Skip Beat!, Vol. 12

スキップ・ビート! [Skip Beat!] #12

by Yoshiki Nakamura

When Kyoko’s heart is broken, she decides that revenge is a dish best served in the spotlight!

Kyoko Mogami followed her true love Sho to Tokyo to support him while he made it big as an idol. But he’s casting her out now that he’s famous! Kyoko won’t suffer in silence—she’s going to get her sweet revenge by beating Sho in show biz!

Kyoko's determination to help Ren continues as she lends a friendly ear--in her chicken suit. Ren opens up and confides in Chicken Bo, but is Kyoko really ready to deal with his lovelorn confession? To make matters worse, Ren's been given an ultimatum by the LME president, and if he can't act right by the end of the week, he's out on his ear!

Chapters: 67-72

Genres: Manga, Romance, Shojo, Graphic Novels, Humor, Young Adult, Comics

200 pages, Paperback

First published February 17, 2006

About the author

Yoshiki Nakamura (仲村佳樹) is a Japanese mangaka. She was born June 17. Nakamura made her manga debut with "Yume de Auyori Suteki" in the manga magazine Hana to Yume in 1993.

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here we get to meet...The Ducken BO!! LOL Some things will stay with you forever. This may be one of them...

Poor Ren. My heart goes out to him as he continues his struggle. His struggle to connect with his character and his struggle with potential feelings for Kyoko. But the fact that he is starting to admit to himself how he feels made me happy. I LOVED the improve acting they do at his apartment. I think Kyoko got as much out of it as him. Although some of his behavior have me wondering what his 'real' personality is like. And there is one scene that literally made me squeal!! Most intense! And it also steps up (once again) Kyoko's ability. She just keeps rising to each challenge. Love this girl!

And oh...the ending....Dun Dun DUN!

[Anna 'Bookbuyer' · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel so sorry for Ren in this volume. He is trying so hard to surpass his father and it has paralyzed him.

And now Lory is making Ren do an acting test!? I know he has Ren's best interests at heart but that's the last thing Ren needs! Or is it? :O

lol. Ren your King of the Night mode clicked in! You scared the bejesus out of Kyoko! Her heart can't take your sexiness! :P

Ren get a hold of yourself!!! If Kyoko's heart wasn't locked behind a hundred different lock your actions would have screamed 'I love you Kyoko!!!'

I really like how Kyoko and Ren's relationship is progressing. The art is getting better too. More refined. :D

Edit:

I find it funny how many sons in this manga are trying to move out of the shadow of their fathers.

I love when Ren teaches Kyoko it always ends up being hilarious or somewhat hot!

Ren's bed really is huge! Then again he is huge! How tall is he???

I love how Ren forgot himself and held Kyoko! His lord of the night self came out!

[Skrivena stranica · Rating 1 out of 5]

While it was about girl wanting to get revenge and going into showbiz world it was fun and interesting. But now... al this "romance" stuff? I don't feel it a bit. Ren is irritating and plain, I have no feeling for his character. Art in this manga is awful. I hate those arm and legs that are 2m long. Face of main character makes me cringe. "Tragic" backstories of the characters are just bad and annoying. Only curiosity is making me want to continue.
And this age gap with the younger person being only 16... don't get me started with it...

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I get nostalgic and I want something bittersweet and funny and moving, I go to this series. This is my third reread of Skip Beat and I fall in love with the characters again and again. Even as I get older I find something new to make me laugh or like something new about a character. There’s something special about a series that I can always come back to and find More to enjoy.

[Lid]

*En mangas sólo puntúo el primer volumen como nota general del manga

La escena de actuación entre Ren y Kyoko no podría haber sido más perfecta, era actuación pero no y *____* ¿Y que decir del final?

"Definitivamente, le haré actuar"

¡Vuelve el Ren decidido! *aplausos emocionada*

[Stephany · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!! Unos de mis tomos favoritos.
No puedo esperar para leer el siguiente tomo.
Kyoko mi heroína.
Ren casate con ella!!
xD

[Kat R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume is so good and reminds me of the Bo giving love advice pre confession scene.
I love Ren of the night first appearance.

[DonutKnow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh Ren, you cutie 😆☺️☺️

But damn, I have to say these two are so talented and they really take acting seriously 😲

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with all the other volumes in this series so far, this was really well done - though I felt more that it was a "filler episode/volume" than something that was really central and moved the plot along. Oops?

Pretty much the whole thing was Ren coming to terms with his feelings for Kyouko, and learning essentially hot to use those feelings that he has for her in order to portray his role of Katsuki - before the dreaded deadline of the president coming to assess his performance (and potentially fire him if his acting is not up to par).

The practice session with Kyouko was well done, though really - did she HAVE to injure herself [for real] in order to play her part? 8'D

[Alison (AlisonCanRead) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ren knows it...he's in love, but as he says "I cannot afford to admit it." Ren's now got the emotions of a starcrossed lover. He just needs to learn how to act it. And time is running short. The president of Ren's talent agency has called a test of Ren's acting. If he fails, he'll be fired from the movie (interestingly, it's his agency that will insist on his removal, not the director).

The volume starts out with a hilarious encounter between Ren and Bo. Ren is actually confessing his infatuation with Kyoko to the chicken. He's so worried, because she's too young for him but he can't help himself. Ren obviously has no idea that Kyoko is the chicken. Kyoko is so happy for Ren - she's completely clueless that Ren is referring to her. She encourages his interest in the unknown girl because she thinks it will help his acting and she wants him to be happy.

Back to the uncostumed Kyoko...Still in her "I'll do anything to help Ren mode," which, let's face it occupies almost all her non-Sho thoughts, Kyoko brings lunch for Ren. She's worried that his poor eating habits are affecting his acting. Ren calls in another favor: "There's one more thing I'd like to have with that lunch box to perk me up...your body and your time...tonight." Kyoko practically melts into the ground in embarrassment.

Hot times (well, chastely hot times) ensue when Kyoko comes over to Ren's apartment that night to help him prepare for his test. Kyoko acts the role of Misao (the girl that Ren's character is in love with). Kyoko is thoroughly invested in her part and improvises Misao's personality wonderfully. Ren, on the other hand, isn't acting. He's playing himself and doesn't snap out of it until he's on the verge of kissing Kyoko. By far the most passionate scene of this series so far. Wow! And Kyoko is yet again clueless. She just thinks Ren really gets into his characters. That girl...will she ever learn?

[SilverMoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

La mia prima reazione:era ora!
E adesso,dopo attenta e soprattutto matura riflessione posso aggiungere,datemi più Ren "imperatore della notte"...fortuna che sono riuscita a trattenermi dal divorare immediatamente il volumetto come l'ho avuto per le mani,non avrei mai potuto aspettare così a lungo la nuova uscita.
Con un po' più di lucidità e contegno,devo comunque dire che vedere Ren perdere il controllo in quel modo è stato decisamente emozionante e molto stuzzicante,e sebbene sperassi in uno sviluppo del genere,anche inaspettato,perlomeno nelle modalità in cui questa epifania è avvenuta.Poi ci voleva una come Kyoko a non capire che per così dire nell'appartamento di Ren la quarta parete era caduta,con tutte le implicazioni del caso.
Direi che a questo punto è anche abbastanza inutile specificare che io tifo dal primo fotogramma della sigla dell'anime per la coppia Kyoko/Ren ( in realtà almeno fino ad ora non so come si possa prospettare una Kyoko/Sho,non avendo comunque la minima intenzione di considerarla un'opzione plausibile),viste le premesse,credo ci vorrà ancora molto prima che la situazione si sblocchi in quel senso,nel frattempo ci godiamo il viaggio...

[Lemoona · Rating 5 out of 5]

GAHHHHHH!!

I CAN’T! I CANNOT!!! I JUST CAN’TTTTT!!!

I know I’m rereading this, but I completely forgot about the events in this volume! I didn’t remember a single detail! It’s like I’m reading it for the first time… which is what I wanted because this book made me feel SO FLUSTERED!!

I mean, my heart was beating so fast… who can handle the KING OF THE NIGHT WITH A STRAIGHT FACE?!!! NOT KYOUKO, and certainly NOT ME!

If I ever met REN’s true self in real life I’d melt right then and there! I’m surprised Kyoko is still functioning!!!

When they fell and he held her… mind blowing! And her getting him to break character… MIND. BLOWING. HE IS SO DOWN BAD I CAN’T I CANNOT I CAN’T!!!!!!

I. Just. Can’t.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

BO!!!!!!!! WOOOT! WOOTT! *wiggles* DUDDEEEE! Seriously I love Bo! ;P

AHHHHHHHHHHH OTP OTP OTPPPPPPP! RENxKYOKO!!!!! MOTHER OF ALLLL! SOOOOOOO CUTE! *dies*

I loooove how Kyoko helps Ren. I mean she had done that countless time and Ren has helped her too, but gosh GURRRRLLLLL kind of really love you.

OKAY, I DON'T WANT TO SPOIL ANYTHING B-B-B-BUT! OMMGGG! THEY ALMOST HAD IT!!! *coughs* TT^TT I can't say anything! I don't want to spoil it!

Kyoko really is clueless. She doesn't truly see the affection Ren shows her.

THIS IS THE WORST REVIEW OF LIFE!

[Starbubbles · Rating 5 out of 5]

2009: i love how ren's feelings grow for kyoko. it's like a snowball that just keeps picking up steam! but will ren pass his acting test from just "playing" dark moon? we'll just have to wait and see...

[Miss Ryoko · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far, the 11th and 12th volumes have been my favorite! I am TOTALLY digging the drama with Ren overcoming his acting barrier. I feel like I'm watching a soap opera and just can't wait to see what happens next I'm so sucked into the drama! Haha!

So far, the Dark Moon arc has been the best!!

[Khari · Rating 5 out of 5]

やっぱり連はヤバい。

それにしても、私がこのシリーズを最初読んだ時より日本語能力が上がった。なんか、今回読むとニュアンスがもっと把握してる気がする。

思ったより連は京子を大事にしている。彼が自分のことは愛されてるのふさわしくないと思っている。なぜ？自分の愛が愛された人を汚しているみたいな態度がある。何で？理由がわかる、読んだことある、でもなんか、連がすごく繊細の人だよね。普通の人はそこまで罪悪感を感じるの？自分を否定するような程度で？

[Tatiana Comet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cinque stelle non bastano per descrivere quanto mi sia piaciuto questo volume!!
La dichiarazione di Ren mi ha pervaso il cuore di dolcezza :)

[Luana · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Ne ero già consapevole. Nel momento in cui le avessi chiesto di intepretare Mizuki, i miei sentimenti per lei sarebbero maturati indipendentemente dalla mia volontà. Però ero certo che sarei stato in grado di fermarmi in tempo. Ma per quanto possano maturare, non ho alcuna intenzione di rivelarli. Ancor meno di tenderle la mano. Eppure, lei mi ha dato la sua inaspettatamente, il suo calore, quegli occhi umidi. Senza pensarci sono stato travolto dall'impulso di stringerla a me. Ho come l'impressione che, da quando me ne sono reso conto, mi stia divorado sempre più rapidamente, come un male che si aggrava a vista d'occhio...spaventoso...Non immaginavo di essere così debole."

4,5

Sono in un brodo di giuggiole, proprio come Yashiro quando vede interagire i nostri due disagiati preferiti.
Beh, che dire? Non mi sembra che ci siano più dubbi sui sentimenti di Ren, ma proprio zero. Certo, lui è alla disperata ricerca di motivazioni per respingere queste emozioni (la differenza d'età è solo la prima) e per evitare di stringere relazioni. Eppure, proprio come nel caso di Katsuki, anche ciò che Ren prova per Kyoko inizia a crescere progressivamente, indipendenemente dalla sua volontà. La prova di recitazione che i due mettono in piedi a casa dell'attore è abbastanza significativa: il tutto nasce per permettere a Ren di fare un po' di pratica mentre interpreta il suo personaggio. Kyoko si dimostra all'altezza, anche se rimane colpita dalle capacità di Ren; lui, dal canto suo, si ritrova ad uscire dal suo ruolo e a mettere a nudo i suoi sentimenti. "Fortunatamente" Kyoko è perplessa, ma non sembra essersi accorta della portata del suo tumulto interiore. Certo è che Ren in versione "Imperatore della notte" è tanta roba. Qui i problemi sono due: le pare mentali di Ren (spero che prima o poi ci venga spiegato da dove arriva questa convinzione, perché soffrire tanto?) e le ferite di Kyoko, probabilmente convinta di non essere degna dell'amore di qualcuno. Ergo, mi sa che ci sarà da penare parecchio da qui in avanti...
Comunque sia, il piccolo esperimento recitativo sembra sortire l'effetto sperato, dando a Ren la chiave per interpretare il suo Katsuki. Un tempismo perfetto visto che il presidente Takarada ha organizzato per lui un test che, in caso di fallimento, porterà a un cambio di attore. Tutto sommato, mi sento di credere a Lory quando dice che questo è il suo modo di mostrare affetto nei confronti di Ren, evitandogli l'imbarazzo delle critiche per un ruolo non adatto a lui. Tuttavia, Ren mi sembra abbastanza convinto tanto da chiedere di poter improvvisare in modo da dare l'interpretazione migliore. Come andrà a finire?
Per noi amanti della ship Kyoko/Ren, questo è stato un volume fantastico. Pure la copertina è bellissima!

[Julie Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Yashiro feels his plan to have Kyoko make dinner for Ren the night before must have been a failure. Ren is silent today, and even more odd, he’s listening to a cd on his earphones. What kind of music does Ren even like? Kyoko hurries to intercept them, as she knows where they will be, and grabs her chicken suit, but ends up with the slimmer version, just so she can talk to Ren.
Meanwhile, the director is concerned that he will have to fire Ren, although he doesn’t want to and he surely doesn’t want to hurt him. But something is seriously lacking in his performance, and he can’t have that, not if he is going to make a better version of the film than his father. Besides that, the President of LME has told him if Ren can’t do it, then fire him. He’s coming back in two days and he will decide about Ren for himself when he watches his performance.

Kyoko takes a box lunch to Ren at his apartment and she offers to help him rehearse, taking the role of Mizuki. He agrees and they begin. During the course of the day, they find themselves accidentally in an intimate position.

Ren is finally confident in his portrayal of Katsuki. But will he be good enough for Lory? Ren has a request for the director, though. He wants to improvise some of the lines in the scene, in order to play the part the way he feels it. He is confident that he can make it work. Will the director give him the chance? And will Lory accept what he does?

I love, love, loved watching Kyoko and Ren rehearsing together, especially knowing how Ren feels about her. He has hinted as much, albeit obscurely, in his talks with the chicken, talking about the person he likes who is still in high school. Kyoko hasn’t caught on that it’s her he’s talking about and would not believe it if someone told her that. She is very clueless when it comes to Ren, and is just starting to realize that she likes him as him, not as Ren Tsuruga the movie star/actor. But how will she feel when she finds out he is Corn? I can’t believe that will end well. I can’t wait to see how the scene goes and what Lory’s reaction will be.

Rooting for Ren to succeed and looking forward to the next volume!

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Today's post is on Skip Beat!, volume 12 by Yoshiki Nakamura. It is 200 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has Kyoko as Mio and Ren as Katsuki on it. The intended reader is someone who has read the first eleven volumes, likes comedy and shojo manga. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of the main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Kyoko's determination to help Ren continues as she lends a friendly ear- in her chicken suit. Ren opens up and confides in Chicken Bo, but is Kyoko really ready to deal with his lovelorn confession? To make matters worse, Ren's been given an ultimatum by th LME president, and if he can't act right by end of the week, he's out on his ear!

Review- We pick up right where we left off in the previous volume. Ren is trying to deal with his feeling for Kyoko and she has no clue about what he is dealing with. They have some serious moments in this volume as Kyoko helps him find his Katsuki and accidentally pulls out the real man, Koun, from the mask that he wears all the time. Not much more happens in this volume, it really is about what is going on in Ren's mind and some of what is going on in his heart. In the next volume we get to see if Ren can prove himself and keep working on this drama.

I give this this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.

[L. J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still think it’s way too soon for Ren to be “in love”, considering he’s mostly been an ass to Kyoko. It’d be awesome if it was one-sided “love”, but Kyoko obviously is gonna feel “love” for him in return. It’s just too early for me. Plus, I have other problems with these two eventually getting together (age gap that the series keeps on reminding us of, even though that is information we wouldn’t forget because this age gap is very naaaah).

Also, Ren quite literally pulled a Kyoya from Ouran High School Host Club; acting like he’s gonna violate the female lead’s innocence to prove a point (except I don’t believe Ren because he's an ass and I think he was going for it, a kiss, until he saw her reaction; I'm pretty sure he proved me right just a few pages later...).

[Shaked Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume was about Ren finding his own unique Katsuki with the help of Kyoko. There was definitely a lot of steam-worthy scenes in this one. We still don’t get to see why Ren is unable to love Kyoko, we don’t get anything more about his past, so a lot of stuff is left unanswered in Ren’s character.
I don’t really have much to say about this volume. It was more romance fueled this time rather than plot driven, which I’m totally fine with, it’s just that other than interaction between Kyoko and Ren nothing happened much...
still it was really fun and amusing to see Ren’s “acting” with Kyoko.

[Gimelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, the cover??! Hello? It is Katsuki and Mio OMG? I wonder if there are any fanfictions about them too haha.

DUCKEN BO 😂😂😂

“ I can’t afford to have anything precious here.” — WELL TOO BAD TSURUGA REN! IT IS TOO LATE FOR YOU!

The first time they act together — as Mizuki and Kazuki!!! God, my ship is sailing so hard.

“Love spreads rapidly… It’s a scary disease.” — Ren. 🤣

Ren swiping Kyouko’s lower lip. 🫦🫢 boy forgot to act. 🫣

Overall a solid 5 stars for this volume. I like how the story progresses so far. Excited for the next one!

[Felicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this volume it was mostly just Ren and Kioko. The author created the right contrivance so that they could spend some time alone and Ren could think about his feelings. Kioko doesn't even think about her own. The big test of the recitation has come. Will Ren be able to convince the director of the LME? Let's see

[daniella · Rating 3 out of 5]

A draaaaag omg. And even the author said in her notes that she was iffy about continuing the tsukomori (or whatever it's called) storyline. Having to constantly read the lines "I'm going to make this character my own, it's going to be original, no one can do it this way" GIRL I'm gonna punch the wall istg

[FER · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ren risks being fired if he can't perform being in love. So he practices with Kyoko. How fortunate that his feelings for her mirror the relationship of his character and love interest. I did like when his performance slipped and his raw feelings for her showed. But again, these volumes of repetitive content is dragging me down.

[Caro · Rating 5 out of 5]

WAAAAA
Todo lo que pasa en este tomo es ASAGHSDSHAGDAS
La actuación de Ren con Kyoko me encantó y AAAH, esa parte donde el queda sobre ella y no sabe que hacer es ahsgahsdvasd
YYY, el final del tomo es simplemente, ah, demasiado bueno.

[Dasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐ 1, 2 de 10 suspenso, lo odio
⭐⭐ 3, 4 de 10 justito, meh
⭐⭐⭐ 5, 6 de 10 bien, no está mal
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 7, 8 de 10 notable, me gusta bastante
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 9, 10 de 10 me obsesiona, me encanta.

Mis puntuaciones son para toda la saga, en general. No por tomos.

[sheymar · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS VOLUME HAD ME BLUSHING GIGGLING AND KICKING MY FEET ALL AT ONCE!!! Ren and Kyoko overload- literally. The “pretend acting” was getting to my head and it was too similar to THE REAL THEMMMMM! Anyways Ren IS A GENIUS ACTOR AND HE IMPRESSES ME EVERY SINGLE TIME. Same goes for Kyoko my queen.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mi sono mangiata il volume con gli occhi, tanto è stato emotivamente coinvolgente. Ren Imperatore della notte è una disgrazia per tutte noi. Dandole tempo, lo sarà pure per Kyoko, che già così comunque non ne è uscita proprio indenne!