In Episode 7 of Oshi no Ko, titled "Buzz," viewers are taken through the aftermath of the previous episode's traumatic events. Aqua manages to save Akane from jumping off a bridge, but the online hate towards her continues to escalate. In an effort to salvage her reputation, Aqua proposes a plan that requires the cooperation of his LoveNow co-stars and a stroke of luck with online virality. Although the episode is less intense compared to the previous one, it provides a satisfying conclusion to the unsettling experience.
Recovery
Aqua holds onto Akane and shares that Mem-cho was searching for her after realizing she hadn't returned from getting food. Aqua assisted in the search and eventually, they were both detained by the police. Their families were then contacted. The LoveNow cast arrives to offer their support to Akane, with Yuki expressing her desire for Akane to have approached her earlier. The scene is touching, illustrating the strong relationships forged among the cast despite the competitive nature of reality TV.
Akane's commitment to the show remains despite the internet backlash she received after being portrayed as a villain. Aqua confirms that the staff are unlikely to hold her to her contract, but Akane is determined not to let her hard work go to waste. Aqua is set on taking revenge against the production staff for their actions and the internet trolls who have pushed Akane into a corner.
The Real LoveNow
Aqua leaked the story of Akane's suicide attempt to the press, causing a brief lull in negative comments about her. However, he didn't stop there. He gathered footage from the other LoveNow cast members to create a video that would prove Akane's innocence. The entire cast contributed to the video, showing their support for Akane and her friendship with Yuki. Yuki also revealed footage of her reconciling with Akane, which had been edited out of the show by the production staff. Aqua confronted the director about this and managed to obtain the footage. After hours of editing, the video was uploaded to Twitter and quickly went viral, garnering 74,000 retweets in just 24 hours. Although not everyone was convinced, the video helped to cool down the negativity surrounding Akane and allowed her to return to LoveNow with pride.
A New Persona
After her previous experience on set, Mem-cho and Yuki advise Akane to adopt a persona for future filming projects. This would prevent her from going through the same ordeal again. Akane agrees but is unsure of the character she should portray. To help her out, Mem-cho and Yuki ask Aqua about his ideal girl. Despite initially being reluctant, Aqua describes someone who bears a striking resemblance to Ai. Mem-cho picks up on this and Akane promises to emulate Ai as much as possible for Aqua. However, Aqua is skeptical, believing that no one could possibly replicate her.
Akane conducts thorough research on Ai before resuming filming, determined to accurately portray the character. Her keen observations and deductions about Ai's personality are surprisingly accurate. At Strawberry Productions, Kana suggests that Akane's popularity take a small hit, which surprises Aqua. Kana explains that although Akane isn't well-known in the world of screen acting, she has a strong following in the theater world. On set, Akane quickly apologizes to the staff before brilliantly embodying the character of Ai, complete with her trademark starry-eyed gaze. Aqua is left stunned by Akane's flawless performance.
