Chapitre 5

Amamiya Chiori almost choked on her coffee, before her eyes was an article talking about Cain Heel, the actor who played the terrible BJ in the latest trendy horror movie, Tragic Maker. The movie had started very well, the fact that the press had revealed that Cain was none other than Ren Tsuruga had boosted its statistics. Everyone wanted to see the "Japan's number one actor" in the role of a bloodthirsty killer. She herself had gone to see the movie and BJ had terrified her. She didn't like Ren too much; he was just too perfect for her taste, but she had to admit that he was a first-class actor.

No, what had made the third member of the Love me section tick, was a photo of Kyoko next to a photo of Setsuka Heel. The resemblance was striking. The article explained that actress Mogami Kyoko had played Cain's little sister, Setsuka Heel.

What a secretive girl, Chiori thought as she searched for Kanae's number on her phone. The latter, as Kyoko's best friend, might have known about this new role.

- Mochi mochi. Kanae's voice sounded aggressive, as always.

- Kotonami-san, did you hear that Mogami-san served as Ren's cover for the movie Tragic Maker?

- ...

- Kotonami-san?

- Her dangerous mission... That was it! Kanae thought. The president of the LME had given all three of them punitions for not respecting his favorite holiday, Valentine's Day. Indeed, the girls of the love me section, resistant to love, had more or less boycotted this commercial holiday.

- Mo… she's going to pay for this! She better tell us everything!

Chiori was moved by the "we", she was included in the gang, it delighted her even if her colleagues in the love me section were somehow very weird. To admit everything this section was weird, it had been created by President Lory to help actresses he found talented but were lacking romantic feelings. Mogami Kyoko had been the first member, she had decided to never love again. Kotonami Kanae had joined her because she despised love. Finally, Amamiya Chiori had joined the group of her own free will, to work with Kyoko who had made a very strong impression on her on the set of Box R. For the various jobs they had to do for the love me section, the girls were dressed in a horrible flashy pink jumpsuit, discretion granted!

- I'll call her. I'll get back to you later. Kanae said before hanging up.

What had the president come up with to bring Kyoko and Ren together? Kanae was worried. It was weird that Ren, who could have anyone, had chosen a love-allergic person like Mogami-san. Poor guy!

She pressed the hotkey to call her best friend.

Kyoko was dying of laughter, she was with her colleagues from Bridge Rock, the Ishibashi brothers, Hiraku, Shinichi and Yuusei. They weren't really brothers, but since they had the same last name, everyone was teasing them about it. Anyway, Shinichi, in a good mood, was entertaining them with humor about his last disastrous date. Kyoko was crying with laughter, praying to all the gods in the sky to never have a date.

When she read Kanae's name as an incoming call, she picked up the phone, yelling "Moko-san!" That was the nickname she had come up with for Kanae, because of Kanae's habit of starting her sentences with mo…

The latter said to her in an icy voice:

- Mo…. I thought we were friends and friends don't hide anything from each other... So maybe you're not my friend anymore...

- What! No! Moko-san, of course we're friends.

- So, you're going to tell me all about Setsuka tonight. Meet me tonight at 10pm in our break room.

And she hung up. For Kyoko it was a cold shower, the Ishibashi brothers were worried.

- It's okay, she whispered in a tiny voice, but I made my best friend angry. I need to meet her tonight to explain.

- Is she cute? Shinichi asked.

- Baka! Yuusei replied, tapping him on the back of the head.

- Oh yes! Moko-san is the most beautiful woman in the world, and she is the most intelligent and the most elegant and the best actress...

Kyoko had gone to the planet Lalaland, this world full of princesses and fairies where her mind sometimes wandered. But it is true that the beautiful Kanae had everything of a princess.

The boys teased her gently and then Kyoko had to put on her Bo costume. Bo was the mascot of the show. She was a huge white chicken that took care of the guests and livened up the atmosphere with his jokes. Kyoko loved her chicken role and did her best to make the audience laugh. Her mascot had become famous, especially among children.

They were hosting a Sumo wrestler tonight, Kyoko hoped they wouldn't ask her to fight him. She wouldn't be up to the task...

After the show, once her costume was put away, she said goodbye to her colleagues and called a taxi to return to the LME. There, not only Kanae, but also Chiori were waiting for her. When she entered she felt like she was entering a court room... Let the accused in... Might as well tell them everything but would they accept the truth?

She took a seat at the table next to her two friends and began:

- This was my dangerous mission. I had to take care of Ren while Tragic Maker was being filmed. Tsuruga-san has a bad habit of not eating anything if he's left alone. And Yashiro-san is too famous in the industry. Anyway, the president figured that Cain would be accompanied by his little sister.

- You spent 3 months with Tsuruga San... Lucky you!

- It's not like that, Tsuruga-san is a professional.

However, she couldn't help but blush.

- Confess! Kanae cut in, if that bastard touched you, I'll kill him.

- No! Moko-san, it's me... Without really doing it on purpose I did something shameful...

- What? Said both girls in unison.

- I gave him a hickey….

Poor Tsuruga-san thought Kanae.

- How come you didn't mean to? Chiori asked.

- It was a scene, Setsuka was a little too seductive and she got caught in her own game. Only, oh I'm so ashamed, I don't know how to do hickeys... So, I bit my sempai...

Poor, poor Tsuruga-san thought Kanae again.

- Well, I was scared, Kanae said, alone in a room with a man, what was the president thinking?

- To "that"! Chiori continued.

- To "that"? You mean...

- Sex, yes. Said Chiori, a 17-year-old woman and a 21-year-old man. In top of that, the hottest man in Japan and his sexy "little sister", normally it should have ended in bed.

- No! stop! you're not there at all! We're talking about Tsuruga-san, the most handsome guy in Japan... Why would he want me who's so ordinary. No, there was nothing more than the hickey and that's already a lot for me.

- Let's say he's in need, all men are perverts, Chiori interrupted, who ultimately deserved her place in the love me section.

Or let's say he likes you... Kanae thought. After all, he had been jealous of Shotaro and he spent his rare free time in our break room to come see you.

- Nothing happened! Kyoko exclaimed. He's in love with a 17-year-old high school girl.

Honestly, as if it wasn't hard enough to imagine the man she loved in love with another girl... Kanae and Chiori looked at her speechless. And you're not a 17-year-old high school girl maybe? Kanae thought.

- And who told you that in the first place? She allowed herself to say out loud.

- Tsuruga-san himself! Well, he told Bo!

- The most popular guy in Japan confiding in a chicken... It's just too much! Kanae mumbled. I think this boy is at least as weird as you, Mogami-san.

Kanae thought quickly. Her suspicions about Ren's feelings were well-founded. That said, she trusted Ren to tell her the truth in due time. She couldn't help but pity him once again. This guy hadn't chosen simplicity!

She looked at Kyoko, something was wrong, she hadn't said everything...

Softly, which was unusual for her, Kanae asked:

- Mogami-san?

- I love him.

Those were simply the words her friend whispered before bursting into tears.