Episode 40 - Girl Meets Girl

Girl・Meets・Girl (ガール・ミーツ・ガール) is the 40th episode of Aikatsu! TV anime series and the 40th episode of its "1st Season". The episode aired on July 18, 2013.

Story
The idol unit Soleil prepares to make the announcement about STAR☆ANIS' tour without Tristar due to a flight delay, but Aoi manages to handle things until a live feed goes up. Orihime also makes a surprise announcement that the members of Powapowa-Puririn will be joining STAR☆ANIS as well, although they later decide they want to stay their own unit for now.

After the press conference, the Soleil girls head back to their dorms to rejuvenate until Johnny Bepp sends a video message to them saying about their having to get ready for the next Special Audition (to receive the Knowledge of Dance). During that time, Aoi hears about a new Futuring Girl Premium Dress and arranges a meeting with the top designer. Whilst waiting to hear back from Orihime about the meeting, Aoi tells Ran about how she first became friends with Ichigo after meeting her at a festival. Aoi then hears from Orihime that they may have to cancel the Futuring Girl dress announcement as the top designer, Rei, has locked himself in a shell, so Aoi is sent to try and try and get him out. Aoi decides to tell him more about her first meeting with Ichigo and how she set her on the path to becoming an idol, expressing how much Futuring Girl means to her. Moved by this, Rei comes out of his shell and gives Aoi the Premium Dress. The audition goes well and Ichigo, Aoi and Ran each earn the Knowledge of Dance.

After the said Special Audition came to a close, the rest of the primary members of Tristar and Powapowa-Puririn enter the room with Mizuki making the announcement telling the room to prepare to switch gears because starting at this point, the STAR☆ANIS summer tour is about to officially commence very soon.

Character Appearances

 * Ichigo Hoshimiya
 * Aoi Kiriya
 * Ran Shibuki
 * Mizuki Kanzaki
 * Kaede Ichinose
 * Yurika Tōdō
 * Otome Arisugawa
 * Sakura Kitaōji
 * Shion Kamiya
 * Orihime Mitsuishi
 * Johnny Bepp
 * Naoto Suzukawa
 * Rei Kamishiro

Major Events
Ichigo, Aoi, and Ran get the Knowledge of Dance.
 * This episode marks the debut of the Kaleido Mirror Coord
 * This episode marks Rei Kamishiro's debut.

Animation Trivia

 * In this episode, Aoi's aura changes, and now there are tiny purple, green, and blue stars added in.

Cultural References

 * This episode shares the same title with Fate/kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya's 3rd episode, both episodes also aired near the same dates, July 18 and 20.