Skip Beat Ep. 06 - Ruriko vs. Kyoko

Things really start getting good now that Kyoko's actually doing some acting. Oh, and of course more Ren x Kyoko scenes are made of WIN. Ren carries Kyoko to the filming set princess-style, which sets Ruriko off. Ruriko tries to flirt with Ren, but he repels her with an insincere smile saying that he was tired of waiting. Ruriko decides to make trouble by leaving the set, knowing that since she's a famous star people will come after her and have to beg her to return. She tells Kyoko that she hates the Love Me division and that from the beginning she never intended to award Kyoko any points for her work. Kyoko and Yashiro ignore her remarks and unceremoniously carry her back to the set, saying that they're just there to make sure filming goes well. Ruriko is mortified to find that everyone on the set has been lounging around without even wondering where she went to. As they're filming Ruriko's scenes, Ren offers Kyoko a chair because her ankle is still in a lot of pain. She doesn't trust him, but he says he's human too. The director asks Ruriko to redo a scene because she isn't carrying herself like a high class lady. Ren notices that as the director explains how Ruriko should act, Kyoko unconsciously follows his directions and changes her posture. Ruriko complains that the director is being too picky, and if he's going to be so difficult, why doesn't he just ask some nobody like Kyoko to play the role instead. To her surprise, Kyoko says she'll do it and the director agrees to let her try. If Kyoko is better, she can get the role instead of Ruriko. Kyoko is delighted that she gets to wear makeup and be dressed up as a beautiful girl, since she's never had anything like that before. Thanks to her training as a girl at Sho's family's ryokan, she knows how to carry herself properly, and the director is very impressed by her skills. Ruriko is angry that it seems like everyone is on Kyoko's side. The two girls prepare for the next scene which involves kneeling down and performing a traditional tea ceremony. During practice, everyone is impressed by how quickly Ruriko learned how to prepare the tea. Kyoko declines to practice, saying that kneeling is really hard on her ankle and she'd rather not put pressure on it if she can. Ruriko enters the next scene confident that she'll overpower Kyoko, but the director says that she doesn't even seem to be taking it seriously, drooling over Ren rather than actually bothering to act. Ruriko steps down angrily, and Kyoko takes the stage.

Ohohohohohohohoho. Ruriko is getting Kyokowned, and there's nothing she can do about it. Well, she deserves it for being such a primadonna. Another faithful translation from the manga, and I am once again very impressed by the voice acting. Thankfully, the music wasn't as poorly placed as the last episode, but the animation (especially of the extras) still seems to be suffering. Seeing Ren and Kyoko together is so much fun, and Ren's manager Yashiro is pretty funny too. It's nice how kind he is to Kyoko. Next week it's Kyoko's turn to act with Ren. I am quite looking forward to it.

--Ou-bento