Recap / Skip Beat Volume 33

The milestone of 200 Chapters reached! Let's keep going!

With the tense atmosphere between Kyoko and Ren getting worse, Kyoko does her best to keep up her job as Ren's good-luck charm and performing Setsuka Heel. But the strain of the two tasks begins to even take its toll on her. Yet, the real danger comes when the desires of Setsuka and Kyoko merge.

Kyoko does manage to pull Ren from his stupor, but now the real problems begin. With the 'forbidden box' having been fully opened, she struggles to keep these reawakened feelings hidden. And when an actress begins to show romantic interest in Cain Heel, Kyoko tries to keep herself calm.

But what if Lory sees her now? There's no doubt in her mind that he'd figure everything out at a single glance.

This volume contains the following chapters

• Act 195: "Dark Breath" ^note Setsuka turns the tables and is now the one sitting atop Cain in bed. In her mind, Kyoko is wondering if Ren, too, has something in his past that can trigger him to lose control, and is disappointed that he would fall to such depths. As Setsuka, she kisses his forehead. This helps bring Ren out of his mental stupor and return to his role as Cain Heel, keeping his jealousy reined in. Remarking about the lipstick mark left on his forehead, both claim she should leave one in a 'visible' and an 'invisible' place. Cain specifically wants one that will last a lifetime, and she okays it.
• Act 196: "Dark Breath" ^note As Kyoko isn't very knowledgable about these things, she ends up biting Ren's neck. Cain explains how to create a kiss mark, and she leaves one over the previous bite mark. He tells her, partially also talking as Ren to Kyoko, that he'll never behave unlike himself again and that she should keep watching him. When he tries to give Setsuka a kiss mark on the chest, she denies and is about to leave, citing that she needs to go out and buy ingredients for breakfast. Cain tells her it's too late for her to go out, and that he'll go. The two leave and deal with the tense events that just transpired. In the elevator, Ren recalls how flustered and shocked he was at the actions that Kyoko took in her role as Setsuka. Ren remembers how it's been a while that he's been manipulated while acting, and reiterates his desire to not lose to anyone when it comes to acting.
• Act 197: "Turning Point" ^note Kyoko struggles to balance her mental state, while also continuing to act out a good Setsuka Heel. While Ten calls Lory and talks about how strange Ren behaved the last time he was around her, Lory realizes that he might have to step in, after all. When Cain and Setsuka arrive at the studio two hours late, Murasame snaps at Cain and his lax work attitude, again mentioning that his actions make him just as bad as the character of BJ: the moving corpse of a bloody-thirsty murderer. Kyoko is relieved to see that Ren doesn't react to those words again, and Cain puts his acting on a high pedestal, just like he would as Ren.
• Act 198: "Tragic Marker" ^note The matter of Cain Heel having a hickey on his neck becomes a quickly spread topic of gossip among the cast of Tragic Marker. The director is certain it's part of the 'Cain Heel' Ren Tsuruga has created and expanded on, while the actors not in the know are convinced that it was done by Setsuka, and are certain that the Heel siblings are in an incestuous relationship. Kyoko worries about how this may affect things once the truth of 'Ren Tsuruga is Cain Heel/Actor X/BJ' comes to light.
• Act 199: "Killed, By The Death God" ^note Manaka accosts Cain and states that she's sure he's much kinder than he portrays himself and wants to make friends, though Murasame tries to make her see sense and yells at Cain for messing with her mind. Setsuka demands to know what he means by that and Cain admits that he barely did anything but a small pat to the head, which infuriates his sister. However, Kyoko slips out of character and claims to not be angry about this. In her mind, she remembers the cliff she's standing at, and decides to jump off, rather than openly admit her feelings.
• Act 200: "Her Prayer Is For One Thing" ^note President Lory has infiltrated the studio where Tragic Marker is being filmed, much to the shock of Ren and Kyoko. They choose to ignore him, retaining their Heel sibling personalities. And Manaka's continued, lovestruck behavior towards Cain makes Kyoko reaffirm her decision to not admit or act upon her own feelings. She mentally closes the box of love up again, wanting to never go back to her old ways. But then Cain rushes up to her and hugs her, throwing Kyoko's feelings and hold on being Setsuka in turmoil... and she locks eyes with president Lory, who is watching this spectacle.
• Extra: "Him Then ~ This Truth I'll Take With Me To The Grave ~" ^note Cain meeting Manaka at the vending machine, her frightened behavior made him think of a hamster, and to recall similar behavior of Kyoko's. He holds his laughter in, and ends up patting Manaka on the head. However, he insists that he'll never admit this to anyone, as he ended up acting as Ren and not Cain.

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Chapters in this volume provide examples of:

• Affectionate Gesture to the Head: Cain performs a small pat on Manaka's head, which caused her to not only fall in love with him, but also becomes convinced that he's much kinder than he initially appears. Cain insists that it was just a pat given to a small animal, calling her a hamster.
• Anywhere but Their Lips: Setsuka kisses Ren's forehead, keeping with the strange relationship the Heel siblings have.
• Dogeza: Kyoko throws herself into this position during Chapter 198, apologizing to the director that she and Cain were late for work by two hours the previous day. Director Konoe calms her down, stating that it fit well into the character for Cain Heel.
• Green-Eyed Monster
  • Setsuka lovingly mocks Cain's jealousy over the phone call, stating that there's no need for it. She is completely devoted to her big brother and has eyes for no other man.
  • Setsuka stops Cain from leaving a hickey on her, stating that his using a technique on her that he cultivated with other women really ticks her off.
  • Setsuka, again, in Chapter 199 when she hears that Cain performed 'some kindness' on Manaka. She demands to know what he did, and why did that to another girl.
• Fanservice: The first few chapters in this volume are chock-full of it. Kyoko and Ren in bed; Kyoko slowly undressing Ren, and giving him a hickey; Ren almost giving her one on her chest...
• Flashback: Chapter 196 opens with Kyoko recalling a very sensual scene she saw on TV as a child once, which she uses as reference in undressing Ren to fit into the image of the 'mysterious and captivating Heel siblings'.
• Flower Motifs: It's a shoujo manga, after all.
• The Glomp: Chapter 200 has Cain perform one on Setsuka, to the point that she's lifted off her feet.
• Holding Hands: Setsuka and Cain hold hands while browsing shops.
• Imagine Spot: Chapter 200 has Kyoko imagine what would likely happen, if Lory were to realize she has fallen in love with Ren and tells him. In her imagination, Ren first mocks her about it, then admits his disappointment. Which she admits seems likely, even for a delusion of hers.
• Insult Backfire: Murasame claims that 'Cain Heel' will never be remembered, that all people will recall is his role as the serial killer BJ. Cain replies that being known as 'the guy who played BJ' would be an amazing praise, citing that it means his acting left an unforgettable impact.
  Cain: ...the Japanese are actually quite tiresome, aren't they? Praising people while angry.
  Murasame: I'm not praising you!
• Intimate Open Shirt: Played with, as Setsuka slowly unzips Cain's shirt all the way and slips it off his shoulder. It doesn't go beyond that.
• I Was Just Joking: Setsuka claims that, since she isn't as experienced as her brother in intimate matters, she'll just go out and surely find plenty of men willing to practice with her. Cain stops her and she just shrugs it off as this.
  It's bound to be a joke, isn't it?
• Kindhearted Cat Lover: Manaka sees Cain as 'Sagara Kyoushiro', a character from an old manga that was always seen as rough, but had a gentle heart. Particularly sheltering a kitten from the rain.
• Luminescent Blush: When Cain embraces Setsuka in Chapter 200, majority of her face ends up blushing a deep shade.
• Man Bites Man: A non-battle version, with Setsuka biting Cain's neck and leaving teeth marks. Since Kyoko doesn't know how to leave a hickey.
• Misunderstood Loner with a Heart of Gold: After Cain smiles at Manaka, she becomes convinced that he is one. Much to his and Setsuka's displeasure.
• Oh, Crap!: Manaka makes this face when she finds herself alone with Cain near the vending machine.
• The Precarious Ledge: Kyoko sees her mental state as being pushed to the edge of a cliff, not ready to 'jump off' and continue to deny her feelings for Ren or to admit everything to herself.
• Stock Sound Effect: Setsuka's ringtone is that of a thunderbolt.
• V-Sign: Kyoko does one on the cover, which was also used to celebrate the 200th Chapter.
• Your Makeup Is Running: Setsuka dabs at her lipstick, after it gets smeared from biting Cain's neck. No mention of this is made when she successfully gives him a hickey.
• You Do NOT Want To Know: Director Konoe is curious about the hickey Cain Heel has on his neck, but decides to better not ask because he's not sure he'd like the answer.

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