AN: I really wanted to do this after the previous chapter, so I really do hope that you enjoy it. I wanted to create a situation of bringing Kuon out into the public, but don't worry, the chapter after next will concentrate on the filming again 😊 You'll learn within this chapter what the next one will be about. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter Thirteen – Morning Interview

Kyoko took a deep breath in. She had come in early once she had heard that Kuon had had Yashiro set up a morning interview on the same channel that had said those horrible statements about Kuu. It seemed strange that he would pick the channel that had blamed Kuu instead of waiting for the press conference the president wanted to set up. He couldn't be doing this behind the president's back, right? If Yashiro knew and the president had had a problem with it, they wouldn't be here right now and he would have used his connections to create a reason why they couldn't be there.

It felt funny.

"Kyoko," Kuon said as he approached her, "You didn't have to be here so early, what I'm about to say…"

Kyoko sighed, she walked over to him. He was wearing an emerald turtleneck shirt and comfortable black pants, they had even done his hair so it looked more relaxed and still fashion forward. She liked him in this look.

"My boyfriend is being brave and telling the whole of Japan who he really is. He's taking a risk that people will delve into his past and that they will start to compare him to his father. The man I think I love is being the bravest I've ever seen him," Kyoko stepped into Kuon's chest. "Of course I'm here to support him."

"Are you sure that you're alright with me saying your name if they ask?" Kuon asked as he slipped a finger under Kyoko's chin and brought her face up so she made eye contact with him. "You're the lead actress in a movie that my father is directing and that I am also in. If you want me to keep this a secret then I will do so."

Kyoko laughed and looked aside, "Where's the fun in that, Corn?" she asked with a grin. "I'm proud to be your girlfriend."

Kuon hugged her again but then heard the call that the show was about to start. He reached back and grabbed her hand, squeezing it and paused as she slipped Corn into his palm. He knew this was her special way of wishing him luck. He tried to smile at her to reassure her things would be okay.

Hopefully things would be okay.

As he sat down and saw the hosts sit down as well, he looked down nervously. He didn't have to be scared of this. He had made his name as Ren Tsuruga, he had acted in ways that were impressive and left people speechless. He had matured a lot since his teenage years. There was no reason that he should be nervous.

He heard the intro music and smiled as he looked up and just past the camera.

"Why hello all of our morning viewers," Naomi, the lead woman of the show said as Asuka waved. "We have a great opportunity this morning since we get to talk with…well, why don't you tell them who you are. That's our big reveal afterall."

"I heard that the news came out last night on this channel," Kuon smiled in a gentleman's manner but Kyoko could feel the angry sparks of energy. "Either way, most people know me as Ren Tsuruga but my real identity is Kuon Hizuri."

"See, isn't that amazing. I'm sure some of our viewers gasped right now," Naomi laughed.

"I was really shocked to hear it myself," Asuka added and Kuon continued with this fake smile.

"So," Naomi continued, "We've been all duped by a second generation Hizuri, isn't that right?"

"Yeah, doesn't seem very fair," Asuka pouted.

Kuon laughed softly, "If that is the case and all of Japan does feel duped by me then I really do apologize, even more so if there are people who feel hurt or betrayed that I've used a stage name for so many years. I wanted to get my fame on my own as someone unknown. You won't believe the way people talk about second generation actors. Just because my dad inspired me doesn't mean that I base all of my acting – or any of my acting after his work."

"And yet you both played Katsuki," Asuka commented.

"I mean, was that just a coincidence or was that your father pulling the strings backstage, Japan deserves to know the answer to that question," Naomi said.

Kuon frowned. "To succeed as an actor, my parents allowed themselves to sacrifice contact with me for six years. My father didn't know about the project until the promotional work came out. It was a coincidence as you said. If it was made a few years earlier or if I hadn't just been named as one of the most popular celebrities, I don't know if I would have been cast in that role." Kuon rolled his eyes, "You seem to have some pretty messed up thoughts about my father."

Naomi took an awkward inhale and then sat forward, "Some…messed up thoughts about Kuu Hizuri? Could you explain?"

"I love Kuu's work," Asuka said, "He's such a talented actor."

"He's a great father too," Kuon said as he looked at the two of them. "My father wanted me to be happy, he wanted to make me feel that life was worth living and that was something I had trouble grasping at fifteen. It broke both his and my mother's heart that I moved here without a proper goodbye. What you said about my father being an unfit parent or him being ashamed of me just shows your disrespect and inability to understand someone you claim to be important to you. Or, maybe I'm being too cruel, it wasn't the two of you specifically, it was your late night reporters."

Asuka pulled back a little as she saw that behind the gentleman's smile was a burning anger at what they had reported on the night before. She saw Naomi remain calm. The thing was that the two of them had objected to the treatment of Kuu unless they got the story from Kuon himself. Of course, the Hizuri family would get hurt.

"I know that this isn't my place, but our reporters last night had different ideas than the two of us," Naomi argued, "I might lose my job for saying this, but I offer my apologies that your father was treated like that. From what I understood from your comments, you are pretty close to your father."

Kuon sighed, "I wouldn't say close is the best word to describe our relationship but the two of us do want to get closer and to understand each other more after all of this time. My father, however, is my personal hero and he always will be. I can't have anyone make false claims about him."

"I understand," Naomi smiled, "So, can you tell me about why you moved over here? I hear you had a bad reputation as an actor when you were a kid?"

Kuon closed his eyes and sighed. "It wasn't a bad reputation, it was more that the director expected a lot of me due to my family background, not only my father, but my mother too is a sought after actor. Maybe I didn't help with my own ego. I quickly learned that without talent, you cannot survive in this industry. The humility that I began to carry as the unknown Ren Tsuruga helped me focus on my craft and led me to become a good actor."

"So you feel that by failing as a child, you improved as an adult?" Naomi attempted to clarify.

"Exactly so," Kuon nodded. "If I hadn't had the experiences that I faced as a child, I would never have been able to create Ren and I don't think I would have had so much success in my career."

"We all know about that," Naomi smiled, "and that's why we'll always be Kuon Hizuri fans, but can you tell us anything about your personal life?"

"Is there someone special?" Asuka asked and Kuon looked down.

"There is, a very special woman in my life, my girlfriend," he admitted as he smiled whilst thinking of Kyoko and all of her strength. He looked up to see her nodding backstage. "Kyoko. We've known each other for a while now."

"Congratulations," Asuka gasped as she gave a cute little clap.

"This is the Kyoko who is from LME, correct?" she asked, "She played Mio in Dark Moon and Natsu in Box R?"

Kuon nodded, "A most talented actress who has a passionate and kind heart. I love her. I am fortunate enough to be allowed to love her and if it wasn't for her supporting me, I wouldn't have been able to appear as my true self. I have her to thank for a lot of things that have happened in my life recently."

"I always thought you might have a girlfriend whose not so plain," Asuka said and Kuon coughed with his eyes turning cold for a moment.

"Excuse me on that" he said, "Kyoko is beautiful. If you could see the way that simple makeup can turn her into a princess, then you will understand what I see in her. However, it has never been the outside of a woman which is important to me. My real interest in a woman begins in her heart and her soul. She has to have bravery and kindness and she has to be able to rely on determination and take pride in her passions. I have never seen anyone more beautiful," Kuon said as he looked up and saw Kyoko blushing with tears in her eyes.

"I think that does sound like a fairy story," Naomi smiled, "Congratulations on that. So, after we get back from the break, I'd really love to talk to you about what makes Kuon Hizuri, Kuon Hizuri," she commented and Kuon smiled back at her before someone called out for a two minute break.

Kuon stood up gracefully and walked over to Kyoko who threw her arms around him and kissed him with her eyes sparkling with the tears that had half filled them.

"When did I get so lucky as to fall in love with you?" she asked and Kuon picked her up and hugged her closer.

"I'm the lucky one. Do you think I'm doing okay out there, I know that I showed a little bit of anger but I couldn't have one station insult both you and my father," he kissed her again, "Do you think that Kuon Hizuri is living up to the star that Ren Tsuruga is?"

"Of course, he's even better," Kyoko said as she held onto his hand. "I think that Kuon Hizuri will become a bigger name in showbusiness than Ren Tsuruga ever could." Kyoko laughed as the two women were looking around for their guest. "I think you have to get back out there," she told him. "I love your hair like this."

"Really," Kuon smiled, "That's a very good thing for me to know. It will help me prepare for our upcoming date this evening."

Kyoko grinned. Finally they would have a public date, they would be able to act as boyfriend and girlfriend without the fear of anyone finding out their secret. She could proudly say that she was with Kuon Hizuri, her Corn. "You do know," she dared herself to say, "You could have bed head and wear tattered clothes and I'd still see you as attractive."

"Good thing to know as well," Kuon smiled before reaching for her hand again and squeezing it before stepping out onto the stage whilst Kyoko watched him with a mix of pride and excitement.

This was her boyfriend.

AN 2:

Thank you of course to everyone who supports me and to those who have favorited and followed this piece. Unfortunately, I didn't get any reviews on the previous chapter but that makes me proud of the fact that I'm writing because I want to write again. 😊