"Contacts?" Ren's confused now, thinking of what is all in the main bathroom for the apartment, even in the medicine cabinet the Yashiro stocks. Yukihito and I have pulled all-nighters before and he has slept in the guest room, but I don't think he left anything...it has been a while too, with Kyoko here and all...

"Unless Yashiro-san keeps his here, but I don't ses why he would. And if he wore contacts, why does he always wear glasses?"

"He has one spare pair of contacts to go to places like the beach and stuff, but they feel uncomfortable to him normally," Ren says, not really thinking about it. "But why would I have his stuff here?"

"That's what I'm wondering! And if it is here, why the master bath? Of all places...unless you and he-" Her eyes slightly widen coming to some false conclusion.

"Wait, the master bath?" She pours the soup into bowls and he sets the table like usual.

"Eh? Yes, the master bath, Tsuruga-san. That is what it's called, right?"

"Yes, but I thought you were talking about the other one." Don't tell me I just left them on the counter after taking them off for Kuon this morning...I normally put them behind the mirror, but I think I forgot this time. Oh well, it's not like I wasn't planning on telling her someday, and this gives me the opening. "Yes, those ones are mine."

She sits down with a puzzled frown. "But I thought you said that your vision was perfect and that you have never needed them."

"Yes, I did say that to you."

"Then why do you have them?"

"They go on my eyes."

"But you can see without them."

"Yes."

"So...why?"

"I'll show you after we're done eating." They silently eat their meal, Kyoko puzzled by the contact situation and Ren anxious about the plan being changed and bumped up so soon. I hope Kuon...well...I hope the other other me...the one in her...damn it, I sound bonkers even to myself. I just hope that that man is able to help in some way still. They quietly wash up the dishes together and she puts the clothes into the dryer. He then beckons her to follow him into the master bath connected to his room. "Alright. This will be a bit...much to take in. I suppose you should take a seat first..." He looks around for an appropriate place to put her before just lifting her up onto the counter, and she sits compliantly, yet shocked and wide-eyed that he held her so casually, but as the grudges were only halfway through repairs, she doesn't overreact. "Where's Kuon?"

Kyoko blinks at the sudden question. "Uh, what?"

"The character that you played with your adoptive-in-a-way Father, Hizuri-san. I need you to have him on stand-by, but do not let him take over, kinda like you're between takes? I want you at the forefront, not him."

"What's going on?" She asks, guardedly.

"Just...do it. I hope you'll figure out the 'why' in a bit."

"Fine." She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath before opening her eyes and giving him a nod.

"Okay. Now, please do not freak out until you know the facts."

"Fine, fine, let's just get this overwith," she sighs and Ren peers into her eyes closely, sensing something off, but not like last night...or rther, this morning. There's a certain spark missing here, and with that less-than-respectful tone...her posture as slackened considerably compared to her usual too...

"I said don't hide behind him."

He watches her eyes slide back to normal, her back straightening out as she folds her hands in her lap. "I'm sorry, Tsuruga-san, it's hard to just have him here without-"

"I got it, but is he still somewhere?"

"Yes, but why do you want hi-"

"You'll know why in a while. First, the contacts. No, wait." My God, my mind's a jumble. What was first in the list again? "Remember when that stalker person was talking to you in Kariuzawa?"

"That Beagle?!" Her eyebrows fly upwards. "What does that demon have to do with this?"

Are you kidding me? That guy is the one who would be able to tell me more on those grudge things? "Remember when he told you that the name 'Tsuruga Ren' was a stage name?"

"Yeah, you said afterwards that there was a fifty-fifty chance that he would be right and it was luck that he got it right."

"So you remember that 'Tsuruga Ren' is a stage name? That it's made up and used instead of my real one?"

Ren can practically read on her face the questions 'where are you going with this?' and 'how does this fit?'. "Yes."

"Well, it's a bit different than changing a name or using part of a name like you and Fuwa do. It's more like a 'Cain Heel' kind of thing really, but a long and super top secret project."

"You're a different actor posing and being another high-level actor because you can't do it with the image of the first?" This girl can some things with detailed precision, but cannot grasp other things? "Is it kind of like Chiori-san?"

"I don't even know who that is."

Kyoko's eyes light up a tad. "She's and actress who couldn't break free from her roll after an accident, so years later she got a new name to start over. She's now the other LoveMe member!"

He's just about to dismiss it, but then thinks about it and something Kuon says comes back to him. "Similar stories may help her connect you with you. If she comes up with something that fits in her mind, roll with it as much as you can." "It isn't quite the same, but it is kind of along those lines." He takes a deep breath. "Do you trust me?"

She looks at him hesitantly. "Yes?"

"Do you believe in me?"

"Of course I can?"

"Can you know that I have never purposely lied to you?"

"I think so." First affirmative...that's a good sign.

"And know that though I like teasing you occasionally, I don't wish to be truly mean to you." She doesn't even say anything this time, which worries him slightly. "I swear I don't, Kyoko." She starts at her given name and looks up from her hands. "Please remember that, at least."

"Alright, Tsuruga-san...you're kind of scaring me right now. What's wrong? Are the contacts that big of a deal?"

"Yes," he says seriously. "They are but the tip of the iceberg."

She sighs and leans back into the mirror. You said you would stay by him, a part of her says. Said you would be his protective charm. A lot is listening and silently going along while thinking about what might help him She closes her eyes as another voice speaks up. But this feels big. It's not like you can unhear whatever he wants to tell me. It is obviously close to his heart, and I can't afford to keep tethering myself to him or I'll end up hurting more. She peeks out at him, looking in his eyes. They are tight as he looks at her and she realises that he is in pain. She unconsciously reaches out to him like how she did when accepting the role for Dark Moon and touches his cheek. "Okay," she says, risking herself to get the chance to heal him.

"Tell me."