Manga Review: Oshi no Ko #2 by Aka Akasaka & Mengo Yokoyari
Note: This review will contain major SPOILERS for the first volume. If you haven’t read that, you may want to check out my review of that one first.
A decade after the death of idol singer Ai Hoshino, her secret twins Aquamarine (usually called “Aqua”) and Ruby are getting ready to enter high school. Ruby wants to become an idol like her mother. As part of that, she wants to get into the entertainment track at Youtou High. But as part of that, she needs to be officially signed on with a representing agency.
Behind the scenes, Aqua has been sabotaging her attempts. He understands better than she does the hazards of the idol industry, and doesn’t want her represented by an agency he can’t protect her in. He himself, while a talented actor, doesn’t want to be in front of the cameras, but is more interested in the production side of the entertainment industry, which is why he’s apprenticed himself unofficially to an independent film director.
And even that is a cover for his real goal–discovering who his biological father is, and getting vengeance for the death of Ai, as he’s pretty sure that person is behind his mother’s murder. (And possibly the murder of the person he used to be, Dr. Gorou, Ai’s obstetrician, before he was reincarnated as his favorite idol’s baby.)
After a couple of false starts, Ruby’s career begins when adoptive mother Miyako Saitou agrees to have her talent agency Ichigo Pro start having an idol division again so they can represent Ruby. It’s mentioned that Ruby is hoping her good looks and dancing skills will compensate for not having the best singing voice. So she can get into Youtou. Aqua aims for the General Education track, even though he’s qualified for a much higher class of school, mostly to keep an eye on Ruby.
During the interview process, the twins run into Kana Arima, the child actress who’d worked with Ai and Aqua in a movie years before. She is very interested in renewing her acquaintance with Aqua. Both because she finds him fascinating, and because she could use some help.
Turns out her career is in a slump, and Kana is currently the heroine in an online drama titled “I’ll Go With Sweet Today”. It’s based on a popular manga, but it’s primarily being used as a showcase for upcoming male models who can’t act, so Kana is having to hobble herself to not overshine her costars too much. There’s an important villain role in the final episode that has to be recast, and Kana wants Aqua to take the role so that she can have someone to really act against.
Aqua is claiming he doesn’t act anymore until he learns the producer’s name. That man is on the short list of suspects for Ai’s secret lover, and this is a good chance to meet him.
Male model Melt Narushima (he will be a recurring character) plays the hero, and is dreadful at acting, but Aqua figures out how to get under his skin and draw out Melt’s better skills for the big scene. Even the manga creator is not disappointed by the final episode. And the producer takes an interest in Aqua.
Ruby and Aqua get into Youtou, and Kana shows them around, pointing out some of the young celebrities on campus. Ruby meets and becomes friends with Minami Kotobuki, a busty pinup model. She’s less successful with triple threat Frill Shiranui, but that girl does show an interest in Aqua.
Problem! Ruby needs to have actual work soon to keep up with her new classmates, but she’s not going to cut it as an idol singer on her own. (See above about “not the best singing voice”) so she needs a partner. Oh, I wonder who they can get? Meanwhile, Aqua’s going to be in a “reality” dating show. That’s going to be all kinds of uncomfortable….
This volume mostly sets up the new status quo for the main characters, but does have some progress on the myth arc and continues an examination of the darker aspects of the entertainment industry.
Aqua is much more the protagonist than Ruby is, a devious manipulator who’s got a secret agenda. As such he can’t really enjoy his successes in the acting field–they’re just steps in his elaborate revenge plan. His personality is off-putting at times, and a strong contrast to the optimistic Ruby, who enjoys being a celebrity for its own sake.
Kana is more structurally interesting; she’s discovered that just relying on her talent and looks is a dead end, but hasn’t quite realized that excessive people pleasing is a short train to burnout.
We also see that various adults in the entertainment industry have levels of burnout, from “this is just a job, no need to overdo” to “I’d rather be somewhere else, but this is in my contract.”
The art continues to be good.
So far, the manga is entertaining, but I can see it perhaps becoming overly convoluted.
Content note: Stalking and physical assault within the story of “Sweet Today”, references to shady behavior towards minors in the entertainment industry.
Recommended for manga fans who enjoy reading about the seedier side of the entertainment industry.
