Overseas Miracles

Chapter 31

Heaps of Surprises

"That Tsuruga Ren. Last time, you made me a total asshole right in front of many people. Lucky for you, it's only the two of us in this hall. I'll show you that I'm better than you." Shou mentally cursed the tall actor coming nearer and nearer. He stopped by in front of the vending machine and place some coins inside it.

"Dammit! Why is this not working! This vending company is useless. Didn't they have some maintenance on their machines? What is this?" He said in his oh-so-ever cool irritated voice as the actor passed by him.

"Is there a problem, Fuwa-kun?" the actor stopped.

"I tried to buy a drink but the machine is broken. It won't return my money. This is corruption. I better report this." Sho took out his phone and dial some numbers.

"I know that I only inserted a few bills but since that my wallet is stuffed, it doesn't mean that I have to forget about it, right, Tsuruga-san? With this vending machine, it can fool a lot of people and this means that their money would not be returned as well." he said coolly. 'See me, Tsuruga!'

"You're right, Fuwa-kun. Money should not be wasted.

"Whatever. I'm going to report this now."

A few seconds later, before Shou could press the call button, he heard the machine created a sound.

"Here you go, Fuwa-kun. You just have to press the emergency button right if you really wish your money should be returned. The sign is obvious here." Ren handed Shou's money back as his face is plastered with his gentlemanly smile.

Shou's face went blank at what the actor did as he received the money.

"I better go before I get late, Fuwa-kun." Ren turned his back at him and took his leave.

"Wha… what…"

"Oh, and Fuwa-kun. Next time, please be more mindful of you are doing before you take some reckless decision." Ren looked back at him while retreating

When Ren is out of sight, Sho kicked the vending machine really hard.

"AAArrrggh! That Tsuruga!" He kicked the vending machine in total rage and it only gave him another pain on the feet. Ren's voice echoed again in his mind. 'I just recently told you that you should be more mindful of you are doing before you take some reckless decision. Now look at you. The next time you kick it, you will be walking with crouches.'

"I HATE YOU TSURUGA!"

An hour later, Ren was called by the president to meet him in his office.

"Ren, Yashiro-kun will be taking a few days off due to some family matters. Thus, Matsuhima-kun will be designating you a temporary manager for tomorrow until Yashiro-kun comes back." Said the president who is presently appareled as a mafia boss.

"I understand. He sure is a mysterious manager." Ren complimented.

"Hmm, you guessed that he's a son of a yakuza, neh?" The president grinned while smoking with his pipe.

"That's the first impression I had got since the appearance of those two suspiciously-looking men. Anyway, he promised me he will explain it to me when he comes back." Ren shrugged.

"Those two were Yashiro-kun's body guards when he was a child. They didn't belong to the yakuza." Lory said while blowing out a small cloud of smoke out of his mouth.

"Bodyguards? Would that mean that he belongs to an elite family?" Ren's eyes widened unexpectedly.

The president sighed. 'I guess, I just to give him some details. Yashiro-kun won't mind it since he is going to tell Ren anyway, right?'

"Just give you some ideas, yes, he belongs to one of Japan's prestigious families. His father is the CEO of one of the most luxurious five star hotel chains in Japan, Thailand, Taiwan and in Singapore. Particularly, Essencia Estates.''

"You mean my manager is the son Yashiro Ryotaro, one of the Japan's multi-billionaires?" Ren inquired presumably, eyes still widened.

"Exactly. Yashiro-kun is the eldest son and thus he will soon take over his father's place. He had incredibly surpassed his father when he was seventeen years old. Not to mention, only a few people knows that he was the one who initiated building more hotel businesses outside of the country." Confirmed the president.

It took almost a minute for Ren to digest the fact in his mind about his sometimes cheeky manager. 'Right! How come I have not noticed? They have similar family names. So, why is he serving as my manager? For crying out loud!'

"I get it now. Then why is his name is not very well known for it?" Ren asked then he chuckled lightly as his thoughts went further.

"Hmm, Yashiro-kun hates the idea of his name being exposed and known by the public." Lory explained.

"Ren?" the confused president called at his greatest actor.

"All this time, I have the son one of the richest men in the nation working for me as my manager? Not to mention, a future CEO? Things had gone out of its place. A manager of mine lives in a simple apartment yet owns numerous superior hotels inside and outside the country? Really ironic." Ren japed with slight sarcasm in his tone.

Takarada Lory simply stared at the young man, giving him some space to adjust his mind with the recently revealed information.

'Good for you, Yashiro-san. You had excellently managed to surpass your father. I really envy your potentials' Ren frowned inwardly.

Los Angeles

After having their elegant dinner, France took Kyoko for a stroll to the concrete bay walk where the gentle whispers of the waves clashes smoothly to the shore, being brought together by the refreshing cold sea breeze. The two teenagers were walking awkwardly in silence side by side.

"You seem cold, Kyoko. Here, I'll lend you this." France noticed his partner slightly shivering due to the wind as he took off his coat.

"Eh? No. You don't have to do that, France. I'm fine with this." She protested but she couldn't stop his intentions of placing his coat around her shoulders.

"There. You'll catch a cold with that outfit of yours. Don't worry. I'll be alright with this." He offered him a smile and yet, he sees her face looking guilty about it.

"Anyway, thank you, France." She mumbled.

"You're welcome, beautiful." He said, fighting the urge to wrap his arms around her shoulders to keep her warmer near him. 'It's better this way or else uncle Kuu will kill me. Can't blame a man who desires a woman as lovely as her'

"Also, thank you for taking me here. This is a very great place. Your sister sure is devoted to pursue her dream resort." She complimented gratefully as she faced him.

"You know, I should be the one who should be thankful. It was a great honor working with you and I have learned a lot of things. How I wish that most people is much as the same as you" He said sincerely.

"You're greater than me, France. I'm just an amateur-" she was immediately interrupted.

"That's a lie, Kyoko. If you were an amateur, we shouldn't have been successful." He countered.

"But-"

"If you say anything low about yourself then I will stop you with a kiss." He teasingly glared at her.

"Eeek!" she squeaked.

"I'm just kidding." He chuckled at her flustered reaction.

"Stop fooling around, France." She stated angrily.

"Alright, I give up." He surrendered jestingly.

"Hmp." She rolled he eyes.

"Anyway, I have a question. Do you know how to ride a bike?"

"Yes, that's my means of transportation in going to school, to the agency and to my acting jobs. Why do you ask?" she asked curiously.

"Well, I was planning to go mountain biking to my favorite spots. And I just wonder if you are willing to come with me for an adventure."

"Oh. But I don't have a bike." She said.

"We can rent one or maybe borrow from uncle Kuu's garage. Actually, since I am free for the day, Evan invited me to come but I'm pretty sure that his girlfriend will tag along. That would leave me biking on my own in the middle of the journey. This time, I can't refuse him since he had been a big help to us. So, do you wanna come?" he requested.

"But… can't you go with your friends?" she suggested.

"They're all busy." He said disappointingly.

"If that's the case, why not come with your girlfriend?" she added.

"Kyoko, you and I both clearly know that I had got rid of that bitch. Remember that day? Heck, I don't even consider that we were going out. She just named everything on her own." He grumbled.

"Who knows that you had silently found another girlfriend after that day." She replied in nonchalance.

"Look. Kyoko, whether you believe me or not, I'm currently not going out with anyone, clear?" He insisted.

"If you say so, then…" she doesn't know what to suggest more.

"Well?"

"Since I have no one I know to suggest, why not find somebody else, France."

"Yes. That's what I'm obviously doing, Ki-yo-ko." He said with a little hint of sarcasm in his voice.

"Eh? Why me of all people, then?" she asked immensely.

"Because for sure I will be enjoying your company." He said casually.

"Yeah, right. Using me as a material for your amusement, I see." She said darkly, giving cold creeps at her target.

"No! That's not what I intended to do! Honestly, I really do love hanging out with you." He confessed but Kyoko is not directly buying it.

"Do I really have to believe all the things you say?" she asked begrudgingly.

"Kyoko, please." He pleaded.

"No." she said firmly.

"Kyoko…" his voice became deeper.

"What?" she asked as she turned her gaze back to him at the sudden change of his voice.

"This is Evan that we are talking about. Don't you feel any amount of thanks for him since he's one of the reasons why we got the highest rate?" He reminded darkly.

As his words hits her ears, she immediately felt guilty at her realization. Evan really did help them a lot. It would be rude if she doesn't do anything in return.

Studying at the change of her facial expression, he grinned inward in victory. 'There, you immediately got the bait.'

"Oh, And this also means that you can't endure a long travel. Now it seems I understand-"

"Me? Who can't stand at those things? I have to let you know that I had even raced with a taxi with just my bike. Don't you dare underestimate me!" she challenged.

"Oh, as if I would believe in that… So, are you in?" he replied with a matching challenging smile to her.

She sighed. "Okay. On one condition, you go find me a bike. Is that okay with you?" she proposed.

"Thank you, Kyoko. Great! I have no problem with that. That's settled then."

"I have to go for the sake that I want to thank Evan for his assistance. So, when are we going?" she asked.

"Two weeks from now. It will be on a weekend. You better prepare for it. I will be a very looong journey. Let's see who'll give up first." He sang as he looked at his shiny watch. "Oh, it's almost ten o'clock. I better take you back home."

"Okay. It's already getting late." She said as they walk side by side going to the parking lot.

Driving back to the Hizuri mansion, they were talking about a lot of stuffs. Mostly, France would ask some questions about Japan and Kyoko would answer in delight as being a very patriotic Japanese individual.

"Come to think of it, Tokyo and Kyoto are totally opposite cities even with their names. Kyo-to, as the traditional city, and then, if we invert the two syllables, it would turn into to-Kyo, as the modernized city. That sounds wise." France laughed hysterically.

"Yeah… that sounds reasonable, I guess." she giggled.

As their laughter died down, France spoke. "Thank you for spending your time with me, Kyoko. I hope we can have this kind of opportunity next time." He stopped the car beside a quiet boulevard where the bright glowing moon kisses the sea as the sparklingly starts embrace the universe.

"France, why did you stop?" she asked.

"Look outside. The scene is so wonderful. It would be a waste not to give some little attention to it." He gestured his hands outside.

"Wow… I haven't seen something like this before. The sea had quieted down unlike earlier. It's so pleasantly tranquil." Her golden eyes wondered admiringly at the view.

Instead of looking back outside of the car, he got instantly glue at her lovely countenance. Though, he didn't regret it. For him, this is the most beautiful view for him to admire. Unconsciously, he took her soft cheeks on his palm and gently rubbed his thumb on it. Kyoko got immediately distracted at the sudden contact.

"What's the meaning of this?" she asked suddenly. Seeing him looking at her as if he is yearning something from her, she could tell what he is exactly feeling. But she doesn't want this to happen.

"Huh?" He looked at her confusingly.

"The first time we met, you were too cold at me and you even mocked me terribly during the faulty exam. Worst of all, you did those inappropriate things to me and we kept on quarrelling over your stupid ideas during that assignment. Then after all of those events, here you are taking me to one of the world's esteemed resorts. What had suddenly gotten in your mind, France? I just wonder what kind of person you really are." She slowly pulled away from his touch.

"Wha… Kyoko." France was totally speechless at her blatant words. His thoughts were suddenly disorganized.

"France?" she waved her hands in front of him. Seconds later, she didn't catch what just happened. All she is aware of is a soft pair of lips locked passionately with hers.

'Oh no! This is wrong! What is going on? Why is my heart beating so wild and fast…?" she thought confusingly.

A/N:

Hey, guys! Today is a national holiday!

SO? You know what I'm expecting from you guys, right?

OMG! SKIP BEAT 195 is now available! Kyaa! I can't what just happened! YOu're eyes are gonna pop! For those who have not read the manga... Oops, don't expect too much.