#aqua talks manga

[aqua-phantasy]

Combined my two hyperfixations together (Epic and One piece) so here have a tier list on whether the strawhats would get cursed by Circe from greek mythology or not

[a-really-big-cat]

After reading 123, I'm surprised (or maybe not) that people miss the point of the chapter. It's pretty much revealing what was Aqua doing from 105 till now: his mission to make everyone hate him so no one miss him when he's gone. When Ruby hated him, he was fine with it. When he met Akane in 106, it wasn't because he was unconsciously asking for help, but instead provoking her to hate him. When he laughed in 117, it wasn't because he manipulated Kana (he still hasn't) but instead because he thought everything was going too easy and had it in the bag, but now in 122-123 he finally had the moment of truth of manipulating Ruby, but he couldn't. He had to go against his own plan and reveal the truth because Ruby was getting too involved in the revenge plan without his control (something similar to Akane that led to the break up). Crow loli said it was a bad move because it made him notice that he didn't manage to drop his naivety at all. But then there's also Ruby. With this chapter we have confirmation that Ruby is maybe the most mentally unstable character of the main cast: she was a happy girl trying to carry on Ai's legacy while also wanting to meet Goro. Once she found out Goro was dead, she went on a mental breakdown and her whole personality changed. When Aqua revealed Ai's secret, her personality once again did a switch and wiped all the good memories she had about Aqua. When she saw her mother happy with a new family, her personality flipped once again making her hate everyone, and when Aqua revealed that he was Goro, her personality once again flipped, now being happy with him and memoryholing everything that happened till that moment. This is the second part of the bad move that Crow loli said: Ruby is too mentally unstable and uncontrollable, her current state will lead to the complete opposite that Aqua wants for both the movie and her future. But of course, shitposting about incest is more engaging.

Wow ok this random commenter seems to be on point with the literary analysis

[skania]

Can we please talk about how silly Aqua is?

There's nothing I can do about it, he says, only to literally wait for her in the dark only 4 chapters later.

Um... Aqua, how is this staying away from Akane? This is the silliest stunt Aqua has pulled in the entire series. He made such a dramatic exit out of Akane's life only to cave in... what? 4 months later?

Even assuming he was stalking Ruby and realized the girls were about to hold an audition... he could've simply waited for the girls to tell Gotanda or Kaburagi the results?

There was zero need for him to talk to Akane that night. Case in point, they don't actually discuss the audition at all! Aqua just asks if it's done and that's that lmao

Despite this, Aqua still sits his ass out in the dark and waits for them to be done. He knows what path Akane will take to go home, and he literally parks himself there and makes sure Akane will notice him. He doesn't even have the decency to hide! He stays right there in plain sight and even talks to her first!

Funniest part is that he tries to play it cool by staying on his phone, but he must have seen Akane coming! Otherwise how did he even know she was walking by behind him? 😂

He can't even come up with a excuse when Akane calls him out on it.

And then when Akane tells him that she's going to stop his plan, aka that she'll keep involving herself in his business and that she may just save him from himself after all, he makes this face!

He's giddy! He doesn't need to stalk her anymore, Akane's keeping herself a part of his life all on her own lmao

Clown behaviour. Boy really wasn't lying when he said he didn't want to let go of the days when Akane was by his side 😂

[yuhenglesbian]

at the start of oshi no ko they tell you that the entertainment industry is one that runs on lies, and that for those who work in the industry, a lie is the best weapon which they can use to protect themselves with.

each arc of the story covers characters realising this in their own time. akane faces criticism which only worsens when she tries to be her genuine self — she is only saved later through (among other things) yuki's keeping up appearances. ruby too, comes to the spotlight as a celebrity when she begins to presents an idol persona that is different from her real self. even mem-cho admits that lying about her age is what has allowed her to become popular.

the biggest example of “lies” being a way to protect themselves is probably arima kana. her experience of going from a deeply-loved child celebrity to someone who is abandoned by not just a public but also her own mother, transforms her into someone who constantly hides herself to please those around her. by her own admission too, she never says things she genuinely means. her sharp tongue as at 17-18 isn't because she thinks she's better than others — it is because she must guard her heart and save herself the agony of being abandoned again.

i forgot where i intended to go with this but the appeal of oshi no ko is the heartbreaking picture of youth that it presents. of course it is a critique of the idol industry whose marketing tactic is pandering parasocial relationships, but in centering adolescents rather than grown adult idols, it also presents a look into the youthful desire to find a place to belong and be accepted and the growing pains of realising how society is often engineered to only accept those who are NOT themselves.

[hotshitno2]

What are your thoughts on the twins (mis)communicating about whether to dish their secret to save Arima?

Ohhhh that’s a hard one!

I honestly don’t really a side for which twin in correct, cause in a sense, they’re both in the wrong.

The most obvious one is Aqua, my boy went behind Ruby’s back and exposed they’re mother’s secrete without consultation at all. And his defense being that he vaguely explained it to her in an ominous question about protecting her friends.

To give him the benefit of the doubt, it seemed like his goal was to make Ruby dislike him because of it, and pulled the same apathetic attitude he did with Akane when breaking up with her, so we can assume he had a larger goal here given that he could have handled it a lot better and we’ve seen that hes capable of it. ( to add to that thought, he leaked the information when Ruby previously said how much she hated leakers in chapter 93 )

While it was wrong what Aqua did, Ruby is shown to be especially childish here. While Aqua’s question was vague, she did agree to do anything to help her friend. But in the argument, she barley mentioned Kana’s scandal at all and focused on Aqua’s “betrayal” of their Mom’s image. While acknowledging that they’re little to no bad points to what he did and only helped the twins in their popularity. And sadly Ai is still dead, and the protection of her friend should be important enough to sacrifice Ai’s image.

We can also mention she’s being hypocritical here. She got mad at Aqua for doing anything for popularity, while she has done the exact same thing and gained most of her popularity from underhanded methods that she was getting so mad at Aqua about. In their previous argument in chapter 93, we also see that she told him that she would do almost anything to be popular and get to the dome like Ai. And wouldn’t a scandal with on of bkomatchis members affect if they would go or not?

Honestly I really hope they make up soon, as a Hoshino twins focused account this was a slap in the face, but at least they’re interacting???😭

[somethingsad]

Aqukana are so sweet nothing coded and HSJFKFKIFJF IN THIS ESSAY I WILL-

Ok so Kana loves Aqua as he is and really does not want anything in return from Aqua, she doesn't put him in a pedestal or idolizes him intensely. To her he's an idiot and an idiot that she has a crush on. She banters w him, calls him a gloomy narcissist, and asks him to tell her jokes. To Aqua, Kana is that window to normalcy that he has, he's just a teenager w her and he doesn't have to act or walk in eggshells w her. He shines a light on her darkest moments and she is his light. They can be who they are with each other, Kana doesn't have to hold her tongue, Aqua doesn't have to act around her. In fact when Aqua is asked by Kana if he hates her he answers "It's actually the opposite.." like sir who are you fooling🤨🤨

Edit:

Adding smth to this, Kana comes home to Aqua's sweet nothings. Aka Aqua would never demand perfection from Kana. Kana doesn't have to pressure herself to reach Aqua's expectations, she's perfect as she is.

[this-account-is-just-for-me]

Oshi No Ko 122 SPOILERS**

OOHHH MY GOD I JUST BINGED THE ENTIRE OSHI NO KO MANGA AFTER THE ANIME

AND I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THE LAST CHAPTER

Oh my GOD what a great cliffhanger

Everything's coming together

Aqua trying to calm Ruby down and take care of her like he did before they died

Which he does now because he knows who she was!!!

And Ruby isn't buying Aqua's patronizing attitude at first because she's she's so heartbroken with guilt she feels the need to avenge the deaths of the only two people in her life who genuinely loved her

So she doesn't even care about Aqua or anyone and is only trying to use people just like Aqua had done throughout the story. Also she was probably still upset about him publicly revealing their secret

Also mentioning the Aqua has manipulated people throughout the story and suffered no consequences because he conveniently "made things better for everyone" and then later when he finally can move on from his guilt he calls out Ruby for the same thing

Like Ruby says she's just imitating him so basically Aqua is rejecting his old self now and realizes how unhealthy his obsession made him. Watching Ruby's mental state deteriorate probably pointed this out to him in a way he couldn't deny

Also the realization:

Yeah so basically everything about this is beautiful and what the story was leading up to and I love it!!!

Just end the story right here Aka I'll actually be happy

[aqua-tan]

Since I'm getting asked about this a lot...

You can find the High&Low manga g-SWORD HERE

It's only the raws to the manga though, and the only source with the English translation seems to be lost.

[pen-observing]

people need to admit webtoon dottore was a cute guy (a silly unhinged clown but) a cute guy nonetheless

[violetnaps]

been rereading pokespe for shits and giggles now i have strong feelings about the hoenn arc

[melonminnie]

HI HI <3

I'M SORRY FOR REQUESTING ALOT BUT PLS TAKE UR TIME IN DOING ANY OF MY REQUESTS <3

SO CAN U PLS DO YANDERE AQUAMARINE X READER WHERE READER WAS HIS WIFE IN HIS PAST LIFE AND GOT KILLED BY AI STALKER BCS SHE WAS CLOSE TO AI WHEN SHE WAS A PATIENT OF AQUAMARINE , BUT WHEN SHE WOKE UP SHE FOUND HERSELF AS AN ACTORS DAUGHTER , SO SHE MET AQUA WHEN AI WAS ACTING IN A FILM BCS HER MOTHER WAS ACTING IN THE SAME FILM SO THEY KNEW EACH OTHER IMMEDIATELY , BUT BCS HE WENT THROUGH HER DEATH IN HIS PAST LIFE HE BECAME SO PROTECTIVE OF HER AND IT BECAME WORSE AFTER AI DEATH

THAT'S ALL, LOVE YA<3

Well go ahead - Yan! Aqua x fem reader

- I read the entire manga for this enjoy!! (Ps you don’t annoy me you make me rlly happy when I see my inbox <3)

“Sarina your legs are giving out you don’t need to practice this much” the woman sighed in disbelief staring at the 12 year old girl.

In return Sarina glared at y/n, “I can try though! I’m getting better promise!” She replied pumping one of her fists into the air.

Y/n gazed towards her trembling legs in worry, “You really should overwork yourself” she sighed once again in disbelief walking forward to hold the girl up right.

“B-but I didn’t even fall this time! I could go on for longer” she interjected, “Sarina your body clearly can’t handle this your legs are giving out!” She pointed walking her to her room.

“Sense I would’ve understood” she pouted, “How about I get you pudding would that make you feel better?” The woman tried lightening up the mood after placing the girl in her bed.

“Really! You’d do that for me?” She questioned beaming this time, “Of course just don’t move out of your room I’ll call goro to stay with you” The woman replied standing up before grabbing her phone to dial her husbands number.

“He should arrive soon okay? I’ll be back before you know it!” She winked with a smile before leaving the room.

“Y/n!” Goro came rushing in, “What’s this about me needing to look after the patient I was on my lunch-”

“I promised her I’d buy her pudding plus you’d do it for your wife right?” She smiled leaving.

After a few weeks the girl ended passing away due to her illness, it was expected.

but what wasn’t expected?, your husband Turing into a complete idol fan after her passing.

“Ahh ai is so cute right y/n~” he gushed staring at the small tv screen, “Mhm I guess so you have a patient coming in soon so act professional please” the woman begged her husband, he’d already screwed up a million times by watching said idol in their room.

Or he’d completely go overboard and talk about ai instead of what was wrong with the patient.

“Promise” he complied Turing off the tv, “Want anything from the convenience store?” She asked quickly, “Soda” he replied walking out of the room with her.

When y/n returned, The shock was written all across her face at the person infront of her, it was no other than hoshino Ai.

the 16 year old idol that her husband has taken a liking too ever sense sarina has died. As quickly as she was shocked she smiled at the idol.

“Hello!ma'am” she greeted closing the door behind her as she smiled, “Oh hello” she smiled waving her hand her star like eyes shining brightly.

After they were finished, your husband practically leaped out of his chair and went into a frantic panic, “Y/n you saw her right! That’s Ai right right?” He questioned as if he was out of his mind.

“Mhm that is now here’s your drink I’m going to go have my lunch break” she muttered leaving the room. “Hello!” The purple head greeted from the side, “Oh Ai is something wrong” y/n questioned the girl.

“No I was just wondering..” she fidgeted with her arms for a while, “I figured out your married to goro sense I correct?” She hesitated, “yes I am!” She answered.

“And sense the two of you are married and probably have a kid or two was your pregnancy difficult?” She questioned smiling.

For a minute or two there was silence, y/n for the first time in a while was speechless, “Ai.. I’m really sorry but I don’t have any kids” she replied awkwardly.

The idols face quickly turned red, “I’m sorry for assuming!!” She apologized, “It’s okay..” Y/n stared into space, “How long have you and sensei been married?” She questioned.

“2 years” she muttered, “Oooohhh” the 16 year old said.

After a day or two, Ai seemed to adapt to the atmosphere quickly often hanging around you or your husband.

“Goro! I’m going to store need anything?” Y/n hummed, “Soda” he mumbled loud enough for her to hear, “typical.” She thought walking off.

After 5 minutes or so she exited the store with a bag of food.

“Excuse me miss” Someone called out to her she turned her head towards the voice, meeting a young man who’s features weren’t seen.

“Yes?” She questioned in confusion, “do you know where the hospital is?” He questioned, “Ah yes it just around the corner” she pointed.

“I’m bad with directions..can you lead me there?” He questioned once more, for a minute the woman hesitated, it was night time there wasn’t anyone around only the two of them.

“S-sure” she replied a drop of sweat falling down her face, Y/n lead the mysterious man to the hospital.

“Here there it i-” The boy covered the woman’s mouth with cloth a dagger aligned with her chest, as he dragged her body to the forest.

“This is what you get for helping my Ai with giving birth” He aligned the dagger before piercing it into the girls heart, he repeatedly stabbed her over and over and over and over again.

he didn’t stop even when she was confirmed not to be breathing.

Then before she knew it she was staring at a set of the most attractive people she’d seen in her life.

“My daughter looks so cute~!” The woman cooed staring at the baby in her arms. “I don’t disagree” the man agreed looking at the baby with fondness in his eyes.

It didn’t take long for you to find out you were reincarnated, it took you a few weeks as your mind couldn’t concentrate and you’d fall asleep whenever you’d open your eyes. But you managed.

It didn’t take long for people to find out that your mother had given birth, For a short while people were out raged.but it soon stopped, your parents still being successful actors.

The woman smiled, her heels making a slightly loud noise as she walked to her child’s room.

“Y/n!” She smiled staring at you playing on the floor, “What are you doing?” She asked kneeling on the floor. “Coloring..” the girl muttered slightly nervous. Even though a few years had passed sense you’d been born.

there was still this slight fear that someone would find out your a 20 year old in a toddlers body.

“Y/n..I have to go somewhere for the rest of the day and the maids aren’t coming today..so will you be willing to come with me?” She asked, it wasn’t a surprise or her of how shy you were around everyone.

The woman’s eyes light up as she saw you nod at her request.

Soon you had arrived at the location. To say it was suffocating would be an understatement. There were people running back and forth from all directions.

focused on camera, lighting, acting etc. from the corner of your eye you spotted a familiar girl with purple hair and eyes that shined like stars.

she had two kids with her, twins..a boy and a girl. The boy had blonde hair his eyes blue shining brightly. The girl resembled her brother blonde hair but pink eyes.

from her expression she was clearly very excited for some reason. The actress caught her daughter staring at the two children. She smiled before opening her mouth.

“Wanna go talk to them?” She questioned, her eyes focused on her child’s expression. She hesitated before nodding her head.

(Couldn’t think of a name for the mom so)

—- held onto y/ns hand before walking over to the girl and her children, AI’s eyes light up as she saw the two of you walking over she walked over herself beckoning her children to follow her.

—- stared at her daughter before whispering something into her ear and leaving with the purple head to have a conversation.

The two siblings stared at y/n as if she was an alien. Ruby quickly spoke up stepping forward with a smile.

“hellooo, what’s your name? Your hairs really pretty” she pointed out shaking the girls hand aggressively.

Y/n answered quickly, Rubys aggressive hand shake turns into somewhat of a hug, “I’m ruby” she announced her eyes drifting to her brother before pointing at him.

“That’s my brother..his name is aquamarine..but you can call him aqua” she said her tone somehow lowering her excitement.

There was an awkward silence as you and ruby stared at the boy waiting for him to speak, “Anyway!, y/n isn’t my mama so cool!!” Ruby gushed.

The conversation soon faded as the girl ran towards her mom once she was able to.

"Your sister really likes your mom, huh?" Y/n tried to strike up a conversation with the blonde-haired boy.

"I guess so," he responded, staring at the girl. "Do you always look like this?" he questioned in a condescending way.

"What do you mean?" she asked, nervousness seeping in. "Do you always look like you're hiding something you don't want anyone to know about?" he questioned once more, making his question clear.

She didn't answer, only staring straight ahead. "Even if I'm hiding anything, it doesn't matter, does it?" she replied. "You remind me of someone I used to talk to," he confessed. "You do too," she responded.

"Ruby, Aqua," the teenager called out to her two children, her hand reaching for the glass.

"I love you," she cried. "Those words were definitely not lies," she said weakly, tears flooding her eyes.

And with that, Idol Hoshino Ai was declared dead, leaving her two children, whom the world didn't know about, behind.

"Aqua, Ruby!" The girl waved her hands in the air as she saw the twins entering through the school gate.

At the sound of her voice, Ruby could swear that her brother was walking faster now. "Don't attract attention," he said, dragging the girl with him.

Ruby moved her feet to catch up to her brother. "Hey Y/N! I recently got scouted to be an idol!" she spoke proudly.

"So that means you can become an actress like our promise, remember?" Ruby added. A few years ago, Ruby and Y/N had promised each other that if Ruby ever became an idol, she'd either become one too or become an actress.

"Yeah, I remember. Don't worry, I won't ever forget it...I have good memorization skills," she winked, waving goodbye as she entered her classroom with Aqua.

The boy didn't say much, aside from his face as he heard his sister speak about becoming an idol.

As Aqua had promised himself, that Ruby would never become an idol till he died, he'd made the promise that you'd never become one either.

This is so bad I’m sorry but it’s been sitting im my drafts for a huge while

[aqua-phantasy]

In a one piece sort of mood after finishing Alabasta, so my pfp will be chopper for a bit as I hyperfocus

[m3tab4by]

ASTRO OBSERVATIONS (1) ☆

(not a professional)

(also most of these will be abt aqua placements)

☆ yk someone has aquarius placements when they are weirdly obsessed with the black and white filter (harry styles old instagram pics is proof)

☆ also most aquarius placements ik either have manga pfps OR a black and white pic of them in their pfp

☆ virgos and their inability to understand social cues 💀💀

☆ aquarius placements 🤝 saying "i hate that" when u mention one of ur interests

☆ something i noticed but alot of ppl with aries suns that arent necessarilly problematic themselves are always friends with the most problematic ppl

☆ haven't met someone with sagittarius in their big 6 who isnt obsessed with legos or genshin impact (its always one of them)

☆ people with stelliums in the saturnian signs (cap and aquarius) all have a very oval shaped faces

☆ having 8th house synastry = talking shit abt everyone together

☆ mars in the 11th house synastry could mean they hate each others friend groups and could be very different from each other.

☆ why do most ppl ik we both aries and aqua placements have police dads 😭

☆ pisces placements are so so friendly omg probably my favourite placement (they are a little evil at times tho)

☆ virgo in the 4th house = family who is very open abt their bowel movements with you 💀

☆ If u feel as though u act like a certain sign but the sign isnt in your chart theirs a chance the signs ruling planet maybe aspecting your big 3 (eg: i have no scorpio placements but pluto is opposite my asc)

☆ maybe its being saturn ruled but what is up with aqua and capricorn placements having a rlly "old" sense of humour 💀 (would probably unironically laugh at a minion memes or like tweets from 2017)

☆ are you really a gemini if you havent searched up "signs you're on the spectrum" at one point in ur life

☆ yk someone has a sagittarius placement in their big 3 when they don't look like people from their home country 😭. They could literally be from the same place as you and still look like they are from another country

☆ aqua risings do look like aliens omgg 👽

☆ ik this is a stereotype but pisces moons cry a lot. like a lot. also big eyes that look like they are gonna cry.

[aibbabus]

I am BEGGING Oshi no Ko fans to understand that the story isn't giving us an incest plotline for the sake of it, but because the manga is about how teenagers are sexually exploited by the entertainment industry. Chapter 141 just talked about how consent is taken away from vulnerable women and children by predators in power.

MEM-cho mentions that the twins kissing is what the audience would want to see. Abiko & Yoriko also ignore Aqua's discomfort by saying that entertaining his audience is his responsibility.

Aqua is clearly uncomfortable with the thought of kissing Ruby, while she doesn't have the same reservations. But this isn't because Ruby has some incest fetish; it's because she doesn't see Aqua as her brother.

"Well, this is still creepy for her!" I need you to understand that Ruby, or Sarina, isn't a well-adjusted girl. She's a child who has suffered from immense trauma that skews her perceptions. She died from brain cancer when she was 12 years old. There's no way Ruby has a proper, healthy understanding of familial and romantic relationships.

And most importantly, this kissing scene is for the 15-Year Lie documentary to get revenge. Aqua is playing Hikaru Kamiki, and Ruby is playing Ai Hoshino. In other words, Aqua has to sexually exploit Ruby in the documentary to ruin Hikaru's reputation. He's at the homestretch to get his revenge, and all it takes is taking advantage of a vulnerable child.

This is Aqua's final test. He has to choose if he will perpetuate the cycle of exploitation and violence that got Ai killed, or if he'll make the right choice Hikaru Kamiki never did before he went too far.

[thoughtspresso]

Oshi No Ko was about Arima Kana all along.

And I think there’s a real possibility she may die at the end.

Or be placed in the way of grave danger.

I was reading some AquKane shippers say something about how they don’t understand AquaKana, and why the writers and directors keep clearly pushing Kana towards Aqua when they barely share any chemistry. Whereas, in their belief, his relationship with Akane is more honest, deeper, whatever. I’m not here to argue about that. But I get where they’re coming from. And the simple explanation is this:

It’s because this whole story was written for Arima Kana.

I’ve seen some Youtubers talk about how this whole story was meant to be fulfillment for Ruby/Sarina’s dream to become the next great Idol, something about Amaterasu favoring her.

And that’s near what I thought of it. But I really think if the God of Entertainment wanted to bless a child with cancer a second life as the world’s great idol, they’d also give her a great singing voice, y’know?

Spoilers for the manga, of course as we go along on this explanation. So anime onlies, get caught up before you start reading me ramble.

Here we go:

1. Arima Kana is the embodiment of Amaterasu, not Ruby.

Or at least, Amaterasu’s appointed representative, or her favorite daughter.

To give you a run-down of some of the core Shinto/Japanese Mythology that is important for the story, the Creator God Izanaki had three children:

Amaterasu, Goddess of the Sun.

Tsukuyomi, the Moon.

Susanoo, the Storm.

The story goes that Amaterasu and Susanoo had a competition about who could create better gods. So Amaterasu took Susanoo’s Totsuka-no-Tsurugi* (longsword) and split it into three, from which she birthed the three Munakata goddesses.

And woncha knowit, there are three great actresses born in that year?

*A reminder that Kana plays the character Tsurugi, which literally just means Sword. And Akane’s character Saya-hime just literally means Sheath or Scabbard Princess.

In this bet, Amaterasu got clever with the rules and won on a technicality. Susanoo went on a rampage, destroyed Amaterasu’s ricefield, and flayed Amaterasu’s favorite divine horse*, and then threw its body at her loom.

*The name Arima is spelled with the Kanji of Horse & Exist/Live. 

Amaterasu, in her grief, flees into a cave, believed to be Amano Iwato cave, right in the town of Takachiho, Amamiya Gorou’s hometown, and the death place of  Tendouji Sarina.

The being that draws Amaterasu out of there was the Goddess of the Dawn, known also as the Goddess of the Revelry & Arts, a being that Aqua says he knows well, and believes there’s a grain of truth to:

And how does Ame-no-Uzume draw Amaterasu out of her grief?

By throwing an absolute rager, and dancing really wildly that it catches her attention and makes all the gods around them laugh so hard. Just like:

Ame-no-Uzume will later on marry a diety who tried to block her passage before, Sarutohiko, who in Ise is worshipped as the god who illuminates the world.

That’s some divinity-level AquaKana shipping right there.

Just like how Aka Akasaka wrote the story of Kaguya-sama: Love Is War about two lovers who couldn’t be together just like in the myth of Kaguya, but having his characters overcome all odds to defy divine fate, I do believe that apart from the parallels to the mythology like he did in Kaguya-sama, there is very literal divine intervention this time in Oshi No Ko.

I think what’s happening is that the gods, particularly Amaterasu and Susanoo are quarelling again about who could create better gods, just like before, but now more of whose favored child will shine the brightest and be worshipped by the most humans. But just like last time, Susanoo may have been enraged, especially at the sexual assault of his chosen Hikaru Kamiki, that he possessed him with a corrupting force that urges him to destroy shining stars before they reach their peak, hence the murders of Himekawa Airi, Hoshino Ai**, and Katayose Yura.

Which by the way, the name Hikaru means Radiant Light!

And Hoshino means Field of Stars!

Whether it’s because Amaterasu is angry that every daughter she sends to earth is slaughtered by Susanoo’s chosen, or just because she wants to win their competition, she appoints Ame-no-Uzume to assist in safeguarding her new favored one from Kamiki’s clutches. Her new favored one being Arima Kana.

And therefore, Ame-no-Uzume takes the souls of two motherless humans who had passed before they could shine and sent them to become Hoshino Ai’s twin children. It was all anyway happening in her territory of Takachiho at the most opportune time.

Ame-no-Uzume is also known as The Goddess of Dance, as well as The Great Pursuader. And wouldn’t you know, that’s exactly the gifts that the Hoshino Twins received.

An energetic performer who takes the stage with dance:

And a deceptive, persuasive, extremely believable actor, who:

fooled his own sister into believing she had been rejected from an audition

pretended to scout an idol from a competing agency to research them

get Director Gotanda to raise him and train him

make Akane not just date him, but follow him down a destructive path

convince Kana and Mem to join IchigoPro

impersonate Pieyon for several days straight

Anyway, I truly, truly believe that unbeknownst to Aqua, his true mission is just to keep drawing Kana out of her darkness until she shines the brightest. Which is what he keeps doing anyway:

2. The Timing of the whole Oshi No Ko plot is aligned with Arima Kana’s rise to unprecedented stardom.

The story of Ai Hoshino’s pregnancy and meeting of Gorou Amamiya in a quaint hospital occurs at the beginning of Arima Kana’s life, just after she is born.

She meets Aqua Hoshino around age 4, already talented, and already extremely arrogant which could have easily been the demise of her career. But meeting Aqua and seeing his acting was a necessary wake-up call for her, that it brings her to tears. She never forgets this experience that she brought that lesson with her to her adulthood: that she can’t be satisfied and keep working harder, and to be a better communicator with her colleagues. At their first point of contact, Aqua already becomes the reason why Arima Kana’s acting career survives the slump.

They meet again in high school, when Arima Kana has one acting job in a lackluster production of Sweet Today. The ratings had plummeted, if not for the fact that Aqua came onto the set to draw out the best acting Arima Kana could deliver. After this, Arima receives much more respect and recognition from her colleagues in the industry beyond just being cast to bring some legitimacy to their production.

It’s because of Aqua and Ruby that Kana joins IchigoPro’s Idol Division, and her career is reborn anew. Such that, even after quitting B-Komachi, Arima states she never regretted the decision to join, because otherwise the career of Arima Kana would have been already over. 

It’s because of Aqua’s presence that Arima trains to become better and better as an idol. Aqua kept drawing out the light from Kana’s eyes, to the point that it catches the attention of the crowd who previously had no interest in her.

It’s because of her experience as an idol that she regains the confidence and sense of greed necessary to grab the attention of the audience when on stage, such that even Akane recognizes this change in her when Arima takes the stage as Tsurugi for the 2.5 Adadptation of Tokyo Blade.

And it’s because of all of these that she captures the attention of award-winning Director Masanori Shima, who lines up some roles for her when her acting schedule had dried up. It’s once again because of Kana’s dedication towards Aqua that Shima D finds her so interesting that he was most willing to promise her the best role possible.

It was as if Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto appointed Aqua and Ruby to come draw Arima Kana out of her Cave, and bring the Sun out again, just like how the deity drew out Amaterasu.

If you think about the title of the show, Oshi No Ko, it literally means The Favorite Child. God’s favored child. Arima Kana had been born chosen by Amaterasu from the very beginning. And Ame-no-Uzume is sending Aqua and Ruby to aid on this quest.

Which explains why it seems like there had been a mission communicated to Aqua from the very beginning. And why Ai was never going to be reincarnated at all.

You would think that if The Crow Girl, which we assume is the divine guide Yatagarasu, was communicating with Aqua about his revenge plan or helping him find Kamiki, that Aqua would hold a more favorable relationship with The Crow whenever it appears to give advice, no?

But it’s exactly the opposite. Because The Crow is guiding him into something that is different from his personal goal that Aqua doesn’t understand.

And this is where I think Arima Kana could be put in danger.

3. Arima Kana is Hikaru Kamiki’s next target.

There were earlier theories that thought Kurokawa Akane was the one to die next, because of what people have now learned of Kamiki’s serial murderer profile targeting big celebrities before their peak, and because Akane had received a bouquet of white roses from him when she won an award.

The chapter when it was expected to happen was a fake-out from Aka Akasaka, and some people think it’s still possible that she’s the target. In fact, I keep seeing recent theory videos who discount Kana and say she’s “the safest”. Hah! If only!

The scenes with Shima D weren’t just a mere plot point to bring scandal to Arima’s name, and threaten her career and life enough that it pushes Aqua to reveal his mother’s secret in exchange. But it’s there because this is the upward path for Arima Kana. So far, the only people who have witnessed her dazzling star power have been fans of the Sweet Today manga, idol otakus, and people who attended Tokyo Blade. That’s not really masterpiece-of-the-century, performing-at-the-dome level. None of these gigs have placed her center stage in what could be Film of the Year, and a Best Actress spot. Now, the chance is here, and it’s real:

I think, The 15-Year-Lie will attempt to draw out Hikaru Kamiki, or that Aqua intends to reveal himself in the movie looking like him, and reveal the identity of his father.

But I also think what would happen is that they would be unsuccessful at taking him down completely. Instead, from the movie, he would be interested in Arima Kana, and target her through the course of her Shima D movie, and plan to kill her before an important awards night.

Alternatively, now that Kana is changing her focus to film, she may consider moving agencies, and ask Frill Shiranui about her agent. And if we’re right, she is likely represented by Kamiki Productions.

Either way, Kamiki will pay attention to her and try to kill her just before she reaches her highest.

But I don’t think Arima Kana will die. I think instead of being saved by Aqua, it’ll be Kana who takes Kamiki down. Echoing back to her getting mad at Aqua for thinking that avoiding her was protecting her, and Aqua believing that Kana doesn’t need help since she’s strong enough to take care of herself.

And then maybe, it’s Arima Kana who draws Aqua out of the darkness too.

And, just like with Kaguya and Shirogane Miyuki, Aka Akasaka is once again writing a story about two people who will defy a fate of divine tragedy, and come out of it being more truthful with each other than they’ve been with themselves all along.

[skania]

Let's talk about Aqua "using" Akane

So Aqua makes a very big deal about "using" Akane, but... did he actually use her at all?

I mean, he makes it quite clear that he is only keeping her close because she's useful, right?

So, what is Akane useful for, exactly?

Aqua's entire premise is that Akane understands Ai better than he does. He can't lose Akane because she may help him figure out Ai and find out who his dad is.

But we never, ever see Aqua asking Akane questions about Ai. At the contrary, most of his time with Akane is spent either on Aqua and Akane helping each other, or on Aqua talking to Akane about himself rather than about Ai.

(Spoilers for the entire manga below the cut!)

Let's take the TB arc for example, since this is the arc where Aqua and Akane interact again. What do we see?

First, Aqua helps Akane voice her concerns about the script:

Then he helps solve the disconnect between the ones in charge of the script and the original author, thus doing Akane and everyone involved a big service:

Then he helps Akane win against Kana, going as far as to agree to do emotional acting in order to accomplish it:

And then he helps Akane draw Kana out into the spotlight:

In other words: Aqua spends the entire arc working as a team with Akane. He makes no effort to use her at all.

What's more, all the occasions he had to get Akane's insight about Ai? He uses them to give Akane insight about himself instead.

Which is ironic, because we eventually find out that he even went as far as planting a GPS on her sometime after Love Now, in the off-chance Akane came in contact with the culprit. He obviously was pretty serious about making the most of Akane's deduction skills...

... but how was Akane supposed to deduce anything when Aqua never gave her any info? After all, Aqua only shares that information with Akane after he thinks his revenge is over and he has no use for her anymore.

Which means that, up to the point where Aqua temporarily drops his revenge plans, we don't actually see him using Akane at all.

Despite this, we still see Aqua going on and on about how he has "used" Akane.

So, let's take a closer look at all the ways he has "used" Akane, shall we?

• "About my father" is the simplest one, since that's what Aqua wanted to use Akane for in the first place. Except that, as we saw, things don't go quite as planned and he literally doesn't do anything to have Akane find his dad.

So yes, Aqua did intend to use Akane to find his dad, but he doesn't actually put her to use. In fact, Akane finds him all on her own by pure chance much, much later.

• "The corpse" is a very interesting one, because by Aqua's own admission, he trusted Akane's capabilities enough to think she may be able to find his corpse, and fed her information to help her achieve this.

This is indeed true, except for two things. One, when Aqua starts looking for the corpse, he actually tells Akane to stay behind. She's the one that chooses to follow after him. Aqua makes it sound like Akane finding his corpse was his goal from the get-go, but his actions are at odd with his words.

Secondly, Aqua stops looking for the corpse the moment Akane suggests it may be buried, but he still takes her to Goro's house either way.

Nothing he tells her about Goro is relevant to the search of his corpse. It's completely irrelevant, in fact. But Aqua still opens up to her, sharing everything about Goro, from his upbringing to his goals to his feelings.

Once again, his words say one thing, but his actions tell a different story. Akane is the first person Aqua has opened up to about Goro, and he does so without any ulterior motive.

Which leads me to the way Aqua has "used" Akane:

• "And many other things."

This is what Aqua means by "many other things". Ever since that day, Akane has been giving Aqua emotional support and he has come to treasure it, so much so that it "saves him little by little".

I'd even say he has come to rely on it, as his monologue later shows.

Now, you may say, but isn't receiving and giving emotional support a normal part of every relationship?

And you'd be completely right! But Aqua isn't a normal guy.

Aqua is guilt-ridden to the point he is in pain whenever he enjoys anything. Since the guilt he feels colors basically everything he sees, it permeates his relationship with Akane as well.

Instead of seeing all the good he has done for her, he just sees all the ways he ties her down.

Instead of seeing how much of himself he has shared with her, he focuses on what he has kept from her.

He is such a guilt-ridden, self-deprecating person that he even apologizes when Akane finds his corpse. As if getting murdered and not being found for 20+ years was his fault!

Akane puts it best: Aqua is always trying to carry the burden on his own, always acting like every wrong is his fault.

It's no surprise then that Aqua feels guilty over allowing himself to cherish Akane's support. It's also no surprise that he tries to paint it negatively as him "using" her, because Aqua has been trying to convince himself that his relationship with Akane is a lie.

If he repeats it enough, if he makes his every action about using Akane, then it will be easier for him to let go of her — even when that becomes the last thing he wants to do.

This all comes to a head in Chapter 98, where we see Aqua cutting ties with Akane to keep her safe. This was the perfect time to use Akane, for real this time — but "using" Akane has become a lie that he can't keep up any longer.

Akane has become too important to him. So important in fact, that leaving her side marks the moment he makes a wrong turn and gives himself into the darkness of his revenge.

TL;DR Aqua did want to use Akane, but he never gets around to it. He comes to rely on her emotional support and feels so guilty for it that he sees that as "using" her. Ironically, by the time Akane becomes the perfect "tool" for him to use in his quest for revenge, she matters too much to him and he lets her go to keep her safe. In fact, Akane only makes herself "useful" to him by pure chance! lol