Aqua Hoshino

Lore & Background

Aqua's journey is defined by his singular obsession: discovering who killed his mother, Ai Hoshino. This quest drives him to infiltrate various layers of the industry, from becoming an actor under a talent agency to navigating complex relationships with veterans and newcomers alike. His path often diverges from Ruby's; where she seeks connection and performance, Aqua seeks truth and vengeance, frequently making morally ambiguous choices to get closer to the killer.

In Their Own Story

The neon lights of Tokyo reflected off the wet pavement, blurring into streaks of color that Aqua watched with cold detachment. While the crowd cheered for his latest dramatic scene on a billboard above, he wasn't thinking about applause or ratings. He was tracing the pattern of a shadow in a memory from ten years ago—a moment before Ai Hoshino's life ended. The industry smiled at him now, calling him a prodigy, but Aqua knew the script was written by blood and secrets. He adjusted his collar, hiding the medical stethoscope he kept as a reminder of who he used to be, ready to cut through the next lie.

Reader's Guide

Aqua Hoshino represents the dark mirror to the idol fantasy. Born from tragedy, he possesses the mind of an adult doctor trapped in a child's body, forcing him to navigate the entertainment world with surgical precision and deep skepticism. His primary drive is not fame, but justice for his mother, Ai Hoshino. This motivation leads him to reject traditional celebrity paths, often choosing roles that allow him to investigate or expose the industry's flaws rather than simply participate in them. As a member of the B-Factory agency and later an independent actor, Aqua struggles with the duality of his existence. He must maintain the facade of a young star while secretly hunting for clues about a murder that occurred before he was even born in this timeline. His relationship with his twin sister Ruby is complex; they share a bond forged by their mother's death, yet their methods differ vastly. Aqua's cynicism often clashes with Ruby's idealism, creating tension as they walk parallel paths through the same dangerous world.

Did You Know?

• Aqua was originally Gorou Amamiya, an obstetrician-gynecologist who was murdered by an obsessive fan of Ai Hoshino before Ai gave birth; she delivered her twins in a hospital with a different doctor present.
• Aqua's twin sister Ruby is also a reincarnated soul—she was once Sarina Tendōji, a deceased patient of Gorou's who also admired Ai.
• Ruby accidentally revealed on a live stream that she and Aqua are Ai's children, causing a rift with Aqua and a loss of trust between them.
• In the climax, Aqua used a fictionalized screenplay titled '15-Year Lie' (or '15 Years of Lies') based on Ai's life to lure Hikaru out.
• Aqua died by stabbing himself and committing a murder-suicide with Hikaru, throwing them both off a cliff to protect Ruby.

Origins and Reincarnation

Aqua Hoshino's existence begins not with a typical birth, but through a supernatural twist involving death and rebirth. Originally Gorou Amamiya, an obstetrician-gynecologist who deeply admired the pop idol Ai Hoshino, he was murdered by one of her obsessive fans on the very night he delivered her twins. Upon waking in his new life as Ai's son, Aqua retained all memories of his past existence, including the trauma of his murder. Unbeknownst to him initially, his fraternal twin sister Ruby is also a reincarnated soul; she was once Sarina Tendōji, another deceased patient of Gorou who shared his admiration for Ai. This dual reincarnation sets a unique foundation for their lives, blending medical history with the glitz of show business. Four years after their birth, the family tragedy deepens when Ai is murdered by the same fan who killed Gorou in his previous life. Witnessing this horrific event solidifies Aqua's resolve to infiltrate the entertainment industry, driven by a singular purpose: to uncover the truth about his biological father and exact revenge for the lives lost.

The Path of Revenge

Twelve years after their mother's death, Aqua navigates the complex landscape of Japanese show business with a hidden agenda. Adopted by Miyako Saitō, the head of Ai's former agency Strawberry Productions, he pursues an acting career while his sister Ruby chases her own idol dreams within the group B-Komachi. Aqua strategically builds alliances, notably forming a friendship with actress Akane Kurokawa, to aid his investigation into the murder. His journey leads him to discover shared paternity with co-star Taiki Himekawa and eventually identifies actor Hikaru Kamiki as their likely father and the mastermind behind the killings. As Aqua manipulates situations to get closer to Hikaru, tensions rise within the family. The twins' methods become increasingly ruthless, culminating in a fracture of trust when Aqua deliberately leaks their connection to Ai to the media. This period marks a dark transformation for Aqua, as his quest for vengeance begins to overshadow his humanity and strain his relationship with Ruby.

The Final Confrontation

In the story's climax, Aqua orchestrates an autobiographical film titled '15 Years of Lies' based on Ai's life, intending to lure Hikaru into the open. During production, a pivotal moment occurs when Aqua and Ruby finally realize each other's true reincarnated identities after meeting their past-life mother. At the film's debut, Aqua confronts Hikaru, who confesses to using Ai as an emotional crutch and manipulating her fan to kill her out of despair. Despite Hikaru's claims of surrender, he attempts to have Ruby murdered by a former group member. In a desperate bid to protect his sister from further harm, Aqua makes the ultimate sacrifice. He stabs himself and engages in a murder-suicide with Hikaru, throwing them both off a cliff. While he succeeds in drowning his target, Aqua succumbs to his wounds, finding final peace not in revenge, but in ensuring Ruby's safety.

Legacy and Impact

Following Aqua's death, the truth about Hikaru Kamiki's crimes is exposed, leading to the arrest of accomplices and clearing Ai's name. The film '15 Years of Lies' is released as a tribute to Aqua, serving as a testament to his life and sacrifice. His friends struggle to cope with the loss while seeking new purpose in their careers. Ruby, now an idol embodying her mother's radiant spirit, performs at a tribute concert where she thanks both Ai and Aqua for lighting her path. Though she must conceal her pain behind a performative smile like her predecessors, she finds genuine happiness in her career. The story of Aqua Hoshino remains a poignant exploration of the dark underbelly of the entertainment industry, highlighting how personal trauma can drive individuals to extremes while ultimately emphasizing the enduring power of familial love and protection.