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.