Chapter 6
In LME Agency in a certain department there is a maiden studying for her new role characteristics in order to understand the role better.
Kyoko: Igarashi Mai... I wanna read more about what kind of person she is. (Already seated, takes the script out from her purse and starts listing the pages until she finds a short resume about Mai) Ah, there she is! (with happy expression)
(Starts reading out loud from the script)
Igarashi Mai
Originally an orphan child who's whereabouts are unknown. She was abandoned by her biological mother at a temple as a baby...(stops reading)
Kyoko: Mai chan... (with teary eyed expression she can't help but feel sorry for her)
(continues to read the script)
She was an unfortunate infant who was rejected by her own parent, but being an infant she had no memories of that experience and was fortunate enough to get picked by a much elderly couple who could pass by as her grandparents.
Kyoko: Ah, I'm so happy for you Mai! (Already crying tears of joy)
(continues to read)
The elderly couple were two good humble people married for a long time but they were carrying a pain of a lifetime. They were parents of two boys who tragically lost their lives in a traffic accident. Unfortunately they were not able to have any more children and they spent their lives just the two of them together. And when they saw the little baby crying inside the temple, they thought that they were blessed again by the gods and this child was a sign that they deserve another chance as parents.
Kyoko: Oji-san, Oba-san... (Already too into it, cries an ocean of tears) You deserve to be happy you guys! Mai is your daughter now, and I'm sure you will be happy together...
(Continues to read)
Together they raised the infant and gave her the name Mai. Every day was a happy day for them cause now they had a new reason to keep living their lives.
The summer of Mai's 12th year her adoptive mother or grandmother as she used to call her, passed away due to illness she had for quite some time. The only remaining family she had was her grandfather.
Her grandfather was a very good man who doted on Mai and was willing to do everything to keep his grand daughter happy even if it meant doing things without her knowing about it.
In order to let Mai be carefree as the rest of the other school girls and lead a happy school life as long as possible, her grandfather took a loan from a loan shark because his pension was not enough to raise her properly and to keep sending her to continue her studies.
The time kept pressuring him so as the loan shark. When he was unable to keep his payments because of the huge interest rate he was attacked by them and Mai was there to witness the truth.
When she saw her grandfather being attacked she jumped without thinking in front of him and took the hits aimed for her grandfather. But that didn't last long because Jin followed her home because she mentioned before that she's worried about her grandfather.
When he saw how the men were attacking both the old man and Mai he immediately went to rescue them. He gave them a good beating and promised to pay the remaining debt to their boss.
Mai not wanting her grandfather to keep suffering another incident like this, didn't reject Jin's help. And promised to pay up her debt to Jin.
He rejected right away, but Mai being a woman of principles she couldn't accept that.
Her grandfather didn't have much to live after that and by the fall of Mai's 17th year he passed away.
Not wanting to leave her alone and helpless the woman he loves, Jin offered her marriage. Mai rejected his proposal cause she knew about his true feelings and because she didn't feel the same way about her friend's brother.
Jin in order to win her trust and to get to help her, tells her that this will be only a marriage of convenience for both parties.
He tells her to think of the marriage as a contract between them on a paper that she will return her debt to him and meanwhile she will have a place to stay until she finds something on her own.
Mai is attracted by the offer and decides to accept his proposal.
Starting Spring by her 18th year she is a married woman to Igarashi Jin.
She attends the same University with her friend Mayuka (Jin's younger sister) .
While she is in the Faculty of Sciences - Department of Mathematics and works part time as a cram school teacher thanks to her genius abilities,Mayuka is in the Faculty of Engineering - Department of Management of Business Development.
(Stops reading)
Kyoko: Oh, so she was someone this admirable... (already proud of Mai and happy for being chosen to play this role)
Thank God she's such a good girl! What a relief she's not an evil character... (let's out a deep sigh) and plus she's a genius too? Kyaaa! I'm gonna play a smart girl!
(Kyoko stands up from her chair and starts doing some imaginary improvisation of a teacher and student scenario in a cram school)
Mai: Is Mogami Kyoko present? (After this Kyoko goes to the opposite side and plays the student)
Writer's Note: PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS A ONE GIRL IMAGINARY PLAY BY THE SAME PERSON WHO HAS NOT YET FOUND HER "MAI PERSONA" AT THE MOMENT.
Kyoko: Yes! Present!
Mai: Tell me Kyoko chan, what formula do we use here in order to solve this problem? (Showing the math problem on her imaginary school board)
Kyoko: Umm... Sensei... I...
Mai: What is it? Could it be that... You don't know how to solve this question?
Kyoko: Ah... yes... I'm so sorry. (with embarrassed expression on her face)
Mai: I see... then as a punishment Kyoko chan, I WILL HAVE TO FAIL YOU! NO NEED FOR YOU TO TAKE THE TEST WITH THE REST OF THE CLASS! (with sneaky eyes and evil silent smile or you could say Mio style)
Kyoko: Nooooo!
Mai: That's what you get for being a bad student, Kyoko chan... ho ho ho! (laughing out loud sarcastically with the back of her hand resting on her cheek while she laughs like your typical antagonist in a shoujo manga)
Kyoko: Sensei please! Give me another chance! (with her last sentence in an echo effect)
(End of imaginary play)
(Kyoko is confused and not reacting for a few seconds)
Kyoko: Wait a moment... did I just... did I just played Mai AS A MIO SENSEI? Whaaaa! (screaming in a panicked voice) What is wrong with me!? Why did I just turned a good character to an evil one? IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME!? Is my head not good anymore after being evil for such a long time? Am I incapable of playing a good normal human being? (falling in despair)
Maybe I should just accept my destiny and get in my head that I'm only good as the villain? (her dark aura of failure is surrounding her) Wait! What am I doing? (Shaking her head left and right) Get a hold of yourself Kyoko, now it's not the time for you to sabotage yourself with negative thoughts! (trying to get rid of the dark thoughts by lightly slapping her cheeks)
You can do this! Believe in yourself! I only acted her as Mio because their names are so similar, that's right! I know I can find the Mai chan in me for sure! Playing her is a privilege for someone like me. She's kind, beautiful, smart... now when I think about it, how did she manage to work as a teacher in a cram school? I wonder if there's some information here in the script...? (searching for more information about Mai) Ah! There it is!
(In the script, about Mai being a cram school teacher)
"Being a prominent student especially in the field of Mathematics, she gained the attention of her school's principal and teachers. She was offered to skip her 2nd and 3rd year of high school such as a scholarship to a university in a different prefecture.
Being the only family member to her grandfather she didn't dare to leave him alone and she rejected the offer without him ever finding out about it at all.
After she finished her high school properly for 3 years, her math teacher moved by her sacrifice for her grandfather such as wanting to help this young talent not ending up ungratefully especially because she was alone after her grandfather's death, recommends Mai as a teacher to a cram school she used to work for.
It was a way for Mai to be able to support herself financially and experience for her before graduating from college.
Being the young genius she is, she was accepted as a part time teacher while still studying in college."
Kyoko: So that's how it happened... Wow! Mai chan is really something... But her Sensei is a good person too. (Smiling with warm feelings) There's no way... there's no way I will screw up Mai chan's persona. (With determined feelings) I won't give her up to no one! Yosh! (makes fist bumps in the air with determined look on her face) I will do this role with all my heart put into it... Now let's go and ask Sawara san's permission to lend me some Mai's outfits! (leaves the Love me office room and search for Sawara san)
While she's heading for Sawara san's office she takes a look at it and see the door is open and just when she's about to enter she realize that there is another person talking with her wanted target.
Sawara san: Mogami san, how can I help you? (stopping his conversation with his guest)
Kyoko: Ah, I'm so sorry Sawara san I didn't see you were busy. Then I will excuse myself... (just when she was about to leave Sawara stops her)
Sawara san: Mogami san wait, there is no need for you to leave. We've just finished our business. Besides I would like to introduce you two. (next to him was standing a young woman in her middle twenties) Mogami san I would like to introduce you to Tanaka Saori - she's the assistant to director Hirai.
(Kyoko is surprised because the assistant is a young pretty woman in her 20's)
Tanaka san, this is Mogami Kyoko one of the actors for the drama "Lex Talionis"
Saori: It's nice to meet you (with a polite smile)
Kyoko: Ah, nice to meet you too Tanaka san (polite tone and smile)
Saori: May I ask you Mogami san what role you are going to play in the drama? Ah... forgive me for asking even though I am the director's assistant, but I just came to the country few hours ago and not up to date yet with our recent projects.
Sawara san: Director Hirai is very lucky to have you Tanaka san to assist him in his work. That way he can focus on more projects at once... hahah (polite smile)
Saori: When he likes something he won't hesitate to work on more projects. And I do my best to help as much as I can. (polite smile)
Sawara san: That's quite reassuring. And without further ado, Mogami san will play the role of Igarashi Mai.
(the assistant is surprised)
Saori: Why didn't you mention sooner that she's one of the protagonists, Sawara san?
Kyoko: I will answer that question Tanaka san, it's probably because he thought you won't believe him... (with dejected tone and polite smile)
Sawara san: Hahahahah! Mogami san amusing as always. (laughing out loud)
But the truth is that I wanted to see what kind of expression you would make Tanaka san. hahahahahah (keeps laughing)
Saori: I was only surprised because you didn't mention earlier that Mogami san is the protagonist. Once again, welcome to the crew Mogami san. I hope we will make this drama exciting with high ratings! (warm smile)
Kyoko: Thank you very much! (bows down) I will be in your care from now on...
Saori: Same here. (with a slight bow)
Sawara san: Working hard never fails... (smiling at both of them with a warm smile)
Saori: Thank you... by the way Sawara san do you know where I can find Tsuruga kun?
I would like to talk to him about this project as well. (Kyoko's body response to Ren's name is in instant and her heart starts beating more loudly)
Sawara san: At this moment I believe he's headed for an interview.
Saori: I see... Thank you once again Sawara san I will take my leave now. (bows down and leaves the office, Sawara and Kyoko sends her off the same)
Kyoko determined to do a good job in her role as Mai takes a positive approach.
A new character is introduced. What's the next development?
Next chapter coming soon...