Episode 04 - Always 100%!

Always 100%! (いつだって１００％！) is the fourth episode of the Aikatsu Stars! Anime Series. It aired on April 28, 2016.

Summary
To be on Aikatsu! TV is something that brings joy to Yume and Laura. With also the appearance of Hime, things keep motivating them even more. However, it is revealed that they will be working behind the scenes. To Yume this was rather disappointing to hear, but when she is told to come by early the next morning, she hears her most loved person playing the piano...

Plot
Anna announces to her class that they will be getting the chance to work on Aikatsu TV alongside Hime and Yozora. Everyone proclaims they will do their best and excitedly begin to chatter and daydream, Yume fantasizing of her unit debut with Hime as Princess Dream, until Laura snaps her out of it. She asks if she is alright but Yume insists it's nothing.

However, it turns out that they won't actually be on the program. They were called in to do backstage work. Laura reasons that this is valuable for them anyway and everyone works hard. After hearing some girls spot Hime, Yume drops her work hoping to get a peek until another staff member stops her, belittling her for thinking like a fan. Yume agrees to return to work, but she's unable to resist and tries again. Before she gets caught, she notes how troubled Hime appears to be, and the man from before unites the class to inform them that the entire stage needs to be rebuilt. The class is annoyed but he explains how little time they have to get it done.

As Yume meets up with Koharu in the cafeteria she complains about her rough day and asks what she did. Koharu recalls helping Yozora out with her upcoming fashion show she will be participating in the upcoming few days, and she shows Yume the pictures she was allowed to take. Yume is fairly stumped as she was unaware of this event, but Laura joins them to remind Yume of their efforts and that the show is called "S4 Presents: A Premium Night". When Yume claims it just slipped her mind, neither girl seems to believe her. She tiredly resumes eating.

That evening, Yume lays in bed and tries convincing herself that if she thought her day was bad, Hime probably has it a lot worse. Koharu assures her of this and explains how Yozora had three interviews today, and a lesson. Tomorrow she has a photo-shoot as the Aikatsu Style Girls model too. As they quiet and approach to shut the window they can hear piano music playing in the distance. Before going to bed Yume makes a wish to see Hime tomorrow.

Her hopes are crushed when she arrives to resume their backstage work again. Laura gives her a hand stacking boxes as a man comes by with some snacks and drink, telling the girls to take a break. Yume and Laura sit down and begin to chat until a man comes by to ask Yume for some help delivering some boxes to another room. Yume tiredly agrees and along the way she spots Yozora in the middle of her photo-shoot. She watches with amazement and spots Koharu, eagerly listening in as they discuss Yozora's upcoming show. She comments on how lucky Koharu is to be working with someone she admires, and she begins wondering why she even joined Flower Song in the first place.

The work day concludes and the man speaks to the class, until he assigns Yume more work after catching her chatting away instead of listening. He asks her to return there at six am to make sure the props are set up correctly and everything is fine, and sends the girls off. Laura brings Yume a drink and tries to help her see the positive of the situation while trying to get her to drink the healthy beverage she brought with her. Yume hesitates under the belief it will be bitter, but to her surprise she tries it and compliments the taste.

The next morning Yume goes out for a jog to wake herself up before work when she hears the piano again. She notes the time and follows the sound to an opened window, where she spots Hime in the room. Hime sees her and invites her inside as Yume becomes very awkward, unsure of how to respond now. Hime notices this and asks Yume if she has ever seen the inside of a piano before, asking her to lift the lid. She explains the importance of making sure everything is in its exact, proper place to create a wonderful melody. Seeing the time she reminds Yume she has to be leaving.

Yume rushes to the job location as she recalls Koharu mentioning the piano music she heard the other night. She's very happy to have seen Hime as she realizes she was the one playing it, and she finds several staff members working on the stage. She's impressed by the progress they made, and she promises to do her best.

She works until the very last minute, when the staff worker comes by to reveal the program will go live in a half hour. Yozora arrives with Koharu, and Yume greets her as Koharu reveals she got chosen as her assistant today. Yozora greets the girls as Hime arrives with another student. She apologizes for the increase in workload and thanks everyone after looking around. The girls are led away to finish preparing while the students move on to help the audience members get through the building and to their seating.

The show begins, with Miwa -the teacher of Moon Beauty- hosts the event. Hime and Yozora come out and walk down the runway waving to the fans and sharing some words. Yume admires the brilliant stage and watches the program with ease as she takes note of everyone's hard work leading to this moment. The staff worker approaches the girls to explain that even when the program begins, they continue working to ensure maximum appeal is brought out from behind the performers. It's because of Yozora and Hime that they can reach one-hundred percent effort; because they put in even more than that on a daily basis. When the girls seem confused he reveals the refreshments the girls had these past few days were made by Hime and Yozora. Yume is very impressed.

Yozora goes on to debut the beautiful new Premium Dress, the Arabian Sparkle Coord, followed by Hime, donning her Dreaming Princess Coord. Miwa goes on to announce they will be performing now, and the girls head backstage. They reappear and perform Episode Solo.

When the program concludes, Yume is left feeling amazed as she realizes how much effort was put into it. The girls head backstage and the staff worker thanks them for working so hard. Laura thanks him for the work experience as the man gives them some words of encouragement, then he starts teasing Yume. Everyone shares a laugh as she starts to pout.

Characters

 * Yume Nijino
 * Laura Sakuraba
 * Hime Shiratori
 * Koharu Nanakura
 * Tsubasa Kisaragi
 * Yuzu Nikaidō
 * Yozora Kasumi
 * Yamaguchi

Trivia

 * The song episode Solo makes its debut as an insert song in this episode.
 * The Arabian Sparkle Coord makes its debut in this episode.
 * During one of the photoshoots, Yozora was seen wearing the Paisley Chiffon Dress from the real life apparel line, Aikatsu! Style.
 * Her photoshoot in the anime for Aikatsu! Style also mirrors reality, as she is spokesperson of the apparel brand in real life.