"You killed him. You killed him. You killed him" echoes the voice in Kyoko's head. She feels like she is falling. Sinking into darkness and disappearing into nothingness. Pressure from all sides as though she is drowning. She tries to scream but nothing comes out. No one is there to help her. Everyone is gone.
"Ren"
Kyoko wakes up in a cold sweat in the darkness. Feeling dizzy, she groggily stumbles her way in the dark to the door. Opening it brings the bright blinding sunshine. Kyoko shields her eyes and vaguely makes out a figure. Her heart skips a beat when she thinks the figure might be Ren but it is not. It is Shin. He rushes over and hugs her.
"I'm so glad you are alright," he says. "I was so scared. I have never been this scared about anything in my life."
Kyoko pats him protectively and asks, "What happened? Why were you scared?"
Someone nearby clears their throat. Getting more adjusted to the brightness Kyoko makes out Yashiro sitting on a couch. Shin releases her.
"Yashiro-san. How come you are here too?"
"How do you feel Kyoko-chan? Can I get you some water perhaps?"
Puzzled Kyoko sits down. The last thing she remembers is sitting on the bench with Shin and discussing her acting. And then.. nothing. She can't remember how she got from there to her house.
"I was so surprised when you fainted Kyoko-san. I had no idea what to do. Then I took your phone and called Yashiro-san because he was the only one I had met before. He seemed like a reliable and responsible person who would know what to do."
Yashiro frowns at Shin, "Thank you for that vote of confidence, I guess. I came as fast as I could and we both brought you home. You have been out for half a day."
"I am fine now, Yashiro-san. Sorry for making you worried and having troubled you." Kyoko makes a small bow.
Yashiro waves it away and asks, "Kyoko-chan. Are you really ok?"
Kyoko takes a deep breath and says truthfully, "I don't know. I hope so." Her head feels full of many jumbled thoughts. It would take some time to process it all.
"Kyoko-chan, can I talk to you privately?"
At Kyoko's sign, Shin gets up and leaves the room.
"Kyoko-chan, I have known you how many years now?"
"More than five years Yashiro-san."
"That means that you don't have to shut me out. I am one of the few people who know how hard it has been for you. I have, albeit to a smaller degree, experienced the same pain, the same guilt, and been at the receiving end of the same anger from R-... our mutual friend. So imagine if you will, my feelings when Shin called me yesterday saying you had fainted in the middle of the road dressed as an old man. What was I supposed to think?"
"I was just feeling a little weak that's all Yashiro-san," Kyoko says.
Yashiro sighs. "Fine, you don't need to tell me. I think I can guess more or less what happened. It used to happen more often before. I was hoping you had gotten better or at least getting better. Twice in such a short time is very worrisome. Perhaps-" he pauses and then deciding to plunge in says, "You still have unresolved issues, I understand that. But you have to find a way to move forward for your own sake. "
"I know Yashiro-san and I thought acting would be a way to do it. But I can't seem to do even that anymore." Kyoko says sadly.
"Throwing yourself into acting just helped you ignore the issue, be in denial. I don't want to force you to confront the past. But, at least take the help of people close to you. Myself, Kotonami-san, and others. The way things are right now, we are all tiptoeing around you. Not knowing what might send you over the edge."
Kyoko nods quietly says, "Give me more time Yashiro-san."
Yashiro considers that enough progress for now. At least Kyoko understands the problem.
"And that brings me to another issue that I want to talk to you about. Shin."
"What about him?"
"He has been living with you all this time, I am guessing?"
"Yes."
"You have any idea how that appears to the rest of the world? A woman like you living with a young man his age. "
"I have no such intentions towards him. You would know that Yashiro-san." Kyoko says indignantly.
"I do. But the rest of the world would not. I have to assume you will come back to acting. As your manager I have to manage the risks to your reputation. And this is a huge one. And not only that, are you quite sure, his intentions are pure?"
"Yashiro-san. He is fourteen years old. He was ready to kill himself when I crashed the car. I doubt he has any selfish intentions in his mind."
Yashiro leaves it at that.
On his way out he pulls out a pair of gloves and puts them on. Then he calls President Takarada.
"It's me. I am just coming from her home. She hasn't completely healed, President. Also one more thing. About that matter the other day - we may have been mistaken about his intentions. He seems to genuinely care about her and he went out of his way to call me when he needn't have. "
"Right," Lory responds. "I did try to find out his background as I promised. He spent most of his early childhood in an orphanage. He left or rather ran away from the orphanage at the age of twelve. There is no information on what he did for the last three years - but given his background and his current behavior I can more or less interpolate. We really can't blame him for dubious morals or an interesting take on life. But what you say seems like a positive sign. We should still keep a close watch on the two of them but the likelihood of us needing to intervene is not that high anymore."
Shin walks up behind Yashiro as he hangs up the phone.
"I know you are worried about her Yashiro-san. And I also know you are wondering about my intentions. I know that not because you gave anything away but because of the way you look at her, I know you are concerned. Do you perhaps love her?"
"Shin, I know you think that you can always read people's thoughts and intentions. But it doesn't mean you should always do so. My relationship with Kyoko-chan is something that is between me and her to know. If you ask any more questions regarding that or poke your nose into anything else that does not concern you, I'd be forced to separate you from Kyoko-chan. And now that I have your attention, let me make one thing very clear. If you even think of doing anything to hurt Kyoko-" Yashiro let it hang there, the threat clearly written on his face.
Shin holds up his hand in a placating gesture. "We want the same thing Yashiro-san. You and I. And that is for Kyoko-chan to be happy." Seeing no softening on Yashiro's face Shin realizes he is not buying it. He sighs and continues, "I am not an actor Yashiro-san. All my life, I have said and done whatever is true to me. The name Shin is what I took for myself for that reason. I was sick and tired of adults all lying whenever it was convenient. I have been burned so many times by trusting them I vowed that I would never trust an adult ever again. But Kyoko-san is so naturally full of honesty and truth that I was astounded. Maybe in the beginning, out of habit I didn't trust her and I tried to manipulate her. But I promise you I will never do anything to hurt her because I am getting something from her that is more valuable than anything I could manipulate our of her."
"And what is that Shin-kun?"
"A reason to live."