Skip Beat! Vol 18
Author: Yoshiki Nakamura
Publisher: Viz Media
American
release date: May 5, 2009
Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/shojo manga/200 pages
Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★
It’s been a while since Kyoko was given a job from the Love Me Section. What with her continuing success in obtaining acting roles, she’s a little surprised to be chosen for just such a job. Especially when she learns she’ll be helping a Japanese actor who moved to the States and went Hollywood years ago, but has returned. Koo Hizuri is his name. She also doesn’t know that he is Ren’s father. But Lory knows that. What is the President up to?
That’s the same question Ren is wondering when Lory told him Koo was coming back to Japan. President knows the state of their relationship, or rather lack thereof. Although Kyoko tries her best (she thinks she was requested because Koo wants a certain style of cooking), the actor is difficult, to put it mildly. But when he disrespects Ren, he’s gone too far and Kyoko lashes out (Koo played the original role that Ren is playing in Dark Moon). But the next day, Kyoko returns and apologizes, determined to do her best to carry out her assignment, no matter what.
When Kyoko receives a call about possible job offers, she hesitates, not wanting to be typecast in bully roles because of the way she played Mio. But Koo quickly sets her straight and lets her know the proper way to handle things. He tells her she needs to challenge herself, make each role different even if it’s similar. To stretch herself as an actress. He gives her an assignment and sends her home to work on it. She is to create a character, one that is completely alien to her…she’s going to play his son! How diabolical is that?
Ren, having learned that Kyoko has been assigned to Koo, runs into her as she is in a funk about how she is going to play a boy. Ren is already concerned, wondering what Lory is playing at, but her demeanor only gives him more to worry about. Not one to complain, she assures him all is well, because she doesn’t want to stress him out by leaning on him. She shows up the next day, ready to do as asked, and using the name Koo gave her to use – Kuon. The plot thickens indeed!
Ren phones Lory to ask what he is about, and he plays innocent. But things go from bad to worse when Ren and his manager run into what appears to be a young person, only to discover it’s Kyoko. At least they think it is. She looks nothing like herself. And she is acting nothing like herself. What the heck is going on? And then, the moment Ren had dreaded, arrives…
This volume of Skip Beat! is really really awesome. So much going on here. The father who abandoned Ren for his career is back. Not that Ren wants anything to do with him. But the President has embroiled Kyoko in this mess. Why? Because he has told Koo that if he attacks Kyoko enough, she will eventually break and go to Ren. And when she does, Ren will come out in full force! That’s the only way he will get to see his son and he knows it.
I just love this series so much. Character development is off the chain! I love how Lory stresses out playing a dating sim game lol Kyoko is displaying so much more talent than when she began. She is definitely going places. My question is – when will she learn the truth about Ren, what will she do with the knowledge that he and Corn are the same and he’s always known it… and can they get past it?
Another great volume, can’t wait for the next!
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