| Princess Coup d'etat - Magic | |
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| ACT.011 | |
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| Character/s in the cover | Kyoko Mogami |
| Volume | 02 |
| Original Release | June 2002 |
| Arc | Princess Coup d'Etat arc |
| Chapter Guide | |
| Previous | Next |
| ACT.010 | ACT.012 |
Princess Coup d'etat - Magic is the 11th chapter of the Skip Beat! manga series.
Plot[]
Ren and the director discuss about Kyoko. Everyone is dazzled by Kyoko's sudden transformation...
Chapter Summary[]
Ruriko is screaming into her phone to her manager's voicemail, shocked and scared as for the first time things are not going the way she expected when she 'quit'. The Director looks on in bemusement knowing it won't be as they are all Takarada's accomplices including her manager.
Ren talks with the director and wonders if he really means it about letting "that girl" try out for the role. The Director knows that Ren is also a "Takarada Accomplice" so he explains that the mission that Lory gave to them was to cure Ruriko of her selfish, wilful ways. Basically quitting when she didn't like how things were going and waiting until someone tries to appease her. How were they to do that if she didn't legitimately think she could lose her spot? So yes, the Director is using Kyoko as a means of competition and fear for Ruriko. As he knows merely being stern and harsh with her may produce results but will not change her behaviour or make her rethink her attitude overall. The Director tells Ren he still has to shoot the rest of film so he wants to see if can make this a bit easier for them all and give Ruriko a lesson.
Meanwhile, Ruriko is still stunned that Seiji Shingai accepted Kyoko instead of catering to her like everyone else has done before. She is very worried about her current situation which only doubles when she over hears the ground crew saying they hope the substitute girl wins because they are over Ruriko's tantrums. They are very offended that apparently she made them wait a day as her 'custom ordered umbrella' hadn't arrived yet and on top of that she only apologised to the Director, no one else received an apology.
The make-up and costume artist escort Kyoko to the changing room commenting that this is great chance for her. And if she manages to seize this opportunity she may become a real life Cinderella, and become an overnight sensation. Kyoko perks up at the mention of Cinderella, a princess. She is surprised things like that could actually happen, all from accepting Ruriko's challenge which was a rather spontaneous thing done out of anger. Kyoko smirks as her demons swirl around her and swears she will start being serious since she's been given a chance.
Kyoko and her demons are taken to the make-up room and she specially enjoys the mention of the word "make-up" and its concept, so she keeps on making the poor make-up girl repeat the word. She remembered that she could not even afford make up because of Sho.
After hearing comments from the staff, Ruriko goes into real panic mode and is starts to realise her true situation, that she may actually lose her role to that loser. She didn't want to make a situation like this, she only wanted to make a little of trouble for everyone. But if it does end up being announced she will be a laughingstock. The idea of losing her reputation sends her to her knees with tears forming in her eyes, as she wonders who will save her.
Ren ends finding her huddled in the hallway like that and sits down next to her. Ren ends up talking to her, telling her that the Director seems serious this time. If she wants to change his mind she should rely on her acting skills and stop saying things like she wants to quit. Ruriko is let down as although Ren speaks very gently, basically he is telling her she can only rely on herself for protection, and she had hoped he was going to swoop in and save her. She is rather foolish. She also realises Ren himself must be mad as she stood him up yesterday and must dislike her now otherwise why else would he not have welcomed her when she first arrived when he apparently wanted to co-star with her? Ruriko begins attempting to apologise to Ren when they are interrupted by the make-up artist who suspects they are waiting for Kyoko. Ruriko denies it however both her and Ren are shocked when they see Kyoko's transformation.
It is the same response the whole crew have including the Director have. All are stunned by Kyoko's image change. Like Cinderella who was transformed by her Fairy Godmother.
Ruriko attempts to pick a fight with Kyoko stating anyone can be pretty with a little bit of make-up but with her its like she's transformed into a totally different person, implying that Kyoko, at her baseline, is ugly. Kyoko doesn't see the insult for what it is, and merely agrees with Ruriko, saying she feels like Cinderella when the spell was cast on her. Kyoko cries out that this truly is the happiest she's been concerning the crew. And all this happiness is due to Ruriko, so wilful, arrogant and condescending... Ruriko wonders if she's picking a fight with her?! Kyoko merely continues stating she hopes to be even happier, she wants to, her eyes sharpen with a the glint of challenge and bloodlust, defeat her! Ruriko reels back at the sudden declaration, furious she throws one back that this job is hers! On the side-lines the Director smirks which Ren notices.
The filming begins from the scene where Choko is to walk in. Since Ruriko has already had many attempts already, the Director reasons that Kyoko should now try this scene. Ruriko reassures herself that she can't lose to that person, for although they are both greenhorns when it comes to acting, Kyoko has never been in front of a camera and doesn't understand the tremendous pressure that comes with it, They start the filming and Kyoko surprises everybody when she walks in gracefully as can be and bows low and properly as one would with a kimono. Ruriko is shocked to the core when the Director murmurs 'perfect' at the scene.
The crew compliment Kyoko when the scene ends, saying she looked just like a daughter of a rich family with the way she floated in. She must be really be used to wearing a kimono especially with the way she bowed. Kyoko jolts knowing she's been caught, she confesses that she did learn a tiny bit. She's annoyed that her past was useful as she flashes back to her time helping at the inn of Sho's parents.
Despite her attempts at ignoring it, the pain in her left ankle rears it's head and Kyoko collapses against the wall. Ren reprimands her, telling her ignoring the pain won't make it go away. Why did she try to walk on it like it was nothing? Kyoko tells him that she could not achieve the walk without putting weight on both feet.
Ruriko is now very worried, for why was Kyoko so calm? Isn't she a newbie? Its all because of her that the gap between them is getting bigger. Ruriko does admit she now knows that the Director meant about her movements and the image of a "young rich mistress" as hers and Kyokos were completely different. She is that angry at her self for acknowledging girl, she has to win!
Ruriko glances over and sees Ren bandaging Kyoko's left foot. She realises it must actually be a serious injury. She then recalls something from the script and hurriedly flips through. Reading the scene she feels triumphant, she'll win for sure!
Ren encourages Kyoko not to compete with Ruriko in the next scene as it will cause her foot further injury. She wonders if it is a uphill climbing scene, Ren corrects her stating its a tea ceremony scene. From beginning to the end of the scene she will have to be in a kneeling posture, and it will last about 15 minutes. Does she have the confidence to last that long?
Ruriko and Kyoko exchange a glare while Kyoko makes her decision.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
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| Volume 02 Navigation | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Chapter 6 |
 Chapter 7 |
 Chapter 8 |
 Chapter 9 |
 Chapter 10 |
 Chapter 11 | ||||||||
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