Episode 178 - The Best Present

The Best Present (最高のプレセント) is the 178th and last episode of Aikatsu! TV anime series and the 26th episode of its "4th Season". The episode aired on March 31, 2016.

Story
After the live broadcast of "Ōzora Weather" ended, Akari Ōzora has received a sudden call from Ichigo Hoshimiya, that she has made a special nori-bento for Akari! Akari who was thankful by Ichigo's actions has decided to pluck up the courage to ask for another wish...?!

Summary
One early morning Sumire and Hinaki are out for a jog when Juri catches up to them. She leads the girls to the hallway where all the past iconic idols of Starlight School have been made into statues as remembrance. They wonder if Akari will someday join their ranks when Sumire recalls her weather program has begun. They turn it on to watch as Akari prepares to start, only for the news staff to temporarily stop her wanting to congratulate her win as the brand new Starlight Queen. Ozorotter joins her with a bouquet and tiara, which she compliments as adorable on him.

After work Akari walks through the hallway when Ichigo calls her with the request they meet up. Akari eagerly accepts and leaves to find Ichigo arriving in the van. Akari thanks Ichigo for picking her up and because she has two free hours before her next job, Ichigo gets an idea and she brings Akari back to her place. Both girls are so happy to be able to spend time together like this, and as they arrive Ringo greets Akari. Akari recalls how she was just there a few days ago to pick up a bento for Sena, and Ichigo leads Akari to the kitchen to prepare a celebratory meal. They prepare it and sit down to eat as Aoi and Ran arrive, followed by Seira and Noel, all of whom congratulate Akari's successful win. They take some pictures and soon the party comes to an end, but before she leaves Akari makes a special request to Ichigo.

Some time later it's announced that a special collaborative concert between Luminas and Soleil will be held. Everyone's getting excited for the big event as Akari observes messages being sent to her. Soleil join the trio in the cafeteria to inform them of everyone who spoke to them about the performance. Yurika and Kaede have also shown up to express their own words of encouragement in finding a large enough venue. Aoi admits that it might be a little difficul on such short notice, but she goes to Orihime and brings up their plans, asking to use the venue she has booked that day. Orihime agrees and explains that she set it up in advance thinking this could happen.

On the day of the performance the girls prepare to go out when Nono and Lisa hurriedly arrive. They exchange words with Luminas and head out to their seats, and together the two units step out to change coords. On stage they perform "Calendar Girl", an afterwards the girls spring a surprise on Akari as film crew show up. They remind her of her birthday tomorrow, and Ichigo brings up that she prepared a present for Akari; but because of them being rivals she won't be handing it over that easily. She wants Akari to catch her.

Akari can hardly determine what's going on when a surprise live broadcast is held, her and Ichigo have changed into their training clothes and a race course has been set up. Everyone offers words of encouragement to Akari and the race begins, with Ichigo and Akari keeping a steady pace until Ichigo gains momentum and takes off, leaving her trailing behind as everyone commentates, starting with PowaPowaPuririn. The girls reach their first obstacle, an enormous trampoline and slide they must cross. They effortlessly manage and continue to run until they reach Dream Academy, where the girls explain that they will have to fill the gauge of the running machine before moving on. The third checkpoint has the girls waiting at Starlight School, where Yuu gives some words of encouragement for Akari as the girls have to leap up and grab a donut. Everyone wonders if Akari will be able to catch Ichigo, who has remained in the lead thus far, but they all believe Akari's determination will keep her going as they reach Dreamy Lake. Sumire, Sena, and Hinaki exchange words as they row across the lake to their next stop, where Kokone, Miyabi, and Nina are waiting to wish her luck.

Reaching the next point, Mizuki and Mikuru present large trees and a pair of axe. Each girl must chop it down and cross, with Ichigo increasing her speed even more to keep Akari at arms length. They arrive to Angely Mountain, where Kaede and Yurika commentate from the air nearby. In a helicopter Aoi and Ran prepare to reach the girls while wondering what the present Ichigo prepared is. Akari manages to climb Angely Mountain first and after taking a moment to catch her breath she turns to help Ichigo up. Ichigo goes on to reveal she hadn't actually prepared a present for Akari yet, so she asks her what she wants. Akari takes a moment before whispering to her.

Time passes and Akari is revealed to be wearing a lovely dress as she applies lipstick. Ichigo calls for her and they hold hands, heading out on stage to put on the performance of a life time.

Characters

 * Akari Ōzora
 * Ichigo Hoshimiya
 * Sumire Hikami
 * Hinaki Shinjō
 * Juri Kurebayashi
 * Rin Kurosawa
 * Madoka Amahane
 * Nono Daichi
 * Lisa Shirakaba
 * Miyabi Fujiwara
 * Kokone Kurisu
 * Nina Dōjima
 * Aoi Kiriya
 * Ran Shibuki
 * Otome Arisugawa
 * Yurika Tōdō
 * Sakura Kitaōji
 * Kaede Ichinose
 * Shion Kamiya
 * Mizuki Kanzaki
 * Mikuru Natsuki
 * Seira Otoshiro
 * Kī Saegusa
 * Sora Kazesawa
 * Maria Himesato
 * Ringo Hoshimiya
 * Raichi Hoshimiya
 * Noeru Otoshiro
 * Orihime Mitsuishi
 * Johnny Bepp
 * Naoto Suzukawa
 * Tsubasa Sena
 * Yū Hattori
 * Reika Yūki
 * Arisa Mizukoshi
 * Mimi Watanuki

Trivia

 * This marks the final episode of Season 4, as well as the Aikatsu! anime series.
 * This is the last episode where the current main cast will appear in, before moving on to the Aikatsu! Stars series.
 * This is the fourth episode to have an opening or ending theme's full version as an insert in an episode.
 * This is the only Season 4 episode to have an Aikatsu Aphorism, replacing the Stage Diary for the episode.
 * This is the first time that 2 units (Soleil and Luminas) perform together wearing their individual unit dress.
 * As this is the end of Aikatsu! They summarise the entire series where they used to put the preview.
 * This is the first time to have a clip after the ending song, but not the Aikatsu Aphorism or the Stage Diary.
 * From the ending, Ichigo and Akari are widely assumed to have formed a unit per Akari's request, judging from their similar dresses and their lack of honorifics when speaking to each other during the Aphorism.