Episode 168 - A Single Road, Our Parting Ways

A Single Road, Our Parting Ways (ひとつの道と、別れ道) is the 168th episode of Aikatsu! TV anime series and the 16th episode of its "4th Season". The episode aired on January 21, 2016.

Story
''Nono Daichi and Lisa Shirakaba have received a boost from seeing Akari and her friends work hard training everyday for the Starlight Queen Cup, inspiring them to work hard so that they may participate too. But at the same time, Nono who would like to participate with Lisa as a PR in a potato convention in Hokkaido named "May Queen Cup", finds Lisa making a gloomy face...''

Summary
The girls discuss Sumire's recent performance and her popularity as of late, but they won't let her have the spotlight for long. Walking by Nono and Lisa, they are unaware of their observations. Nono suddenly bursts out running, feeling sudden encouragement while Lisa watches her.

Arriving at Sakura's place, Nono explains that she was convinced this would help encourage them- only to learn that the others had the same idea. They discuss how the name will eventually change with a new Idol owning it, so they begin brainstorming the names they would call it should they win, until Lisa reminds them that there can only be one Starlight Queen. She recalls when they headed home to pay everyone a visit, her mom was very surprised Lisa was going through with idoling. Her brother asks if she has done any solo work, but the girls are always together, and Lisa worries over how Nono will do without her.

In Orihime's office they discuss the the current standings with the contest. Orihime brings up how popular Luminas as a Unit was, so there is a big chance they will have great rankings, along with Juri, Rin, and Madoka. Naoto states that they should prepare for any of them to win.

That evening, Nono is busy booking work that she believes will help her prepare for Starlight Queen as Lisa observes her again and decides to do the same. Just then, she sees something titled "Queens Cup" and enters the both of them into it, and excitedly Nono shows Lisa what she found- only to discover its for the upcoming potato May Queen Cup.

They decide to check it out the following day and notice that many people from Hokkaido have shown up. She takes out the paper of information that explains the Idols they requested are to promote Hokkaido-grown potatoes. Lisa is a bit frustrated, but Nono claims this is their specialty. To their surprise the others show up, and as it turns out they all entered as well. Sumire comments on how amazing it all for all of them to have entered, but Lisa is still concerned over Nono again.

The event begins, with the girls standing on stage ready to start working. First they must peel a potato; Hinaki struggles to leave anything bigger than the size of a strawberry, incidentally slashing at the vegetable instead of peeling it delicately. Akari and Sumire do well but with Akari being so careful she is very slow. They try to encourage her while Nono and Lisa continue working, unaware that Lucy -Dolly Devil's Designer- is there with the judges.

Next, five of the girls are in a contest to stuff potato sacks. Rin struggles to shove them in, while Nono worries her bag will tear. Juri handles it passionately and does well, until her bag rips from overdoing it. Nono and Lisa quickly make work of their bags and they move onto the next round, where the girls must cook a potato dish. Juri makes a potato omelet, while Sumire made Potato salad, and Akari makes Fries. Hinaki makes potato with bacon, and Rin makes Potatoes with cheese. Madoka reveals something creative she made, based on candy apples, while Nono reveals a basic, buttered potato like something she would make in Hokkaido. They compliment its wonderful taste and give it a passing grade, and Lisa reveals the meat and potato dish she made, a recipe learned from her mom. It also gets a passing grade, and its announced that Lisa and Nono will be moving on to the final round.

A break is held while Nono and Lisa celebrate how much fun they've had so far. They are joined by the judge, who reveals herself to be Lucy. She thanks the girls for inspiring her today before mentioning she was struggling to think of anything for a new dress. Nono reveals they came to try gaining experience for the Starlight Queen Cup, then requests Lucy make them both a Dolly Devil Premium Dress, because they wish to wear the best dresses for it. Lucy thinks this would be boring to make two of them though, so she decides that whoever wins today's event will earn it. They agree and prepare to return to the stage, but Lisa feels troubled- something Lucy catches and takes her aside to speak for a moment. Lisa expresses how she and Nono have always been together, and now it feels like they're being forced to separate from one-another. She only became an idol to continue singing with Nono, something she loves. She's proud of their growth but she feels lonley. Lucy seems to understand, and tells her that at some points they may need to be rivals, but walking down separate paths doesn't need to be so lonely. She gives Lisa some advice and suggests that the next time she's concerned, she just dives in headfirst.

Lisa feels better and she returns to the stage with Nono, where the girls must sort potato within the time limit and whoever has the most wins. Lisa and Nono recall how they used to do this all the time, with Nono recalling how competitive they could get sometimes. Lisa says that this was why they had so much fun, and with both girls encouraged to enjoy themselves, they get started. When the time runs out, both of them voice how much fun it was to work together, with Nono confessing that she's felt a bit lonely lately with them doing solo work. Realizing that she feels the same way, Lisa explains how she felt and brings up what Lucy told her.

With that it is announced that both girls have won the event. They tied so a single winner cannot be decided, and Lucy decides that she will make them both a dress. She reveals the Silky Love Devil Coord to them a while later, with both girls fawning over how pretty it is. They head to the stage to debut it and change, performing "lucky train!".

The girls reunite and Lisa realizes that she must focus on diving headfirst towards her own path. Even if they seperate, she and Nono will always be friends, so she won't need to worry anymore.

Characters

 * Nono Daichi
 * Lisa Shirakaba
 * Akari Ōzora
 * Sumire Hikami
 * Hinaki Shinjō
 * Juri Kurebayashi
 * Madoka Amahane
 * Rin Kurosawa
 * Lucy Kisaragi
 * Johnny Bepp
 * Naoto Suzukawa

Trivia

 * The Silky Love Devil Coord makes its debut in this episode.