Chapter 7
At the location where the interview took place, Ren and Yashiro after completing that task successfully were heading for the exit to go to their next appointment on their to do list.
Yashiro: As per usual another journalist was able to only get some vague answers from you, Ren... (with raised shoulders that wants to say as expected from you)
Ren: I told the truth, I don't remember saying something unnecessarily incorrect. (with an expression that shows he's satisfied with his answers)
Yashiro: Who could seriously believe that a guy like you is not involved with some woman, Ren... They are all curious to find out something more about your love life than you let on. They all want to know what kind of woman can make Tsuruga Ren eating out of her palm like a submissive pawn and pleading for more... (with a mischievous smile on his face that shows he wants to tease him)
Ren: Ahhh...Yashiro san - don't go there. (with a sigh and firm tone)
Yashiro: If they only knew that the most desirable man in Japan is having an unrequited love for a sweet and honest high school girl... pu pu pu (making giggling sounds and covering his mouth with his fingers at the same time)
Ren: And here we go... (With disinterested look on his face)
Yashiro: With another mutual project, the two of you can spend more time together and create some lovely atmosphere and... (with a fairy tale look in his eyes gazing upwards in the air and clasping hands as if he's hoping for that miracle to happen)
Ren: That will never happen... (bursting Yashiro's happy bubble that makes him return to reality)
Yashiro: Well, not with that attitude for sure! (with a quiet voice and pouting tone)
Ren: Did you say something...?
Yashiro: No! No! Nothing, hahah (with a wry smile trying to cover up for himself) Now let's hurry up and find our car, Ren. We have to make sure to not break your record of the punctual king.
Ren: Don't worry, I won't let that happen.
(Just when they were getting closer to the parking spot of their car, they see from the opposite side of them two people come out of their car. And it's none less than Sho and his manager Shoko san)
Yashiro: It's Fuwa Sho! (At that sight, Ren's eyebrows knit almost in an instant and Yashiro makes a worried expression but he's actually panicking from the inside)
*Yashiro's inner thoughts* "How come we had the misfortune to run into this guy now!?" he's looking at Ren trying to figure out his mood. "As I thought, he's upset..."
(Sho already out from the car is waiting for his manager to come out as well)
Sho: Hnn... Shoko san, what are you doing? hurry up and come out! (Clicking his tongue at her) I want to finish this interview and go back to the apartment for my afternoon nap. I need to stock up on energy, after all a long night composing is waiting for me.
Shoko: just a second, don't be so impatient geez... (with a bit of grunting voice. She takes her purse and comes out from the car)
Sho: Finally... (than he turns around to head for the entrance and he sees Ren and Yashiro)
Shoko: You are such a child sometimes... (with a low voice...and just when she wanted to ask him why he stopped, she realize who's in front of them and stays quiet thinking how to deal with this situation)
Sho: Hmp... If it isn't Tsuruga Ren, the man himself in person... (Glaring at him in a condescending manner at which Ren only responds to that with his eyebrows still knit and a bit sharper eye expression)
Shoko: Sho, don't forget we have an interview waiting for us... (trying to break the heavy tension In the air)
Sho: We'll get there. This will take only a few moments of our time, Shoko san... (looking at Ren from top to bottom)
Ren: Yashiro san get in the car, we need to go to our next appointment. (trying to go inside the car but Sho stops him)
Sho: Why so hurry...? Can't spare a minute of your time? I am doing it, why can't you too? (In a sarcastic tone. At that, Ren turns facing him face to face)
Ren: What do you want...? (with a serious tone and expression on his face)
Sho: I heard some speculations... I just want to hear for myself if it's true or not.
Ren: ... (waiting for him to ask the question)
Sho: Is it true...that you are doing another drama with Kyoko? (waiting for the answer with a serious and a slight anticipation look on his face)
Ren: How did you learn about that? After all this is very recent news... Are you following her? (getting even more serious)
Sho: What a joke... (chuckles at him) Me, spying on that shape-shifting demon? As if! You forget that we are in the same business. I have my sources, you know... do not underestimate me, Tsuruga Ren. Now tell me! Are you two going to act together again?
Ren: I don't owe you any explanation... but in order for you to not bother her, I will tell you.
Sho: How kind of you... (In a mocking tone)
Ren: The answer to your question is... Yes, we are going to work together again. (at those news, Sho knit the eyebrows with displeased facial expression)
Sho: So it was true after all... Hmp! And once again she will start terrorizing her co-actors with her horror acting... Typical Kyoko... (laughs at the idea of her being once again the antagonist)
Ren: It seems like your source is not that reliable after all...
Sho: What did you say? What do you mean? (trying to figure out where is he going with that)
Ren: Mogami san in the role of the villain... Is that what you heard about this project?
Sho: No, I didn't hear that. I don't need to. After all... what role could she possibly play that bumpkin if not the antagonist? (with snickering sound and mockery tone)
Ren: I think you will be surprised when you hear that...Mogami san, plays the lead opposite me in the drama. (when he hears that, Sho stops laughing)
Shoko: Seriously!? Kyoko chan is the protagonist for the upcoming drama? (In disbelief)
Yashiro: That's right! Kyoko chan was chosen by the Director himself for the lead role alongside with Ren. Ah, but I guess you are partly one of the people who she should be thankful for, Fuwa kun...
Sho: Ha!? What do you mean by that...four eyes? (he can't remember his name hence four eyes. Yashiro get's a bit irked by that)
Yashiro: Four eyes...? Anyway, like I said it's thanks to the PV that Fuwa kun made with Kyoko chan, that was one of the reasons the director liked her... (pleased with himself)
(Sho is a bit unhappy with the news and lost in thought when suddenly...)
Ren: Now when you got your answer, there's no need to prolong this anymore... Yashiro san we are going.
Yashiro: Ah, yes... (they both enter inside the car, Ren starts up the engine and exit the parking lot leaving the confused Sho behind)
Shoko: Sho... Sho! Are you ok?
Sho: That stupid Kyoko got the lead part in a drama...
Shoko: As baffling as it is... eventually it was bound to happen, no?
Sho: That Kyoko is gonna be the lead actress, and with Tsuruga Ren no less... haha...hahah...hahahahh (starts laughing as if he's forcing himself)
Shoko: Sho? You are really not ok after all... don't force yourself...
Sho: Who Is forcing himself! (shouting)
Shoko: You are!
Sho: You obviously can't see clearly Shoko San! I see... Kyoko is going to be the protagonist... Well fine! Bring it on! You can't beat me down if you don't step up your game, stupid Kyoko! hahahahah (keeps laughing like a maniac)
Shoko: Oh great...another episode of his quirky unstable moods is coming up... (with a sigh)
LME Agency, Talent division at Sawara's san office.
Kyoko: Thank you, Sawara san for your assistance. (Bow down)
Sawara: Sure, sure hahah! I see you are getting more into your role, Mogami san...
Kyoko: I want to give my best in doing this role! (pumped up)
Sawara: I'm glad to see you like this...
Kyoko: Now then I will take my leave (bows and leave the office)
She's walking through the hall and talking to herself.
Kyoko: I said all that, but I have no idea how to approach this character... -_- (a bit gloomy)
While walking through the corridor she sees a poster of a girl modeling as an office girl.
Kyoko: If I remember it well, Kantoku said that the Angel from the PV and Natsu are like some kind of mashup of each other... (thinking hard about the two of them)
Kyoko: I'm gonna need a pen and paper for this. (goes to the L❤️me members office, take a seat and starts doing some character evaluation on Natsu and the Angel)
Kyoko: The Angel is kind and selfless, Natsu is very clever and can read the air around the person... The Angel is very protective of her friend, Natsu is the natural leader when in a group... but both the Angel when she gets vicious and Natsu when she's giving orders to bully her target, can be very cruel... ahhh! (getting confused) No! no, no... think Kyoko!
How can I use those traits on a good person? (trying to remember details about Mai from the script) She didn't want to accept help from others, but she had to... Even binding herself with a marriage contract so she can be true to herself and her word... Oh! So she's prideful. (Starting to connect the dots) Adding the traits of the other two means...she has a strong sense of justice, won't let herself to be anyone's pawn, kind, graceful and beautiful but at the same time she's fierce and daring. Wait... could this be it? Somehow I think I have a clear image of her in my mind... (her heart starts to beat more rapidly from having that eureka moment and then her phone starts to ring)
Kyoko: Ah, my phone... (searching for it, and then she sees the dialer is Fuwa Sho and immediately hangs up. After that this gets repetitive for a while until she finally decide to take his call) What do you want, Shoutaro!? (with a raised voice that shows she's angry) And just when I was having a moment... (fuming with anger)
Sho: I told you to stop calling me by my full name, stupid Kyoko! (with an angry tone)
Kyoko: Did you just called me stupid? Baka Shoutaro!? (her veins on her face start showing up) Damn you... (takes her voodoo doll of him from her purse and starts to prick it with needles multiple times and grins with a wicked expression on her face)
Sho: Before you start your rituals of cursing me, listen to me first! (as if he knew she was in the middle of one)
Kyoko: I have no business with you, you Prince of Selfishness! (about to end the call when Sho mentions...)
Sho: I met Tsuruga Ren today... (after this Kyoko returns to her normal self)
Kyoko: Tsuruga san!? ...
Sho: So now you are listening to me, ha?
Kyoko: What did you do to him? Listen, if you did something...or say anything stupid with your stupid mouth…
Sho: I didn't do anything to him, crazy Kyoko! Why? Is he so weak that he needs your protection? (At that, Kyoko gets with a dropped jaw from being both shocked and in disbelief at the same time)
Kyoko: WHAT ARE YOU SAYING!? AS IF TSURUGA SAN NEEDS SOMETHING LIKE THAT FROM ME, STUPID SHO! HE WON'T GET DEFEATED BY THE LIKES OF YOU!
Sho: Ah! enough! If you are not interested I will hang up now...
Kyoko: Wait! You are the one who called me first! Just say what you wanna say already!
Sho: Somehow you are yielding, and for some reason that goes on my nerves too!
Kyoko: Will You Talk Already!? Where did you meet Tsuruga San? (Anxious to know)
Sho: I was going to give my interview and I met... that Tsuruga...
Kyoko: Grrrr... That Tsuruga he says... (with suppressing anger)
Sho: I took my chance and asked him, since he was on my way anyway...
Kyoko: Ask him what? How to be a decent human being? (with monotone look and tone)
Sho: As if! You damn Kyoko! You're pissing me off! (with suppressed anger) In fact if anyone needs to learn from someone, that's him! hahahahah!
Kyoko: You wish! Don't get delusional on me! now, concentrate! And tell me what happened between you two...
Sho: He told me that you are going to play the lead role with him...
Kyoko: Tsuruga san told you that himself? (surprised)
Sho: Well not exactly, it was actually his manager bragging about how you and... THAT GUY will be the lead actors, and that I too have some part in getting you selected for that role thanks to my PV...
Kyoko: Yashiro san... (moved from what she heard)
Sho: Anyways, I just wanted to tell you that this means nothing yet... There's still a chance for you to blow this all up! (chuckles at her)
Kyoko: YOU!... Is this the reason for your call? You just wanted to send some evil vibrations through the phone that will put a spell on me to fail in my role? (makes a resentful face at him)
Sho: As expected of your stupid brain Kyoko, you never fail my expectations... (soft laugh)
Kyoko: I'M HANGING UP! (with a firm tone)
Sho: Show me what you got! Didn't you say that you are going to defeat me with your acting...?
Kyoko: Of course I will! Just watch me! I will soon send you the biggest defeat of your life!
Sho: Talk is easy... you have to defeat me first. Let's see what you can do... (ends the call)
Kyoko: He hung up!? (angry) I will make you fall on your knees and beg me to be my servant when I get the title of best actress in japan! You just wait Shoutaro! (With a determined look on her face)
Already Evening, at some private bar exclusive only for celebrities Ren is having a drink by himself on his usual spot.
He's thinking about his encounter with Sho and how that will affect the upcoming events from now on. While he's sipping from his drink and at the same time lost in his thoughts, he can feel a figure is approaching him. He only takes a glance with his eyes and sees a familiar face...
Saori: it's been a while, Ren... long time no see... (smiles softly at him happy to see him)
Ren: ... Saori...? (with an expression that says he wasn't expecting to see her)
Ren and Sho had the luck or bad luck to run to each other and share some tension...
Kyoko is already grasping on her character more firmly.
Sho made a call to Kyoko with the intent to make fun of her, or did he...?
And what's the connection between the assistant director with Ren?
Next chapter coming soon...