Episode 156 - YOU! GO! KYOTO!!

'''YOU! GO! KYOTO!!''' is the 156th episode of Aikatsu! TV anime series and the 4th episode of its "4th Season". The episode aired on October 22, 2015.

Story
''Akari Ōzora's previous roommate, Yū Hattori has gained popularity through being a "Travelling Idol"! Now, Yū and Akari's unit Luminas are heading for Kyoto at the same time. The TV program in Kyoto that Yū was planning to attend turns out to have also invited Luminas. The reason behind the brilliance of Yū right now is thanks to a promise made between her and Akari.''

Summary
As Akari and Sumire finish packing they watch the television announce the new arc of Aikatsu Sensei debuting that evening. "A Hot look at Today" comes on following this and the announcer reveals they will be observing an Idol taking an "upswing" lately. She has introduced a new genre of idol known as "travel idol", and Akari is surprised when Yuu appears. Yuu shows the audience various spots she has been to; ranging from a foot bath in the Alkaline thermal hot spring, a temple, crossing a very long bridge, she even had a traditional tea session. He points out that she has recently been selected as the campaign girl for a travel agency and will be journeying all around the country.

As the program comes to an end, Sumire recalls that they need to hurry up. They finish and rush out to the van to greet Hinaki, who was waiting for them. They take off and Akari explains that they are visiting Okinawa. Before they go, Yuu stops them to ask for a lift. The girls agree and she asks that they drop her off at Kyoto, specifically the TV station. She will be making an appearance on a weekly live show for one of the local stations, and Hinaki points out that it isn't an inconvience since they have a lot more time open for this schedule. They reveal that they were watching the show she was on earlier and she tells them to hold out their hands. She gives each of them a candy; being sure to give Akari her favorite flavor. Akari thanks her, leading Hinaki and Sumire to remark that she knows her really well.

Akari explains having known Yuu for over a year and a half now, and she explains that they were roommates back when she first joined the school last April. She got a late start as she was accepted through the special Idol Caravan event, and Yuu was her only friend at first. They remember first meeting, with Yuu recalling that she felt lonely returning home to an empty room. But she remained hopeful, and used to spend the time wondering what her new roommate would be like. Then one day after finding out she would be getting Akari as her roommate she was very excited. She recalled watching her audition, when Akari first accidentally introduced herself as Ichigo, then remembered when Akari first came to the dorm room. Hinaki asks Yuu what her first impression of Akari was, and she takes a moment to think it over before saying she was unable to let her out of her sight, and recalls the first thing Akari did when she was setting up her side of the dorm. She put a rice scoop and explained how much she wanted to be like Ichigo, stating that it was a charm. Yuu decided from that moment she and Akari would be friends, causing Sumire to claim that Yuu probably knows a lot of secrets about Akari that they might not. Hinaki asks her to tell them, but she claims that while she wouldn't have a problem with it, Akari might be bothered.

Eventually they arrive to a rest stop and Yuu holds up a flag, offering to give the girls a quick tour of the spot. She mentions that the staff from the show made it for her, so she's been carrying it around when she goes out. She brings them to a soft serve stand, then to try free range milk, and some meat from another stand. The girls sit down for their snack and compliment the various qualities of it while complimenting Yuu for knowing so much. This causes Hinaki to guess that Yuu became a travel idol because of the exchange student program she was a part of. She recalls that she got to visit Kyoto when she switched with Miyabi, and Kobe when she switched with Kokone. In this time, she go invited to local shows to represent Starlight Academy, and people just started to call her a travel idol.

After Yuu claims this is all thanks to Akari, the trio express surprise. As they finish their snack and prepare to board the van again, Yuu explains that Akari becoming her roommate gave her a huge boost that she needed. Akari agrees with this sentiment. In the van, Yuu comments that they will be arriving to her destination very soon and Sumire asks about the show she will be on. Yuu shows them a pamphlet she was given and explains that it will be a Halloween special. She asks the girls if they have some time to go on a very special Hattori Tour, and they point out that they have a lot of time, so they accept the offer.

They soon reach the location, with the girls voicing surprise as they didn't expect Yuu to bring them to the studio she was to be dropped off at. She claims that because she had a big part in the planning, it wasn't hard to get permission. She heads off to change and the program begins, with Yuu introducing herself and explaining that its Halloween Special. She also plans to wave her Hattori Tours flag due to the special occasion, then reveals her special guests: Luminas. This surprises everyone to see the girls dressed up for Halloween and they greet the audience. Yuu compliments their outfits before she reveals her other special guests: Kokone and Miyabi. Excitedly Akari greets them and Kokone explains that they rushed over upon finding out the trio would be there. Miyabi is very flustered over the cutesy fairy outfit she is wearing, an she points out that she choose their costumes, showing that she's not as shy as she used to be when she performs her cute new introduction. She and Kokone reveal they will put on a performance, and they head off to do that.

Afterwards Yuu thanks them before Akari admits that she didn't expect to see them at all. She goes on to thank Yuu for being so kind to them, showing them around, and even letting them join her on this show. Then they go onto the stage to perform as thanks.

That evening, the six girls walk through the area while discussing how much fun they had. Akari, Sumire, and Hinaki will be spending the night at a hotel, and Yuu comments on how nice the road is while recalling she walked down it while there on exchange at Miyabi's school. Akari happily comments that Yuu must have learned a lot while on her travels, and soon they arrive to the hotel. Kokone and Myabi make a promise with the girls to do something with them again at some point and leave for Miyabi's place.

In the hotel room, the girls notice that Akari has fallen asleep. Sumire covers her with a blanket and she asks Yuu what inspired her to go through with the exchanges in the first place. Once again, Yuu claims it had to do with watching Akari, and says that she continues to watch her shine more brilliantly than before. She recalls waking to see her cut her hair, and when she attended Aikatsu Boot Camp. She never quit trying to work her hardest, and despite the bumps on the road she kept working at it anyway, as if she kept being reborn. After they were forced to get a brand new dorm room they made a promise, recalling the very day. They said goodbye to the room and Yuu mentions her plan to continue shining more brightly than the last, even if they are apart. Akari agrees and they make a promise on it. After finishing her story, she comments that she left on her journey to follow Akari.

The next morning, Yuu sees Luminas off. They exchange some words, with Yuu explaining that she may have wanted Akari to see who she was now, and Akari promises to put more effort into things from now on, with Yuu agreeing the same thing. She watches them leave and quietly thanks Akari.

Characters

 * Yū Hattori
 * Akari Ōzora
 * Sumire Hikami
 * Hinaki Shinjō
 * Miyabi Fujiwara
 * Kokone Kurisu

Animation Trivia

 * In one scene, Kokone's neckpiece was colored green instead of white.