Obsession「入れ込み, Irekomi?」 is the eighty-third chapter of the Oshi no Ko manga series. It is written by Aka Akasaka and illustrated by Mengo Yokoyari. It was released in Weekly Young Jump on June 9, 2022.[1]
Summary[]
After Aqua Hoshino finished filming for Dig Deep! One Chance for the day, he found Mem-Cho waiting for him. Aqua remarked that this couldn't be a coincidence that they met here, and said that he was tired and couldn't talk to her. Mem-Cho wondered if their schedule would line up ever again since they're very busy, implying that he is trying to avoid her, and Aqua relents, but only if the place they're going has a sofa. Mem-Cho then brought him to her place, and Aqua stiffly said that she just broke a law by bringing a minor to her house, which made Mem-Cho panic.
Mem-Cho commented on how tired Aqua looked, and he explained about his schedule with the variety show, Lala Lai Theatrical Company's next play's rehearsals, and after all of that, he still needed to study. Mem-Cho then wondered if he was considering going to college, which Aqua confirmed, even saying further that he wanted to take a Medical School exam. When asked if he wanted to be a doctor, he wasn't sure if that was his final option, as he wanted to keep that choice open in the future.
Mem-Cho then goes on about how going to college is admirable, but it's not possible for someone like her, implying that she is too old. She also said it's not possible because she does not have the resolve to do the tests required. She already decided to enter the entertainment world instead. Mem-Cho recognized that retaking the tests is a logically better choice, but said that people don't always make rational decisions.
She then talked about how Aqua also didn't make a rational decision by avoiding Kana Arima, saying that he could have dealt with her a little bit better. Aqua tried to say that it was not her business, but Mem-Cho quipped by saying that she's not rational at all, and it's only natural that she is worried for her friend. She continued by saying that Kana's performance suffered as well.
Aqua is at a loss for what he should do. Mem-Cho said that since he made a pass at Kana, he should at least be responsible for it, and when he questioned her, she said that some of his "moves" toward Kana could be taken as suggestive. She concluded that Aqua should only really do those things to someone he's actually interested in.
Aqua then pushed Mem-Cho onto the sofa and started talking about how she's lecturing someone like this when she's the one who brought him to her house, implying how that can also be taken as suggestive.
Aqua then admits that he knows about how men and women can be, and he already decided that he wants to keep his distance from Kana. He also admits to knowing how that action would hurt Kana, but he's not really doing this because he wants to. Aqua said that lately he started to think about his future, and also the future of people around him, and he realized that Kana would be more famous in the future, as an idol.
Aqua stated that hypothetically if an idol gets a boyfriend, their fans will get mad. He then starts saying more and more unsettling scenarios, ending with how a fan could hurt Kana if they found out that she has a boyfriend, flashing back to Ai Hoshino's death.
Distressed, Aqua asked Mem-Cho about who would take responsibility when that happens. Mem-Cho then realized that it was not Kana that is obsessed with Aqua, but it was Aqua who was obsessed with Kana.
Aqua then said that for the sake of Kana's future, he has to keep his distance. Mem-Cho then smiled and put her hands beside Aqua's head, and she apologized. A stunned Aqua questioned how suggestive she was being right now, and Mem-Cho retorted by repeating that people can be irrational after all.
Characters[]
