OSHINOKO (【推しの子】)

This story is a work of fiction.

Actually, most things in this world

are fiction.

We fabricate...

exaggerate...

and neatly hide inconvenient truths.

If you're gonna lie, you must do it well.

Idol fans want that from you.

That's idol group B-Komachi's ace...

owning center stage.

That's Ai.

She is my greatest fave.

B-Komachi!

B-Komachi!

I love every one of you!

In this world,

lies are a weapon.

B-Komachi rocks! Viewers should have to pay 100 million yen for this.

Ai is simply too cute for words.

That quick turn is to die for! I'm gonna pee myself.

Thank God for diapers. Seriously.

Why can't we see her live?

Because we're infants, silly.

Then when will be old enough to go?

Probably not till after preschool.

Her looks, style, singing, dancing all kick butt.

Our mama is seriously awesome! So cute I wanna cry!

Hey, keep it down.

What're you two babbling about?

What a babysitter's dream.

Concert videos of Ai keep you quiet all day.

Your mom will be home soon.

Why do I get the feeling you understand every word I say?

Those twins...

ICHIGO PRODUCTION MANAGER MIYAKO SAITOH

...they've struck me as odd from the start.

They behave like grown-ups.

It's like they whisper to each other.

I don't think they're so much "gifted," as just different.

Like they're being directed by God.

What about Ai?

Ai was always the same irrepressibly bubbly self 24/7.

But...

it's hard to describe.

She's absent-minded but in total control.

You really wouldn't believe

the things she's told me.

Seriously. Those are weird little twins.

We've no idea why, but somehow we've been reborn.

With past life memory.

I'm home, Aqua! Ruby!

Were you angels again today?

Our fave idol is our mom.

We've been reincarnated as the kids of our fave.

What's wrong? Are you okay, Aqua?

What's the matter? There there, Aqua.

That's Ruby.

Oh, you're right.

- Welcome home. - Hey.

You can't tell your twins apart?

I've always been bad with names and faces.

Ruby doesn't mind.

I'm in paradise!

Your turn, Aqua.

I can't believe I get to spend every day with my fave.

This is heaven on earth.

- Say, Mr. President? - Yeah?

Can I bring my twins to set tomorrow?

What? Don't be stupid. Of course not.

Please.

You are an idol.

Plus a minor and single mother. If the world finds out...

you're finished. And so am I.

Oh, poop.

The things you say. Unbelievable.

- What? You wanna see this? - It's mommy!

That's your mama, Ruby.

Ai's decision.

I'll keep them a secret.

I can find happiness...

as an idol and a mother.

I'm going to have both.

Ai Hoshino wants to have it all.

True to her word...

- Ai became… - Open up.

Yummy, huh?

...a mother of twins.

Live in five!

And leader of an idol group.

She skyrocketed to stardom.

B-Komachi was at the center of an idol group boom

from where they soon held all of Japan captive.

Meanwhile, Ai kept hidden the fact she'd given birth.

She smiled adorably at the world

and lied to its face.

Some lies come from a place of love.

But as to the question of who our father was,

only Ai knew the answer.

You know someone's special...

DIRECTOR AND SCREENWRITER TAISHI GOTANDA

...the moment they enter a room.

A FIFTEEN-YEAR LIE

Thank you.

Next person, please.

That's me.

AUDITION ROOM

Please introduce yourself.

I'm Ai of B-Komachi with Ichigo Production.

Come to think of it...

I was among the few adults

who could extend her a helping hand.

Please leave.

ICHIGO PRODUCTION FORMER PRESIDENT ICHIGO SAITOH

I've nothing to say to you.

Don't bother me about Ai again.

On that day...

my life came to an end.

Stop! Stop the music!

Okay.

I've gotten you a new job.

You've been offered a movie!

Wow!

Director Gotanda, no less...

wrote a script just for you.

- Hey. - That's my mama!

- Major score for a minor agency. - Little brat.

- I admit it took time, but... - Mom, you're gonna be in a movie!

all those workshops at the Lala Lai Theatrical Company paid off.

Really? Hello...?

Can I get a bigger reaction?

Will it have overnight location shooting?

Hold on a sec.

Let me see here.

Two nights, three days in Chiba. End of next month.

What does that mean?

I love family trips!

Nothing beats a vacation with you two.

It's a film shoot, not a vacation.

Call it what you want.

If you-know-who finds out, we're all dead. Got it?

Promise me you won't call yourself "mama."

I promise.

Five years since our birth.

The world at large knows nothing of our existence.

Same goes for you, Aqua and Ruby. She's "Ai", not your "mama."

I'm your mom taking my kids to work.

Yes, Mama.

Mama, pat my head.

Mama, give us spending money.

Do you get how serious this is?

- We get it. - We get it.

Seriously now.

Just as before, we've continued to act like children.

- The first scene... - Miss Hoshino's on set.

- Thank you. - Good luck.

Welcome to the first day of shooting.

- Good luck. - Thank you.

Any butterflies?

Just a few.

Then break a leg.

- Thank you. - I'll eat ten!

You're such a cutie!

Who's the kid?

Oh, she's mine. Sorry, I'll take care of this.

Ruby, what are you doing? Behave yourself.

A manager brings her kids to set.

Changing times.

You there, young man.

You can watch

but any screaming or crying, and I'll toss you out.

Of course. I'm in preschool,

but I do know the basics of self-restraint

and shall refrain from any disruptive behavior.

Please favor our agency's star, Ai Hoshino.

Where'd you learn to speak like that?

I guess from YouTube... a little.

Changing times.

I've met many precocious child actors.

But none so weird as you.

Are you interested in acting at all?

Oh, there you are, Aqua!

What are you doing?

I'm reading the script. They want me for a bit part.

Serious?

In exchange, I got the director to promise Ai...

the lead and a B-Komachi theme song in a future drama.

No way! You're like a manager now.

You two!

Could you keep it down?

This is a professional workplace. Go play somewhere else.

How do you do?

I'm a last-minute addition to the cast. Aqua Hoshino.

Unbelievable. What's up with this director?

I'm dealing with amateurs.

You're the child actor who's "high on baking soda."

"High in pecking order," stupid.

You picking a fight?

I don't really like this girl.

She's too affected for my taste.

I can hear everything you say.