Stage 15: Together in the Minefield

Ren is talking on his phone with Matsushima, the head of L.M.E.'s acting division, who informs him that his regular manager is out with a cold and that Kyoko will be filling in. Due to the tensions between them, Ren is cold toward her and tells her she won't be able do much as his manager. The first day goes poorly for Kyoko, who can't seem to do anything right, and she feels useless because Ren has been picking up the slack every time she messes up. While driving with Ren that evening, thinking about how much he must hate her, Kyoko's stomach starts to growl. Ren notices, so they stop at a cheap family restaurant to eat dinner. While there, some high-school girls spot Ren and loudly joke about Kyoko's work uniform, saying that a girl around her age should be in high school. Kyoko becomes angry because she dropped out of school. After dinner, as Ren drives Kyoko home, he asks her why she didn't go to high school. Kyoko explains everything to Ren including her plan to get revenge on Sho by surpassing him in show business. Ren reveals that her motivation disgusts him, and Kyoko finally realizes that this is why Ren has been cold towards her. While trying to explain herself, Kyoko receives a phone call from the president of L.M.E., who has apparently been trying to reach her all day. He asks her if she would like to attend a local performance-arts oriented high school. Kyoko happily accepts and the president tells her she will have to pass an entrance exam. The next day, while Ren is shooting scenes, Kyoko notices him frequently coughing and clearing his throat. When Ren takes a break, Kyoko tells him she thinks he is coming down with a cold and that he should take medicine to help him. Ren isn't convinced, saying he never catches a cold, and ignores her. By the following morning, Ren has developed a sore throat and a high fever. Kyoko chides him for his stubbornness and Ren apologizes for being too proud. On set, Ren must do a scene in which he is drenched with rain. Kyoko, fearing it would worsen his fever, tells him not to shoot the scene until he recovers, but Ren says he will keep acting no matter how ill he may feel, only stopping if he passes out. Because his inexperienced co-star has trouble saying her lines, Ren is forced to shoot the rain scene multiple times. Back in the dressing room, Ren passes out, awkwardly trapping Kyoko beneath him.