Snip, snip, snip, goes Kyoko. She has placed her watch in front of her and the timer says 12 min 56 s - counting down. 'Thank god, I had scissors in my handbag.' she thinks as she snips away at her skirt. Then working furiously she folds up and starts stitching the cut cloth back onto the skirt. When finished, she holds it up and finding it satisfactory places it near the washbasin. The timer says 9min 23s
"Now for the next part.," she says to herself. She takes off her collared blouse and holds up her slip skirt next to her chest, lace end on top. She nods at her reflection "Not too lacy". A couple of ladies come into the restroom talking at that very moment.
"And then he said to me," one of them is saying. They catch sight of Kyoko in a state of undress.
"Hik!" goes one. The other stares at Kyoko for a beat before saying, "Sorry for the intrusion. We will find another one." They back off hastily and almost run out.
'It's fine. They are just women like me.' Kyoko thinks. 'Anyway, I don't have time to be embarrassed.'
"Now for the coat." She says aloud. She holds up the coat of the business skirt suit biting her lip, thinking. She makes a decision and grabbing the scissors starts cutting. As she is cutting she says, "I am sorry unknown dressmaker of this wonderful coat. I have to disrespect your effort into making this. Douka, please forgive me."
There is a knock on the door. "Kyoko-san?" comes a soft voice. Yashiro-san's voice.
"Yes?" Kyoko calls out. She can't go to the door in the state she is Yashiro only says, "I am leaving this outside. Please get them when you are ready."
Puzzled, Kyoko goes to the door and cautiously opens the door and peeks. She sees no one. The hallway is empty. Glancing down she catches sight of a package. Dropping to the floor and still behind the door, she quickly drags the box inside.
"Beep" goes her phone indicating only 5 min remain. She runs back to finish working on the coat. The coat is done in 4 minutes. In 30seconds, she changes her makeup - a bold yet elegant lip color, just a tiny slant to her eyeliner to give them an edge. Finally putting it all together, she looks at the full-length mirror and nods. Then she starts.
"I forgot about shoes," she squeaks, dismayed. Then she remembers the box. Opening it, her face relaxes and she smiles.
"God bless you, Yashiro-san!"
Director Hyuga glances at his watch almost willing the minute hand to reach the dot corresponding to the 15-minute mark. 'Why isn't it fifteen minutes yet? It feels like hundred minutes have passed. What is that woman playing at? Telling me to wait exactly fifteen minutes and rushing off. Even that manager of hers has disappeared, leaving me to wait here alone. I have already finished three sudoku games. I can't really start another one. There isn't enough time. Maybe she will be late. Maybe she will never come back.'
Director Hyuga is cursing himself for having this meeting. He should have dropped her by email. Instead, this is just getting prolonged beyond reason, he thinks.
Just then the door opens and Yashiro comes in.
"Kyoko-san is just coming," he says and sits down.
Hyuga relaxes slightly. Suddenly, he wonders what exactly Kyoko has in store for him. He doesn't have long to wait for exactly as Hyuga's watch reaches the 15-minute mark, Kyoko opens the door and walks in.
Angels suddenly start singing in Hyuga's head, as he imagines the pearly gates open before him. St. Peter is looking at him kindly and says, "Hyuga, for the wonderful drama you have made with the perfect heroine, you deserve to enter." For Kyoko was Elena made flesh. He could see it, the kind but naive village girl that was Yukiko had been the earlier Kyoko and this Kyoko was cool and sophisticated - a perfect supermodel Elena.
Her earlier appearance had been a simple business skirt suit with a collared blouse as though she were a naive young woman arriving for her first interview. But now, her skirt is has a few cuts that go a quarter of the way from the bottom, the cut parts swishing elegantly as Kyoko walks. Her collared blouse is switched for a lace-trimmed top and her coat which had been a normal boring button-up jacket is now a wrap coat with a large belt.
How did she get such an elegant outfit in such a short time? Hyuga wonders. Was there a fashion boutique nearby that I didn't know about? No. That can't be right. This building is in a business district. There are only office buildings and coffee shops - no clothiers.
As he is thinking, Kyoko walks to her chair as though she were born in her impossibly high heels and sits down. And waits.
Director Hyuga closes his open mouth and says, "Thank you for the demonstration, Elena-san."
Yashiro looks surprised at that but Kyoko simply nods, for she has completely turned into Elena and the director calling her that seems the most natural thing in the world.
"Now," says Hyuga collecting himself, "Since you have taken a bit more time than I anticipated, you will not have time to prepare. But I think you don't need to."
"Prepare?" asks Kyoko.
"Yes. We should leave immediately. I believe people will already be waiting."
"Where are we going?" asks Yashiro unperturbed.
"To Rick's auditions, of course. They are scheduled for today. I was going to handle them alone after dropping you. But since I have changed my mind, I need you to come along. Unless you had something to do?"
"It's okay with me," replies Kyoko.
"Then have your manager buy your lunch on the way or something."
"Leave it to me.," says Yashiro as Kyoko looks at him.