17. A Scandal?

*Screeeeeaaam!!!!*
*Yeeeeee Ren!!!!!*

(The audience's excitement was felt backstage.)
(Ren's performance is coming to an end.)

Stage Staff: Is it still Ren?
Ren is getting better and better, isn't he?

(I can hear them talking about Ren right behind me.)

Stylist: At first I thought, what kind of a spoiled brat is he...but later found out that's just his character.
Have you heard? M Entertainment's president has been threatening Ren.

Stage Staff: Oh, that. I heard that's true.
There's been a lot of rumors about M Entertainment's cut through marketing but for them to threaten another management company's entertainer....

Stylist: Royal Corporation is supporting them, but that's just too much don't you think?

Stage Staff: And the latest rumor, man that's a doozy.

Stylist: Huh? What rumor?

Stage Staff: You haven't heard? I heard they are unstable.
I don't know the details, but something about low funds? That's the reason for their cut throat marketing too.

Stylist: Really? M?
But if Royal Corporation is supporting them, how can they be low on funds?

Stage Staff: I don't know...something about the president embezzling funds or a fight over who's going to be the next heir.....
Anyway, the rumors are just awful.

Manager: Embezzlement of funds.....?

(The president is Michiru...he wouldn't do a thing like that.)

Manager: Is Ren planning something again....?
Arisugawa Michiru is the one that is getting a bad reputation.... and looking like the bad guy.....

Stage Staff: Now that he's embezzled funds, enemies are popping up left and right.

Stylist: Enemies?

Stage Staff: M's rivals have been actively confronting him.
Wow, his enemies are now attacking him?

Stylist: ?

(?)

Stage Staff: There is one guy that opposes all of M's threats.
It's that person over there.
(Uh.....)

Yano Kazuteru: .........

(The staff member was pointing to an area where Yano Kazuteru was standing.)
(But....what about Yano Kazuteru?)

Manager: Instructor Yano?

Yano Kazuteru: Ah, Manager.
I'm glad I ran into you. I came here because I thought Ren was going to be here.

Manager: Ren?

Yano Kazuteru: I received a strange request.
I was put in an awkward position as I was trying to resolve it.

Manager: Does it have to do with M Entertainment?

Yano Kazuteru: You know about it?

Manager: Gulp. Really?

Yano Kazuteru: I know a lot of people in the music industry.
He was using that power to corner M Entertainment and threaten them.

Manager: Threaten....

Yano Kazuteru: He said he would give me contact information to his aunt and I had no other way out.
Later, he even brought his aunt's son, and they both ganged up on me....

Manager: You've been threatened and harrassed....

Yano Kazuteru: Once Ren is done, give me a call...
I did what he said so tell him not to threaten me any more.

Manager: ....I'll let him know.

Yano Kazuteru: Also....

Manager: ?

Yano Kazuteru: There's been a sudden change in situation.

Manager: What do you mean sir....?

Yano Kazuteru: There are bad rumors circulating about Ren.

Manager: What kind?

Yano Kazuteru: Be careful for now.
Tell him that.

Manager: Uh....

(The instructor left.)
(Moments later....)
(The show was over and Ren and I were about to leave.)

Manager: Oh that's right, I just met Yano Kazuteru a little while ago.)

Ren: Did he do what was asked?

Manager: He completed it so he said not to threaten him anymore.

Ren: ..........
Since that threat worked, I'm sure I can use it again.

Manager: ............
You don't even feel a teensy bit sorry toward him?

Ren: Nope.

Manager: ..........

Ren: Well, everything is going according to plan so there is no reason to threaten him again.

Manager: According to plan? Then....
You mean harassing Arisugawa Michiru?

Ren: Of course.

Manager: ....Ren, in your eyes it may seem that Arisugawa Michiru and his mother caused harm but....
Still, I think you hate him too  much.
If you act out this way, then for Arisugawa Michiru it's too....

*Snap snap*

Manager: Whoa....
(A sudden amount of camera flashes startled us.)
(Reporters started to swarm toward Ren and pictures were being taken left and right.)

Reporter 1: Ren!!! Is it true that you are an heir to Royal Corporation?

Reporter 2: Arisugawa Michiru said that the rumors about him were all conducted by you. What do you have to say about that?

Reporter 3: Is it true that you and Arisugawa Michiru are fighting over who will be the next in line for Royal Corporation?

Manager: Uh....

Ren: .........

(He said that some strange things were happening...was he talking about this?)

Manager: Ren, it seems they found out that you were behind it all, and they even know about your identity.
What should we do? We need to get out of here.

Ren: .........

Manager: Forget it. I can't ask you for anything.
I'll have to get us out of here.
Okay....so if we want to get out of this swarm of reporters then....

Walk out confidently. (Speech: +5)

Manager: Ah...so....

(....okay, let boldly leave.)
(Honestly, if we try to sneak out in a situation like this, that would be more strange.)

Manager: Ren, let's leave!

Ren: Through the front door?

Manager: If we sneak out the back, it's the same thing as admitting that what they are saying is true.
We are just going to boldly walk out!

(Even though...what they are saying is true and we don't feel bold at all....)

Ren: I guess you aren't totally ignorant.

(Just like that Ren stretched out his legs and strutted out.)

Reporter 1: Ren!!! What's your response.....!!

Reporter 2: Tell us the truth!!!!!!

Ren: Move.

Reporter 1: Uh....

*Chatter*

(Ren's attitude was so cold and arrogant that the reports parted just like Moses parted the Red Sea.)
(No one dared approach Ren, instead each person walked backwards giving Ren space to walk.)

Ren: Let's go.

(He stopped for a moment to tell me that.)

Manager: Uh....o-okay.

(I walked through the open path anf quickly followed after Ren.)

Slip out of a tiny hole out back.

Distract the reporters and flee.


(After walking for a while, we were standing in front of the management company.)

Manager: Sigh....

(I kept on sighing the whole time we were walking.)

Ren: .........

Manager: What are we going to do now?

Ren: ............

Manager: I looks like you've been found out.
For how long....are you going to go on like this.
And how are we going to take care of all this?

Ren: I'm not worried.

Manager: What.....?
How could you not care? You're the bad guy now.

Ren: Don't care.
It's just my image.... Even if everything started falling apart....
As along as I can crush Arisugawa Michiru with my own hands I'll do any dirty, devious thing. I can do it.

Manager: ....

Ren: ............

(Ren had his fists clenched and started to shake.).

Manager: Man...

(Is there anyway for Ren and Arisugawa Michiru to get closer?)