So says the "voice" of Mangafox.

http://forums.mangafox.com/announcement.php?f=301&a=33

Basically, the voice of MF says, "The hell with what the scanlators want. We do what we like."

1. Manga Fox will observe wait periods of up to 7 days.
2. MF will not host manga hosted solely by the group that scanlated it, but if any group uses an external host or affiliate, we will host their manga as well.
3. MF will continue its policy of providing manga free of charge,
4. MF will continue its policy of removing less-popular manga at scanlators' request when they are licensed so we don't hurt small publishers.
5. MF will continue its policy of never hot-linking images.
6. MF will continue its policy of never removing credit pages, and doing our best to assure scanlators are fully and properly credited.
7. MF will continue to remove manga at publishers' requirement.

The one important line I did not see is: "MF will continue to remove scanlations at the scanlator's requests."

For the record, he's saying that he will host scanlations at his discretion if it's on another host, and he won't remove them even if the scanlators personally demand it. If there is a waiting period, he will follow them at his own set target, and not follow the scanlators' requests.

Scanlation should not be about those things. It should be about bringing manga to fans.

I can tell you what scanlation ISN'T about. It's not about some control freak declaring what it is, that much I can say. Whatever scanlation is not to be about, is not decided by him alone.

Credit for your work and the thanks you naturally receive should be enough reward for the work.

Here's my credit and thanks for his hard work. PLEASE SHUT THE HELL UP!

Scanlation work is not endorsed by publishers, nor viewed indulgently. You only continue as you are by the grace of lack of prosecution.

Last time I checked, Mangafox hosted thousands of these unendorsed works. Exactly what point is this guy trying to prove?

There is no reason for scanlators to insist on being the sole hosts, save wanting to make money for their site, or for control and glory.
But if any group uses an external host or affiliate, we will host their manga as well.
Many groups try to claim they have noble intentions in demanding to be the sole hosts, but they don't. If it's not about money, it's about control and glory.

Mangafox always edit their picture to contain: "This image is hosted at mangafox.com." at the bottom. Mangafox also prohibits providing links to another Mangahoster such as Onemanga. Is this done for our own protection?

But that's their decision. Do you see me whining, "Why do put your website label at the bottom of the picture? It makes me unable to upload it on another site!" Or "I DEMAND TO BE ABLE TO POST ONEMANGA LINKS ON YOUR FORUMS!"

Whatever intentions the groups have, it's their intention. If you can't understand or respect their decisions, fine, just don't go around deriding it, and overruling your own reasons as more righteous than theirs. The nature of their reasons is for them to decide, not for you to judge.

If you can't comply with these scanlators' wishes of being the sole hoster or their wait period, maybe you should leave them well alone. I don't think they will complain about that.

SO WHAT IF THEIR REASON IS GLORY? Does it look like the rest of the world have a problem with that? Let me know when it does. If he doesn't think that the scanlators deserve any glory, then he can do it himself!

I admit it. I have my own agenda for wanting to be the sole-hoster. I want more attention to me, and I want more people to talk to. I'm an attention whore. Well, I guess this makes my reason invalid, and it makes me TeH eViL.

It makes me sick to see someone this obnoxious declaring that scanlation groups should only scanlate for the reasons he himself deems as valid. WHO MADE HIM KING OF SCANLATED MANGAS? Who is he to decide whether a scanlator has a valid reason or not for wanting to be the sole hoster?

It should be about bringing manga to fans.

And we can still do that, with or without Mangafox. I, for one, will still bring new chapters of Skip Beat to fans. With or without Mangafox.




Seriously, I like MF a lot. Or rather, I used to. I just think they hired the wrong staff for the wrong job. But maybe that's just me.

Of course, this is just entirely my opinion. Perhaps he really have the benefits of the readers in mind. (But somehow, I really doubt it.)

This is just my take on the matter. Perhaps his action would benefit readers more in the long run. Perhaps. What do you guys think? Is this ruling really for a good cause? Or is it done merely for a sake of convenience?

The truth is, I still believe in MF enough to say this. There has to be some kind of a mistake! It doesn't seem like MF at all to do something like this.

Izirae's Chapter 148 submission.

Okay, for those who didn't know, Izirae got into trouble with FH, so she had to remove her scans.

But along came some super-smart guy, and submitted her works on MF. BTW, did I mention that he got the first page as the last?

I think we should ask Izirae what to do, but I seriously don't think she gave permission for this submission.

Skip Beat PS2 Chapter 4 Ren Path (part 9)

The best choice is to say that she felt her chest shattered. She remembers the feeling of despair, and tears start to form in her eyes. She tries to stop herself from crying in front of Ren. Ren gently wipes the tears off her face. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't make you think about such things again." Kyouko assures him, "It's okay, it was just an imagination. But it was scary. To be hated by Tsuruga-san..."

Ren apologises again, admitting that he acted wilfully because he did not think that he is important to her. Kyouko replies that there is no way that Tsuruga-san's presence within her is less than anyone else's. Her heart started beating fast again. "I'm glad to hear that," says Ren. His calm voice has her staring into him even more. "Mogami-san..."

Kyouko blurts out, "I was so worried and worried, that my chest hurts so much, I felt like I was going crazy." "No, that's just a normal feeling." He gently strokes her hair. Kyouko tells Ren, it is strange. She no longer feels any pain, and she feels at ease. But her heart is beating so fast. Ren tells her, it is the same case with him too.

Kyouko is unconvinced. "Liar. Your face is the same as always. You don't show any expression." Ren says his face may be expressionless, but he really means it. Kyouko says that if that's so, he shouldn't always hold back like that, and he should show how he really feels.

Ren hesitates a bit. "Is it really okay?" Kyouko doesn't understand what he meant by that. "Yes?" Ren says he will stop holding back. Before she realizes it, Ren has already made his move.


Ren: I'm sorry for making you scared. I won't hate you. I'll never do that.
Kyouko: ...Really? You wouldn't refuse to see me, or refuse to work with me again?
Ren: I'll never say it, or think it. Mogami-san, you shouldn't think it too.
Kyouko: Is it really okay? I must be conceited, saying such things to you.
Ren: Conceited it is, then. Mogami-san is dense, after all.
Kyouko: I'm dense, huh?
Ren: Yeah.
Kyouko: Tsuruga-san feels so warm.
Ren: Mogami-san, I can feel your heartbeat. It's beating fast.
Kyouko: But Tsuruga-san, your heart is beating as fast too. Let me hear it properly.
Ren: Um.

Being held gently, she can smell his fragrance. Somewhere, their hearts started beating normally again. They have reconciled, and she knows that everything is okay now. It feels great. She's so happy, she could cry.

After a while, she leaves his arms, but is still feeling dazed. Ren offers her another cup of coffee, which she accepts.

Ren says, regardless of the outcome of this job, whether the director approves of her performance or otherwise, she should still view this as a great learning experience. Kyouko agrees with him completely

Ren knows that Kyouko alwasy gets more fired up the more difficult the task is, and she won't give up until the very end. He can see the light shining in her eyes again. He assures her, with eyes like that, she will do just fine. She feels really glad to be encouraged by him.

Kyouko says it's time for her to return. Ren insists on seeing her back to her room. Outside her room, she thanks him again. He is overly concerned for her as usual. Kyouko protests she knows how to take care of herself, she's an adult now. "Is that so?" Ren takes this opportunity to entice her. Her heart beats very fast, but she didn't take the bait, of course.

After Kyouko parted with him, the loneliness starts to creep in again. She feels like wanting to see him. This kind of feeling is dangerous. She couldn't stop thinking about him. She tells herself, this is probably just the lingering feelings of Shiori and REN.

She goes to bed, but even so, her heartbeat continues to be fast. She feels really happy to be forgiven by him. The gentle sound of the waves soothes her to sleep again. It will be the last day of the shoot tomorrow.

End of Chapter 4.

Skip Beat PS2 Ending Theme

『タイムマシンが欲しいよ』
Time Machine ga Hoshii yo.
Sung by Golden Bomber
This is the ending theme for the PS2 game.


Download the MP3 here.
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=OU4PS03R

Mitsuki is the next person to support me this much, so this file is named after her. :)

Skip Beat PS2 Chapter 4 Ren Path (part 8)

After what seemed like hours, when Kyouko cried her fill, she decides to get up, and leaves her room.

She feels she has to apologize to him again, properly. Even if he is not going to listen. She gathers her will, then proceeds to Ren's room. Halfway there, she catches sight of Yashiro and Ren talking.

Yashiro: You and Kyouko-chan are really going around in circles.
Ren: Please don't trouble yourself for any of this.
Yashiro: Like I told you, you misunderstood! There is no way that Kyouko-chan could say those things to you out of a whimsical mood!
Ren:.............
Yashiro: First off, when I told Kyouko-chan that you can make any girls fall head-over-heels with a simple kiss, she hated the idea!
Ren: So she hated it...
Yashiro: On the contrary, it's not you that she hates. What she hates is the idea you can end a flash relation as quickly as it started.
Ren: So, Mogami-san is...
Yashiro: That's right. As I said, it isn't what you think it is.
Ren: I have not said anything on what I had been thinking so far.
Yashiro: Again, as I have said...
Ren: Mogami-san?
Yashiro: Ah, Kyouko-chan!

They both notice Kyouko. "Excuse me..." She wonders what to say.

Yashiro: Well, I've said all I needed to.
Kyouko: Eh?
Yashiro: The rest is all up to you now.

After saying this to Kyouko, Yashiro leaves them. Now it's just the 2 of them.

(At this point, I'll like to explain something here. What Yashiro talked about was what Kyouko was thinking previously. Something about "Kaze ni Koi". I don't think my Japanese grammar is that poor, but when I translate it literally, it seems to imply Ren falls in love with the wind. It's illogical no matter how I look at it. If I looked at it in a metaphorical way, it seems to be implying that he easily sets down a flash relation, which is what I chose. The grammar doesn't seem correct for this though. There's another possibility, which is that the true meaning is actually that Kyouko is afraid that once she gets into such a relation in such a way, she is unable to come out. OR, she is afraid that she can't get into such a relation at all. But if that were the case, than Ren would be sad, rather than relieved to hear it. So, I just stuck to that one.)

Kyouko is worried that Ren may not even want to see her face. "I'm sorry. You probably don't even want to see me right now. But I feel that I have to properly apologise one more time no matter what. Ren replies, "Okay then, come in. We shouldn't talk at the corridors." Is he letting me in? She complies immediately.

Inside, Ren offers her a seat. He asks if she wants some coffee, and she accepts. The aroma of the coffee somewhat calms her nervous self. It is a wierd feeling, yesterday, she was here to receive help for her acting, yet right now, it feels like she is on the death row. Ren hands her the cup.

He sits down too. They both stay silent, with nothing to say. This situation was like the meal earlier, but unlike that moment, there is no hostility now. Finally, Ren spoke. "About what Yashiro said earlier. Is it true?" (He is referring to the flash relation part, the Kaze ni koi.) A 3-way option at this point.

If Kyouko stays silent, she becomes so embarrassed that she hides her face. So Ren takes her silence for admitting it. ^_^

If Kyouko admits it, she immediately becomes embarrassed, so she covers her face. "I see..." There seems to be no anger in his voice, so she peeks at his face to confirm it, resulting in her heart jumping.

Anyway, Ren sincerely apologises for being angry with her. The unexpected apology from him made her heart tighten. Is he forgiving me? But why is he apologising?

Kyouko: You're not angry anymore?
Ren: Of course I'm not angry anymore. It was immature of me.
Kyouko: No! It was my fault to begin with!
Ren: Mogami-san, how about you? Are you angry with me?
Kyouko: I could not be angry. I was... afraid. Just afraid.
Ren: I see. It was too much of me...
Kyouko: No, that's not true. Tsuruga-san is not such a flippant person after all. I was feeling uneasy the whole time.
Ren: Unease? Is it about tomorrow's act?
Kyouko: No, it's not that. All this while, I was just thinking about Tsuruga-san. I probably failed as a professional.
Kyouko: This whole time, the importance of tomorrow's shoot could not compare to Tsuruga-san getting angry.
Kyouko: You'll probably dislike me even more now...
Ren: ...Mogami-san, I'm really sorry for making you so frightened.

Ren says he understands how she must be feeling. It's his fault this happened. Kyuko says, "It's my fault. To ask for a kiss simply for the sake of making my acting better... it's just..." Ren answers, that was not the reason why he was angry. Kyouko is confused. It's not about the kiss? Could it be because he thinks that I am special?

Ren asks her. "Mogami-san, do you feel the same way too?" Ren asks this with such seriousness, that when she looks into his eyes, her heart pounds furiously.

Kyouko: Feel the same way? As in, you are different from other people to me?
Ren: Is that not how you felt?

Kyouko knows that is true. He is unlike anyone else.

"Tsuruga-san is unique. There is no one else in this world like you." Ren smiles at her. "I feel the same way about you too. You are special to me. That's why it hurt me when you said those words."

After hearing his words, Kyouko fully understands now. It wasn't that he was angry, it was that he was hurt. "I'm sorry." Ren says Kyouko shouldn't apologise anymore, he's no longer angry.

Ren says they should prepare for tomorrow's shoot. Upon hearing his words, she gets a shock. She had completely forgotten about something else that is important. Judging from her reaction, Ren realizes that she had been too caught up up worrying over him.

Ren says in any case, it is great that she had came over. Kyouko says she still doesn't have the right mood for it. She says she has to really put all her effort into this one. Ren says it's just like her.

Kyouko thinks back and recalls the feelings that she had felt. The pain and suffering she felt when she realizes she could be losing him. And the jealousy she felt when she saw the fans intimate with Ren.

But those feelings aren't enough, so she's right back where she started, having to rely on his help again. She finds herself looking at his face again.

Ren: What is it?
Kyouko: I just wanted to thank you.
Ren: Eh? I didn't really do anything.
Kyouko: No, I have been thinking a lot, and I am starting to really understand how Shiori is feeling now.

Ren asks her, what kind of feelings did she feel. A 3 way option at this point. This is the last of the choices.

Skip Beat PS2 Chapter 4 Ren Path (part 7)

If she chooses to go to the cafeteria, she will phone Mouko-san, who is totally unsympathetic of her plight. (But it turns out she wants Kyouko to hurry back sooner.)

The best choice is for Kyouko to decide that she should go see Tsuruga-san's filming. She knows that just cowering here won't do. She can't do her role if she is hated by him. So she decides to go see it. She walks there with heavy footsteps.

At the site, Ren is busily filming. Yashiro calls out to Kyouko. "Kyouko-chan!" He said it's great. He thought she won't be coming till dinner. Kyouko says it was hard to bear worrying alone. Yashiro agrees, it is not a good thing to worry alone. Kyouko also adds she wants to see him act, she likes seeing him in his role. But she starts to get negative thoughts again. Yashiro says he understands, after all, Ren can be scary when he's angry. But you'll be safe as long as he's working.

Kyouko watches as the director gives Ren stringent requests, which he follows. Yashiro actually tells Kyouko that Ren's state of mind is actually unfavorable. Kyouko almost didn't believe him. Yashiro signals her to look at Ren. The director tells Ren that his expression is too stiff, and perhaps they should take a break. Ren of course, insists that they should continue.

And so they continue the filming, but Kyouko doesn't want to see any more. Yashiro asks where is she going. She says she's going back to her room. The pain won't stop. She decides to return to her room, take a bath, and reset everything.

Regardless of what happened, Kyouko is back in her room. She takes a relaxing bath, and releases all those worries holding her.

(THERE'S NO CG FOR HER BATHING, YOU PERVS!!)

"What will it take for him to forgive me?" When she thinks about how to use her acting skills, all she could think about was Tsuraga-san's angry face. She feels a tightening pain within. The fear that he may never speak with her again grips her, and she feels even colder.

She sinks into the bath. Then bursts out gasping for air of course. :P

She thinks about being hated by Ren. Those fangirls previously, they must have bigger presence then she does. She felt like crying, so she washes her face clean.

After her bath and her "image training", she goes down to the lobby. She wants to head to the cafeteria to get a meal, but she meets Yashiro along the way. He calls out to her. Kyouko asks him about the shoot. Yashiro says that Ren's parts are mostly done, so all that's left is hers. She gets into negative spirit again, thinking she has not done her job well. He tries to encourage her, saying there's still tomorrow.

Yashiro informs her that Ren is changing now, and invites her to join them for dinner. Kyouko turns him down, saying that Ren is probably still mad at her. Yashiro senses something amiss. He asks Kyouko, is Ren angry at her because of something which he had told her? "Like getting a kiss to make you fall in love? Something somewhere along that line?" Yashiro is spot on. Kyouko answers, "No, I'm the one who said it. It's my fault in the end."

"I knew it." Now Yashiro is feeling down too. "I'm sorry. All this is my fault." Kyouko says he's not to blame, it's some stunt she decided to try after listening to what the director said. Yashiro shakes his head, saying it definitely is his fault after all.

"What are you guys talking about?" Ren's sudden appearance shakes her. She turns around to see him coming over. "Ah, Ren. I was just thinking of inviting Kyouko with us for dinner. It's fine, right?" Kyouko whispers to Yashiro saying she should refuse. "I don't mind," answers Ren. Even though that was his answer, he says it in an absolute zero temperament. A 3 way option at this point.

The best option is to say thanks. Yashiro will rub it in Ren's face. "Ren isn't angry any more. It wouldn't be mature of him to continue to be angry." (He's probably the only person who dares to do that.) Yashiro assures Kyouko that she will be safe. Kyouko is very scared, but she goes along.

If she tries to refuse or come up with an excuse, Yashiro will latch on to her hand, making sure she can't escape. Then he drags her along. ^_^

(Note: Up until this point of time, it was just simply referred to as a meal. It wasn't until much later, where this meal was indicated as dinner. Furthermore, the sky is still bright, which made me wonder if it really was supposed to be dinner.)

Anyway, regardless of what happened, they are in the cafeteria sitting together. None of them has said a single word. Yashiro opens his mouth first. "Ren." He shakes Ren's shoulder. "What is it, Yashiro-san?" "I'm sorry! It was me! I gave Kyouko-chan those ideas!" He declares apologetically with both hands on the table. Yashiro confessed it was he who gave Kyouko the idea about the kiss with such an easy-going attitude. Ren just retorts how "easy-going" that was to ask something like that. These words really stabbed Kyouko. Yashiro protests that request might as well have came from his own mouth, Kyouko-chan should have nothing to do with it.

Kyouko can see Yashiro desperately pealing to him for her sake. Yet she is unable to say anything. She couldn't even look up. At this rate, things would only get worse. Suddenly, Ren gets up. He says he's finished, so he will be returning to his room now. Yashiro persuades him to stay. Ren just smiles, saying he ate the minimum amount needed. (Yashiro wasn't talking about the food.) Kyouko feels a stabbing pain, thinking he probably wants to be away from her. She wants to apologise, but she stays stunned, while he turns around to leave. Yashiro calls to him again. Ren just replies he wishes to be alone. He then leaves. Yashiro wanted to chase after him, but he stays behind. He and Kyouko both sighs.

Yashiro says in the end, he wasn't able to follow up on anything at all. Kyouko insists it's not his fault. Her easy-going attitude would offend any professional. Yashiro says that's not the reason. He knows it too well. It's because they're talking about Kyouko-chan here, that's the reason. He says Ren treats this matter with Kyouko very seriously. She is important to him. Kyouko doesn't understand any of that. Yashiro says he can't be the one to tell her.

Kyouko is confused. Is there another reason for Tsuruga-san's anger? Yashiro asks her how does she feel. He asks her to recall back the previous incidents. She thinks for a while, but she does not give any satisfactory answer. "So, what do you think might have happened if he does kiss you?" This stabs her. "Tsuruga-san is not such a flippant person."

Yashiro: Well, that is indeed true...
Kyouko: So the reason has to be the kiss itself.
Yashiro: A kiss is not a small matter to you too, right?

Yashiro continues in vain to convince Kyouko. "It's only because it's Ren, that's why you can ask this, right?" That is indeed true. Yashiro tells her, in any case, he will be back to normal by tomorrow. But Kyouko is not the least convinced, and is still feeling down. She feels her chest tightening.

Kyouko says she will return to her room. Despite Yashiro's protests that she hasn't really eaten anything yet, she still leaves.

Kyouko walks towards her room in her hotel. She looked downwards the whole way, not having the mood to look at anyone. She is fighting back tears.

Back in her room, she thinks to herself. What should see do? He must still be very angry. It was a terrible thing to ask. It's not like they have a special relationship. What if she never sees him again outside of work?

She starts to cry softly. It would have been a lot better if this was one of his usual anger fits. Could he forgive her like what he usually does? She hold her knees and sobs, thinking of what Ren thinks of her now. What if she did like him? Is that why it's so painful to be hated by him?

She continues to cry. She tells herself not to, she needs those eyes for the shoot tomorrow. But the tears won't stop. But even so, the importance of this job could not compare to the graveness of being hated by Tsuruga. What a failure as a professional... That's how he would chide her. But wait, he won't chide her like that again. Just the pure thought of that makes her heart ache. She wishes it will all just go away.

This isn't love. Love shouldn't have to hurt this much, right? Yet, why won't the pain go away? Why does it feel like she's drowning? She never knew such a kind of love exists.

Skip Beat Quiz / Trivia

Please continue the Skip Beat Quiz in here.

Have fun!

How did you come to like Skip Beat?

Please post your experience with your first encounter of Skip Beat.

I first came to know about Skip Beat by the anime they air in my area.

BTW, they are reshowing Skip Beat again in my area. So I'm viewing the start again.

Truth is, when I first watched the anime, I didn't like it that much. It was funny and exaggerated, but not of the characters were likeable. Shou is downright rotten, Ren is just plain rude, and I didn't like Kyouko either. I didn't like the idea of someone joining showbiz for the sake of revenge. It's insulting to people who want to join for true reasons. I felt Kyouko could do so much better if she leaves it all behind her. Her revenge is a prison to herself

I continued to watch it. The exaggerations of the anime were actually interesting. Particularly the fight with Ruriko, it was interesting to see her actions. By the time I reached Episode 13, I started liking the series, and I decided that I'll follow the manga as well. Going deeper into the series, it's interesting to see how Kyouko develops as an actress, and seeing her relation with Ren becoming more interesting.

That's my experience. I probably wouldn't have known about it were it not for the anime.

Latest Chapter Discussions / Next Chapter Predictions.

Please discuss anything regarding the latest chapter, especially regarding that shocking scene. (Which many of us are recovering from. Myself included.)

Also post any predictions or what you hope to see in the next chapter here.

NOTE: Spoilers for those who have yet to read Chapter 145.

Please discuss anything on Skip Beat here.

The entire place for Skip Beat discussion is shut down. AGAIN! For 2 weeks this time.

I'm now keeping this post as a mini-forum, where you can discuss anything Skip Beat related, until the forum reopens. ANYTHING AT ALL.

You can also use this forum.
Skip Beat Forum
I'm not the admin there, so I can't allow guest posting, sorry.