Episode 172 - Spring DreAca Carnival!

Spring DreAca Carnival! (春のドリアカーニバル！) is the 172nd episode of Aikatsu! TV anime series and the 20th episode of its "4th Season". The episode aired on February 18, 2016.

Story
''The festival that Dream Academy will be holding, the "DreAca Festival" begins! Guided by Seira, Akari, Sumire and Hinaki are enjoying their time going to game and food stalls, as well as experience DreAca's training. Amongst the events, there will be an idol introduced...!''

Summary
Akari, Hinaki, and Sumire sit down to watch a program hosted by the Dream Academy girls to discuss the upcoming DreaCarnival. They take turns going over various details to entice visitors to come join them, with Seira finishing it off by saying they will hold performances for them. After the program ends, the trio comment on how it would pay to observe them in action and decide to attend.

At the event the girls quickly take notice of the various attractions that have been set up for visitors, and hearing sound in the distance they locate Seira playing her guitar for an audience. She thanks them before spotting the trio and invites them inside for some tea. While chatting she is formally introduced to Hinaki, who she has not met yet, and she asks if they would like to see the others. Starting with Ki, they find her in the training room to show everyone how much fun it is and the various equipment. Sumire and Hinaki make compliments and Ki offers letting them try the training gear, and the girls get changed after agreeing. They start with a giant rolling machine and manage to do well, although they struggle to keep up with Seira.

Eventually they move on to a display room to find several items and outfit, most of which were made by Sora. They also watch girls dance for a bit, do tests, watch Palm, and watch a girl as she gives a presentation. Sora joins them and begins to play with Sumire's hair as she recalls the drama Ran and Sora performed in together. As Sumire observes the outfits from it, Sora brings up being a fan of Sumire's and that she watches her performances.

With that they move onto the last stop, Maria, who gives some sweets to the girls made from milk she gathered that morning. She brings them to see Elizabeth the III, along with her baby, Elizabeth IV. While the girls have fun, seeing how long the lines are becoming causes Maria to express remorse over keeping them waiting. It's then Hinaki gets an idea, and she suggests that while everyone waits they can visit Elizabeth III. Maria agrees and she shows them how milking works, offering fresh milk to those waiting in line.

Seira and the others head on to find Raichi speaking with Tiara. Raichi is surprised to see the girls there, but happily remarks on it before mentioning how Ichigo has been doing. They spot the Press band on Raichi's arm and he reveals he came as an official for the Aikatsu Times, his online version of the Aikatsu Newspaper, to see a guaranteed star that will soon be debuting. The girls are confused, but Tiara claims it is only a rumor and offers to let the girls visit her as she was going to be heading there now. Curious, the girls eagerly agree and they are taken down a long corridor, trying to figure out who this mysterious idol is. It's then they notice Noel isn't there, and to their surprise they find her wearing a Dream Academy uniform.

She sits with them and reveals that she enrolled last September, and this makes the girls realize the star Raichi referred to was Noel. She doesn't agree with this though, because even basic training tires her out. She won't be debuting for a while either. Raichi gives her an interview and asks why she decided to become an Idol, and Noel explains that it was the feeling she got watching Ichigo perform on stage. Along with that was seeing Seira shining up on stage with Ichigo as 2Wings, and Akari and her friends were very encouraging with her idol career. Raichi recalls what he's been doing to help her when Noel recalls telling Seira her decision. Just then, Ki, Sora, and Maria show up to collect Seira for their performance. She takes off after reminding the girls to come. Akari goes on to ask Noel of her desires in relation to Seira, and she confesses that she hopes to catch up with her some day.

Eventually the performance approaches, and each girl takes a turn with a solo performance. Then they put on a final performance as a group. Afterwards, Raichi and Noel begin to chat when Akari brings up that the next time they meet it will hopefully be on stage. Noel promises she'll work hard and they take off.

As the sun sets the trio chat about how much fun they had. They bring up how the bar has been raised even further, and their desire to work even harder as the Starlight Queen Cup arrives.

Characters

 * Akari Ōzora
 * Sumire Hikami
 * Hinaki Shinjō
 * Seira Otoshiro
 * Kī Saegusa
 * Sora Kazesawa
 * Maria Himesato
 * Noel Otoshiro
 * Raichi Hoshimiya
 * Tiara Yumesaki
 * Ichigo Hoshimiya (cameo)
 * Aoi Kiriya (cameo)

Trivia

 * This episode shows that Noel auditioned and transferred to Dream Academy.
 * This episode is the second to reveal Constellation Appeals outside of season 2.
 * This episode marks the Season 4 debut appearances of the Dream Academy girls (and possibly their final appearance in the series).