A/N: Thank you for following. Enjoy the new chapter - shorter one this time.
"One-san spared my life. But you shouldn't have. I walked out into the road to kill myself." said the boy,
"What?" Kyoko asks shocked. "Why did you want to kill yourself? Someone as young as you?"
"Age has nothing to do with it, does it?" replies the boy. "If no one wants you to live, then better to disappear, isn't it?"
That irritates Kyoko. Forgetting that just yesterday she had told the President that she had no one who wanted her to live.
"What do you mean by that? Are you a slave or something? Wanting to live for other people?" Kyoko is reminded of the time she was Sho's slave.
She remembers that she had run into him at the studios She no longer bothered to be annoyed by him even when he had said, "Hey, the way you are going, you are going to lose to me again. I will soon have more fans than you,you know?"
"Don't bother me." She had said simply and walked away.
"Hey Kyoko, even if you want to hit me or push me or anything its ok. Even if you want to cry its ok. Just don't"
"Don't what?" she had stopped and asked without turning.
"Don't act like you care about nothing in this world. Like you are a walking statue."
'Come to think of it what did he mean by walking statue? Statues can't walk. Stupid Shotarou. But she hadn't said anything then. She had just walked away.
She shakes her head as if it would clear away the uncomfortable feeling and turns to see the boy sitting in the corner and thinking dark thoughts. Why does she know they are dark thoughts? Because is giving off a dark aura that Kyoko is very familiar with.
"You. Come here." she says. He shakes his head.
"I won't scold you. You probably have your reasons." she continues.
He turns his head around.
"I don't mind you scolding." he says. " 'Only people who care enough scold.' my mother used to say."
Kyoko wants to ask about his mother but guesses he might not want to be asked.
"Yosh." She says instead. "It's decided. I do care enough and I want you to live. So as long as I want you to live, you shouldn't kill yourself right?"
The boy is surprised for a bit and then unexpectedly responds.
"Of course. You spared my life even though I wanted to live. So I am your responsibility."
Kyoko has called Yashiro-san to drive her back. He is driving Kyoko and the boy whose name he has learned is Shin. Yashiro san thinks to speak once or twice and ask about Shin but refrains.
Kyoko chan will tell me if she needs to. he thinks.
"I am so sorry for causing you all this trouble and worry Yashiro-san. My phone got discharged yesterday." says Kyoko.
"Don't worry about it." says Yashiro. Then he says, "Kyoko-chan, it is ok if I called president Takarada and tell him you are ok?"
"Why?" Kyoko shoots back indignant, "Its not like I work there anymore. He told me I can't act."
'President would be so stung by your cold words right now Kyoko-chan' thinks Yashiro.
"Its only..." he says. "He has called ten times since this morning to ask if you reached home ok. Something about not having a reason to go forward or something like that?" Yashiro tries to put it delicately.
Kyoko makes an 'Oh' face.
"Kyoko-san" says the boy. "Were you also planning to kill yourself?"
'This kid! How did he figure it out?' Kyoko and Yashiro both think at the same time.
"No." she replies. "I just got fired from my job yesterday. "
"Then find another job. " Shin replies simply. "Jobs are easy to find. Its love that is difficult."
Kyoko wonders if she will ever find love again in her life.
Yashiro struck by the maturity of the lad's words asks, "You. How old are you?"
"Fourteen." the boy replies