A/N: I am really glad for all the follows. Please keep reading and let me know when I make any mistakes. Enjoy the latest chapter.
"I am so very sorry Director" Kyoko is talking to the Director of Family First "Because of me, the shooting was delayed for the very last episode."
She had had some minor scratches on her face that had taken a day to get to a state that make up could fix. There had been just one last scene to re-shoot before Kyoko had to stop acting altogether.
"Its ok Kyoko-san" the director replies. "We were able to re-shoot some scenes that were not quite up to the mark because of that. So the drama would be much better thanks to you. Hopefully it lives up to your standard."
"You are too kind Director even though I have a long way to go. As an actor I should have taken better care of my body."
"No no no. Please don't embarrass me. I am just glad you came back to shoot the last scenes. And that you are mostly unhurt."
After the last scenes are shot and everything OK' ed, Kyoko goes home. When she reaches home, she sees Shin sitting at her dining table with a bunch of papers spread out in front of him. They are prospective dramas for her next role. She had given him some money and asked him to busy himself with something or other till she comes back.
"What are you doing?" she asks.
"I cleaned the house top to bottom" replies Shin without looking up "bought some groceries with the money you gave me. You pretty much had nothing to cook. I finished making dinner too, ages ago. I was super bored so I explored a bit and found these in your room."
Kyoko bites back an admonishment to not touch her things without asking. Firstly, she doesn't think Shin would respond well to that, his claim that only people who care get angry notwithstanding. Secondly, it was her own fault to not give him enough stuff to do while she was away. He had taken it upon himself to clean and cook and everything. She should not be getting angry with him.
"Those are dramas for possible next roles for me" she says. Which she would never be able to do now. Anyway those roles are...she doesn't want to think boring because of what the president said - he had called her acting boring. But these roles were all cut from the same mold - descriptions for her roles had keywords such as - unfeeling, cold, unsympathetic, rigid, ruthless ...so on. No wonder her acting had become boring. She was being made to do the same role over and over again.
"These dramas are super interesting." says Shin.
"No they are not." Kyoko says brusquely taking the papers and dumping them unceremoniously in the dustbin.
Before Shin could protest, the phone rings. Kyoko picks up and walks away.
It is Kotonami Kanae. With a pang Kyoko realizes, she was supposed to meet her the day before.
"Moko-chan. I was going to call you. The thing is.."
"You got into an accident" finishes Kanae for her.
"How did you know?"
"I was worried when you didn't pick up the phone. So I called Yashiro-san and he told me. Are you ok now?"
"Yes. I am as well as can be expected considering.."
"Considering what? What's wrong?"
"You see..." and Kyoko tells Kanae about her conversation with President Takarada. "And that is the reason I was distracted when driving. " finishes Kyoko
"So President Takarada forbid you from taking acting jobs? So what?"
"What do you mean so what? What am I supposed to do if not act?"
"He can only forbid the jobs that are in the entertainment industry."
"You mean ..."
"If you still love acting, go out and act. The Kyoko I know will never take no for an answer and give up. You want to act. There are plenty of opportunities. You remember I used to take on small acting practice jobs?"
"You mean like act like someone's daughter or girlfriend etc."
"Yes. And if that is not happening, just go and act whatever you wish to create for yourself."
"I can, can't I?"
Of course thinks Kyoko. And perhaps involve one bored teenager as well? She looks at Shin who is surreptitiously pulling out papers from the dustbin. An idea forms in her head.
She waits till dinner to spring it on Shin.
"Shin this is delicious." Kyoko says taking a bite. "Very tasty" she continues.
"Sounds like you want something from me." he replies. Kyoko sighs. The way this boy figures out people's thoughts and intentions from their tone and words is uncanny. It reminds Kyoko of someone else. Which means my idea has a good chance of working she thinks.
"Do you want to play a game with me?" she asks.
"What kind of game?"
"It is a game I used to play with...a person I used to know. He was an actor like me and we played this game to get better at acting."
It was also fun. she thinks but doesn't say. She cannot bear to think any more of the past. She has to keep it all locked away.
"Do I have to act too?" Shin asks.
"No. You need not." and Kyoko explains the game to him.
President Lory is talking to Yashiro.
" So in other words, There is a strange boy much younger than Kyoko staying with her. Even though she has no untoward intentions towards him, her main aim being to save him from committing suicide, there is no guarantee that the other party has completely honest intentions. He may or may not be trying to play with her emotions. And given how fragile Mogami-san's emotions are, once you break through her current hard exterior, the situation will become very dangerous. If she is betrayed once more, nobody, not even Ren would be able to save her. Right, I understand the situation. I will have the lad investigated."