During a panel at the MANGA BARCELONA event, Oshi No Ko creators Aka Akasaka and Mengo Yokoyari addressed audience questions about their work and creative decisions.
According to reports from those who attended the event, one of the questions centered on the controversial topic of Aqua and Ruby’s relationship.
The controversy:
The controversy surrounding Aqua and Ruby’s relationship escalated after Chapter 143 of the manga.
The chapter depicted Ruby kissing Aqua while the characters pretended to embody their past selves, Sarina Tendouji and Goro Amamiya.
Although the siblings had reincarnated with different personalities, the fact that they had spent 18 years viewing each other as siblings left many fans unsettled by the sudden shift towards a potential romantic relationship.
However, the direction of the story changed in Chapter 150. In this chapter, Aqua reflects on his feelings, stating explicitly that he sees Ruby only as his sister and nothing more.
What Yokoyari said about Aqua x Ruby:
At the event, Yokoyari revealed that she had a personal interest in exploring a romantic angle between Aqua and Ruby.
However, she clarified that Akasaka, the primary scriptwriter for the series, made the creative decision for Aqua’s feelings to be directed toward Kana Arima instead.
Yokoyari emphasized that while she wished to delve into Aqua x Ruby dynamic, it was ultimately Akasaka’s vision which guided the story.
The creators also touched on the possibility of a spin-off series. Akasaka expressed that he would only pursue such a project in collaboration with Yokoyari.
Yokoyari, in turn, shared her interest in using a spin-off as an opportunity to explore themes and relationships not included in the main story, potentially including Aqua and Ruby’s.
Aka Akasaka and Mengo Yokoyari’s Oshi No Ko manga officially concluded its story with Chapter 166 in the 50th issue of Weekly Young Jump.
The reaction to the ending was mixed, with a majority voicing dissatisfaction over the conclusion. Their frustration stemmed from how quickly the final arc seemed to unfold, claiming that it felt rushed and poorly executed.
Oshi No Ko manga has been serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Young Jump since April 2020. It has been licensed for release in North America by Yen Press and is simultaneously published by Shueisha on their Manga Plus platform.
An anime television series adaptation, produced by Doga Kobo, a studio which was started by former Toei animation members, aired its first 11-episode season from April to June 2023.
A second 13-episode season aired from July to October 2024. A third season has been announced.
