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Summary

Melt faces insecurities as he struggles to match other actors in the Tokyo Blade stage play.
The performance reveals Melt's growth and newfound passion for acting, impressing even his critics.
Melt's dedication pays off as he delivers a stunning performance, earning recognition from his peers.

The following contains spoilers for Episode 6 of Oshi no Ko Season 2, "Growth," now streaming on HiDive.

The Tokyo Blade stage play is finally underway, and all the actors are excited to show off what they've practiced. Things are a little different for Melt, however, who knows just how much his abilities pale in comparison to the other actors, even after practicing so hard. However, as someone who has awoken to the passion of acting and has worked hard to match the other actors, Melt won't just lie down and be ridiculed for bad acting.

This week's episode of Oshi no Ko is the first to cover the actual performance itself. In addition to being able to see how the play's story unfolds, the audience is also able to finally get some backstory on Melt, as well as some insight into his new, humbler persona. While an episode focusing on Melt may be unexpected, it is most certainly appreciated.

The Play Begins

The Swords That Will Determine The King

"I'll become the strongest of all... And the ruler of this country!"

After the main characters are announced, the first act of the play begins with Blade (played by Himekawa) discovering a strange sword while traveling. He is then attacked by Tsurugi (played by Kana), who explains to him what the oath swords are and that those who hold them have the power to become kings. Blade draws the sword and swiftly beats Tsurugi, who begs to be spared and offers to become his ally. The two begin traveling as Tsurugi explains the lay of the land, and that Blade can take Shinjuku so long as he beats the one in charge, Kizami.

The play flashes forward to the fight against Kizami (played by Melt) and his subordinates. Blade handily defeats Kizami in a duel, and he offers to become his ally just as Tsurugi did. As Shinjuku is united under the leadership of Blade, the curtains fall on the first act, with the conflict against the Shibuya faction sure to come with the next act.

Kizami Versus Monme

The Curse Of An Inflated Ego

"If I'd approached it seriously from the start... The show would have been... Much better."

After a short break, Act 2 begins, with the battle between the Shinjuku and Shibuya factions kicking off with a battle between Kizami and Monme (played by Sakuya Kamoshida). Having previously come into conflict with Kamoshida, who had specifically insulted Melt's poor acting abilities, this face-off gives both actors a chance to air their grievances against each other. Though Melt is impressed by Kamoshida's incredible acting abilities, he is adamant about matching him with every blow.

Flashing back to the rehearsal for a bit, Raida speaks with Kaburagi about why he decided to send Melt in for the role of Kizami. Kaburagi admits that he mostly did it for personal reasons, and that he believes Melt will only improve with time. Raida tells Kaburagi not to use other people's works to train newcomers, but Kaburagi believes that Melt is the type of actor Raida likes, considering how hard he has worked to improve. Returning to the present, Kaburagi isn't sure how well Melt will actually do, but knows that since Kichijoji is here, he'll be able to tell if his efforts have paid off.

As the battle between Kizami and Monme continues, Melt looks back on his popularity and good looks got him everything, so he never thought to try hard at anything. That all changed on Sweet Today, as being confronted by Aqua and Kana's acting skills made him realize how mediocre he was. Even so, despite his growth and change in perspective, Melt struggles to pull off a satisfactory performance as Kizami, something even the audience can notice. Kamoshida, still resenting Melt for getting roles due to his looks, knocks the sword out of his hands both as a part of the play and as an affirmation that Melt's acting is lousy.

Oshi no Ko Main Characters Feature Image

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By Danny Guan

One Key Moment

The Fruits Of Melt's Passion And Hard Work

"I don't care if you've been acting for 10 years! For this one minute, I won't lose to anybody!"

In another flashback, Melt remembers consulting with Aqua for acting advice. Aqua gives him some surprising, yet incredibly useful advice: if everyone thinks you're bad at acting, focus instead on one moment to go all out and turn it around on them. As Melt's moment approaches, he kicks his sword up into the air, then flips past Monme and catches it with his hand. The stunt successfully rouses the audience, especially Abiko, who was surprised that someone could pull off something she drew in the manga, believing it couldn't be done.

Kamoshida isn't impressed, but Melt isn't done. Having decided to pour everything into the remainder of the fight, Melt recalls Akane talking about trying to understand her character during practice. Melt, believing he isn't smart enough to analyze Kizami in the way Akane can, but in his attempt to, he inadvertently discovers that he sympathizes with the character much more than he realizes. Back in the present, Melt uses this connection with his character to fuel his performance, swearing that for this one moment, he'll push forward that moment of frustration as far as he can. The result is an incredibly beautiful sequence that ultimately culminates in even Kichijoji recognizing that Melt has become a real actor. As Blade and Tsurugi jump in to help a defeated Kizami, Melt smiles satisfied at having pulled off his performance. Backstage, Kamoshida finally recognizes Melt's abilities, while Melt tells Aqua that he finally understands how fun acting is.