Ruby Hoshino

Reader's Guide

Ruby Hoshino serves as the emotional heart and driving force of the idol storyline within the narrative. Her character arc is defined by her transition from a grieving child seeking closure to a professional artist forging her own identity. Her primary skill lies in her singing voice, which she inherited from Ai, though she initially struggles with dance and stage presence due to her lack of formal training compared to other idols. She possesses an uncanny ability to sense the truth behind people's masks, a trait honed by her traumatic childhood experiences.

Defining moments include her decision to leave the Shinomiya Group to form B-Komachi, asserting her independence from corporate control. Another pivotal moment is when she finally confronts the reality that she cannot simply replace Ai, but must become Ruby in her own right. Her journey is a poignant exploration of legacy, trauma, and the price of fame.

Ruby's Idol Journey and Group Formation

Following the traumatic murder of her mother Ai Hoshino when she was just four years old, Ruby Hoshino navigated a childhood defined by loss yet fueled by an unwavering desire to become an idol. Adopted by Miyako Saitō, the head of Strawberry Productions, Ruby grew up alongside her twin brother Aqua in the shadow of their mother's legacy. Unlike Aqua, who initially sought revenge against their biological father, Ruby embraced the stage as a means to honor Ai's memory and pursue her own dreams.

Twelve years after Ai's death, while attending high school, Ruby formed the idol group B-Komachi alongside actress Kana Arima and YouTuber Mem-cho. This formation marked a pivotal shift in her life, allowing her to step out of her mother's shadow and establish her own identity within the entertainment industry. Her path was not without peril; during the filming of a music video, she discovered the corpse of Gorou Amamiya, the doctor who delivered her as an infant, which revealed the grim truth of his murder.

This discovery ignited a personal desire for vengeance that ran parallel to Aqua's long-standing investigation, ultimately driving her to aggressively secure the lead role in a film based on Ai's life.

The Revelation of Reincarnation and Shared Truth

For years, Ruby lived unaware that she was the reincarnation of Sarina Tendōji, a former patient of Gorou Amamiya who had admired Ai Hoshino just as her brother was his son. While Aqua retained memories of his past life from birth, Ruby remained oblivious until a fateful meeting during the production of the film '15 Years of Lies.' Directed by Taishi Gotanda and written by Aqua, this autobiographical screenplay served as a lure for their biological father, Hikaru Kamiki.

During filming, Ruby encountered her mother from her previous life, who was acting as a sponsor for the project. This surreal confrontation forced a reckoning with her past existence and triggered a realization that she and Aqua were both reincarnated souls connected to Ai's story. This revelation deepened their bond but also intensified the stakes of their mission. As they uncovered Hikaru Kamiki as the mastermind behind Ai's murder, the twins realized that their shared history made them uniquely positioned to expose the truth, even as their methods began to diverge and create tension between them.

The Climactic Confrontation and Aqua's Sacrifice

The narrative reaches its tragic zenith when Ruby's pursuit of justice collides with Hikaru Kamiki's twisted obsession. After Hikaru confesses his role in manipulating a fan to kill Ai, he attempts to eliminate Ruby by coercing Nino, a former member of B-Komachi, into an assassination attempt. Although the attack is thwarted by Miyako's husband Ichigo and Akane Kurokawa, the danger remains imminent. Aqua realizes that as long as Hikaru lives, Ruby will never be safe from his desire to immortalize Ai's beauty through destruction.

In a final act of brotherly love, Aqua decides to sacrifice his own future to ensure her safety. He confronts Hikaru, revealing Ai's final message of hope before staging a dramatic murder-suicide by throwing both himself and the villain off a cliff. While Hikaru drowns in the water below, Aqua succumbs to his wounds, finding solace not in revenge, but in having successfully protected his sister. His death exposes Hikaru's crimes publicly, leading to the arrest of accomplices and cementing Aqua's legacy as a protector.

Legacy, Grief, and Ruby's Resilience

In the aftermath of Aqua's death, Ruby is left to navigate a world forever changed by her brother's sacrifice. The film '15 Years of Lies' is released as a tribute to Aqua, serving as a testament to his life and the truths he uncovered. While friends struggle to cope with their loss, Ruby channels her grief into her career, embodying the radiant spirit that once defined her mother Ai. She performs at a tribute concert where she thanks both her late mother and brother for lighting her path, asking them to watch over her from above.

Despite the pain of losing her family twice—once through murder and again through suicide—Ruby finds genuine happiness in her work as an idol. Like Ai before her, she must often conceal her sorrow behind a performative smile, yet her journey represents a triumph of resilience. She continues to shine on stage, honoring their memories while forging her own future in the entertainment industry that once consumed them.