Episode 120 - Star☆Valentine

Star☆Valentine (スター☆バレンタイン) is the 120th episode of Aikatsu! TV anime series and the 19th episode of its "3rd Season". The episode aired on February 12, 2015.

Story
As everyone is expressing gratitude and exchanging chocolate while preparing for the "Thanks, My Valentine" event, the girls learn there's more to Yotsuba than they realized.

Summary
While the girls find out they received lots of chocolate from their fans, Johnny is bringing chocolate for Soleil to the Academy with three trucks. Akari asks what are they going to do with all that chocolate, and Hinaki explains that the headmistress is starting up a new event, "Thanks, My Valentine!". A party for idols to gather up all the chocolate and show their gratitude for the fans. Yotsuba joins them and explains that he has been chosen as the head patissier for the event, and he needs to find a way to use all the chocolate. So he has decided to form a chocolate tower as a symbol for their feelings, and hearing this the girls offer to lend a hand.

Later the girls go out for a run when some girls stop them to ask if they come from Starlight School. After they confirm their curiosity, the girls explain how they want to bring chocolate to Yotsuba, and Hinaki asks if they are friends of his. The girls claim they have been his fans since his debut, and they show them his CD and autograph- much to the girls surprise to discover he was an idol. The trio ask Akari and her friends if they could deliver their chocolate to him.

The girls return to Yotsuba with the chocolate and inform him of what they heard, with Hinaki mentioning how sad the girls looked after they told the trio about his retiring shortly after debut. Yotsuba reveals they were truthful, and explains that while he was sad to have let down his fans, his dream of becoming a chef was important and he isn't left with any regrets.

Back in her dorm room, Akari seems saddened and explains to Sumire that she thinks Yotsuba is incredible, and he works very hard to make his dream come true. The following day she pays him a visit to ask if he's come up with any ideas for the chocolate tower, and she leaves upon confirming he did.

That night she goes out for a run wondering if she could show his fans how well he was doing when she runs into Ichigo. They sit together at the fountain and Ichigo asks how Akari has been doing as the Pon-Pon Crepe Campaign Girl. Akari responds by saying that because it is almost Valentine's Day their chocolate crepe event is gaining steam, and they begin to chat, with Ichigo revealing that she, Otome, and Sakura will be MCs for the event coming up and they had a meeting with Yotsuba earlier. She feels fuzzy and warm now that she's heard of his plans, and Akari reveals what she found out about him to her.

It's the day of the "Thanks, My Valentine!" event, and some Starlight School girls are looking at the heart-shaped chocolate tower while Ichigo, Sakura, and Otome are presenting the event. Yotsuba is cooking pancakes for the everyone and Hinaki is admiring the tower when Kayoko arrives to hand over the brand new Premium coord -the Bubbles Mermaid Coord- as promised. Juri asks her friends if the fans are watching Yotsuba on TV and they express excitement when Ichigo introduces their super chef who built the chocolate tower. She asks him if he used to be an idol and he confirms that he was, surprising the students who didn't know. She asks him how he likes his new life as a chef, and Yotsuba assures them that he couldn't be happier. He's surrounded by people that enjoy his cooking, and that seeing their smiles encourages him; this is his true happiness. His fans are shown to be very happy as he explains that the reason he was able to make it as a chef was because of all the support he got as an idol.

Once the interview ends Johnny approaches Yotsuba to ask if he got any. He mentions that he got a little bit, and he is surprised that Yotsuba got a full box of chocolate, causing him to claim him as the victor- until Yotsuba reveals the mountain Naoto was given, causing him to express shock.

As this is going on Hinaki and Juri change into their chosen coords, then they appear on stage to perform Poppin' Bubbles.

Afterwards, Akari hands Ichigo some chocolate as thanks for what she did for Yotsuba. Ichigo replies that she did it to help her and hands Akari some chocolate, causing her much shock. She thanks her and begins to cry, causing Ichigo to comment that she is overreacting as Akari's friends watch the scene.

Characters

 * Akari Ōzora
 * Miyabi Fujiwara
 * Sumire Hikami
 * Hinaki Shinjō
 * Juri Kurebayashi
 * Shun Yotsuba
 * Ichigo Hoshimiya
 * Aoi Kiriya
 * Ran Shibuki
 * Otome Arisugawa
 * Sakura Kitaōji
 * Yurika Tōdō
 * Kaede Ichinose
 * Shion Kamiya
 * KAYOKO
 * Raichi Hoshimiya
 * Noeru Otoshiro
 * Johnny Bepp
 * Orihime Mitsuishi
 * Naoto Suzukawa

Trivia

 * This episode marks the debut of the Bubbles Mermaid Coord.
 * This episode reveals the backstory in relation to Shun Yotsuba.
 * This episode marks the first time in Season 3 that a duet is performed without Akari as one of the performers.
 * Within canon, this episode takes place during Madoka Amahane's birthday.
 * The song Poppin' Bubbles appears for the first time.