I like how this Oshi no Ko starts out from the POV of two strangers; first an idol from another group who is curious about a “cutie” in B Komachi, then from an older idol otaku who is the only one in his circle who remembers the original B Komachi, and how special Ai was.
Those who saw Hoshino Ai could never forget her. That’s what Ruby, Kana, and MEM-cho are up against. Their first song in their first concert goes off without a hitch, but the otaku is #notimpressed. Then Ruby hits him with the same kind of charismatic look Ai once made, and he immediately reassesses his skepticism.
As the the trio transitions from the first group to the second, Kana takes note of the color of the lightsticks in the crowd. Most are for the famously online MEM-cho, while a smattering are for Ruby, who is a natural idol. None are white for Kana, and she descends into a spiral of despair even as she performs competently.
All she wants is for someone to look her way, to need her, to praise her. When a single white lightstick shoots up, it’s in Aqua’s hand. He shows off the same lightstick dancing skills he had both in his previous life and as a baby with Ruby. Not only does he almost make Kana laugh in the middle of her set, but more importantly he cheers her up.
Right then and there, Kana decides she’s going to make Aqua fall in love with her. Her performance kicks into another gear entirely, and she not only starts holding her own against Ruby and MEM’s charisma, but truly comes into her own as the center. Aqua can’t help but take notice. Indeed, he can’t take his eyes off Kana.
On the car ride home, the seating arrangements in the van are crucial. MEM is riding shotgun as Miyako drives, while Ruby and Kana are in the middle row, the former fast asleep. Behind them is Aqua. Kana asks how they did, and he says pretty good for their first time. She wants him to give them—give her—more props, but he does her one better, saying he’s only withholding loftier praise because he knows they’re only going to get better.
Miyako expresses relieve Aqua and Kana are talking again, but to MEM’s eyes, they don’t get along at all. Miyako then lays the perfect bait: asking Aqua how things are going with Akane since the show. Aqua responds exactly how she expected: honestly. He hasn’t seen Akane since, and it’s only a work relationship. Kana hides her glee by mocking Aqua’s bad luck.
Watching Kana’s reactions, it dawns on MEM that Kana has feelings for Aqua, causing her to draw a diagram of the love triangle of Aqua, Kana, and Akane in her head. Since MEM considers herself Akane’s friend, she’s not sure who to root for. She’s a great audience surrogate, because I’m not sure either!
Right on cue, Akane receives a piece of correspondence that indicates to her that she and Aqua will be working together again very soon, but in the meantime, Kana takes full advantage of the fact she and Aqua are talking again to poke and prod him, which Ruby tells MEM is the only way to really get to her brother.
She notes that Kana brings out the “old” Aqua, before his personality became twisted. Like MEM, I leaned more towards Kana here, as Akane will have a steep hill to climb. But I also know Akane is perfectly capable of climbing it!
As we watch Kaburagi having another opulent dinner with a younger, more flamboyant producer Sumiaki Raida, we learn why Akane knows she’s working with Aqua: they’ve been cast in a 2.5D stage version of the popular anime Tokyo Blade. Selfishly, I wished the story would have been that Starship Troopers-style ED of Kaguya-sama: Ultra Romantic.
But I’ll admit, Tokyo Blade looks cool too, especially when Akane, on a date with Aqua to take Insta pictures to lend their relationship legitimacy, describes the cast. She’ll be playing Princess Saya, while he’ll be playing Touki. She goes on to say fans love speculating whether Touki will end up with Saya or his associate, Tsurugi.
As soon as I saw Tsurugi’s character design, I knew what was coming even before Akane wondered who would be cast to play her. Of course, it’s Kana! Kana herself tells Akane and Aqua, interrupting their “work date” to warn them not to livepost in identifiable outdoor locations unless they want stalkers.
As it happens, Akane and Kana know each other…and do not like each other. They exchange barbs, and Aqua is powerless to stop the sparks that the two emit towards one another. The two are perfectly cast as two women in a love triangle with Aqua, playing characters in a love triangle with Aqua’s character.
Kana’s little visit is a declaration of war, but we know Akane, whom we know to possess obsessive tendencies, isn’t going to back down, and fully intends to win such a war, as she harbors feelings for Aqua too. Add to that the fact that Akane, while acknowledging Kana’s talent, still resents her for stealing all the good roles back when they were child actors together.
The solidification of the love triangle and the announcement of the Tokyo Blade play are excellent setup for the second season, which is definitely coming; it’s only a question of when. As for Aqua’s quest for vengeance, he’s agreeing to the role because he knows becoming a famous and successful actor is the only way he’ll learn more about his target.
In this case, working with Akane on this production will get him closer to Lala Lai, where Kaburagi says Ai fell in love with someone. He’s still determined to find that someone by any means necessary. But it’s my earnest hope that between Akane and Kana doing their best to win his heart, and his and Ruby’s careers taking off, he’ll one day ditch the quest and enjoy his life, as Ai would surely want him to.
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