Episode 02 - The Two of Us are Rivals!

The Two of Us are Rivals! (ふたりはライバル！) is the second episode of the Aikatsu Stars! Anime Series. It aired on April 14, 2016.

Summary
At Four Star Academy, there are four performance sets, song sets, acting sets, dance sets and fashion sets and the new students have to think about which set to try and enter. Meanwhile the welcome party for new students is under way and new students must stand on stage as a pair. The outcome of a lottery pairs Yume Nijino and her classmate Laura Sakuraba. The two people can only disagree, will their stage be a success?

Plot
An idol news program hosted by S4 comes on and they discuss their ceremony from last week and the debut concerts yesterday. Yozora remarks on how cute the new students are as Hime shows the viewers Yume's performance. As they go on to explain their plans to keep an eye on her from that moment, Yume and Koharu are revealed to be watching the show. Yume laments how poorly her performance ended and feels she is undeserving of the attention. Koharu refuses to let her talk like that, saying that it amazing. Yume still can't remember anything though, and wonders if luck had something to do with it. She decides to just enjoy it for as Koharu points out that even others who worked out a lot prior to their turn had a hard time.

Yume becomes aware of the attention she receives at school as they prepare for laps outside. Anna decides that it would be a good idea to start the girls with learning to improve their stamina, in doing so they not only have to get used to running exercises, but holding notes as well. Anna calls on Yume and asks her to try it out, but her poor skill leads some girls nearby to wonder how Yume did so well on stage.

During break, Laura and Yume have a chat. Laura agrees with those girls she heard earlier and she teases Yume's lack of abs. When class resumes, Anna informs everyone of the upcoming Sorting Auditions. She teaches them the fundamentals by explaining until then, they are free to sit in on each of the classes to determine which one they would like to join. She reminds them of their self-producing and sends them on their way.

Yume and Koharu start with the Wind Dance Class and step into the stylish building. They find a man instructing the girls on stage to perform as cats as they watch in awe, only to express surprise when Yuzu runs up to them and tries to make the girls dance with her. The teacher gives the girls some supportive insistence, but his passionate nature startles them.

They take off for the Moon Beauty Class to find the girls in the middle of elegant training. The teacher approaches and asks them to have a seat on a bunch of strange spheres- rather than seats, then he resumes the class. Yume and Koharu struggle to sit but they stare in shock upon realizing Yozora is balancing a huge water container on the top of her head. Koharu is so amazed that she loses balance, and her glasses. She's very flustered when Yozora comes by to help her, and in the process she compliments her skin. She explains that by touching ones skin she can determine what the person is like. Koharu is so inspired hearing this that she confides in Yume that she would like to join this class, especially to get Yozora's attention.

Yume takes off in search of a class she feels suited for when she comes by the Bird Theater class. She finds several girls in a mass of tears, having been instructed. While she observes them the Teacher corrects the girls by explaining that they failed her expectations, and she has Tsubasa demonstrate a more genuine approach that completely changes the atmosphere of the room, leaving Yume in awe. She decides not to interrupt and heads to check out the Flower Song Class. There she sees that several students are watching the class as Hime and several other girls are seated for tea, much to the groups confusion as it looks like they aren't even doing anything. But to their shock, they watch as girls suddenly show pain or fall over and realize this entire time they have been training- their abdomens. They must pretend to be seated in a chair, and while Hime flawlessly enjoys her tea, Anna appears to explain Hime came up with this exercise on her own. Hime compliments the girls for trying so hard and Yume leaves, coming to the decision that Flower Song would be her ideal choice.

She finds Laura in the hallway who reveals she also joined it. Laura then goes on to denounce Yume's desire to some day join S4 and be like Hime, since she too has set her eye on gaining the spot. She leaves and Yume curiously wonders what Laura's issue with her might be.

Later, two students approach Yume with a box and explain that everyone is drawing Lots to determine the pairs for their upcoming performance. Yume eagerly reaches inside, until she realizes she got paired up with Laura. Afterward, they remain in class to try to come up with an idea but spend the time bickering over it when their personalities and decisions begin to clash, eventually come to the conclusion that in the end, a simple performance is best.

In the training room, Laura plays the piano while Yume practices singing notes. Laura criticizes her and asks if she is even trying after she starts to cough, then accuses her of holding back to avoid trying. Yume claims she isn't, but Laura doesn't want to hear that. She tells her to leave if she won't give it her all, given that she always puts effort into everything she does. She tells Yume to practice and storms out of the room.

Yume expresses frustration and recalls what happened with Koharu in the Cafeteria when Laura approaches with something. She walks off after telling her she can use it, and Koharu gets up to leave so that she can practice. Yume opens the envelope to find a score inside, along with instructions and she wonders if Laura put it together for her. She gets up to ask Laura until seeing that she is in the middle of studying several books, and this causes her to realize how dedicated she is.To keep up with Laura she must work harder too, and with new resolve she gets straight to training. During this, Laura stops to observe her in the middle of balancing on a ball while stretching and smiles with approval.

That evening Yume goes out for a jog when she runs into Laura. They decide to run together when Laura asks Yume to help her with a part in the dance that she is struggling to get. They share a little laugh and agree to wear their school dresses for the performance and decide to have fun while giving it their all. Laura is glad to see they are finally on the same page.

Eventually, the Welcome Party for the new students arrives. The girls enjoy tons of foods but they get interrupted by Anna- announcing the performances will be starting. After Koharu and another classmate put on a magic act, Laura and Yume prepare for their turn by changing into their coords and appearing on stage to perform "Aikatsu☆Step".

Afterward, Laura and Yume walk through the room when they hear a group of girls discussing how poorly Yume did. They believe she didn't do well and must not have taken it seriously, causing her to grow depressed until Laura steps in to defend her. Laura tells them to keep their opinions to themselves and states that Yume did very well and took it seriously. She also tells them off by saying that some people have a gift for singing, and if they waste their time gossiping they will end up being passed by those. Yume thanks her but Laura insists it was the truth. She brings up her desire to join S4 again and Yume agrees, and they decide to officially become rivals.

In the Headmaster's office, he speaks with Hime in regards to the gap between Yume's performance this time and last. He watches the past performance and Hime remarks that it was a phenomenon the last time, and this leads him to decide that if Yume is deemed unfit to join S4, he will expel her whenever he wishes.

Characters

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

Trivia

 * The Dance Class's performance routine, the "Monster of the Cat Constellation (CATS座の怪人)" is a parody of the Broadway musical, Cats.
 * The Blue Star Coord makes its debut in this episode.