IRRATIONAL JEALOUSY.
Ren's eyebrows popped up in surprise after finding a voicemail from a certain someone, when he checked his phone during his break. He immediately played it without thinking.
"Hi, it's Kyoko. I'm sorry to bother you, I know you're up to your eyeballs on set. I'm calling because I have an emergency and I need some advice on how to fix it. Can you just call me back?"
Yashiro blinked. That's new. Ren's checking his voicemails now? But he always makes it a point of waiting until the end of the workday. Who on earth could have left a message that couldn't wait?
As soon as Ren was done listening to the message, he called Kyoko back. When she didn't answer, he called her again.
Yashiro was so flabbergasted by the unusual and unsettling sight that he almost choked on his coffee, his eyes widened to the size of saucers. Goodness! He even called back? And more than once! Who on earth is that? He wondered.
"So, since we're going in a new direction, everyone get ready to run another one with the new notes," Asami shouted orders at the crew and everyone scrammed off to their specified tasks after nodding in agreement.
"Kyoko, sorry about this but you will-" Asami turned to face her after dealing with the crew, but her sentence was cut off when she saw Kyoko's eyes flooding up with tears. She demanded, "Kyoko, what's wrong?"
"I- I'm really sorry," Kyoko answered through her tears as she plastered a convincing smile on her face and wiped the tears away from her eyes. "I know the scene is finished but I guess I still feel really emotional from it. I am sorry. I think I just need another minute to get it together."
"It's quite alright," Asami smiled. "It's actually impressive how much you got into character when you're so new."
"You see, it's because of a friend of mine, well actually, she is pretty much my best friend. And I couldn't help but imagine that she and I were the two angels as we were going into that last scene." New tears emerged into her eyes and her voice quivered as she continued, "but if I do what the scene says... she'll end up hating me and shutting me out," a small sob escaped her lips with a supply of fresh, new tears as soon as she dried the old ones through her handkerchief. "I just couldn't handle it!"
"Kyoko, calm down! Get a grip, it's just acting, remember?" Asami rocked her shoulders to console her.
After Kyoko was finally herself again, Asami told her that they were not going to reshoot the main seen again, except for the part where Sho had to close his eyes after he was dead.
"But why not?" Kyoko demanded. She was finally confident she could nail the role now and was so looking forward to it, but now this!
"There is no reason to," Asami explained. "We've decided to use the footage we shot during the rehearsals. I am not sure you can't replicate the timing of those performances anyway."
"But please, I promise you I'll do my best to nail it. I'll try to do it better than last time."
"Well dear, you cannot do it better because it was already perfect. The thing is, Sho was genuinely stunned to see you cry. If we shoot it again, he'll know already what to expect. I don't think his reaction would be this authentic. So please understand, it's not that I don't trust your artistic choices."
If I were as good as Ren Tsuruga, I wouldn't even have to think about it, Kyoko thought with a deep yearning and desire to get better burning inside of her. I could get any amateur actor to deliver just what I'm looking for.
"Infact, I have to tell you, I'm extremely impressed. You're a natural!" Asami exclaimed. "I bet you hear it all the time. A great actor will get into his role so deeply that he can virtually disappear and become that character."
Did I really disappear? Kyoko wondered. Now that I think about it, I was acting with Sho but I didn't even give him a second thought. I was too busy thinking about how the other angel would feel. A triumphant feeling seeped into her as she realised what just happened. Even if it was for a short while, and even if not completely, she actually did become the character!
"Miss Asami, I was wondering why you insist on only re-shooting Sho's scene?" The director asked the executive producer, who was sitting beside him as they waited below the tower for the scene to start.
"It's because of the name of this new single," Asami replied.
"You mean, 'Prisoner'?"
"'Prisoner', exactly. As in captive." Her eyes gleamed with a faraway look as she explained further. "Our devil has to have his heart stolen and it has to be Mimori who steals it. But he couldn't stop staring at the angel who pushed him off the tower. Their eyes were locked until the moment he perished. This changes the whole dynamic of the story."
"Wow, you're right!" The young director stroked his chin as he pondered on her words. "That's a really good point. If those two are staring at each other, it makes it look like they're actually in love. It's also... kinda creepy."
Asami chuckled. After a short pause, when the actors were in position, the scene began.
"Alright Sho, let's go again." The director spoke into the speaker, "and remember you're dead, so close your eyes!"
Sho fumed at that comment but managed to keep his dignity by not showing it or reacting on it... That was, until Kyoko flashed him another of her cocky smiles. She had been passing them a lot lately and they were almost as painful as rubbing salt on a wound for him. He gritted his teeth menacingly in return.
"Sho Fuwa!" She sang his name in a melodious tone and a voice as sweet as a pot-full of honey. "Now please, pretty please with sugar on top, give your absolute best. That is, if you think you can handle it," she hissed out the word 'handle' with extra emphasis and her grin widened. "Act out the scene exactly as it's written. Don't mess up and forget to close your eyes again."
Sho stiffened, boiling inside with anger. The fact that they were re-shooting only his scene while Kyoko's was already perfect, hit him like a shameful slap and Kyoko seemed to be enjoying every moment of it to add to his humiliation. He gave her a murderous look that screamed, 'Go. Straight. To. Hell!' but that only widened Kyoko's jubilant smirk.
When the shoot was over, Kyoko changed back into her jumpsuit before leaving. As she packed her things, she hummed a happy rhythm with a silly grin on her face. The day had been so perfect that even when they took off her make-up, her big smile didn't falter. Why would it? It was the first time in a shoot where she was totally in character, plus the murderous glares Sho shot at her were just like the cherry on the top. She was just elated about the fact that she got so much under his skin.
Her eyes swept over the dressing room one last time before she stepped out, thinking giddily, Look out Mr Tsuruga. I am coming to join you on the A list. Better make some room for me.
As she sauntered down the empty hallway with the silly grin still stuck to her face, her ears pricked up at the sound of a girl sobbing quietly.
When she listened carefully, she noted that it was coming from Sho's room. Without thinking, Kyoko snuck a peak from the slightly ajar door to satisfy her curiosity. It turned out to be Mimori, sobbing and complaining, "you only care about that girl! You don't even look at me!"
Sho gave a defeated sigh as he raised himself from the sofa on which he was lying, before wrapping his arms around Mimori to console her. "Shh. Don't cry," he whispered into her ear.
And, as if magically, Mimori's tears dried up in an instant and she hugged him back with little hearts sparkling in her eyes.
Sho caught sight of Kyoko standing outside and his grip around Mimori loosened. Before either of them could say anything they were interrupted by Mimori's manager, who invited herself in Sho's room and exclaimed, "Mimori, there you are! I've been looking all over for you. We have to leave now." With that, she grabbed Mimori by the shoulders and dragged her away.
Once they were alone, Kyoko squinted her eyes at Sho and added wryly, "surprise, surprise. I knew you had many talents but I didn't know about this special one. And it looks to me that you are pretty good at it."
"What do you mean?" Sho closed the door behind him stepping out into the hallway.
"The power to make any random crying girl's tears disappear in a heartbeat. I guess who never benefited from this magic skill was the girl right in front of you."
Sho looked down. "Are you talking about when we were kids?"
"Uh huh. Every time I cried you just froze up and stared at me. You didn't even try to help. Completely useless!"
"Hey! Come on now! I wasn't just staring. I was always trying to think of how I could..." help. But I never came up with any solution, did I? His voice trailed off in an abashed way. After a little pause, he admitted the truth in an almost unintelligible and soft mumble, "I didn't know what to do."
"I know you didn't, Sho." Kyoko's voice was even softer, mixed with a pinch of unintended hurt. "That's why I stopped doing it. I didn't wanna trouble you anymore." After a pause she added, "so I went looking for a place where I could cry by myself. And after a while, I found one. It was then I met Corn, my most cherished friend. So in a way, I am glad how things turned out. Because if it wasn't for your uselessness, I might have never met Corn." Just the memory of him was enough to make her smile even through the sadness. She turned to leave.
"Wait, what does that even mean?" Sho grabbed Kyoko's arm and raised an eyebrow. "So what you're telling me is that all those times you took off, you actually went to cry in front of some loser kid named after a vegetable? Really?"
"Hey! This is my precious memory!" She growled angrily. "And I don't need your opinions so stay out of it, okay?"
"Alright alright," he waved his hands in resignationy. "Take it easy, tiger!"
A loud bell rang from Kyoko's bag interrupting their exchange. "Is that my phone?" Muttering, she fished it out of her purse and pressed it to her ear. "Hello?"
"Ah. You finally answered," a smooth, warm voice replied. "What's up?"
Is that who I think it is? Kyoko glanced at the screen before hurriedly pressing it back to her ear just to make sure she wasn't mistaken.
"It's me," he confirmed. "Are you alright?"
"Oh. Mr Tsuruga!"
Sho, who was about to go back in his room, halted at the sound of that name. His head cocked back in surprise. "There is no way..."
"I am totally fine. Why? What's wrong?" Kyoko inquired with a frown.
"That's what I'm asking you. You left me a vaguely cryptic voicemail, remember?"
Oh crap! I forgot to leave a follow up message. "I- I'm so sorry about that! Don't even worry about it. Everything is cool now!" Kyoko blushed. Not only did she waste his time, she didn't even answer his call the first time.
You've finally answered, he had said. Who knew how many times he had called her. And now that she had answered his call, she didn't even know what to say, since the shoot was already over and there was no point in asking about the character anymore.
"...Hello! Earth to Mogami!"
She snapped back. "Huh?"
"Still there? "
"Yeah. Um... Something amazing happened at the shoot today and I wanted to tell you all about it... Yeah, that's why I called you."
"Oh," she could hear him smiling through his voice. "Go on."
"Well actually-" but before she could tell him her big news, Sho snatched her cell phone away from her hand, pressed it to his own ear and spat, "she is all giddy because she thinks some of my fame is gonna rub off on her. She just starred in my promo video. That's the big news, just to save you a talk." And he hung up.
Ren blinked at his cellphone, still not fathoming that that cocky idiot had the nerve to hang up on him. With waves of irritation and anger swelling up inside him, he muttered in a dangerously quiet tone, "I know that voice. And the bad attitude. There is no doubt about it, that was Sho Fuwa!"
Meanwhile, back at Queen Record Studios, Kyoko gasped in horror. "What. Did. You. Do?" She growled like a tiger about to pounce on its prey. "You jerk!" She screamed at the top of her lungs and snatched her phone back from Sho.
"That Tsuruga was Ren Tsuruga, right?"
"The one and the same!" She screamed. "Do you have any idea how much of a big deal he is at my agency? And you just hung up on him?" Kyoko shuddered.
"Hey, I know how it works," Sho replied casually. "The only reason Ren Tsuruga would call an amateur actress like you, would be as a professional courtesy to someone at his agency. Wow, he must really have a soft spot for charity cases."
"Shut up! Now you're just being nasty! You know damn well how busy he is!" As the reality of the situation slowly sank deeper into Kyoko's brain, she shuddered at the mental image of a cold, signature smile from a certain someone she'll have to face once she'll go back to the agency. And it was all the fault of this idiot in front of her. She regretted not killing him on the set when she had the chance.
She glanced around the empty hall and then reached for Sho's neck to finish what she started. "And even in his busy schedule, he took the time to call me," she hissed out, icicles dropping with every word, and wrapped her fingers around Sho's neck. "Maybe he was even worried about me but you don't care!" She finally squeezed.
If Sho's manager, Shouko hadn't appeared in time, Sho would have been a goner and Kyoko would have already been charged and arrested for murder.
After couple of days, when Kyoko went back to LME in her usual pink jumpsuit, she spotted her best friend, Moko at the front door and her face lit up with joy.
Engulfing her in a big, bear hug, Kyoko started prattling on and on about how her big shoot was and how grateful she was to Moko who helped her so much with it without actually being there.
"It was so nice like I found a brand new me. Besides, I got to let everyone know how deep and penetrating my love is for you," Cupping her cheeks, Kyoko exclaimed happily.
"Seriously poor choice of words there," Moko shot back, her face all red and flustered.
"But I thought you were finally cool with us being best friends," Kyoko gave her the puppy dog eyes. "You know, Moko, you helped me so m-"
"Hey! Big sister!" They cocked their heads in the direction where they heard the voice and found Maria waving at them from the top of the stairs.
"Hi, Maria!" Kyoko waved back with a smile, but it faltered and her hand slowly slid back down the instant her eyes swept up to the man standing behind her. Oh crap!
Once Maria made it down with Ren and Yashiro, who were descending the stairs as well behind her, Kyoko hugged the former and bowed to the latter while mumbling, "good afternoon." She gave them a small, polite smile and Moko mirrored her.
"Good afternoon," Ren replied in a voice as dry as sandpaper which sucked up all the moisture out from the air. His impassive face not betraying any hint of emotion.
You feel that? It's just not in your mind. Kyoko's inner voice told her. With two words he shows you the darkness in his heart.
The image of Sho snatching up her phone from her and spitting those awful things to Ren, popped into her head and her face exploded in horror. "I am so sorry about before!" She almost shouted to Ren as she bowed to him again. Her head sank so low that her face almost touched the ground. "That phone call was terrible! I'm so sorry again." She had left him a voicemail to apologize before, but she knew it was not nearly enough.
"Oh, that's right. I heard your message." Ren replied in his still-dry voice. "Of course, all that insanity was Sho Fuwa's fault. Not yours." He flashed her his perfect, signature smile. "I am not mad at you."
To anyone else, that smile would have appeared absolutely genuine, but Kyoko knew better. You're lying! She flinched away from that cool, arctic smile in fear. And you're rubbing it in my face by being super sweet about it.
Still smiling, Ren said, "Tell me, did that creep's music video pull off without a hitch?" Just then his smile vanished and he asked the next part in a quiet, icy tone, "or did you exact revenge and ruin the shoot?"
"Exact revenge?" Yashiro frowned questioningly.
"What's he talking about?" Moko nudged Kyoko in the ribs with her elbow.
"You did work on Sho's music video, right?" Ignoring the curious eyes of his manager and the only other member of the Love Me Division besides Kyoko, Ren inquired.
"H-how do you know that?" Kyoko had been extremely cautious from the very beginning to not slip out that it was Sho she had been working with.
"He told me himself. Through your phone, remember?" Ren's eyes bore into hers as if demanding answers.
"But how do you know it was really Sho Fuwa you were talking to?" You didn't even know he existed before I told you about him.
"Because I've met him before," Ren answered.
"Oh yeah, remember that, Ren?" Yashiro chuckled amusingly at the memory as he recalled it aloud. "He is the only one in this business with the arrogance to pick a fight with you."
Damn you, Shoutaro, Kyoko cursed. How dare you meet Ren without my permission? I'll kill you!
"So have you finally gotten your revenge?" Ren's gaze penetrated Kyoko with an intensity with which he seemed to be digging inside her eyes to look for secrets and she was almost tempted to blurt out the truth about how she used her acting as a weapon to overshadow Sho on the stage in order to use him as a stepping stone.
But, fortunately, she held her tongue before she spilled the beans. When she opened her mouth, she was careful enough to say what Ren would have wanted to hear, "Don't get the wrong idea," she tried to sound as nonchalant as possible. "There is no way I would try to sabotage anything on the shoot. It all went really well." I just lied. I lied to one of the few people I should be completely honest with. But I don't want him to be disappointed in me. "I don't know what you think but I took this job and worked it like any other."
"So, no revenge then?" The thought that Kyoko was working with Sho Fuwa, the man she used to love with all her heart, was disturbing enough for Ren, but the fact that it wasn't for revenge was like a stab to his heart. He had the sudden urge to break something, preferably Sho's jaw.
"None at all. The urge to get back at that fool has completely left me," Kyoko chuckled nervously as she lied again. "I only took that job because it seemed like fun."
Fun? The word hit Ren like a gut punch. So you had fun with Sho Fuwa?
The temperature dropped twenty degrees as Ren's frosty eyes pierced Kyoko's in a way which pinned her to the wall and sent shivers down her back, chilling her to the bone. If his eyes were cool before, now they were frozen lava, burning with cold fire, blazing with the brightness of the arctic sun, above the melting glaciers. "Well, that's good. Looks like you had fun," his voice was just as cold as his eyes and also dangerously calm, so much so that even Maria instinctively shied away from him to hide behind Kyoko who didn't prove much of a shield because she herself looked like she was about to shrink into the size of a squirrel.
Why does he look like he's about to kill me? I said it wasn't for revenge! Kyoko kept shrinking in fear until Ren finally stormed away.