Skip Beat [Chapter 219]

People are looking at the two girls outside the studio. Kyouko asks Amamiya if she has already prepared herself. Amamiya repeatedly mutters that today, she isn’t an ‘actress’. “Today, I’m a comedian...!!” The two girls in Love Me uniform heads inside the studio building. A spiky haired guy, together with two guys, enters the lounge. [<- I’ll be calling him Spiky] Upon seeing Amamiya, he says that is a strange outfit. Amamiya formally bows and greets everyone and that she’ll be under their care [/yoroshiku] again today. While Spiky greets back Amamiya, his companions had noticed Kyouko also bowing and greeting them at the side. Spiky asks what’s with that strange outfit. With clenched fist, Amamiya says that it is her battle uniform. Putting his bag on the table, Spiky asks, battle? She tells him that even if it isn’t called a basis since she didn’t work, but she is already in the showbiz for 15 years. Kyouko and the three guys look surprised. Amamiya continues to say that even if there was a detestable reason and a time when she had ran away, but in the end, she still persisted on being an ‘actress’ that she couldn’t abandon it. If she doesn’t do that, then, she won’t be able to exist in the showbiz world.

But, today, she is going to throw away that awareness that she has been carrying, when she came here. Wearing this outfit, she isn’t an actress, but rather, she is studying ‘comedy’, ‘a comedian intern’. She doesn’t feel that she possesses the skill to become a specialized performer in making people laugh but, ending∙awkward silence, self-destruction, etc, [<- comedy skills] she will give her all-out effort to do them. While the two other guys comment about not wanting to give all-out effort for awkward silence, Amamiya bows again and asks Spiky to strictly guide her, yoroshiku!! Pulling a chair and sitting down, Spiky says that even if she says that but isn’t her neck injured and doesn’t that shows that ‘I’m injured’. From his side, he won’t dare ridicule her [as tsukkomi- straight guy] to make fun of her [as boke-funny guy]. To Kyouko’s surprise, Amamiya starts removing her bandage. Spiky tells her to stop while she’s ahead, okay, because this program would make her unable to do her other work smoothly [if it aggravates the injury] and won’t it become his fault. Annoying. Amamiya says that it is only a sprain and not at all a big hindrance so there’s no need to worry.

Spiky says that he isn’t worried, and it is because she is injured so she is bandaged. He tells her to at least where a scarf-something in order for people not to see her injured part. Walking away, Amamiya says that she’ll quickly buy. Kyouko tells her that she’ll go prepare that. Spiky is surprised that there is another one who is wearing that kind of outfit. He asks who she is. Kyouko is surprised that he noticed her only now. Kyouko tells him that she is Amamiya’s substitute manager today. Then, some other people enter the lounge and greet the others a good morning. Kyouko says, “I’m Kyouko, from LME Company. *L-(love)on one hand and number 1 on the other hand* No. 1 LOVE ME Member. *sparkling pose*” At a dining room type of office, Lory is on the phone when he goes, ‘Huh?’ The other party asks what it is. Watching the television and having newspapers on the table, Lory says that it is nothing, a while ago, it seems that he heard the word ‘Mogami’. On the morning show, the hosts mention about yesterday’s high speed accident wherein no one had died so it is kind of a miracle. Lory thinks that mentioning Mogami, it isn’t about Box’R and it seems that it has no relation at all [with the topic].

The other party asks what is it, since for a split second.. Lory apologizes and tells her not to mind it. Lory asks how things on her side. Jelly [I assume] says yes, she is going to depart from South Korea as planned tonight, and she will be responsible in bringing Ren back to Japan on time tomorrow. [<- South Korea as stopover? Correction by Edgar] Lory apologizes to her again for tiring her out. Jelly giggles and tells him not to mind, though she will ask a bonus aside from the reward. Lory says if it is Master Mouse’s home [<- Disneyland?] then, he can accompany her anytime. Jelly says that even if that isn’t bad, but she wants to go on a date in a quieter place. Lory asks where she wants to go. Just then, the TV program’s host says, “—in this situation, who is to blame, after all, someone has to assume responsibility for it, right, Attorney Mogami.” [<- a little mistake from last chapter because the sentence wasn’t complete so I assumed that it is about acting, but based here, she is a ‘guest as a commentary, acting as’..not about acting. Sorry~] Lory looks up the television screen. 

Meanwhile, in the living room, slightly standing up, Yashiro stops midway from eating his sunny-side egg on a toast bread upon hearing the surname. Saena says that it is a situation wherein the cars from behind [those who tailgated] hit a car that has stopped on the same road. Those tailgaters are 100% responsible but this is a highway so those who were tailgated will bear a 30-40% fault liability. The host exclaims why that is so. Saena says that this isn’t the same with a road since this is a highway wherein it is forbidden to stop the car. Besides, because the one being tailgated pulled the emergency break which lead to the tailgaters’ situation, the one being tailgated needs to bear 50% of the fault liability. As they talk about the driving speed of the cars, Yashiro sits down and thinks that ‘Mogami’ is a common surname but so far, the only one with the surname ‘Mogami’ whom he met is Kyouko. “--..This woman.. Could it be.. that she is--..” Back in the studio, Amamiya asks Kyouko if she planned this early on. Yesterday, Kyouko told her to wear the LOVE ME uniform and Kyouko even did an extreme self-introduction. Amamiya asks if she knew that doing that kind of thing, since the other party is comedians, they won’t let go and she [Amamiya] will definitely be bitten. Now, she is ruthlessly bitten that her body are filled with bite marks.

There is a scene of the comedians who had entered the lounge and immediately took the bait by starting to make fun of Amamiya over what kind of strange outfit is that, she isn’t like an actress, my eyes hurt, that color is too violent, what the heck is Love Me member hahaha. Kyouko sheepishly smiles and says that the reaction is intense than what she imagined. She thinks that no wonder it is the people who are devoted to comedy, they are no way like actors and idols who only sneer and ignore. [<- in their reaction of the uniforms] Amamiya says in the end, she.. Kyouko says no, the reason she proposed to wear this uniform is because Amamiya said that she wants to become a ‘comedian intern’ so she felt that if Amamiya is seen wearing it, it can easily express her resolution. And no matter how many times it takes, she will be misidentified as a comedian especially since there are two of them together.  [<- something like a manzai, two persons stand-up comedy] Amamiya tells her that she didn’t say, ‘want to become a comedian intern’ but rather, she said, ‘want to try to become a comedian intern’. She only said that to make someone who heard that to think that she seems to have given up being an actress, that’s all.

Kyouko says that it doesn’t matter if people notice that she is in a role [/she is acting] or she is the same as before, that is because she is an actress. And when she absolutely pursue a role of ‘comedian’ to the point of making it feel real, then, gradually, the fake thing will become real [/start doing it seriously after starting it as a joke]. “..Actresses have that kind of ailment[/defect], right?” This made Amamiya smile and says indeed, they have. Then, someone calls out to Amamiya that the meeting is about to start. Kyouko tells her that she’ll get the scarf. Heading towards the room, Amamiya says okay. Kyouko calls out to her and says that she is really an amazing actress. Flashback: At the hospital, Amamiya told Kyouko that a ‘so-called actress. No matter what happens to oneself, a performer’s life is predestined.’ She thought that line only refers to ‘no matter what happens, one must perform’, meaning, as work, one should always act..but, re-thinking about it, that line has a different meaning. Even if she isn’t too sure, but as an actress, all sorts of things happen in one’s life that can be connected together with acting. Kyouko said no, ‘it can be used for drama’.

Pointing at Kyouko, Amamiya exclaimed, yes, it is that. Honestly speaking, before she wondered what kind of help does a comedian’s job do to acting, but perhaps, in the future, she will have a comedian role, and look, famous acting celebrities usually have morning dramas in their biography. Even if she doesn’t know if there will be a use, but, right now, she will hone her acting skills together and tomorrow, she will try to acting a ‘comedian intern’ role. To Amamiya’s shock, moved and crying Kyouko grabbed her hands and called out her name. Kyouko said, ‘to a person whose goal in life is to become a top-quality actress, there is no experience that is meaningless.’ Lory made her understand that a bit and afterwards, she shed a 100 teardrops [/She said around a hundred scales fell from her eyes, meaning she had a humongous epiphany (scales falling from one's eyes is a reference to Acts 9:18) according to Edgar]. Yet Amamiya came to comeprehend it using her own effort. “..you are really a very, very amazing actress--..!!” End flashback. Amamiya smile and thank her. Kyouko smiled back. End flashback. As Kyouko leaves, Spiky is by the door of the meeting room, waiting for Amamiya. Spiky tells her that about that neck injury, he heard that she got it from the high speed highway accident. This morning, upon entering the company, he heard it from the producer. Amamiya is surprised. He says that it seems that her company's president had called.

The president said that because she is injured, they mustn’t make things difficult for her. He was crying and telling them that she is their money tree [/hen that lays the golden eggs]. Spikey says that he thought that as usual, Amamiya obviously wouldn't accept a comedic work. Just doing some simple work and depending on cuteness that she is able to get a reward, A WRETCHED ACTRESS, and they have to properly love and protect her. Preteding to act strong, yet cannot even do it, then get out of the business [/stop doing it]. This irks Amamiya that she has opened up her heart's notebook and starts putting Spiky's name on it - die, you'll pay with your life for this. To her surprise, Spiky says that is what he was thinking before he opened the door. "I have changed my point of view. But, during the recording if for a spit-second, you show an expression of 'I'm obviously an actress', then I'll.." Amamiya tells him that she won't let him say something like 'salary thief'-whatever. "I won't give you another opportunity to say that again." Spiky says very good. Later on, Kyouko is going back to the studio. She is relieved that she managed to find a convenient and good looking scarf which she hopes that Amamiya will like.

Pressing the elevator button, she catches her breath. The elevator is going down from the 8th floor. Then, she hears a couple of women snickering what is that, a performer, a comedian, and isn't she like some stage set staff worker. How amazing, that color is such a pollution [/trash]. Kyouko muses that when she think of it in detail, humans are really living creatures who can easily adapt. Obviously from the start, she always felt that this outfit is very shameful that she put it in her heart not to wear it. But right now, it is already like an obsession [/deep commitment], a fish and bird eating bait [?]. If there is an opportunity, she'll use it as bait or as a weapon. “Wrong..speaking of that, during the Kyurara audition, it seems that I've also worn it because wearing someting too ordinary won't make one become eye-catching. Also, in filming Shoutarou's PV, I also wore it.” Recalling Amamiya saying that it is her battle uniform, Kyouko closes her eyes and thinks, yes, this is her battle uniform. She smiles. Ting, the elevator arrives. A sophisticated-looking lady comes out. Kyouko's smile vanishes. Coming out of the elevator, Saena puts her cellphone in her bag and looks straight at Kyouko. Kyouko looks shocked. The next chapter will be out on January 20^th in Japan.

Comment: Hello, mommy. Kyouko immediately recognizes her but it seems Saena has not. I won’t be surprised if she doesn’t because Kyouko dyed her hair and of course, she knows Kyouko is an actress..so wearing a Love Me uniform, does that look like what an actress would wear? I would also think the same as those other two, she must be a staff worker. Nevertheless, it is indeed fitting that she is wearing her battle uniform upon meeting her mother. Then, there was that talk with Amamiya about using one’s experiences that happened by fate to enhance one’s acting so I’m sure whatever the outcome of this encounter, Kyouko will and can use it later on. Anyway, at least, Kyouko knows that her mother is in Tokyo and well, she will also learn soon that her mother is now becoming a ‘personality in media’ though as a lawyer-commentator. Well, Spiky is taunting Amamiya because she didn’t take the work of a comedian seriously and she must be some pampered princess actress who can only act cute.

With Kyouko’s help, Amamiya is now more serious with it and challenges herself to upgrade her acting skills with roles that she doesn’t like. In a way, it does seem like what Kuu did before for Kyouko. It is nice that for it is like ‘passing forward’ what others had taught her or rather helping others like how she was helped before. Ah, Kyouko’s Love Me pose, suddenly reminds me of a Sailormoon pose. ^^; I’m not sure which reactions are good: sneered, ignored or laughed at. ^^;; So, Ren is coming the next day and two people might tell him about Kyouko’s mother is in Tokyo. At least help out later on. Lory definitely knows who she is because he has read Kyouko’s biodata. Yashiro already has a hunch though I don’t know if that is indeed what he is thinking. Do they look alike or something? From how things are going, I think those whom Kyouko has helped will help her through this ‘new yet old battle’ with her mother. Scans by 红莲汉化组

Word of the day:

If you try to see a situation differently, you can make it become different. ‘As you have believed, so let it be done for you. Jesus, Matthew 8:13’ ~ 101 mottos for success by J. Richards and M.S. Fontaine.