Title:  Skip Beat! Vol 14

Author:  Yoshiki Nakamura

Publisher: Viz

ISBN:  9781421517544

May Contain Spoilers

Well, Sho still has the ability to get Kyoko all stirred up.  When a new band, Vie Ghoul, appears on the scene, Kyoko sees at once that they are just copying Sho’s style, and boy, is she pissed about it.  When it looks like Sho is just turning over and playing dead, Kyoko’s determined to light a fire under his butt and get him to do something before his career ends up down the toilet.  Sho doesn’t appreciate her interference, and he reacts violently - which just makes Kyoko even more angry.  Will she have to watch as he throws his career away?

While I don’t understand why Kyoko still cares about selfish Sho and his singing career, she once again came blasting out of the corner, itching for a fight.  If Sho’s popularity swirls down the drain, than everything that she’s worked for and everything that she’s suffered is for naught.  Kyoko wants to best him by having her star rise higher than his, and these upstarts from Vie Ghoul are ruining her dreams of revenge.  There was a great confrontation between Sho and Kyoko, though Sho once again proves that he’s unworthy of Kyoko’s regard.  Taking out his frustrations on her, he actually has the nerve to hit her - what an utter and complete jerk.  His out of control temper is quite a contrast to Ren, who is struggling to remain in tight control of his emotions.  While Sho behaves like an spoiled child, Ren keeps everything locked tight inside - wonder what’s going to happen when he finally explodes and lets his feelings loose?

My favorite scene in this volume is the one where Ren is watching the Sho promo video, despite his repeatedly voiced disinterest in it.  Sho’s got him running a little scared, and while Ren can pretend that he’s not concerned about another man snatching Kyoko from his grasp, that’s exactly what he’s terrified of.  Now that Sho and Kyoko are getting a little too close for comfort, how is Ren going to react?  When he finally does give in to his feelings, I don’t think it’s going to be a very pretty scene.

Grade: A-

Rated for Teen