Episode 104 - Aikatsu Dash!

Aikatsu Dash! (アイカツダッシュ！) is the 104th episode of Aikatsu! TV anime series and the 3rd episode of its "3rd Season". The episode aired on October 16, 2014.

The scenario was written by Natsuko Takahashi with storyboard and direction by Kei Umahiki. The animation directors were Kana Nishijima and Tomoko Ishida, while Satomi Watanabe was the chief animation director

Story
''Akari decides to use the upcoming Pon-Pon Crepe Image Girl audition to try to get to know the interesting veteran idol she met. Hinaki herself is interested in Akari, but even with their budding friendship she achnowledges they will be facing off.''

Summary
One day Akari goes out for a job when she happens to come across Ichigo, Aoi, and Ran. They exchange greetings and explain to Akari that they are heading out to work for a television show, where they will put on a performance as Soleil. This excites Akari, and encourages her to keep working her hardest too, but she accidentally runs into another girl while rushing around the corner. She is quick to apologize, but the girl was more interested in hearing Akari shout "Aikatsu Dash" and asks what inspired her to say it. She likes it and wants to say it too, and she prepares to leave for the photo-shoot she was heading to, but not before introducing herself as Hinaki. Akari sees her off while trying to determine why Hinaki's name is familiar, only to recall that she's a television actress, then she wonders how she knew her name.

In class, Johnny announces that it is time for a brand new Pon-Pon Crepe Image Girl audition. Akari recalls that Kii won it the prior year, and because she is a fan of them -and Yu pointing out that it's known as a gateway to success for new idols- she decides to enter. As Akari heads to the cafeteria its alive with chatter involving the campaign and she overhears a group of girls discuss their plans, with one girl claiming that while she wants to enter, she dislikes the competitive part.

Akari locates Sumire and asks if she will be joining, only to learn that she has another audition going on that day, and just then Akari and Hinaki spot one-another across the room. After Akari formally greets her Hinaki begins to teasingly scold her for this, then comments that she is "funny", asking to join them. They agree and and inform Akari that she and Sumire already know each other because they have the same classes, and Sumire explains knowing Akari because they share a dorm. Hinaki goes on to explain having known about Akari since her Ichigo Obsession, back when she introduced herself as Ichigo during her second time auditioning to attend Starlight School. This flusters Akari but Hinaki assures her it was a compliment towards Ichigo, nothing to be ashamed of. She then claims that she has been interested in Akari since then, then calls her cute and adorable as she responds to her remarks.

Suddenly, Hinaki realizes how late it is and she prepares to leave when she spots the audition for Pon Pon Crepe and asks if they will be entering. Akari plans on doing so, so Hinaki decides she will also. After she leaves, Akari and Sumire resume discussing the audition and Akari worries she won't do well. Sumire is confident in her, adding that Hinaki has been in the industry for a long time, so for her to be interested in Akari she could have possibly picked up on something. They begin to discuss Hinaki's past as an actress and they use Sumire's IdolLook to learn more. They see that besides her being a regular on a variety show alongside Otome, and she has also hosted programs and does reports, they also discover her love of Vivid Kiss, and Akari remarks on how perfect Hinaki would be as Pon Pon Crepe Girl. However, Sumire still thinks that Akari would be good too and she remains encouraged to go for it.

Later, Akari decides to visit the Pon Pon Crepe shop in order to get a good idea on the taste, ordering a strawberry milk crepe. As she begins eating she runs into Hinaki again, who explains that she just had an autograph session nearby and decided to grab one as well, while she was in the area, She joins Akari and goes on to comment her awe-inspiring behavior, deciding that in order to get pumped for the audition they should cheer each other on. Akari agrees and they decide to work together in order to hone their Yumminess skills, as it is necessary for a Pon Pon Crepe Girl. Akari is impressed by Hinaki's professionalism.

That night, Akari practices describing foods and feelings to convey with them by using the meal she and Sumire are eating. She explains what it is to her, but she is unable to find the right words, so she calls over Hinaki and describes her predicament, but Hinaki ends up laughing. She offers some advice and demonstrates how she would do it, earning compliments from both girls, and while she is happy to hear this, she feels something is missing. Before going she wishes that they both do well.

In bed sometime later, Akari struggles going to sleep as she thinks about Hinaki and what might be missing.

The next day, the three girls meet up and try to practice with donuts. Hinaki appoints Sumire as the judge and she begins eating, complimenting the wonderful taste of the chocolate and saying that it avoided being too sweet, so she wants to keep eating it. Akari loved how she did, which makes Hinaki happy again. But when Akari notices her expression she brings up what she said the other day and asks why she is seems doubtful of herself.

Hinaki confesses that every time she says something she feels as though she's heard it a million times before, she can't provide anything new or fresh. She's done many food reports as of late and she isn't very proud of them, even if they come out perfect. Back when she began growing consumed by such thoughts, this is when she saw Akari and the Ichigo Incident occurred, and she was amazed by her brightness. It encouraged her because there is no greater expression of love then to introduce yourself as the subject without even thinking- even though Akari claims it was only an accident, Hinaki claims that by being on edge, she could give gripping reports. She thanks Akari for her help in the past and eagerly tells her that they both need to do their best.

At the sun begins to set, the girls head out to the track field to do some running and they clasp hands, yelling out "Aikatsu Dash". They break out into full speed and run with all their might as Johnny and Orihime observe.

Later, Sumire mentions how the audition will be coming the following day. Akari thinks Hinaki for helping her prepare for the audition, claiming that she would have had no idea what to do had she not met her. Hinaki tells her not to sell herself short though, since she helped her with her own problem, she then recalls how she has yet to pick a coord out and begins looking through her Vivid Kiss binder, explaining that in order to decide on which oen to use, she tries imagining herself having fun while wearing it. Or if she feels down she will choose the one that uplifts her mood; but she also likes to mix things up one in a while to create a fresh, new coord. With how much fun she has she usually loses herself to the excitement and can't settle on one thing.

She spots a coord item she was looking for and hands it to Akari, revealing that is the Emblem Hair Accessory. She is sure it would look great on Akari and asks her to wear it the following day, with Sumire and Akari agreeing on how cute and fun it looks, and Akari agrees to use it as Hinaki explains how much she likes to spread fun with coords, and to think up those for others to wear also.

The following day, the 16th annual Shining Pon Pon Crepe Campaign Girl audition is to begin. Girls from all over have come to compete in it, and Akari and Hinaki go backstage to wait their turn. Akari seems to be a little anxious, but Hinaki knows she will do fine because they both practiced very hard. They need to use the tension though, and before they head inside, they clasp hands and use "Aikatsu Dash" to rush inside, where they change and reappear on stage to perform "Let's Aikatsu".

After the performance, Orihime and Johnny discuss the performance. They mention how wonderful the hair accessory was for Akari, and Johnny reveals that Akari talked to him about it backstage earlier. She had showed him the accessory card and was very excited. In the audience, Ichigo and Aoi talk about Akari's performance while Ran mentions she seems to have broken out of her shell.

Later, it is announced that the winner was Akari. She is very surprised by this and Hinaki congratulates her. As Ichigo, Aoi, and Ran watch them, Aoi brings up that Hinaki is one of the top first-years right now, and Ran expresses high hopes for the both of them.

The trio leave and Hinaki and Akari exchange pleasantries, with Hinaki suggesting that she and Akari work hand-in-hand rom this point on and Sumire pointing out they will become even busier now. Hinaki suggests that they Aikatsu Dash every day and they share a laugh.

Characters

 * Akari Ōzora
 * Hinaki Shinjō
 * Sumire Hikami
 * Ichigo Hoshimiya
 * Aoi Kiriya
 * Ran Shibuki
 * Kī Saegusa  (poster cameo, mentioned, flashback)
 * Seira Otoshiro (flashback)
 * Otome Arisugawa  (mentioned)
 * Yū Hattori
 * Orihime Mitsuishi
 * Johnny Bepp
 * Haru Yotsuba

Trivia

 * Along with Ran's first appearance in Season 3 outside of the opening, this marks the first time all six main characters are present in an episode.
 * Misako Tomioka and Minami Takahashi, the voice actresses of Maria Himesato and Sora Kazesawa respectively, voiced two girls with minor appearances in the episode.

Major Events

 * This episode marks the official debut of Hinaki Shinjō.
 * Akari becomes the sixteenth generation Pon-Pon Crepe Image Girl.
 * The Yellow Parade Coord makes its debut in this episode.

Animation Trivia

 * This is the first time accessories have been used with school dresses in the anime.