Episode 15 - The Moon and The Sun

The Moon and The Sun (月と太陽) is the fifteenth episode of the Aikatsu Stars! Anime Series. It aired on July 21, 2016.

Summary
An implementation for a proficiency test has been announced for the first years. Furthermore, one student from each class will be selected to participate in the Summer Festival as a unit with S4. Test results of their abilities come back and Mahiru Kasumi is the first to be selected for the Beauty Class. Everyone thought she would be happy but her facial expression is firm, saying "I will definitely not lose to my sister"...

Plot
Tamagoro announces that because three months have passed since class began, a proficiency test will be held to see where everyone's skill levels are. The top scorers will get a chance to perform with Yozora- something that instantly strikes Mahiru's nerve, while Koharu dreamily decides to work hard in hopes of getting it.

Some time passes and one day, in the auditorium Hikaru announces the results and the idols who will go on to form a temporary unit and get to perform with S4. Laura receives the top marks in Flower Song, Ako gets top in Bird Theater, Mahiru is on top of Moon Beauty, and an energetic girl -Haruka- is the top scorer of Wind Dance. The four are called on stage and it is explained that besides performances, the best unit will receive free lunch coupons. Each girl is asked to give some word and wile Laura, Ako, and Haruka eagerly declare they will win, Mahiru ruins the mood with her own declaration that she refuses to lose to Yozora.

After Yume, Laura, and Koharu return to the dorms they discuss how unexpected Mahiru's comment was. They thought things were better now, but it doesn't seem to be the case. Yume changes the subject by bringing up that Laura will get to perform with Hime, and admits that while she is disappointed, she will give her full support.

Meanwhile, Yozora is happily serving tea while Mahiru gives her a cold reception. She doesn't mind, suggesting they perform with Mahiru's recent song, and she would like for them to wear matching attire. Alarm rings just then and she is called for work, but Mahiru stops her to ask if she can come to watch. Yozora agrees and they head to the program's location, where she steps on stage and the host compliments the new outfit from Romance Kiss. She puts on a performance, leaving Mahiru in awe. She leaves a note before taking off, which Yozora finds a moment later.

In the cafeteria Yume is happily munching when they spot the distraught blonde. She initially turns down their offer to join them, but then she reconsiders and brings up how watching Yozora has left her feeling disheartened. She won't give up though, since all of her hard work would have gone to waste. Out of curiosity, Koharu asks her why she is so competitive with her sister. Mahiru explains that when they were little, they were nearly inseparable and they got along very well. They often took turns on the same drawings, with Yozora designing them and Mahiru coloring. But one day, Yozora decided to apply for Four Star Academy. She was heartbroken to have been left behind like this, so she decided to become an Idol in order to show her up. So she has to work harder for this cause. Mahiru apologizes for just ranting like this and takes off as Koharu expresses concern.

Over the course of the next few days Mahiru keeps training. While she remains dedicated to her cause, Koharu theorizes that she might not really feel like the way she claims to Yume and Laura. As Mahiru continues training, she suddenly feels faint.

In class, Yozora is informed that she has been sent to the infirmary. Before suggesting that she takes takes the day easy, the doctor gently scolds Mahiru for neglecting her basic needs and heads off in time for Yozora to arrive, worried for her little sister. Mahiru seems surprised, but she quickly turns cold again and feels angry over being forced to slow down. Yozora tries to calmly help her feel better, but Mahiru announces that she is there on the grounds of surpassing Yozora, to prove she's better. Nothing else matters but that. She demands Yozora leave her alone, and Yozora is so disturbed that she slaps Mahiru. She worries further realizing what she's done as Mahiru appears startled, then she gets up to storm out of the room. Yozora chases after her until losing sight of her, when the doctor reveals she left behind her shoes. This makes her recall a time when Yozora did the same thing and remarks on how alike they are.

Back in her uniform, Mahiru heads to the office to request dropping out of Summer Fest. Hikaru allows it and word quickly begins spreading through school. Koharu is shocked as she knew how much she was working for this and goes to pay her a visit in the dorms, hiding in the dark. Mahiru refuses to let her inside though, saying through the door that she doesn't want to perform anymore. Koharu tries to reach out to her, saying that she knows the truth behind Mahiru's reasoning; she wants Yozora to acknowledge her as a real person, not a sister. She knows how lonely she felt, and is sure that Mahiru would be better if she told Yozora this; Mahiru then snaps and claims that she wasn't lonely, demanding Koharu stop bothering her.

That evening, Yozora sadly sits outside at the Tea Garden. Hime joins her to bring up the performance and how she shouldn't risk getting ill beforehand, but Yozora tells her it won't matter now, since she was taken out of the program. She starts to wonder if she made a mistake with how she loved Mahiru, but Hime claims love isn't wrong at all, especially when it comes to sisters. She asks if maybe Yozora has something to tell Mahiru, and this seems to trigger something. She thanks Hime for listening and runs off to locate Mahiru.

Mahiru thinks about Yozora and what Koharu said, and for as much as she would like to be honest she can't do it now after what happened. She decides to get some fresh air and heads out to the gazebo, where she happens to find Yozora. Yozora explains how she knew Mahiru would come, and Mahiru feels momentary relief before quickly asking her why she isn't dressed properly for the weather. Yozora claims that doesn't matter because they are sisters. Mahiru then accuses her of never caring about her, but Yozora takes a picture from her pocket, much to Mahiru's surprise as she recognizes it as one she threw away years ago. Yozora states that without her coloring it, it won't be finished. She's been using this picture for encouragement, because these precious moments give her the strength to go on. She was so happy when Mahiru got accepted to the Academy, and she was looking forward to playing with her like they used to. Mahiru attempts to apologize for her behavior as she realizes Yozora never truly left her behind, and Yozora embraces her.

With the sisters bond improved, Mahiru quickly apologizes to Koharu for her behavior the previous day. Koharu is quick to forgive her, voicing how happy she is to see her perform. Anna announces the start of Summer Fest, with Yuzu and Haruka performing together first. After they finish, Anna announces that Yozora and Mahiru will take their turn now, and the sisters share a few words before they change into their desired coords and appear on stage to perform Summer Tears Diary.

In the hallway Yozora thanks Mahiru for working so hard and brings up how much fun she had. Mahiru agrees, and because of Yozora she realized how important it is for her to enjoy herself- but she still wants to defeat her one day. Yozora sees how happy she looks and agrees to support her, their picture from the past resting behind them, now colored.

Characters

 * Mahiru Kasumi
 * Yozora Kasumi
 * Yume Nijino
 * Laura Sakuraba
 * Koharu Nanakura
 * Hime Shiratori
 * Tsubasa Kisaragi
 * Yuzu Nikaidō
 * Hikaru Moroboshi
 * Dave Satō
 * Anna Hibiki
 * Momoko Yachigusa
 * Tamagorō Miwa
 * Haruka☆Ruka

Trivia

 * The title "The Moon and The Sun" refers to Yozora and Mahiru, as their names are translated into "night sky" and "broad daylight" respectively.
 * This is the first time in the series where siblings perform together.
 * This episode also marks the first ever duet performance between a S4 idol and a first year student.
 * The Asian Night Coord makes its debut in this episode.