He walked into the restaurant, looking around until he spotted Honoka. She was already browsing a menu, so he headed over.

"Hey, you!" he greeted.

She looked up and waved. "Hey, Hidehito! About time!"

"I'm only late by 5 minutes," he smirked.

She huffed playfully, but didn't say anything else. She pointed to the menu instead. "You chose this place because of the desserts, didn't you?" she accused.

He laughed. "Partly. They've got good food, but yes –their desserts are fantastic. I should bring Kyoko here soon. She likes sweets too."

"Speaking of Kyoko," she started eagerly as Hidehito sat down. "Does she like my purses?"

"She has them lined up on the floor of her room neatly, practically showcased," he told her wryly, remembering when Kyoko had started to do it.

"Hm, maybe I should buy her some sort of purse organizer," Honoka said thoughtfully.

"Don't overdo it," Hidehito warned. "Last time, I know you actually bought some of those purses. I know for sure that one of those was $1000!"

"$1423 to be exact," Honoka said indifferently. "And it was only 5 out of 20 of the purses I brought over that I bought."

He gave her a pointed look she ignored.

"Oh come on, I've never had anyone to spoil before. Plus, you know that while I've had friends, I've never had a 'close' friend."

Hidehito raised an eyebrow, pointing at himself.

Honoka waved him off. "Oh you know what I mean! Why can't I spoil a friend?"

"Like I said, don't overdo it," Hidehito rolled his eyes. "You're lucky she didn't think to search up some of those purses." He then switched topics, though it stayed on a certain someone. "About Kyoko, what was that picture about? While I'm not surprised you took a selfie with her, I didn't think you'd post it up on your Instagram account."

"Oh! You saw that?" she asked eagerly. "Well, I just wanted to show the picture and her off, since we were having such a good time and it was our first picture together. But now it's gotten over a million views already! Some of the models we worked with recognized her and were asking about her, but so have a lot of photographers and fashion designers. I've been mostly keeping mum about her to up the mystery and intrigue."

He scrutinized her and she ended up blushing lightly.

"And also because I hadn't realized the attention that the picture would get and bring to her," Honoka admitted. "I didn't know if she'd be happy or okay with that."

"I don't either," Hidehito admitted as well. "I know she wants to get into showbiz, but I think she's looking to like acting more and more. She's currently enrolled in free acting classes that she found, you know?"

"She could be like you and Hiromune. Tsuruga too," she said, pointing it out. "Model sometimes, even though you three are actors."

He nodded, but made a face. "I would suggest it to her, but I know that she has such a low –"

"Self-esteem," she finished. "Ugh, do I want to know how or who made her like that?"

"No," he said darkly. "You might start to contemplate murder along with me and two others."

She looked curious then, but he didn't elaborate. So instead she rummaged in her purse then, pulling out a slim folder.

"So I've been having Kyoko send at least one selfie to me every day. Mostly to get her over her shyness and to become used to being photographed."

"Already grooming her to be a model anyway, huh?" he grinned at her.

"I want to work with her too, Mr. Actor," she pointed a finger at him mockingly. "Anyway, I hope it'll help make her more confident too. But a lot of the photos are really good, so I printed some of them out. Here," she handed him the folder.

He blinked and opened it, his mouth forming a small 'o' in surprise. There were a handful of pictures of Kyoko in it, two of them regular selfies and the others he was sure that Hiromune had taken for her since she was obviously not holding her phone.

"You made a portfolio for her?" he asked, still really surprised.

"It's just a small start, but I was hoping that she'd take up that photographer's offer. The one she met on our job last time. Hopefully he'd take a few good photos we can add to this."

He held it up. "You have a copy of this I can have?"

"That is a copy," she said. "Go keep it."

"Okay, thanks. She's currently building up a resumé and this would be a good, helpful addition for her," Hidehito said, starting to think of what else they needed to do.

"Well, call me up if you need anything else," she offered. "Of course I won't mind helping her."

Hidehito gave her a thankful smile.

~*~*~

Kyoko wiped the sweat off her forehead. She grinned at the work she helped with and felt proud of herself. These past two weeks, she'd worked hard on building up her skills and her resumé, accepting some minor jobs to work on the side. She ended up learning a lot of useful things, and there were many that were helpful and gave great advice to her. Sure, she ran into the rude or egotistical person, but she knew that was a given and didn't let it bother her. She was trying to build a "tough skin" as Kijima told her.

She had also kept practicing lines with Kijima and Koga, who appreciated the help, though she was surer that they were doing it more for her benefit. To help with that, she had also found a place that had a free acting workshop going on. It was only for three weeks and two weeks had already passed, but she had taken as much advantage of it as she could, soaking up as much knowledge as she was able.

"Mogami-kun! Great work today," her employer said, grinning at her. "The theater looks great and the next show will be too, I hope. Thanks for sticking around as an assistant and helping out with the stage."

"I'm glad to be of help," she beamed at him, bowing slightly.

"If you're not employed elsewhere or busy, I'll call you if we have any open job slots that need to be filled," he said and she gave him a grateful look.

"I appreciate it, sir. I'll be off now!"

"Thanks again!" He handed her payment and she waved before heading towards the exit.

But as she moved towards it, she narrowed her eyes at the suspicious looking kind of character hovering around. She frowned and moved towards him, wondering if she should alert security. She fingered the pepper spray in her pocket that Kuresaki had insisted she keep around her, ready to use it if he was some sort of pervert or tried something funny. If he tried to attack her, he'd find himself at the wrong end of her pepper spray...

"Hey, you! What are you doing around here?" she purposefully stomped towards him.

The suspicious man held up his hands, lowering the white face mask. He looked normal enough, but still.

"I'm Kazushi Misonoi, a reporter for Boost magazine," he said quickly. "I'm here to see if I can talk to the cast or crew about the, uh, theater's newest show."

Kyoko kept frowning, eying him doubtfully. After a moment, she let down her guard a little.

"Well, I just finished work here as an assistant," she reluctantly revealed. "I'm excited for the show. I think it's going to be great!" She felt the excitement build up in her, especially since the director had promised her a free ticket and was going to reserve a seat for her at the first showing.

He pushed up his dark glasses. "Yeah? Sounds good. I'll look forward to it. What's your name, sweetie?"

She blushed a little and cleared her throat, still unused to people calling her endearments. "Um, my name is Mogami Kyoko. Pleased to meet you," she bowed respectfully, minding her manners as always.

He paused at that and she tilted her head questionably. "Is something wrong?" she asked.

"N-no. I knew someone named Mogami before! What a coincidence, huh? So tell me about the show."

Kyoko was still wondering about his reaction, but pushed it away and began eagerly talking about the show she helped with a little. She wanted it to succeed, and who knows? Maybe it'll be so good it'll head all the way to America and be on Broadway.

~*~*~

Misonoi had gone to the theater to find out if he could report on anything about the scandal he'd heard about going on there, between the director and the lead actress. Instead, he met her.

Mogami Kyoko. Mogami Kyoko.

The features on her face was too familiar and the name had been branded into his mind. But more alarmingly was that she looked young and he could see similarities between himself and her. A basic background check showed him what he could conclude with what he had available.

A check into Mogami Saena showed nothing of a daughter, but that meant nothing. So he'd looked into Mogami Kyoko and had found her school records, which gave out her age. Putting in the timeframe, and he felt sinking dread and the familiar regret and guilt.

He had a daughter. A daughter he had had no idea about all these years, and who was almost full grown. Who he had no idea what she knew about him. Had Saena told her all sorts of despicable things about him?

He had truly fallen in love with Saena then, but he had a job and he couldn't just abandon it. But then he left, which had been a despicable thing to do, and apparently he'd left Saena pregnant and alone. That made what he did doubly despicable, and right now he wasn't sure what to do.

Even though he'd burned all the bridges with Saena, to his eternal regret, he still wanted a connection with his daughter.

But he's been gone all these years and didn't have any right to her. In the end...maybe he should just keep it secret and watch her from afar.

He had never been a father and she probably didn't want him to be one.

~*~*~

Yuki hid his agitation, knowing that he shouldn't be letting himself feel agitated when he was about to handle a sensitive case. Looking at his watch, he was glad that he wasn't running late for the meeting at least.

"Ah, right on time, Kuresaki-san," he was greeted by someone. "The meeting is taking place in this office."

He nodded distractedly and entered into a room behind the assistant. Inside was the director of his current project, the leading actress, and the two lawyers that was going to handle their case.

"Kuresaki-san, welcome," the male lawyer stood up. "I'm Katagiri Kenichi. This is the lawyer that will be taking on your case –Mogami Saena."

Yuki went still, even though he didn't let his expression change. He swallowed harshly, but bowed as well, keeping an eye on the woman.

She was beautiful, but in a serious way. Her face was like his, expressing no clear emotion aside from professionalism and a stern expression. Even still, though she had dark hair and eyes, he could see the resemblance.

The shape of Kyoko's eyes matched Saena's, along with the slightly pointed chin and the slim face structure. He had no doubt that this woman had to have been a relative of Kyoko's, but he thought that right now was not the time for him to say anything about it.

"As my colleagues have probably already introduced me in my absence, I'm Kuresaki Yuki. It would be much appreciated if we could move along with this case and settle it soon, particularly before the movie will be set to go into post-production..."

The meeting went by slowly, though he was sure it was partly his imagination. Throughout it though, he'd taken to glancing occasionally at Mogami Saena with a dispassionate look, not letting anything on or be too obvious. He wondered how she was related to Kyoko, having no doubt about it, but he also had a sinking feeling just who she was.

When the meeting was over and they set a date for the next one, he calmly said his goodbyes and left. He looked at his phone, seeing that Kyoko had texted him that she was finishing up at Darumaya, and he sent a quick return message saying he was done as well and would come pick her up now.

He didn't know if he should say anything to her, but he also knew that something like this wasn't best kept a secret. So as soon as Kyoko had gotten into his car and he had started driving, he started to talk.

"I had a meeting at a law firm today," he started.

Kyoko laughed. "Don't tell me you're thinking I should try and look into lawyer skills."

He cracked a small smile at that, but it quickly went into a frown, which she quickly noticed and looked nervous at.

"I met someone," he started again, saying heavily. "She reminded me of you. She said her name was Mogami Saena."

They ended up at an intersection, with the light turning red. He looked at Kyoko, seeing her look heart wrenchingly sad, which made him stricken with alarm and regret he'd said anything.

"She's my mother," she whispered, which made him tense, though a part of him had already guessed at that. "I haven't seen her since she'd left me with the Fuwa's."

'Abandoned her' went unsaid.

"I'm sorry for bringing it up," he said regretfully.

She looked up and gave him a small smile, which combined with that heart wrenching look still on her face, made him feel even more terrible.

He resolved to keep Mogami Saena away from Kyoko and to never let them cross paths, if Kyoko didn't wish it.