Dear Sempai
Disclaimer: I do not own SkipBeat! or any of the characters from the Manga.
Summary: Lory has conceived yet another devious scheme, wrapped in the guise of a LoveMe assignment. All the girls have to do is to write at least one letter a week to the person they respect the most. Simple… right?
Letter 26
Dear Chiori-san,
If you are reading this, then you are probably in Takarado-shacho's office or have just left it. Either that, or you are running around in the street flapping your arms like a madwoman… which is what I felt like doing when I found out the truth. I know that Shacho did not intend to hand you this letter until after he told you everything, so that means that you must know.
Although this may be a burden to you, I am pleased that I no longer have to keep this a secret from you. Re[scratched out] Tsuruga-sempai noticed my pensiveness while writing and he pressed me until I admitted the reason for my unhappiness. Over the past few months I have grown to cherish our correspondence and your wise advice. More recently I have shared a very personal secret with you. So when it suddenly became necessary to become vague and evasive in my replies to your letters, I felt like I was betraying the close friendship we had built.
But Tsuruga-sempai is as wise as he is kind. When I explained my difficulty, he decided that you could be trusted with his secret. He explained that someone as bright and curious as you would almost assuredly notice the change in my letters… and that you would become dangerously curious as a result. More importantly, he said that he could trust you… because I trust you. Chiori-san, I am sure that Takarada-shacho has already lectured you about the need for extreme secrecy at this point. The time for him to reveal himself is drawing close, but it would be detrimental for his secret to be revealed too early. I trust you and know that you will hold onto this information with the utmost care.
The letter I wrote three weeks ago must seem ironic and amusing to you now. Truthfully, I was mortified about what I wrote when I found out that Tsuruga Ren and Corn were the same man (This is the last time that I will write of this in a letter to you, for fear of it falling into the wrong hands. I know that Takarada-shacho has instructed you to burn this letter, so I feel safe writing this time). When he revealed the truth to me, I behave badly. Actually, I panicked and hid myself away for a while. There were so many conflicting thoughts and emotions. It was several days before I could even think straight.
Thankfully I had several days off in the filming schedule. I walked the streets of Paris, drank coffee, talked to the shop owners, and stared at the sights. I don't know if I would have progressed at all if it weren't for Moko-san. She asked for and was granted time away from her modeling tour in order to fly to Paris and spend some time with me. She already knew everything because Hizuri Julie-san told her. Ok[scratched-out] Hizuri-san told her because she was worried about my reaction. She told Moko-san that she didn't intentionally or willingly deceive me, and I believe that. The fact that she sent Moko-san to me only confirms that. Still, I don't know how to communicate with the Hizuris now.
This problem made worse because of what I will tell you next: Tsuruga Ren and I are dating. I know that probably sounds ludicrous to you, [this sentence was line-out] No, I have to stop denigrating myself or he will scold me again. I was shocked when he told me… very forcefully in fact… that he felt strong feelings for me. All of this time, though my feelings for him have been growing, I always hid them due to my own certainty that he could never return those feelings. He told me that he was doing the same thing… only for much longer. Chiori-san, he told me [this sentence was scratched out, but still legible] nevermind. At first I struggled to believe it because I have always felt unworthy of him, but he told me the same things that both you and Moko-san have told me about doubting myself.
Last week I accepted a dinner date with him. Since then we have spent almost every evening together. Unfortunately a reporter from Japan who was writing an article about our movie noticed how much time we were spending in each other's company. That reporter has blown everything out of proportion now and everyone believes that we are doing something illicit. I suggested that we should stop spending time together, but he wouldn't hear of it. In fact he has become [the calligraphy here is a little shaky] more… demonstrative, even though he knows that paparazzi are following us around.
Please don't misinterpret this: he is always respectful and he is a perfect gentleman [a drifting line here suggests that Kyoko might have drifted off into embarrassed thought]
I apologize for drifting off and making a mess of this letter. It seems to be an ongoing problem. It is perhaps a good thing that you will be burning this particular letter.
Filming in Paris will be complete in six days and then it will be time to return to Tokyo. I feel like a different person from when I left… and am a little uncertain about what will happen with my relati[crossed out] my dating situation with Tsuruga Ren. I am glad that Moko-san will also return this week, meaning that then I will be able to rely on both of my good friends for… advice.
Please continue to take care of me,
Sincerely,
Mogami Kyoko
oOoOOoOo
Dear Hizuris,
Please don't be offended that I do not write to you as "Otou-san and Okaa-san." This is not reflective of any hurt feelings about your son's deception. He has explained everything completely. I feel foolish for any negative reaction that I had about that now that I understand. It must have been very difficult for both of you to lose your son for so many years. It may be presumptuous, but I honor you for doing such a painful thing for his sake.
So please believe me when I repeat that I have not changed my address to you out of anger or spite. In my heart you are still as dear to me as ever, if not more so. However, with the [the page shows several attempts to begin the next word, but she does not complete a full word until the following line] alteration in my… friendship with your son… it no longer seems appropriate for me to continue to use those familiar terms... due to the fact that people might misconstrue my use of those particular terms in light of the current situation.
NOT that I am making any assumptions about the future or anything like that! I simply meant [several sentences are blotted out here and are completely illegible] Please disregard my useless attempts at trying to explain myself. Also, please know this: I place the greatest value on all that you have done for me and for the way that you welcomed me into your home and life. If my silence in the past few weeks has caused you any distress, then please forgive me?
Sincerely,
Mogami Kyoko