After her meeting with the department heads and the president, Kyoko is naturally befuddled with their reactions. Why were people so surprised she could sing it's not like she ever said she couldn't. Honestly she was Japanese, karaoke was in her blood, she hung out in a karaoke booth for goodness sake. Heading of to the love me locker room, she's greeted by the angry faces of Love me #2 and #3 in their hand is a laptop with the video of the cursed karaoke night.

Seeing her, they both set off immediately:

"Why didn't you tell us you could sing?"

"Mo, why didn't you tell me about this?!"

Kyoko steps back and raises her hands. Opening her mouth she answers, "It didn't seem like it would be that big a deal, besides I stopped aiming for the idol section when I joined the acting school and decided to focus on becoming an actress instead." Kyoko quickly reminisces about her first acting test. How time seemed to fly. It was only a little over year ago she was swearing revenge on Shotaro

"You what?" The other girls screamed. Unbelievable this girl was supposed to be an idol? How can such a scary actress admit to such a thing. The girl behind Mio, a teen idol what was she thinking?

Choosing to answer them seriously Kyoko replies,"Decided to become an actress. You were there with me Moko-san. You knew I had no experience acting so it stands to reason I would have chosen a different field had my acting test not worked out."

"But….But... how?" The aforementioned Moko-san sputters. 'This girl, was there anything she couldn't do?' Moko wondered once again at her talented 'best friend'.

"How what?"Kyoko asks, cocking her head. A flower once again appearing over her head the picture of cluelessness.

"How did you learn to sing like that? Why decide to be an actress when you can easily stand toe to toe with Fuwa Sho in his own field." Not that the two other girls weren't grateful. Their world would be a much colder place without their rival/senpai. Her becoming an actress opened a wealth of possibilities for them , none of which would have happened if she had pursued music.

"Ha ha, it's a funny story actually" Kyoko rubs her neck in embarrassment. She then tells the girls what happened in the Ring-doh set.

"Afterwards I swore to defeat Tsuruga-san with my acting. Which seems kind of silly now, considering how he's now my respected senpai and mentor." Kyoko quickly takes a trip to memory lane reminiscing the ups and downs of her relationship with Japan's no.1 actor.

Meanwhile Chiori and Kanae both have the same kind of thought:

'Thank you, Tsuruga for bullying Kyoko into wanting to take acting classes. Otherwise, I would have never been her rival'.

"Thank you, Tsuruga Ren for not being the pretty face gentlemen the world perceives you to be. Thanks to your churlishness I found the immortal butterfly.'

Eventually the girls come back out from their thoughts. They begin to chat about their work and Love Me assignments. Chiori even suggests they go for karaoke next time.

"Who knows senpai, we just might make the evening news."

They laugh and part ways. Kyoko is secretly relieved at how easy the two other actresses took things. She never had female friends before and it was nice to see that they still considered her one despite knowing she wasn't always as committed to acting as they were. It's funny she could almost be considered a late bloomer considering almost all her friends caught the showbiz bug in early childhood. She wondered, 'was Tsuruga-san like that too?'

The next day in the halls of LME:

Chiori and Kanae are walking down the hall pushing around and carrying some props. Ren and Yashiro appear around the corner on their way to their next meeting. As they approached the two girls looked at each other before stopping in front of the tall Japanese actor. They both execute a deep bow towards him and exclaim:

"Thank you very much for all you've done for Kyoko (senpai). We would all be lost without your guidance."

Ren of course is surprised by this and Yashiro-san stands slack jawed behind him. Why would Kotonami-san thank him for helping Kyoko? Didn't she once stop him from following her after the news with Kana broke out. Also who was this new girl with her? Did the Love Me group have a new member?

Conscious of not wanting to make a scene, Tsuruga gracefully bows back acknowledging their thanks.

"It was my pleasure. Mogami-san is a joy to teach."

"Yeah, yeah don't go all gentlemanly on us Tsuruga, We know how you really are." Kotonami waves his thanks off like an annoying fly. Silently she thinks, 'I can't believe this giant bully is known for being a gentleman and is the reason that girl got into acting.'

Chiori pipes up saying, "We know who you truly are, don't think you can trick us with some cheap tricks." With a determined look she thinks, 'Kyoko-sempai told me about his lying smile. I'm going to steal all his acting techniques and steal the spotlight.

"Excuse Me?"

"You're on borrowed time Tsuruga Ren. Pretty soon we'll be on top as Japan's leading actresses. Your gentlemen reign is over." Next to Chiori, Kanae nods proudly. Soon the world will see what these girls could do. Who needs the likes of Tsuruga?

" I see. I look forward to it" Silently both Ren and Yashiro wondered 'What on earth is going on?'

"Come on, Kotonami-san we need to bring these props to the set or else the producer will get mad at us." With that the two love me girls walk away. Bowing just once in goodbye before dismissing themselves from their presence.

Yashiro and Ren stand awkwardly as their ears follow the two girls' footsteps. Finally Yashiro speaks up, adjusting his glasses with his hand.

"I suppose it would have been too much to presume that Kyoko-chan was the only *ahem* unique one in the Love Me members sure know how to make an impression."

" Indeed. I wonder just what Mogami-san has been telling them for them to suddenly act like that. Kotonami-san particular has never once acted quite like this in our interactions so far."

"She can be rather curt. One could almost call it rude if she wasn't so professional"

"Did you notice the other girl with her? She was wearing the same uniform."

"Yes, I assume that was Amamiya Chiori, the third love me member. She's Kyoko-chan's co-star in Box-R."

"Ah yes, Yumika. The pig-tailed bully who forced tea on another girl's throat."

"Yes, that girl is scary. Kyoko-chan tells me she absolutely committed to being an actor. So I don't think she was joking about wanting to take your spot. You better watch out Ren, she and Kotonami-san could be a force to be reckoned with.

"Of course. I'm always glad to see serious talent"

"Uh-huh. And the fact that they're Kyoko-chan's friends has nothing to do with it right?"

"Of course not."

"You can't fool me Ren."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

So begins another round of Yashiro cheerfully teasing Ren about his lady love. A classic ritual the two men play on the way to their car. Said lady love was as always unaware just how talked about she's come to be. Alas poor oblivious Kyoko, if only everyone who was currently talking about her had said good intentions.

Author's note: There you have a new chapter and some new reactions plus a little Ren and Yashiro scene at the end. For those who want to know this story will heavily focus on Kyoko's career and the opportunities singing will provide for her. Yes, Ren has a part in all this but he is not the main focus nor do I think he should be. I completely agree with Kyoko that being in a relationship at this point would be a distraction. She needs to focus on herself first before thinking about any guys or having a love life. That being said, she definitely needs more bonding time with her friends. The trip to the amusement park is nice and all but where are the Love Me girls Fics? Should I issue a challenge for more girl squad fics? Why isn't there a sleepover fic with them exchanging beauty tips and bashing trashy TV. I need the LME Secret Forces kicking ass and taking names. Give me, girl squad. Give me witty banter. Anyone stay tuned for what happens next as Kyoko's star keeps rising. Till then Ciao!