Toward the Stars and Dreams「星に夢に, Hoshi ni Yume ni?」is the eleventh and final arc of Oshi no Ko manga series. It covers the aftermath of The 15 Year Lie as the members of B-Komachi live their dreams and contemplate their future steps, along the final confrontation against Hikaru Kamiki and the revelation of the full extent of the conspiracy.
Summary[]
After the first screening of The 15 Year Lie, Aqua finally confronts his father, Hikaru Kamiki for the death of Ai. Hikaru admits his involvement because Ai abandoned him just as he needed her most, claiming that she could not love him. Aqua then shows him the the DVD Ai left behind where she confessed that she did in fact love Hikaru, in her own way. Hikaru is deeply affected by this revelation, and as he leaves, he says that he will "do what he can for Ai." Later, Aqua goes to see Akane where they realize that it was impossible for Hikaru to be responsible for all of the deaths, therefore there is one more person culpable, the former member of B-Komachi, Fuyuko Niino.[1]
Meanwhile Mem-Cho has a crisis of her own as she finds out that she has become a target of the paparazzi. Worried that it would lead to a scandal, she finally comes clean on stream by admitting that she has been lying about her age.[2] B-Komachi then starts touring around Japan but the busy schedule leaves Ruby exhausted. On the rare chance that she gets to relax, she chooses to spend the day at home with Aqua at home.[3]
Watching a performance of Ruby, Nino sees that Ruby has surpassed Ai as an idol and seeks to murder her, despite the protests of Hikaru who urges her to turn themselves to the police. When Nino stabs Ruby with a knife, she reveals herself as Akane donning a disguise and a protective vest, as Nino is restrained by Ichigo Saitou who had anticipated Nino's move and made arragements. Overpowered and cornered, Nino reveals her motivations while Akane tells her that Ai wanted to be normal friends with Nino, who was brought to tears as she confessed the truth behind Hikaru and the full extent of his malice and manipulative nature.[4]
Elsewhere Hikaru is watching Ruby's live performance from his smartphone before being confronted by Aqua on his plot to induce Nino to kill Ruby, as he reveals none of the guilt he showed before. Aqua exposes Hikaru as a liar and serial manipulator, who has no qualms about killing his own daughter, while Hikaru let out an horrifying grin. Hikaru praises Aqua for being a manipulator like himself who can use his charisma and "lying eyes" to make people obey him, something he enjoys doing. Aqua confirms to the accusations, but further cuts him down stating Ruby is an idol full of love who can inspire others. Fully intending to protect Ruby, Aqua threatens Hikaru with a knife as both his eyes sparkle brightly.[5]
Hikaru feels it is fine if he dies as it will elevate Ai's existence. He further tries to smooth talk Aqua that killing him is pointless as all it will do is condemn Ruby to be perpetually called the sister of a murderer by the public and become a toy of society, destroying her career as neither the media or the public is interested in the truth, but on an hypocrital sense of self-righteous justice, all the while Aqua has his own reasons to keep living. Aqua agrees with his assessment, and confesses, he does in fact want to live and respond to the many people he holds dear, but is willing to leave it all behind to protect Ruby, so he reveals his own card; to stab himself, laying the blame on Kamiki and have both of them fall off the cliffs to end their lives, putting an end to Hikaru's plot permanently.
Hikaru feels threatened and questions Aqua's sanity begging him to stop as the two fall. Deep in the water, Hikaru struggles for his life as he hit his head in a rock as Aqua chokes him. Not intending to die, Hikaru tries to choke Aqua, but feels the presence of Gorou Amamiya and the many victims he had killed, dragging him to the bottom of the abyss with him as he resigns himself to his fate. Aqua will think that perhaps he was born as Ruby's twin to be the closest to her and protect her, and feels relieved to leave first.[6]
Despite his struggle to live Aqua ultimately succumbs to his wound, and dies with his body being found afterwards. Nino surrenders herself to the police and confesses everything she knew about Hikaru, with investigations exposing a far larger network of murderers and victims under Hikaru where evidence could only point him as an instigator. Aqua and Hikaru's death became notable news, leaving all of Aqua's family and friends devastated at his loss. During the funeral ceremony, Kana slaps at Aqua's corpse, prompting Miyako to slap her back. Kana then bursts in sadness as Aqua failed to fulfill his promise, while Akane mourns him thinking she would have been more than willing to be an accomplice of crime, although she internalized that Aqua acted alone to protect everyone else. Akane surmises that amongst all of them, Ruby is the most devastated one, but even so she's stronger than Aqua thought.[7]
After crying for days, Ruby musters the courage to stand up, meeting with her old friends who all welcome her back. Aqua's loved ones all follow their respective paths, remembering Aqua while continuing to live on. Although Ruby was still in pain and sad, she hid all of her darker feelings with lies and smiles, while letting her inner darkness out when it mattered, utilizing everything she could to carry on with Aqua's dreams. Her story became relatable and fascinating to the public who were all captivated by her. Subsequently, B-Komachi manages to perform in Tokyo Dome alongside new members, and the performance is a resounding success with Ruby's bright bringing light to those in the dark.
Ruby wakes up in the morning and prepares for schedule rehearsal. Confessing she has to lie and lie and put on a smile no matter how much she feels sad and how hard things get, she admits her job is incredibly fun, as she looks at a picture of Ai and Aqua, she tells them to watch over her as she's going towards the future the two of them illuminated for her as she leaves, bidding them farewell.[8]
Trivia[]
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| Prologue: Childhood • Show Business • Dating Reality Show • The First Concert • 2.5D Stage Play Private • Mainstay • Scandal • Movie • The End of the Play • Toward the Stars and Dreams | |