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.

Kyoko films with Ren and becomes startled and angry with the way he easily manipulates their acting. Ruriko is unhappy with the praise Kyoko's acting generates. Despite the injury to her ankle, and helped by her smooth movements during the tea ceremony, Kyoko is performing well. However, during filming, Kyoko faints from the strain. This causes Ruriko to reflect on her own attitude towards her work. Kyoko receives full points from Ruriko as thanks for showing a strong work ethic. Ren states later that the director had no intention of allowing Kyoko to act, but rather used her to improve Ruriko's attitude. As a sort of compensation, he arranges for Kyoko to have a photoshoot. After the shoot, the director speaks with Kyoko, thanking her. Kyoko, still oblivious to her true role during the competition with Ruriko, tells him that she is glad Ruriko got the part as her own acting with Ren was not satisfactory. Ren and Yashiro pass by and the director asks them to take her back to her room. Yashiro makes a comment that upsets Kyoko to the point where she sinks to the floor in a state of depression. Thinking her faltering is injury related, Ren helps her stand. The next day, Kyoko explains to Ren that her state had been the result of thinking about Sho, and Ren docks her ten points.

Kyoko reminds Maria about her father's letter and Maria asks Kyoko for her opinion on what to talk about with her father. Maria realizes that Kyoko's father and mother had left her. Kyoko is told that she needs her mother's permission to debut. Kyoko sits on the stairs mumbling to her blue corn stone that she is going to be okay. Then she accidentally dropped the precious stone and quickly ran down to get it. The stone was picked up by Ren, who realized he knew Kyoko when he was young. He was the one who gave the stone to Kyoko when she was upset.

Getting to play Bo the chicken mascot at a new talk show, Kyoko gets a chance to exact some revenge when the guest is none other than Sho.

Unable to buy her way in, Erika insists Kyoko and Moko not to have any discussions about the audition (being from the same company, they would have better rapport than others who just met). However, they manage to pass the first test with just one line within the 60-second time frame. In the second test, Kyoko's idea for the act is stolen by Erika (who manage to pull it off first). Kyoko stands horrified, wondering whether they would be able to pass the audition.

Kyoko begins her first day as a high school student. She's excited to be a "normal high school girl," but later finds out that her high school rather abnormal since she's in the entertainment class where the students are celebrities. On her way to her working place, Kyoko overhears two female passersby talking about the Kyurara commercial and saying that the "short-haired one" (Kyoko) was "average" and "not cut out to be a celebrity," which reminds Kyoko of Sho. While upset about the passersby's comments, Kyoko receives a call from Ren, who is on the balcony above her. Apparently, Ren especially came to thank Kyoko for being his substitute manager; he also comments that Kyoko looks good in her school uniform. Ren gives Kyoko a 100-point stamp, but then deducts 10 points after Kyoko says she was only fulfilling her duties as a substitute manager. Kyoko gets angry when the points are deducted, but Ren brushes it off by saying that he grabbed the wrong stamp and covers it up with his fake, gentlemanly smile.

Kyoko landed a role in Dark Moon, the re-make of Tsukigomori, a drama that was popular 20 years ago, and the actors and the director in the current drama wish to surpass Tsukigomori. Ren is also in the drama as Katsuki (with Kyoko as Mio, though she only accepted the role when Ren declared his being in the drama; she had not wanted to take on the role initially because she wouldn't be a "refined, rich lady"). Kyoko runs into trouble (Ms. Iizuka, who played Mio in Tsukigomori and plays Mio's mother in Dark Moon). She is questioned of her role. However, Kyoko is unable to answer one of the questions and Ms. Iizuka wants to fire her.