Ai's Murder

Lore & Background

For Aqua and Ruby, this event is their first memory in their new lives. Though physically infants, their adult souls process the horror of watching their mother die before them. This shared trauma splits their paths: Ruby seeks to inherit Ai's dream through light and performance, while Aqua vows to hunt down the darkness that took her life from within the industry.

In Their Own Story

The streetlights flickered above the crowd as Ai stepped forward with a gentle smile. The applause was deafening, but beneath it lay a silence of dread. A figure detached from the throng, eyes wide and unblinking. Before Gorou could reach out, steel flashed in the night air. Blood bloomed on her white dress like dark flowers, and the idol's song ended not with a finale, but with a gasp.

Reader's Guide

The Prologue Arc centers entirely on this event, establishing the reincarnation premise and the twins' dual motivations immediately following Ai's death. This trauma dictates the Entertainment Industry Arc, where Ruby navigates idol training while Aqua investigates corporate corruption linked to her mother's past. As the series progresses into the Conspiracy Arc, the murder evolves from a personal tragedy into a systemic mystery. Clues regarding Sakamaki and potential accomplices surface, shifting the narrative focus toward uncovering hidden truths within the entertainment complex. Finally, the Revenge Arc utilizes the murder as the driving force for Aqua's actions, contrasting Ruby's desire to honor her mother with his need to punish those who enabled her death.

Did You Know?

• The killer was a fan who felt neglected by Ai despite his obsession.
• Aqua and Ruby were physically newborns but mentally adults when they witnessed the attack.
• Gorou Amamiya survived the incident but remained haunted by his inability to save her.
• Ai's death occurs in the very first chapter of the manga.