Chapter 2

Shoko sighed at her desk, frustrated about why no one at the industry was capable of filling her request. Sho had never requested anything of importance to her before and the one time that he had, she would fail.

"Gosh, you'd think some people would care about the problems of the hottest person in the singing industry right now in their own company. Would their motivation go up if I told them that this would affect his singing? Ughhh…this industry is confusing…" Shoko mumbled.

"Shoko…could you…" Sho had begun, trying to keep his anger and frustration in check.

"…What?" Shoko asked.

Sho had looked so helpless. So ashamed of what he was about to ask. Yet, he had looked as if he could not…live normally if he did not ask.

"…Could you…possibly…get me into that drama? One Rose? Not one of the major parts like…like…Kyoko's, but maybe into a part that is sort of important."

He had flinched when he said Kyoko. His hand had immediately grasped his jacket in pain, as if just saying her name was enough to cause his heart to burst. His eyes closed for one second, but then they opened and looked at Shoko as if determined to go on.

"Please. I beg of you, Shoko. Please get me into that drama," Sho said bowing his head.

"….Yes, of course I will Sho. I promise. You will be in the drama, One Rose," Shoko had said.

Shoko's eyes softened at the memory. It had been interesting to see that part of Sho…it was one that Sho had never shown her before. He had many sides to him that she had never seen before, she knew.

"Ahhhh…if only someone at this industry was smart enough to see him shining when he sings. Although Kyoko probably did…before that happened. He should have realized that he was in love with her before he went up and left her. Then maybe none of this would have happened and they would both still be happy," Shoko groaned, "If only someone in this industry would-"

"Shoko! Shoko! I did it!" a man yelled barely containing his excitement as he burst through the door.

"What is it?" Shoko asked confused and irritated that her thoughts had been interrupted.

"You know that request you made? Well…guess who's made it come true…me!" the man said with flowers surrounding him, "Now Shoko, you have to fall in love with me and we will live in a cottage with-"

"You mean that you-" Shoko started.

"Yes, I did. Sho is now part of the drama, One Rose."

"Ohhhhhhh, what a day!" Kyoko said stretching outside of the industry.

Now that she was beginning to become a well-known actress, her work was increasing. She now had a long work schedule, not as long as Ren's (his never ended), but it was growing larger and larger each day. More dramas were being turned down than accepted because of her work schedule and school (she wouldn't want to miss too much school).

Her favorite drama now was One Rose, even though they hadn't even started filming (still getting characters). This was the first drama that she would be one of the lead actresses. Not to forget that she was working with her sempai, Tsuruga.

"Yes! Soon I will be able to work with my number one sempai and grow in the acting industry. Yes! I will get to put on make-up! It will happen!" Kyoko turned to the nearest stranger and grabbed him by the arm, "Right?"

"Ummm…right?" he mumbled confused.

"Say it LOUDER!" Kyoko screamed.

"Right," the boy said scared.

"LOUDER!"

"RIGHT!"

"With more enthusiasm!"

"RIGHT!"

"AGAIN!"

"RIGHT!"

"Umm…Kyoko?" Kanae said, looking confused.

"What Kanae?" Kyoko asked, happy to see her friend.

As Kyoko dropped the boy's arm, he ran away as fast as he could. From then on, there would be rumors and stories about a boy that ran down the street, continuing to say the word, 'right', over and over again as if his life depended on it.

"What were you- oh, never mind," Kanae said shaking her head, "How are your acting jobs going?"

"Really good! I'm so…happy," Kyoko said beaming at her friend, "I feel as if I were flying in the sky like Corn can."

"Umm…that's good Kyoko. I'm glad you're happy."

"Kanae!" Kyoko said, her eyes glowing.

Kyoko hugged Kanae tightly and Kanae's eyes grew soft.

"This girl…" Kanae thought.

"Wait, didn't you have to meet Tsuruga today for lunch right now?" Kanae asked looking at her clock.

"You're right!" Kyoko looked at her watch and gasped, "Bye Kanae!"

In two seconds flat Kyoko had disappeared and Kanae was left alone on the street.

"Where is she?" Ren wondered as he sat at the restaurant closest to the industry.

Tsuruga Ren was sitting down at a booth waiting for Kyoko to arrive. He sighed heavily watching waitresses looking disapprovingly at his hat on in the restaurant. If they had known it was Ren underneath that hat, they would have probably fainted.

A few seconds later, a high school girl appeared at the restaurant looking as if she was about to faint from exhaustion. She put her bike up next to the restaurant window and gazed inside looking for someone. When she reached Ren's eyes, she smiled and happily ran inside and sat in the booth without asking a waiter where to sit. The waitress serving them looked disapprovingly at her, but then sighed and asked for their order.

"Kyoko, where have you been?" Ren asked playfully after the waitress left with their orders in hand.

"My job had just finished and I saw Kanae and talked for her for about a minute. I'm so sorry Ren for being late. I know I was the one who asked you to be here too…" Kyoko said in a rush nervously.

Ren's smiled, letting his face show his feeling for his kouhai. Not that she would notice (didn't think of love lately).

"So, what did you call me out here for today, Kyoko?" Ren asked, happy just to see her smiling at him.

"Well, I needed help understanding my character's feelings in One Rose. I don't understand it very well, since I can't relate it to what I can usually relate it to."

Kyoko blushed and looked away for a minute. Ren knew exactly what she usually related it too and knew why she couldn't relate One Rose to fairies or rich ladies.

"In One Rose, my character struggles to get by in life and barely makes enough money for a living. She is alone, even though everyone beside her acts like her friend and her parents and siblings are kind to her. In other words, she is alone with people surrounding her. How could she be lonely, Ren?" Kyoko asked, confused.

"Well…for one thing, think about her past experiences. What was her past like? What would make her feel sad ?" Ren asked.

"Well…in her past, she moved around a lot and left a lot of friends behind, but she e-mails them every day. How could she miss them?" Kyoko mumbled.

Kyoko kept mumbling to herself for a while and kept making these weird motions with her hands. It was very amusing to watch, just like his manager had said. Her hands then came together, as if she had remembered something.

"I understand now, Ren! I've got to go! I'll see you later," Kyoko said as she raced out the door.

"Wait, Kyoko…you haven't eaten and-" Ren started when he started to feel stares.

"Oh, great…she said my name…" Ren thought.

Ren rushed out of the restaurant, leaving a tip behind, going to his next job, laughing the entire way.