Skip Beat - Lex Talionis

Chapter 1

Sawara-san: Mogami san?
Kyoko: Yes, this is Mogami speaking...
Sawara-san: Ah good, i'm glad you answered quickly. I have a good news for you, are you free tomorrow morning at 8:30?
Kyoko: Yes, tomorrow i don't have to shoot Natsu scenes i will be going after 2 weeks for the final episode.
Sawara-san: That's good, that's good hahah... well then i am expecting you tomorrow in LME at 8:30 o clock.
Kyoko: Yes... (end of phone conversation)
I wonder what Sawara san has to tell me?

Next morning, LME Agency 8:30
At Sawara san office...

At the front door of Sawara san office, Kyoko ask for permission to enter.
Kyoko: Sawara san...?
Sawara san: Ah, Mogami san! Come in, come in... (he receives her with a slight smile in his face) please, have a sit.
Kyoko: Yesterday, you called me and wanted to tell me good news?
Sawara san: That's right! We had a call from Hirai Kanetake director (kantoku) and he wanted you, Mogami san for the lead role in his new drama Lex Talionis.
(Kyoko is stunned at the words she's hearing from the Chief talent section)
Mogami san? Mogami san? Can you hear...
Kyoko: Did you just said, this director Hirai wants me? in the LEAD ROLE for his new drama?
Sawara san: That's right! Hahah 😁
He said he watched your performance both as Hongou Mio and Natsu your current role and he wanted to cast you for the role of Igarashi Mai a strong willed sacrificing young girl who listens her mind before her heart but is actually a good person.

(Kyoko can't believe what she's hearing and is stunned again)

Kyoko: Sawara san... Sawara san... (with a teary eyed expression) i can't believe someone offered me a good girl role. Did i finally escaped from the curse of being the always mean girl who bullies the protagonist? Is this true?
Sawara san: Well actually, he said that she was tough but gentle. A girl who's not weak in front of others yet lonely and pitiful when she's by herself... something like that.
Kyoko: Is this really happening to me? Omg! Finally i won't have to give the death glares to my co actor in a scene and the staff won't be afraid of me anymore.
I'm so grateful Sawara san! I want it! I want to play this role! Accept it Sawara san!
Sawara san: Hahah... I'm really glad you accepted this project. I'm sure the President will be happy when he hears this too.
Kyoko: The president...?
Sawara san: Ah well... The thing is the president asked me to reject any offer that is not related to a role who falls in love... (face palm) Our president is really a love-mon (mumbling to himself)
Kyoko: What? How could the president be cruel like that to me? He asked you to reject a job offer? (In angry voice) That man! Does he have something against me? (Fuming with anger)
Sawara san: Calm down! Mogami san!
(I knew she would be angry! *thinks to himself) Like you don't know how crazy our president gets when it's something related to his favorite subject. After all it's his purpose for living... That love monster.
Kyoko: Why the president wants me to act in a love drama?
Sawara san: Did you forget? You are the #1 Love Me member after all.
Kyoko: (in monotone voice) Ah that's right...

Sawara san: Besides, he said something about setting one's heart desires free or something... He said that you would understand this reference Mogami san.
Kyoko: What does that...? (Suddenly the scene where she admits her feelings for Ren to the president pops up in her head)
(After this she blushes)
Sawara san: Mogami san! Do you not feel ok, your face is red! Could it be you are so angry at the president your face changed color from the rage? (He's frightened and about to scream but suddenly)
Kyoko: That's not it... It's just i didn't see this coming after all.
Sawara: Well this is our president after all. You should be ready for anything!
Plus this can be a sort of a test for you.
Kyoko: A test?
Sawara san: As a Love Me member you should have seen this coming. Perhaps he wants to see how you as an anti love actor would portray the feelings of a woman in love... Hmmm this could be the reason...
Kyoko: A woman in love... (she makes a sad face and her head is down)
Sawara san: This is your chance to show the president that you can successfully act this out and gain his approval.
(She lifts her head and with a firm stance)
Kyoko: Sawara san...
Sawara san: Yes?
Kyoko: If the president has the minor doubts about my acting, i will prove it to him by playing this role!
Sawara san: That's the spirit Mogami san!
(Happy for her)
Kyoko: This stupid thing called love won't stay in my way of being the best actress in Japan, No sir!
Sawara san: Of course you had to say that... love me member #1 after all.
Kyoko: I will show my limited abilities...
Sawara san: Limited she says...
Kyoko: ... And i will show everyone that i can do this kind of role too!
Sawara san: I'm glad you are hyped up again... Here! (Gives her the script for the drama) You can see the actors and their roles in this script. (Kyoko takes it and opens to read it)

In the script below she sees:

Lex Talionis drama

Hirai Kanetake (director)

Roles:

Igarashi Jin - Rich Heir to the Igarashi family. (24 years old) He became the man of the house after he and his sister Mayuka survived the fire accident that took the life of their parents. They were the solely survivors. He's crazy in love with Mai and he's her husband.
(Actor: Godai Shigeki)

Igarashi Mayuka - Jin's younger sister. (18 years old) she get spoiled a lot by him and loves her brother. She's in love with Gen. (Actor: Doiuchi Hisa)

Igarashi Mai - She's the bride of Igarashi Jin. She had no choice and had to accept Jin's help in paying off her late grandfather's debt. In return she married him and became a young wife at 18. She feels gratitude but don't love her husband.

(Role in waiting: Mogami Kyoko)

Shirai Gen - He's the older brother of Jin and Mayuka. (25 years old) He's their step brother by their father's side who had an affair with a swedish woman abroad. He's the new neighbor opposite house from Igarashi family. He plans to seduce Igarashi Mai as a payback to Igarashi Jin because his father chose to raise Jin by his side and threw him.
(Actor: Tsuruga Ren)

Kyoko: Tsu... tsu... tsuruga san too..?
Sawara san: That's right. He already accepted the role of Shirai Gen 2 days ago hahah...
Kyoko: But here... here says that.. his role is someone who has... who has to court Igarashi Mai?
Sawara san: Hmm? (Looking at the script) Thats right! Hahahah ^^
Kyoko: (in a slight panic voice) Could it be a typo? Perhaps they meant for Igarashi Mayuka, but somehow it ended Igarashi Mai?
Sawara san: Let me see... (looking at the script again) No it's not a mistake. Tsuruga kun's role is someone who wants to take revenge by stealing his brother's wife... not the sister.
Kyoko: What...? This can't be... (passes out and fall from chair down to floor)
Sawara san: Whaaaaaaa! (In a panic voice) Mogami san! Mogami san wake up!

Kyoko is speechless after she learns that Tsuruga Ren is casted for the same drama and in a role that requires a lovey dovey moments with her role.

What awaits this maiden in love with the actor Tsuruga Ren? Will she finally have a chance to live up the rose colored life in the drama she won't dare to ask for in real life?

Stay tuned and you will know...