Skip Beat [Chapter 221]

‘Furthermore, she always felt that my existence is absolutely detestable. Starting from childhood, always--’. After Kyouko told that to her, Kanae looks apprehensive. This made Kyouko somewhat smile and tells her not to show that kind of expression. “For me, I’m already used to it. I’m not at all that hurt as you imagine. Regarding things about mother, my heart is soft like a konjac [/devil’s taro; looks like a heart shaped plant-vegetable usually cooked into a jelly]. No matter what kind of attack, it will just bear it and let it slip pass, then poof patter, tremble and it will go back to its original shape. *image a heart made of konjac jelly hit by a cannonball but after hitting it, it bounces, poof patter on the heart, and slips away.* So, do not mind it!!” After a pause, sad looking Kanae says, “..but..sorry..in various kinds of sense..” After looking surprised, Kyouko look slightly sad and says no, it is alright. Narration: “In the end, I made her worry about me, right--..” Lying on the bed, Kyouko is wide awake. She thinks that after all, Kanae’s family is gathered together in such a dense love.. but..she refuse it will all her strength. “..I hope that she won’t feel guilty...

...Until now, I myself, had gone through the feeling of being envious upon seeing other people’s warm family. ..although I cannot say that there was never a time that I didn’t. Ah yes, this is also inevitable. But I never feel sad because of that nor do think I’m unfortunate. After all, to this day, I’m no longer living alone all by myself. After all, right now, I also have people whom I love dearly. Compared to when I was young, the current me have absolutely obtained a lot of happiness. *stretches and looks up at her hands* My heart always..” Then, she notices a faint writing on her right palm. This made Kyouko smile. The next day, Kyouko happily greets Okami a good morning. While preparing to set the table, she tells Okami that breakfast is done so come and eat. Okami says that this is a big help, thank you. Looking at the clock which is at 6:55am, Okami asks if she is going to eat now. Kyouko says yes. Okami suggests that they eat together for the smell of the food causes her stomach to become hungry. Kyouko happily says okay. While eating, Okami says that this bonito soup is not bad at all and it is very delicious. Kyouko happily thanks her. She tells her that this kind of bonito soup is based on the extraction of its hidden flavor.

While Kyouko happily continues to eat, Okami comments that she is quite happy today than the usual. “Is here something good happening?” This startles Kyouko just when she is drinking the soup. Okami sweatdrops and watches Kyouko slowly swallows the soup. Kyouko looks at her in disbelief. Sheepishly smiling, Kyouko gestures and says, it’s a little bit, that’s all.. While walking at the streets, Kyouko glumly thinks that unexpectedly it is such a disgrace for she obviously vowed that she will only hide it in her heart. The result will be people in some degree will ridicule her if she is in high spirits. She is glad that it is Okami who didn’t know about the situation but if it is Yoshiro-type of person whom she is with, it will be instant death and that person absolutely won’t let her off. She then becomes gloomy and thinks that it’s too stupid. According to the schedule, Ren will temporarily coming back to the country today and obviously she has no way of directly seeing him..yet, she would endlessly be in high spirits..really idiotic.. She looks at the remaining writing on her palm. <- she wore gloves while cooking in order to protect it. She smiles. She clenches her fist and looks up the sky.

And, the airplane carrying Ren and Jelly is flying high above the sky. Ren with golden hair notices that Jelly puts her cellphone on his table. While drinking her beverage, Jelly just make a casual glance at him. Ren looks down to see that she wrote that this time, he’ll stopover at Japan for a very short time so is she really going to help him dye his hair. Ren types back on the cellphone that in case something happens, he will be very troubled so please [dye his hair]. After reading his message, Jelly looks sad for can’t he just put a wig on top of his real hair. She types that she is worried about the damage on his hair and scalp. After returning the phone to him, Jelly eats her dessert and thinks that it is like she is deliberately harming an innately beautiful thing that it endlessly distressing her. Even if normally, the protection that she does on it is very thorough but the frequency of dyeing is quite high. Ren returns the phone to her. He wrote that if he becomes bald, then, he’ll just shave all of his hair for Tsuruga Ren can also wear wig so it’s alright. Rather, isn’t it good not to waste the wig. [<- probably use the wig that they already have.]

While Ren is all smiles, Jelly angrily thinks that it is such a recklessly waste of natural resources [<- his hair]. That seems like a good method to charm people and that smile really makes one angry. Shoving her phone in her bag, Jelly mentally complains that she doesn’t have any expectation towards Ren’s taste [<- /esthetics; he is okay with being bald?] and she is going to bet her dignity as a beauty expert that she will definitely protect that treasure!! “Absolutely not going to make him shave his head clean!!” Then, Ren casually looks out the window. At the lounge while waiting for their turn to act, Honami asks Kyouko if she is still not registered in the performing artist [actor/actress]’s roster. Kyouko says that it seems that she cannot catch up to this year’s roster and probably, she can be at next year’s. Honami exclaims in disbelief for obviously last year, she already acted in Dark Moon and that is a very popular drama so how come she isn’t registered. Kyouko says yes, it is the company’s..or rather the president’s policy since basically, she is a ‘Love Me member’. She is treated as a kind of a reserved performer because her inner heart is lacking which makes her unable to become a performer. So she must undergo training.

Honami is confused about lacking in her inner heart. Kyouko thinks but..for her, wanting to become a formally affiliated performer and also, the ‘parents’ consent’, this is a hindrance so she still does not know what to do.. “In order to get the passport, I’ve talked and got in touch with that person. This is also considered to be after that. [<- this new issue regarding becoming a formal performer?] Because as a formal performer with a contract, who’ll be put on the company’s homepage, the president asked me whether or not, I’ll let him directly talk with that person. It is because I can already be put on the homepage. There should be no blocking at all by that person then it’s okay right.. Yesterday when we saw each other, she also ignored me like the usual. *image of her mother scowling* ‘—Entertainment industry? No matter what you do just do what you wish. Even if you make a mistake, it has nothing to do with me. Please do not let the people know of our relationship’ –that seems to be what that forehead wrinkle is saying. Until now, I also haven’t seen her for so many years yet unexpectedly, I can still read that person’s feeling on her scowl. I’m really amazing...

...I suppose she also more or less said those words to the president. For that person, that is what’s important. –but, even if it is like that, she also didn’t. This will give me trouble so not being acknowledged, saying it like this--..” Then, she snaps out of it when someone calls out to her and says that she can go in for it is her turn. Standing up, Kyouko says yes. And, at a photo shoot, Ren is doing some cool poses. After the shooting, the man tells him otsukaresama [/good work]. He says that Ren’s very good in the white suit’s graceful and alluring but in black, it is also very good since he is wild and sexy. He comments that even if he is a guy, he also loves Ren a bit. Ren laughs and thanks him. The man tells him to leave the latter part of the work to them. Yashiro tells Ren that the director wants to greet him. Ren says then, he’ll also go. The disappointed women say that he’s going when they plan to brew some tea. Ren apologizes for being in a hurry but after this, he still has work so he must take his leave. “I really anticipate the completion of the CM. *bows* Otsukaresama everyone.” The women have hearts on their eyes and the man is blushing.

While in the car, Yashiro says that for him to say that but aren’t they just returning to the company. Ren says that he has two interviews. Yashiro says yes, afterwards, he will be cozily drinking with the president. Ren says that they’ll incidentally be drinking and the main point is Guam’s battlefield report. Yashiro says that is true. Ren says that actually it isn’t any dramatic story that Lory anticipates. He’ll reluctantly say that right now Cain is on strike which led to cutting the filming short, that’ all. Yashiro sheepishly says that’s right. Ren thinks that when he returns, he’ll definitely be scolded by Murasame along with some violent action. Then, his lips will say ‘bastard, you’re more useless than castanets’ -type of stuff.. Yashiro says that even if he already told Lory of Kyouko’s report but he still wants to directly hear it from Ren so go and tell him to make him feel at ease. And, they arrive at LME. Matsushima greets Ren and welcomes him back. He asks how is the work at that side, and is there no problem. Ren says that it is going very smoothly and according to the director’s schedule, they can finalize it next week, even if it is only him. Matsushima says is that so, then just a little bit more of gambatte [/do your best]. Ren says yes.

Matsushima asks if right now, he is going to have an interview. Ren asks how he knew. Matsushima says that the president said so. Pointing at the lounge where there is a television, Matsushima says that he is there right now. Ren is speechless as some women greet Ren otsukaresama. Matsushima tells Ren that just now, Lory suddenly appear and ask if he [Ren] came back then, suddenly, he is staring and watching the television. Surprised Ren asks if it is Lory’s favorite romance drama even if this isn’t the time when dramas are shown. Matsushima says no, right now, he is watching, ‘Crossroad Knot’. Yashiro explains that it is a show wherein sometimes performers will have serious life consultation and it is about untying life’s crossroad knot. Ren says ah..is that so, yes, yes, just now, he already knotting it up with his memory. Yashiro didn’t reply back [over Ren’s joke?]. Matsushima says that it is because right now, a certain Isozaki [guesswork from 磯崎] is going to appear so they opened the television but then, he doesn’t think that it is because their actor is going to appear that Lory would like that program..that president of theirs.

As Yashiro notices what Lory is watching, Ren tells Matsushima that it isn’t definite for maybe it is consulting about love affairs so he’ll go greet Lory first. Then, Ren notices Yashiro watching the program, too. He looks at the program. In the television, a woman’s face is covered with a screen as she narrates things to the ‘advisers’. “—and then, this time, the child will run away upon seeing me. In the end, it is because the child doesn’t like it that they won’t let us see each other. This is really quite funny. I can only think that my ex-husband had said some bad things and lies about me to the child. Obviously we agreed that every month, he’ll let me see the child several times so I gave the custody rights to him. But, he isn’t complying with the agreement so I want to get the child back.” Saena says that it is like what she just said, changing the custody rights is very difficult like right now in this case, there is no problem at all with the parents so which side of the parents that the child wants is at the law’s..” Ren had notice the name, ‘Mogami Saena’. The woman says so that is the problem. “My ex-husband had brainwashed the child!! ...

...Obviously I was also deceived like this and everything was taken away. Then, there’s law, law, it is basically impossible to resolve this problem, right!! I’m the one who gave birth to that child!! As a mother, how can I permit that I be deprived of the time that I can spend with the child as well as [lose] the right to touch the child!! Don’t you understand!? Don’t you have a child!? You..definitely didn’t endure the belly aches in order to give birth to a child, right!!!” Lory intently watches Saena’s emotionless face. Saena replies, “—indeed, I do not have a child. For me who has not been a mother, your hardship and fury, even if I were to imagine it, I also cannot have the same feeling. But, that has nothing to do with this current case.” Yashiro looks tense over that. Then, he glances at Lory. He sees Lory deeply scowling. This made him ask if this woman, in the end, she is Kyouko’s.. This surprises Ren that he looks at scowling Lory. Lory says that it is good if Kyouko didn’t see this program. Looking a bit worried, Ren looks back at the television. Lory looks down on the television that shows Saena and says, “..very disappointing [/awful]--..” Next chapter will be out in Japan on March 20th.

Comment: So, Ren is back and it turns out that he’ll have to go back to Guam again. I guess he had prior commitments so he has to temporarily go back and forth making Jelly worry about dyeing his hair. So, for now, there won’t be any ‘accidents’ regarding revealing Ren’s real hair if he worn a wig. So, I wonder if the mangaka will reveal Kuon identity that way later on or she will do something more creative. I wonder if Ren is being cunning about teasing Jelly that he’ll become bald so she will do her best for him not to become bald due to dyeing or he is really okay with it. ^^;; After all, Ren’s career doesn’t solely rely on his looks but also on his acting. ^^ It is really nice how Kyouko cheered up just because of that faint writing on her hand. It really does seem that Ren has replaced Corn the stone. Unfortunately, she is still intent to keep her feelings for him a secret from everyone. That is another thing that we will endlessly wonder, how it will be revealed/confessed. 

It seems that Kyouko can already be formally included in the LME roster. I guess she has pretty much graduated from Love Me status. Well, it seems that Saena won’t be hindering Kyouko at all regarding her career. She pretty much doesn’t care about her and can even consider her ‘nonexistent’ based on that TV program. Actually, at that point, Saena cannot say that she has a child because she would appear really cold in dealing with that mother’s problem. People might wonder what kind of child she has. Nevertheless for Lory, that is something for him to scowl over. Since he mentions about hoping Kyouko didn’t see that, I wonder if she did see that. Anyway, whether she did or not, I’m hoping that Ren will go see her or something since he somewhat knows about her problems with her mother and he had just seen this program. Scans by 红莲汉化组

Word of the day:

Always remember, life is never called life without a problem, never without difficulty, never without hurtful moments, but never without God to lean on. ~ Author Unknown