SKIP BEAT!  (by NAKAMURA Yoshiki)


Chapter 2 (as appeared in "Hana to Yume" #4'2002, Hakusensha)
translation by anime-cat
v.1.0  (20.jan.2002)


[cover page]
Magnificent Show Biz Challenge

Act 2: Once it's got you, that's it

Skip Beat!

[Page 1]
The guy I'd had a crush on ever since I was little, mercilessly cast me off like he was
throwing away a used tissue or something
Kyouko Tissue: "Aaaaah!"
'Trash Can'
Me, who's been wiped on his nose so much there are no more clean parts left to use.
Shou: "I don't need you anymore!"
'Day 5'
I left the mansion I'd been working so hard to rent for his sake and now I'm at my
nighttime job, 'Darumaya.'
Kyouko: "G... good morning!!"

[Page 2]
Staying over.
Kyouko: "Boss!! Okami-san!!" 
'Bowing while pressing three fingers from each hand to the ground.'
Okami-san: "Ah, good morning, Kyouko-chan. Will you have breakfast with us?"
Kyouko: "Uh....but..."
Darumaya's owner
*Angry*
*chew*chew*chew*
Okami-san: "Oh, it's okay. Don't worry about him. (Come on, come one.)"
Kyouko: "O...okay..."
Sign: All Life, One Thing
Boss: *Slurrrrp~~*
*Bang!*
Kyouko: ("Ah...")
Kyouko: ("Boss...")
He's been like that ever since I died my hair...
Kyouko: ("He's never been one to talk much but...up 'til now he's at least said hello...")
Okami-san: "He's just hopeless..."

[Page 3]
Okami-san: "He's sulking. Here you go. (Rice.)"
Kyouko: "Oh...thank you!!"
Okami-san: "You were so unusual these days because you didn't fuss with your appearance,
and so very well-mannered, he was just fond of you that way. (Really, quite a bit.)"
Well-mannered?
Kyouko: ("Really? I never realized that...")
Okami-san: "Oh, by the way, Kyouko"
Okami-san: "(I've been wondering about this for a while but, ) Aren't you actually the
daughter of some well-off family back home?"
Kyouko: "Huh?"
Okami-san: "Running some kind of restaurant or something..."
Kyouko: "...No..."
I did stay over at the inn a lot....
Kyouko: ("It being Shoutarou's house and all.")
Okami-san: "(That's not it?) That's strange. We were both sure that had to be the case...
(That's really not it?)"
Okami-san: "But the way you handle customers and your skill with serving is exceptionally
good, you know?"
Kyouko: .... ("If I reveal the special techniques I learned from watching while helping out
at Shoutaro's house, it would really be unexcusable.")
Boss: "Hey!"

[Page 4]
Kyouko: "Y...yes!?"
Kyouko: ("Boss!? [Did he just talk to me!?]")
Boss: "Are you going job-hunting or whatever again today?"
Kyouko: "Uh, yes!!"
Boss: "Really... Can someone who's lied about there age and hasn't even gone to high school
find a job in today's world?"
Okami-san: "Dear!! (You don't have to be so blunt about it...) You know that Kyouko-chan
must have her reasons for not going to high school!!"
Reasons...
If I'd stayed in Kyouto I'm sure my parents would at least have sent me to high school,
then I'd be able to find proper employment...And if not, I would have been able to work at
Shoutarou's family's place... But!!!

[Page 5]
All~~~~ of this, is your fault!!!! Shoutarou~~~~!!!
Demons: "Unforgivable, unforgivable, unforgivable, unforgivable!!"
Okami-san: "Kyouko-chan!?"
Boss: "...."
Though you had the nerve to be sent to high school by your company!! (Keeping it secret
from me!!)
Absolutely unforgivable!!

[Page 6]
Kyouko: ("Coming out to Tokyo with you, made it seem like I was running away from home,
too!! I can't even go back to Kyouto any more!!")
And I thought as long as I was with Shoutarou I wouldn't even mind if I ended up dying in
Tokyo!! 
Kyouko: ("This outrage...")
Shou: 'If you want to do something like get revenge on me, you'll have to get into the
entertainment business.'
I'm going to make you suffer for this!!
Kyouko: ("I'll get in, all right!!")
Is what I've been telling myself...
Kyouko: ("Aah, no good, no good, I can't have my face like this. I won't have what it
takes
to catch a scout's eye. [Cute, cute])"

[Page 7]
Ever since I got dumped by Shoutarou a few days ago, I've tried hanging out where it's
suppose to be the Mecca of those 'talent scouts' that you hear about all the time. 
Kyouko: ("Though I told the boss and Okami-san that I'm looking for a daytime job and an
apartment near 'Darumaya...'")
Kyouko: ("Nobody's come up to me at all...")
I guess someone who looks like me isn't likely to get scouted...
Kyouko: ("Of course, it's only the fourth day...")
Kyouko: ("I wonder if these days it's just no good to be a girl who doesn't where any
make-up... Guess I'll try somewhere else.")
If I knew it would be like this, it might have been better not to throw away all the
money I made selling off all my old stuff (Mainly her Shou Fuwa collection, from CDs to
rare items, went for high prices) at the beauty salon and on clothes (also, shoes and a
hand bag)...
Kyouko: ("No!! Stop it, stop it!! [Pull yourself together!]")
Make-up is something I've always wanted to get!!
Kyouko: ("Using the money I made selling of the Shoutarou stuff would make me feel like I
was indebted to him, so no way!!!")
At least that I want to buy it with money I've honestly earned myself!!

[Page 8]
Kyouko: ("...huh!?") "...!!"
'By my own hands...?'
Kyouko: "Of course..."
Wouldn't getting into the entertainment industry be the same...?
Kyouko: "If waiting's no good, I can just go market myself. (If a person doesn't do
anything
they can't get what they want!!)"
That's it!!
'Good Idea'
Kyouko: "And that way would be faster!!"
If that Shoutarou, who can't even properly use a vacuum cleaner, can do it, there's no
reason I won't be able to!!
Kyouko: ("After all, in school my scores were better than his!!" [Has nothing to do with
it.])
If I can just get someone connected with the entertainment industry to recognize my
appeal, there might even be a possibility I could make my debut even faster than
Shoutarou did!!  (No, there's definitely a chance I could!!)
Kyouko: "Then the day when he's been overtaken by plain, boring me, Shoutarou's pride
will be smashed to pieces!!"

[Page 9]
Kyouko: "After that, I won't wait a moment, as he approaches the last of his strength, to
deliver the final blow, a scathing, hurricane punch!! Aah..."
Aaa...mm... Just thinking about that moment gives my heart such a thrill of ecstasy!! 
Kyouko: "Just watch. The time when you'll be sobbing prostrate at my feet is coming."
Kyouko: "Prepare yourself!! Shoutarou~~~!!"
Person 1: "What the heck did that girl see?"
Person 2: "There wasn't anything..."
Person 3: "All she sees is some 'Shoutarou' who isn't there."
Person 4: "How sad...and she's so young..."
Shou: "Ah...CHUU"

[Page 10]
Shouko: "Hey! Cut that out! Don't go catching a cold!"
Shou: "No problem, no problem. It's not a cold. It's just somebody gossiping about me."
Shou: "I'm just so popular. As long as there are women in this world my sneezes will
never stop."
Shouko: "Gossiping, huh..."
Shouko: "It could be that old friend of yours 'Kyouko-chan' saying something nasty about
you."
Shou: "What's this? Shouko-san, could you possibly be jealous?"
Shouko: "...Idiot."
Shouko: "Shou, women can be scary when you get them angry. That girl might really get
into the business. (Here you go.)"
Shou: "(Thanks.) Don't worry, don't worry. I've know her longer than anyone and I'll tell
you (no chance I'm wrong), there's no way she..."

[Page 11]
Shou: "Can get into the entertainment world."
'LME Entertainment Productions Office Building'
Receptionist: "...uh...?"
Kyouko: "So you see, the thing is, I want to become an entertainer!!"
Kyouko: "So, please help me out!! Please let me meet with someone influential in this
office!!"
Receptionist: "'Please let me meet with someone influential'...?"
Receptionist: "Do you have an appointment with someone?"
Kyouko: "No!! (You see, I just came up with this about an hour ago!!)"
Receptionist: "..."

[Page 12]
Receptionist: "In that case, please make an appointment and come back."
Kyouko: "Huh!? (But I came all this way...) Is no one here today?"
Receptionist: "No...it's not that..."
Kyouko: "...!!! If they're here, why can't I meet them!?"
Kyouko: "Isn't an entertainment office suppose to take in ambitious people who want to
become entertainers!?"
Receptionist: "...No...that's..."
Sawara-san: "... What's the matter?"
Receptionist: "Ah, Sawara-san. Well, you see..."
Kyouko: !!
Sawara-san: "I see...you want to get into the entertainment world."
Kyouko: "Yes!!"
Sawara-san: "Hmm, you have some spunk, that's good. So... What section of our company are
you trying for?"
Kyouko: "...huh...? (Section...?)"

[Page 13]
Sawara: "A singer?"
Kyouko: "I prefer listening to songs."
Sawara: "An actor?"
Kyouko: "I don't have any interest in acting."
Sawara: "A personality?"
Kyouko: "Variety-type things seem difficult, they don't really appeal to me..."
Kyouko: "AAaaaah"
Kyouko: "NOoo!! (No, stop it!!) Why~~!!"
'Exit'
Sawara: "I've figured out what you're after. (Man, young women are so persistent.) All
you
want is to get close to Ren!!"
REN...!?
Kyouko: "'Ren'... Do you mean Tsuruga Ren!? Huh!? Is he with this company!?"
Sawara: "Don't bother pretending you don't know!!"

[Page 14]
Sawara: "What did you think the words 'talent' and 'skill' are associated with the
entertainment world for?! In this business, only those people who have the potential for
talent can get in or have any chance of lasting!!" 
Ren: "What's all this about, Sawara-san?"
Sawara: "Ah."
Kyouko: "!!"
Kyouko: "AAaaa~~~!! Tsuruga Ren~~~~!! (Ugh, ugh, he's really here!!)"

[Page 15]
Ren: "...?"
Th...
Kyouko: "This is terrible...!!"
Of all things, Tsuruga Ren working here...!!
Kyouko: ("Are you telling me I'll have to work happily along side him!?")
Sawara: ("....Huh...? That's not the reaction I expected... Kyouko:  'Yaaaaa, it's the
real thing!!' Why is she so crushed by despair...")
Ren: "Sawara-san, is this girl hoping to join our company?"
Sawara: "Well, yes but..."
Kyouko: ("...Ah... Wait a minute...?")

[Page 16]
Kyouko: ("That's right, I don't have any connection to Shoutarou anymore. [It's not like
he's my enemy or anything.] There's no reason for me to loathe Tsuruga Ren so much.")
Ren: "I see. So, even though she has no interest or passion about this business she wants
to get into it."
Sawara: *nod*
Ren: "Never come back."
Kyouko: "Ah!! When did they....!!"
'Kicked outside'
I hate him after all!!
Woman 1: "Ah, it's Ren!"
Woman 2: "Yaaaaa! No way! How lucky!!"
Tsuruga Ren~~~~!!
Sawara: "Besides which, usually, when someone wants to get into the business, the first
thing they do is an audition or something that serves as a try-out... (I've heard that
music people come to show their talent, or they bring a demo tape or MD or something.)
But suddenly marching into the office and telling us to make her an entertainer!"

[Page 17]
Sawara: "Completely ridiculous!! (In addition to which she didn't even know what kind of
entertainer she wanted to be!!) I don't understand that girl!!"
Ren: "It's probably just a whim. Eventually she'll give up and go home."
Suit: "Ah, Ren! (Here you are.)"
Ren: "!"
Suit: "The editor from the monthly magazine 'Will' is here already."
Ren: "...Okay, okay."
Sawara: "Well, you're busy. Good luck!"
However
Three hours later
Sawara: "Haa... (Man, oh, man) Gotten through the first part, time for a little brea...
... !?"

[Page 18]
Sawara: "Huh...!?"
Sawara: (".... [Come on now...] She couldn't possibly have been there this whole
time...?")
Office girl 1: "That girl has been sitting there this who~~le time without moving an
inch. What's up with that?"
Office girl 2: "Well, she's probably waiting for someone, isn't she?"
Office girl 1: "What a twit! The stars don't come in and out from the front entrance
after all. How pointless..."
Ren: "..."

[Page 19]
Ren: "..."
Suit: "Ren! We're moving. (Let's go.)"
Ren: "...Right."
Kyouko: ("Ooh... As expected, my legs have gone numb...")

[Page 20]
Kyouko: ("Besides which it's cold...")
'It's February.'
Why the heck am I doing this...?
Kyouko: ("Maybe I should go to a different company... [Yucky Tsuruga Ren is here and
everything...]")
N...no, that's no good!!
Kyouko: ("Must pull myself together!!")
Imagine if I joined a company smaller than the one Shoutarou is attached to!!
Shou: "(HAHAHAHAHAHA) That pathetic company fits you perfectly!! (After all, a boring
girl like you would end up there...) (HAHAHAHAHA)"
*CRACK*
Infuriating!!
That is absolutely unacceptable!!
Kyouko: ("Therefore!! Whether I like it or not, this is the company I have to get
into!!")
I must get into this company which competes with Shoutarou's company about which is the
first and second "Largest Company in the Japanese Entertainment World!!"
Kyouko: ("Right, no matter what I have to do!!")
Sawara: "...Huh?"

[Page 21]
Sawara: ("That girl's gone? So, she's given up as expected. After all, it's already 10
o'clock. No matter how long she'd been able to wait like that, some things are just
impossible. I'm relieved she gave up...") "Well, I'm done for today. (Good job!)"
Office worker 1: "Good job, chief!"
Office worker 2: "Good job!"
Kyouko: "GOOD... JOB..."
(The eyes of something stalking it's prey.)
Kyouko: "LME Productions Talent Section Chief, Sawara Takenori, 41 years old, born on
March 10th, bloodtype AB..." 
(Determining the smallest backround details of one's prey.)
Sawara: "!!!"
Sawara: "W...What, you haven't gone home yet!?" ("S..she scared me....")
Kyouko: "No. I heard that at night the employees use this exit. (I've been keeping
watch.)"

[Page 22]
Kyouko: "I'm begging you...Sawara-san!! Please let me into the talent section!!"
Sawara: "Variety-type things don't really appeal to you because they're hard."
Kyouko: "That was a lie. I was kidding."
Sawara: "No way."
Kyouko: "I'll do anything."
Sawara: "No chance."
Kyouko: "Sawara-san..."
Sawara: "You are..."
Sawara: "Definitely..."
'Cheetah Taxi'
Kyouko: "Ah!!"
Sawara: "Unqualified!!"
Kyouko: "Sawara-san!!" 
Sawara: ("What a pain. She really is persistent. It seems I've got a real nuisance to
deal..."
*Bang*

[Page 23]
Kyouko: "SA~~WA~~RA~~-SA~~~~N!!"
Sawara: "Yaaaaaaah!! (Don't follow me!!)"

[Page 24]
However...
*Ding Dong*
The next day...
*Ding Dong*Ding Dong*Ding Dong*
Wife: "D...dear...?"
Sawara: "Yiiiiiiiiiii!!!"
*Ding Dong*Ding Dong*Ding Dong*Ding Dong*Ding Dong*
Daughter: "What a racket!! Geez, make it stop!"
And the day after that...
Kyouko: "Let me in~~~ let me in~~~ (*knock knock*) Let me in the company~~~ Sawara-sa~n,
please~~ please~~" (*knock knock*)
Sawara: "Yiiiiiiii!!"
And again the day after that...
Kyouko: "Sawara-san...you're so mean... "
*Screee*
'The sound of nails scratching on the window.'
*Scree*Scree*Scree*
Kyouko: "Even though I'm pleading with you..."
*Scree*Scree*Scree*Scree*
Kyouko: "You're so mean..."
*Scree*Scree*Scree*
Kyouko: "You won't even listen to what I have to say... That's terrible..."
Sawara: "Yiiiiiiiii!!"
Wife: "Yaaaaaaaah!"
TER~RI~BLE~~
Demons: "I'll hate you. I'll hate you. I'll curse you forever."
Sawara: "P...p..p.."

[Page 25]
Sawara: "PLEASE~~~ JUST~~~ STOP~~~ IT~~~~~~!"
'White flag'
'WINNER'
'However ruthless the means, victory is victory!'
Kyouko: "Thank you very much!! I'm forever in your debt!!"
Sawara: "...No...You don't have to feel like you're in my debt. (If anything, I should be
indebted.)"
Kyouko: "...What...please let me feel grateful..."
After all, this is a major breakthrough in my catching up with Shoutarou...

[Page 26]
Sawara: "There was a reason I surrendered to you."
Kyouko: "A reason?"
Sawara: "I thought you would have no chance from the start so I didn't say anything but,
our company has a test you have to take. A test to determine if your a talented enough
person or not to make it in our company. And based on that test, if you aren't approved
of by the president of our company, you can't formally join our company!!"
Kyouko: "Really, is that how it works?"
Kyouko: "Well, then I'll take that test. Just let me know when it will be please."
Sawara: Why...? ("Why does this girl act like it's nothing... [That's not the reaction I
expected...] Kyouko: 'What!? No way!! There's a test!! What'll I do~~!?' Why is she just
smiling...!!")
Employee: "The entrance audition? (Oh, you're the girl chief mentioned.) Hold on a
minute."
Kyouko: "Thank you."

[Page 27]
Sawara: ("Don't you understand...? You're approaching the test with less time to prepare
than anyone else...?") (Because she was put in at the last minute.)
Creepy~~
Kyouko: "Thank you very much."

[Page 28]
Kyouko: "Okay... The audition is on the 17th? That's five days from now."
After I take this test, I won't have any trouble becoming one of LME Productions talent
members!! (She already intends to join the talent section.)
Kyouko: ("He he he he. Great!!")
I can do it!!
*Boom*
Kyouko: "....uu... I...I'm sorr..."

[Page 29]
Ugh, Tsu...Tsuruga Ren!!!

You've got your chance Kyouko...but are you really gonna be okay?


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Translation by anime-cat. Do not use without permision!
More information about "Skip Beat!" can be found at:
http://www.zaha.net/shoujo/nakamura/skip/skipbeat.html
Contact email: zahara@washuu.swb.de
Thanks!
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