Recap / Skip Beat Volume 30

Flower power!

Kyoko has her own problems to worry about: namely her acting as Setsuka Heel. She feels like she isn't living up to Ren's standards, and vows to up her game as the clingy little sister with a big brother complex. But something in Ren's performance is worrying her. Killer BJ is supposed to be an emotionless shell — so then why is Ren smiling when he has to fight Murasame? Could it be the "demon" that's threatening his control of Cain Heel's persona is also creeping into his role as Killer BJ?

That's not all: off the set, Ren has been acting strangely. He's even slipping up in his Cain Heel act! It's up to Kyoko to get to the bottom of this as Ren's designated lucky charm.

This volume contains the chapters:

• Act 177. "Dark Breath" ^note Murasame reflects on his gang days — his pride as a delinquent makes him unable to walk away from a fight, which is why he confronted Cain. He gets chills remembering Cain's aura of blood lust, and wonders if a person who is merely acting can display such an aura without having blood on his hands. For her part, Kyoko feels like she isn't as absorbed in her role as Setsuka, compared to Ren in his role of Cain. She is still having trouble acting out Setsu's clingy behavior without getting embarrassed. Ren sneaks away to change his contact lenses so Kyoko won't notice he's already wearing contacts to hide his green eyes.
• Act 178. "Dark Breath" ^note The Heel Siblings return from a break with Cain Heel in costume as BJ the killer. Ren's past continues to haunts him. Murasame doesn't like being underestimated and decides to make the fight scene a little more interesting.
• Act 179. "Dark Breath" ^note Murasame and Cain improvise their fight scene. Cain outmatches Murasame easily, and that leaves Murasame shaken. Kyoko noticed something unusual about Ren during the fight that's left her a little disturbed as well.
• Act 180. "Dark Breath" ^note Back at the hotel, Ren has a disturbing flashback to his time as "Dark Kuon," brought on by the fact that he was consumed by Kuon whilst acting out BJ. Needing some reassurance and comfort he seeks out Kyoko, his protective charm.
• Act 181. "Dark Breath" ^note Kyoko is completely unable to sleep. It might have something to do with being under the covers with Ren. On top of that, she's worried about what he's been going through.
• Act 182. "Dark Breath" ^note Ren is still struggling with his internal battle against his own personal demons. Due to his strange behavior the night before, Kyoko is concerned for him. Worried, she turns to Yashiro for advice, hoping he may know something about Ren's situation.

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Chapters in this volume provide examples of:

• Big Brother Attraction: Kyoko thinks she needs to up her game as Setsuka and act more clingy, because Ren-as-Cain has been all over her with casual touches and shows of affection.
• Bishie Sparkle: Not so much while in the role of Cain and Setsuka Heel, but just look at the sparkles on that cover!
• Brick Joke: Yashiro's Walking Tech Bane superpowers come back to haunt him, after more than a hundred chapters (last mentioned in chapter 48, they're brought up again in chapter 182).
• Covers Always Lie: Kyoko and Ren spend the entire volume disguised as the punkish Setsuka and brooding Cain Heel. You wouldn't know it from the cover, which has them looking clean-cut, smiling, and surrounded by flowers.
• Counting Sheep: Kyoko counts fairies instead of sheep... not that it does her any good. She's up to 53,336 and still not a wink of sleep.
• Dark and Troubled Past: Ren's is coming back to haunt him, as Kuon's personality begins to surface in his portrayal of BJ the killer.
• Fairytale Motif: Kyoko imagines a hoard of fairies have taken up residence in their hotel room.
• Flashback: Portraying Killer BJ causes Ren to dream about his teenage years as Kuon — and it isn't a happy remembrance.
• Flower Motifs: It's a shoujo managa after all:
  • The cover shows Kyoko and Ren covered in flowers: Ren hoists a large bouquet of burgundy roses, symbolizing "unconscious beauty" and "deep passion"; Kyoko wears a white dress with a pink flower in her hair, and appears to be throwing a handful of pink roses mixed with blue and yellow flowers (possibly gerbera daisies) at the reader.
  • Most chapters have a few instances of panel backgrounds filling with unexplained flowers.
• Former Teen Rebel:
  • Taira Murasame is only 21, but during his youth he rose to the top of his local gang due to being undefeated in battle. Not that he tries to hide his past - he's proud of his reputation and often reminds folks of it on set.
  • Ren Tsuruga — formerly Kuon Hizuri, a violent teenage delinquent.
• Imagine Spot: As Kyoko lies sleepless in bed next to Ren, she counts fairies instead of sheep. She imagines thousands upon thousands of fairies have taken up residence around them.
• Reaching Towards the Audience: The cover depicts Kyoko not only reaching towards readers, but tossing a handful of flowers at them.
• Retired Badass: Murasame, the Former Teen Rebel, who gave up his life of crime and brutality... to pursue acting.
• Show Within a Show: Tragic Marker is a type 1 example, with "characters involved in the production of the show."
• Walking Tech Bane: Yashiro accidentally picks his phone up without protections because Kyoko called him while he was in the shower - after ten seconds it's totally bricked.
• Weapon Twirling: During the fight scene between Killer BJ and Murasame, Ren performs a flashy spin to change his grip on the weapon — but also to distract Murasame. Ren spins the knife in his right hand and then goes in for the attack, but switches the knife to his left hand while Murasame is concentrating on blocking strikes from the right.

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