Kyoko was in hysterics. Her salvation came in the form of Maria Takarada sprinting from nowhere, tearfully handing Kyoko a sewing kit. After ten minutes of emergency doll surgery, the knot inside Kyoko's stomach eased as she proudly held up a newly repaired Princess Pea.

"I'm so glad she's okay," sighed Maria.

"I hope you'll one day forgive me for my carelessness, your highness," said Kyoko. "It won't happen again, I promise."

The two shared a pair of weary yet relieved smiles. They had pushed through that hell together but now all was fine.

Until Kyoko karate-chopped Maria on the head.

"Ouch! What was that for?" said Maria.

"You did all that on purpose!" said Kyoko, waving to the obstacle course.

"What? How can you just accuse me of something like that?"

"You set up all those pretty princess stuff knowing it would slow me down!" Not to mention that freaking loaded question at the end.

Maria huffed. "It's not like I knew you would go last. It could have been anyone in your group doing that part of the—stop trying to hit me!"

"Good kids should stay still and receive their punishment!"

"I'm not—Hnnngg! Shtahhp!"

"Umm, Assistant Director?"

One of the show hands was trying to get their attention. Kyoko ignored him, continuing to tug on either side of Maria's cheeks.

"I'm trying to avoid Tsuruga-san," she said. "The last thing I want to do is go on a date with him and now I have no choice thanks to you!"

Kyoko let go, Maria rubbing her red cheeks as she glared. "Why should I care? You already said we're not sisters anymore."

That hurt Kyoko more than it should. She hugged Princess Pea to her chest, taking comfort in the newly repaired fabric and seams.

"It's not that I hate—I'm just trying to protect myself. I don't want to not be sisters with you…" Her voice weakened. Too many things were conflicting with her emotions.

The gaze Maria leveled at her was not the look a ten-year-old should have. It held too much wisdom and understanding.

"Sorry, but I'm afraid this is for your own good, Mogami-san." The detachment in Maria's tone hurt. "All the other contestants have returned. Go back in line with the rest, we need to continue filming." Maria walked away, barking at the stagehand to follow her and get back to work.

Kyoko did as instructed, even if she'd rather not. She joined her team standing with the other contestants that lined the grass. Everyone looked a little worse for wear. About half the people had mud plastered all over them while some had what looked like flour all over their hair. Hime was the only one covered in fake stringy cobwebs.

Eri, who was sporting a bruise on her shoulder, was currently lamenting their narrow loss to the team. According to her, it was all Hime's fault.

"You're just happy because your stupid Fiancé's team won," complained Eri. "Way to be a team player."

It didn't go unnoticed by Kyoko that Hime didn't refute Eri's claim. Traitor!

"Sorry, I shouldn't have tripped at the end," said Kyoko, acknowledging her part in the failure. Stupid Ren calling out her name. What had his question even been?

"Don't worry about it, you did great," said Sakura. "I for one had a lot of fun. Oh! We should take a picture." Sakura fumbled in her pocket, taking out her phone. "I want to post these later when we're allowed to."

Kyoko was squished by the other three as they set her in the middle. Her strained smile was noticed immediately.

"Don't be weird, ninja-girl," grumbled Eri through a perfect photo-worthy pout.

"Ohh, Kyoko-san, you're making a weird expression. Is it because Ren-san said he wanted to marry you?"

Kyoko choked on thin air. Her face erupted, eyes widening just as the camera took the photo. Her panicked, hopeful, tearful expression was now caught perfectly on Sakura's phone.

Kyoko whirled on Hime, breaking up their group.

"W-where the hell did you h-hear that?"

Hime blinked, taken aback by the venom in Kyoko's tone. "The questions in the eggs. I asked Suzuki what Ren-san's said and he said it asked something along the lines of 'who do you want to marry?' "

The questions had been the same? If that was the truth, then there was no way Tsuruga-san had meant it. Kyoko's heart denied it firmly and without a doubt. Mostly for her own sanity. After all, she'd lied to her own question.

But bitter feelings still managed to make her chest ache. Why did these things keep happening to her? Select statements and events from their exchanges would spin a tale she desperately wanted to be true but was realistically impossible. Fate must be a jealous cow that enjoyed taunting her.

"There's no way he meant it," said Kyoko. "He probably wanted to surprise me, which, it worked. If I hadn't slowed thanks to him randomly yelling out my name, I would have won."

"I wouldn't be too sure about that." Something about Sakura's voice was weird. Her eyes were glued to her phone, frowning at whatever it showed. Then her gaze lifted, and she gave a broken chuckle. "I meant about the marrying thing, not you winning. I'm sure you probably would have won."

She didn't sound too sure.

Kyoko had no idea how to take that statement. She was about to explain why Sakura was delusional for thinking such strange things when they were hailed by the stagehands to pay attention.

Kyoko fell into place beside the others, grumbling under her breath why they were all wrong and Tsuruga-san would never want to marry her. And wow, just what alternate reality did she get dumped into that she had to do something like that?

Apparently, it was about to get worse. The host decided it would be a great idea to show the contestants uncut scenes from the relay race. And for all the world to see, she witnessed that indeed, both she and Tsuruga-san had the same question. "Which of the contestants do you most wish to marry?"

Forget what happened during the rest of the obstacle race, Kyoko didn't pay attention to a second of it. All she cared about was the sudden interest in both her and Ren from both the surrounding participants and the cameras. She kept her eyes resolutely forward, using every bit of training she possessed to fight down the blush rising in her cheeks.

Eri clicked her tongue in annoyance. "So much for not being interested in Daichi. What a liar."

First, Kyoko had no idea where Eri had heard that from. She'd never said it to her directly, though she had mentioned it to other people before, including Daichi. Second, Eri sounded really pissed. Her arms were crossed so tightly around her body that it was a wonder they weren't throwing her off balance.

"I just said a random name," said Kyoko.

"Sure, you did."

The other two shifted uncomfortably at the sour atmosphere. The camera stationed close by was not helping the tension.

Ryou called the winners up to the stand. He gave a generic speech about their achievements and feats of awesomeness that got them to first place. When he mentioned wondering who they were going to choose for their dates before going on a commercial break, Kyoko noticed that Daichi was blushing. Really. Really. Hard.

That's when it hit her.

Daichi was on the same team as Ren! He got to pick a date and since they were going to choose in order of the race, he could choose her before Ren did.

But guilt gnawed at her stomach even as she had these thoughts. Would she really want to use Daichi's feelings like that? He did seem to like her, and she'd just announced to the world she wanted to marry him out of all the contestants. Wow, that was not good. She could really mess up their friendship thanks to that.

The selfish part of her wanted him to ask her on the date anyway. That way she could clear up the misunderstanding and maybe… well. What would be the harm in marrying Daichi?

And where the hell had that thought come from?

Suzuki was the first to go, of course picking out Hime for his date. Hime's delight was muted as she glanced apologetically at the rest of them. Kyoko offered a half smile, trying to be glad that one of them was getting a happy ending.

The next man, Watanabe Akane, picked one of the women Kyoko hadn't learned the name of yet. Then it was Daichi's turn.

His face wasn't as red as before, but it was still pink as he raised a finger and pointed it toward Kyoko.

Panic and relief did not mix well. Oh hell, he is actually picking me? She felt like she was going to throw up.

Before Daichi could open his mouth and finalize his decision, Eri gave a muffled curse.

"Of f-ing course!" she cried. "You're so predictable. Go for the famous deva why don't you?"

Daichi looked at her quizzically. "I uh, couldn't hear that Eri… I mean. If you're really that upset, I can pick someone else. You don't have to go on a date with me." He rubbed his neck, the mic barely catching his mumbled apology.

Kyoko stared. Then the realization hit her. He wasn't pointing at her! He was pointing at Eri who was standing next to her. Thankfully Eri looked twice as flabbergasted taking most of the attention from the cameras.

"W-what? You picked me?"

"Yeah." Daichi's expression was sheepish. "The date I chose is a 100,000 yen shopping spree. And I know you love clothes so, I uh, thought it might be nice to hang out."

Eri clamped her mouth shut, struggling for a second before jutting out her chin. Her voice held a strange pitch as she answered. "I mean, a shopping spree sounds nice. I could find you a tie that actually matches your cheap shirts."

Just what exactly was going on here? Kyoko shared a look with Hime and Sakura. Neither of them seemed confused. Hime looked on the verge of laughing. Nothing about this situation was funny! Since Daichi hadn't picked her it meant her last hope was gone.

As Daichi handed the mic to Ren, Kyoko hung her head, unable to watch.

"I, uh, chose Mogami Kyoko."

Freaking nerd Ren. Freaking nervous persona. The happy hesitance in his voice was not helping her heart or anything else for that matter. As Ryou took back command of the scene, Kyoko kept her head down, willing herself not to cry.

"Are you feeling alright Mogami-san?"

"Yes, I'm fine." Very confused, frustrated, and wishing she was anywhere but here, but yes, mostly fine. "What even is this place?

"It's a break room," explained Ren.

"Break as in...?"

"Break stuff."

That would explain the sledgehammers and heavy-duty protective gear they'd been given. It also explained why it looked like they were at a junkyard. The warehouse contained dozens of wooden furniture, large electronics, and what looked like a metal entertainment center. Mismatched dishes lay on one table next to a stack of ceiling tiles. It looked like they could use crowbars or baseball bats as well. The lone cameraman that had followed them stood a healthy distance away, encouraging them to begin.

"This is not the sort of thing I would think of when considering a romantic date," Kyoko mumbled, repositioning her safety glasses. What was wrong with this show?

"Not to worry," said Ren, hefting his sledgehammer. "The romantic part comes later."

That was not what she meant!

Kyoko rolled her shoulders, feeling a little silly about the whole thing. "So… what? We just start breaking stuff?"

In answer, Ren lifted his sledgehammer high above his head before swinging with all his might. It came down with a crash on a thick wooden desk. He didn't stop there. Again and again, he rammed his sledgehammer into the wood, reducing the furniture to a pile of sticks. If that alone wasn't a disturbing sight, it was the dazzling smile he wore as he engaged in destruction. It was hard to say what was flying more. The wood, or his sparkles.

"You see," said Ren, taking off his gloves to wipe at his brow. "Very therapeutic."
With no one in the room but her, Ren, the cameraman, and the owner of the place, Ren had removed his nerd glasses and pushed back his hair. He now looked like himself, though decked out in a thick apron with long sleeves meant to protect him from projectiles. Kyoko had never pictured her as a woman who admired feats of testosterone but dang! There was something primally intoxicating about his appearance right now.

Kyoko shifted the grip on her sledgehammer. "You're right. Therapy is exactly what I need."

She proceeded to carefully and meticulously disassemble a bookshelf. She smashed all the inner shelves one by one, imagining a different face for each part. Sho. Ren. Sho. Maeda. Sho. Maria. With a final smash, she took down the wobbling husk, superimposing the Crimson Threads logo onto its side.

"Make sure to take breaks and stretch between wrecking," commented Ren. "We had an eventful morning. You'll get sore if you're not careful."

It might be too late for that. Her arms already ached from catching herself on the monkey bars. She rubbed them with a hand, offering him a glare.

"This is your brilliant strategy? Give me a weapon so I can smash other things instead of your face while we talk?"

"I didn't realize you'd want to get violent with me," said Ren coolly. "You've insisted you're not angry, after all."

In answer, Kyoko put a large dent in a dryer.

Ren chuckled. Like her ire was humorous! She grabbed a crowbar and rammed it several more times into the dryer, eventually puncturing the metal.

"I know you're frustrated with this show," said Ren. "And probably with me. I have been antagonizing you quite a bit."

"At least you're self-aware," she mumbled.

"But no, we'll talk at our dinner. For now, I just wanted to enjoy spending some time with you and allow you to blow off some steam."

"Voodoo dolls usually work just fine."

But some good healthy smashing didn't seem like such a bad idea. Pulling a marker out of somewhere, Kyoko proceeded to draw a cockroach with blonde hair on one of the plates. Walking to one side of the room, she wound up and threw the plate into the brick wall. It shattered with a satisfying clatter.

She continued with this theme for a while, drawing faces on china and hurtling them against the designated throw space. While it helped with some of her frustration, it didn't scratch the underlying tension that had taken over her soul. How long would it take for these feelings to go away? Where did she want their friendship to lead? She knew that after tonight, something was going to change. But in what way?

She knew how she'd like it to change. Her maiden heart yearned for him to return her feelings. To hold his hand. Kiss him. To snuggle under warm blankets because they could. To get married and… no. That idea was too terrifying. As was holding his hand or kissing him. What was she thinking wishing to open herself up to love like that again?

It's still too scary.

The best outcome would be an agreement to continue their friendship. While Ren had expressed his wish to deepen that friendship, it was not possible. Not if Kyoko wanted to keep her feelings distant. Otherwise, she'd be crushed by their weight when Ren finally married the woman he loved.

Which left her with one option. Continue to treat Tsuruga Ren as her senpai and nothing else. It was easier not to think about Corn and the sweet things he'd said to her in Guam.

The blush that those memories usually inspired was absent as she hurled an incredibly detailed rendition of the Love-Me logo into the wall. Her hand reached for another plate only to realize she'd run out.

"You seem to be having fun with those dishes," commented Ren.

"It's satisfying to see them shatter into a million pieces."

If he thought the comment was odd, he didn't mention it. "Want to help me demolish the entertainment center?"

She looked at his eager expression, allowing herself a small smile. Yeah. She could do this. A normal, nothing-different friendship with her Senpai. It was the safest option. She just had to convince him to get on board with the idea and forget about the whole "Corn" thing altogether.

She grabbed the sledgehammer, holding out the hammer to Ren.

"We'll take turns," she said. "That way we don't tire ourselves out too quickly."

He smiled warmly, taking the handle. "Sounds like a plan."

They continued to smash stuff, taking turns and heckling each other as they did so. The longer they played, the more Kyoko relaxed. There was something to be said for senseless destruction. She felt better now that she'd come to her own decision and demolished several tables.

They talked about the experience as they were driven to the next location, the chatter was normal, friendly, and to the observer, unremarkable. That was the point. Go through the motions of normal until it was that way.

Their dinner location turned out to be a simple diner with a private seating area. Since they were a little sweaty from the breakroom, it made sense to eat at a casual location. Kyoko slid into her both as Ren slipped into the seat opposite her. He'd donned his ugly baseball hat and glasses again to remain undercover. She was glad he'd left his "Fake Ren" persona behind.

"You're in a good mood, Mogami-san," he commented.

She hummed in response. "It's been fun. That was the first time I've felt relaxed since this stupid show started."

He smiled at that, though it was hard to tell how sincere the expression was as his eyes were hidden. "I'm glad to hear that. Who knew that all it took was a wreck room for you to relax around me again."

"I thought they were called break rooms?"

"Same difference."

She tapped her menu with a finger, thinking about how to lay out her decision.

"I've decided to stop running from you," she said.

"Not that I gave you much of a choice."

She gave him a look for interrupting her. He clamped his mouth shut, amused as he nodded for her to continue. When she was sure he wasn't going to interrupt again, she continued.

"And, I've realized that it's all okay. You're Corn, so what? It's not like it has to change anything."

He didn't say anything. His silence was off-putting as was the tightening of his jaw. What was wrong with what she'd said? Did he want her to remain mad at him?

Someone walked through the dividing flaps separating their room from the others. It was Maria.

"Sorry I'm late," she said, walking over to where the cameraman was stationed. She waved him away, grabbing a stool so she could stand on it and take a look at the angle of the camera.

"What are you doing here?" said Kyoko.

"Overseeing your date." Maria tapped several things on the camera's touch screen, coordinating between it and her tablet. "As you're both celebrities, I know how important secrets are. I also know the two of you really need a heart-to-heart conversation and that you won't have it with a camera trained on you, but we really can't miss this crucial date for the show. So, I'm giving you the best we got." She held up her tablet. "I'm the only person that will see the recordings from this date. Also, I will not release anything from this without your express permission to do so."

She walked over to Ren, holding her tablet toward him. "Is that good enough?"

"Yes," said Ren, signing something with his finger on the screen.

Maria held it out to Kyoko as well, who now could see what it was. It appeared to be a contract outlining exactly what Maria had just said.

"Isn't this a bit extreme?" said Kyoko. It was just a dinner between friends.

"I want you two to be completely comfortable tonight," said Maria. "And this will help ease your anxiety, no?"

"We're still being watched," grumbled Kyoko.

"Yes, but it's just me. And if you sign you will have a contract legally binding me not to give the tapes to anyone without your express permission."

It actually did help. A lot. Now she could speak without worrying about how the show would spin their conversation.

Kyoko signed with her finger, tapping the accept button. "Sometimes it's hard to determine if you're my ally or enemy, Maria-chan."

Maria winked, tucking her tablet away. "Just call me if you need anything. And don't remove those mics, no matter how tempted you may be."

A director to the end. She left, leaving three cameras facing them. One each on their faces, and one in the middle filming both of them at once.

"I'm not sure that helps," sighed Kyoko. "Somehow it's more terrifying knowing Maria is behind those cameras."

In answer, Ren removed his glasses and hat.

It had been a casual gesture. No grand removal or exaggerated placement. But she knew what the removal of those articles signified. Immediately Kyoko was on edge. It signified the end of this farce.

Just friends, Kyoko. Kohai and Senpai, nothing more. Just friends.

She didn't speak, waiting for Ren to start the dreaded conversation. She wouldn't even know where to begin at this point. There were too many things that needed to be clarified. Too many feelings toward her Senpai.

He inclined his head, smile apologetic even as it was firm.

"While I would have preferred a completely private conversation, this is the best I'm going to get, given the circumstances." His eyes flickered to the camera as if to remind Maria of the great trust he was placing in her. "I plan to speak plainly, and I hope you will do the same."

Kyoko swallowed. Way to make her feel relaxed, Ren. As if her nerves weren't already shot. She just managed to stop herself from squirming as she nodded.

"This is about 'Corn," right?"

"Among other things. But yes, that is a huge part of it."

"I just said that it didn't matter, didn't I? It's not like anything has to change. It's not like you…"

Her gaze drifted to her lap, reliving their first conversation about this. She'd frozen for a good minute before bursting into wild hysterics about him being a fairy with broken wings and overall being greatly confused. Eventually, he'd convinced her that no, he was not a fairy. And yes, his hair and eye color were naturally blonde and green. And yes… he'd had a very troubled past as a kid.

That was about as far as their conversation had gotten because, at that point, the truth of it had finally hit her. She'd remembered their exchange in Guam. She'd remembered the kisses. She'd remembered his "curse".

She'd remembered him saying he was in love with her.

Then she'd remembered it was all an act to him. Corn was a character. A person he'd pretended to be to help a crying child. And though Ren had probably sprinkled parts of his true feelings into Corn, there was no way feelings of romantic interest were an aspect that had bled over.

If they wanted to go back to normal, to being Senpai and Kohai, it looked like they had to have this conversation. She took a breath, willing herself to speak.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she said, finally speaking the part that had bothered her the most. "Why did you keep it a secret for so long?"

When he didn't answer, she raised her head. He was watching her with an odd expression. Too troubled to be calm, but too controlled to be nervous. It was impressive he could appear to be the perfect picture of opposing emotions. It also made her feel unbalanced.

"I didn't know at first," he said. "As I said weeks ago, I found out who you were after the incident in the stairway. It didn't seem important at first… Then it seemed too important. That memory was special to you. It gave you strength when you were discouraged. A strength you tried to share with me once."

Kyoko's cheeks burned at the memory of handing him the stone right after his Katsuki trail. Not only had she unknowingly returned the stone to its owner, but he'd also kissed said stone which had set off the first twinge of those dreaded emotions. It all started from there, didn't it?

"Then you were in too deep," Kyoko guessed since he wasn't talking anymore. "You decided to ignore it. At least, until Guam."

"Guam." He had the decency to look abashed. "I admit, I went too far in that instance."

That was a major understatement. She huffed through her nose, willing her heart to calm. "Seriously Tsuruga-san, you need to rein yourself in a bit more. You have a habit of becoming too engrossed in your characters. While I admired and respected Corn, the Fairy Prince, I would not have been upset that you were both the same person."

"Yet you ran away because of it."

Kyoko clacked her teeth in frustration. "You have no right to criticize me for that."

"But you can't say my fears were unfounded. Look how far I had to chase you to get you just to talk to me."

"That's because—!"

She stopped because she did not want to correct him on that. That it had little to do with Corn and everything to do with the girl he was in love with. The girl he talked about when Kyoko pretended to be Bou.

"Thank you, Bou-san, I've decided it's time to take chances. No matter what happens, I need to be honest with her. And more than anything else, I want to be with her."

The constricting feeling in her chest grew worse.

"Fine, you were right," she half-lied. "But did you really need to chase me all the way to Crimson Threads? Couldn't you just wait until after I was done with the retreat?"

"No." He almost looked angry. What for? Maybe he blamed her for being here. She cocked an eyebrow at him.

"Don't be mad at me. I didn't make you get on this asinine show," she said. "You know they're not going to just let you waltz out of here without getting married. It would skyrocket their viewership too much. Come to think of it, maybe that's the big spin at the end. You don't get married and remain a bachelor. Then all the single—and unhappily married—women in Japan sigh in relief?"

"No, I do plan to get engaged to someone on this show."

It was as if someone had doused Kyoko in cold water. She sputtered, shocked and very uncomfortable. Then she was upset. Angry that he had dumped something that big on her with no regard for the state it would leave her.

But he was watching her closely. That strange expression was back, this time colored with something deeper. Some sort of wanting.

She kept her expression neutral, ignoring the fact that he'd done the equivalent of dumping a nest of live scorpions in her stomach. It was time to put her own acting abilities to the test. It was time to enact her plan.

I Kyoko Mogami, only wish to remain friends with my Senpai.

And the Kyoko Mogami who only felt a platonic kinship with said senpai would not gape stupidly in hurt at his words.

"If that's your goal, then you're going about it the wrong way."

He took a beat of silence to answer, eyes narrowing. "What makes you say that?"

Kyoko nodded to the glasses and ballcap he'd set on the table. "You're in disguise. Pretending to be someone you're not. That's not the right way to go about getting to know someone." She smiled wryly at the first lesson she'd learned here on Crimson Threads. Her first group date with Suzuki-kun. "A relationship will not work out if one party is pretending to be someone else. How foolish will the woman feel when she finds out that the dork that's been hitting on her is Tsuruga Ren? I can tell you from experience, it doesn't feel too great."

She expected him to flinch at the barb. Her anger had leaked out by the end. What she didn't expect was for a teasing glint to enter his eyes.

"There are two ways I can understand that last statement."

It took Kyoko a moment, but when she got it, she immediately flushed.

"I was talking about being lied to, not getting hit—That's not the point!" She slapped the table, willing the heat to leave her cheeks at the idea of Ren hitting on her. "You haven't learned a thing! You pretended to be someone else with me and look at the mess it caused us. Forget whatever scheme the director set up. As fun as it would be to watch others unknowingly snub Japan's favorite actor, it will damage your relationship with your future wif—your significant other. Besides, it would make the whole 'wooing' part much easier for you if you just come out as Tsuruga Ren-san."

Her gaze had returned to the table, fidgeting with her napkin to try and dispel the awful feeling in her stomach. She seemed to be slowly descending into hell with each new situation she got it. What awaited her at the bottom? Becoming the bridesmaid for his future wife? Helping her pick out a dress for her wedding? Babysitting their future kids?

Between the silence, a server entered the room. She held plates of food, placing them on the table without disturbing their nonexistent conversation as she left.

Kyoko dug into her plate, happy to give her hands something to do. It didn't matter that they hadn't technically ordered anything. Kyoko had no idea what was going into her mouth. She was too distracted to care.

Between the quiet clinks of silverware and glasses, Ren spoke.

"I really am sorry." His voice was quiet, thick with a sincerity that made it tremble. "I never wanted to make you upset."

Kyoko's throat closed. She kept her eyes lowered, unsure how to respond to his vulnerability.

"You were a good friend to me during that time," he continued with more strength. "And now, I consider you one of my best friends. You've done so much for me and been so patient as I struggled with... certain things. I never wanted to jeopardize my friendship with you."

She thought of his past. The darkness she only knew vague things about. There were things that haunted him both as Ren and as Corn. Things she had helped him through. Because she had helped, right? That was what he was saying. He'd thanked her for breaking the curse, for staying beside him as Setsu. She'd never let that truth sink in. That she'd helped him as both Corn and Ren.

She peered up at him, lips drawn into a pout.

"I… forgive you, Corn. Really, I do, though I do question your methods. What were you thinking? 'True love's kiss' will break the spell? How could you request such a scandalous thing from a pure maiden's heart? You take your roles too far Tsuruga-san."

She was smiling by the end. It was frayed with nerves and tainted by secret feelings, but the important part was that it was there.

Ren recognized the olive branch, his own weak smile cropping up in return.

"You are not the first person to scold me about that."

With some of the air cleared, Ren began eating as well. Their conversation drifted, and without Kyoko's consent or notice, they'd fallen back into their usual pace. Talking about their current projects, laughing at the latest spazzy thing Yashiro-san had done, or arguing over Ren's eating habits. She even shared with him the new project she'd start once Crimson Threads was over.

She'd dropped her defenses so thoroughly that when Ren casually brought something up that Corn knew about in their conversation, she'd hardly noticed it. In fact, now that she thought back, he'd been doing it the entire evening. He'd blended the two of them so quickly and thoroughly that she'd hardly noticed.

Before her wasn't just Ren. It was also Corn. Silly, ridiculous, easy to be frank with Corn. Did… did that mean she could continue to be casual with him? It went against everything she'd decided while in the break room. But was it possible that she could have both? Ren and Corn in her life.

It was in the middle of these thoughts that he addressed her. By name.

"Kyoko-chan."

Kyoko jerked so hard she dropped her chopsticks. Her hand flew to her forehead in a salute. "Y-yes!?"

He chuckled at her reaction. "The point of an informal address is to be more relaxed."

Kyoko lowered her hand slowly, her heart beating frantically in her ribcage. That's right. She'd given him permission to use her name. Ugh, she wanted to retract that. It made her way too happy.

But he leaned forward, the table cleared of food long ago by their stealthy server. It allowed his elbows to rest comfortably on the table as he pressed with an unusual amount of hesitance. All comments on her name fled as he scrutinized her. Clearly, he'd used her name with the purpose of getting her attention.

"There was one more thing I wanted to speak to you about tonight," he said. "I originally wanted to give you a bit more time, but I guess I'm more of an impatient man than I thought."

"Don't tell me you're hiding another secret identity from me?"

She'd meant it as a joke. His face told her it wasn't one.

"You must know Tsuruga Ren is a stage name," he said. "I wasn't planning on telling you now but, would you like to know my real name?"

Kyoko leaned back, feeling winded. Tsuruga Ren being a fake name wasn't a surprise. It was his casual question. As if all it took was the request and he'd give her his name, a secret he'd guarded closely.

Nothing of Tsuruga Ren's life before his fame was made public. It was a constant sore spot for journalists. Gossip columns were stuffed full of ridiculous theory's on Ren's life before the limelight. Yet he would give her his name, the key to all that information so easily were she to ask. And with Maria watching as well.

Kyoko swallowed back the "yes" that threatened to break free. Now was not the time. Even if it was just Maria, she didn't want to risk having any recorded evidence of his name. For Ren's sake.

"There was something else you wanted to speak to me about?" she said.

He recognized the dismissal and nodded as if grateful she hadn't asked.

"You scolded me for pretending to be someone else on the show," he said. "That it would hurt my relationship with my future wife."

Technically she'd said "significant other' but they were basically the same thing. They were someone who wasn't Kyoko. Someone she would hate more than anyone else in the world, including Shoutaro. Yes, her hate for the nameless faceless woman would extend that far. That was how bad she had it.

Ren noticed her frown, no doubt interpreting it however he wished.

"I just wanted to let you know, that it won't be an issue," he continued. "They already know who I am."

"They do?" said Kyoko. "Then… does that means you've already decided who you want to marry?"

"I have."

Ouch.

The napkin twisted in her hands under the table. The ends began fraying under her grip.

"Wait. That makes no sense." Because Ren had someone he loved. "You implied you came onto this show to hunt me down. Unless you were already going to be on Crimson Threads before I joined." Except she wasn't supposed to know Ren loved someone. "How did you even pick someone so quickly and tell them who you were?"

Things didn't add up. Not very well at least. There were details between the finer points that were missing. Or maybe it was just one big point. That the woman he loved really was on this show. What if—

"No, you're right," he said. "I came to Crimson Threads to talk with you. And to be clear, out of all the contestants you are the only person who knows that I am Tsuruga Ren."

Now she was more confused. "Then, is it one of the stage helpers you want to marry?"

"No, it's a contestant."

She stared. She stared and stared and had no idea if there was any color left in her cheeks. Her eyes probably looked more like dinner plates than anything human. Because she'd found the finer point. The detail that could potentially link all the information to make one cohesive narrative. She just couldn't believe it—there was no freaking way!

Ren kept a cool countenance. Like he hadn't just knocked down her reality with such a preposterous notion. He watched her every twitch, his hands clasped together on the table.

"It's you, Kyoko-chan," he said. "I'd like to marry you."

Thanks for reading!

Please don't hate me.

-Blushweaver