"She wants to start her own entertainment agency' Lory says.
"That does not seem like a prank, President," Kyoko responds, puzzled
"She also wants an investment from me to start it."
"And you don't want to because? You can't be afraid of the competition."
"That is not the issue Mogami-san. I believe she is not ready."
"Just because you think of her as a small girl doesn't mean she is objectively a small girl Shachou," says Kyoko. "Perhaps you should let her make her own mistakes and learn from them."
"I don't say she is not ready because she is young Mogami-san. I say she is not ready because she does not understand the business. You will understand when you hear what she threatened me with when I tried to say no to her."
"Grandfather!" comes a voice and Maria has come out of the palace and is walking up to them. Kyoko is moved by Maria's appearance. She looks every bit the princess, no... a fairy, no... a fairy princess, the one that Kyoko always imagined her to be. In the lawn surrounded by flowers and greenery creates an ideal background for her.
"It is almost time Grandfather," Maria says, then seeing Kyoko jumps with joy.
"One-sama. It has been a long time. How nice of you to visit me for a change. I always used to see you at the agency but now that someone has become a sourpuss and kept you from coming there, I was dreading that I wouldn't see much of you at all."
"Maria-chan. I am happy to see you as well. But I was forced to come here by your grandfather."
The two women turn to glare at Lory who tries to hide behind his peacock feather people.
Maria turns back to Kyoko, "But still it is so good of you to come one-sama" she says. "And you came at the perfect time. I wanted to sign you on as the first talent of the entertainment agency that I am starting."
"I would be honored but.." Kyoko starts to say but Maria does not give her a chance to finish.
"Well, that is settled then. The only thing left is the initial investment." she turns to Lory.
"You cannot expect me to invest in what I know will end up as a failure." the president pleads.
"Good to know you have such little belief in me, grandfather," Maria says haughtily. "But you know the consequences of saying no to me."
"Maria-chan please reconsider," Lory says.
"No."
"Please"
"No."
"For your grandfather's sake if not your own."
"No, no a thousand times no. You have had enough fun stifling young people's careers."
"Maria-chan" Kyoko interjects." What are the consequences that you are talking about?"
Maria does not answer. She just stands with her head held high.
"it is easier to just show you Mogami-san." says the president. "But please prepare yourself for a most disturbing sight." he takes out his phone and shows her. Kyoko turns immediately beet red. Her ears burn as though she were the one in the picture and not Maria-chan.
"It is the scene from Titanic," Maria says helpfully. "You know, the one she wants him to paint of her."
"Yes yes, I know " replies Kyoko hastily unable to hold her thoughts in.
"Who..who..." stammers Kyoko,
"It is of me of course," replies Maria.
"No.. I mean who took this photo?"
"One-sama you know phones have timers don't you? That is a selfie. Of course, I don't have a Leonardo to do it for me."
"Maria-chan is blackmailing me that if I don't invest in her venture, she will publicly release that picture," says Lory spelling it out for Kyoko who is still dumbstruck. She looks to Maria, who nods nonchalantly as though it is no big deal.
'This girl' thinks Kyoko and closes her eyes. She then has a flash of understanding of how the adults around her must have felt when Kyoko was as young as Maria and made foolish decisions without thinking. No, thinking wouldn't have helped Kyoko. She had been incapable of understanding the consequences of her actions just like Maria now does not understand. This wouldn't do at all. She had to make Maria understand.
How to make her understand? What would have made me understand? What did make me understand?
Sho's voice unbidden comes to her mockingly, "Plain and boring." "Practically a house-maid" Kyoko hastily shoves the voice away with a gesture. Maria and Lory look at her questioningly.
It took a strong rejection from a person I loved or at least thought I loved to bring the reality of my situation to me. What would that look like for Maria-chan?
"Maria-chan," Kyoko says. Maria turns at the tone of her voice. "I am deeply honored that you would want to sign me on as the first talent of your new agency. But on understanding the details, I am afraid I have no choice but to absolutely refuse."
Maria is shocked. "Why, one-sama. Do you think I would not promote you to the utmost of my ability?"
Kyoko holds up her hand.
"Let me finish. There are two reasons for my refusal. The first is that you asked your grandfather for an investment to start your company. There are thousands of people everyday venturing into doing what they passionately believe in without the luxury of a rich grandfather to help them out. If you get your investment from your grandfather, then you would never have to risk anything of your own. You will never have the impetus to make your company successful because your grandfather will always support you if you failed. Failure does not hold the same risk for you as someone without an angel investor."
Maria is taken aback but then says.
"That is not true. Am I not ready to release a picture that will do great damage to my reputation to get the investment? Isn't that a big risk."
"That is the second reason," Kyoko says. "As a talent, my reputation is my biggest currency. I have had to painstakingly create my reputation, my image, at times at great cost to myself and the people around me. You know this. What you are risking is ruining your reputation. Why would I wish to join a company whose head values her own reputation so cheaply as to sell it off for money?"
Maria feels as though she has been slapped in the face. Involuntarily, her hand goes to her cheek which feels like it is stinging. Hot tears stream down from her eyes.
'Now is the moment of truth,' thinks Kyoko and waits.
"What.." Maria starts and her voice catches.
She takes a deep breath and tries again, "What would it take for you to join an entertainment agency that I start?" she asks.
'And there it is.' Kyoko is mightily gladdened by Maria's words but she does not show it.
"Start from scratch - no investment from your grandfather. Change your name so that no one associates you with LME or Takarada. That way, no one would be able to accuse you of riding on your grandfather's coattails."
Maria is nodding her head.
"Perhaps starting as a low-level employee in LME would give you a good idea of how the business is run," Lory suggests and Kyoko nods.
Maria takes a moment to consider and then says, "What you say is right One-sama. I will do as you say. I will change my name and join LME if grandfather allows." Maria is very humble in her request. Lory is so moved he now has tears in his eyes.
"I will arrange it so no one knows you are my granddaughter when you join. Leave it to me," he says.
"Thank you Ojiisan. Onee-sama, please watch me as I create an entertainment agency that Onee-sama would be proud to be a part of. "
"Hai" replies Kyoko.