Skip Beat!

Kyoko followed her true love and childhood friend Fuwa Sho to Tokyo. This is so she could help him reach his dream of becoming an idol. She cleans, cooks, works three jobs and does nothing for herself, though she gets nothing in return, because she loves him so much. She remains devotedly by his side until one day she goes unannounced to his agency with a delivery and overhears him talking about her. Sho reveals to his manager that he only took her with him as a maid, and that he doesn't care for her at all. Upon hearing this, Kyoko flies into a violent rage of food-throwing and tear-shedding. She is apprehended by security personnel but accepts a mocking Sho's challenge to join showbiz in order to take revenge

Kyoko, now living at the Darumaya (a restaurant she works in), starts looking for an entrance into show business. She chooses L.M.E., Sho's agency's main competitor. Sawara, who manages talent at the company, kicks her out after hearing that she had no interest whatsoever in show business. Kyoko pesters him for several days and nights until he finally gives in. Kyoko is then allowed to participate in an audition to get into the company. Soon after, she bumps into the famous actor Ren Tsuruga, L.M.E's most popular actor. After Tsuraga he hears that Kyoko's main motive is revenge, he tells her it's useless to join L.M.E. Kyoko does not take this well. Ren momentarily shows a part of his real self in his anger, but immediately turns back to his smiling face. Kyoko angrily decides that Ren is the 2nd person she hates after Shou. At the audition a notable character is entry number 46, who shocked all of the judges by memorizing a book in a short amount of time during the first stage of the audition. For her talent, Kyoko surprises everyone by coming on to the stage with a daikon (white radish) and a knife.

Kyoko's performance was to cut the daikon (radish) into a rose, using a knife lent by her boss at Darumya. Her performance amazes the judges including the president, Lory, since the skill is famous and difficult to master. Though the daikon turns out to be a peony rather than a rose, Kyoko easily passes. As she continues to the next audition, entry number 46 approaches her. She taunts her, warning Kyoko that the test they were about to take was the true beginning of the audition. The test required participants to react to a phone call and participants started to act out happiness. Entry number 46 actually even manages to shed tears. When it came to Kyoko, however, she reacted with what the judges describe 'strong murderous aura', as the voice of the phone reminded her of how Sho dumped her. The phone is thrown angrily onto the ground, and the president seems about to cry at the sight. Later, Sawara reveals that she didn't pass that level because she was missing the important emotion of love. Kyoko returns to Daruma, thinking about the path she was going to take, and her childhood. She decides to give up on competing with Sho, but her boss at Daruma expresses strong dissent at this. The president of L.M.E. also mentions Kyoko to Sawara, and the plans he could have for her if she were the next talent.