Loveless (Book 1) [Completed]

Chapter 55.

PLAYING A VILLAIN.

It had been a few weeks since the first few episodes of Dark Moon had aired. After the shoot was done for the day, Ogata switched on his iPad and checked the ratings for the hundredth time. Just as he expected, a bunch of new positive reviews had piled in. He couldn't help but smile proudly at his accomplishments because it had only been a few weeks and Dark Moon was already a huge success. The ratings were skyrocketing.

As he sat there on the empty set feeling quite content with himself, he heard a voice from the doorway.

"You're checking the ratings again? Can I see?" It was Kyoko.

"Of course," Ogata passed his iPad to her, and a toothy grin broke out on her face when she glanced at its screen.

"Yes!" Kyoko punched the air victoriously. "The day we beat the record of Tsukigomori isn't too far."

"I hope so," the Director agreed. As Kyoko handed him back his iPad, he wondered aloud, "why are you still here? I thought you had to attend a meeting with the crew of that new drama you're starring in?"

"Oh yeah," Kyoko glanced at her wrist watch and got up hastily. "I should get going."

When she turned to leave, Ogata called after her one last time. "Kyoko!"

"Yeah?" She looked back.

"I didn't get a chance to congratulate you before, you know, for booking that role in that new drama. Do your best out there!" He raised his thumb up.

Kyoko smiled. "Thanks, I will!" She swore as she strode off to her dressing room. There, she changed out of her Mio costume, leaving only the make-up on, as she wiped off the fake scar on the side of her face. Then, she ripped off the wig of short, dark hair from her skull to reveal a fresh pixie-cut of ginger hair which she had dyed back last night. "Okay, back to normal!" Running a brush through her smooth hair, she flashed a smile to her reflection. "I'm ready!"

.

.

.

Dragging in a deep swig from the cigarette clasped between the corner of his lips, Ren picked up the gun from the table, skillfully loaded the bullets into the cylinder, pulled the barrel and pointed the muzzle at the cowering man in front of him flinching in fear.

Ren's face was a mask of anger. The temperature in the room dropped drastically as his frosty eyes glared at that man, who was tightly hugging his knees, trying to shrink back into nothing as he curled into the foetal position. Beads of sweat dripped down from his forehead.

Ren, having wrapped his fingers around the cool metal of the gun, tightened his hand on the grip and squeeze the trigger without hesitation.

The fake round plopped off from the forehead of the other man, who heaved a sigh of relief as it was finally over before he raised himself up again.

Both of them were awarded by a loud applaud from the other two men who were hunched back on the sofa, watching the whole thing. Those two happened to be the Director and the Casting Director of the upcoming movie Tragic Marker.

Ritsu Konoe, the Director, a hefty man in his late thirtes, wearing round glasses and a worksuit, gave a standing ovation to Ren's performance. "Perfect!" He said while clapping. "Tsuruga, you're just what I needed for the role of BJ."

"Truly magnificent!" The Casting Director agreed as he nodded in approval, clapping as well.

"When I saw that glimpse of hidden darkness in Katsuki from Dark Moon, I knew you'd be perfect for this job." Konoe remarked.