Aqua Hoshino
Aqua Hoshino |
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| Kanji | 星野 アクア |
| Rōmaji | Hoshino Akua |
| Age: | 18 |
| Birthday: | Unknown |
| Height: | 172 cm (5’8″) |
| Voice Actor | |
| Japanese | Takeo Ootsuka |
| English | Jack Stansbury |
Aqua Hoshino (星野 アクア, Hoshino Akua), full name Aquamarine Hoshino (星野 愛久愛海, Hoshino Akuamarin), is the male protagonist and one of the titular characters in the anime and manga series Oshi no Ko. Referred to simply as Aqua, he is the son of idol Ai Hoshino and the reincarnation of Gorou Amamiya, a young medical doctor who was murdered by one of Ai’s obsessive fans. Reborn into the life of his favorite idol’s child, Aqua experiences a fleeting happiness that is shattered when he witnesses his mother’s murder by the same stalker who took his life in his previous existence.
Following Ai’s death, Aqua transforms into a cold, calculating, and emotionally guarded figure, dedicating his new life to uncovering the identity of his biological father the man he believes was responsible for Ai’s demise by leaking her secrets. With a keen intellect, insider access to the entertainment world, and a deep well of unresolved trauma, Aqua becomes the series’ central figure in exploring the dark underbelly of the idol and showbiz industry. Though he later tries to abandon his vendetta after hitting a dead end, the shadow of his past continues to pull him back toward the truth.
Background
Appearance in anime
Before becoming Aqua, he lived as Gorou Amamiya, a rural OB-GYN doctor who was a devoted fan of idol Ai Hoshino. He supported her career from afar and was assigned to handle her secret pregnancy. On the night Ai was scheduled to give birth, Gorou was murdered by a stalker, presumably acting on leaked information. Gorou was then reincarnated as one of Ai’s twins, Aquamarine Hoshino, while fellow reincarnated fan Sarina Tendouji was reborn as his twin sister, Ruby.
As a child, Aqua enjoyed living with Ai and basked in the warmth of her affection, despite her hectic and concealed lifestyle. However, the murder of Ai before his eyes committed by the same stalker from his previous life left him traumatized and filled with suspicion. He concluded that the stalker had been tipped off, and therefore, someone close to Ai must have betrayed her. Believing the traitor to be his father, Aqua vowed to track him down and make him pay.
Appearance
Aqua is a tall, lean young man with slightly tousled dark hair and the iconic star-shaped pupils inherited from his mother, Ai Hoshino. His striking blue eyes marked by their brilliance and cold gaze reflect both his idol lineage and the emotional distance he maintains from others.
He often wears his school uniform or casual modern clothing but carries himself with a quiet intensity that contrasts sharply with his previous cheerful self as a child. As he delves deeper into the entertainment industry, Aqua adopts a more calculated and professional demeanor in both appearance and attitude.
Personality
Aqua is deeply intelligent, perceptive, and resourceful but also haunted, obsessive, and emotionally repressed. Once cheerful and full of admiration for Ai, he becomes emotionally closed-off after her murder. He often manipulates people and situations with surgical precision, drawing from both his previous life experience as a doctor and his strategic mindset.
Though outwardly composed, Aqua is plagued by survivor’s guilt, grief, and an overwhelming desire for vengeance. His interactions are often guarded, even with those close to him. However, moments of genuine care especially toward Ruby, Kana, and others occasionally pierce through his cold exterior, revealing that he is not completely detached.
Despite everything, Aqua harbors a hidden hope: to protect those he loves from suffering the same fate as Ai, even if it means sacrificing his own happiness or becoming someone he no longer recognizes.
Role in the Story
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Rebirth and Tragedy
As the reincarnation of Gorou Amamiya, Aqua begins life with the memories of his previous self intact. He is born alongside Ruby to Ai Hoshino and secretly enjoys being raised by the woman he once adored. However, this joy is short-lived. When Ai is murdered by a stalker, Aqua immediately suspects foul play, believing someone close to Ai most likely his father revealed her location. This loss shatters Aqua’s sense of innocence, turning him into a cold and calculating individual. He vows to remain in the entertainment industry to uncover his father’s identity and take revenge. -
Entering the Entertainment Industry
As he grows older, Aqua uses his looks, charm, and intelligence to infiltrate the entertainment world. He works behind the scenes on film sets and later becomes an actor, using every opportunity to investigate people connected to Ai’s past. Along the way, he collaborates with producers, actors, and agencies, digging for clues and manipulating others to stay one step ahead. Despite his grim goals, Aqua forms bonds with others, including Kana Arima, Akane Kurokawa, and his twin sister Ruby, all of whom influence his emotional journey in different ways. His interactions with Akane, in particular, mirror Ai’s duality, leading to both romantic tension and deeper psychological conflict. -
Losing and Regaining Purpose
After years of chasing shadows, Aqua reaches a breaking point when he discovers that his prime suspect an acquaintance from Ai’s past is already dead. Believing his revenge to be impossible, he contemplates abandoning his pursuit and living a normal life. However, the ghosts of the past continue to haunt him, forcing him to confront the question of whether peace is even possible for someone like him.
Relationships
Ai Hoshino
His mother in his current life and the idol he admired in his previous one. Aqua loved Ai deeply, and her death became the defining moment of his life. Her memory drives both his obsession with revenge and his fear of emotional vulnerability.
Ruby Hoshino
His twin sister and the reincarnation of Sarina Tendouji. Though Aqua tries to protect Ruby, he often keeps her at a distance to shield her from his dark ambitions. Their relationship is both affectionate and strained, as Ruby becomes increasingly involved in the idol world.
Kana Arima
A talented actress and Aqua’s former child co-star. Kana harbors romantic feelings for Aqua, who respects and protects her but keeps his emotions hidden. Their dynamic is marked by tension, misunderstanding, and occasional moments of sincerity.
Akane Kurokawa
A skilled actress who becomes entangled in Aqua’s life through a reality show. She closely studies Ai’s personality to portray her in a role, and Aqua is both captivated and disturbed by her similarity to his mother. Their relationship evolves into a complex mix of attraction, manipulation, and trauma bonding.