Kaguya Sama: Love Is War is one of the most popular high school anime to date, so it’s not surprising to see fans trying to find the link between it and Oshi No Ko, another work by the same mangaka. After all, it isn’t a novel concept for two manga to share universes when they are being written by the same creators. It’s more common than you think, and a pretty fun Easter Egg to dive into. I mean, nothing cooler than a Multiverse, right?

This is why it is so cool to see that Kaguya Sama and Oshi No Ko are related, thanks to both manga occurring in the same universe! Kaguya Sama is set up several years later down the line, according to Aka Akasaka. But it’s definitely in the same realm, as evidenced by the airing of Sweet Today, a show present in both Oshi No Ko and Kaguya Sama. And then, of course, there is the whole deal with Frill Shiranui, introduced in both series as well.

And it’s these types of tiny hints, alongside the creator’s confirmation, that show that Oshi No Ko is definitely related to Kaguya Sama. It might not be to the extent people think, where we can have people having crossovers between the two separate stories, or even being related to one another. But it’s still something tangible, giving us hope that, while we might not see it now, there might be some potential meeting between the characters in the future. Of course, the two stories might never go beyond just acknowledgment of each other, but fans can hope.

And, let’s be honest, shared universes or having multiple works allude to one another when they share the same creator, is something we’ve come to expect. With manga durations getting shorter and more globalized, fans simply adore this kind of thing. So, just how much does Oshi No Ko share with its successor, Kaguya Sama? Let’s discuss that in today’s Lore Analysis!

Oshi No Ko: A Darker Tale By Aka Akasaka

Kaguya Sama is popular because of its cute romantic subtones, sure. But I think what sold it to a public outside of Shojou fanatics was its brilliant comedic timing. It’s a tale of two perfect people refusing to admit they love each other and going into these insane montages where they try to make the other confess. Pretty light-hearted stuff, when you get down to it. However, Oshi No Ko is tonally very different.

Like, Oshi No Ko revolves around the Idol system in Japan, and the darker side it can take once all the glitter and moe are erased. It also has some elements of fantasy, because it deals with two twin protagonists who reincarnated into idols while being past fans themselves. Together, they follow in a mum’s footsteps and are trying to navigate a space that can be both exciting and predatory at the same time. Again, it’s definitely a very far cry from the bubbly nature of Kaguya Sama.

I mean, the entire thing starts from a murder, of all things. Oshi No Ko doesn’t shy away from exploring a more mature theme, with notes of mystery and thriller mixed up in a brilliant Seinen format. The protagonists, despite being twins, weren’t actually related beforehand, adding an element of surprise to how they go about everything. It’s like nothing you’d ever expect.

Despite Being So Different, Oshi No Ko Is Definitely Related To Kaguya Sama!

Here’s what surprises me though, despite being as different as they are, Oshi No Ko and Kaguya Sama share a few similarities.

Despite how Oshi No Ko is much darker in tone than Kaguya Sama, it ends up having the same hints of dry wit and unique character building that we’ve grown familiar with. Aka Akasaka writes a compelling story without having to rely on gags alone, as seen with Kaguya Sama.

So, it’s kind of wild to see different hints of one series in the other, like with the show within a show, Sweet today that is simulcast in both Kaguya Sama and Oshi No Ko. Then there is the presence of a B-Komachi in Oshi No Ko, an idol group that Ai Hoshino from Kaguya Sama used to be a part of.

Who knows, maybe a crossover isn’t too far off!