Chapter 8. Love Me Division.

Swara was drinking his usual latte in the cafeteria of LME, waiting for Ms Kamio. The enthusiasm he had shown to the President earlier, regarding Kyoko Mogami was losing bit by bit. She had stalked him for four days, why was she not showing up now?

All of a sudden, the busy faces in the cafeteria started to put on coy smiles, especially that of the ladies. The atmosphere shifted. The air went thick with lust. Swara didn't need to look up to see the Ren Tsuruga had walked in.

His perfect, signature smile was on his face as he nodded at the onlookers. He walked over to the table beside Swara and settled. Then he checked his wristwatch and sighed.

He must be waiting for Ms Kamio too, thought Swara.

"It's been four days now and she still hasn't come back yet." Swara leaned on his chair and shared the thought which was the on top of his mind, with Ren. "If this keeps up, the whole plan will be shot."

Ren gave an arrogant smirk in reply, "maybe that's a good thing. If you want my opinion, I think this plan the President came up with, is ridiculous. You two think that she's got potential but I am sorry, I just don't see what's so special about her."

"What's so wrong with her?" Swara asked with a frown. "And what's wrong with you? It sounds like you really hate this girl."

"I don't hate her but I can't say that I really like her either." he switched back to his pure signature smile again, to support his statement.

I still sense some hostility, "I am surprised, you are usually the Mr Nice Guy who wants to give everyone a chance. So why do you want her gone? What so different? Is it her motive?" Swara raised an eyebrow with genuine curiosity.

"Yeah. I've got a big problem with them."

"That much is obvious." Swara narrowed his eyes. "You are not succeeding at hiding what you feel. I know you have certain expectations when it comes to this business."

What I want is revenge on Sho Fuwa, Ren remembered how Kyoko Mogami spilled the beans to him. She had the nerve to say that so bluntly to his face.

He was dead sure that she would flunk the auditions, so he didn't worry about her making it in, but now Takarada came up with this absolutely insane plan, which gave her a chance to enter. And it pissed him off. "A girl who's out for revenge doesn't belong in this agency." His dark eyes were grim and serious.

"You've got a point there," Swara said matter-of-factly. Her résumé did mention that her favourite word was 'Vengeance'. He wondered how Ren found out about it. Maybe the President told him.

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I am back where I started, she thought. Kyoko was standing on a busy road in front of LME. She looked at the huge building in front of her.

It was almost fifty stories high. The front door was about three meters tall and two meters broad. It was entirely made up of see-through glass. Only the doorknob was an exception which was metallic and polished gold.

Kyoko could see the large reception area where she was almost kicked out the last time when she tried to go in without an appointment. That was her first hurdle. But this time, she wasn't naive enough to go in, through the front door. She came prepared.

She had planned to use the back door to make it in and then use the narrow corridor behind the offices in the corner where she had seen Ren Tsuruga leave, when he bumped into her, before the auditions. It had been empty. She figured that it was where the celebrities went, so President Takarada's office must also be there.

Once she'll go in, she'll have to rush through that corridor before anyone notices or kicks her out. From there, she'll try to find the President and talk him into signing her up. That was her plan.

Kyoko walked in casually. The place was a hive of activity. It was full of hectic people who were busy with their jobs. The air was thick with frenzy.

She increased her pace and half walked, half jogged towards the corridor.

It was empty like she predicted. A sign said 'VIP WARD'. Once she was out of sight, she sprinted forward at full pace and looked back to make sure that no one was around.

Someone bumped into her hard and knocked the living breath out of her. That person fell down with a loud thump. It was a heavy-set woman in a cream, elegant work suit with a knee-length tight skirt. Her hair were brown and she had a pixie cut.

She looked up, her face was covered in at least five pounds of makeup.

"I- I didn't see you." Kyoko tried to explain. "I am... sorry."

The woman gritted her teeth angrily and shouted, "are you just gonna stand there gawking? Help me up!"

Kyoko helped her up. She found her face familiar. Then she remembered that woman was Kimiko Kamio, a very popular soap opera star. She already gave her the creeps on-screen, Kyoko only found her only scarier in real.

She picked up her luggage, which had also dropped when she bumped. It was very heavy. There was a large airbag, a smaller duffle bag, and a handbag. She placed them all neatly, beside the middle-aged woman and apologized again.

"Are you new?" Ms. Kamio asked her as she patted the dust away from her clothes.

"Yeah," it's not a lie, I am so new that I'm not even signed it.

"This area is for the VIP, new talents are supposed to check at the front desk, or did your manager not bother to tell you?... Wait, I recognise you, you are the one they were talking about. The ginger hair and overzealous antics, right?"

Kyoko looked at her uncertainly. She had no idea what she was talking about. But as long as she was not kicking her out, there was no reason to interrupt her.

"You are going to carry my bags." Ms Kamio ordered Kyoko like she was paying her, and strolled away.

Kyoko had no option but to follow her, carrying those heavy bags.

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Yakihito Yashiro, a man in his mid-twenties, with reading glasses and straight brown hair parted in the middle, went to the cafeteria looking for his client, Ren, and Swara. He found them chatting there.

"There you are, Ms Kamio is here."

"Oh, she finally decided to grace us with her presence," Swara said sarcastically. "Having the world revolve around her schedule must be nice." He stretched his arms and got up to leave.

Ren got up as well and said, "what a lovely compliment, when we do see Ms Kamio, I think you should say that directly to her face."

Swara shook his head. Everybody knew that Ren was very punctual and he hated to be kept waiting.

"Maybe next time, I don't think that I'd enjoy getting my head bitten off. Best to just keep my opinions to myself. Nothing is worse than an aging diva."

"Oh, I should have guessed myself."

They chatted casually as they took the elevator along with Yashiro to come down. They stopped at the entrance of the VIP corridor to wait.

"Ren, there you are." Ms Kamio called out as she came from the corridor with a cheerful smile and at least ten layers of makeup on her face. "Sorry to keep you gentleman waiting. I had to put my make up on and the traffic was just awful, but such is life in a big city, right?" She chuckled.

"Oh, I don't know," Ren replied with his signature smiled. "Perhaps, you should try putting on your makeup while driving, then you might actually be on time for once in your life."

That wiped off all the colour and the cheerful smile from Ms Kamio's face.

"Ren!" Swara's voice came out in a freaked out whisper. He wasn't expecting him to actually say that to her face. Why was he in such a bad mood anyway?

"Next time be punctual, people are waiting," Ren said, ignoring Swara. "Now, shall we?" He held out his arm to Ms Kamio.

"Y-Yes...thank you." She replied.

"Hold on a minute, didn't you bring any luggage with you?"

"Of course, why wouldn't I?" She pointed her finger at the corridor. "It's right over there."

A girl was carrying three large bags, big enough for a month-long trip, they were definitely heavy as the girl was staggering since she was having a hard time carrying them.

She came forward and they were all surprised to see that the girl was Kyoko Mogami.

"Ms Mogami?" Swara asked, surprised.

Kyoko's face lit up when she spotted him. She left the bags on the floor and ran to him, "Mr Swara, please don't send me away." She folded her hands and pleaded, not even noticing Ren and the others. "I am not going to give up on LME, no matter what."

"I knew we haven't seen the last of you, I hoped you'd come back sooner or later." Swara said with a satisfied nod.

"I tried but I just can't let it go," she was nearly in tears. "I want it so badly, I could practically taste it."

"That's it. There is the girl who won't take no for an answer. She is back and more determined than ever."

"Absolutely Mr Swara. I'll work my butt off for this agency. I will become whatever you need." She started babbling, "personal assistant, scriptwriter, paper clip bender, sandwich handler, file sorter and I can also cook and clean and do laundry, if that's what it takes." She was panting by the end.

"Good, because some of those things are exactly what we had in mind for you." Swara patted her shoulders. "Now, to get started, just keep doing what you are doing now, only better."

"Huh?" Wait, what?

"If you keep your enthusiasm up and put your heart into everything you do, then you will be rewarded with points."

"Points?" As in a wizard school? She gave him a puzzled look.

"Those bags aren't going to carry themselves, hurry up or I'll deduct points." Ms Kamio interrupted.

"You heard what she said," Swara said and left ahead with Yashiro.

Kyoko still didn't understand what this point thing was but she followed Ms Kamio and Ren Tsuruga with the bags anyway.

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Ren saw that Kyoko was staggering with the heavy bags, so he asked Ms Kamio to go ahead. He lowered his pace and joined her, "those bags look heavy." He took the biggest airbag from her before she could refuse.

"But, I-"

"You shouldn't be doing that heavy lifting, that's a man's job." He gave her the kindest smile he could manage.

Kyoko felt her cheeks heat up as colour rushed to her face. Her chest suddenly felt tight and her heart started jumping.

Ren Tsuruga had that effect on a person who couldn't even love, he was deadly handsome!

"Huh?...Uh...Well...Thank you." She somehow managed to reply. "That's very kind." He's so kind now, why was he such a jerk the last time we met?

"There's no need to thank me."

That came out of nowhere. Kyoko certainly didn't expect him to be so nice after the last time. It was wrong of her to assume that he was an awful jerk when she didn't even know him. Maybe he had another side, which she didn't see.

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"Fantastic," President Takarada beamed. "I knew she'd show up, you should have more faith, Swara."

Swara narrowed his eyes as he looked at yet another of the president's weird outfits. He was wearing a green vest, dark trousers, long boots, a large fur cloak, and a brimmed hat with a blue feather on the top. He also had a real sword in his hands with which he was practicing his swordplay, with another man, who was apparently a foreigner but dressed casually.

Why does this not faze me? Swara sighed hopelessly

"Excellent," He put the sword back in the hilt which was attached to his belt. "At last, I can launch our brand new division which I have named..."

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"The Bug Me Division?" Kyoko asked uncertainly.

"It's not bug. It's love. The Love Me Division." Ren replied.

They were walking down the corridor with Ms Kamio's bags, when Ren told her about the latest division of LME.

Kyoko stifled a giggle. That's the most ridiculous name I've ever heard. Who came up with this stupid name anyway? It suggested that its members were dying for attention. It was so completely humiliating that it was hilarious. Kyoko stifled another laugh, but the more she thought about it, the harder it got to stop herself from bursting out, laughing like an idiot.

"Members of The Love Me Division have to demonstrate that their hearts are in it. The most important part of your job is to love your audience just as much as you hope to be loved in return." Ren gave her more details.

Kyoko turned a giggle into a cough. How can he say that with such a straight face? She wondered.

"Sounds interesting." She grinned. "So where are these members of this division. I bet they're super excited." She said sarcastically. She felt bad for them but she just couldn't stop herself from laughing at them.

"You mean member. The division is so new that there is only one person in it." Ren smirked at her.

She stopped. Why do I have a bad feeling about this? "One?" Kyoko pointed at herself, all the mirth gone from her eyes.

"The Love Me Division is for those who show promise but are missing that extra certain something necessary for success. The president came up with that so we could nurture raw talents and send them on the right path to achieve their industry goals. Takarada has a soft spot for those whom he sees as diamonds in the rough... Like you."

"Me?!" A chill went through her spine. Why was this happening to her? Was being humiliated by Sho wasn't enough?

"NO! I don't wanna!" She hollered.

"As part of The Love Me Division, you are here on a trial basis, however, if you can tough it out, LME will officially sign you up and represent you on the board."

"What? So all this might be for nothing? How long is my probation supposed to last?" She shouted. Her tone vociferous.

"Until President Takarada decides it's over. That's how long. It won't be easy. Any staff or clients could ask you to do any number of things. You will be expected to go above and beyond, all while showing them how grateful you are to have this opportunity. And each good impression will get you closer to your goal." He took out a tiny pink stamp from his pocket and pressed it on his palm. It left a 'hundred points' mark.

"Here. When you finish your job will get a stamp like this one. This shows how much you learned."

"So what you're saying is, the more points and stamps I get, the quicker LME will sign me." It could work, Kyoko thought. She was confident that she could handle it. She was no stranger to hard work. Once LME will sign me then vengeance will be mine!

"Hey you, girl!" Ms Kamio shouted angrily. She was waiting for them at the end of the corridor.

"Pick my bags off the floor right now." In her fantasy of vengeance, Kyoko had dropped the smaller duffle bag on the floor, the seal somehow got opened and the cosmetics products all came out and spilled.

"Those are worth more than you can make in a lifetime." She shouted again angrily.

Kyoko immediately picked the products up and put them back.

"And what's worse is that you manipulated Ren Tsuruga into helping you!" Ms Kamio was still shouting. She took the larger airbag from Ren.

"You're completely irresponsible." She took out a similar pink stamp and pressed it on Kyoko's cheek angrily. "Minus ten points."

"I've had just about enough of your help." She muttered angrily as she snatched back the other bags from Kyoko and stormed off.

"That's not fair, you offered to help me with them. Why didn't you say anything?" Kyoko asked Ren with the face of a kicked puppy.

"First lesson, if it's your job, you need to be the one to do it," he smirked. "You must take responsibility for your own work." He winked at her with a mock-concerned smile." You're only allowed so many mistakes, it would be of awful to get kicked out." He said and followed Ms Kamio, leaving her alone.

Kyoko stood there speechless, her face burning. Ren Tsuruga was never interested in helping her. He did that on purpose so her points would be deducted. He wanted her to get kicked out. What a jerk? What was his problem with her?

"Fine. Lesson learned," she finally shouted in the direction where he had disappeared, "NEVER TRUST AN ACTOR!"