Episode 27 - Raise The Curtain☆Fresh Girls Cup

Raise The Curtain☆Fresh Girls Cup (開幕☆フレッシュガールズカップ) is the 27th episode of Aikatsu! TV anime series and the 27th episode of its "1st Season". The episode aired on April 18, 2013.

Synopsis
''With the Fresh Girls Cup announced, everyone at Starlight Academy covets a chance to stand aside Mizuki on stage. But after some unexpected rules are thrown in- everyone grows tense and begins to lose sight of their true goal. ''

Summary
Aoi excitedly tells Ichigo about the "Fresh Girls Cup", and she brings up this event to her confused friend. They then join their fellow Starlight Academy students, where Orihime informs everyone of the news as well. She explains how this is a special event allowing the students to compete against the currently Starlight Queen and winner two straight years in a row: Mizuki, who goes on to give a speech to entice everyone to consider entering.

Once the assembly ends, the trio chat about getting a chance to go against Mizuki. However, they are well aware that it will be hard, with Ran informing her friends of how difficult it is. As they return to class, she explains going up against Mizuki the prior year and losing, and how she managed to keep returning to stage despite the many challengers. Aoi even recalls that Mizuki was able to perform over a hundred appeals during this event, shock Ichigo as she reveals having caught the event online. They also recall how the year prior to that, Mizuki was only a first year student and she managed to upstage the Starlight Queen from then. Encouraged, Ichigo thinks back to the last time she performed with Mizuki and makes a promise not to lose to her again.

After school ends the girls change and everything begins to get to training. But to their surprise they find Sakura already in the middle of training, getting distracted as the other students run by them. The girls greet Sakura when she goes on break, and after Ran compliments her thinking ahead to get a coach, Sakura explains how she was personally requested to join her; going on to reveal that she is a fan of Sakon, before Sakura brings up her desire of performing with Mizuki. With that she resumes training, and the trio head off to find somewhere else to train.

As this goes on they are interrupted by their phones and find a message from Johnny in it. They watch a video of him spinning around, going on to reveal that a brand new rule will be added to this years competition: each girl will be expected to perform three appeals when he gives the command. However, he will not be revealing the timing they need to follow, choosing to make it spontaneous. Ichigo remains optimistic, although the girls are concerned by the higher bar set that year.

Heading into the cafeteria, Ichigo is excited to eat until being reminded that they came there to train before spotting Yurika. They are concerned as she explains being unable to eat her beloved garlic ramen for the sake of the competition; and how she has switched to only drinking healthy green juice. Ichigo doesn't understand but Aoi and Ran see her determination as she storms off, deciding it's too distracting there. As they try to think of a place to train, Ichigo brings up Angely Mountain to them. The girls realize she has a point, and how they will be able to concentrate better there, and Johnny agrees to drive them up.

Upon arrival they thank him and he takes off after wishing them luck. With that the girls go on a jog- only to hear noise as Otome suddenly comes tumbling through the woods and lands on her butt. Ran helps her up and she explains that she ran all the way from Starlight Academy- causing Ichigo to express shock as she explains slipping on the path she was running nearby. While inspired by her dedication, Ran suggests she tries to be more careful since her efforts will go to waste if she gets hurt. She claims to be fine, and brings up how she was only able to perform a single appeal last time, so she wants to show Mizuki how much she has grown.

Further encouraged, the girls give training their all in the time they have. Ichigo and her friends dance, while Otome practices her gymnastic techniques, Yurika hangs from a bar, and Sakura continues using the trampoline. As Mizuki watches, she begins to fear that the girls may be getting distracted with their thoughts to overtake her.

Eventually Ichigo, Aoi, and Ran decide to end dance practice. They are worn out by now and feeling troubled, as they still have a lot to learn and they need to perfect their appeals.

As evening rolls by, Ichigo stretches as she watches Aoi observing Mizuki performances and Ran poses before a mirror. She feels they are missing something- but she is unable to linger on it when Raichi suddenly contacts her. He explains how he called to see how she is doing with the Fresh Girls cup approaching, and he asks if she okay, explaining how she doesn't look happy. Ichigo sees he has a point and she thanks him, quickly hanging up and leaving him in confusion. With that, Ichigo states they should have fun and explains how they were training so hard they became tense and too serious. They forgot all about their fans who are coming to see them and have fun. She suddenly tackles her friends and starts to tickle them, and Aoi and Ran are able to see that she has a point before she resumes.

Finally the day of the big performance has arrived. The girls are feeling much better, but suddenly they hear a big splash and find Otome in the fountain again. They are also joined by Sakura and Yurika, who all feel at ease being together as they head into the building. As everyone lines up, Johnny explains that he will give a signal, telling them to do an appeal, and if they fail to do it immediately they lose. Ichigo and the others are surprised that they all managed to get paired together as Mizuki steps onto the stage to welcome everyone and begin her performance. Orihime remarks how so far nobody has managed to make it to the end of the song, and Johnny brings up how two more groups remain yet.

Backstage, the six share few words before they head off to change. They reappear on stage and begin to perform, with Johnny calling the first appeal and everyone is able to do it on command. He waits before calling the second and again everyone manages to nail it, but during the third appeal Sakura, Otome, and Yurika fail to keep up and are kicked out of the performance, leaving Ichigo, Aoi, Ran, and Mizuki.

After the performance, Orihime compliments the girls for passing. She brings up how they will enter the semifinal round next week, with the trio delighted by the news.

Meanwhile, Yurika, Otome, and Sakura are disappointed by their own failures. Sakura admits that she didn't see the signal because it appeared in a different location, while Yurika and Otome bring up having seen it, but a second too late to respond in time.

Encouraged to keep going, Ichigo goes out for a jog. She is surprised to find Mizuki watching her, and Mizuki congratulates her for making it this far. They exchange words and Mizuki takes off.

Character Appearances

 * Ichigo Hoshimiya
 * Aoi Kiriya
 * Ran Shibuki
 * Otome Arisugawa
 * Yurika Todo
 * Sakura Kitaoji
 * Mizuki Kanzaki
 * Orihime Mitsuishi
 * Johnny Bepp
 * Raichi Hoshimiya

Trivia

 * This episode will highlight Datacardass Aikatsu!'s on-going Fresh Girls Cup game.
 * This is the first episode to have 7 of the main idols performing.
 * The song Shining Sky on The G String appears for the first time
 * This is the first episode to take the new timeslots for Aikatsu! in Indonesia which will air in 5:30 AM (10:30 PM in GMT) instead of 6:30 AM (11:30 PM in GMT).
 * Mizuki is shown wearing a unique colored version of the Prism Cyber Coord during a flashback of her prior years performances.