Oshi No Ko Explained
Oshi No Ko is one of Shueisha’s Weekly Young Jump’s most popular series today. The manga began serialization in early 2020. Its source material and 2023 anime adaptation by Doga Kobo Studios impressed the anime community. With Oshi No Ko Season 2’s release vastly approaching, anime fans can’t wait to see what’s in store.
Aka Akasaka, the series’s author, and Mengo Yokoyari, its artist, carefully mix emotional storytelling, likable characters, and rich themes to create a bright and dark entertainment-centric universe. By offering readers a deeper look at the idol and acting industry, Oshi No Ko resonated with multiple audiences, including ourselves.
That said, Oshi No Ko’s tale is thoughtful and tense. It’s brimming with enough shocking scenarios, interesting secrets, and verbal confrontations to engage anyone who loves hard-hitting dramas. On top of having a peculiar yet intriguing supernatural twist, this pop star-centric series has taken fans for a loop with its multiple turns.
Being the geeks that we are over here, we’ll be diving deep into the Oshi No Ko world, shedding light on the elements that make this story such a spectacle to anime and manga veterans and newcomers alike.
What is the “Prologue: Childhood” story arc about and what can readers expect from this article?
As with any series, Oshi No Ko is broken into multiple story arcs, each containing minor and major events that are critical to the overarching tale. Where some arcs center around our protagonists, others focus on the secondary characters or antagonists (if any). Oshi No Ko consists of 10 story arcs (as of this writing), each offering fans something important to remember as they read.
The “Prologue: Childhood” story arc is Oshi No Ko’s first narrative arc. The anime covered its content all in episode one while the manga covered this arc in its first volume, chapters 1-10 exactly. This arc introduces folks to our series’s characters and establishes Aqua’s (formerly Gorou’s) and Ruby’s (formerly Sarina’s) endgame goals.
Considering Season 2 is almost here, it may be difficult for folks to catch up to the series before that airs. While we cover the arc in detail via our Oshi No Ko Episode 1 recap, this explanatory piece will highlight the important takeaways from the arc.
Before we begin, it’s worth noting that this piece will contain spoilers for Oshi No Ko’s first story arc only! Therefore, read at your own risk!
How does the “Prologue: Childhood” story arc begin?
The arc opens up by introducing us to Gorou Amamiya. He’s a doctor who admires Ai Hoshina’s work and has a close connection with a patient named Sarina Tendouji. Sarina’s a young girl who questions what life would feel like if she had been born as a celebrity’s offspring. Unfortunately, Sarina dies, despite Gorou offering Sarina a smidge of hope.
Eventually, Ai visits Gorou’s hospital and he learns she’s 20 weeks pregnant, much to his surprise. Ai’s guardian, Ichigo Saitou, is concerned about Ai’s future and asks Gorou to offer tips to Ai. Gorou suggests Ai make her own decision. Gorou overhears two men discussing rebirth and idol-related topics. These topics will play a huge part in the story soon.
What happens between Gorou and Ai on the rooftop and does Ai’s procedure go well?
Gorou and Ai discuss Ai’s decision to keep her current developments a secret from the general public. Essentially, Ai wants to be a parent and an idol simultaneously. She informs Gorou that she, alongside other possible idols, fakes their happiness on stage. Therefore, by having a stable family and filling folks with glee as an idol, Ai argues she’ll get to experience true happiness.
After that, Ai, Ichigo, and Gorou discuss Ai’s procedure and we eventually arrive 40 weeks into the future. Gorou explores the hospital grounds, pondering if he’ll successfully deliver Ai’s children. Unfortunately, Gorou gets caught off-guard by an unknown assailant, resulting in his demise. Next, Ai’s procedure goes well, resulting in Ai giving birth to her children Aqua and Ruby Hoshino.
Unbeknownst to Ai, Gorou reincarnated as the former. As for Ruby, audiences will discover Sarina reincarnated as her.
What are the key events that occur after Gorou’s unexpected death?
Gorou accepts his reborn status but plans to uncover the truth behind this phenomenon. Therefore, we’ll be referring to him as Aqua. Additionally, we get introduced to Ruby Hoshino (Sarina) and Miyako Saitou moments later. Then, Ichigo tells Ai she can take her kids to public places, but she mustn’t tell anyone they’re her children.
After Ai gets interviewed about her hiatus, Ichigo shares an interesting remark about idols hiding their lies behind their smiles. Also, he states that high-ranking officials only care about numbers and that Ai is among the biggest liars in B Komachi, her idol group. Again, another key concept fans should keep in mind. Regardless, at Ai’s home, Aqua confronts Ruby, informing her that he knows she’s a reincarnated toddler like himself.
How do Ruby and Aqua form a connection with Miyoko?
After Ichigo and Ai leave Miyoko with Ruby and Aqua again, Miyoko questions if she should tell the world the truth about Aqua and Ruby. Miyoko’s pondering this because she’s fed up with the babysitter role Ichigo entrusted her with. Aqua and Ruby aren’t fond of Miyoko’s possible ploy, so they roleplay as divine godly babies to entice Miyoko to abandon her plan.
Additionally, they tell Miyoko that if she promises to keep Ai’s children a secret, she’ll be awarded a better romantic interest than Ichigo. Miyoko is baffled by the kids’ dialogue but accepts their offer. Aqua and Ruby discuss Ruby’s remarkable acting skills and Ruby informs Aqua about her past life, making him ponder and compare her to Sarina. Through this same discussion, Ruby contemplates if Aqua is Gorou.
What happens between Aqua, Ai, and Taishi?
After Ruby and Aqua cheer Ai on during one of her performances, we flash forward a year. Ruby and Aqua have aged significantly as shown above. Ruby remarks that Ai’s gotten numerous roles and gigs. This includes a role in a TV drama series, directed by Taishi Gotanda, Aqua’s future mentor figure. Aqua and Taishi interact with each other in the hallway, and Taishi is bewildered by Aqua’s speech and vocal skills.
Taishi offers Aqua his business card but Aqua wants Taishi to offer Ai more work. Taishi argues Ai can grab an audience but she lacks exceptional acting talent. Therefore, Taishi argues Ai may not last long in the film industry. Later, Ruby, Ai, and Aqua watch the drama series and notice Ai’s scenes are cut.
Aqua calls Taishi and convinces Taishi to give Ai another shot. Taishi says he’ll offer Ai another gig, but Aqua must appear in the film.
What happens between Aqua, Kana, and Taishi during the film shoot?
Aqua, Ruby, and Miyoko arrive at the film’s shooting site. Also, we learn Aqua’s been signed with Strawberry Productions (Ichigo’s Idol Production Company). In an undisclosed room, Aqua and Ruby eventually meet Kana Arima, a young actress who isn’t thrilled about the two’s role in the film. As for the shooting process, it goes swimmingly for Aqua, who receives wonderful praise from adult actors and personnel.
This entices Kana to confront Taishi about a reshoot because she’s jealous. Taishi ignores Kana and pulls Aqua aside, telling him that he has exceptional acting and communication skills. Angered, Kana vows to surpass Aqua in the acting industry.
What strengthens Ruby’s desire to pursue idol life and what happens between Ai and her husband?
At preschool, Aqua and Ruby’s teacher bring up a dance routine she wants them to participate in. Ruby flees class, much to Aqua’s surprise. Aqua confronts Ruby and Ruby admits she was never a great dancer in her past life. This comment leads to a scene depicting Ruby’s dancing failures in an undisclosed room.
Ai arrives and offers Ruby support while Aqua monitors the two from afar. Ruby mentions how she’s always wanted to be a solid performer like Ai, but felt her disability (as Sarina) prevented her from achieving that dream. Fortunately, Ai motivates Ruby to try harder and Aqua is thrilled to know Ruby adopted Ai’s exceptional talents.
Later, Ai calls her husband at a phone booth. She asks her husband if he’d like to see their kids. Also, she doesn’t want to get back together with him. Ai gives her husband her address and regroups with Ruby, Aqua, Ichigo, and Miyoko at an apartment. Miyoko and Ichigo inform Ai about her upcoming dome performance and Ichigo suggests Ai not to meet her husband.
What’s the significance behind Ichigo and Ai’s first encounter and what occurs in Ai’s hotel room?
After that scenario occurs, we enter a flashback involving Ai and Ichigo. Ai wasn’t on board with Ichigo’s idol career offer. This is due to Ai having a terrible upbringing, a horrible relationship with her mother, and never experiencing or dishing out true love. The two discuss things further, and Ai fears she’ll never be able to express meaningful love for Aqua and Ruby.
Eventually, Ai, Aqua, and Ruby visit a hotel. Someone rings the doorbell. Ai answers it and gets stabbed by a stalker named Ryousuke. Aqua comforts Ai. Ryousuke says he stabbed her because he and others aren’t happy that she had children. Ai apologizes for lying to Ryousuke and other fans. She wishes she could’ve showered them with true love and mentions the gift Ryousuke gave her.
Ryousuke flees the hotel and Aqua tries calling an ambulance. Ai tells Ruby and Aqua she loves them and dies seconds later.
How does the “Prologue: Childhood” story arc conclude?
After Ai’s tragic passing, newscasters inform the public about the news. Additionally, we learn Ryousuke committed suicide and Aqua is intrigued by everyone’s mixed reaction to Ai’s demise. In a car, Ruby asks Aqua if she should pursue idol life as Ai did. Aqua tells Ruby to press forward with her dreams and not to let this tragedy stop her.
Internally, Aqua’s unsure if he’ll be able to take his advice. Then, Aqua ponders the situation further, questioning if someone fed Ryousuke details about Ai’s whereabouts. After more contemplation, Aqua deduces his father is the evil mastermind behind Ai’s death. Therefore, Aqua vows to make his father pay for his actions.
Later, Aqua meets Taishi and asks him to raise him. Then, several years pass. Aqua and Ruby are full-blown teenagers and depart from their current residence. We receive several shots of future characters and the arc ends with Aqua initiating his revenge plan.
Conclusion
Oshi No Ko is a brilliant manga with an equally entertaining anime adaptation. Coming off of the fandom he earned with Kaguya-sama: Love Is War’s finale, Aka Akasaka has much to prove with Oshi No Ko. Although future story arcs may leave some fans feeling mixed, this arc certainly got the ball rolling, enticing anime and manga fanatics to give this drama a shot.
As always, if you want to check out more Oshi No Ko-related content, click here. Also, we may be covering future story arcs in this format, even those the anime adaptation hasn’t touched. Therefore, feel free to keep us on your radar if you want to know what happens after Oshi No Ko’s “Prologue: Childhood” story arc.
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Are you a big Oshi No Ko fan? What was your favorite moment from the “Prologue: Childhood” story arc? Let us know in the comments below!