Episode 123 - Spring Bouquet

Spring Bouquet (春のブーケ) is the 123rd episode of Aikatsu! TV anime series and the 22nd episode of its "3rd Season". The episode aired on March 5, 2015.

Story
''As Tsubasa is busily trying to come up with his next Premium Dress, Akari is busy with preparing for a Live Event and attempts to help him. ''

Summary
Tsubasa scribbles over a recent design as he notices its morning already. He gets up to prepare some tea and turns on the television to watch Akari's program, where she and Ozorotter reveal that while it will soon be Spring, it is still chilly out. She suggests everyone dress warmly, and they say goodbye.

With the segment done, Akari quickly thanks Ozorotter for helping her earlier when she messed up, then she sees the flowerbed he has been observing. She comments that the flowers will open very soon, and just then she overhears a news program announcing Tsubasa will be unveiling a brand new Premium Dress.

Back at school the girls excitedly ponder what the dress may look like as Akari points out that they aren't the only ones excited, then Hinaki recalls the Romance Dresses they have seen thus far: the Snow Princess Coord, the Rose Glass Princess Coord, and her own Clara Carol Coord, for Snow White, Cinderella, and the Nutcracker. Juri brings up how Fairytales are trending lately, recalling that Dreamy Crown has produced coords for Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty already. Akari tries to think about what this next dress could be based on, but she suddenly gets a message from Orihime, asking her to come to her office.

There, she finds the Headmistress and Johnny-sensei waiting for her. She has just received a call about a Live from the channel the news and weather programs are on, they want her to be on it to represent the Ozora Weather program. Which will also include a concert performance. Akari is delighted when Orihime brings up that she will be personally attending the event.

As Akari heads outside she thinks about how nice it would be if she could wear the new dress, however, she does acknowledge that because Premium Dresses are only acquired from Top Designers who approve of the Idol requesting them. So just because Tsubasa has given her two so far, it doesn't mean he will give her this one too. But she will work very hard to try.

With that in mind Akari gets right on training. In this time she also focuses on practicing her weather program. Unknown to Akari, Ichigo spies on her.

Meanwhile, Tsubasa has been hard at work looking over his various fairytale books in hopes of coming up with inspiration for the Spring Dress, but he can't find any relating stories. He wonders if Asuka goes through this and decides to grab some coffee and pay her a visit, finding her busy at work. He admires her various drawings and compliments them, but she states they are nothing like her usual work. She discusses how important it is for idols to to work on her own whenever she is on stage because whether she likes it or not she doesn't have others helping her, and designers are in a similar setting- she must create a dress befitting of this stage. She explains how she likes observing images of Ichigo, because they help her capture the energy she possesses.

These words resonate with Tsubasa and he admits that Ichigo appears to be good inspiration, so one day he would like to make a dress for her. With that in mind, he will give this spring dress to Ichigo.

At the TV station Akari goes over the plans for her upcoming Live, making sure to take notes and what they will be calling her portion of the event. She makes a comment and everyone happily voices that they believe she will do a great job, and they bring up the popularity of Ozora Weather as of late. Akari claims its because of Ozorotter helping her, but they insist otherwise and are sure she will continue to go far, because right now this is only the beginning for her. For now they will focus on making it exciting.

Riding the train home, Akari thinks about the dress she should wear until realizing she's near the station she will exit from. She gets out just in time to spot Tsubasa across the room, boarding another train. She calls out to him and tries to tell him about her evet but the door shuts before he can hear everything. He observes Akari and remarks on how little she's changed since they met, and just then he notices an Ad for the news and weather program featuring her. Seeing Akari, Tsubasa realizes that he must become motivated like her and stick to his goals.

That evening Akari struggles to fall asleep. Sumire tries to talk to her and Akari explains that she feels like she needs to improve herself so that she can brighten everyone's day, and to make them smile regardless of what the weather is. But she isn't exactly sure how to do that. Sumire responds- but by this poin she notices Akari has fallen asleep. She gives her a quiet vote of confidence before turning in for the night.

The next morning Ichigo is preparing to leave when Akari stops her. Ichigo is surprised to see her so early when Akari mentions that she has film work outside of the city. She thinks it'll be a lot of fun, only to comment on the chilly weather despite Spring being right around the corner. Ichigo says this nice though, because getting to wait for things like eating strawberry parfaits and wearing cute Spring clothing is just as fun as experiencing it.

Suddenly, Akari realizes something and she rushes for home, much to the surprise of her parents; who thought she would be off working. Akari runs to her bedroom and pulls out a shelf in search of something while they curiously observe her, then her father leaves the room. Akari's mom seems to get an idea and leaves as well, returning a moment later with an item for Akari, who takes it and leaves.

On location Akari finds Ozorotter watering flowers and observes them, admiring their vibrant colors and bloom. Ozorotter spots the book in her hands and questions it, but because they need to get ready Akari isn't able to explain why she has it. They start shortly after and she reveals that the forecast is sunny and the cold front is passing by now; she then reveals the book in her hands, one of her favorite fairytales as a child: Thumbelina. As a child she would search every tulip she could find in search of Thumbelina, then she shows the tulips that Ozorotter has been tending to.

Tsubasa, who was watching the program is suddenly inspired, and having found inspiration he begins to draw it out. Upon finishing he makes his way up Angely Mountain and prepares to board the elevator to pay Asuka a visit, only to see Ichigo run inside to board the elevator with him. Together in her office, he explains how he wanted Asuka to be the first one who sees his design and she agrees, asking Ichigo to wait a momen. She agrees to give them time; although she really wants to see it too, so Tsubasa grants her permission. He reveals the beautiful dress and explains being inspired by Thumbelina and how he got his idea, which causes Ichigo to compare him to Akari- saying that while she is immature as an idol still, she puts everything into Aikatsu. She always tries to make everyone surrounding her cheery and cares about their happiness above all else. These words cause Tsubasa to realize something.

In the Cafeteria the girls discuss Akari's concert the following day. They ask her if she is ready but she doesn't really sound convincing, and she confesses that she can't make up her mind regarding what to wear. Just then Hinaki joins the girls to reveal the news that the Premium Dress has been completed; much to their surprise. The News hosts say that while they don't have many details they do know it is for Spring, and hearing this Akari decides that she must request permission to wear it from Tsubasa.

Akari rushes to the train station but she is distressed realizing she just missed it. But as she stands there in remorse, she spots Tsubasa and runs to his side as he approaches her. He asks her to wait a moment after they begin to talk and he reveals the cards, handing them over to her. Akari delightfully accepts them as he comments that it was because of her that he was capable of finishing it. He wishes her luck with her performance and Akari promises that she will do her best. When the event comes along, Akari's concert is about to begin. She gently speaks to her cards before inserting them into the Aikatsu System, then changes into the beautiful new Spring coord and appears on stage to perform Blooming♡Blooming.

After the performance ends Akari takes off after saying goodbye. She sees Tsubasa, who compliments the concert. She claims the cards helped her a lot and thanks him for his help, but he points out that he's come to believe a Designer and Idol are like a team, and together they can help each other keep going. Although, should she falter he probably wouldn't give her anymore dresses, and with that Tsubasa begins to leave, causing Akari some confusion until she realizes he was encouraging her. She brightly smiles and promises to keep giving it everything she has.

Characters

 * Akari Ōzora
 * Tsubasa Sena
 * Sumire Hikami
 * Hinaki Shinjō
 * Juri Kurebayashi
 * Ichigo Hoshimiya
 * Asuka Amahane
 * Johnny Bepp
 * Orihime Mitsuishi
 * Aoi Kiriya (mentioned)

Trivia

 * Akari obtains her third premium rare in this episode.
 * The Thumbelina Bouquet Coord makes it's debut in this episode.
 * The song Blooming♡Blooming appears for the first time.