With Season 3 of the hit anime "Oshi no Ko" slated to air in January 2026, on Crunchyroll, the hype is real. The story follows the twin children of the legendary idol Ai Hoshino—Ruby and Aqua—as they struggle to survive and thrive in the entertainment industry.
In this article, we’ve compiled everything you need to know about the show’s absolute icon, Ai Hoshino. From her profile to crucial plot details, we have it all right here!
WARNING: This article contains MAJOR SPOILERS for the plot of Oshi no Ko.
Ai Hoshino (CV: Rie Takahashi) Profile
Age: 16 (at debut), 20 (at time of death)
Occupation: Idol (Center of "B-Komachi")
Height: 4'11" (151cm)
Family: Aquamarine Hoshino / Aqua (Eldest Son), Ruby Hoshino (Eldest Daughter)
An absolute superstar with overwhelming popularity. While serving as the absolute "Center" of the idol group B-Komachi, she secretly gave birth to twins, Aqua and Ruby, hiding their existence from her fans and the public. She is characterized by her long black hair and eyes that sparkle like starry gems.
The Shocking First Episode: Ai’s Death
Although Ai is featured in all the key visuals and portrayed as the main character, the true protagonists, as the title suggests, are her twin children. This is because, in the shocking 90-minute extended first episode, Ai is murdered. This brutal twist became a massive topic of conversation among viewers and ignited the initial Oshi no Ko boom.
Despite being an idol, Ai experienced pregnancy and childbirth. However, her life was cut short when she was stabbed to death by a fan named Ryosuke. Ryosuke is the same man who killed the doctor Goro (who later reincarnated as Ai’s son, Aqua).
Because Ryosuke—a mere fan—knew top-secret information like "Ai is pregnant," Aqua deduced that he must have had an accomplice. Suspecting that the person who sold out his mother is likely someone in the industry, Aqua decides to enter the world of showbiz himself. He vows to climb his way up through this harsh industry to find his father and exact his revenge.
The Key to the Story? Ai’s Characteristic Eyes
Ai’s eyes feature distinctive highlights that shine like six-pointed stars. When she stands on stage as an idol, that shine intensifies, radiating the aura of a true star.
However, she isn't the only one with these eyes. Her children, Aqua and Ruby, inherited this trait—Ruby in her left eye and Aqua in his right. The anime also depicts these eyes changing color or intensity based on emotion. Furthermore, when high school actress Akane Kurokawa method-acts as Ai, the star highlights appear in her eyes as well.
Fans have long theorized that these "star eyes" are not just a stylistic choice but a representation of specific emotions or a major key to unlocking the mysteries of the story.
From Orphan to Star Idol
Ai entered the entertainment world after being scouted by Ichigo Saito, the president of Strawberry Productions. While she initially only agreed to listen to his pitch because he lured her in with a matcha frappuccino, she didn't take the offer seriously at first. Because she had "no memory of loving or being loved," she believed someone like her could never serve as an idol.
Ai was an orphan raised in an institution. She originally lived in a single-mother household, but her mother was arrested for theft when Ai was young. Even after her mother was released, she never came to retrieve her daughter. Though Ai talks about this past as if it’s no big deal, her hidden loneliness is palpable. She also suffered abuse at her mother's hands; ironically, despite her name being "Ai" (Love), she grew up without knowing what love was.
The turning point came when Ichigo told her: "If you keep saying 'I love you,' even as a lie, it might eventually become the truth."
Ichigo accepted her past, telling her that "even a background like that is part of your uniqueness," and pointed out that deep down, Ai wanted to love people. Having her true feelings laid bare, Ai decided to become an idol. She spent her career lying to her fans about her love, believing that one day, the lie would turn real and she could say "I love you" from the bottom of her heart.
Note: Ai’s real surname was never made public. She performed simply as "Ai." This allowed the twins to use the surname "Hoshino" without immediately revealing they were her secret children.
Who is Ai’s Husband?
Who is the father of Aqua and Ruby—the man who should have been Ai's husband? Given that only a tiny circle of people knew about Ai's pregnancy, it is highly probable that the father is the accomplice who sicced Ryosuke on Ai and Goro.
Through the investigations of Aqua and Akane, the identity of the true culprit was finally reached. He is a man who was present at the "Lalalai" theater troupe workshop that Ai once attended: Hikaru Kamiki.
He bears a striking physical resemblance to Aqua and possesses the same dark, starry eyes when his emotions run high.
Hikaru Kamiki is the father of Aqua and Ruby, Ai’s former lover, and the mastermind behind her death. It is revealed that Kamiki is a serial killer who derives twisted pleasure from watching beautiful, valuable people meet their demise.
He is a formidable enemy for Aqua. Can Aqua truly achieve his revenge? And what awaits him at the end of this dark path?
Ai is Played by Rie Takahashi!
The voice of the top idol Ai is provided by the popular voice actress Rie Takahashi!
Born on February 27th in Saitama Prefecture, Takahashi is a superstar in her own right. She is famous for roles such as Emilia in Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World and Mash Kyrielight in Fate/Grand Order.
Oshi no Ko Series Overview
Synopsis
"In this world of entertainment, lies are a weapon." Goro, an OB-GYN working in a rural town, lives a normal life. One day, his absolute favorite idol, Ai from "B-Komachi," appears before him. She is harboring a forbidden secret... From the "worst" possible meeting between the two, the gears of fate begin to turn.
Cast
Ai: Rie Takahashi
Aqua: Takeo Otsuka
Ruby: Yurie Igoma
Goro: Kent Ito
Sarina: Tomoyo Takayanagi
Aqua (Child): Yumi Uchiyama
Kana Arima: Megumi Han
Akane Kurokawa: Manaka Iwami
MEM-cho: Rumi Okubo
©Aka Akasaka x Mengo Yokoyari/Shueisha, "OSHI NO KO" Production Committee
© Animate Times
*Some parts of this text have been translated using machine translation
