Kyoko speed down the halls of LME to the agency room calling out, "Mmmooookkkkooooo-sssaaaannn," before she popped open the door half-way to peak in and find Kanae Kotonomi and Matsushima speaking with Tsuruga Ren and Yashiro.
Surprised by the meeting but not stepping back she formally apologized for interrupting their discussion before staring at Kanae and then up at the clock on the wall.
Responding to her unspoken communication, Kanae replied, "I'll be out in just a couple of minutes. Go check with Sawara-san, he said he had something he wanted to talk to you about."
Kyoko nodded before apologizing again and backing out, closing the door behind her.
Ten minutes later, a noticeably less excited Kyoko returned to the lobby to find Hiou Uesugi speaking with Murasame Taira. Hiou's manager, Matsuda, stood silently a few feet away.
Noticing Kyoko, Hiou called to her, "I thought you went to get Kanae?"
After greeting Murasame she replied to Hiou, "She was in a quick meeting but she said she'd be out soon. You and Murasame-san know each other," she asked.
Hiou looked up at Murasame, "I played his little brother in a commercial a couple months ago," he explained.
"Are you with LME as well Hiou-kun," Murasame asked.
"No, I'm here for an appointment with Kyoko and Kanae," he replied.
Murasame was surprised Hiou didn't use honorifics for Kanae nor Kyoko.
Kyoko brightened up at his words with a happy smile. Seeing Kanae coming towards them she waved, "Hey Moko-san!"
Frowning slightly at Kyoko's enthusiasm, Kanae joined them and apologized to Hiou for being late. She looked back at Kyoko's hopeful look, "We're not going to the water park, we don't have the time and it would be trouble if someone recognized us."
Kyoko replied pleadingly, "Our schedules are clear for once and Hiou-kun wants to go. No one recognizes me, except that one time," she added briefly, thinking about her first meeting with Murasame. "Sunglasses and a hat and no one will recognize you either."
Kanae's looked at Hiou for his response and saw a hopeful gleam in his eye.
Seeing Kanae's hesitation, Kyoko added, "You're going off for filming in America, we should do something fun together before you go. We can practice your English the whole time."
"Fine," Kanae begrudgingly agreed. "Who recognized you," she asked Kyoko, curious.
Gesturing to Murasame she replied, "Murasame-san recognized I played Mio."
"Kyoko," Yashiro interrupted them with Tsuruga Ren a few feet behind them. "Call me tonight to discuss that opportunity Sawara-san mentioned to you today."
Kyoko sighed and nodded, "Yes Yashiro-san, I want to talk to you about it." Seeing Tsuruga Ren behind him, she stiffly greeted him, still unsure of how to act around him. Realizing Murasame was looking at Ren she introduced him and Hiou to Tsuruga.
Murasame briefly bowed to Tsuruga while Hiou acknowledged Tsuruga with a vague hand gesture before turning to Kanae and Kyoko. "I'm going," he said before turning and heading to the exit, Matsuda following him.
Kanae and Kyoko shared an amused smile before offering brief goodbyes to everyone and following Hiou to the garage.
Murasame smiled and shook his head, feeling jealous of Hiou's female entourage before glancing up to see slight smile on Tsuruga's face as well. He was surprised at Tsuruga's height; he could count on one hand the number of actors taller than himself.
"Again, welcome to LME Murasame-san," Yashiro said. "You've been doing very well as an actor recently. What made you decide to join LME?"
Murasame smiled, "I still work with my former agency as well but your President is very convincing and some of the best actors have come out of LME." He signed briefly, "I still have a long way to go."
Yashiro nodded, "We're very glad you decided to come here but have you been assigned a manager? I would have thought the President would assign you someone unless you have a manager from your first agency," he asked questioningly.
Murasame shook his head, "I don't have a manager yet, I told the President no rush. I prefer to drive myself around."
"Hmmm," Yashiro murmured while looking up at Tsuruga Ren with a sideways look.
Tsuruga smiled before asking, "How do you know Kanae Kotonami-san and Kyoko Mogami-san, have you worked with them yet?"
Murasame smiled briefly before replying, "Not as an actor but . . . the President assigned me to the Love Me Section. I met Kyoko-san about a week ago at Kimagure."
Ignoring their surprised faces, he continued, "I had better get going; I have an appointment with Matsushima-san. Thank you for your time," he added before leaving.
After he left, Yashiro looked up at Tsuruga Ren as they continued to the garage. "Did you ever clear up that misunderstanding about Kana with Kyoko," he asked
"No," he replied ruefully. "She didn't return my calls and I thought it would be best to let her calm down for a few days." At Yashiro's pointed look, he added, "I didn't know Murasame had joined LME. He was overly interested in her during the filming for Tragic Marker," he mused recalling the President mention Murasame a couple times in their past conversations.
"Do you think he recognizes her," Yashiro asked.
"He doesn't appear to have, yet," he added. "What's this opportunity you want to discuss with her tonight," he asked.
Yashiro paused and started turning pink in embarrassment. "Well, LME was offered a musical collaboration with Ruriko Matsunai and they want Kyoko to be a part of the Promotional Videos."
Suddenly suspicious, Tsuruga asked casually, "With who?"
As they got into his car and closed the doors, Yashiro finally replied, "Sho Fuwa."
On the way to his next appointment, Yashiro also wished he weren't driving as Tsuruga's sour mood pervaded the vehicle.
The previous PV with Sho Fuwa had been excellent for Kyoko's career and combining musical talents with Ruriko meant it was likely to be a huge success. Professionally he knew it was a great move for her career but it could only deepen the rift between her and Tsuruga Ren.
"You should visit her tonight and tell her the truth," he finally said.
Tsuruga Ren nodded silently in agreement.
