At the end of the last volume, we were introduced to Koo Hizuri, a famous actor who has returned to Japan from Hollywood. Kyoko is his assistant and slave. He rants and raves and treats Kyoko like dirt. Now we find out why. It's an assignment from the president of Kyoko's talent agency. Hizuri tells the president that he feels sorry for Kyoko, but he has to keep acting horribly towards her. The whole point is to get Kyoko to complain about Hizuri to Ren. We discover why later.But as is always the case where Kyoko's involved, Hizuri and the president's plan to thwart her fails. After a big blow out between Kyoko and Hizuri (the was predicated upon Kyoko's attempt to stick up for Ren), instead of complaining to Ren, she apologizes to Hizuri. He can't keep up the act any longer and turns into a tough love mentor.Kyoko keeps being offered roles as bullies. She doesn't want to be typecast and is going to turn the roles down. When Hizuri hears this, he won't let her do it. She doesn't have the experience or reputation yet to turn down roles. She has to accept everything and then make each role unique, even when it's yet another bully. Hizuri admires Kyoko's talent as an actor but thinks she doesn't have adequate depth. He issues her a personal challenge: to play the role of Kuon, Hizuri's lost son.And Kyoko does...with gusto. She becomes Kuon in looks and deeds. She worships her dear dad and acts like the perfect son. She even stays in character when she runs into Ren. She introduces herself as Kuon to a thoroughly confused Ren. It is this ironically that gets Ren involved with Kyoko and Hizuri's relationship. We shall see how this develops... This was another re-read, to catch up on this series before heading on to the newest volumes. Kyoko is one of my favorite manga characters because she is so endearing, but still so messed up. One of the main foci of this volume is the relationship between parent and child. Kyoko never had a loving relationship with her parents, and so when called upon to act one out, she doesn't really have a frame of reference to draw from, and is at a loss. I love the interaction between Kyoko and Koo because you can see their developing father/child relationship, even from the first sequence when they are bickering back and forth. You can tell that they will both grow from knowing one another.This volume also focuses on the essence of acting, and how Kyoko must approach acting to be successful. Koo's advice for her is invaluable: if she wants to succeed, Kyoko can't just act what she knows and likes, and must inhabit and become even unlikable characters. Kyoko's portray of Kuon is particularly touching. Though she has a frame of reference the others don't know about (her meeting with the real "Korn" as a child), she is able to truly become Kuon based on one simple fact: Kuon and his father, Koo, love each other a ridiculous and overwhelming amount.So where is Ren during all this? Mostly being concerned with what is going on with Kyoko. And then he happens to meet Kyoko masquerading as Kuon together with Koo, and you know something is up. But that will have to wait until the next volume.Also of note, Kyoko notices a news program featuring Sho Fuwa, which sends her into a depressed tailspin (which are always brilliant and hilarious). I don't hate Sho as much as I used to, because I truly think he has changed for the better because of Kyoko. It's nice to see him popping up to inspire Kyoko to press on towards her dream (of beating him!) and to not give up.
What do You think about Skip Beat!, Vol. 18 (2009)?
My favorite manga series! Cute, witty, innocent, and downright hysterical. :)
—karmenn
