The final episode of the TV Asahi drama series "Reborn ~The Last Hero~" (Tuesdays at 9 PM), starring actor Issei Takahashi, aired on June Getsuku. The episode featured a scene where Mitsumasa Neo (Takahashi), who has been reincarnated as Hideto Nomoto, confronts Mitsumasa in the world after his reincarnation (Takahashi playing both roles). Takahashi's performance in playing both roles garnered a lot of attention on social media.
◇The following contains spoilers.
As the "fateful day" approaches when Mitsumasa is pushed off a cliff and reincarnated as Eijin, NEOXIS's plan to acquire the land of Akari Shopping Street progresses, and Eijin's father, Eiji (Fumiyo Kohinata), decides to accept the eviction of Akari Shopping Street.
Then came February 17, 2026, the fateful day when Mitsumasa, before his reincarnation, fell down the shrine stairs. Mitsumasa, now reincarnated as Eito, hears that Tomono (played by Ouji Suzuka) is missing and heads to the shrine. At the shrine, Mitsumasa and Tomono from this era are arguing when Mitsumasa, now reincarnated as Eito, intervenes and finally confronts the Mitsumasa from this era.
In this era, Kosei reveals that he feared Hideto's existence, saying, "Because you are Neo Kosei, after all." Then, Kosei confesses that he has been playing the role of Neo Kosei, using diaries and videos as clues. Kosei, who has been reincarnated as Hideto, hears this and realizes that the Kosei in front of him is actually Hideto in reincarnation.
Eito, who has been reincarnated as Kosei, reveals that as he lived as Kosei, he gradually began to think like the Kosei he was before his reincarnation. Hearing this, Kosei, who has been reincarnated as Eito, says, "A person's character can change depending on where they are and who they are with," and further explains that his fall down the stairs before his reincarnation was a delusion of his own, and that he wasn't pushed by someone, but rather, like the Kosei of this era, he despaired of the future and fell of his own accord.
Then he gently says, "I don't want that to happen to you, tell me what happened. I want to talk more. The future can be changed." However, Eito, who has been reincarnated as Kosei, says, "I'm tired," and tries to fall down the stairs, but Eiji, who is below, catches him.
On social media, the scene where Kosei, who has been reincarnated as Eito, confronts Eito, who has been reincarnated as Kosei, has become a hot topic. Comments such as "It's amazing, they look like completely different people," "Issei Takahashi's acting is incredible," "It's scary how Issei Takahashi is acting like two people by himself," "Their expressions are completely different. Amazing," and "Issei Takahashi's ability to differentiate between characters is godlike" were among the many expressions of admiration for Takahashi's acting.
