Episode 9

B-Komachi (B小町) is the ninth episode of Oshi no Ko anime adaptation.

Synopsis
Mem-Cho originally dreamed of becoming an idol. She is popular, well-known, and has no contractual problems, making her the perfect new member of B-Komachi, but she has a secret...!?

Summary


After asking her to join B-Komachi, Aqua brings Mem-Cho to Miyako, who is surprised to learn that she wants to become an idol. Although Mem is currently with another agency, she is not affiliated with them, and her contract allows her to take any job she wants. While that has been settled, Miyako can tell that Mem is faking her age and asks for her actual age. Mem reluctantly confesses that she is 25, to Miyako and Aqua's shock. Mem explains that when she was younger, she always dreamed of becoming an idol but wanted to support her single mother and two brothers by getting a job. Mem's mother encouraged her to follow her dream, but she got hospitalized after overworking. Mem withdrew from her idol audition and school to provide money for her family through several part-time jobs. After things got better, Mem was 23 and too old to pursue an idol career. She then went into streaming and lied about being a high schooler.



Mem doubts she can become an idol now, but Ruby and Kana show up to encourage Mem and welcome her into B-Komachi. Aqua asks Kana to look after Ruby and Mem, but Kana is still upset about the LoveNow finale with him and Akane and ignores him. At school, Minami chats with Ruby about LoveNow, and Frill joins in the conversation. Ruby and Minami are surprised by this, even more so to learn that she has a sense of humor. The girls then discuss Aqua's popularity with the other girls in their school.

Meanwhile, B-Komachi's YouTube channel begins getting more followers, thanks to Mem using her channel to promote it. Wanting to start making music videos, Mem suggests using B-Komachi's old songs while they practice their dance moves. After a session, an exhausted Kana goes out for a break, and Aqua appears with some water. While Kana is initially thankful, she remains angry with him and refuses the gesture. Before he leaves, Aqua brings up Kana's cold attitude toward him and tells her that even he will feel hurt if she keeps it up.



Aqua meets with Kaburagi to talk about Ai's past. Aqua says he is a fan of Ai and is determined to learn the truth about her, despite Kaburagi trying to convince him otherwise. Kaburagi tells Aqua that he had close connections with Ai as he sent jobs her way. At the time, Ai lacked professionalism, so Kaburagi introduced her to a workshop hosted by Lala Lai, a theater company that Akane is a part of. It was there that Kaburagi believes Ai fell in love with a certain someone as she began putting herself together after meeting them. Kaburagi offers to introduce Aqua to the company's leader, which could bring Aqua closer to the answer he's looking for. When Aqua asks why he is doing all this, Kaburagi says he senses potential in Aqua and wants to leverage his coming popularity in casting wars. He also expresses interest in the revived B-Komachi, seeing the group as a promising investment.



Mem tells Ruby and Kana that they have been offered to join the lineup of the Japan Idol Festival, which Ruby is eager to perform in. After Kana agrees to go, Ruby and Mem decide who should be their group's center and argue amongst themselves, then wonder if Kana would be the better pick. After bringing up Kana's successful Bell Pepper Exercise song from her younger years, Ruby and Mem decide to determine the role by singing talent and declare a karaoke contest. Kana refuses to go, believing she cannot be their center due to her lack of a fanbase, and begins talking negatively about herself. Ruby comments that Kana has been hard on herself recently and tries to encourage her. While Mem tells Kana to join them later, Ruby recalls that Aqua scouted the two and gets concerned about her brother's taste in women.

Ruby and Mem end a song with mediocre scores at the karaoke bar and conclude they need more singing practice. They pick Kana's Bell Pepper song as a breather and discover that she has released many songs. After listening to one of her music videos, Ruby and Mem wonder how Kana could talk poorly about her singing. In another room, Kana finishes a song and earns a high score.