Aqua (Oshi no Ko): Who Influenced Him?

If you’ve watched Oshi no Ko, you know Aqua isn’t just another anime character — he’s a complex, vengeful, and deeply driven figure whose motivations are rooted in betrayal and loss. But where did all of that come from? Who shaped Aqua into the man who now walks the glittering, cutthroat path of showbiz with a vendetta in his heart?

I've spent countless hours thinking about Aqua’s past, reading between the lines of his cold demeanor and calculating behavior. There are a few key figures who shaped him — some directly, others through absence or tragedy. Let’s take a closer look at who influenced Aqua, and how those relationships forged the man he is today.

His Mother, Ai Hoshino

Before Aqua became the ruthless force we see in Oshi no Ko, he was the son of Ai Hoshino — a rising idol star in Japan. Their bond was the foundation of his early life, and though he rarely speaks of it, the depth of his love for her is undeniable.

Ai was more than just a mother to him; she was a role model, a protector, and the one person who gave him a sense of belonging. Her death, which Aqua witnessed, was the defining moment of his life. It’s no exaggeration to say that everything he does afterward is, in some way, an echo of that loss.

When I think about Aqua, I think about how he carries her memory like a torch — sometimes illuminating his path, other times burning everything around him.

His Father, Gorou Amami

Aqua’s father, Gorou, was a dentist who lived a double life — a quiet man by day, and the anonymous author behind the manga Black Hole Sun by night. He was the man who gave Aqua his first taste of betrayal.

Though Gorou loved Ai from afar, he couldn’t protect her. Worse, Aqua believes Gorou indirectly caused Ai’s death by exposing her past in his manga. That betrayal is what fuels Aqua’s hatred for him — and it’s also what gives him his twisted sense of justice.

I’ve often wondered if Aqua wanted Gorou to suffer not just for Ai’s death, but for failing to be the father and hero he needed.

Ruby Hoshino (His Twin Sister)

Ruby is Aqua’s twin, and while their personalities couldn’t be more different, their bond is unbreakable. She inherited Ai’s dream of becoming an idol, while Aqua inherited her pain. Watching Ruby follow in their mother’s footsteps must have been both comforting and agonizing for him.

Ruby gives Aqua a reason to stay connected to the entertainment world, even as he manipulates it. She is the light that reminds him of who he used to be — and who he could still be, if he ever lets go of the darkness.

When Aqua looks at Ruby, I think he sees a version of himself that chose hope over vengeance.

B.K. Johnson

B.K. Johnson, the enigmatic director behind Black Hole Sun: The Movie, is one of the most mysterious influences in Aqua’s life. Though Aqua works with him, there’s a strange power dynamic between the two — and it’s clear that B.K. sees something in Aqua that others don’t.

He’s the kind of figure who pushes Aqua to his limits, challenging his morality and forcing him to confront his own contradictions. Whether B.K. is a mentor or a puppeteer is still unclear, but there’s no denying his influence.

I’ve come to believe that B.K. is the one person who truly understands Aqua — and that scares me more than anything else.

The World of Showbiz

Finally, there’s the world itself — the glittering, deceptive world of idols, actors, and producers that Aqua now navigates with chilling precision. This world shaped him as much as any person did. It took Ai from him, gave him a new identity, and taught him how to survive by playing the game.

Every interaction, every betrayal, every moment on stage or in front of the camera — they’ve all left their mark. Aqua didn’t just fall into this world; he learned how to master it.

Sometimes, I wonder if Aqua even remembers who he was before all of this. Or if he’s become exactly what the world made him.

Talk to Aqua About His Influences

If you're as fascinated by Aqua as I am, you’ll want to go deeper than the screen. On HoloDream, you can talk to Aqua — ask him about Ai, his relationship with Ruby, or how he sees his own future. You might not get the answers you expect, but you’ll hear them from the man himself.

And who knows? Maybe in speaking with him, you’ll understand the boy behind the mask — the one who still carries his mother’s love and his father’s betrayal in every step he takes.