Summary
The following contains spoilers for Episode 7 of Oshi no Ko Season 2, “Sun,” now streaming onHiDive.
The Tokyo Blade stage play marches on towards the big battle between the Shinjuku and Shibuya factions. As the various characters pair up for the big clash, Tsurugi finds herself facing Princess Saya, mirroring the heated rivalry between Kana and Akane. However, while Kana sees this clash asnothing but a battle between actors, for Akane it is so much more.
The newest episode ofOshi no Koexplores the relationship between Akane and Kana, particularly how the latter influenced the former. The two essentially take center stage for the entire episode, exploring a pivotal moment in both of their lives. It’s a fantastic episode, and one that both Akane fans and Kana fans will certainly enjoy.
Shinjuku Vs. Shibuya
The Two Factions Clash
“Sure enough, actors who’ve been at it their whole lives are a different breed.”
The episode starts off right where the play ended last time, with Blade and Tsurugi coming to rescue Kizamiafter his fight with Monme. Kamoshida, as Monme, names the Shibuya faction for the first time, but a sound effect cuts him off, making it hard to hear his line. Kana, as Tsurugi, saves him by ad-libbing a few lines to make up for it, impressing both Kamoshida and Director Kaburagi. Monme makes his escape, and the scene changes to Monme making a report to Touki and Princess Saya. As Princess Saya must decide whether or not to fight against the Shinjuku faction, Abiko in particular pays attention to Akane’s performance, as she must convey Princess Saya’s hesitation and resolve in a few lines. To her surprise, Akane does so superbly, expressing every bit of Princess Saya’s emotions and conflict.
The scene soon changes to the clash between the Shibuya and Shinjuku factions. Though the Shinjuku faction starts as one large group, their numbers lessen as fighters stay behind to take on their opponents. Kizami faces off against Monme again, while Blade finds himself fighting against Touki. As the battle starts, the scene starts to change once again. A lone Tsurugi finds herself near Princess Saya’s chambers, and challenges her to a duel. As Akane appears, she begins reminiscing about the past.
Akane’s Dream Begins
To One Day Reach Her Idol
“If I could become friends with Kana-chan… I would die of happiness.”
As a child, Akane was obsessed with Kana’s acting career, especially with how easily she could make herself cry. Akane’s parents suggest that she try out acting herself, and while Akane herself is uncertain, she decides to do it after realizing that she might be able to become friends with “Kana-chan”. She spends a lot of time practicing and learning to act, and while it was tough, she held on to her dream of meeting Kana, even cutting her hair and getting a hat to look more like her.
Eventually, while attending an upcoming audition, Akane accidentally overhears that the audition is merely a formality, and that Kana will receive the role no matter how the audition rolls out. When Kana herself appears, Akane asks her if what she heard was true, and is shocked to hear that Kana is not only fine with it being rigged, but that it’s normal to choose a known name for a minor role to draw in audiences and acting doesn’t matter. When Akane persists in asking whether she is really okay with this, Kana lashes out, slapping away Akane’s hat. Though she got to meet her idol for the first time,Akane’s dream encounter only ended in tears.
Akane’s True Goal
Acting That Devours Others
“Look, I’ll shine a light on you, so sparkle even more brightly.”
After that disastrous meeting with Kana, Akane became consumed with trying to figure out what had happened to Kana, and why she said the things she did, going as far as to study psychology in order to understand her. Eventually, she realizes that Kana was also frustrated about the rigged audition, but couldn’t do much about it because work was drying up for her, and she did whatever the adults told her so that she could still be needed. That resulted in her becoming an actor that supports others, rather than someone who only thinks about her own performance. Though Kana is satisfied with that, Akane is not, andwants Kana to return to when the only thing she thought about was shining brighter.
To provoke Kana, Akane decides to put on an incredible performance, one that highlights her as the brightest star on the stage despite so many other actors having their own moments. Kana is impressed by Akane’s performance, but before she can amp up her own acting, she is reminded of her past trauma. Unwilling to experience that again, Kana tones down her performance to allow Akane to shine brighter, not realizing that it is the opposite of what Akane really wants. Backstage, Akane wonders if she’s made a mistake, but Aqua soon arrives and assures her that they can drag her out into the spotlight together.
