Episode 05 - My Dress Make!

My Dress Make! (マイドレスメイク！) is the fifth episode of the Aikatsu Stars! Anime Series. It aired on May 5, 2016.

Summary
There is a test that is to be carried out in just one week and it has made its way to Yume and the others. The challenge has to do with the Dance Stage and the costume is to be made under the conditions of a Dress Make. This is Yume's first time doing a Dress Make so when Yozora says the words "the purpose the dress serves", Yume questions how she is going to do her first Dress Make...

Plot
Soon a progress test will be held, and for it everyone must perform on a Dance Stage and wear their own dress created through the Dress Make system. Having told her students, Anna sends everyone out after making sure they understand.

In their beautiful rose garden S4 is relaxing with some tea and cones prepared by Hime. Yozora brings up their cute new students for this year and asks the girls of their opinions, such as if anyone has caught their eye yet. Everyone has favorable comments, noting that this years set seems to possess more skill than the prior, and they can't wait to see how they grow. Hime is unsure of what to say about the Flower Song class until Yuzu brings up Yume. The girls note her excitement and Yuzu admits that she likes unpredictable girls- she really wished Yume chose her class. Tsubasa agrees and Hime remarks that Yume reminds her of herself.

Meanwhile, Laura waits for Yume to catch up to her on the training field. As she hands her a towel she brings up the difficulty of this test, but she's excited. Yume agrees and they mutually make an agreement to pass together. They change back into their uniforms and head to the Dress Make room, where Yuri offers them a lesson on using the system. She reminds them of how it works and demonstrates using Glitter to change various features of the design, such as style, patterns, colors, and accessory. She asks if they have Glitter and Yume seems confused until Laura reminds her that they both got some during earlier performances. Yuri explains how vital Glitter can be, because the more of it one has, the more options will be unlocked.

With that she lets the girls get started. To her disappointment Laura notes Yume has earned more glitter then her. But they both manage to come up with something they like, only for Laura to reveal to Yume that she must be sure of herself, because once she makes it, she can't change it. Yume had no idea, but she still feels convinced she made a good one.

Later that day, Yume is amazed with her dress that she made on her own, and she wonders if perhaps she has a gift for dress making. She imagines everyone will like it and she returns to the dorm to find Koharu watching Yozora's show "It's Yozora's Fashion Time". Yume joins her and they watch as Yozora answers a question read to her by the squirrel mascot of Romance Kiss, Miss Romance. They chat with each other a bit before she asks the next question, "is there a secret to making Coords?". Yume is surprised by this and she listens with intent as Yozora explains putting a lot of thought into her coords, such as the performance it will be used in and its overall purpose; but she also believes that fashion should be enjoyed to its fullest. Her answer awakens something in Yume, who questions what sort of purpose the outfit she made serves. She's unable to think of a good answer and she starts to worry as the program concludes.

While training with Laura, Yume is troubled and continues to think over Yozora's words. Laura notices this and stops Yume to ask if she's okay, pointing out that she's been making mistakes. She criticizes her for wasting time like this and asks if she cares. Yume apologizes and explains that she has a lot on her mind and can't find an answer for it. Laura admits that she's experienced this before and encourages Yume to search for the answer. She takes off to give her some time and Yume decides to head back to the Dress Make area to create another outfit, one with more thought put into it.

She returns to her dorm to find three stacks of magazines Koharu gathered for her in hopes of giving her some inspiration. Over time, Yume focuses on studying her fashion research and training, all while Laura and Koharu give her support from the background. In this time she learns a lot, and while it wasn't all that easy, she never felt discouraged and she feels ready to try again.

In the Dress Make room, Yume uses what she learned to start putting together a wonderful coord. Unfortunately, while she managed to put something together she can't help but think something is wrong. Unknown to Yume, Yuzu can hear her from the upper-room and she watches Yume sadly storm off in disappointment to return to the dorm.

Afterwards, Yume continues moping until she hears someone humming from above. She's startled finding Yuzu in the tree branches above her and asks what she was doing. Yuzu remarks that the enticing rhythm within the tree leaves invited her, then she tells Yume that everything alive has one. She compares Yume's rhythm to Hime's, but before she can elaborate on this confusing topic a pair of students appear to grab her. They chew her out for skipping the dress fitting she was to be getting done. Yuzu apologizes as they drag her away, kicking and fighting with them until Yume asks if she can come to watch. Yuzu allows it and seems to perk up, and Yume watches as she is greeted by several students while they head inside.

The girls who brought Yuzu in remark on how lucky Yume is for today. Not even the other Drama students get to sit in on dress fittings, and this is a coord Yuzu will be wearing for her upcoming performance. Yuzu steps out to reveal the dress, and she turns on some music to try dancing in it to get a better feel for the dress and make sure nothing needs adjusted. Yume is amazed and wonders how Yuzu can dance like this when Yuzu suddenly stops to remark something feels off. She takes a moment and grabs some scissors to cut the skirt, then she pulls the loose material to the side and attaches a bow to her shoulder, transforming it into a cute gown. She dances again and decides she likes this, while Yume curiously watches, pointing out she loved the performance even better than the first time when Yuzu asks for an opinion. With this new feeling, Yume asks if this is the power a dress can have and Yuzu confirms this by explaining that shorter outfits are better to dance in, and they can exhilarate the audience.

Suddenly, Yume realizes this is what she's been missing: that exciting, final touch. She thanks Yuzu for the help and runs off, with Yuzu curious over what she may have did. She wishes Yume the best, only for one girl to remark that Yuzu isn't the mentoring type. Yuzu claims not to have any idea as to what they are speaking about.

With her resolve found Yume runs to the Dress Make room and puts her thoughts into make her finalized, exciting new coord.

The following day, Yume happily observes her coord and feels a lot better about this one than her original. Before going out to perform she gives herself a momentary pep talk and puts her new cards into the changing booth. On stage she performs "Heart Ski♡ps". Once she finishes, she returns to the stage for Anna's scoring. Anna remarks on how the coord did a good job displaying her cuteness, while the short-shorts not only accented her legs, but they fit the dance. She gives Yume a passing mark and Yume happily turns to thank her as the audience cheers. Yuzu watches from the back of the room and happily leaves.

Outside, Laura congratulates Yume for doing well and Yume thanks her. Laura quickly denies having done anything though, when Yume suggests they get some tea. She starts running and Laura quickly points out that she should be more careful or else she might fall- just then, Yume trips and falls over.

Characters

 * Yume Nijino
 * Yuzu Nikaidō
 * Laura Sakuraba
 * Koharu Nanakura
 * Hime Shiratori
 * Tsubasa Kisaragi
 * Yozora Kasumi
 * Anna Hibiki
 * Yuri Ashida

Trivia

 * Heart Ski♡ps makes its debut as an insert song.