Episode 30 - A Sincere Call and Response

A Sincere Call and Response (真心のコール＆レスポンス) is the 30th episode of Aikatsu! TV anime series and the 30th episode of its "1st Season". The episode aired on May 9, 2013.

Synopsis
''A special audition is being held where idols must form teams to earn the Mastery of Communication. Ichigo and the others invite Sakura to join their team but her lack of confidence gets the better of her after she realizes she is the only one without a Premium Rare outfit. ''

Summary
In class, Johnny announces a big Audition coming up and mentions that whoever passes it will receive the Mastery of Communication based on the "call and response", an important tool for an Idol. The audition will be done in teams, and once class ends Ran and Aoi begin to explain what a response is by comparing it to text messages. Ran also points out that Ichigo naturally did it when Johnny called out to them, and in a performance this is the term to describe an Idol speaking to their audience. It's then Otome and Yurika approach and they decide to form a group.

They head outside to train by running laps, but stop after a while to discuss the song they should perform. Sakura approaches the girls to wish them good luck before revealing that she wont be entering since she isn't sure she's ready yet. Otome mentions that first years are allowed, and Ichigo invites Sakura to join them- although she turns it down since she doesn't think it would be right being a first year who doesn't have any Premium Cards.

To help her, Ichigo explains how one can obtain their premium outfit, but Sakura fears she would only be a burden to their training. Nobody minds however, and they believe that because she is already really talented it would be fine for her to join, even after Ran explains they might be able to learn something from her as well. In hopes of helping their friend, they begin to chat about brands with the use of their phones, and one by one they each bring up their favored brand. As Sakura attempts to tell them about her favored brand, Aoi suddenly spots a magazine with the Kitaoji family in it. She goes over the interview that Sakura was in to see that she likes ''Aurora Fantasy. Sakura goes on to reveal that she does have few cards from the brand as Aoi describes it, and Sakura goes on to show them a picture book wrote by the top designers, Green Grass''. It was written when she was little, but it's her favorite book.

However there is also a complication; Aurora Fantasy is very mysterious because nobody really knows anything about it. Ichigo believes they will be able to find something, despite Sakura's concern that she may not fit the brands style and how she is sure she wouldn't even be allowed a Premium- but even then she refuses to wear anything else. Ichigo tries to get her to reconsider but she refuses, wishing them luck before the subject is dropped and she heads off. The girls are left feeling distraught, with Yurika pointing out that they wouldn't be able to find anything without asking Sakura directly, and Aoi worrying that she said something to upset her.

Suddenly, Otome announces her plans to go and pay Makoto a visit. The girls are confused but they say nothing, deciding to do a little more digging in hopes of figuring out how to make Sakura feel better.

At the dorms Ichigo feels depressed for Sakura, being held back by a lack of confidence, and Ran suggests that maybe if they all mutually agree not to use Premium coords it might help her feel better. But for now she brings up how they need to focus on making a schedule, sending it to everyone after they get something set up. They also request Yurika for dividing the lyrics and preparing stage choreography, deciding that it will be easy for them to practice in their spare time and separately since they know the song so well. With these details settled, Aoi decides to do some more research on Green Grass and Ichigo tries speaking to Sakura again.

Meanwhile, Orihime and Johnny also happen to be discussing Sakura. He asks if he should call Aurora Fantasy's top designer, but Orihime tells him to let the students do it instead.

In her room Sakura reads over a message someone sent her, then Sakon calls her. She hesitates to tell him what happened after she makes a remark that he isn't happy with, and she explains how everyone has been worried about her, and this caused her to feel as though she is being rude to them. Sakon suggests that she should just be honest with her feelings and tell them, because they don't know her like she does, and with that he hangs up to let her think it over.

Ichigo and Aoi continue to do more research but are unable to find anything, with Aoi pointing out that Green Grass may not like attention from the media, or that they may be antisocial. Ichigo feels saddened about this and they recall how Sakura seemed to want to talk to them, but she was unable to say anything.

The following day, Ichigo meets with Sakura and she is quick to apologize for how she behaved. Ichigo holds up the picture book and comments on how wonderful it is before she asks why Sakura feels as though Aurora Fantasy wouldn't fit her. Sakura attempts not to say anything, but when she recalls what Sakon told her, she breaks into Kitaouji theater in order to give herself the courage to speak. She explains how when she was little and Sakon began to train, she was always lonely and took comfort in the books by Green Grass. In a way the picture books had become her home, and although she became an idol and escaped from such a life, in the end she remains a kabuki actor. She often sent Green Grass letters growing up but they never responded to them, so she was led to believe they didn't have any interest in her.

Ichigo makes an attempt to argue against this by telling Sakura how much effort she and Aoi put into trying to find something about Green Grass, and this is why Sakura can't give up now. As she thinks about this, Aoi suddenly runs by to inform them that she has managed to get a location after all- surprising her friends as she reveals an interview with Makoto from Happy Rainbow. As it turns out he is close friends with Green Grass and sometimes hangs out with them to chat about fashion while having sweets.

This news makes the girls wonder if this was why Otome left so suddenly the day before and they give her a call. She bluntly informs Sakura that she refuses to lose, yelling while saying that while Sakura may really love Aurora Fantasy, her passion encouraged her to seek out Makoto and tell him how much she loves Happy Rainbow. She demanded a brand new Premium Dress in hopes of spreading her love to everyone and he accepted, bringing how he's been watching her and that he had one made already. Now it is Sakura's turn to go and get herself one, with Sakura asking Otome to ask Makoto about meeting with Green Grass.

A bit later, the girls head out towards the given location. Sakura reveals that she hung onto some valuable information for later on, deciding to go inside on her own because of them being informed on how shy Green Grass is. While the girls worry for her, she assures them that she will be fine, and that she must keep what she sees a secret.

She finds herself in a giant, flowery building built like a maze, and while wandering around she spots two twin adult women approach her. She recognizes them as Green Grass and follows them as they explain to her why they have not responded back to her letters; while they have great drawing skills they are not the best hand-writers, which is why they have been awaiting her arrival in order to give her a special present: the special Aurora Fantasy dress they made. Sakura takes the cards as she realizes that they have always been supporting her, but she was unable to realize this, expressing delight as they embrace her as thanks. She thanks them again and heads outside, where she shows the cards to the others and they happily head back to school.

There, they change into their chosen coords and appear on stage to perform "Growing for a Dream". During musical breaks they speak to the audience, exciting them further and earning their Master of Communications.

After the performance, Mizuki leaves while commenting on how Ichigo has been raising another rival. Orihime and Johnny congratulate the girls on their performance and receiving their next Mastery before Ichigo reads over the description for it.

Character Appearances

 * Ichigo Hoshimiya
 * Aoi Kiriya
 * Ran Shibuki
 * Otome Arisugawa
 * Yurika Tōdō
 * Sakura Kitaōji
 * Johnny Bepp
 * Orihime Mitsuishi
 * Makoto Nijigahara
 * Green Grass
 * Mizuki Kanzaki

Trivia

 * This is Aurora Fantasy's debut.
 * This is also Green Grass's debut.
 * This episode marks the debut of the Blooming Coord as well as the Marble Candy Coord.
 * Ichigo, Aoi, Ran, Otome, Yurika, and Sakura get the Knowledge of Communication.