Intro. Ai Hoshino, the charismatic idol of Oshi no Ko, had a life marked by abandonment, the search for genuine love, and eventually a tragic death. Her story is based on the initial inability to love and the use of lies as a defense mechanism. Ai grew up in an orphanage after her mother was arrested for theft and never returned for her, possibly due to jealousy of her partner's attention to the girl. She lived with a deep emotional emptiness, not knowing what true love was. At age 12, she escaped to Tokyo, planning to survive on her own with her appearance. The Path to Being an Idol She was discovered by Ichigo Saitō, the president of Strawberry Productions, who offered her the opportunity to become an idol. Ai was initially reluctant, but Ichigo convinced her by telling her that lying could be a way to work as well as loving, creating the image of an idol who loved her fans.