Chapter 2: The phone call

Takahashi Shun was the only current member of Love Me. Today he was assigned to help Kyoko, and he was bored. All he was asked to do was sit backstage and answer Kyoko's phone if a contact with a star next to the name called.

He was starting to get restless when the phone started vibrating. He let it ring for a few seconds, surprised and nervous about answering the phone.

"Kyoko's phone, Sh-she is currently busy." Shun stuttered. He wasn't used to answering phones, especially when they belonged to somebody else.

"Who are you? Wait, doesn't matter. Give her the phone." The voice on the other side of the phone answered.

"Ummm... " Shun started. " I think she's almost done? I'm acting as her manager today."

"Well acting manager, you need better phone skills. Tell her I called when she's done." The voice replied before hanging up.

Shun stared at the phone for a minute before realizing he forgot to get the name of the person that called. He panicked for a couple minutes before realizing Kyoko should be able to look at her call logs. He was not able to unlock the phone to look. He was back to being bored waiting on Kyoko.

Kyoko went straight to Takahashi when she finished with the morning talk show. Hikaru and Yumiko would be continuing with a summary of recent entertainment news stories. "Thank you Takahashi-kun for coming today." Kyoko started. "We are free to go now. I can take you back to LME with me if you would like. Did you learn anything new while watching this morning?"

"Was I supposed to learn anything? I guess I learned that I need practice answering phones. You got a call from someone wanting to talk to you but I forgot to get his name" He mumbled.

"Every job has the potential to teach you something new about yourself. I'll look at recent calls when I get back to my office. Thank you for coming with me today" Kyoko responded. "Let's get back to LME."

After arriving back at LME, Kyoko said goodbye to Takahashi-kun and walked towards her new office. The building itself had not changed much over the years, and no matter how long she spent away from it she always felt at home when she returned. She smiled as she thought about being there every day.

She peeked into the acting department and saw that Yukihito was already there. "Good morning!" She called out. "Anything important I should know before starting for the day?" She asked.

"Nothing right now." Yukihito responded. "Let me know if you need anything after you check emails." He waved before continuing at what he was working on.

"Ok, I will!" Kyoko replied and she went into her office. Her office was a temporary one set aside by the President so she could be close to all the section heads of LME to get to know them all better. Because it was temporary, she did not have too many decorations - just a few pictures on the wall of her friends and herself in any roles they did together. Part of her was sad that she would no longer be acting, but another part was excited for what she would be doing next.

Kyoko closed the door and looked at her phone after sitting down. She was curious who would have called her in the morning that would not have left a name. When she looked at her phone she had some text messages from Kuon asking how the show went and letting her know he made it to the studio where he was working casting for the next movie he was going to direct.

She opened the call log and saw the name. "Sho?" She muttered to herself. It had been over a year since she had heard from him last. She had tried calling and sending him emails when she realized he hadn't reached out near her last birthday but he never responded. Concerned, she returned the call.

After three rings, Sho answered in a slurred voice "Kyoko?"

"Hello Sho. Are you ok?" Kyoko frowned. She wasn't sure if he was drunk or just tired.

"Not really." Sho responded. "Should probably talk, but this medicine makes me sleepy. Come to Kyoto."

"Kyoto? Did you move?"

"Yeah, with my parents. Falling asleep. Come soon. I'll tell you in person. Sorry Kyoko."

"Wait…. " Kyoko started but it was already too late. He disconnected the call. She sat staring at the phone with a blank stare trying to think about what she should do. That was how Lory found her when he came to her office that morning.

"Kyoko, what's wrong?" Lory asked when he saw her expression.

"I need to go to Kyoto." Kyoko responded.

Is everything ok in Kyoto?" He was concerned about Kyoko.

"I don't know. Something is wrong with Sho, but he didn't tell me. He's with his parents now which is something he always said he would never do."

"We'll be fine here as long as you are back next month."

"You really think so?" Kyoko asked.

"I wouldn't have had these made if I wasn't. Feel free to give them out to those that know." He pulled out a box and handed it to Kyoko.

Kyoko looked at the box Lory had given her. On the top was an iridescent fairy. Once she saw that her eyes widened in excitement. Inside the box was a small stack of business cards. They had her name, contact information, and her new position: President.

Kyoko smiled. "Thank you for trusting in me."

"I wouldn't trust anybody else. Once you know more let me know what your plan is."

"Of course."

At the end of another audition, Kuon sighed and asked for the next audition. Who walked through the door was a complete surprise.

"Kyoko? What are you doing here?" Then he got a good look at her. Her face showed no emotion and her posture was straighter than normal if possible. He realized that she had gone into a character to hold in her emotions. "Let's take 10 minutes. She's not here to audition." He told the others at the table and guided Kyoko out of the audition room, past a room with people waiting to audition, to an empty meeting room.

Kuon wrapped Kyoko into a hug. "Kyoko, princess, what's wrong? "

And princess is what got Kyoko back to reality. "Corn! Sho finally called but something is wrong." She sobbed into his chest. "I'm going to Kyoto."

"Just you? I'll come too." Kuon decided. "You don't have to go on your own.""

"But you have work!" Kyoko responded. "You ca..."

"Yes I can!" Kuon responded." Let me be there for you. After this afternoon we don't have anything else scheduled until next week and I can do anything I need to on a laptop. There are 5 more auditions. Stay with me. We'll go home together and pack and go to Kyoto tonight or tomorrow."

"I can just go home on my own."

"And be alone? I know Kanae-san is on location, and all your other friends are in other countries right now. You could go back to LME and at least be with Boss or Yukihito, but don't go somewhere alone. Don't hide your feelings and cry alone."

"I... I'll stay here." Kyoko decided. "Let me clean up."

The auditions were what Kyoko needed to get her mind off of the phone call earlier. Not only did she get to watch different styles of acting the same character, but she also got to see her Husband in action. Another bonus was she got to see her friend Chiori who had written the screenplay.

Kuon had moved to directing as a way to challenge himself and found out he not only enjoyed it but was good at it. This would be his third movie to direct. The first two Kyoko played small parts in. For this one they were both planning on being extras in a couple of scenes.

After the last audition left and the rest of the group deciding on the cast had made their plans for the next week, Kuon and Kyoko left to go home, pack, and plan their trip. The next morning they were on the bullet train to Kyoto.