Image via Yen Press and Shueisha
As the reader, we’re aware of one of the biggest plot points in Oshi no Ko from the first volume of the manga. That is, Aqua and Ruby Hoshino are the reincarnated deceased Dr. Goro Amamiya and his teenage terminal patient Sarina Tendouji. As siblings, the two are aware each one is a reincarnated individual. However, they don’t know each others’ identity. With volume 13 of Oshi no Ko, we’re finally seeing that reveal. Aka Akasaka and Mengo Yokoyari handle it as well as can be expected, though I did feel a bit weird about how some relationships changed.
Editor’s Note: There will be spoilers for volume 13 of the Oshi no Ko manga below.
In some of the volumes of the second half of the Oshi no Ko manga, we see the relationship between the twins Aqua and Ruby start to dissolve. A big part of this is his focus on revenge for their mother Ai’s death and determination to bring the person or people responsible to justice. We also see Ruby begin to change, with part of that due to her learning the doctor who treated her when she was Sarina, Goro, died. Volume 13 immediately picks up with this latest reveal after Ruby’s dealt with blow after blow. She saw her original mother with the children she had after her, leading a happy life. She knows Goro is dead. She’s dealing with pressure from a new job. It’s then that Aqua, who is Goro, sees her breakdown and lamenting that everyone she loves ends up unhappy or dead and wishing she didn’t get a second chance.
Now, initially the reveal as to the past life identities of Aqua and Ruby as Goro and Sarina is handled so well. We learn how Sarina’s mother and father basically abandoned her in the care of the hospital full-time due to her increasing severe illness and their money. So much so that neither came to visit her. Goro started stopping in and taking time because she was so alone, and that’s how he connected with her over B Komachi, Ai, and her own dreams of stardom. We see the importance of a keychain from their past lives in their current one, and her realizing who he is.
Another reason this is great is because of the way it affects the story in a positive way. Prior to this point, Aqua largely ended up being the one driven by and living for revenge. It’s only in more recent volumes of the Oshi no Ko manga that Ruby developed that same drive and sense of darkness in her. Because of Aqua’s response to Ruby’s breakdown and realization, it feels like he’s flipped a switch and she’s going down a different track. He reminds her of who she was and what she wanted, and that now she does get that chance to be the star she was meant to be. Seeing the response to the encouragement from someone who became her most important person for much of her last life and was one for this life as well is such a emotional moment.
The downside is, this reveal brings the baggage from Sarina and Goro’s past life into their new lives as Ruby and Aqua in Oshi no Ko. Basically, in the past when she was in the possible and at a point where he knew she was terminal, Goro told Sarina he’d marry her when she turned 16. It essentially came across as the sort of platitude you’d offer when you know a situation is dire and want to make a dying teenager happy. Except Sarina, now Ruby, did seem to take it to heart. Which means there are these awkward scenes where suddenly she’s overly affectionate and all over him. Kana and Mem-cho are the observers, as are readers. The former’s reaction is a pretty good response to the sudden shift. Considering they’re siblings now and there was a major age gap with problematic power dynamic before, it’s weird to see Ruby/Sarina behave in such a way. (Even though we don’t see Aqua/Goro behave in a reciprocal fashion.)
It’s a mixed bag of a response. It is good to see one of the truths come out in the Oshi no Ko manga, especially since it sets Ruby on a better path, but the way the reveal affects Ruby and Aqua’s relationship is awkward. The baggage is so much. Especially since it changes her reactions to her twin brother.. Not that the awkwardness was any better in their past lives. On the plus side, the plot quickly moves on to The 15 Year Lie movie development and Ruby’s career, so at least it doesn’t linger on that topic.
Volumes 1-13 of Oshi no Ko are available now, and Yen Press hasn’t shared the release date for volume 14 yet. The anime adaptation is streaming on Crunchyroll and HIDIVE, though the second season is only on HIDIVE right now.
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