Chocolate Girl - Chapter 15
 
Deeply moving finale!
Give the stage to the entertainment industry.
High tension love comedy.
 
Finally, finally, finally, finally X-day. Kyouko and Tezuka's first time.
 
Kyouko, who is suddenly summoned to the hotel by Tezuka, goes to the hotel with maximum nervousness...!?
 
Last scene: The main character becomes a chocolate girl.
 
The chapter opens with Kyouko arriving at the hotel, looking extremely nervous with sweat dripping down her face and the paparazzi following her. She recalls Tezuka's voice stating that he made hotel reservations and to come. Tezuka is waiting for her at the front of the hotel with a serious look. He holds out his hand and tells her to come here. As he pulls her in for a hug, the cameras flash all around them. The paparazzi start firing questions to Tezuka asking if tonight is going to be their "X" day. Tezuka glances over at them with a killer look in his eye and they back away in fear. Then, with his arm around Kyouko's shoulders, he bows to them. He says that today will be "X" day and so he is requesting that they please stop chasing Kyouko around. The paparazzi stand there, stunned. Kyouko leans against him also looking stunned. The scene changes to Akae lying on a bed with a woman in the background. He swears and the woman asks him what's wrong. Akae says that Tezuka's acting like a fool and now the paparazzi may start concentrating on Akae again. The woman tells him that she really doesn't mind. Akae thinks to himself that he may have to stop seeing her because it's such a pain when the paparazzi use him for material. He thinks that Tezuka is foolish and he had many ways he could have gotten around this. But he feels that what Tezuka did isn't such a bad thing. He gives a silent cheer to Tezuka and Kyouko.

Kyouko and Tezuka are alone in the hotel room. Kyouko, with her heart thumping, is nervous and embarrassed as she and Tezuka stand apart from each other. Kyouko's heart continues thumping loudly. When Tezuka points and says, "bath", she answers back, "Yes!?" while looking flustered. So Tezuka suggests to her, "Why don't you take a bath?" Kyouko looks back at him blankly, before replying, "a bath...?" In the bathroom, Kyouko fills up the tub with water and seems to be in a daze. Suddenly, she snaps and starts thinking like crazy... this means he's recommending that she get naked... it's impossible... Tezuka is right outside the door in the next room and she can't be naked... but it's "X" day so she's must take off her underwear... crap, today's underwear was three for 980 yen.. oh but, if she gets naked then it doesn't matter about the underwear... that's right, three underwear for 980 yen, get naked, get naked, get naked. *Some footage has been disturbed because of interference. Kyouko stares at the steamy bathwater. One hour passes, Kyouko hasn't moved and the bathwater is no longer hot. The door creaks open and Kyouko suddenly flings off all of her clothes. Tezuka, who's standing in the open doorway, asks her how long she's going to be in the bath. Kyouko throws a plastic container at Tezuka, hitting him in the face and causing him to get a bloody nose. He glares at her and starts to ask what is she doing. She then goes beserk and starts throwing all kinds of things at him. She yells at him not to look, not to come close, and to go away, domestic violence, sexual harrassment guy. Tezuka is able to fend off all the stuff thrown at him and shouts back that she needs to calm down and that since it's the last chapter, she can't just say whatever she wants this late in the story. (T/N: omg, lol). He grabs her wrist. As Kyouko struggles, he tells her that he previously got a good look of her small breasts and whatnot (in Chapter 6) and asks if she has something weird down there which he can immediately return and get a full refund if it hasn't been used within two weeks. She manages to get her foot loose and kicks him in the chest. She then does an upside-down spin and dives toward the tub. Tezuka manages to grab her legs before she lands headfirst in the tub and gets a good look at her lower parts. Kyouko wonders how to salvage this situation.


They both end up in the bathtub. Tezuka, still dressed, is gasping for breath, while Kyouko is face down in the water. Tezuka wipes water from his face and says that if she doesn't like it, she can go home. He also asks her if she understands why he won't tell her that. Kyouko blushes as she stares at the water. She replies back that she understands since they declared that it's "X" day in front of the paparazzi, she will finish the job. Tezuka looks over at her and says that's not it. He reaches over and grabs her arm as Kyouko flinches. He then reaches around with his other arm and pulls her to him, hugging her from behind. He stares at her before starting to kiss her neck. Embarrassed, Kyouko squeezes her eyes shut. Tezuka starts to kiss down her back and when he licks a drop of water from her back, she lets out a small sound. She leans forward and calls out his name as he continues to kiss her back with his hands on her breasts. Then he turns her face towards him so they can kiss. While still kissing her, he stands up and gets out of the tub, carrying her in a princess hold. They stop kissing to look at each other. Tezuka asks her if she knows about the "chocolate man". Kyouko doesn't know who that is. He's kind of suprised that she doesn't know but says that it's something he just heard somewhere. It's the name given to the person who delivers cookies to the crew and actors during filming breaks in Hollywood. Kyouko says that it's the first time she's heard of that. Tezuka wonders if it's only in Hollywood where someone like that who doesn't really matter could have a paying job. He says that it won't trouble the industry if that person exists or not, which is the same as Kyouko. Stunned, Kyouko looks sad with tears in her eyes. Tezuka closes his eyes with a small smile and then tells her that the only one who would be troubled is him. He says that her cookies would taste bad and have a distorted shape, but they would fill him up because in this industry, no, anywhere he goes, he has her. She is his chocolate girl. Because she's with him, he... Tezuka stops in mid-sentence and looks at Kyouko who's staring at him. Blushing but with a determined look, he carries her quickly to the bed. Kyouko wonders what he was going to say before he stopped, but Tezuka doesn't answer.


He tosses her onto the bed. Kyouko tries again to ask what he was going to say, but he cuts her off and tells her to be quiet. He pauses and stares at her. Kyouko appears embarrassed and upset as she looks back at him with tears rolling down her face. She tells him that somehow she feels like she's melting slowly and wonders if this is what a chocolate girl is. Chagrined, Tezuka looks down and wonders who told her to say clever things. With a serious look, he starts to pull down her towel and kiss her body. He tells her that it's okay to melt because he will eat her all up. (T/N: Kyaaaa!) Kyouko thinks that all the places he touches feel like they are melting. She is a chocolate cookie that Tezuka is eating up. It's a little awkward but she wants to be eaten more by Tezuka . She wants to show him more expressions that only a "chocolate girl" can do. She will deliver cookies only to the person she loves. Just to Tezuka.


The scene changes to a studio location. Kyouko receives a text from Tezuka telling her that tonight is nabe and to come over. Kyouko smiles softly as she reads the text. Akae pops up behind her and reads the message, commenting that it's so nice to have nabe and that she can go ahead and leave. Kyouko looks disgruntled and tells him to stop joking. She lectures him about going out at night to play again and says that she will take him home and lock the door from the outside. Akae apologizes and asks her to stop. He mentions that Tezuka seems to be working hard with a movie that's turned into drama series and a stage performance. Although, comparatively speaking, he's still clumsy at bed scenes. Akae wonders if their practice is bad. Kyouko looks back at him, embarrassed. Suddenly Tezuka appears and says that he hasn't had any "NG" with Kyouko, so what's it to you. He grabs Kyouko and holds her against him as Akae and the crew stare at him in shock and embarrassment. As they walk together, Kyouko tells him that she will definitely make it to his Osaka peformance. Tezuka says, "Okay" and then asks if kimichi nabe is fine. She replies back that it is and that she will also go to the opening day of his movie. He responds back with another okay and then asks if she wants noodles or rice with the nabe. Kyouko says that she wants rice. She tells him she's looking forward to it and he happily smiles back at her. Kyouko thinks that when she first met the actor, "Tezuka Riku", she wanted to see him on the TV, movie screen, and up close. She didn't want to miss out on any changes in his expressions, no matter how trivial. She will surely become a fan. She will fall more in love.

The end.

Scene 14: The main character's "X" day.
 
"We haven't been intimate yet, is that a problem?" Tezuka's declaration results in an unexpected direction!??
 
Kyouko, with the biggest chance of her life, is in a pinch!?
 
If you sleep some more, it'll be "X" day.
 
The chapter opens with Kyouko introducing herself and saying that she kind of feels like fleeing to Brazil. Her life is a mess. Her relationship with Tezuka should never have been exposed but it was. She "sinks" into the ground, thinking that it's all over. She thanks the readers of the manga and says, "goodbye", and the manga ends... not. Tezuka "pulls" her out of the hole. With tears rolling down her face, Kyouko says his name. Kyouko and Tezuka stand in the company president's office looking down while the president taps her fingers on her desk. She asks them what they plan to do, are they going to break up? Kyouko starts to say that they will break up, but Tezuka grabs her and finishes her sentence by saying that they will not. He looks serious and repeats that they will not break up. He looks down at Kyouko and continues by saying, "because I love her". Kyouko tells him that it's not good and that they need to break up, otherwise his image will suffer. The president chuckles to herself and then turns on the television. On the screen, it shows an irate Tezuka saying that Kyouko is his lover and they haven't been intimate yet... is that a problem? Then various people are shown being interviewed and all of their responses are positive. They think that his response is genuine; that it's great not all entertainers are flashy; that it's an unexpected declaration; that it's righteous; that he seems sincere. The president tells them somehow people seem to be cheering them on. In general, everyone believes that their relationship is the right thing. She tells them that they shouldn't break up, on the contrary, if they do split up, Tezuka's image will suffer. As Kyouko and Tezuka stare at her, she continues on and says that in front of the cameras, they should act like lovers.
 
After Kyouko and Tezuka leave the president's office, they glance at each other and then embrace. Tezuka has a huge smile and Kyouko is blushing and tearing up a little. Tezuka continues to hug her in a tight embrace while their co-workers look on, thinking that they are really lovey-dovey. Kyouko is so happy that she's crying. As Tezuka's lover, is it okay for her to walk under the sun with him!? It's okay for her to be together with him, right!? It's okay, right!? Kyouko and Tezuka leave, looking deliriously happy, but stop abruptly when they encounter the paparazzi outside. The reporters want to know about their sex life and when do they plan to become intimate. Cameras flash as Kyouko and Tezuka stand there in silence. At the set location, Akae mentions that it's become troublesome for the two of them. He says that people are betting on the Internet on when it will be Kyouko and Tezuka's first time. Tezuka punches the wall in aggravation. He turns his head and accuses Akae of being the one who leaked their relationship to the press. Akae smiles and tells him, "yeah". Tezuka yells back, "don't just say "yeah"!" Akae says that it's because his relationship with his girlfriend was exposed and his Taiga drama ratings were low, so in order to stop the articles about him, in exchange he exposed them, sorry. Tezuka grabs Akae shirt, wanting so much to hit him, but then he sighs and says that he's fine with it but he's not sure about Kyouko. Kyouko is freaking out and thinking about her first time with Tezuka will be "X" day. The production staff recognizes her as Tezuka's girlfriend and tell her that they cheering for her. Someone asks when "X" day will be and Akae responds that he bet 5,000 yen for the 25th. Kyouko is in a daze. She is being hounded by reporters about "X" day, everywhere. Even her sister placed a lunch bet with her friends. Everyone is waiting for "X" day. Does she have to do it? She must do it!? Because she and Tezuka are now in a relationship!? Kyouko is in shock. She sinks to the ground thinking that she has to go through with it.
 
A car stops in front of Tezuka's apartment. When Tezuka and Nikaido get out of the car, the paparazzi are waiting. They're disappointed that it's Nikaido and not Kyouko. Tezuka looks angry, so Nikaido suggests that he take refuge at a hotel for awhile. Tezuka responds back that it's not necessary. He's not doing anything to feel guilty about! Nikaido then asks him what is he going to do when he meets up with Kyouko. Tezuka pauses. He looks down and says that it can't be helped. He won't see her for awhile. As he opens the door, he says that she's not stupid and that she won't think about seeing him under these kind of circumstances. However, Kyouko is waiting in his apartment, looking serious. Tezuka staggers a little from shock as she welcomes him home. He wants to know where she came from since the paparazzi are outside. She replies that she dressed up as Pinko-san (see Chapter 13), used a duplicate key to get into the Aikawa's apartment upstairs, and drilled a hole. Flabbergasted, Tezuka apologizes to the Aikawa's. He notices that she's looking at him with a serious expression and gets a little flustered. As she starts to tell him something... he jumps back a little. She says to him that she told (her family?) that she's spending the night at a friend's place and that she bought lucky underwear* (*shoubu pants = underwear worn for a special date) at Seiyu (department store)... 3 for 980 yen. He answers back that she lives by herself and that's too cheap for underwear. (T/N: lol). He tells Nikaido to put her out with the trash. Kyouko shouts his name as Nikaido carries her out. But... everyone is waiting for "X" day, she thinks. At the studio, Tezuka peeks around the door of his dressing room and sees Kyouko waiting for him. He picks her up by her hair as she tells him that she went to Ito Yokado (another department store) and bought one lucky underwear for 880 yen. He tosses her out of his dressing room. As Kyouko pounds on Tezuka's door, Akae sighs and leaves her alone, while a couple of staff members acknowledge that today won't be "X" day. Kyouko is so determined, she's hanging on to Tezuka's car as he yells at her to get off. The people watching them realize that it's not going to happen yet. 
 
It's a little past 11:30 PM when Tezuka arrives at his apartment. Kyouko is sitting there, waiting patiently for him. When he opens the door, she tells him that she bought a lucky underwear for 1,890 yen at Mitsukoshi (another department store). Tezuka stands in the doorway, silent. Then he drops his bag, sits down in front of her and says, "well, show me your lucky underwear". Kyouko stares back at him and then both sit there looking at each other as the clock ticks. Then Kyouko snaps out of it and realizes what he just said. To show him her lucky underwear and then to get undressed... Tezuka calls her name and Kyouko takes off with Tezuka chasing her. He grabs her by the back of her shirt and asks her if she's motivated. She replies that of course she is for "X" day. He throws her down as she shrieks and apologizes for leaving her sex education book at home. Overwhelmed, Kyouko has her eyes closed, but Tezuka calls her an idiot and then gently hugs her. He says to just let people who want to make a fuss about it do as they please. She doesn't have to perform for them. Then he realizes that's not quite it and that she's acting this way because she's thinking of him. He thanks her for becoming his girlfriend and apologizes as Kyouko stares up at the ceiling. She then asks him if he's drunk and he happily tells her that he is because he went bar-hopping with the producer. When Tezuka gets drunk, he ends up not remembering anything. He passes out and Kyouko watches over him as she thinks back on the words he just said about thanking her for being his girlfriend. A couple of tears escape as she caresses his face and gives him a kiss. 
 
She leaves the apartment through the front and gets acosted by the paparazzi. They want to know if "X" day has been accomplished. Inside the apartment, Tezuka is lying on the floor but he's awake and can hear the reporters calling out to Kyouko. He looks deep in thought. The scene switches to Kyouko and Akae in the car. Akae can't believe it hasn't happened yet. He complains that he lost his 5,000 yen. She says that continuing to put it off should help Tezuka's image improve and also camoflauge Akae's relationships. Akae looks a little chagrined as he says Kyouko's name. He exclaims that somehow she's acting like a manager  and wonders if she's really Kyouko. Kyouko just laughs. Being Tezuka's girlfriend and being able to walk under the sun with him, her heart is swelled with happiness. There's no need to rush. She will match his steps. Suddenly, her phone rings. Akae asks if the call is from Tezuka and Kyouko says that it appears so. The subject of the message is "tonight" and it says that he reserved a hotel room and to join him. Kyouko and Akae stare at the message and then someone lets out a loud, "whaaaaat!?". Tezuka closes his cell phone and walks back to the set. 

Chocolate Girl - Chapter 13
 
These two people, there are times when their expression of love leads to a misunderstanding about domestic violence and they may also have the appearance of master and servant but in reality they have become girlfriend and boyfriend.
 
Kyouko goes over to Tezuka's place as a "girlfriend"!!!? Heart-thumping... Chapter 13.
 
Finally, Kyouko and Tezuka have mutual feelings. The actor and his former manager go to make an announcement to their office president!?
 
Scene 13: The main character becomes a stepping stone!?
 
The chapter opens with Kyouko introducing herself and saying that she has recently begun a relationship with the actor, Tezuka Riku. Kyouko and Tezuka go to their company president's office. Kyouko gulps as the president slams her fist on the desk and mentions their relationship. Both Kyouko and Tezuka stand in front of the president's desk, waiting for her to continue. Kyouko looks really nervous but Tezuka appears calm. Finally, the president says that she's okay with it as long as they don't get found out. Kyouko and Tezuka are surprised. Kyouko wants to make sure that she's not going to be fired or anything like that. The president, smoking and looking irritated, says that she will fire Kyouko if that's what Kyouko wants and Kyouko replies back that it's absurb. Kyouko thanks the president. The president then asks, "And...?" Kyouko and Tezuka are confused, so the president asks them how far they have gone now that they're lovers. Kyouko and Tezuka look back at the president without responding. Then Kyouko "becomes" an angel and floats to the ceiling, becoming giddy about the word, "lovers". She can't believe that someone like her is lovers with the Tezuka, the guy with the demon expression. Tezuka is indeed glaring at the angelic Kyouko. He "sprays" the angel with bug spray, ending her thought about being lovers with such an fiendish, abusive guy. Grabbing Kyouko, Tezuka responds to the president's question by saying that kind of question, as a talent attached to the company, he has a duty to report it but... um... and stops talking. The president was only asking because she didn't expect the question to be a big deal to someone who's had 20 retakes for his bed scene. Tezuka mutters that it was 19 retakes and wonders why she's harrassing him. The president goes on to say that Kyouko can at least become a stepping stone for his drama's love scenes. Kyouko looks shocked while Tezuka looks perturbed. He tells the president, "excuse us" and leaves the office with Kyouko.
 
Outside of the president's office, Kyouko falls to the ground as Tezuka stands there, shocked. Kyouko thinks to herself that it makes sense she is a stepping stone and that there's no way Tezuka would choose someone like her as a lover. She starts to cry, thinking that she got all worked up for nothing. She turns to Tezuka and tells him with tears streaming down her face that she will become his stepping stone and will accept anything that he throws at her, no matter how perverted. (T/N: lol). Tezuka looks bewildered by her response and then chuckles. He tells her that if he was going to chose someone for that purpose, he wouldn't get remotely close to her in his lifetime. Kyouko is confused by what he says and can't respond back. With a wry smile, he goes on to say that kind of request shouldn't be asked of him who chose the biggest idiot on this earth as his lover. He wants to know if she understands but Kyouko is too scared to answer back. So Tezuka gets angry and yells at her how dare she say such a thing as stepping stone. He tells her to go wash her face with miso soup and then come back. He then grabs her head and pulls her to him, saying that he will take care of her and not to worry. Kyouko blushes as she says his name. He hugs her so hard, she feels like she's going to break. The other people in the office, who are the first to witness their relationship besides one other person (Akae), have various thoughts (he's got her in a sleeper hold; he's polishing his abusive act; rest in peace, Sawatari-san).
 
Kyouko is driving in the car with Akae. Akae is surprised that they received official recognition from the company president. Akae smiles at her and says in a loud voice that it's great since they don't give off a lovely aura and they're ignored by the paparazzi. He says that he's jealous of them since they have a love that nobody else can possibly imagine. Kyouko is sweating nervously while listening to him. She tells him that she also has things to say at this time. He has an important Taiga drama next year so he needs to restrain himself from late night activities. Akae looks really irritated. He tells Kyouko that he heard Tezuka received an offer for an early morning drama series. She replies that's what she heard too. He smiles as he pokes his hat and says that Tezuka is also prohibited from causing a scandal and he should do his best. (T/N: I think Akae is planning something again...). Kyouko, looks concerned (sweatdrop) as she continues to drive. She recalls the company president telling them not to be found out and thinks to herself that the best way not to be discovered is for them not to meet up. But she wants to see him anyway. Kyouko is standing at a set location when her cell phone rings. She forgot to turn off the ringer. It's a text message from Tezuka about dinner plans. The message is short - finished work early, come. Kyouko looks surprised. Back in her angel mode, she floats up to the ceiling and gets "burned" by the lights. A crew member exclaims that Kyouko has been caught in the lighting. 
 
The scene changes to Tezuka's apartment. Tezuka is making dinner, stirring vegetables in a frying pan. He looks content. He pours the vegetables into a large pot and the curry simmers on the stove. He smiles to himself. Nikaido asks him to make the curry sweet enough that a child can eat it. Tezuka glares at him and wants to know who Nikaido plans to feed and tells Nikaido to leave. Nikaido mentions that there's a cameraman hanging around the apartment. Tezuka is stunned and guesses that the paparrazi have somehow already gotten wind of his relationship. Nikaido doesn't think that they are aware of Tezuka's relationship with Kyouko and says that it probably has to do with Tezuka's new morning drama. Tezuka realizes that he's become a big-shot too. He looks happy and says that it's all because Kyouko scouted him. He stands there lost in thought and then takes out his cell phone to send her a text about not coming over. Just then, the doorbell rings and a voice calls out about a delivery. Both Tezuka and Nikaido look over at the front door in surprise. The door opens, revealing a middle-aged woman with a delivery box. She tells them that she has their chuukadon, ramen, and gyoza. Tezuka and Nikaido stare at her, thinking "Pinko-san*?" (*Japanese actress - Izumi Pinko). The reporter and cameraman outside are upset that it's delivery service and wonder if the information they received was fake. Nikaido tells the woman to change and Kyouko pulls off the mask, shouting at him that this is not the same as cosplay. Tezuka is bent over, shaking. Worried, Kyouko tells Tezuka that there's something going on outside but it's fine because she didn't look like Tezuka's lover. Tezuka stops shaking, stands up, and bops her on the head. He hugs her tightly, saying "idiot" over and over again, while Kyouko tries to tell him that he's squeezing too hard. Nikaido just watches them with a satisfied look. Tezuka tells him to go home and that he will give Nikaido a tupperware of curry for 1.5 people. Kyouko realizes that it smells good in the apartment. After switching outfits, Nikaido, dressed up as the delivery person, whispers to Kyouko that Tezuka was airing out the futon and leaves.
 
Kyouko stands there stunned as Tezuka wonders if Nikaido said something unecessary. Both Kyouko and Tezuka are suddenly aware that it's just of the two of them and look nervous. Kyouko turns to Tezuka and tries to say something but nothing comes out. Suddenly Tezuka grabs her arm. He asks her what she would do if he asked her to be his stepping stone right now. Kyouko blushes but says with determination that she will be his stepping stone. Tezuka stares back and then kisses her hand. Kyouko continues to blush. He tells her that won't work. He doesn't want to embrace a stepping stone, he wants to embrace his lover. Kyouko blushes furiously as she stammers, "embra...". Tezuka opens the closet and starts to take out the futon and make the bed. Kyouko calls out his name while panicking. He picks her up, throws her on the bed, and gets on top of her. They look into each other eyes and then start to kiss. He tells her to open her mouth but she's confused so he pinches her nose to make her mouth open and kisses her again and again and again. Kyouko starts to get a little embarrassed and makes a little bit of noise. Tezuka stops kissing her and touches her face. He tells her that he loves her and wants her to love him back. Kyouko starts to tell him that for a long time, she... but can't finish her sentence because Tezuka tells her seriously that she should let him properly become her lover. Kyouko stares at him and then a tear rolls down her check. She tells him that she loves him as he hugs her. Then her stomach growls so loudly, it kills the mood. Tezuka can't believe it. She apologizes and says that she skipped lunch and the curry smells good. Tezuka is astounded that she ate three helpings. Their shouting can be heard outside the apartment. The reporter's phone rings. He tells the person on the line that he lied and Tezuka is eating curry with his manager. The guy on the line says they should hang around a little more because the person with Tezuka is his lover, his former manager. The reporter and cameraman are shocked. The person on the other line is Akae! He wants to know if the reporter talked to his editor-in-chief in exchange for the information. The following day, Tezuka is walking with Nikaido and being hounded by reporters. They ask about his relationship with Kyouko and his morning drama. They want to know how far he's gone with her. He stops abruptly and glares at the reporters, saying that Kyouko is his lover and they haven't been intimate yet... so what? At the office, Tezuka's angry face is on TV. Kyouko is embarrassed and nervous as her co-workers look over at her in shock. She thinks that's a phrase that can be nominated as this year's grand prize rumor.

The negative protagonist, the direction of her once in a lifetime confession... only God knows!??


Kyouko who was told by Tezuka that he was going to stop loving her, frantically conveyed "I love you..!" to him but...


Scene 12: Pray for the main character.


The chapter opens with Kyouko grabbing onto Tezuka's hands. She thinks to herself that this is the first time in her life she hopes to become the lead character. With tears falling, Kyouko tells Tezuka, "I love you." She continues to cry while thinking "I love you." Tezuka looks blankly at her and then pulls his hand away. He turns to Maaya and tells her that they should go. Maaya pauses and questions if it's okay. Kyouko watches them as they start to walk away with Maaya looking concerned. Kyouko continues to stand there, staring in shock. As she recalls various scenes, Maaya kissing Tezuka at the hospital and Tezuka telling her that he will stop loving her, she thinks "I love you." but that it's too late to say anything now. She falls down to her knees in despair as Akae rushes over to her asking what happened. Worried, Akae grabs her arms while Kyouko remains on her knees. Her tears fall to the ground as Kyouko struggles to talk. She thinks that in her supporting role falling in love with the person she likes was NG (no good) and starts to really bawl.


Kyouko is still sobbing on the floor when suddenly Tezuka pauses. Maaya calls his name, wondering what's going on. Tezuka doesn't answer as he stands there thinking, and then he snaps out of it. He turns around quickly and rushes back to Kyouko as Maaya calls out to him. Kyouko is still on her knees crying. Tezuka stops in front of her and leans down to ask what did she just say. Crying, Kyouko blurts out that she said she loves him. Tezuka is stunned. He stands there in shock for a moment before staggering and crashing his head into the wall. Kyouko shrieks in alarm as Maaya looks concerned and Akae looks angry. The wall has a large crack and some pieces are dislodged. Holding his head, which is bleeding, Tezuka says, "ouch?" Concerned, Kyouko tells him not to move, but Tezuka grabs her shoulders. Kyouko stares at him as she calls his name. He starts to tell her something but then she shoves him in the chest and tells him that he needs to stop the bleeding quickly. Something snaps in his chest. Tezuka is in so much pain that he can only shout wordlessly. He's lying on the ground twitching and holding his chest as Kyouko screeches in the background. Akae exclaims that it was a critical hit to Tezuka's bones and Maaya exclaims, "to the hospital!". Tezuka shouts at them not to panic. He leans into Kyouko, holding his chest, and she tells him over and over that she's sorry. She looks at him and he looks back at her with a slight blush on his face (T/N: awww, so cute. Although maybe he has a flushed face due to his injury). He says that it hurts so it can't be a dream.


Kyouko blushes as she looks down at him. Akae seems impressed by the situation and whistles while Maaya looks surprised. Kyouko tells Tezuka that it's not a dream but a bad dream and that a broken bone could have pierced his brain and he's smiling in his last moments. He angrily shouts back at her about already forgetting (that he hurt his ribs) and that she's so dim-witted. Then a staff member runs up pointing at his watch and says that they're ready for the dry run. Tezuka stands up grabbing his chest and mutters "damn". As he walks away, Maaya follows him calling his name. Nikaido wordlessly stares at Kyouko as she trembles. With tears streaming down her face, Kyouko continues to shake as she thinks about Tezuka's bone snapping. The scene switches to the dry run filming and Akae yells at "Saki!". Akae shoves Tezuka hard in the chest up against the wall and shouts at him to move. Tezuka is frozen in pain. The director yells, "Stop!" as the crew and staff look worried. The crew tells Tezuka that maybe it's no good with his injury. Tezuka apologizes and says that he's fine while getting touched up. Tezuka says to Akae that he's the same as ever (meaning that he's up to no good). Akae replies back that he's not going to let go of a chance to crush Tezuka. Nikaido tells Tezuka that he's worried about him so they should go to the hospital. Tezuka glares at him and says that Nikaido just wants to go and hang out in the children's sick ward. Tezuka mutters that he can check in himself. Tezuka notices someone and says, "Sawatari is...?"


Kyouko is kneeling on the ground in costume, looking serious. She has a short sword in her hand and a guy with a long sword stands behind her. She tells Nikaido to let Tezuka know that she will apologize by cutting her stomach (hara-kiri). Well that was the case but since it's troublesome, she will be bound and gagged and taken to the waiting room, according to Nikaido who's holding a rope. Both Tezuka and Akae look chagrined. Kyouko is shown as being tied up and rolling away as Tezuka looks on. Kyouko, with a gag hanging around her face, shouts out Tezuka's name. Tezuka turns to look at her and puts on his glasses (for his role). He then walks towards the set, giving her a thumbs up, as Kyouko watches him go. Maaya corners Akae and asks him what's going on between Tezuka and Kyouko. Akae rubs his head and tells her that it's not easy to explain with only a few words. Akae suggests to her that it's good that she puts a lot of effort into getting along with her male counterparts, so maybe she can get more involved (lit. sell her kisses cheaply)? Maaya agrees that it's kind of her thing anyway. Akae then wonders how come she's hands off with him. She tells him that malicious people disgust her. A staff member tells them that they're ready for a run through. Akae looks determined and Maaya looks smug. Akae smirks and says that he's got this scene, while Maaya combs her hair with her fingers and retorts who does he think he's talking to. (T/N: omg, these two scheming jerks deserve each other)


Maaya runs into Tezuka's chest as Akae follows her. Kyouko thinks that there is no way Tezuka's injury can not hurt but hopes that he can endure it. Kyouko's hands are clasped as she prays that if she could change places with him, she would. She continues to stand with her hands clasped together and watches him perfom. Then she thinks that actually there is no one who could take the place of him in that scene. Tezuka, in character, says that he once let Saki go. He continues on and says that Saki has feelings for Akae's character and that is what makes her happy. But Saki has returned to him (Tezuka's character) and that even if it's only due to compassion because he doesn't have long to live, he's not going to let her go. Akae, in character, tells him that he's a coward. Tezuka looks back at Akae with a serious face while holding Maaya. Kyouko thinks that Tezuka is so brilliant and unreachable as she watches him perform, but she still wants to be by his side. Tezuka smiles and says that "I've got her".


The scene is over and Tezuka is sitting down in a chair bent over, gasping for breath and holding his chest. The staff tells everyone that they did a good job and that they will meet again tomorrow at 8. Tezuka notices someone by him. It's Kyouko with a bottle of water. He takes it from her and asks if she watched the scene. She smiles gently and tells him, "yes", and with a tear in her eye that it was a really great performance. Tezuka smiles back softly. He asks her to repeat once more what she said earlier. Kyouko looks surprised and has to think about it. When she realizes that he wants her to say "I love you", she blushes and says, "right now?" Tezuka tells her to go ahead and start. Kyouko tries to psych herself up but one hour passes and Tezuka knocks her down. Embarrassed, Kyouko is speechless. She apologizes for saying something like that without knowing her place, however... Tezuka looks up at her and she stares back at him. Another 30 minutes pass. Tezuka is angry so Kyouko tries to explain how she feels. For someone in a supporting role who's not effective at replacing anyone, she wants to be Tezuka's only supporting person. Tezuka stares at her and then rubs his head and says that he doesn't understand. Embarrassed, Kyouko apologizes. Then Tezuka reaches out and says that in the long run, she loves him, right. He grabs her head and pulls her in for a kiss on the forehead. Tezuka smiles and tells Kyouko that now he's got her as he leans in for a kiss. Kyouko blushes and steps back a little, saying, "I... I..." Tezuka pulls her in again and tells her not to move because it hurts. As they look at each other, he touches her chin and then starts to kiss her. Meanwhile, the crew is moving things around the set as Tezuka and Kyouko continue to kiss. A tear trickles down Kyouko's face as she thinks, "I love you."
 

Completely negative about love and work... and above all, bewildered.
 
Tezuka confessed to her but even though she loves him, Kyouko has not been able to convey her feelings yet. Then there's a dramatic incident with Kyouko...!?
 
Chapter 11: The main character (Kyouko) takes over the leading role.
 
The chapter opens with Tezuka telling Nikaido that he's made up his mind. Tezuka reminisces about when he participated in a play in preschool and was assigned a role. He was the number two fish in the Dragon King palace. It was then that he reasoned he would not be the main character. Kyouko runs through the hospital and arrives at Tezuka's room, calling his name. Tezuka is lying in bed with Nikaido standing nearby. Kyouko is out of breath and speechless as she looks worriedly at Tezuka. She rushes over to him, shouting that she doesn't want him to die. Tezuka stops her with his foot (T/N: too funny, lol), glares down at her and says not to kill him off. Kyouko looks up at him with tears in her eyes and says, "You're alive." She tells him that when she heard from Nikaido that Tezuka was in the hospital because of an accident and that she needed to go out and buy him underwear, she thought it was the end. Tezuka tells her that only she can get so distracted after receiving such a request. Tezuka thinks that getting admitted to the hospital was overkill because he just cracked his rib a little. He then winces from the pain as Kyouko shouts his name. He tells her that he was careless during the commercial and thought they were doing CG shooting. Tezuka glumly recalls the rope snapping as he was hanging over a hill and he can't believe they used only a thin rope. Kyouko appears to know which commercial he's talking about. Kyouko tells him that he should at least recuperate at the hospital for one day and not to overdo it. Nikaido chimes in and says that Kyouko is right and Tezuka should be good. Nikaido then says creepily that he will be in the children's ward as Kyouko seems puzzled while Tezuka has no comment. 
 
The door shuts, leaving just Kyouko and Tezuka in the room. Kyouko looks a bit nervous (sweat drop) while Tezuka sits silently on the bed. He asks her if it's okay not to be with Akae. She looks over at him in surprise. She tells him that Akae is spending the night away from home and someone is at the studio, so everything is fine. Tezuka looks a little flustered and starts to ask her what's that about, but she interrupts to show him the change of clothes and wonders if she should peel fruit for him. He silently holds up the gaudy underwear (big flowers and a bow). Kyouko happily tells him that it's nice compared to other heinous ones. Tezuka angrily asks if this is some kind of penalty game (game where the loser has to do something embarrassing). Kyouko apologizes and stammers that there's one with frills too. He says he doesn't need it. She tells him not to be so violent because of his injury. They look at each other. As a tear rolls down her face, Kyouko smiles and tells him that she's glad he's okay. Tezuka reaches out and grabs the back of her head, pulling her towards him. He embraces her and she blushes. He then hugs her tightly and she worries about his injury. He admits that it really does hurt a little. Kyouko pulls back and looks at him. She starts to call his name when the door opens and Maaya shows up, crying. She rushes over to Tezuka, bumping Kyouko out of the way and asking him if he's okay. Maaya then kisses Tezuka. Kyouko stands there in shock.
 
At the TV studio, Tezuka and Maaya are filming a scene. "Yousuke-san, how can I make it up to you?", says Maaya while kneeling against Tezuka with her head in his chest. Tezuka winces in pain as she looks worried. The production crew stops filming. Embarrassed, Tezuka apologizes for his bad form. Maaya scolds him and tells him not to overdo it. The staff chatter amonst themselves wondering what's going on with the two of them as Kyouko stands in the back of the crowd. Tezuka and Maaya are smiling as Kyouko thinks that maybe something is happening between those two. Akae is also curious about Tezuka and Maaya sticking close together and wonders if something happened. A depressed Kyouko wants to know the same thing. 
 
In Akae's dressing room, Kyouko tells him that Tezuka and Maaya kissed for real. He then speculates that Kyouko stayed up all night, making a voodoo doll of Maaya and sticking it with pins. Kyouko denies it vehemently, miffed that he thinks she would be like that. Akae confirms that there has been some talk about those two but doesn't think that Tezuka is skillful enough to be two-timing Kyouko. He then says that it's not really two-timing though, since only Tezuka confessed. Kyouko gives him a slightly dirty look. Akae laughs at her and says that it's okay if she doesn't want to be found out. Looking in the mirror, Akae wonders why Tezuka doesn't notice how much Kyouko really loves him. Kyouko blushes. Akae suggests that she just tell him while Kyouko looks pensive. Kyouko responds that she's not in a leading role. Akae glances over at her as she explains that she is not like Tezuka, Akae, Maaya, Inoue Annu, people who bask in the spotlight with their talent and also play a leading role outside of work. Recalling when Tezuka told her that he loves her, she says that having received a confession from such a lofty (lit. above the clouds) person felt like rising up to heaven. But she has no talent. She feels that talented people can rise up to new heights and she is happy to be one step on that ladder. She's chosen to be a supporting character. She fears confessing to him to the point that blood and sweat will come out. Akae tells her to practice confessing to him. Kyouko gapes at him and blushes. Akae says she should pretend that he's Tezuka. He tells her it's like already knowing the next move in jan-ken-po (rock-paper-scissors) since she knows how Tezuka feels about her. She should just go ahead and try it now. Kyouko is worried that she's falling into Akae's "nice guy" trap. He glowers at her. 
 
Practice Confession Take 1. Kyouko imagines Akae as Tezuka and blushes. With a scary face and her heart pounding, she tries to say "I love..." Akae tells her to try and act normally. Kyouko tries again. "I love..." and pauses. Akae pats her and tells her not to stop breathing. It's Take 23 and Kyouko is still stumbling over the word "love", while Akae looks aggravated. Kyouko thinks about when Tezuka told her that he loves her and calms down. She wants him to know that at that time, receiving a confession by the person she loves made her so happy, and it felt like she became a lead character in the spotlight blessed all through the world. So happy and blessed. I want to tell him I love him, she thinks. Kyouko smiles, blushes a little and says, "I love you" just as there's a knock on the door. It's Tezuka! (T/N: this girl has the worst timing, lol). He stands in the doorway as Kyouko gazes at Akae. Tezuka averts his eyes and tells Akae that he's up. He turns to leave and the door closes. Akae tells Kyouko to hurry and catch up with Tezuka. Kyouko is confused. Akae grabs her and yells that he can't believe they are both so slow and that Tezuka surely misunderstood the situation. Kyouko looks shocked as she realizes what just happened. She takes off after Tezuka, yelling his name. Tezuka stops by the vending machines as Kyouko catches up to him, gasping for breath. She tries to speak but Tezuka interrupts and tells her that he's going to give up on her. Kyouko stares at him. He looks away and says that he meant to tell her earlier, but there wasn't a good time. Kyouko continues to stare at him. He gives her a sad smile and says, "See ya." Kyouko watches him as he walks away and says that she understands. She thinks that this is her supporting role. Maaya calls out to Tezuka and they smile at each other. Don't touch him, he's mine... somewhere, someone is yelling. Tezuka and Maaya pause. I love you! Yelling over and over. I love you! Tezuka glances back as someone grabs his hand. Kyouko tells him, "I love you!", while crying. She realizes that the one who was doing the yelling is her.