Episode 81 - Bibibi☆Partner

Bibibi☆Partner (ビビビッ☆パートナー) is the 81th episode of Aikatsu! TV anime series and the 31st episode of its "2nd Season". The episode aired on May 8, 2014.

Synopsis
''With the Partner Cup approaching, Ichigo, Aoi, and Ran head to Dream Academy to practise with their partners. Wanting to learn more about WM, Ichigo and Seira decide to pay Mizuki and Mikuru a visit. ''

Summary
The halls are buzzing with news about the upcoming Partner's Cup. There is only a week until they take place and everyone is pretty excited to see what WM is going to do for their performance.

Meanwhile, over at Dream Academy, Seira, Ki, and Sora are also discussing the upcoming Partner's Event. They're all very excited to be working with their partners they chose from Starlight Academy, which reminds Ki to text Aoi and ask her when they can begin practicing.

At Starlight, all of the girls are inside the meeting hall as Orihime gives them some final announcements. She tells them to remember that whether or not their partner is perfect for them is entirely up to the girls themselves.

Later on everyone is preparing to pack for their lessons. Aoi reminds Ichigo to pack a spare set of training clothes, and when Ichigo mentions that she forgot, Aoi shows that she already has some spares made up. Ran is impressed, and Aoi explains that it is because she has known Ichigo for so long.

In one of the hallway, Tiara shows up to speak with Orihime. She has come to bring up WM with her, asking for an opinion. She mentions that they managed to pull off a mind-blowing performance for the first time together. She then also brings up the partner situation and asks about Hime's old partner. Orihime mentions that although she doesn't see her too often anymore, she knows she is living her life the way she wanted it to be.

In another room, Sakura and Satsuki also discuss their own partner situation. Sakura has thought up the perfect plans for the two of them, and Satsuki is very excited and thinks that since they are always together, there is no chance any of this will go to waste.

Meanwhile, in the lunch room, Kaede has prepared a special meal for Yurika. A special dripping with blood bowl of tuna. She appreciates the gesture, and Kaede points out how fresh it is, but Yurika is forced to correct her by saying that she only drinks fresh human blood. But she does accept it anyway and offers Kaede her "blood" drink, revealing it to be from a blood orange, which makes them both begin to laugh.

Ichigo, Aoi, and Ran go to the meeting area in Dream Academy and await the arrival of Seira, Kii, and Sora. So while waiting they go to look at a shop nearby, where they find a lot of idol related merchandise for the fans. As they comment on the things surrounding them, the other trio show up, where they revealed that they have gotten lunch for everyone all ready. They then all split up to begin their lessons.

Seira and Ichigo head to the dance room, when Seira ask her what she thinks their most powerful weapon would be. Ichigo doesn't understand though, until Seira explains that because of how could WM is, they need to pull out everything they got. After a few minutes, Ichigo claims their weapon would be Spirit, which Seira quickly agrees with.

In her lab meanwhile, Kii is showing everything to Aoi. She mentions the records she has kept on every single student of both schools before mentioning that with her knowledge and all of Aoi's resource materials, they will be able to win with no problem.

In the makeup room, Sora is playing with Ran's hair. As Ran mentions how much fun Sora seems to be having, Sora expresses that she always wanted to have a chance to brush Ran's hair at least once. The two continue to discuss how they are both having fun, and how much they want to make this a great memory.

Otome meanwhile, has led Maria to the famous fountain she tends to fall into so many times. By lucky chance, the rainbow she mentions always seeing appears before them and they comment on how they feel about it.

In the training room, Sakura and Satsuki mentions how their plans should be to try to follow their senpai's example. Sakura asks what they plan on showing them and Satsuki claims that it will be colliding their souls, the souls of Kabuki and Punk.

In the hallway, Yurika suddenly makes a random love confession to Kaede, which leaves her shocked until Yurika explains that she meant that she loves Kaede's magic. With that Kaede tells her that together they will make vampire magic on the stage, which excites Yurika.

At Cafe Vivo, Noel and Raichi are also in the middle of discussion. Raichi mentions that his attention will mainly focus on WM, but also on Aoi and Kii's pairing. Noel however, is excited to watch her sister and Ichigo. It's then Raichi compares their own friendship to a pairing, which Noel is quick to agree with. So they send a text to Aoi and Kii to wish them luck. However, when he gets a response, he gets upset upon seeing that Aoi has an idea that him and Noel may like each other.

After practice, Seira and Ichigo comment on how well they were working just then. Seira then admits that she doesn't know Mizuki very well and wonders what she and Mikuru discuss while they work together. Which makes Ichigo comment that she has still been wondering why Mizuki chose Mikuru the way she did anyway, and since they both want to know they decide to pay WM a visit and ask.

Upon arrival, the girls explain that they came to find out how Mizuki and Mikuru first met. Mikuru comes from the room and mentions that she was about to make tea, so Mizuki brings them up to the kitchen area. Ichigo compares it to the home of a newlywed couple, which makes them laugh and question which one of them would be the wife. However, neither Seira or Ichigo can figure it out, which makes them laugh again.

Then, Ichigo asks Mizuki if the reason she chose Mikuru as a partner has anything to do with how she felt when they first met. Mizuki confirms that it was like that, and that the two of them just clicked upon meeting. Ichigo and Seira wish to hear of it, so Mizuki begins to tell them.

It began back when she was still in Starlight Academy and she had been trying to decide on what coord to use for a performance. Mikuru came by to deliver some flowers and happened to spot what she was doing. She commented on how nice the cards were, before Mizuki mentioned that they have only shown the sides of her that everyone has seen before. She wants a change but can't find it, so Mikuru offers to assist her. She compares each card to a flower and says that it makes a "lovely" image before going on to say that it would go good with the burning passion of another flower. But before she can finish, they are interupted by Honoka, who thinks she may be bothering Mizuki. Mizuki tells her to leave her alone and Mikuru is able to finish, picking a good coord for her.

While the girls compliment Mikuru for what happened, Seira mentions that she is impressed by the fact Mizuki trusted a total stranger the way she did. Mizuki tells her that it's because Mikuru gave her the push she needed that day.

The memory continues as Mizuki shows Mikuru the stage from a side door. She mentions how she still gets nervous and Mikuru is able to calm her by mentioning that at times like this she tries to focus solely on whoever she is making a flower order for. This makes Mizuki realize that she lost sight of something until then, and thanks to Mikuru she was able to change herself, and also show the fans that she was taking her words to heart.

As Mizuki mentions how Mikuru helped her show a new light of herself, Mikuru then mentions that she tends to do the same thing with customers at the flower shop. She talks with them one at a time, and she was very impressed by how Mizuki was able to do the same thing but with many people, which she is inspired to do. This inspires Ichigo and Seira to want to do the same for each other and Mizuki tells them that they should all try to do their best now.

Later in the evening, Ichigo and Seira head back home. Both of them are worried and don't feel all that confident by now, but at the same time they believe that they are both thinking the same thing too, and because of that they will say it together right before they head on stage.

Eventually the Partner Cup arrives. The announcer tells everyone to get excited and ready, and while this goes on, Raichi and Noel would really like to interview the girls. However, seeing how they look now, they think it's best to leave them alone. Although Noel is pretty annoyed when she notices that Raichi only wants to clear things up with Aoi.

The announcer then reveals that leading the events will be WM. So Mikuru and Mizuki quickly run backstage to change into their chosen coords and appear on stage, where they perform to "Smiling Suncatcher".

Afterwards, the announcer reveals their point total to have just been one under the maximum amount a unit could get. Seira and Ichigo mention how well they performed and question whether or not they can really outshine them now. However, they remain confident that they will also shine on stage and make a promise on it.

Characters

 * Ichigo Hoshimiya
 * Aoi Kiriya
 * Ran Shibuki
 * Mizuki Kanzaki
 * Mikuru Natsuki
 * Seira Otoshiro
 * Kī Saegusa
 * Sora Kazesawa


 * Sakura Kitaōji
 * Satsuki Miwa
 * Kaede Ichinose
 * Yurika Tōdō


 * Raichi Hoshimiya
 * Noeru Otoshiro
 * Maria Himesato
 * Otome Arisugawa


 * Johnny Bepp
 * Orihime Mitsuishi
 * Tiara Yumesaki
 * Honoka Tsukikage (flashback)


 * Michelle Tachibana
 * Asami Himuro

Trivia

 * The bibibi (ビビビッ) in the title means "to click with someone." That being present, the title basically translates into "Clicking☆Partners." This serves as an allusion to the entire idea of the Partners Cup.

Major Events

 * Sakura is partnered with Miwa Satsuki.
 * The Partner's Cup officially begins in this episode.