Two days later, Kyoko was walking out of the studio she'd been visiting for The Sacred Lotus in the Mire. She'd had a shuriken, throwing stars, lesson for her role as Momiji and was looking forward to filming starting next week.
She had anticipated Yukihito Yashiro would be picking her up but, while in the lesson, she'd received a text message from Sawara-san, the Head of the LME Talent Section. He advised her that Yashiro was held up at an appointment for Tsuruga Ren but that he would have someone else pick her up so she could make it to her filming for Kimagure at TBM Studios that evening.
She was surprised Tsuruga Ren had been delayed. He normally seemed to speed through his appointments. She hadn't spoken to him in days, not since he questioned her about the kiss from Sho Fuwa. It was after that exchange that his connection with Kana Kusunoki had been splashed all over the tabloids and news. That same day she'd run into him at LME and she'd been so emotional she couldn't help fleeing.
She wondered how he was doing as she walked out to the pickup/drop-off point to find Murasame Taira waving to her from a black Mercedes Benz sedan. Murasame was wearing wrap-around sunglasses, khaki pants, shirt, and a jacket.
A bit embarrassed she walked over to him and asked, "Hello Murasame-san, did Sawara-san ask you to pick me up?"
Murasame nodded. "I was driving out here to audition for a new role but they canceled it suddenly. Since I was most of the way here already, Sawara-san asked Matsushima-san, to ask me if I could pick you up." He smiled as he explained, "They made it a Love Me request."
As Kyoko came up to the car, he opened the door to the back seat for her and formally waved her to her seat. She blushed slightly in embarrassment at the special treatment.
Kyoko smiled as she settled into the back seat. "Does this make you my stand-in manager for today," she asked as he pulled out of the driveway.
Murasame mock growled at her, "I'm just your stand-in driver. I was Ruriko-san's stand-in manager yesterday because her manager was sick. All she wanted me to do was pose with her for selfies she could post on social media." He grunted in annoyance.
Kyoko laughed recalling her own struggle dealing with Ruriko Matsunai when she was brand new to LME. "Did you wear your pink Love Me uniform," she asked innocently.
Murasame burst out laughing, "Oh that would solve it! She would have never wanted to take a picture with me in that outfit." Still chuckling he continued, "I never thought I'd feel like I missed out on something by NOT wearing that horrible thing but I'll remember that next time." He shook his head in amazement, "I was so shocked when Amamiya-san showed it to me yesterday."
Kyoko smiled, "We all feel that way at first. Well, except for maybe Amamiya-san. She was pretty excited to join the Love Me section."
Murasame smirked, "Should I call you sempai? You are Love Me Member Number 1 after all."
Kyoko stared at him thru the rear-view mirror of his car. "You can call me Kyoko-chan. Being Love Me member number 1 doesn't make me your sempai," she replied as she shook her head, turning to look out the window.
Trying to keep the mood light-hearted, Murasame continued after a moment, "How did you become Love Me Member Number 1?"
When it didn't look like she'd tell him he added, "Amamiya-san said she and Kotonami-san are both part of Love Me for the same reason I am but she didn't know about you. I asked Kotonami-san, she wouldn't tell me but at the same time she was trying to keep from smiling so I think it must be a good story."
Kyoko stared at the scenery out the window, frowning slightly. "It's kind of an embarrassing story," she finally said.
"Please," Murasame asked. "It must be pretty good for the President to create a new section of LME. He must have gone to a lot of trouble because he was really impressed."
Kyoko glanced up at the mirror to see Murasame staring at the road.
Kyoko relented, "When we were in Round 2 of the LME auditions there was a reaction test. One after the other we were given a cell phone to listen to and told to react to what we heard. Everyone seemed really happy from what they heard on the phone. Kotonami-san was just before me. She didn't say anything and just started crying.
"When I got the phone I got so angry I yelled something about there being no reason for hell if apologies were enough and I . . . I broke the phone in my anger," she finished lamely, staring out the window again.
Murasame was stunned, "Why?! What did they say?"
Kyoko shrugged, "Something about being sorry for leaving and that he'd been wrong. I forgot where I was and just reacted, badly," she sighed.
Murasame absently nodded in agreement thinking the President must have been completely devastated by her reaction. He hadn't been with LME long but he could already see the President had two major obsessions, dramatic flair and love. Kyoko's reaction was definitely dramatic but absolutely the opposite of love.
Kyoko started looking at her phone, embarrassed by the discussion, so Murasame focused on driving the rest of the way to TBM.
When they reached TBM Studios, Murasame escorted Kyoko in so he so he could pick up an order of the famous TBM Anpan they sold in the cafeteria. He'd heard it was really good and he hadn't gotten a chance to try it when he'd filmed Kimagure there a few days ago.
Kyoko had relaxed after their previous discussion and promised to show him where to get it. It was the Ishibashi brothers' favorite but seemed overly dangerous for anyone thinking about their calorie intake.
As they walked across the lobby towards the cafeteria, Kyoko found Sho Fuwa and Shoko Aki walking in the opposite direction towards the garage.
She watched as Sho recognized her before quickly sizing up Murasame walking beside her. She could see his frown begin before he "Tsked" at her choice of company.
Immediately she found herself furious that Sho Fuwa, of all people, would judge the company she kept. Her grudges popped out of her head ready for action should she need to "deal" with Sho.
Reminding herself it was a public place she tapped down on her anger and tried to angle their direction away from Sho and Shoko. Unfortunately, Shoko recognized her quickly and waved to her, "Kyko-san!"
Trying to slow her heartbeat, Kyoko replied as they met in the center of the lobby, "Hello Shoko-chan, it's good to see you. I thought you would still be on tour."
"It's a short trip back; I'm working on a collaboration." Sho replied with a smirk.
Annoyed but trying to be polite, Kyoko gestured to Murasame as she introduced him, "Murasame-san this is Shoko Aki-chan, Sho-chan's manager. Shoko-san, this is Murasame Taira-san who recently joined LME." Digging deep into her actor's soul for a pleasant attitude, she gestured to Sho Fuwa, "This is Sho Fuwa-chan." Gesturing to Murasame she continued, "This is Murasame Taira-san."
Shoko smiled, "I'm very pleased to meet you Murasame-san. I saw your interview on Kimagure the other night. Tragic Marker looks very exciting. There is already a lot of buzz about the mysterious Cain Heel."
Murasame nodded slightly with a crooked smile, acknowledging the compliment.
Sho Fuwa suddenly interjected, "How is that next step going Kyoko? You know, the next step you were planning in your career."
Kyoko smiled back in satisfaction, "I'm playing the role of the female ninja Momiji in The Sacred Lotus in the Mire."
"Congratulations! I recall that's a romantic role. Who is playing the Wandering Samurai," Shoko asked pleasantly.
"Koga Hiromune. We start filming next week," Kyoko replied. She glanced at Sho Fuwa who looked like he'd just swallowed a bug.
Turning back to Murasame, Kyoko said, "We'd better hurry to get the Anpan. I want to show you the Pucchin desert pudding they have in the cafeteria too before I go to work. It's amazing," she added before turningr back to Shoko and Sho. "It was good to see you both."
She waved casually as they continued; briefly registering Sho's anguished face.
It wasn't as satisfying as kicking Sho or calling him a man-child but it was enough she thought as they continued to the cafeteria.
