Read-Through「読み合わせ, Yomiawase?」 is the forty-second chapter of the Oshi no Ko manga series. It is written by Aka Akasaka and illustrated by Mengo Yokoyari. It was released in Weekly Young Jump on May 6, 2021.[1]
Summary[]
Director Kindaichi announces that since all of the major cast are present, they will be having the first read through later that day. As the casts scatter to greet each other, Akane comes to Aqua and offers to guide him as theater is her area of expertise. Aqua remarks that Akane seems rather confident, causing her to blush. Meanwhile an annoyed Kana watches on and is noticed by Melt. He points out the two are supposedly dating which leads to unleash a tirade that their relationship is purely business. He then brings up the characters are portraying are engaged in the story and Kana reacts by going on a long speech against tying actors' real relationship to the show. Melt is somewhat surprised since she is behaving totally differently in comparison to the time they were working together during Sweet Today.
As Aqua goes through the script, he notes that Kana is part of the protagonist group, the Shinjuku Cluster, while he and Akane are their opponents, the Shibuya Cluster. The play itself is centered on the Shibuya conflict arc where the two groups clash and the only time he will be acting with Kana with be the last few scenes. Akane asks if he is disappointed to have so few scenes with Kana but he dismisses the notion, explaining that Kana can get really worked out when it comes to acting, so it is a blessing to have fewer scenes with her. Akane states it is fun to talk to people about but Aqua disagrees because he has no passion for acting because for him, acting is simply a means to get closer to the truth about Ai. As director Kindachi comes back, Aqua and Akane put their minds back to practice.
While the actors rehearse, producer Raida and Kindaichi discuss the actors involved. Raida comments that none of them are bad actors, Kana and everyone from Lala Lai can act of course. He had reservations about Melt beforehand due to his poor performance on Sweet Today but he has improved since. Aqua too, who is only doing his first stage play, is having no problems keeping up with the others. So overall Kaburagi has made good picks. There is also the prospect of a face-off between Kana and Akane, the former and current acting prodigy but Kindaichi points out there is still Taiki Himekawa to consider. Taiki and Kana then rehearse together where the two of them thoroughly immerse themselves into their roles. When they finish, Taiki ask Kana to join him for dinner and Kana in turns invites Melt to join them since the three of them share a lot of scenes. Meanwhile is Akane stunned after seeing Kana's performance as she did not think Kana capable of pulling off such a performance. This is what Kindachi wanted as he believes that Lala Lai has become somewhat stagnant and by working with outsiders, it will give them a jolt. And by putting them through the paces, they will see what these actors are truly made of.
Characters[]
