AN: Sorry this is a little short, I'm just really busy to even write this much 😊 Thank you for choosing to read.

Act 70 – I Can't Do This, I Hate Her

Despite sharing the mutual dislike of working together, Kyoko was able to portray the actions of an angel when she looked towards Mimori. She wasn't seeing the spoiled and slow-witted puppy dog there but she was remembering all the joys of being with Moko-chan and of how she would want to spend more time in the future connecting with her friend in that manner. It was easy once she came to the realization that by mentally turning Mimori into Kanae, she could act out the character motivations. However, there was something wrong with this and a crying and wailing Mimori was the result.

This was not Kyoko's fault.

"What are you doing?"Sho said as Kyoko took a step back, examining the scene before her which she was sadly being included in. She hadn't wanted for this to happen and she hadn't felt so irked for a long time. She truly disliked this girl.

"That," Kyoko gestured to the crying baby, "You think of something."

Sho paused, before turning his attention to the direction where Kyoko was looking and the direction which the noise was coming in. They stared at the girl who was sobbing hard and rubbing her eyes despite the makeup work being complete.

"I'm already doing my best," Mimori protested, "but I really can't make myself feel friendly because I really hate this person."

Mimori turned and hugged onto Sho thinking that he might be the prince that Kyoko knew he wasn't. She looked down bitterly. This was boring. She had often had girls say these things to her before and had tried not to internalize them but this time she was feeling bored and irritated by the entire event.

As Mimori sobbed with Sho only touching her by the shoulders but not giving her a proper embrace, Haruki came closer to the two of them. She leaned down to talk to Mimori. "Mimori, you should also know that this isn't something you can solve just by saying that you hate her."

There was silence after that but only for a brief moment, this was a chance that Sho could take and to Kyoko's horror he did so. He looked at Kyoko as if she were a flea.

"You really are a detestable person, aren't you? I knew it a long time ago. Do you feel sad living?"

Kyoko paused. Those were words which she hadn't wanted to hear from anyone, yes, her mother had often made her feel that way but she didn't want to be told it. It angered her even more. Such hurtful words had to be purposefully chosen and how dare he shift the blame onto her when the reason for Mimori acting in this manner was because of him.

"This is completely your fault!" Kyoko snapped, her face showing the deep rooted anger from within, "You're making it sound as if you've got nothing to do with this."

"Touche," Sho said in response as he stared at her bitterly. Kyoko felt even more anger, he never took responsibility for things, that had always been the way he acted his whole life. He wasn't able to see the world from outside his own view because he had never tried. Kyoko exhaled bitterly. "What did I do?"

"You've always been close to me alone! So those girls who have crushes on you all hate me!" she said and Shotaro blinked, staring at her he paused as he saw how enraged she was and Kyoko sensed some uncertainty and maybe even a little insecurity in his expression.

"So you're saying," he said slowly, his eyes showing that he was just realizing something at this point, "It's because of my handsome features and vast popularity that you were never able to make any friends?" he said, looking as if he was in some kind of a trance. Kyoko hated this. She knew he wasn't going to apologize to her, he wouldn't waste his breath on a plain and boring woman like her. She felt that she knew exactly what he was thinking.

""So, my popularity was really that great,"" Kyoko said, the anger radiating off of her body as if heat waves, "Is what you're thinking, right?" she asked and Sho looked away. He didn't want to admit that she was right because even though those were the thoughts going through his mind, he didn't want to give Kyoko the satisfaction of thinking that she was right. "I really hate people like you! You don't feel any guilt at all!" Kyoko snapped at him, becoming even angrier due to his indifference. Why should she expect anything more from him?

"Why should I feel guilty?" Sho asked with a satisfied smile on his face, "Who knew that it was so wrong to be close to the girl who -"

Mimori started yelling and hitting the air with her fists as Sho spoke. Her voice was loud and her actions were violent and over the top and Kyoko had to take a step back from the shock that she was feeling. She hadn't expected this. She didn't think anyone else expected this either. In fact, Sho's last words had fallen upon deaf ears due to her outburst.

" - understands me best?"

…..

…

Despite still being frustrated over the whole series of events, as Mimori's manager attempted to make her apologies, Kyoko couldn't help but feel a little compassion for her. It would be hard to follow someone like Mimori around all day and even though Kyoko just wanted this moment to be over, it wasn't as if anyone could have planned for this to happen.

Haruki sighed, "What a headache. Even though it's just a promotional video, we're not making any progress at all, feelings and expressions are also essential –"

The manager was stuck in a deep and apologetic bow, sweat was on her forehead and she definitely appeared to be hut by this whole series of events. "I'm sorry, our Mimori…" she turned her attention to Kyoko. "I apologize to you, Kyoko-san, too. Even though Mimori is new, "it's not possible because I hate her," it really wasn't meant to turn out like this so we've hurt you too."

Kyoko's eyes widened. She felt bad that this young woman was apologizing for her disrespectful client when she actually hadn't done anything herself. She didn't want to face someone who hadn't actually harmed her as they apologized for another, she didn't want for someone to feel that they had mistreated her. She would take an apology from Mimori herself but not on her behalf.

"Do-Don't worry," Kyoko said a little nervous about this. "Acting is really easily influenced by one's emotions. I don't mind at all. I'll wait patiently," she tried to say hoping that the manager would calm down. It worked as the young woman turned to her with a smile.

"Ah," she said and Kyoko could see respect in her eyes. "Even though you're also new, you understand this stuff so well," she said. Kyoko grit her teeth and turned away from her. She wasn't doing it because of that. She just wanted to protect herself. She pitied her for wanting to be Shotaro's lover, who knew the depths of hell that Mimori was taking a step into better than Kyoko herself.

Kyoko looked towards Shotaro with a deep set glare, she knew that if Mimori quit they'd have to work quickly and frantically and there was a chance that she would have to play Sho's lover. That was a punishment far worse than death. She wouldn't be able to do that. Also, Shotaro wasn't that much of a professional that Kyoko could trust in the fact that he wouldn't stomp his feet and yell that he hated her and then he'd quit. That would mean that this terrible day wouldn't have happened or that it had all amounted to nothing. No, the best thing to do was keep still and be patient.

Kyoko eyed Sho carefully, she needed for him to not be the idiot she suspected that he actually was and mess all of this up. It was a misunderstanding. They didn't have the type of relationship that Mimori thought that they had. They had been childhood friends but they weren't even friends any longer. Shotaro needed to clear the mess up so that they could continue filming. Even if Kyoko had to witness Shotaro kissing her and such a silly manipulative act that made her feel dirty from the inside out, if it would bring them back to filming it wouldn't be that revolting.

…..

…

After what felt like an extremely long time, the filming started again. Kyoko put herself in the mindset that Mimori was Moko-chan and her actions became soft and loving. She could act with Mimori because she tried to imagine her as someone else. Maybe not the kindest of acts but it would make sure that they started moving again and that they could shape some kind of progress.

Kyoko could tell that she was performing strongly, she could feel herself become the angel that she was supposed to be and she saw that the people watching her could feel it too. Even Mimori had been able to pretend alongside her. This was something that made Kyoko think of Ren and how he had led her in the only scene she had performed opposite him. Not only was Ren her friend but he was her ideal actor, her role model, her motivation and she wanted to make him proud of her.

There was a shining energy as Mimori fed into the brightness that Kyoko was bringing and became an angel to match her energy. There was such a good and shining energy there. Kyoko felt proud of herself as she continued to act. She knew that she could do this and fortunately Mimori believed that as well.

Kyoko knew from filming this scene that she could bring it as an attack against Shotaro. She could believe in her acting. She would make him squirm and regret the way that he had treated her. She would eat him alive.

After they had filmed and were watching what had been captured by the camera, Sho came over to Kyoko who glared at him. Sho took a step back as well and Kyoko watched him bitterly.

"You actually have a little acting talent," he said. Kyoko knew that it was meant as an observation and not a compliment. No. She didn't want to be complimented by him, it would make her feel as if she had been covered in slime.

Instead she continued to glare at him, "I too wouldn't have thought of acting just last year. If you hadn't ditched me, I wouldn't have had a chance to become interested in acting."

End of Act 70

Thank you for reading, reviews are appreciated

Thank you, Kaname671, for reviewing Act 69