That man…what in the world is the President thinking? He is starting another one of his projects again. Lory Takarada is the President of LME, whose ability to spot talent can only be matched by his enormous heart and eccentricity. In fact I'm pretty sure that if you looked up 'eccentric' in the dictionary, you'd find his smiling face right next to it. But to actually do something so ridiculous as to start up a new section in the agency so that she could have a second chance is pushing it. It's been four days since the new member casting and to give a girl such as that a way of entering this agency is absurd. There must be a reason to his madness but I can't accept her impure feelings to enter show business. Sawara-san was able to guess the reason earlier for my pointed distaste for the girl. That could only mean that I need to make more of an effort on keeping my personal feelings in check. Although, he says it's obvious due to my attitude towards the business, it's unacceptable that he was able to read even that. The persona I have kept so hard to maintain cannot and will not be broken by the willful intrusion of the opposite sex.

Ah finally Yashiro-san has arrived…Kimiko Kamio huh? Another overly stuffed diva that has no respect for other people's times other than their own. And here she is now, strolling in as if the entire world revolved around her. I'm already a little frustrated so Yashiro should be able to begrudge me a little fun. A little reprimand wouldn't be completely uncalled for right? Wait…isn't there something missing in this picture? That's right her luggage…hmm?

Well, well, well, what do we have here? That girl from before actually returned and she has already started on her duties. I can't believe I will actually be forced to call her a colleague. She seems confused somehow; I wonder if anything has been explained to her. Hmm…it wouldn't hurt to press a few buttons, right? After all the saying does go that misery loves company and since it seems that my day has already started pretty badly, I can poke a stick in a few sore areas. However, I will always remain the gentleman and help her a little. So I guess I'll do her a favor by explaining the new section and her job to her, as well as teaching her a lesson at the same time. I really should act like a perfect gentleman…but heh…a little mischief shouldn't hurt and she'll thank me for my generosity later…

Later in Ren's Apartment

It's been another tiring day, but one could call it a little more interesting that previous ones. I finally met that guy, Sho Fuwa, in person. While I may not have been particularly interested in learning more about him aside from the polite inquiry; I must say the attitude I met with today confirms the reason for her attitude towards that man. Everything my sources said about him was confirmed by his rudeness. I was able to tell what his personality was like for the brief time we were in contact. While I may have called him young and spirited in front of Yashiro-san, in reality my earlier assessment of him as another narcissistic, arrogant punk who has let fame and fortune go to his head was spot on. And so the legacy he is building for himself will be overshadowed by scandal and his place at the top of the music charts will be taken by any somewhat decent musician.

That look he gave me when our eyes met told me that he considered me his rival, however I have no interest in someone who would resort to petty behavior. No matter what the situation may be, an actor must always preserve their public image; and I corrected the little punk with a gentle smile. He's just another guy joining the long line of other guys aiming for the top spot in the industry. The top spot in the industry, huh? My current position? It doesn't really interest me….I'm only interested in improving my craft. I mean after all, the measurement of my achievement isn't against anyone in the current industry, but rather the ghosts of the great actors of the past. My goal is still out of reach and I need to push the boundaries of the roles I accept and my capabilities to correctly portray each character. Heh…listening to how I am now can only correctly describe that lie I fed Yashiro-san. In actuality his description of how I was in the beginning of my career is pretty accurate and my current mature self is the answer to my earlier rebellion. My role as showbiz's ultimate gentleman is probably the only thing that kept me from being provoked by that egotistic Sho Fuwa. Still….is his behavior really so bad that it can push a person to revenge? What in the world am I doing? Why am I thinking about her again?

Ring Doh Movie Set

Are there really only a handful of actors who are serious about their responsibilities nowadays? How much longer will I have to wait for another self-important actress? It's been about 2 hours since she was supposed to arrive on set and yet instead of filming I'm taking a walk to clear my mind. I can't complain….I have always enjoyed the outdoors and it has always had a calming effect on me. Huh? I've never seen a bright pink rock before. Wait, bright pink rock? That eye-piercing color has only been seen on the new Love Me Section at LME. This can only mean that..Pfft…what in the world is she doing? She looks like a caterpillar? No a turtle trying desperately to escape from a predator. But, her ankle seems a bit twisted and she doesn't seem to be moving very much. I guess I better check it out then. *sigh* I don't think she'll be able to walk normally for a while. Well there's no way out of it; I'll just have to carry her.

What's with this girl? Aren't I doing her a favor by carrying her? It's not like I'm particularly obligated to help her and I really wish she'd stop squirming around so much. I mean what is this rude assertion she's accusing me of, of having an ulterior motive? I don't particularly care, but how does she see me as? A wolf in sheep's clothing? "I just don't want to owe you a favor!" Hmph...since she puts it that way, I won't force my company upon her any longer. But I really can't leave an injured woman alone after all so I'll ask Yashiro-san to check up on her later.

It seems that while I was gone, Ruriko-san arrived on set. She has certainly been trying to make her presence known to me, but no matter what the request, or who made the request, I will not recant my principles. The girl is a newcomer and a diva; it serves her right to be put in place. Everyone caters to her inexcusable behavior way too much and hopefully the President's plan will show her that it will no longer be tolerated.

About a week ago, the President called me into his office and asked me for a favor. "Ren, I need yours and Director Shinkai's help with something. Do you know Ruriko Matsunai?" I had indicated that I did and pointed out to him that we were acting opposite of each other in Director Shinkai's upcoming movie, Ring Doh. I had heard her name around the office. Matsunai-san was a talento from LME's Artists Section who was making her movie debut on Ring Doh. "Ren, *ahem* Ren, I know you demand perfection from yourself and others, so can you please pay attention? I need you and Director Shinkai to create a situation that will force Matsunai-san to take her professional duties seriously. Her work ethic and attitude has really declined since her music debut and she doesn't seem to be interested in anything other than herself. Oh and Ren please refer to Matsuani-san as Ruriko-san. In order for her to agree, we sort of told her that you specifically asked for her as your partner." I remember rolling my eyes at the time and thinking that this was going to be a very long movie. Unfortunately, everything I predicted came true.

Ruriko-san's acting is definitely not something to be desired. It seems the only reason she was chosen for this part was so that she could make her acting debut and fix her attitude simultaneously. *sigh* it's going to be one of those days. It seems I've been having 'one of those days' scenarios pretty frequently lately. Ruriko-san can't even do something as simple as walk in her kimono correctly. It's obvious that she didn't study her character well, if even at all. Thank God I'm not acting in this scene with her, or I'd probably let my gentlemanly mask slip and ruin the President's plan. She can't see pass her own mistakes and gives excuse after excuse as to why she can't perform her duties correctly. She's actually being disrespectful to Director Shinkai who's been more than patient with her. Seriously if it weren't for the President's orders, she would have already gotten a pink slip.

"Stand with your back straight up, tuck in your chin slightly. The alignment of the body must be centered from head to toe." Director Shinkai's instructions aren't hard; he's correct in asking for the very best in his actors. To authenticate the aura of a rich young lady's conduct, one must be able to walk and act in the same regal manner.

Hmm...th..this girl…this newbie actress who joined showbiz for revenge…is she following his orders unconsciously? Her posture is exactly that of what the director has described.

2 Hours Later

Director Shinkai must be out of his mind. He's actually allowing two actresses to compete for the female lead during filming. Both of us are the President's accomplices to help change Ruriko-san's willful, selfish, and unreasonable personality; and even then his answer was 'meh' as if he was some child. The biggest surprise of the entire day seems to be that girl's appearance. Who would've thought that she would've completely transformed into a being that is beyond even my imagination. Simply put, she looked beautiful. Her reaction to the use of makeup on her was so amusing since she seemed extremely happy. I mean what kind of life could she have been living until now? Revenge? The feeling of bliss overtaking you because of a little makeup? She really is a strange girl.

During her take, she walked normally as if her ankle wasn't hurting. Her posture, bow, and aura were exactly what a rich young lady's ought to be. *CUT* I don't understand what just happened, but that girl actually acted like a professional actress. If it weren't for her shallow reason, I would gladly call her 'colleague' *sigh* but I better take a look at that ankle of hers again. She applied equal pressure on her left foot in order to walk….honestly that sprain may turn into a fracture if she's not careful.

The set-up for the next scene is going to take a little while since we're changing to an outside location. I really don't know what to think of her. Kyoko Mogami-san, once I form an opinion of her personality, she switches everything around and surprises me. The look she gave me after I told her that the next scene would require her to be in a kneeling position from beginning to end said she wouldn't quit and she would endure it. Just what kind of person is she exactly?

Thanks for reading chapter 2 of Who Am I. Please continue to review so that I in turn may continue to improve.

~Kaede Itsuki~