Exposed: The Dark Reality of Idol Industry

The entertainment industry thrives on acting and lying, whether it's on stage or in everyday life. Despite the general distaste for being lied to, we embrace the dishonesty that comes with our favorite singers and entertainers. They're rewarded for their talent in pretending to play a character on screen or putting on a big smile to match choreographed dances. Perhaps even they themselves are unaware of their own dishonesty, and through repetition have come to genuinely love those who support them. Oshi no Ko, which translates to "My favorite person's girl/child" in Japanese, explores the blurred lines between genuine affection and the love that comes from being a loyal fan. The title refers to Ai, a popular idol with two children in secret, and can be interpreted as either "(Supporting) My Favorite Idol" or "(In support of) My favorite person/idol's children".

Our protagonist, Goro, is a licensed gynecologist and a devoted fan of Ai, a famous idol and singer. He had recently lost a patient to cancer named Sarina and continues to follow Ai as a way to cope with his grief. However, as time passes, Goro realizes that he has developed a genuine love for idols, particularly Ai. Despite knowing that her feelings towards her fans are superficial, he remains dedicated to her. One day, Goro is called to oversee Ai's pregnancy, as she is expecting twins and is determined to have a family of her own. Goro is supportive of her decision and decides to personally deliver her newborns. Little did he know, an obsessed fan knew about Ai's whereabouts and proceeds to murder Goro, who would then be reincarnated into one of Ai's children, along with Sarina, without their knowledge. Years later, Ai would suffer the same fate, and her children would witness the tragedy.

Upon the deaths of Goro and later Ai, it was revealed that the killer had been driven by insecurity and a sense of betrayal. They accused Ai of lying to her fans about having children, despite the killer having access to information such as her pregnancy that only a select few knew about. Through a reincarnated Goro, now known as Aquamarine, it was uncovered that the true perpetrator was in fact the killer's own father. Despite this revelation, the father's motives remain unclear. In chapter 72, he is seen visiting Ai's grave and expressing admiration for the beauty of their children, suggesting a more complicated relationship between the two. Is it a case of love or obsession?

Melt's experience highlights the flawed concept of "love" in society. He was led to believe that he was loved based solely on his appearance, and this misconception was reinforced by the attention and popularity he received. However, it was only when he was on a TV show that scouted him for his looks that he realized he had been taken advantage of all along. In the entertainment industry, it's not the person themselves who are loved, but rather the image or perception of them. Melt's story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of equating attention and attraction with genuine love and affection.

Throughout the manga, Aqua's peers perceive him as a player, despite him never sleeping with anyone or making advances. This is because he often goes out of his way to be friendly or does favors for his female friends, leading them to believe that he's "leading them on." Additionally, Aqua's conventional attractiveness often causes any positive attention from him to be mistaken for flirting, which is a common misconception in real life. When Ichigo initially scouts Ai, she tries to scare him off by explaining that she lacks a proper family or education, which she believes will hinder her ability to make genuine connections with her fans. Specifically, she worries that she won't be able to say "I love you" to her fans like other idols do. However, through her work as an idol and by repeatedly saying "I love you," Ai learns to genuinely love someone. After giving birth to her children, she develops an affection for them, like any mother would. Upon her death, Ai is finally able to say "I love you" to Aqua and Ruby and truly mean it. Ultimately, true love is about forming personal bonds and accepting someone for who they are, and Ai finds this "truth" in the family she created through both blood and bond after climbing the ladder of an industry that is often upheld by dishonesty. As the saying goes, "Repeat a lie long enough, and it becomes the truth."