickly becoming comfortable; his hand holding hers. It fit. Perfectly. And she didn't want to lose that. But she also knew the truth. A girl like her could never keep his attention. Just the thought made a lump form in her throat, her eyes heating up as she dropped them from his gaze.
"Who told you that?"
"What?"
"Those things you said. That you were plain and boring. That you weren't pretty. Who told you that?"
She swallowed hard, not wanting to say. Because it had been Sho. Of course. Why the hell did every bad thing have to lead back to him? "It doesn't matter. It's true."
"It's not."
"Ren…"
"It is not true, Kyoko." He shook his head, gripping her hand. "I'm not going to lie to you. Ever again. There are probably things I'll have to keep secret for a while…projects I'm under contract not to talk about. There are things from my past that I still have to tell you, but I swear to you, Mogami Kyoko, I will never lie to you ever again. Can you trust me?"
She only hesitated for a second before nodding, wiping a careful finger under her eye lest she smudge her makeup. "I trust you."
"Then here's the truth. You are not boring. Not even a little. You're fascinating and so smart and funny and you're such a talented actress. You are passionate, both about the things you love and the things you hate. I never get tired of spending time with you. And you're not plain. You're beautiful."
She lowered her eyes, starting to shake her head, but he put a finger under her chin, pulling her gaze back to his.
"You are. It's not the makeup, and it's not the magic of Princess Rosa. It's just you. You really are so beautiful."
The naked honesty in his voice made lips tremble, her cheeks going red. He meant it. He actually meant it.
"I can't believe I haven't told you this more…from now on, I'm going to tell you every time I see you. You are beautiful. You're pretty. You're smart and you're strong and you're kind…you work harder than anyone I know and you're ridiculously stubborn and persistent. And Fuwa is an asshole and an idiot and I'm sure he only said those things to hurt you and I swear, if he ever tries to hurt you again I'll break his damn fingers."
The incredulous giggle forced its way out of her and he smiled.
"As for the rest of the country, I don't care what they think. I know that if they don't already, one day soon they're going to see how amazing you are and how lucky I am that you'd allow me to call myself your boyfriend."
Kyoko leaned forward, her forehead resting against his, and she closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and trying to calm her racing heart. He kept a hold of her hand and brought his other hand up to stoke her hair.
"It's going to be okay," he promised. "It's just an interview. We'll answer the questions just like we practiced and then we'll stop and get hamburger steaks for dinner. Is Kotonami-san home?"
Kyoko nodded.
"We'll get her one too. We can eat dinner with her tonight if you want."
"Okay."
"Are you ready?"
She shook her head and he pulled away a little, cupping her cheek. "You're going to do great. I'll bet Father is watching." The name surprised her and she looked back at him with wide eyes. "He always watches everything his kids do."
Kyoko couldn't help the little smile. "Does that make you my brother?"
He laughed aloud, shaking his head and pressing a kiss to her forehead. She couldn't help but notice he was getting closer to her lips. Did she want him to get closer to her lips? Did she want to kiss him?
"No. I'm definitely not your brother." Straightening, he held out a hand to her that she took, letting him pull her to her feet. She managed not to stumble despite the heels, automatically adjusting her posture to keep her balance in them.
"Just think about hamburger steaks and you'll be fine," he offered, making her laugh.
"Can we get ice cream too?"
"Absolutely," he agreed, his arm around her guiding her over toward the door. They'd be calling them onto the stage soon. She could feel it, butterflies fluttering in her stomach.
"Or maybe I could make something low calorie for dessert. Moko-san hates it when I make her high calorie food. She says I'm going to make her fat." Kyoko could feel herself rambling but she just kept going. "She said she's going to start jogging and make me go with her."
"You're a fast runner. I can attest to that," he said agreeably, his hand resting on her upper back, her shoulder tucked into his side. "Maybe you'd like jogging."
"Or she talked about joining a gym. That might be fun too, if I weren't still paying off the acting school."
"There's a gym in my apartment. You're always welcome to use it. Bring Kotonami-san if you want."
That was true...she'd seen the room he'd dedicated to gym equipment, and she still had his key card. When she'd tried to return it, he'd waved her off. "I had it made for you," he'd told her. "Keep it. You're always welcome at my apartment."
There was a quick knock on the door, a stagehand sticking his head into the room. "Tsuruga-san, Kyoko-san, we're almost ready for you."
"Thank you," Ren told him, leading Kyoko forward a step. She swallowed hard and he paused at the door, turning back to her. "They'll introduce me first, then you. Just sit next to me on the sofa. I'll be right there with you." He squeezed her hand. "Ready?"
She nodded. Not because she wanted to do this, but because she had to. Because she had to show the country that she was worthy to stand at his side, and that she loved him, even if she hadn't been able to actually say the words to his face yet. And because she was Kyoko, the actress that played Mio and Natsu and now Momiji. The actress who had started at the bottom and who was pulling herself to the top.
He let go of her hand and held out his arm, and she took it without hesitating, letting him escort her across the back of the stage, past stage hands and the lighting crew, all eyes following them as he guided her to the entrance to the stage. Kyoko could just see the audience, and the hostess of the show, Okamoto-san was listing Ren's most recent projects, getting ready to invite him to the stage.
Ren leaned down as the applause began, his lips almost touching her ear. "I love you, Kyoko."
And then he was walking across the stage, waving to the audience and bowing to the hostess before taking a seat across from her. Kyoko's cheeks flushed and she was grateful for the makeup as she took deep, steadying breaths.
Okamoto-san greeted him, asking a couple of basic questions about how he was doing and how filming was going, and he answered just like he always did. This hadn't been announced as an interview featuring both of them, so the audience would be surprised. Would they clap for her?
What if they booed her? What if they hated her?
Kyoko clenched her hands into fists at her sides, her chin jutting up as she remembered Ren's words.
Corn had told her he loved her. Corn thought she was beautiful. And he'd been proving it over and over…and she'd promised to trust him. She was an actress. So even if she just had to pretend to be perfectly okay with talking about her personal life on live TV, then she would do it. She would act her way through it. She'd done TV interviews before. This was just one more interview.
"Tsuruga-san, you're famous for never speaking much about your personal life," the hostess was saying, and Ren smiled his interview smile, nodding.
"That's true. I prefer to keep my personal life private for the most part. I'm sure you understand."
"I do. However, last week a photograph of you began to circulate online, causing quite a stir." The audience gasped and murmured to one another and Kyoko knew that the photograph had appeared on the screen above their heads. "Rumors immediately began circulating online and on various entertainment shows focusing on your necklace. After a little digging, most people were able to figure out that the woman in the photo is none other than LME's Kyoko, the actress who starred with you in Dark Moon." Okamoto-santurned to the audience. "But I'm sure you know her from her other roles as an Angel in Fuwa Sho's promotional video for his song, Prisoner and the ruthless bully Natsu in Box R. I hope you'll give a warm welcome to Kyoko."
The second Kyoko's foot landed on the stage, lights blazing down on her, she felt a strange calm settle over her. This was it. The moment she'd been preparing for. She was an actress and this was her job and she would do it. She didn't think about the audience, who she turned to with a sweet smile as they gasped and broke out into applause. She didn't think of the cameras or who might be watching, be it Sho or her Father in America or even, god forbid, her mother. She didn't even think of the hostess that she gave a shallow bow to, well aware of her dress length.
No. Her thoughts were only on Corn, who had stood the moment she'd stepped into view, his hand outstretched as she approached the platform that the sofa and the hostess's chair sat on. She took his hand, not breaking eye contact with him as he let the whole country see his heavenly smile, and moved to sit on the sofa, ankles crossed, her hands folded in her lap, back straight, just like she'd been taught to sit since she was a child.
Beside her, Ren sat just close enough that his right leg, which he folded over his right, brushed against her own leg, and she'd never been so grateful for physical contact. She was with Corn...she was safe with Corn.
"Kyoko-san, thank you so much for joining us today," the hostess greeted once the audience had quieted down. Kyoko was pretty sure Ren's smile had knocked at least a few of them out cold.
"Thank you for having me."
"You look so different in all of your roles, it was difficult to recognize you from the photo at first. Not to mention your appearance during the Dark Moon wrap party. I believe you said Kijima-san got you that dress?"
"Yes," Kyoko told her with an easy laugh. "He knew that I didn't have anything nice enough to wear to such a nice party and was nervous about it, so he was nice enough to lend me that dress." Beside her, Ren let out a huff so soft that the mic wouldn't pick it up, but Kyoko wanted to laugh. So he had been jealous!
"Tsuruga-san, Kyoko-san, I have to ask the question the whole country is asking. Are the two of you a couple?"
"We are, yes," Ren told her easily, and the audience was full of screaming and, to Kyoko's surprise, applause. Despite her surprise, she kept her smile in place, lowering her face just a little when her cheeks flushed, her whole body hot. Once more, she was grateful for Muse-san's magic and hoped it covered her blush.
Okamoto-san had known, of course, but she still did a good job of seeming surprised. "Wow…congratulations. May I ask, is this a recent development."
"It is," Kyoko answered, proud of how calm she sounded. "We were actually discussing our feelings for one another in the elevator when the cable snapped."
"That must have been terrifying!"
"It was certainly a surprise," Ren said with a quiet laugh. "Thankfully neither of us were injured too badly and we were rescued soon afterwards."
"In the photo, we can clearly see Kyoko-san wearing your necklace."
It wasn't a question, but Ren explained anyway. "Yes, I thought it would be a suitable token of my affection. I honestly never thought that so many people would see her wear it so soon, but it was the last thing on my mind when she was climbing out of that elevator. I was just glad she was safe."
The audience let out a collective 'aww' and Kyoko glanced at them, watching as they all fell more deeply in love with her boyfriend.
"So this relationship is a very new one, but the two of you have known each other for quite a while. Kyoko-san, Dark Moon was your first major role, correct? Was that your first time meeting Tsuruga-san?"
"It was our first time working together, but we had actually known each other for a while before filming started. We belong to the same agency, so we met at LME, and I filled in as his manager for a couple of days."
"Really? What was that like?"
"Incredibly difficult." The audience laughed at her deadpan answer, and Okamoto-san smiled. Beside her, Ren's lips twitched. "His schedule is nearly impossible and he wouldn't even let me carry his things."
"I was not going to let a girl carry my things," he cut in, and the audience fell even deeper. Even the hostess swayed a little when he smiled softly at Kyoko. "She did an excellent job as my substitute manager once she got the hang of it. It was one of the first things that impressed me about her...her persistence and dedication to her work."
"And you only saw more of this during the filming of Dark Moon?" Okamoto-san prompted.
"I did," he agreed. "Kyoko is an incredible actress. It's rare to work with someone who totally becomes their character, but her interpretation of Mio was the bedrock that Dark Moon was built on. She was responsible, in large part, for making this adaptation of Tsukigomori a success."
Kyoko felt like her cheeks must be glowing...how could he sit there and praise her like that on national TV? And then she realized...he was just like his father.
"Kyoko, what was it like to work with Tsuruga-san during your first major television role?"
"It was incredible," she told the woman, collecting herself and smiling that professional smile with just a hint of earnestness. She'd practiced that too, and it helped that it was all true. "I knew from the time I began acting that I wanted an acting ability to match his. I know I'm nowhere near his level yet, but it was an honor to be a part of Dark Moon, and to watch such a great actor work from up close." Kyoko glanced over for just a second and could have sworn his cheeks were tinged with just a little pink. Still, he smiled at the floor, looking ridiculously pleased. Did he not know how amazing she thought he was? "He was very kind to me from the beginning." Well, she thought, sort of. "And when it came time for me to create the character of Mio, he was nothing but supportive, and he even vouched for me when I had trouble at first."
"It sounds like you enjoy working together," the hostess observed. "And you met at your agency? What was your first impression of Kyoko, Tsuruga-san?"
Kyoko did her best not to flinch, but Ren's smile softened. "Actually," he started, and Kyoko turned to look at him.
His scripted answer to this question mentioned her determination to enter the show business world and very carefully avoided words like 'hatred' and the phrase 'I threw her out of the building.' What did he mean, actually? The whole audience, including Kyoko, held their breath.
"Our first meeting wasn't at LME."
Was he serious? He turned to her, his eyes asking her permission as hers asked a question. Was he really going to share this on TV? Apparently...yes. Kyoko only hesitated for a second, well aware of their audience, before nodding. If he thought this was a good idea, then they'd do it.
She trusted him.
"I first met Kyoko when I was 10 years old."
The gasps from the audience and Okamoto-san, and possibly Yashiro-san backstage, were as deafening as the following silence.
"She was six, and we quickly became friends. I was with my family on a trip, and I was only able to spend about a week with her, but it's one of my fondest memories."
Kyoko swallowed back the tears that threatened to fall and his hand came to rest on hers. The hostess seemed stunned into silence, so she filled it. "That week was the happiest time in my childhood," she told the audience.
"It took me a little time to recognize my childhood friend, but it was like fate brought us back together." He squeezed her hand, and she got it then. Their story sounded like a fairy tale. Who could disapprove of a fairy tale? "I'm very grateful that I found her again."
The hostess asked more questions, mostly easy things like if they were working on any more projects together (not yet, but Ren told her that he hoped they would get to work together again soon) and if they really shared a manager (Kyoko informed her that they did, in fact, share the best manager in all of Japan.) And then it was time for Okamoto-san to thank them for their time and for them to thank her and wish her a good evening and walk off the stage, Kyoko's hand tucked into Ren's elbow as the audience roared for them. She felt almost light-headed, unable to believe that she'd done it. She'd gone on national TV and she'd talked about her personal life and the fact that she was dating Tsuruga Ren and the audience had approved!
Yashiro-san was standing in Kyoko's dressing room, pacing back and forth, but he waited for Ren to shut the door behind them to speak. "Was that true?" he demanded, his voice barely a whisper.
"Of course," Kyoko told him, playing dumb and feeling so light she might float away. "You're the best manager in the whole world!"
He just gaped at her, then shook his head, incredulous as Ren laughed and returned to her side, leading her to a chair so that she could change her shoes.
"Not that! You knew each other as children?"
"We did," Ren told him as Kyoko unbuckled the strap on her heels.
"You...how long have you known that?"
"I've known since a few weeks before she became my temporary manager."
Yshiro-san stared at him, jaw dropping.
"I've known for about a week," Kyoko put in, letting a little of her irritation about that seep into her words, and Ren flinched. But Ren's phone vibrated before Yashiro-san could ask anything else, and he pulled it out of his pocket.
"It's the president. I figured he'd be watching." He turned to Kyoko. "I'll be right back."
She nodded, flexing her feet and searching around for her bag of clothes as Yashiro-san continued to stare. "I didn't know he was going to tell everyone," she admitted.
"It was a good move."
Kyoko nodded. "He made it sound like a fairy tale."
"It does sound like a fairy tale." Yashiro-san smiled, eyes going a little starry, and she laughed, wondering if that was what she looked like when she slipped off into lala land.
It hadn't felt like a fairy tale...not when she'd first found out. It had felt like a betrayal. Like heartbreak. But now, she thought with a smile as she stood with the bag of clothes she'd worn to the studio in her hand, she could see it. The magic. The pull of fate, guiding them back together after so many years. And maybe...maybe it was magic.
Kyoko was just about to head to the bathroom to change, more than ready to wear normal clothes and eat her favorite food, when her phone vibrated.
She put the bag down on the chair just as Ren stepped back into the room, his own phone in hand. Pulling her phone out of her purse, she looked at the screen and froze just as Ren opened his mouth to speak. "The President wants to...talk…" Both men stared at her as she stared at her phone screen, fear freezing her in place. "Kyoko?"
"Kyoko-chan?"
Kyoko shook her head, forcing her fingers to open the device and push the answer button. She'd taken time out of her busy schedule to call so late in the day, so it must be important. Kyoko wouldn't make her wait.
"Hello, this is Kyoko."
"Kyoko."
She couldn't read her mother's tone...then again, she'd never been great at reading it when they were face to face, so it made perfect sense that she'd have trouble now.
"Good evening," she greeted her mother, voice oddly stiff. Yashiro-san and Ren were both utterly still, watching her with a mixture of confusion and worry. But her mind was only on her mother. She'd told her that she was working toward her dream to become a great actress. That she was focusing on her career and on school.
"I saw your interview."
She didn't know what to say. She'd just admitted on live TV that she was dating the biggest star in the country...and that's why she was suddenly famous. They both knew it.
"I'd like to meet with you at your earliest convenience."
"Of course." Kyoko didn't mean to speak so stiffly...her right hand clutched the phone while her left shook at her side, eyes staring off into the distance. "I believe I'm free tomorrow morning before 10." She didn't want to put it off...she wanted this over as soon as possible. So she went on. "Or I have time now, if you're available."
"Now would actually be preferable. I'm still at my office, and will be for another two hours."
"I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Thank you."
And then the phone went dead and Kyoko's hand dropped, the phone still open as she stared at the wall. Was this it? Was this the thing that made her mother cut her out of her life completely? They'd made progress before...would her mother think she was a liar now? Would this ruin any chance she had of reconnecting? Or...well...connecting.
"Kyoko?" Ren's hand cupped her cheek and she was jerked out of her thoughts as she met his eyes.
"I have to get changed and go," she informed him, voice still stiff and too formal.
"Okay...go where?"
"To my mother's office."
He blinked at her, eyes widening. Behind him, Yashiro-san's jaw dropped again. "Your mother's office?"
Kyoko nodded. "I have to hurry."
"Okay. Go get changed and we'll drive you there."
"No...I can...I can get there. I'll take the train…"
"I'll drive you," Yashiro-san insisted, speaking up for the first time.
She just nodded, not able to spare the mental energy to argue. That was fine. They would drive her. And she would talk to her mother. And...and maybe it would be okay. Maybe the growing dread and fear growing in her stomach were for nothing. So she changed and followed her manager out of the studio, a smile pasted on her face as they passed the crew, her hand resting on Ren's bent arm. Neither of them asked her anything about why exactly she needed to go see her mother right now, but she gave Yashiro-san directions in a voice that sounded strangely distant and let her hand rest in Ren's.
She led the way into the building and to the elevator, then through the hallways as though she were in a dream. But Ren's hand held hers tightly enough to ground her and keep her firmly in reality as they walked, the three of them moving in silence. When she reached the correct office, she paused in the waiting room, and Yashiro-san automatically moved to take a seat, but Ren didn't let go of her hand.
Kyoko knew her mother wouldn't be pleased if she came in with Ren. She knew that her mother only wanted to speak to her. But Ren's hand was a lifeline and she didn't know how to let go of it. What if this was it? What if her mother disowned her for good...told her that she was no longer her daughter? What if she cut her out completely? She didn't want to face that alone...not like that night when she'd seen her mother on TV. When she'd wandered the streets feeling dead, like she might never be okay again. If that happened again, she wanted Ren there to catch her.
And he would. She was sure of it. So she kept a hold of his hand as she knocked on the door to her mother's office, staring at her own family name on the plaque.
"Come in," her mother invited, and without letting herself stop and think, Kyoko did, Ren right behind her.
Mogami Saena's eyes flashed up to hers, and then to Ren, her gaze lingering there before she was staring at her daughter once more. To her surprise, her mother stood, hands clasped behind her back, her eyes starting at her head and traveling all the way down to her feet before moving back up again. "Kyoko," she greeted, voice as flat and distant as ever.
Kyoko bowed, remembering the manners that had been instilled on her since childhood. "Mother. This is Tsuruga Ren, my boyfriend." It shocked her that she hadn't even stumbled over the word, but she hid her own surprise by continuing. "Ren, this is my mother, Mogami Saena."
Ren bowed deeply, head lowered, then returned to his full height. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mogami-san."
It didn't sound like it was a pleasure. In fact, according to Kyoko's grudges that poked out from her back and began drifting toward him, he was angry. But she couldn't exactly ask him why right now.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," her mother responded. "Kyoko. Is school going well?"
"Yes. Very well. Thank you. How is your work?"
"Quite well. Would either of you like a cup of tea?"
"No thank you," Kyoko responded, and Ren shook his head as well, his eyes following her mother's movements as though she were a dangerous animal that might attack.
"Please sit."
They did, taking the two chairs in front of her desk as Kyoko's mother took the one behind it. For once, her mother didn't look quite so sure of herself, and in the lamplight, Kyoko watched her shift in her seat, shuffling her papers.
"I saw your interview this evening. A coworker informed me that you were on television."
"I made sure my full name wasn't given. I shouldn't be linked to you in any way," Kyoko assured her.
"Yes. Of course."
Kyoko practically felt Ren stiffen beside her, and her grudge antennas swirled around him, basking in his anger, the silence between them growing too long and uncomfortable.
"I was...unaware that you were injured."
She blinked, and even her grudges paused, turning to stare at the woman across from her.
"In the elevator. I hope that agency is ensuring something like that will not happen again."
"Our President is checking into that personally," Ren put in, sounding almost as surprised as Kyoko felt. "It was an unfortunate accident."
"Were any of your injuries serious?"
"No. Only a mild concussion."
"And the blood?" her mother asked, not quite meeting her eyes.
"I hit my nose when the cable snapped," Kyoko told her, feeling that old hope start to build in her chest. Had her mother been...worried about her?
"On my head," Ren added, an almost smile in his voice. Had he caught on too? "I hope you'll forgive me, Mogami-san, for not asking your permission to date your daughter. I'm afraid I wasn't sure how to reach you, and I didn't know where you worked, or if you would want to be asked."
Her mother's eyebrows furrowed as she stared at Ren, seeming to take him in for the first time. "You're an actor as well, aren't you?" There was no awe in her voice...there wasn't even recognition, but Ren only nodded.
"I am, yes."
"You knew my daughter when you were children?"
"Briefly, yes."
"Kyoko, you were living with the Fuwas then." Kyoko nodded even though it hadn't been a question. "Well, better him than the Fuwa boy, I suppose," she muttered. Kyoko's mouth dropped open before she quickly snapped it shut. "And your career? You don't plan on giving up your goals for him, do you?"
"Of course not!" Kyoko cried, shaking her head and feeling some of her old determination come back.
"We have very similar goals, and we're helping each other reach them," Ren put in. "I would never want Kyoko to give up anything because of me."
She stared at him again, lips pursed, her brow furrowed. Then she turned back to her daughter. "Kyoko, in the future if you are injured, I would like for you to contact me."
Kyoko blinked at her. "Um...yes, of course."
Her mother nodded. "Good." She stood from her desk, and Kyoko and Ren immediately followed suit. The older woman stepped around the desk, hesitating in front of the couple. "Tsuruga-kun." She looked up into his eyes, then just nodded, turning to Kyoko and, to her unending shock, she lifted a hand and rested it on her shoulder, light as a bird ready to take flight. "I'm...pleased to see you well." Her hand dropped and she stepped back, eyes barely meeting Kyoko's.
Kyoko's smile lit her whole face, and she forced the tears back, knowing they would make her mother uncomfortable. "It was good to see you, mother. I hope you have a good evening."
"You as well. Thank you for stopping by."
And then Ren was following her out of the office, the two of them standing in the waiting room in dumbfounded shock. Yashiro-san stood, staring between the two of them. It was Ren who spoke first, turning to Kyoko.
"Well...I think she likes me."
The laughter came unbidden, her hand clamping over her mouth as the adrenaline seemed to rush out of her, leaving her feeling drained, as though she'd just run two marathons...or given two nerve-wracking interviews. Which she had. Ren's arms encircled her immediately, his nose resting on her hair, and had she been paying attention, she would have been embarrassed to be crying in front of Yashiro-san...because she was. Tears leaked from her eyes despite the laughter that seemed unending. Ren rubbed her back as if he understood...which she wasn't sure how he could because she sure didn't.
Her mother had been worried about her.
Her mother had met her boyfriend and she hadn't disowned her.
Her mother had touched her.
"Come on," he urged after a moment, brushing her hair back and meeting her uncontainable smile with a gentle one of his own. "Let's get those hamburger steaks. After all that, we deserve them."
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed the chapter!