#fatal is kamiki's song!!! EXPLAIN THAT!!! EXPLAIN IT!!!

[yuseirra]

I've been looking at the myths, it may be Ai(Amenouzume)'s video that she's left to Ruby(Amaterasu) that will encourage and lead her to step out of her room after her brother Aqua(Susannoo)'s death. In that case, this would also match up with the myths of Amenouzume having led Amaterasu out of a cave when she hid in it, due to her brother and it explains why we haven't seen the video Ai's left to Ruby.

Sigh.. So that would certainly take up a portion of the final chapter the way I see it, there's just...not enough pages to explain anything at all in decent depth. This isn't what this piece deserved. I can't hope so much...

I'm still really bitter how the wish she's left to Aqua wasn't able to come true!!; wh y... At least.. At least her bf found out she really did love him back. I feel that'd still be a blessing for Kamiki although it did make him break down(I WOULDN'T HAVE DIVED BACK TO THIS SERIES IF THAT CHAPTER DIDN'T EXIST. AND EVERYTHING WAS PAIN AFTER THAT. WHY...what did I do to deserve this HELP)

[yuseirra]

I really enjoy drawing them as gods! :) I'll keep drawing this version too while I can (and even after things clear up~)

I jotted about these guys earlier AGAIN and it's so funny, I'll put it in the read more

(was written in another language, translated in bulk by chatgpt~)

I set up my tablet to draw all weekend and started listening to Fatal again.

Seriously, this song… it’s just Kamiki, saying, “I can’t live without Ai~~ I want to see Ai so badly… Without her, I’m really going to die, I feel like I’ll die—what am I supposed to do?” That’s exactly what it sounds like.

It’s like Ai is Ame-no-Uzume, and Kamiki is her husband. He’s like a god who lost his wife and went completely insane. I can’t hear it any other way, seriously. If this isn’t the case, I’d be so disappointed! There’s just no other explanation for all the bizarre situations in the story. Every time I hear this song, I feel like I’m losing my mind because of this interpretation…

This isn’t Aqua. Right now, Aqua let go of his wish for Ai and is sinking deeper as he saves Ruby. No, it’s Kamiki who’s crying about not being able to live without Ai, wanting to see her that badly. What are we supposed to do with him? Why does he love Ai this much? (To be fair, the backstory is there. Watching his character unfold, I thought, "Yeah, it makes sense he’d fall for Ai.” Even before the song and Chapter 154 came out, I was certain of it.) He’s the only character who’d have such a “lack of Ai.” He lost Ai, and now he’s like, “My destiny is to get her back!” I’m sure that’s what’s driving him. He studied science in college, built a company, and went around doing all these things while telling himself, “It’s my fault, my fault,” and witnessing people dying. Seriously… what is this?

And his eyes—I feel they were originally golden, but it feels like something mixed in because of that black star, which changed the color. His eyes look so murky. I don’t think they were meant to be purple. Every other character has clear eyes, but whenever they show his in the anime, his color is cloudy, almost like something else is mixed in.

The Hoshino family’s eye colors connect to their names, but Kamiki’s name means “light,” so why the sudden purple? It could be, but his eyes look so cloudy, and no other character’s eyes have that quality. He’s not in his right mind… he really seems possessed. And why are the lyrics like this? Why do they have this meaning? If this isn’t revealed, I’m going to seek out the author myself. It’s almost funny. This song is just so strange.

It sounds like constant crying—a song of intense longing, he’s losing his mind. Once again, this isn’t Aqua’s emotional arc. Kamiki’s emotions are ten steps deeper than Aqua’s, maybe even more unhinged. He literally seems unable to live without Ai. But this makes sense if they’re a divine couple; they literally can’t function without each other. They need to be together, which even aligns with the things Kamiki says in the story. He was hers and she was his- What is he, really? He isn’t your average person. He’s genuinely strange. What he does is something that can't just be explained with charisma or “because he’s charming.” No, Ai and Kamiki must have originally been gods.

Honestly, Kamiki must be a god who was deeply devoted to his wife, driven to madness because people killed her. That’s why Aqua was assigned to dunk him into the sea to get him… This storyline would make so much more sense if this is it.

Ai must be crying in heaven if she sees what’s become of her husband. It’s so absurdly tragic. I feel like this direction would make more sense. I mean, what kind of story would it be if Kamiki were just “the bad guy”? We already know he was fundamentally a good person. How could an ordinary person even do all these things? I know the setting is modern, with cell phones, electronics, law enforcement, etc. But honestly, people buying into this guy’s ideals to this degree is baffling. He could only pull this off if he were a god.

Fatal… I’m sure I’ve shared my thoughts on this song countless times, but every time I listen to it, I feel like I’m one step closer to understanding its meaning. This song’s emotions are just so Kamiki. If this is Kamiki, though… well, he must really have loved Ai. He’s struggling so much, and you can really feel what it means to not be able to live without someone. He simply can't bear it. That’s how strong his love is.

At this point, can’t we just let him meet Ai again already? He fell apart because he couldn’t see her, even though he wanted to so badly. Was he really at fault for all of this? Is he actually responsible for Ai’s death? I don’t think so… If Ai had been there, he probably wouldn’t have ended up like this.

We need to find out the real reason Ai died, don’t we? This song has to mean something, right? There has to be a reason this song came out. I wouldn’t have started down this path if I didn’t feel I already knew the answer. If I were the author, I’d never make a character who wants to see Ai so desperately into her killer. Maybe Kamiki has some godly power that became unstable out of his anxiety, causing the chain of events that led to her death, but...

Now that we know Ai truly loved Kamiki, I can’t believe he’d even lay a finger on her. It just doesn’t fit his character or story. His behavior shows he isn’t capable of that. This is the same person who couldn’t even retaliate against people who treated him horribly, even those he cared less about than Ai. He was a kind person.

Looking at Kamiki’s consistent behavior, there’s always this gentleness, almost peacefulness. Even if he’s lost it now, that gentleness seems closer to his true nature. I feel like something forced its way into him and twisted him.

The person Ai loved was probably this part of Kamiki, the gentle exterior. If you look at it, it makes sense why she’d fall for him. He’s fundamentally that kind of person, but something happened to him.

I’m rarely wrong about things like this… There aren’t many chapters left now, so if I’m wrong, I’ll just take it as it comes.

Was Kamiki really the kind of person Aqua could treat that way? Honestly, I wasn’t satisfied watching the interactions between Tsukuyomi and Aqua. It didn’t feel good to watch them connect and talk sympathetically. Plus, if it turns out Ai loved someone who was truly insane, that’s another problem.

If Kamiki really did do horrible things, it would make more sense if they were god-level punishments from a god who went insane. If he were just a regular boy who lost it and became a serial killer… what even is that? That would be so disrespectful to people who have similar backgrounds. For a character like this, I feel like there should be a certain amount of care in how he’s handled. Otherwise, I'd really be upset. I’m sure the author understands that.

Anyway�� it feels like the answer’s already in the song. Like the answer’s already been given. There aren’t many chapters left, so I guess we’ll find out soon.

[yuseirra]

Analysis on Kamiki

Organized further notes on the Ame-no-Uzume and Sarutahiko myth

Happy new year! I brought something new(yet again) on this guy... as first thing of the year, wow. Something about him really bugs me I guess. But I came up with something that can explain what he is and I've been expressing a lot about that. I have to understand what the subject is before I could build something upon it and create fanwork so, please take these as a struggle to do it o<-<

From what I've concluded, he's a character that definitely cannot be understood fully without understanding Japanese mythology. It's been fun doing some research about it and since I'm not an expert and it's all self-conducted, I can be off, but I think I've done all right. I've done cross-checks and looked into multiple resources, official documents, and websites so; I did a lot; to make sense of something that doesn't seem to.

well, here goes!: If you like the character or seek a better understanding of him, I think this may help!

Doesn't it feel like something about how things unfold around Kamiki is deeply unusual?

The people who make his life difficult—or maybe it's more accurate to say those who hurt him—seem to either die or end up miserable. But it’s unclear whether this is something within Kamiki’s control or if it happens regardless of his intent. There’s no clear cause-and-effect relationship. Moreover, people around him, including the protagonist, seem to become extreme in their behavior. Even Nino didn’t seem to be in her right mind—almost as though she were possessed. She doesn't seem sane.

Kamiki himself, however, behaves relatively normally: he warns Yura to watch her step, urges Nino to turn herself in, asks Ryosuke to deliver flowers, cries to Uehara about what happened to him, and tells Aqua to go back and live a normal life. But the outcomes of these actions spiral into bizarre consequences: Yura dies, Nino tries to stab Ruby, Ryosuke harms Ai, Uehara ends up in a murder-suicide with his wife, and Aqua decides to drown Kamiki along with himself, culminating in that tragic ending.

To me, the only person who seemed relatively unaffected while staying by Kamiki's side was Ai. The two of them appeared genuinely happy together, which might explain why Kamiki struggles to let go of her. Maybe it’s because he was truly happy during that time. When Ai was with him, he believed he could overcome anything. But even their relationship took an unexpected turn when the twins were conceived, and they eventually separated.

Sarutahiko, the husband of Ame-no-Uzume (the goddess of entertainment), is described as “a god who guides everything toward goodness.” This is how a shrine dedicated to the two deities refers to him. When I read that, I felt like there was something significant about it.

If such a god operates this way, wouldn’t it stand to reason that if the god fell into corruption or was broken, they’d become the opposite—a god who guides everything toward evil?

Something about Kamiki is genuinely strange. Can his actions be interpreted as intentional? If so, when did it start? From what point?; Yet, it seems like he possesses some kind of ability to guide or lead others in a particular direction—without physically doing anything himself. This would explain why he can claim, “I didn’t do anything.”

From the songs, it seems Kamiki didn’t realize he's capable of doing this before Ai’s death. There are two songs about wanting to meet or revive the dead. In “Mephisto,” the narrator claims to have forgotten who they are, and I think this narrator is Kamiki. This isn’t Aqua, as Aqua knows exactly who he is—a reincarnated person—and struggles to live as just Aqua the boy. On the other hand, Kamiki seems to have been something else without realizing it until later.

Both “Fatal” and “Mephisto” appear to be Kamiki’s songs. They likely symbolize Kamiki’s realization that he is Sarutahiko, the god of light and guidance, and that Ai was once his partner when he was in his divine form. The lyrics suggest he’ll do whatever it takes to bring Ai back, even sacrificing his own life. This aligns with Kamiki’s lines and motivations, which differ from Aqua, who expresses a desire to live.

As for Kamiki’s claim about sending flowers, I don’t think he was lying. The events in chapter 154 were too strange, leading me to suspect from the beginning that his intention was simply to send flowers and that things spiraled out of control from there. Chapter 160 confirms this idea—the explanation aligns well with his character and prior context. When considering Kamiki, Nino, and Ryosuke’s mutual acquaintance, it makes no sense for Kamiki to ask Ryosuke to threaten Ai. He's the boyfriend of a member of her idol group, who is also a fan of Ai. Why choose someone with that sort of connection to go and attack Ai? Could he have suspected such a thing? Instead, I believe Kamiki trusted Ryosuke enough to make such a request, after having befriended him for a few years, expecting him to deliver the flowers as intended.

Kamiki’s innate nature seems to be gentle and kind, but excessively naive. He tends to believe others’ words at face value, struggles to discern good from evil, and harbors a desire to do what’s “right” or “approved by others.” However, due to the lack of proper guidance, his judgment is severely flawed. Ai seemed to recognize this and often acted as his advocate, standing up for him.

Statements like “Carry the burden of the dead” and “You are empty, so no one will ever love you” were internalized by Kamiki without question. His problem isn’t malice—it’s excessive naivety and emptiness, combined with a tendency to trust others too readily. When things go wrong, he blames himself and spirals into self-punishment.

To me, it seems that he truly blamed himself for the issues he caused when he parted ways with Ai and tortured himself over it. Afterward, due to his timid nature, it makes sense that he only tried to send flowers. That’s the most natural progression, given his personality, which is why I can’t believe that he ever intended to harm Ai.

If he really is the incarnation of the god who was the husband of Ame-no-Uzume, then he is the god of guiding paths and should be a god who leads others, right? He’s supposed to push people toward good decisions or guide them to a “better future.”

However, the environment he grew up in wasn’t good, so he probably didn’t know what the “right path” was. That’s where the confusion started. This is why Ai’s request regarding him strikes significant: if Kamiki ever lost his way, she wanted him to find it together with her and her kids. Ai had, to some extent, played the role of his guide, as there were no proper adults around Kamiki. But Ai also had a lot on her plate to handle, and she ultimately judged that it would be better to leave him to reduce his burden, so she parted ways. In the end, Kamiki—still lost and unable to recover as a god of guidance who had lost his way—spiraled after Uehara’s death and fell into despair, becoming corrupted and unable to recover. From that point on, it seems that he started to twist the fates of those around him.

I think much of this happened as a passive. His small actions seem to have caused butterfly effects, continuously leading everything in unhappy, extreme, and strange directions. People who got involved with him ended up becoming unfortunate. That's because he's the god of guidance that deals with people's futures, but is severely flawed.

He likely didn’t realize until Ai’s death what kind of power he had, but at some point afterward, he became aware and probably started using the “black star” consciously. The charisma to sway others or the ability to deceive them may be an expression of the power of Sarutahiko, the god he incarnates. It seems he shared that power with his children. The ability to influence others aligns strongly with the god’s ability to lead people’s futures. The power of love represented by the “white star” comes from Ai. The god who loves humans unconditionally is Ame-no-Uzume—Ai—and the god who loves absurdity and irrationality is Sarutahiko—Kamiki.

Tsukuyomi says the entertainment world isn’t her domain, and in Shinto, the gods of entertainment are the couple Ame-no-Uzume and Sarutahiko. The Aratate Shrine that appears in the story worships these two gods together, granting wishes. Kamiki talks about wishes several times, and that’s because he’s been fulfilling them himself. But as I said earlier, because he’s not in a good state, it’s like a monkey’s paw—people get what they wish for, but in a twisted way.

It must be true that he has paternal love. He was likely helping his children in his own way, but his self-loathing and guilt over Ai’s death kept him from stepping forward to meet them. In the end, doesn’t he go to see them? That’s probably because his goal was nearly achieved, and he planned to die soon. Before that, he might’ve wanted to grant each of the twins their wishes once. That's what he does when he meets them, he mentions wishes and bids them luck. Why else would he have gone to see them? He didn’t have to. And yet, he encouraged them. He was kind, wasn’t he? Did he try to kill Ruby? I don’t know... omg. Well, about that, he neither confirmed nor denied it. Apart from that eerie smile from hell, maybe he considered it, but in the end, he didn’t do it, right?

As for whether he used his ability to manipulate Nino to try into harming Ruby (but then, would he have calmly watched her performance?? That doesn’t make sense. If he had intended to harm Ruby in such a way, he wouldn’t have watched her performance so intently. He would’ve thought something went wrong and executed a backup plan or something. And would he have told Aqua to continue watching Ruby’s idol journey if he planned to kill her??); or if he genuinely meant it when he told Nino that they should stop and was sincerely planning to die or turn himself in, only for his powers to unintentionally cause something similar to what happened to Ai... I actually think it’s the latter. Logically, the latter aligns more with his previous statements and actions.

Seeing this situation unfold, Aqua likely concluded that no matter Kamiki’s intentions, the only way to protect “Ruby’s future” was to eliminate him quickly. That’s why Aqua made such an extreme choice.

Kamiki seems to be a kind of calamity just by being alive. He has the ability to influence the future, but it seems to push people in an unfavorable direction. In Mephisto, it felt like he wasn’t aware of this aspect of himself, but by Fatal, with all the talk of "corruption" and "stars," it seems he had become conscious of it. Comparing the two songs (Mephisto → Fatal), you can see how the emotional tone grows increasingly extreme and unhinged. Both songs express genuine sadness and longing, but the way those feelings are enveloped shifts. By Fatal, it’s as if he’s reached a point where he can’t see anything clearly anymore.

From that point—or possibly earlier—it seems like Kamiki became the kind of person who could commit countless transgressions just to see Ai again, using his abilities while minimizing his own accountability. That’s likely why Aqua calls him selfish and despicable: because his actions stem from his desire to see Ai. Kamiki himself acknowledges his sins, so this interpretation seems accurate.

But if he does possess this ability, it’s hard to tell how much of the outcomes fall within the scope of his intentions. It doesn’t seem like he wants to kill people—it feels more like an unintended consequence. For instance, the deaths of others don’t seem to be something he wished for, as he continually blames himself, saying, "It’s my fault, it’s my fault." It seems like the process goes: he wants to feel closer to Ai → he retrieves the light (star) associated with Ai → those who possess that light end up dying. This chain of events is likely why these tragedies keep happening, and why he has to pay the price for his actions.

Is he evil? If you look at the results, he certainly appears extremely so. But if we’re talking about his nature… it feels like his state deteriorated to the point where, had someone helped him regain clarity, this outcome might have been avoided. And the only person in the world who could have helped him was Ai. That’s why he continues to search for her.

If Kamiki really is a god, Ai would indeed be his one and only precious partner. They were originally meant to function together. Even if we leave that aside, it doesn’t seem like there was anyone else who treated him properly. That’s why he longs for Ai.

Looking at his interactions with Aqua, it seems that what happened between Kamiki and Aqua was the result of Kamiki interpreting Aqua’s wish and making it come true. Aqua wished to take revenge on him, and as a result, Kamiki was completely destroyed socially. But the process was so devastatingly catastrophic that even Kamiki himself was taken aback, pleading, "Don’t do this." It feels like he was betrayed by the very wish he granted.

As for Ruby, I believe Kamiki also granted her wish, but the way it manifested was horribly twisted. She doesn’t seem happy. Her beloved brother died, and yet she shines brighter than anyone by hiding the truth. Is that happiness? Perhaps. But Ruby once said she wouldn’t become like her mother. So, like Aqua’s wish, Ruby’s wish seems to have been granted in a way that was fundamentally flawed. If you look at the lyrics of Fatal, this "lack of Ai" appears to be the key flaw. Without Ai, Kamiki was fundamentally incapable of recovery. But since he believes Ai died because of him, he can’t stop.

The events of Chapter 160 should reflect the truth. When I picked up and became more invested in reading this story back in Chapter 154, I thought, "Something feels off here." Chapter 160 finally addressed that. I believe it’s accurate.

That’s why Ai thought she and her children had to help Kamiki. He didn’t end up in this state by his own will. However, Aqua, after witnessing Kamiki’s collapse and the ripple effects it had on Ruby, judged him to be beyond salvation. Aqua likely concluded, "He has to die; it’s the only way," and acted accordingly.

This might very well have been the "right" decision. Kamiki’s powers seem uncontrollable. A mad god wandering around wreaking havoc can’t be allowed to continue. Perhaps if Ai could return and reassure him—Hey, calm down, I’m alive—it could have resolved things. But by now, he’s committed so many sins that it might truly be too late.

So, if we retrace things, where could we turn back the clock to make everyone happy?

Ai and Kamiki, in my opinion, could have been a happy couple. If they had simply been left alone to live happily, this could have all been avoided.

It feels like the gods came to the human world, suffered greatly, and broke apart. One of them partially recovered, only to die, while the other went mad in the aftermath.

And this manga… if so, essentially tears apart a real-life divine couple that’s known for living happily together. Lol, maybe those gods cursed this comic for having caused them this because I can't picture an ending like this getting an overall pleasant reception...some people may like it, but I don't think the general consensus would be so; I don't like it so much either. The only way I believe it can come together somewhat is through reading over the myths with some extensive research but that's not really something that's explained within the manga itself, thus it can't really be confirmed unless the artists tell so;

Anyhow, the author seems to have a deep appreciation for mythology, in my opinion.

When I first came across Fatal, I felt that the existing narrative hinted at some connections to mythology, so I started delving into the myths surrounding the deities Amaterasu and Ame-no-Uzume that were mentioned in the story.

The narrative between Ai and Kamiki appears, at least to me, to be a modern reinterpretation of how Ame-no-Uzume and Sarutahiko came to meet. As I dug deeper, Kamiki started to align with Sarutahiko in so many ways that it felt implausible to dismiss the connection. Although there aren’t vast records or details on the myth, I managed to find translations of the relevant sections, particularly in the Nihon Shoki.

In the myth, Amaterasu sends her descendant Ninigi down to Earth, and the goddess entertainment, of the performing arts, Ame-no-Uzume, assists him. Upon surveying the land, Ame-no-Uzume spots Sarutahiko, who is shining brilliantly. She approaches him and persuades him to guide her, and Sarutahiko agrees. (Initially, he was obstructing the path because if he agreed to guide them, it meant ceding part of his territory and potentially his position as the sun deity to Amaterasu.) The two fall in love, and he eventually relents.

Doesn't this parallel how Ai thought Kamiki was "like a jewel" when she first saw him? His name is also associated with light, and he ends up guiding Ai—helping her learn acting and supporting her growth. At that time, Kamiki still had the white star, representing his role as a god of righteousness, guiding Ai away from her self-destructive tendencies.

Additionally, in the myth, Ame-no-Uzume serves Sarutahiko a meal to thank him for guiding her (and Amaterasu's grandson). Doesn't this echo the moment when Ai treated Kamiki to a meal as thanks for teaching her acting?

Their relationship grows so deep that Amaterasu’s grandson essentially acts as a matchmaker, and Ame-no-Uzume takes Sarutahiko’s name, leaving the heavens to settle with him on Earth.

Ame-no-Uzume is a celestial deity, while Sarutahiko is an earthly one. Here’s where I started to sense the underlying theme: they belong to different realms. If Ai is a star and Kamiki is a jewel, then even if they are both deities, their origins differ. When they separate, they can't meet again because their realms don’t overlap. Ai ascended to the heavens, and Kamiki, unable to become a star himself, began searching for her out of longing.

In the myth, Ame-no-Uzume and Sarutahiko seem to have connected almost instantly—there are even implications that their bond was formed through physical intimacy right from the start. (This is hinted at in the myth, apparently.) They say they didn’t have an official marriage ceremony, but people generally regard them as married. I found this curious—why not simply state that they were officially wed? And even this mirrors how Ai and Kamiki almost got married but didn’t? Their stories overlap significantly in so many ways, almost too much to be a coincidence.

The descendants of Ame-no-Uzume and Sarutahiko are known for their exceptional dancing skills, a dance for the gods, the Kagura. Doesn’t that remind you of Ruby?

So, as I pieced these parallels together, I was like, “Oh, wow!” And then chapter 162 happened, and I was completely thrown off, thinking, “What is going on with this plot?” Interestingly, Sarutahiko is also associated with misogi—a purification ritual involving water. I remember speculating at some point that Kamiki should just be pushed into water, that he seems really cursed, and later, I found out that there’s a legend about Sarutahiko drowning. That’s when I thought, “This has to be it. This must be the reason the story is unfolding this way.”

If Kamiki truly represents this deity, then he must be a god of virtue who became corrupted. Originally, Sarutahiko is a god who guides people toward the right path, which means he must have been incredibly benevolent by nature.

But Sarutahiko also has a dual nature! He’s said to be the model for the tengu, a Japanese mythical creature known for being either extremely malevolent or extraordinarily kind. This duality makes everything click perfectly!

Honestly, it’s all incredibly fascinating. This part of the story was really fun to piece together.

Ame-no-Uzume and Sarutahiko seemed to have an incredibly harmonious relationship. People even created masks of these two gods to use in festivals, and they would visit shrines dedicated to them to receive blessings for marriage or to hold wedding ceremonies. They also pray for good fortune in love there. Since the two gods are connected to the entertainment industry (though Sarutahiko’s original domain wasn’t entertainment—it seems like he helps out because it’s his wife’s work), they take care of entertainers. As mentioned earlier, they also have the ability to grant wishes together. It seems that this ability only manifests when the two are together.

Also, wasn’t it mentioned that Kamiki’s soul was noble? Sarutahiko is a god with a noble soul. Like many gods associated with light, he is described as just and virtuous. So, is it really entirely his fault that he ended up in such a state? If Ai were still alive, I feel like he never would’ve fallen so far. And if it turns out that he wasn’t even trying to kill Ai—something I genuinely believe—wouldn’t it make the story much clearer if they explicitly addressed that?

If the story is indeed borrowing from mythology, then there should be a message or some thematic consistency, but it feels incomplete or ambiguous, which is frustrating.

I started researching because certain aspects of Kamiki’s characterization felt off to me, and that led me down this path. If this was intentional on the creators’ part, then it’s quite impressive. But why aren’t they clarifying it? Most readers aren’t going to put in this much effort to analyze the story. So, is this not something they considered important? Or am I just overthinking? Still, without interpreting the story this way, I think there are logical gaps that can’t be explained otherwise. That’s why I can’t tie this story together in my mind—it just doesn’t sit right with me.

At the very least, by the end of the story, we need to understand what it’s trying to say. Without that clarity, it’s hard to feel satisfied. Right now, it feels seriously vague, and many people don’t understand it. If that’s the case, it means the story isn’t fully functioning as a narrative.

I don’t think Kamiki being portrayed as an outright villain would make for a good story. The work has already painted his character in shades of ambiguity. If they frame his actions as being motivated by anger over being rejected by Ai, and if that led him to harm her, it wouldn’t be a very meaningful story, in my opinion. Moreover, the flow of the narrative already feels strange. It’s not that I can’t accept that people are capable of such actions, but something about this character doesn’t feel like he would act that way. I had someone address, “Even if Kamiki hurt Ai, why can’t you still support their relationship?” Well, sure, that might be possible, but…hey, the thing is, I don’t think that was actually the case here. It’s not because I want to justify their relationship that I'm denying what's obvious—from what I make out from having read the story, I don’t even think he harmed her in the first place, which is why it feels off, and made me look deeper into it. If I believed he had hurt her, I wouldn’t support it. I'm not saying people can't do it, I wouldn't have been so passionate about them, that's all.

Until chapter 154, I had never once drawn that couple—I was just observing. I never expected to get so deeply into this or to end up saying so much about it… sometimes I feel like I shouldn’t have picked up this story—it’s led me down such a challenging path, goodness!! In the end, it’s still unclear, right? Why is that? Why would that be so? Why did they have Kamiki say at the end, “I only intended to send flowers”? I genuinely believe that’s true. That's what I made out of his character even before that was actually addressed in the story! I KNEW it had to happen because that's how he would have acted, according to how he's been depicted!! Based on his personality as depicted in the story, he doesn’t seem like the type to hire someone like Ryosuke to intimidate Ai or harm her. That’s just not how the character was written. There’s no need to portray him that way! So why did they? When you apply the mythology, everything fits together so well, which is why I kept looking into it. But the creators have left it vague and unresolved, making it really frustrating.

I think I'll be able to send them off properly.. have a closure myself after I complete the story I've been writing for these two characters! As much as I like both characters, they've been making me feel so anxious because it was so hard to make a judgment due to the ambiguity. But even though I’ve been filled with anxiety, the reason I kept drawing those two characters was that, in my own way, I had some basis and intuition for doing so.

That is all~ see you all with another comic strip soon, happy new year! :)

[yuseirra]

This manga is truly the epitome of avoidant disaster (Hoshino family analysis)

Yeah... Jotted this down earlier this morning :/ it's been machine-translated so if the writing feels off in some parts, it could be because of that!

After everything, my personal impression of the original manga is that it hurls misfortunes at its characters without resolving, healing, or addressing any of them. Everyone just seems to endure, carrying their festering wounds for years while pretending they’re fine, hiding them, burying them, or even living submerged in them. No one truly confronts their pain or thinks about what to do with it.

Aqua says he’s seeking revenge, but it’s not what he truly wants. He’s suppressing his inner wounds, telling himself it will all be over once he avenges Ai, and that he’ll die afterward. Then he claims it’s all for Ruby, but to me, that feels like rationalization. What Aqua really wanted was to live happily. He kept avoiding his genuine desires.

Ruby said she was chasing her dreams and seemed to be thriving, but in the end, she also turned into an avoidant type.

Ai… she tried so hard, but her basic attachment style leans avoidant. Ai really lived her life with all her might, didn’t she? Yet, as an idealist who wanted so much, she often compromised to make those around her happy. It seems like she always held herself back, standing a step or two away from what could have made her truly happy. She kept postponing things. She would have been happiest if she revealed her truth, but the reality was that the world wouldn’t have accepted it. That’s undeniable.

I think Ai genuinely loved her boyfriend and wanted to convey her feelings to him, but was there just too much to lose if she did? It’s such a classic avoidant way to end things—truly loving someone but cutting them off abruptly, without properly explaining anything, coming to conclusions on her own, and distancing herself. Aqua, it turns out, inherited this unfavorable trait from his mother.

Still… I think if Ai had survived, she would have eventually made a revelation, created a documentary, or told her story. She seemed to be enduring to her limit. If the kids had grown older and more time had passed, or if Kamiki had just gone to see the kids when he got that call instead of sending flowers, I feel like things could have worked out. But instead, he didn’t go, and tragedy struck, leaving everyone miserable. If he had just gone to see them? Everything might have turned out okay. Or if it had happened earlier, while Ai was still in the hospital.

Kamiki… sigh. There’s so little revealed about him, but among the family, he seems to have become the most honest about his desires. However, that doesn't come from his right state of mind... From my perspective, this character completely lost his mind after Ai died. He seems to be in such anguish. Honestly, I think he was as good as dead the moment Ai passed away. His despair feels like something out of Mephisto or Fatal. If Aqua were to turn out to be the one who's, responsible for those songs, the writer is crazy!! I would truly curse them. You just can’t write the story that way. It would invalidate Kana, Akane, and Ruby all at once. That would be horrifying. It would mean Aqua spent the entire series forming connections and relationships with others while secretly being obsessed with Ai. But to Ai, Aqua is her child. If that’s the conclusion, it would feel so wrong. But when you consider Kamiki’s devotion, his emptiness, his corruption—it fits him more than anyone else. Yeah, those songs are his all right.

Returning to Kamiki… he seems to be in terrible shape. His current form feels like fragments barely clinging to the shell of his former self. If Aqua is rotting from within, Kamiki feels like a hollowed-out specter, a human husk that’s already crumbled. He seems to have kept living purely out of some stubborn resolve. And what remained for him? His desire to meet Ai or the urge to bring her back to life. It seems like that was all he had left, and he abandoned everything else, deeming it unnecessary. His state feels beyond avoidant; it’s like he’s become a ghost.

Was this truly the same person who spent time with Ai? He’s so hollow now. How does someone end up like this?

In any case, none of the characters fully addressed their wounds or healed. Ai had plans to confront hers, but the writer killed her off before she could. She should have gone to her boyfriend and had a proper conversation. The video was a plan, but she was planning to confess her love and delay it for 15 years? While having such a huge regret that'd remain for so long. Surely Kamiki wouldn’t have completely misunderstood, would he? He wasn’t a bad person—if anything, he was the kind of person who could help Ai grow.

When a friend said this manga was about everyone being avoidant, I didn’t quite get it, but now it hits home. Everyone keeps burying their true feelings, convincing themselves they want something else, and spiraling endlessly. And in the end, they just keep doing that. The characters started with avoidance and never truly faced their real wishes.

Kamiki is the only one tied so deeply to making and granting wishes. He must be the one who granted those in the story. And yet, because no one expressed their true desires, Kamiki ended up fulfilling all the wrong ones.

That’s why no one’s wishes came true. Even Ruby’s wish feels deceptive—it can’t be considered truly resolved.

Still, Ai had some potential. As for Kamiki... if what he testified about himself is true (and it probably is), then rather than being avoidant, I think the fact that he was abused and became passive was the root cause of many things. Looking at him consistently, he didn’t take much action. And when he did, it often led to bad outcomes. If we’re asking when he started to change or began manipulating people, I think it happened after Ai died. He became her mentor because he was asked to. Ai was the one who stepped up to protect him, and when he tried to sever ties with his abuser, he ended up being gaslit. He froze up.

He’s the type of person who’d hesitate to visit Ai in person the way he's described it as, that's why I don't think he lied in 160. His cautious nature seems to be part of his core personality. When Ai needs something, she’d step up, while he seems more introverted. The idea that he deliberately avoided her or schemed to harm her doesn’t sit right with me. It’s still ambiguous, but judging by how much he liked Ai, it feels like he was afraid she’d reject him, so he hesitated.

But after Ai’s death, it seems like he awakened to something… maybe this just became his behavioral pattern. He’s not someone who actively takes charge, but it feels like he learned to make use of others to achieve his goals. And all of those goals revolved around Ai. It seems like he wanted to keep delivering something to her. Thinking about it, he probably became this way because he didn’t visit her back then, and then after that, he could never see her again even if he wanted to. That longing must have consumed him. So, he really might have been the ultimate avoidant personality.

Wow… this entire family is just ridiculously avoidant.

Still, Kamiki seems like he’s charging straight toward what he wants with no hesitation after losing his mind. The problem is, what he wants no longer exists in this world. Judging by his actions, if Ai were still alive, he might have shrunk back again, been scared, dug himself into a hole, and avoided everything. But because there’s no chance of meeting her now, he’s become reckless.

Everyone should have gone to therapy together... seriously.

LOL. Ah… well, life is short. I hope everyone manages to achieve and get what they want! Fighting!! ♥ This might actually be a very educational manga... though it’s pretty brutal.

The author might be avoidant too, judging by the themes in their work. No offense, but that’s just what I’m thinking. Everyone in the story just circles around what they want without ever actually getting it. The only exception might be Kamiki, who became a little more honest about his desires after going insane, and Ai… if this were another story, maybe she would’ve achieved what she wanted. But this story is so frustrating and harsh. It’s cruel... Who should we even blame? (The writer...yeah. Has to be the writing)

[yuseirra]

Rereading vol 15 yesterday really convinced me,

The hoshino family, excluding Aqua maybe? Should be all gods.

Was it ch 144? That particular chapter when Tsukuyomi lists the four different gods and the last one that doesn't realize they're one

That god that's said to "love humans", I forget how it was exactly described as, but that wasn't just love, it was phrased something like.. "Loving humans to a hopelessly endearing degree"

I think that's Ai. I read it and immediately went, that's Ai... Her NAME itself means love in the first place. Amenouzume also blesses love affairs so it matches with that whole idea that she's has to do with the entertainment god.

The absurdity god must be Kamiki. I wrote a lot about this one and now that the series is complete, if there's a character who has to do with/is that particular being, it would be him.

When Tsukuyomi mentions that there are gods who don't realize they're gods, Ruby is presented within that same panel. And she's the "Amaterasu", the way she's portrayed in the ending, she's definitely some being that's supposed to shine in the Akasaka universe or something. I think that's what they meant by "Amaterasu". And who's led her out to shine from the cave when she hid away in the myths? None other than Amenouzume!! Ai IS the Amenouzume if Ruby's the Amaterasu!! And if Ai IS Amenouzume, Amenouzume's HUSBAND is the god of light!!! Kamiki IS Sarutahiko!!!! I keep saying this, but every weird thing about that character starts clicking into place if he's that god. He's FALLEN!! like the lyrics and that's why his eyes are black!!

And that white star that kept showing up really IS Ai!!! She blessed people with her "love"!! Tsukuyomi literally said she became one in 118 or something!!! She returned to being a star and that's why Kamiki kept seeking for ppl with star eyes!!! To get closer to her!!

I keep saying this same idea over and over but THAT explains a whole lot of just what the heck's been going on in this manga.

That particular description of the god who loved people, I read that and it just... Felt so much like Ai...she spent all her life trying to love people. Why else would this be even mentioned??? That was her!! So she's always been there watching everything unfold as the white star blessing her children and people of the entertainment industry. That's how Kamiki was convinced whatever the heck he'd been doing would help him feel her again. She was really there....he was retrieving those lights she sent out to feel her love, because she's no longer there for him and it's the only way he felt could fill him back up again. THAT'S what the song Fatal implies!!

[yuseirra]

What if Ai and Hikaru are "gods who don't realize they are gods"? The idea of such entities were suggested recently (I went and checked, it's mentioned on chapter 144)

and tsukuyomi even said "I'm sure your mother is watching you somewhere in this world, she might be looking down as a star, you know?" to aqua during chapter 118. This may not just be a taunt, but something that's actually true. This idea of Ai being a reincarnation of the brightest star is something that's been introduced in the song IDOL already("一番星の生まれ変わり") and it's something that's stuck out to me because Ruby had once mentioned something about Ai being "chosen by the gods" and that Ruby herself is an incarnation of Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun(Ch3). This is brushed off as a joke but with what's been mentioned there.. it's something that can be important.

that's why Ai can't be reborn as person again, maybe? She's returned to being a god and is watching her children and kamiki from afar, protecting them and helping them in ways she could?

In "Fatal" a person (most likely to be Ai) that's is dearly pursued by the speaker of the song is described as a star-like being:

Your eyes with glittering stars in them

A dazzling light that saves all from loneliness

You have given me a fatal flaw Selfish giant star, ruined lives

The idea of their love being a "star"'s continuously being revisited throughout the song. What if Ai really WAS a star that had a form of a human once and has returned back to being it after death?

and it's because of the "star" that the speaker(who I think is kamiki) decides to "embrace his destiny"

Please, keep your eyes on me I'll weaponize even the pain carved by fate So that it can light the regrets from sometime

Your beauty radiating from far away causing Burnt eyes, stripped feathers, creative fall from heaven

Taking over every field of vision You shine egoistically Even the feelings kept deep in my heart I will drag them out and sublimate And I will embrace all of my destiny

I will not stop to struggle on this stage I want to get closer to the only [ai] This foreordained destiny

It's the darkness that fell out from the light of that star

Doesn't Kamiki's name have "light" and "god" in it? Either he has something to do with the gods or is one himself without realizing what he is, and starts to accept some sort of fate he has himself after having met with Ai

and it makes sense for him to go

Keep your eyes on me, my dearest fatale!

because she REALLY COULD be watching what he's doing from the stars, trying to get closer to her so desperately

it's really interesting if you start to take kamiki as a god of some sort, because that'd explain how he's unintentionally caused others to grow insane by the things he's said. He told Uehara about Airi and he ends up killing her. He told Ryosuke about Ai and he stalks and murders her. Maybe he's been subconsciously using his divinity of a god making people to take action but it ended up all twisted and it doesn't work out the way he originally intends for it to be. With the case of Yura, what he's said about her ends up coming true too, maybe she really didn't watch her steps on the mountains but that was because of his powers of a god that's caused it?

This would explain why the police never found him suspicious after Goro and Yura's death and the other murders (if he's really caused any/and more of it), there's no way to prove he's the one that'd done it because he really didn't do it in a physical sense.

So Ai, who's returned to being a god now, could be trying to stop him through her children? And Tsukuyomi is getting involved in this because Kamiki's going out of line as his duties as a god(although he doesn't know if he's one) too?

Anyway, that's what's been on my mind today. The idea of gods have been introduced time to time, and I feel some of the major characters would have to do with it.. the twins were reincarnated for a purpose too(ch. 75) and itd make sense if it's because of what'd been going on for their respective parents in this new life. If so, the gods have their children fix what their parents are up to.

[yuseirra]

(Final speculation before 163 comes up) Could the story really wrap up within 4 episodes if Kamiki isn’t a god?

I don’t think so;; There are too many things that can be explained with this way but make no sense if it's not. I'm serious. This must be it. This CAN explain EVERYTHING about that particular character quite smoothly!! To the extent it almost can't be otherwise!

Ahh I jotted this down on the spot (used machine translate.. Sorry if the phrasings are a bit off because if it) please, take this into consideration yeah I can be SO off, already proven off but?? This though just keeps coming to me.

I’ve made a lot of guesses about gods, haven’t I? But no one really seems to take it so seriously.

But didn’t they mention there are “gods” who don’t know they’re gods in the piece itself? Why bring that up? They’re going to use it, right? After hearing the lyrics of *Fatal*, I started to seriously think that Ruby and Kamiki actually have some kind of divine power.

For Kamiki… everything he’s done makes way more sense if we consider him to be the earthly god Sarutahiko Okami. It's just impossible for him to just be a regular person with this little time left in the story but if you take him as a reincarnation of that particular god that's started to reawaken his divinity, everything starts to click!!!

Sarutahiko is considered a "noble" god,

And the way he met Ai is really similar to how he met his wife, Ame-no-Uzume, leading to their marriage (his wife came to his domain as part of a mission, and he led the way, they developed feelings and connected—this parallels how Ai came to meet Kamiki while pursuing acting, with him having guided her. The descendants of the god Sarutahiko bear the name that means "woman who dances well" That's like Ruby). They fell in love immediately, just like Ai seems to have taken a liking to him from the moment she saw him. Ame-no-Uzume approached him first and the relationship blossomed from there.

Sarutahiko is also a god of light (Hikaru has “light” in his name, and “Kamiki” relates to gods).

He governs land (isn’t it strange how people keep dying in the mountains?).

That shrine in Miyazaki where the main cast went to, Aratate Shrine, is dedicated to Sarutahiko and his wife, but they didn’t mention Sarutahiko explicitly. Together, these gods bless the entertainment world and grant people’s wishes. Remember when Ruby and Kamiki met and that whole talk about gods and wishes? He listened to what she really wished for, and Kamiki also congratulated Aqua, saying his wish was fulfilled. All the wishes that were mentioned there, indeed, did come true. In *Mephisto*, the line “I forgot who I lived as” refers to Kamiki, I'm sure of it. He’s a god who didn’t realize it but is now somewhat aware and using his power.

Aqua tried to drown him. Sarutahiko governs the earth, so it makes sense that Aqua, who’s aligned with Susanoo (the sea god), would have an advantage over him in water. That’s why he could kill him that way.

Sarutahiko is also the “guiding god.” He leads people toward good futures, that's what he is supposed to do. So, if Aqua says, “I have to stop you from ruining Ruby’s future,” it makes sense that Kamiki, as Sarutahiko’s reincarnation, might actually have the power to affect her future.

In *Mephisto* and *Fatal*, there’s a narrator desperately longing for a “star,” with Ai being compared to a star and Kamiki to a gem. Gems are from the earth, and Sarutahiko is an earth god (Kunitsukami), while his wife Ame-no-Uzume belongs to the celestial gods (Amatsukami). This all fits perfectly, doesn’t it? Kamiki wanted to reach Ai, and as the songs imply, he tried to gather "light" (the star eyes) as a means to do so. He couldn't get to her by his own powers because he doesn't originate from the skies the way she does, perhaps that could be why he needed the "stars" in order to "fill in what's missing" as mentioned in Fatal! As he originally blessed the entertainment world. Maybe he’s been going around finding people with star eyes to reclaim his blessings.

Actually, if we follow the mythology, Ruby is the one connected to Kamiki out of the twins. Sarutahiko’s essence is solar, and Amaterasu, who corresponds to Ruby, took over his place in the native religion. But even though Sarutahiko gave up his place, (getting married with Ame-no-Uzume in the process.. He did get a beautiful wife out of it all), he’s still honored as a powerful god with the title Okami. His story is more closely tied to Amaterasu and Ame-no-Uzume than to Susanoo. The three of them weren’t on bad terms either. Sarutahiko ended up working with his wife for Amaterasu. So when Kamiki treated Ruby with kindness, maybe it was because they share a deep connection. To add, since they overlap in their domains, so perhaps Kamiki posed a threat to her because of that.

Sarutahiko was said to have a strong, loving relationship with his wife. When they blessed people, they did it together, even offering marriage blessings. The song Mephisto and Fatal just scream that the speaker cannot bear to go on without their loved one and they'd give their life away if only they could be back. I feel that's how Sarutahiko would feel if he lost Ame-no-Uzume, they seemed so loving towards each other to me.

Kamiki’s character really seems to make sense if you consider him a god. There are so many things that would instantly click into place. But if he’s not a god, I honestly have no idea who he is. Everything about him points to that conclusion. Both he and Ai were gods. It makes sense then, that it's Ruby and Kamiki who could say that Ai was just a regular person. Because they think they really are just normal people and wish to be taken that way the way Ai is. They're the ones who can talk from those same shoes.

In reality, they were gods who wanted to live as humans and chose to live as such. Kamiki constantly says that he and Ai were the same, and that they could have overcome anything together. That’s probably because, as gods, they were each other’s counterparts, worshiped together at shrines. That's not just him being clingy, it REALLY was how things were. They were drawn to each other, unconsciously recognizing their similarities, and reunited as humans.

But after Ai’s death, Kamiki was fully corrupted, leading to his downfall.

Honestly, I can’t interpret it any other way anymore. If not this, then I really don’t know who Kamiki is. Too many unnatural things have happened surrounding him, and when you piece together the songs, it becomes clear: he’s a fallen god who lost someone precious and was consumed by darkness. This darkness probably didn’t originate from him; something external caused his fall. Even the scene where his eyes change—like paint dripping from outside—suggests that something seeped in from the outside.

In the anime, Kamiki’s eye color is lighter and more washed-out compared to Ai’s vibrant purple. It really seems like his original eye color was different and was later tainted. He might have been a god of light with orange or yellow eyes. His children’s eye colors might have split because of his original bright color.

Ai, as Ame-no-Uzume, is a goddess of entertainment and the dawn. Her colors align with this. Even if her personality was a façade, she shares a lot of traits with Ame-no-Uzume. If she had grown up without trauma, she might have truly been like her. The “morning/first star(in IDOL's lyric)” refers to the brightest star at dawn. If Ai is Ame-no-Uzume, and Kamiki is her husband, then their relationship with Ruby fits perfectly too. Even in the novel, Ai said she might become a god with her own religion.

I think this should be it. If not, nothing else would make sense. With only 4 episodes left, they’ll likely use this storyline to tie everything up. Otherwise, they’d need a lot more episodes. But since there’s an overarching mythology at play, I think they’ll be able to compress the narrative. No one could deny that these gods loved each other, and because Kamiki is falling into corruption, it'd make sense for there to be divine intervention- the resurrection of the twins. Ai wanted to experience true love, and she did find her match as Kamiki. She wouldn’t have found anyone better because they are meant to be. She wanted to save him from the depravity of the entertainment world.

I wanted to write this down since there won’t be many more chances to talk about these theories.

I’ve been thinking this since *Fatal* came out in July. The more I watch, the more these ideas seem to fit perfectly. The thought only strengthened;; Kamiki and Ai are probably incarnations of gods. The entire Hoshino family is likely divine.

[yuseirra]

I've been thinking over this god thing over and there's another idea I have related to it!

Earlier I've said that ame-no-uzume(god of the arts) and her husband sarutahiko(the great bright god) may be related to Ai and Hikaru.

Their story might also have been inspired from Izanagi and Izanami and they're very famous, so I believe I wouldn't have to explain a whole lot, (and I bet there are people who know it in more depth) but.. Izanagi and Izanami (the creator gods of Japanese Mythology) have Amaterasu(the sun god), Tsukuyomi(the moon god) and Susanoo(the god of the sea and storms) as their children. Ruby has something to do with Amaterasu and we have a girl who goes by Tsukuyomi as a character, Aqua, with the full name being "Aquamarine" has a name that has to do with the sea.

The reason I've brought this up is because of the lore between Izanagi and Izanami. Izanami dies, and Izanagi tries to bring her back to life but fails. It rings a bell, right?

Yes, this story of theirs also aligns with the things that have been mentioned in Mephisto and Fatal. Those songs revolve around a person who desperately wants to meet their love again (who's likely passed away) but cannot.

I've been wondering just why the ED's title was named Mephisto. Mephisto is the name of the devil, right? When you have a wish and the devil in the same picture, it means there's some kind of pact.

If the person singing in the song's been kamiki (which I've been pretty much stressing over and over through multiple posts now) it'd mean he's had gone through something like that too, to revive the one he loves.

This could be why there is a "stage" that's mentioned in BOTH of the songs, he's in a deal that he can't back out from.

この舞台で足掻くことをやめない

I will not stop to struggle on this stage(Fatal)

だけどステージが逃がさない いついつまでも憧れ　焦がれているよ

But the stage won’t let go I'll keep yearning and longing forever(Mephisto)

At this point, I'm so sure kamiki HAS done something to bring Ai back. He's made some sort of sacrifice for Ai it seems, he's probably made wishes regarding it, that come with a price but he didn't really care about his life in the first place after she's gone so he was willing to risk it. The efforts were probably in vain, though. But it could be really close to being granted if something's "filled in"

あなたがいない��生きていけない 何もかも捧げてしまってもいい あなたの愛がまだ足らない 欠けたものは何で埋めたらいい？

Without you, I cannot live anymore I would sacrifice anything for you I can’t get enough of your love What should I use to fill in what’s missing?(Fatal)

compared to Mephisto, Fatal seems more.. eager? energetic? but in an insane way. The speaker is actively doing something to fulfill their end goal. That's why I feel kamiki's missions are probably close to finish- he's all right with dying after having completed it

but in ch 154 he's heard that Ai wants to "help him" along with her children. and that she loved him dearly. This is going to leave him so devastated and conflicted lol because he's probably way past hope at this point. He can't be saved. He can't fulfill what Ai wants, that's going to make him very miserable. That's my guess. It's like everything he's doing had him stray even further off from what Ai wants.

Or it could be that he can't give up on Ai EVEN MORE now since he KNOWS that she loves him back too. Who'd give up on someone like that? She was like the only person who understood him and loved him. I can totally see why he couldn't let her go after all these years (may it be twisted. there is still some ambiguity in his words and we can be backstabbed) she was the one for him and he was to her, too, at least that's how he's felt when they were together. So he'd do ANYTHING for her. That lines up very well with those lyrics too.

So yeah. If my speculations are right Kamiki's so doomed... and doomed because of all the things he did that he thought was for Ai. Aligns with the respective mythologies too~.. I'd be surprised if these have NOTHING to do with the plot that's going to be revealed in the future because it just WORKS. It starts making so much sense to me.

[yuseirra]

THIS IS IT THOUGH!!! THIS CAN EXPLAIN EVERYTHING WEIRD IN THE STORY!!!! LISTEN, I DON'T GET WHAT THIS STORY WOULD BE IF THIS ISN'T IT!!

How else are you supposed to explain the plot at this point????? I'm telling you, I think I’m pretty close here, right? Otherwise, it all just doesn’t add up. EVERYTHING ADDS UP IF WHAT I CAME UP IS RIGHT... How are they going to do it? How is this story going to make sense at all if they don't bring back the idea that gods are taking part in the tale because there's already been hints and supernatural elements have actively coming into play within the story.

I just woke up at 1am in the morning and started typing because this REALLY bugs me, it's so obvious to my eyes. Yup, it's so weird for me too, (to resort to the idea of gods to understand everything) but I really would have no idea just what onk if the truth is not even remotely close to what I came up with. The rest of this post is machine-translated. Please pardon me if it sounds a bit clunky, it's due to that reason.

People aren’t really taking my words seriously—maybe because the content sounds too far-fetched.

However, since chapter 144 established that there are "gods" (plural) who don't know they’re gods, shouldn’t we take that information seriously and try to interpret it? That chapter wasn’t even that long ago;; it’s a clear piece of foreshadowing. Based on what I’ve seen in chapter 160, it seems like the white star = love and the black star = lies. So, if there’s a god who loves humans = white star, and a god who loves absurdity and irrationality = black star, it makes sense.

The main characters inherited "eyes" from their parents, with "stars" embedded in them. Therefore, the character associated with the white star = god who loves humans = Ai, and the character associated with the black star = god who loves absurdity and irrationality = Kamiki.

But Kamiki originally had a white star, and the black star is a color that has been "tainted" (chapter 140). This implies that he was originally a different type of entity.

There are three named gods mentioned directly in the story. First, Tsukuyomi, whose role as a god is just openly stated. Second, Amaterasu, whom Ruby self-identifies as in chapter 3. Third, the god Ame-no-Uzume, who is the deity of the shrine that various characters visit together. Ai is said to have been chosen by the god of entertainment, so that god could be either Ame-no-Uzume or her husband. The missions of the main characters are related to Ai as said in chapter 3.

This shrine worships both Ame-no-Uzume and her husband, Sarutahiko. Sarutahiko is a god of light who is described as noble and guides people on the right path.

So, Aqua’s insistence on killing Kamiki, who’s "corrupting Ruby’s future" in the later parts of the story, could make sense if Kamiki is indeed that god and has fallen. The things he’s done seem strange in a way that’s almost unnatural. His actions, even minor ones, always end up leading to disastrous consequences, as though twisted and warped. I think it’s because he was once that god, but he’s fallen from grace.

In the lyrics of "Mephisto," the lines "I forgot who I was!" and "Remember who you lived with" seem almost explicitly written for a character who was once a god but no longer realizes it. Given that the song is about wanting to reunite with a deceased lover (probably), and with the last two lines just having to be from Kamiki’s perspective, that entire song seems to be Kamiki’s song. It talks about gathering "light," so we can infer his actions of going after people with the star eyes must stem from a desire to see Ai again and to be like her, needing "light" in some way.

The same ideas continue and extend in "Fatal," expressing a desire to receive "your light" or "your love" from someone (likely Ai). The need to be filled, to be whole, comes from a lack of "love"—from not having Ai. This character has had a strong desire for love, being told as a child that he was hollow, which implies that the love (Ai) he needed was something fundamental for him. He himself recalls that if only he had Ai, he could endure anything. And I think that’s true. But with Ai gone and even murdered, he’s left lost, searching desperately for love—for Ai (chapter 160). The reason he fell and became the black star, unable to function, is because he lacks "light." That "light"—the white star—is described as eyes that convey love, which Aqua explicitly calls out in chapter 160. Kamiki’s eyes were originally supposed to be like that too, but they twisted because he didn’t have love.

It doesn’t seem like a normal person would sing "Fatal" or "Mephisto." There’s something strange mixed into those lyrics. They even describe "falling from grace," which just screams Kamiki, so why don’t people believe it? I’ve been saying this ever since the song came out, but nobody believes me..;; I wouldn’t even be saying this if there weren’t foreshadowing in the story.

If Kamiki really is the black star, then there could be some interesting interpretations. Every time the main characters use the black star, they actually end up getting what they want. The black star has immense power, almost like a reality-warping ability. If Kamiki is indeed the father of both main characters, then it makes sense that he would watch over and help them from the sidelines. In my opinion, this person was originally noble and not inherently evil. He even expressed having some kind of paternal love, so he’s likely done things for the kids in his own way. As a god who grants wishes with Ame-no-Uzume, he might have been the one who granted the wishes when the characters went to the shrine to pray.

Yet, despite their wishes being granted, the results were devastating. Kamiki’s ability to lead people to their futures is clearly distorted. In chapter 147, he even asks Ruby what her true wish is, and in the English version, the god he mentions that'd listen to her is referred to as "he." Kamiki, who wanted to know and fulfill his daughter’s wish, is likely that god. That’s why he asked her what she wanted and wanted to grant her wish. He even tells Aqua they have the same eyes and goes on to explain it—that’s because he was the one who gave Aqua those eyes! As a father, in his own way, he’s done a lot for them. He doesn’t disregard his children; he’s just consumed by thoughts of Ai, thinking that he’d be fine with dying if he could just meet her again. Since he also blames himself for Ai’s death, he even influenced the kids to come after him and kill him. When Aqua is overtaken by the black star and can’t die yet, he has a firm belief that his father is the culprit, as though Kamiki gave him a reason to live.

Ai worried about him because she’s his wife. From what I see, Ai was born first, then Kamiki a year later. I have an idea that Ai reincarnated as a human first and Kamiki followed her out of concern. There’s even a line in the song "Idol" about the reincarnation of a "star." Ai is the reincarnation of something, and the most fitting match is Ame-no-Uzume, who has a similar personality to Ai and is famously known as a god of entertainment. This god has no hesitation in expressing herself, but the authors twisted this trait by making Ai someone who wants to show herself but ends up lying instead. Ai asks someone to help guide Kamiki if he loses his way. From this, I already got a sense of who Kamiki was—he’s a god who originally guided others on the right path.

If this isn’t the case, the how can this story be explained at all? Even down to the legend of Sarutahiko having drowned, the parallels are all there!

There are also two myths associated with Amaterasu and Ame-no-Uzume that match this story. One is the tale where Amaterasu hides in a cave, and Ame-no-Uzume lures her out with a dance, after Amaterasu’s brother Susanoo frightens her into hiding. The second is the myth of the Heavenly Descent, where Sarutahiko, who initially opposed Ame-no-Uzume's descent to earth but later married her, guides Amaterasu’s grandson to earth.

These roles align with Ruby’s brother, Aqua, and Ai’s partner (potential husband), Kamiki.

So, there are three main sources to understand Kamiki:

Content from the manga

Songs. "Fatal" and "Mephisto" match this character perfectly. I felt it the moment "Fatal" was released and have been writing about it since then. It’s real.

The myth of Sarutahiko.

This manga is supposed to have mystery elements, but I feel this character is the most mysterious out of it all. After chapter 154, I was like, "Wait, Ai and Kamiki were both mutual?" and that sparked a huge interest, so I dug into it, and my interpretation aligns best with the foreshadowing! If the author didn’t put in the god theme just for fun, then this explains everything! But no one believes me seriously! I’m just drawing from the content that’s there—if it’s not this, then what else could it be? It feels like he does have some kind of reality-warping ability (per the manga). He might even be able to grant others’ wishes. When you consider the lyrics of the songs, his motives make sense—he’s going mad from longing to see Ai and to receive her love. The way he’s described makes "love" seem almost like a life-sustaining force for him. It seems like he couldn’t return to the white star without it. When he temporarily became the white star upon seeing Ruby, it was probably because he received the light of love. Without Ai, he couldn’t find someone who could love him, so he’s lost his function as a god, twisted, and fallen. He should’ve guided people down the right path, but he’s broken, causing everyone around him to fall apart too. He said he didn’t want to hurt anyone—at least, in the beginning, I think that was true. The song even mentions that he didn’t know who he was. He must’ve realized it after Ai died, and as in "Fatal," he embraced his destiny and began using his powers. And if you look at the mythological references, they explain various aspects—like Kamiki’s unique powers and the story of how he and Ai met.

It’s not like that? This can’t be? At this point, could that even be possible?

Going down this path would tie everything together: the black and white stars in the eyes, Kamiki’s bizarre deus ex machina-like abilities, Aqua's reasons for going to such lengths, the protagonists' missions, those strange lyrics, and every other clue. The story’s entire message would make sense. There’s no way it could be anything else, or else none of it adds up. Kamiki isn’t a regular person… He’s truly strange. Even up to the last chapters, there’s no clear revelation of what he’s actually been doing. With this explanation, though, all those hints come together, creating a pretty compelling narrative—every piece is already there! Like, if he were a god originally governing the entertainment world, and he’s hit hard by its darkness, he ends up in this messed-up state, and after losing Ai, his wife, he goes mad. So Ruby and Aqua receive their missions, similar to the mythology of replacing the Sun God—Ruby is meant to replace him as the next Sun God, and Aqua’s role is to kill him. Ai left a message asking for her husband to be saved. But seeing how hopeless his situation is, Aqua drowns him.

And, you know, he was originally a noble god—a genuinely kind one! This transformation wasn’t fundamentally his fault. Going in this direction, the story could actually have a lesson about living kindly. There could be a moral here if they go this route. A moral! Otherwise, it just… doesn’t lead anywhere.

HELP I HONESTLY CAN'T UNDERSTAND THIS STORY OTHERWISE AT THIS POINT... IT CAN BE SAVED IF IT'S LIKE THIS, TO A DEGREE, IT EXPLAINS EVERYTHING REALLY WELL

[yuseirra]

Oshi no ko spoilers!!

Continuation from this post:

My thoughts are going wild rn thinking of just what exactly kamiki's motives may be.

I thought about Ai a lot when I listened to the song IDOL, and I'm pretty positive Mephisto would have to do with him(the final lines of this song should be something that he says to his children. That much seems pretty clear)

But what if that entire song (and the new op) is from his perspective? Those two songs are crammed with craving and longing towards a loved one. Kamiki doesn't seem to be so attached to his life, in Mephisto, he even tells his children to "aim well" and this indicates he doesn't mind his own kids trying to take revenge on him, rather, he even go as far as encouraging it. He might even accept being punished/killed by their hands.

So why, and for what reason does he intend to do with harming people with life that's deemed to have great value if he is, if he feels that way about himself?

I think this'll have to do with his feelings towards Ai. He has an obsession with her and is still attached to her after all these years, right? The reason why he tries to make his own life(that he doesn't really care about;) have more value by making it carry heavy things through taking valuable ones.. Could be due to his reasoning to make it worthy of trading it off with Ai's as a tribute of some sort. That'd explain why he's so nonchalant about his own fate but still works to make his life to be "heavy" and carry a weight.

I'm getting this feeling after having seen some of the lyrics mentioning "wishes" and implications that there's something that needs to be met. And since Mephisto starts with the phrase "last chance", there seems to be a really slim chance of making that said wish come true. That could be what's been making kamiki take extreme measures, if he really has been.

あなたの愛がまだ足らない

欠けたものは何で埋めたらいい？

Your love is still not enough, what can I use to fill what's missing?(fatale)

If life returns to you, if it reaches you, ah

I don't care what happens to me

Ah, but not every wish will be fulfilled

And if that’s not realized, I shall become you(mephisto)

Both Mephisto and Fatale seems to have lyrics that sound very desperate for love. The speaker of the songs really wants this one person they love back, to see them once more, to hear their voice and to look at them. This can apply to both Aqua and kamiki in terms of the feeling they have towards Ai, but Aqua's already had that from Ai and he doesn't need to be as desperate and craving about it, I think. It should be more about missing what he's once had with sorrow. However, this particular speaker in the songs makes it seem like love is the ONLY thing they want. They're willing to trade everything they have and even more to just get a chance to bring them back to them, which is quite extreme. The idea of their loved one loving them back doesn't come off as natural for them as Ai's love did for Aqua.

That's why I think these songs may have to do with kamiki. If this speculation really turns out to be true, then him and Ai could turn out to be like the couple from "The Gift of the Magi" from O'Henry. Ai could've left him because she wanted him to have a life of his own and have his happiness? but kamiki never understood that intent and aimed to throw away his life to trade for hers, giving up on his very happiness that ai tried to protect

it's like they tried to trade each other's life for the other and ended up with neither in the end. But I can be entirely wrong about all this. I feel this'd be interesting, if this is the case, kamiki may feel a lot of misery if what he's strived to do for Ai's sake made it impossible for him to fulfill her actual wishes. I'm sure Ai must've cared about this guy quite a bit, her relationship with kamiki seems like a mix of what aqua has with kana and akane. She would've wanted to support him like akane and bring him to the light like kana, but both of it didn't happen when she was alive. Aqua might be able to fulfill that wish of hers by telling Kamiki about how she really felt towards him.

The songs for this series are so interesting!! They may imply a lot of things we may not realize in first glance-even go as far as foreshadowing the plot. IDOL was and is like that, I'm sure the other songs do too. Listening to them may give us an idea of what is to unfold or what's been going on in some character's heads... for now, this is what I think that can be a possibility.

[yuseirra]

I just-I think this IS supposed to be it though, wjat kamiki is said to have accomplished is not what a normal human being can achieve in this day and age.

Hey, even if he wanted to murder someone, would it make sense for people to just obey him from just a few words he says?? It's seriously ON THEM to act out and go kill someone even if he tells them to! And seeing how things played out it doesn't even seem like what he's said logically could add up to someone performing so dire an act, he must be A GOD if he can do this with intent. I don't even think he phrased things like hey go kill that guy. It seems like he says something really trivial and people...start acting out. Whether if he intended it to happen or not- it certainly wasn't that way when Airi died and I doubt he intended Ryosuke to kill Ai either, what if what he wanted to do was Ryosuke to hand Ai a bouquet and congratulate her about the dome conceet, ask her if their twins were doing well, you know, EXACTLY what Ryosuke says before he stabs Ai? What if that was the ONLY thing that's wanted to happen?

People seem to turn insane around this guy one way or another and it even adds up with his and Ai's name.. It HAS to be this or I don't understand!!!

He is a GOD(Kami) who NEEDS Ai and the LIGHT(Hikaru) of her love to be able to function properly!!! And Ai's name means the LOVE OF A STAR!!! The LOVE(Ai) can be TRANSFERRED through the STAR(Hoshi) eyes!! That's why he's been said to be looking for love!! He was given a fatal flaw, as the god of guidance who blessed the industry, after having lost his beloved wife and now is searching for love and his lover!! Ever since she got killed! The entertainment industry did this to him!! He became a hazard bringing about havoc to everyone around him because he's the god of paths and guidance and he can't lead people into the right directions now, that's what. That's how he can be a threat to Ruby's future as Aqua says. It's... Just what he became of at this point. Unless he has the love and becomes "filled", I guess he could not be saved. I just feel he had a chance though?? That's why he was watching Ruby, her eyes began having the same powers as Ai did.. He might have really been saved...

How can it be Kamiki's fault Ai died. That can't be!! He became hopelessly broken beyond repair after that so he probably doesn't care about anything else if she can be back alive again. The two songs, Mephisto and Fatal is just... What he is. What he's been doing. It HAS to be like that, how else are they going to explain this and what other point can they bring?? I don't see it being any other way at all. I won't get it.

[yuseirra]

!! GUYS!! I THINK I FINALLY UNDERSTOOD WHAT'S BEEN UP WITH THE "STAR EYES" OF THIS SERIES!!

Remember how the anime S1's op had this white star floating in the background and then it glitches out to black?? That segment had a lyic that DOESN'T exist in the full version of "IDOL".

(You're my savior, my true savior, my saving grace)

(I'm with you forever, by your side, forever) THIS PART. And the white star turns into BLACK.

That's Kamiki talking right there. He's the one who wanted to be with Ai/feel her FOREVER. Who ACTUALLY had Ai save him. And he's the one that we see having his white star eyes being tainted into black(140)

So why am I talking about this? WELL, I THINK THE "WHITE STAR" AND THE "BLACK STAR"'S ACTUALLY BEEN THEM BLESSING PEOPLE ALL ALONG. AND THIS WOULD EXPLAIN WHY KAMIKI'S BEEN LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WITH "WHITE STARS" TO "FEEL AI". Because she really is dwelling there. Or the god who is her original self, her essence is.

Sarutahiko and Amenouzume blesses people in the entertainment industry. Kamiki and Ai are them having been reincarnated as human beings. And at some point, Kamiki utterly broke down afflicted by its darkness, making his powers turn dark and distorted. He started living as the "black star." His main trait and forte would be, in that case, about lying, and manipulating people to get what you want(god I HATE to say this I care for his character much but I have to I guess)

That's what happens when Aqua and Ruby uses those black star powers indeed. They become closer to their father. He's ACTUALLY BEEN BLESSING HIS CHILDREN AND HELPING OUT HIS OWN WAY THROUGH WHAT HE COULD DO ALL ALONG.

Ai had her black star moments but she didn't fall into darkness. Her eyes are still white, and her main trait in terms of her powers must be sending out love. What Aqua expresses about Ruby's eyes in chapter 160? Was it?

So, the twins become closer to their mother when they utilize the white star eyes. AI'S ALWAYS BEEN PROTECTING HER CHILDREN TOO THROUGH THE "EYES" EVEN AFTER HER DEATH.

Remember how Ruby's once said that the gods may favor her, and Tsukuyomi also said the gods could be helping the twins out so they should be more grateful? How Kamiki told Aqua that him and Aqua shares the same eyes, that didn't he feel good using them? Remember how he's told Yura that he does have his eyes on Ruby? He's saying that because he's the one that's been watching over them and given them aid throughout their journey as the black star god. He's the one that's favored and blessed them, his children with Ai out of his fatherly feelings. Who else could it have been?? He listened to Ruby and Aqua's wishes as he finally came to see them each too!! He cared!! Aqua and Ruby DID always get what they wanted when they had those black star eye powers on. Kamiki blames himself for Ai's murder, so he even grants Ruby and Aqua's wishes to get back at him as well. That part of him is actually reflected REALLY well in the song Mephisto where he ENCOURAGES his own children to aim him well, who is unforgivable.

Although he couldn't be there for his children physically, he must have always been blessing them and helping them through his own powers as he could. But he was broken himself so that's why they turn dark and eerie when they have the black star.(If he wasn't afflicted by the darkness things would have been different)

He's too fallen and tainted to become a "white star" like Ai. And besides, I think.. "Ai" or her essence, Amenouzume, might have really become a "star". "The god who loves people" must be her. She must have been blessing a lot of people from the industry, so fragments of her must actually be dwelling in people she's blessed. Kamiki really may have been able to feel her and become closer to her, become a "white star" like her through claiming those lights and filling up his empty void (this is expressed in both Fatal and Mephisto. This guy must be REALLY empty. Why do people call him empty?; Airi's called him that. Why are there lyrics that express this guy's born from the abyss or things like that? Anyway he's so hollow so he needs Ai's love to fill himself back up. That MUST be why his eyes are black.. It's cracked open. It's black because it's devoid of light.) in the end, he NEEDS "AI". HE needs "love"in order to become that white star god he should have been, but unlike Ai who found love through her children and fans, he had no one. He never could be that god again. I feel he could have had a chance to, from having "seen Ruby". That must have been why he was watching Ruby's show... And how he had that white star eyes that one time he met her. Aqua killed him because he felt his dad went too far gone and does not deserve it anymore.

In short, Ai is responsible for the "white star" eyes and powers of Aqua and Ruby. Kamiki is responsible for the "black star" and the powers associated with it. They both were there helping their children throughout their entire journey, as their parents. They blessed and took care of them in their respective ways.

and Kamiki wanted to become closer to Ai after he became devoid and flawed. He needs "Ai", the "lack of Ai" is what's caused his flaws. So he seeked for it, and tried to get it through collecting the light of the "white star eyes" that his godly wife must have bestowed upon the people. He could ACTUALLY feel her through it because Ai was REALLY THERE.

I think this is it. This explains everything weird related to the eyes. Ai and Kamiki both had the potential to be either dark or bright and one fell while one remained but got killed. So Kamiki was so doomed after that. He became too flawed because who'd save him and give him love to return back to what he should be huh. But he did try to be a parent. He really must have been watching over his kids with Ai!!

[yuseirra]

Are you all really sure that all the weird things that's been happening around Kamiki's really what can happen on a natural level? It's as if.. When he's pained or when he wants something, when he says things, it comes true in a way but in the worst ways possible.

Remember how he made that really eerie and freaky smile when Aqua accused him: "you tried to kill Ruby didn't you?" I don't know, I really don't know if he DID want to do that but he could have wished for something that ended up causing her danger and that's why he's made such an expression?

Remember how Kamiki's said "I never thought of hurting anyone" and Aqua refutes him on the spot saying "That's also a lie."

He really didn't do anything physically, what he says IS true, he never stabbed anyone or pushed people off cliffs. But Aqua is still convinced he instigated those things somehow through the things he's said. However, EVEN the things he is assumed to say aren't things that can logically lead to something that drastic AT ALL. It shouldn't be that way. Showing toothbrushes? Asking someone to turn themselves in? How can those lead to extreme events like plotting murder?

I...what I'm getting here is one of these two scenarios:

1. He really did not want to hurt anyone but his powers do end up wreaking havoc as it spirals beyond his control. This approach would explain how the Uehara couple died and Hikaru's reaction towards it, he clearly suffered from it, did he WANT Airi to die? I actually.. Don't think he'd have wished something that messed up to happen. He could have wished something like, 'Help me, I can't live like this, someone, save me from this situation' and that led to Airi, the source of his problem dead and gone.

2. He did actually actively want to hurt people and wished for it, and he can get away with it because it can achieve results in a way that cannot have him be blamed for its cause. This approach would explain Aqua's reasoning for accusing Kamiki. How can you even blame Kamiki for Nino's attempted attack on Ruby? I think Aqua believes it's him who's caused it without dirtying his hands, but from a logical standpoint? What Kamiki's told Nino seems so far from something that'd achieve those results(oh and I don't think he tried to hurt Ruby this time around he was watching her show;;; he told Aqua to keep seeing it~~ if he's the one who'd try and kill her and prevent that from happening would he have said that!!Doesn't make sense~~~) this is what Aqua believes his dad's been doing in general, instigating murders but keeping his hands clean

Either way, Kamiki is not your normal human being if he can make these things happen. He can influence people in ways that'd normally never be possible in a natural sense. That's why I keep insisting he must be a god because they already mentioned there are gods like that!!!! There is already a god who's actively going around talking to our characters in the story and let's face it, Tsukuyomi seems super helpless. Kamiki feels more like an actual god capable of making weird things happen compared to her.

There is this speaker who's said they'll embrace their destiny(regarding their feelings towards their beloved Ai) that's him!! That must be him and what Tsukuyomi was talking about in 161 about this weird idea of Kamiki believing killing people would increase Ai's presence or whatever the heck that's supposed to be. The guy in Mephisto going "I've forgotten who I lived as", "Remember who I lived with", that also must be him.. I think he realized what he was, a god, at one point, after having lost Ai and having tried to find a way to get her back?? As implied from the song Mephisto?? And in Fatal he's going, "okay I think I found a way to get closer to Ai. So I have to make sacrifices!! But no matter what I do it doesn't seem enough! What am I missing? How can I see her again?"

So what I'm guessing is that he started out as case 1 but ended up becoming 2 over time, for Ai's case, I think his testimony could have been right?(hope so) he really didn't want to hurt anyone back then,

At this point probably? Maybe Aqua's right and Kamiki's been actively putting his powers to use it to achieve his goals of meeting/bringing Ai back to life once more. I think he's recongized what he is at some point and can use it to his advantage somewhat but it's still REALLY unstable and it even brought about his own demise when he tried to gift his own children of granting their wishes. I wrote another post about this earlier so I won't go into detail but I feel he's granted Ruby's wish of exceeding her mother, and Aqua's wishes (that he's believed)of ruining Kamiki's reputation & avenging Ai, the latter being out of his guilt because he thinks Ai died because of him. He describes himself as Ai's murderer(153) but I don't think he's responsible for that at least.

So yeah, that's why Aqua believed Kamiki should die no matter what even if he has to go with him. He's just too dangerous in Aqua's eyes.

But did Kamiki really intend all this? How much of it? I think his plans that Aqua ended up preventing was...not about hurting Ruby, it really must have been about him bringing Ai back to life in some sense. That's the only thing I see this guy would really have wanted to achieve. And upon hearing Aqua would stop him on that BY taking his own life in the process, I bet he felt things were going terribly wrong. His own powers backfired on him, he shouldn't have tried to grant his own son's wishes out of his fatherly feelings(I think he went to visit him to do that as his last gift for him as his biological dad;) but he did and now just; it went so bad. He really DID grant his son's wish that he perceived it to be but it turned out to be worst mistake he ever made, now neither of the two would get what they really want and Ruby too, she surpasses her mother but at what cost.

Kamiki is so strange. His name is a spoiler. He's a god who tried collecting lights to bring his dead love back to life it just. Works with and explains everything that particular character does. I don't see him being a bad person, just terribly, terribly messed up probably, I wonder just when did he start going wrong. I think he'd have been sweet, till Ai's existed and she was with him at least. The rest is still ambiguous and I know I take him in a pretty favorable light, they have to explain why these things happen around this man. Even Aqua couldn't escape that fate of being unhinged near him, only Ai seems to be able to keep a sane mind around him, but he wasn't originally like that right? Really...I really do think he must be a fallen god. It makes everything understandable, I would not have an idea of what is going on with the plot at all if this isn't how it is despite how fantasy it is

[yuseirra]

MEPHISTO IS FREAKING KAMIKI'S SONG...It's revolving entirely around Ai........just one single person. That being is the speaker's all. They can give everything and more as long as Ai comes back to life, they're incapable of thinking otherwise now

If this is Aqua's it means what mattered to him most was Ai in the end, it doesn't make sense considering he thought of Sarina-Ruby and associated her with Ai as he thought of them both in his dreams. Ai isn't his one single reason for everything(unless somehow.. In the added pages in the manga he goes oh no I actually loved Ai all along as a girl!! She's my everything and I want to be her!!) this isn't Aqua.

I think the feelings that this song has leans heavily on the romantic side, it's directed towards the speaker's lover. It's kind of vague tbh, it could have been about Aqua being so guilt-ridden but with 'Fatal' thrown into the mix I got the nuance right away. Those two songs are saying the same thing, it's just that Fatal's become even more warped and intensifed. It's the same person who's singing those songs.

They are totally heads over heels over this one single person who's their reason of living and that just. Perfectly matches Kamiki's state of heart thinking he was only alive when Ai was there with him(what a sad life he had;; that means his life before he met her was terrible and it was despair after she was gone too???)

Yeah I think about this whenever I listen to mephisto, that song is so sorrowful... That man misses his dead girlfriend so much. He wanted to die in her place. If you take this as Aqua then it gets a lil creepy because Ai IS his mother and he had other people he had romantic interests in, needless to say he also has Ruby who became his reason to do what he'd done. And the conclusion would be his most important person was still always Ai and that he can throw everything for her(I think there is someone like that for Aqua, but that'd be Sarina)

Or seeing how Ruby became a liar in the end, could be Aqua's feelings for Ruby as well as Hikaru's feelings for Ai? But it would still NOT explain the collecting lights part and I forgot who I lived as, and I will become you bit. The born from the abyss and all. If it's Hikaru it just sums everything up perfectly including the way the song ends

Mephisto is freaking Kamiki's song.

[yuseirra]

Um so!!// Earlier I jotted my feelings about Fatal, how I feel about that song and interpret hikaai based on how that song is.

I used machine-translate.. can't write the full thing twice-

I really like listening to it. I think it's a very clever song! I wonder if you'll agree with how I interpret and feel about the emotions in that song. There's a lot I think and read from it, it's probably very subjective. But I've been referencing it a lot as I draw fanarts of Hikaru and his thoughts about Ai.

***

Ah… this wretched manga…

Haha. But Fatal was so much my thing.

There are countless impressions you could get from that song. Even my own feelings subtly shift every time I listen to it.

One thought I always have is that this isn’t some one-sided “worship.” The narrator isn’t worshiping the other person—surprisingly enough. They do think the other person is beautiful, vibrant, and crave them deeply, but this isn’t someone blinded or oblivious to the other’s essence.

There may be people who’d disagree with me, for that's what it could appear as in first glance, but I’m certain of this.

Emotions of this depth… I think they can only emerge when there was a truly close and meaningful bond between the speaker and the other party.

That’s why I’ve explored it so thoroughly—there must be something there.

There’s some resentment toward the other person, sure. But… it’s a kind of resentment that feels more like, “If seeing me disgusts you, then please tread lightly over me as you leave.”<this is from a famous poem. In other words, the narrator is the one being stepped on.

They love the other person so much that it’s tearing them apart. The resentment comes from that place: “You’ve hurt me so deeply. You’ve left me flawed because of you. But still… I want to see you.” It’s not an aggressive kind of resentment.

The one singing this song… they’re not someone who dares to do anything against the person they love. At least, that’s how I feel. Even though the other person hurt them, they wouldn’t dare hurt them back. They’re dying inside, maybe even going a little mad, but… they’re so desperate to see that person, so incapable of enduring life without them, that their mindset is, “I’ll give everything I have, sacrifice anything—whatever it takes. I can’t live without you.” It’s spiraled into that kind of desperation.

That’s why I thought: “Oh, this person can’t be the one who hurt Ai, can they?” That’s the impression I got immediately. But the one singing this is Kamiki… it had to be him. No way this is Aqua. So I was like, “Wait, isn’t this that character? What’s going on? What is this guy?”

They’re yearning so deeply, grieving so profoundly… these emotions are so strong.

Truly…

Haha… I’m listening to the song while writing this.

I think this person was originally a good person. I can see it, plain as day.

But they’re no ordinary person. They have some kind of ability—seriously. I think they lost something significant, maybe everything, after Ai’s death.

To feel emotions this intense… how much must they have loved her?

To feel this way, they must have had a really close relationship with Ai. For feelings like this, it had to be mutual. One-sided love doesn’t mean it’s lesser, but… there’s something distinctly different about it. I can’t quite explain it, but it's something I can sense. And it did turn out that Ai loved them dearly so my hunches must be on the right track.

I don’t usually miss details like this. Most of the time, I can see through things clearly, but this character is so incomplete, even at the end. Their fragments are scattered, mixed with fakes, lies, and uncertainties. It’s like a batch of cookies with poison hidden in some of them. You can't trust every info they put out there.

So I’ve been waiting… waiting for answers.

I think Ai and her boyfriend really did have a good relationship. It’s because they were so close that everything fell apart so spectacularly, and the fallout was devastating. Kamiki gave so much of his heart. He must’ve been so happy at one point, which made Ai’s cold words hit him even harder. It made him question everything—“Was it all a lie? Did you hate me this much?”—to the point that he couldn’t trust anything anymore.

But… he loved her too much, and after Ai’s death, he couldn’t let go. That’s probably why he went off the rails, deciding he had to bring her back to life. That’s how I see it.

I know I portray those two in a really… haha, a very beautiful light.

But I don’t think I’m romanticizing them. Well… maybe my portrayals tend to soften characters a little when I do fan art.

But actually, if you look at Chapter 162 and those flashbacks, this guy was genuinely smiling so brightly. He really seemed to love Ai. I’d already been consistently depicting them as happy together even before that chapter came out. That must’ve been the truth because those flashbacks are like life flashing before his eyes. And Ai was smiling warmly too. The truth for these two is that they loved each other deeply and wanted to live together forever.

Honestly, I don’t think Kamiki is the kind of person who could ever harm Ai. Just seeing him made me think, “He couldn’t have hurt her, could he?” And even now, it’s uncertain. If it were definite, the story would’ve confirmed it before ending. That would’ve been the simplest way to justify Aqua’s actions. But it remains ambiguous—I say it's because it’s not true.

Aqua’s reasoning for targeting Kamiki, in the end, wasn’t about avenging Ai; it was tied to Ruby.

Anyway… yes. I’m confident in how I depict and interpret them. :)

Looking back, those two were still one wreck of a couple though. If I’d heard of this manga after it was completed, I might not have read it at all.

But… it feels like fate. Honestly, Chapter 154 and Fatal were so much my style—along with Mephisto. Those two songs are connected. Their narrators speak the same words. They’re both empty people, longing to see someone who’s dead. But Aqua doesn’t feel this way about Ai—it’d be creepy if he did. Ai was his mother in this life. The emotions in that song feel romantic, directed toward a lover.

It’s probably because something resonated so deeply with me that I keep bringing up and drawing these two. That song really is my thing for sure. I don’t think the song’s emotions are just about obsession. It’s deeply sorrowful, though that sorrow is somewhat cloaked in madness. At its core, I think it’s about grief and yearning. Losing someone hurts so much, doesn’t it? And the narrator of that song truly loved that person, and wanted to meet them again no matter what. Such a thing is impossible. Still, they wanted to try. That’s the impression I get.

So, what Kamiki did in the story… I guess that’s what's it. Not that it was right—he was insane. But… it was understandable to some sense. Really. His life was so miserable; the more you think about it, the more horrible it is. Maybe he tried living badly because being good got him nowhere. He’ll probably end up in hell...; Given his position as Aqua’s antagonist, he’s probably being despised by the fans as well. But I don’t think he was originally like this. I believe he was noble once. I agreed with that even before the story explicitly brought the idea up. He’s not just some madman. Someone kind like that became this twisted, and we still don’t know the full story.

Honestly, maybe the author didn’t know what to do with him either.

He only needed Ai. The question is whether Ai wanted him and whether she’d take him back. She isn't obliged to save him. But it was mutual—so she’d take him back, right? If he’s alive, I see it being one out of the two: he’d either become entirely purified, losing all his malice, or he’d keep searching for Ai. But if we take Aqua into account… if Kamiki lives while Aqua dies, what about Aqua? So I guess he can't come back either huh.

Come to think of it, didn’t Ame-no-Uzume persuade her husband in the myths? Maybe Kamiki saw the video and was persuaded. Aqua could’ve just let him go, right? He said he’d turn himself in! Even if that was a lie, how would it lead to Ruby getting hurt? How could Kamiki predict that? He’s a broken god, for crying out loud! After Ruby’s performance, he may have turned himself in? I don’t know! We don't know what he's been thinking, right? It’s all so strange.

This is how I see it. He was a god that was supposed to guide others, so he was always asking as a child, “Is this right? Is this the answer?” like how he was in chapter 140. But with no proper adults around him, he was exploited. He broke, causing others around him to warp as well. After Ai died, he completely lost it. Now he’s an irreparable disaster. That’s more believable to me than him having gone and hurting Ai.

Even when he was with Ai, he had the black star, which never healed. That warped his future—Ai’s pregnancy, their breakup, meeting Ryosuke and Nino, everything spiraling into chaos, and then Ai’s death. Why? Why would he hurt Ai? Why kill Goro? I don’t think Kamiki saw any of it coming—not back then. The lyrics match up perfectly too! This guy is a god that's been terribly flawed!

Yes. Thinking about this manga makes me ramble. The manga doesn’t explain enough!

But seeing how theories like this emerge, it feels like there were some crumbs put out there.

Still, they need to tie up the loose ends!! Are they kidding me?

Anyway, I love Fatal! I’ve been listening to it nonstop since July. It’s hugely influenced my creative work for this manga. Good music has such power. Its ability to convey emotions directly… that’s what music is. I truly believe emotions are powerful. I don’t agree with the idea that logic is superior. Without emotions, people can’t make sound decisions. It’s crucial to manage and use your emotions wisely!

I wonder how many fan art I’ll be able to draw for this piece in the future… but if I can keep drawing, I’d like to do so.

[yuseirra]

I honestly think this is undeniable...;

I mean, if Kamiki isn’t Sarutahiko Okami, then why would the word "noblilty" be used? Why do you think Aqua reacted that way when hearing the name "Ame-no-Uzume"?

If there weren’t ANY divine elements involved, I wouldn’t be saying anything; but, even in the final chapter, they mentioned that the gods probably sent Ruby, didn’t they?

The story of Oshi no Ko is an homage to the Tenson Kōrin (The Descent of the Heavenly Grandchild) from Japanese mythology.

After meeting his wife, Ame-no-Uzume(Ai), Sarutahiko(Hikaru) eventually handed over his position as the sun god to Amaterasu(Ruby). In a way, this meant that his nobility or influence somewhat diminished.

The song lyrics said that he was given a fatal flaw. Contextually, this is Hikaru’s line about Ai; after losing Ai, he developed a defect. This actually parallels what happened in the myths: he’s willing to sacrifice his "nobility" to bring Ai back.

The shrine where the main characters went to make their wishes was the shrine of Ame-no-Uzume and Sarutahiko, and all of the wishes made there came true! I’m telling you, this is all because of Kamiki. Ai is dead! The only god left to grant wishes is this person. He's the Sarutahiko, the god of fulfilled wishes that's become fatally flawed!

This person became a deity who can guarantee results, but he’s twisted to the point of granting wishes in a distorted manner.

These kinds of interactions appear in the story! I wouldn’t bring it up if they didn’t!

Originally, he was a god who guided people along the right path! People pray to Sarutahiko for traffic safety!! But imagine him as a navigation system that takes you to your destination, but the journey itself becomes cursed with misfortune, absurdity, and irrationality now—that’s the "flaw".

That’s why Aqua put his own life on the line to stop this person, to prevent him from ruining Ruby’s and everyone's future.

Ultimately, all of the wishes Kamiki realized or perceived were granted in the end. Socially, he’s completely destroyed. Akane calls him a monster, right? How does a once "noble" person become this wrecked? I don’t get it. The more I study it, the less sense it makes. Looking at scenes where Ai and this person were together, they seemed genuinely happy with each other. In my opinion, they even stayed in touch occasionally. They couldn’t be together because they were too young, but he knew about her pregnancy and she called him on a public phone. It’s hard to believe he’d suddenly turn against her. Ai’s reactions to him were pretty neutral. It’s like Ai was always worried about Hikaru, fearing he might go astray.

Chapter 154 is seriously too genuine. I think Ai’s feelings about him are the most important thing.

She said she wanted to be with him forever...;;

And Kamiki felt the same way. Didn’t he say he wanted to feel Ai forever?

If they’re divine spouses, they’d truly be together forever. It’s really supposed be that way; they’re divine spouses at their core. What Hikaru thought in 153, that was actually what was SUPPOSED TO BE. They were originally like that as gods!!

They reciprocated each other’s feelings, both of them define each other as being the "same" as they are. And neither of them was ordinary. If you examine the lyrics, Ai is the reincarnation of a star, while Kamiki fell from grace. Given that supernatural elements explicitly play a role in the story, this isn’t just metaphorical.

Yesterday, when I talked about this with a friend, they asked,

“Why would he be considered noble? There’s no scene where he saves someone or helps others, and as a kid, he seemed "naive". But there weren't many scenes to see if he could be defined as having nobility.”

Yeah. Right? Just why include the detail that his soul was noble? I’m telling you, it’s because he’s the virtuous god Sarutahiko.

There are a lot of things in this work that can’t be explained without divine elements; that’s why I’ve researched mythology and analyzed things this way—because it makes sense with that being taken into consideration. Without these elements, the story would have too many gaps. But if you incorporate mythological settings, they fill in the blanks.

There’s even talk about shattered souls, which I can explain too! Since I started re-reading this work, the strange song lyrics gave me an inkling that something deeper was there, so I immediately began interpreting it along these lines.

Kamiki is a distorted god that became of "absurdity and irrationality"(seriously, what's been happening around him's EXACTLY that!! Even Aqua turned unreasonable!!), while Ai is "the god who loves people". They were originally divine spouses who blessed and protected the entertainment world, but once they incarnated as humans, things fell into chaos. The protagonists were born as their children to resolve this turmoil.

How else can you interpret this? If there were no reincarnation or divine elements involved, I wouldn’t bring it up. But there’s too much evidence to ignore. Besides, "love" probably held a significant meaning for those two gods.

Tsukuyomi said the entertainment world wasn’t her domain.

I’m telling you, Kamiki and Ai are the gods who oversee the entertainment industry, which is why they each took part as an actor and an idol.

But just like the lyrics, "I've forgotten who I lived as!" and "Remember who you lived with," in Mephisto, they forgot who they were and that they were spouses. Kamiki probably only remembered it after Ai’s death, which made him start searching for people with the qualities to bring light and wandering around collecting light to offer as sacrifices. Judging by the lyrics, without Ai, he'd always lack the light of love and remained extremely hollow. He could never return to the white star or have chances of it—not until he saw Ruby.

I don’t think he truly intended to kill her, but intentions aside, Kamiki has become so dangerous and uncontrollable that he needs to be eliminated. Aqua’s mission is to take him down, which is why he constantly says he’ll have to go to hell—because he has to kill someone.

These ideas may seem far-fetched, but if you put everything together, this is the most plausible explanation. There’s no other way to make sense of it based on what’s shown in the story. I’m right. How else would you explain it?