Skip Beat [Chapter 222]

Lying at the back of the car that is struck in traffic, Shou whines to Shoko. She says okay, okay they'll immediately break away from here if they can advance smoothly without obstruction. "If you're bored, how about watching some television?" Shou thinks, television..ever since he hurriedly lived at Shoko's place, he rarely watches any entertainment program (especially comedies)..and even though from time to time, he'll secretly watch television from his cellphone. "In the end..If it is possible, I would really want to watch real television--!!! Not wearing some earphones and just plainly watch!!! Plainly watch it on the big screen!!! The amazing me unexpectedly laughs more delayed [slower] than the earth's commoners..!! [<- does not easily understand jokes] After watching, I always felt that my self-ego is very wounded..!!" Climbing to the front seat, Shou asks if there is an interesting show on the television. Shoko is surprised that he is climbing to the front seat right now when the car is still moving. She tells him to wait until she stopped the car.

Super happy Shou thinks that it seems that today, it is at this time!! Fuji station's Taiare's eponym [in Japanese or ‘sponsored’ in Chinese] program.  *top three favorite celebrity ensemble. With anticipation, he opens the television on the car's dashboard. To his horror, 'Golden Brain' program is going to occupy Taiare's 'Boring Splash [/Mizuka]' time so their program will be longer by 120 minutes. Trembling in anger, Shou thinks what is this thing that is being shown, this devil program--!!! Shoko says that it is a question and answer program. Shou thinks that he knows and he couldn't understand it for it is a program wherein performing artists are regularly shown but couldn't make people laugh!! Even if there are some not bad artists who would also appear there. But then, no matter how many people have joined up, it cannot be compared to Taiare--!! "Darn it-!!! It isn't easy!!! It isn't easy to be able to watch Taiare in real time, that precious opportunity--!!! I curse you!! Chestnut gold group~~!!!" [<- literal translation ^^;] Shoko asks if he is going to watch that when before, after watching it once, didn't he say that he won't watch it for the second time. <- boring artists (chestnut gold group) <- artists who cannot make people laugh.

Furious Shou thinks that he won't watch anymore, aren't there any other programs. Switch channel. It is a couple of jpop idols with screaming fans. Switch channel. It is a young child saying everyone to quickly look at the mountain being pointed at. Switch channel. Saena is being introduced as an accomplished lawyer substituting for Katagiri. Switch channel. Someone is shouting to one’s boss that it is not good, not good. Switch channel. Someone exclaims about it being delicious, yes, truly very delicious. [Shou’s brain is still processing here. ^^;] Someone exclaiming how come it is this impossible ensemble-!? Another person answers, right, and everyone who tasted it personally also said that. “After eating it once, you’ll definitely change your mind~~~” And Shou starts to switch channel back twice. The host exclaims that honestly speaking, compared to an ugly crocodile-faced lawyer, it is better to have a beautiful lawyer. “Simply become a regular guest here, Atty. Mogami. How about it!? Ah ha ha” Saena says no..she is just Atty Katagiri’s substitute. She explains that in the first place, she cannot be like Katagiri who can issue a lively speech which is needed in media.

The host says that is truly regrettable. Then, he wishes for crocodile-sensei to slowly properly recover and don’t force himself. Shou is in disbelief. “Aunt Saena-!!? What’s up for her to be on the television!?” At Daruma restaurant, Kyouko has finished sweeping the floor. Okami thanks Kyouko and says that is it for today. The rest will be up to her husband so she can go up first. As Kyouko bows to the boss, Okami tells her husband that they are going up first. Boss nods and says okay. As Okami leads Kyouko inside, she apologizes for asking Kyouko to help them out when she just got home. Kyouko says that it is okay for lately, this is the only help she can do for them. It is already 12:35am. Okami tells her not to mind this small thing for according to the customers, more or less, it is possible that it will end early like today. After sitting down, Okami decides to watch the programs that are recorded today. <- something that must be done daily. She says that here it is, ‘one thousand nautical mile’ and didn’t she appear on that show before. Kyouko doesn’t remember it so Okami says no..ah..it is alright. This made Okami think that Kyouko doesn’t recall the work that she has already finished doing.

As Kyouko puts the tray of tea on the table, Okami tells Kyouko that today, there is a customer who mentioned that there is a news program that showed Kyouko’s name so it is recorded. And maybe, there is that possibility wherein before, there was actually a time when the customer thought that he had recorded Kyouko’s program but in the end, it is someone else’s show. Pouring tea on the cup, Kyouko says is that so. Okami asks isn’t there a well-known actress called Isaki [guesswork from 磯崎] Kyoko. [<- I deliberately change the spelling like this so that you can distinguish who’s who] Thinking that Kyoko seems to be under LME’s actresses, Kyouko says is that so. After Okami thanks Kyouko for the tea, she tells Kyouko that it seems that customer reacted to the word ‘Kyoko’ so he recorded it unconsciously. As Kyouko pours a cup of tea for herself, Okami says that being too intelligence also has its detriment. Kyouko says to it turns out there is that kind of thing. On the television, someone says that this week, they will undo the rope’s knot [/fork on the road] of her life’s relationship. The guest are these.. Someone screams and shouts for the host to properly introduce her. Then, today’s special guests are Isaki Kyoko and also, Shoken? Komaki Isumi [total guesswork from 小卷泉. ^^; Sorry, couldn’t find the surname; correction by menonama]

Okami says as expected. Kyouko says that it seems to be like that. The host says that afterwards, there is someone who has an outstanding ability to be life’s navigator, and first time to appear here is.. As Okami tries to figure out how to delete it, Atty. Saena is introduced as one of the few beautiful lawyers in the legal profession. Kyouko looks surprised and says, --..ah.. This puzzles Okami. At a bar, [probably at Lory’s house since that looks like his butler acting as the bartender], Ren, Lory and Yashiro are having a drink. Lory says that Murasame Taira is Kuu’s fan. Ren says it is so, and it is up to an exceptional [abnormal] degree. Lory says that it seems that before, he is the leader of a gang and after seeing Kuu Hizuri’s dramas and life, his life had a change. Ren says that it turns out that rumor about being a gang leader isn’t a joke. Lory comments that he is an interesting talent. From the start of his acting, it seems that his growth is very fast and there is a huge potential for him to rise up. In the future, perhaps, he’ll also become an actor in Japan who cannot be ignored. Ren says that he also thinks that.

Lory says that lately, it is particularly felt, this greed of Murasame for acting. It makes him happy to see an immature [/young] talent to blossom and bear fruit. Ren says by the way, president. Lory asks what, want to scoop out Murasame to their company. Ren casually says when Lory met with Kyouko’s mother, was there any mention about any objections to giving consent regarding Kyouko’s acting activities. Lory comments that if he wants to change the topic, then prompt him a bit in order not to startle someone by changing the topic. Ren apologizes and says that it is because his brain is completely thinking of it and he wasn’t at all deliberately interrupting his talk all of a sudden. Frowning Lory says that he is talking about a lot of topics and in the end, he wasn’t paying attention to him. It makes him angry for this guy would come to get some news yet would have that kind of conduct..wrong, it is of course, inevitable to mind [/worry about] it. Even if he still really believed that Kyouko didn’t saw it. Lory says that although she doesn’t oppose it. Ren asks if she didn’t oppose it.

Lory clarifies that she won’t oppose..but there is a condition. Ren asks condition? Lory says that even if it is Ren, he cannot casually tell it to him. Ren says, is it this condition, ‘no matter what is required [/requested] of her to do, she [Saena] doesn’t care as long as their relationship isn’t publicized to the masses’. This surprises Lory and asks if Kyouko has told him about her family issue. Ren says that she told him a bit and he also heard that her mother is very strict towards her. Yashiro becomes nervous for he feels that it isn’t quite good for him to listen to all of these. [<- outsider] Lory is puzzled for indeed he has heard about it from Kyouko and Kyouko has heard Ren telling her that he doesn’t have the right to be happy, and it seems that she already knows that Ren always has something that he blames himself for.. Could it be.. He recalls his talk with Kyouko before. He wonders if the two of them have already talked before and he thought that Ren won’t reveal his wound and own weakness to a girl whom he is infatuated with..for it is quite serious and dark.

Ren says but normally, if thinking of it on the bright side, that strictness can explain that she is thinking of Kyouko, right.. Then, Lory recalls what Saena coldly told him in the car while he is disguised as an older gentleman. Ren says that what she told Lory, and what she declared now on the television, it is using her own way of considering Kyouko’s future and position.. Ren stops upon seeing Lory’s slight scowl and sad frowning expression. Somewhere else, the door opens, Shoko leads Shou inside and tells him good job and wait a while as she greets Kimura. Shou sits inside and recalls Saena telling on the television earlier that she doesn’t have a child. He grinds his teeth and thinks that person is incredible, for how can she possibly say that out and in the national network..!! He looks at his cellphone and holds it. He thinks that Kyouko shouldn’t have seen that right.. And, Ren is also holding his cellphone. He recalls how he saw dismayed Lory covering his face and said that she already said not to come one after another for a consent..everything will be up to their [LME’s] instructions to do as they wish.

Ren remembers young Kyouko telling him that her mother said that she doesn’t like a stupid child so she is striving hard in order to get 100. “Afterwards, one day, I’ll definitely become a good child whom mother can praise with a smile.” Ren thinks that he’ll hear Kyouko’s voice to know whether or not she saw the program. No..he was already deceived before by her acting on the phone’s recorder and besides, calling at this time, what would he talk about, it is too unnatural. He is really afraid that if she didn’t saw the program, she’ll look for the source of his acting unnaturally and instead, he’ll create an opportunity to make Kyouko watch that program. If it is ‘seeing each other’, he still has a trump card of Guam’s eating evidence video. He’ll create an opportunity for a short meeting while he is temporarily in the country, another day--.. He then recalls young Kyouko crying. At Daruma’s place, Kyouko is now watching her mother saying that she doesn’t have a child and since she hasn’t been a mother, whether it is her hardship or fury, even if she were to imagine it, she also cannot feel as if it had happened to her but, right now, it has nothing to do with the current case.

Earlier, Kyouko asked Okami if she can let her watch that. Okami asked if it is a relative since the surname is Mogami. Kyouko timidly said that it is her mother. End flashback. While Saena is telling the mother that despite it being like this, she can entrust it to her so that she can carry out a plead and she’ll definitely help the mother in improving the current situation. Okami turns around to look at Kyouko who looks dark and glum. Okami calls out to her and Kyouko lamely says that she is going to her room. Okami can only worriedly think of Kyouko. Kyouko goes to her room. She looked stunned and aghast. She tries to recall her past memories but the memory of what her mother said on the television resurfaced. A tear starts to form in her eye. She quickly opens the light and runs to her bag. She shakes out all of its contents on the floor to find a small purse [where Corn the rock is kept]. She grabs the purse. Putting aside the tray of tea, Okami sees Kyouko running out. Okami calls out to her but Kyouko continues to go out. Kyouko rushes towards the door and opens it to see Shou holding his cellphone and looking at her. After looking surprised, Shou sighs and says, ah~~ ..ah ah..looking at her complexion..in the end, she saw it--.. Next chapter will be out in Japan on April 20th.

Comment: And, Shou beats Ren to it. Is it possible for Ren to still catch up to that scene? Well, since he recalled young Kyouko crying, surely, he still went to see her. With Kyouko’s awful reaction, I don’t think we will have any funny scenes in the next chapter even if the three meet and somehow end up in Kyouko’s room to see those posters. Or else, it would be unnatural. Based on Lory’s expression, Ren’s positive thinking regarding Saena isn’t true. So far, I’m really doubtful that Lory would want to patch up Kyouko and her mother..at least at this state..when the mother doesn’t want to have anything to do with her daughter and doesn’t want their relationship known to the public. It almost makes me wonder how she’ll react if Kyouko guests on that show but then, Kyouko isn’t the type to make a scandal and it would probably hurt her more based on what Saena can say in public. Okami seems to be at a loss on how to comfort Kyouko or rather, probably didn’t know the extent of how her mother treated her before and how badly it affected Kyouko. This is a very huge blow for Kyouko. I’m not sure how Shou can comfort her at this state. Actually, I’m not sure Kyouko would want to be comforted by him. When they were young, he wasn’t able to do it, maybe, he can do it now? And in the first few pages, it seems that Shou is more into comedy stuff. Is it a coincidence that Chiori’s issue earlier is also about comedians? ^^;

I wonder if the mangaka is hinting on something regarding Murasame since Kuu is mentioned again and how Murasame can be a popular talented actor later on. Somewhat ironic that a gangster became an actor because of Kuu yet his own son seemed to slip from becoming an actor to getting involved with gangs in some way. I wonder if Lory will figure out later on that those two know each other when they were young. Well, one of the confirmed reason/s why Saena doesn’t like her being stupidity, it makes me wonder if aside from being deceived by Shou, it is reinforced since Kyouko is in showbiz. It is a common perception that brains isn’t really needed in showbiz especially by those acting cute and just has good looks. In a way, Saena quantifies being ‘intelligence’ = getting perfect scores. Anything below 100 is stupid. ^^;; So, it goes to show that she is a perfectionist..which does suit her perfectly calm and cold demeanor. Anyway, the mangaka gave the three main characters a reason to watch that show. Lory was watching that show when Ren arrived. Shou wanted to watch a comedy but wasn’t able to so he was flipping channels. And, Kyouko watched it because it got recorded because of a certain Kyoko. After all, with their busy schedules and everything, these three are very unlikely to just watch the television on their free time and watch that program. So, perhaps, with this, a bit of progress with our love triangle or at least, the two’s relationship in terms of closeness in the next few chapters..hopefully ^^ Scans by 红莲汉化组

Quote of the day:

There will be times in life when you cannot succeed. Or times when hardship seems about to crush you. Such times are inevitable, yet we should not allow our spirits to be broken by them. ~ Daisaku Ikeda