Episode 07 - Simple is The Best!

Simple is The Best! (シンプル イズ ザ ベスト！) is the seventh episode of the Aikatsu Stars! Anime Series. It aired on May 19, 2016.

Summary
This Spring, an ice cream company known as "Jewel Ice Cream" is looking for the "Unique Idol". Being attracted to the word "unique", Laura decides to become a candidate. When she does some research on the personality of being this idol, she realizes something. What is the personality to be this idol? The more Laura thinks about it, the more she doesn't understand, so she decides to try and reach for her own individuality...

Plot
Hikaru and Anna chat regarding Yume's slow lack of progress. At the rate she is going, he doesn't see her becoming a member of S4 anytime soon. Anna points out that she's been learning a lot from Laura, who has received specialized music education since she was young and she has a lot of skill. She is sure that the two of them will become fine Idols, but Hikaru points out that Laura must overcome a personal struggle, which he seems to have some notion towards.

Meanwhile, Yume and Koharu observe the large Sakuraba family tree and note it's full of musicians. It goes back to the Edo Period, where Laura reveals the first musician was Gonzaemon Sakuraba, a shamisan player. Followed by Sakurako, who toured in America as a composer during the Meiji Period, Urara, a songstress of the Taisho Period. In the Showa Period they have her father and her mother, who are accomplished violinist and pianists. Yume points out that Laura was born in the Heisei period and how she is an idol, and Laura assures them that she will make it into the S4 to avoid failing her ancestors.

Suddenly a message alerts the girls to the upcoming Auditions searching for a unique, individual idol. Right away Yume and Koharu recommend Laura try for it and she agrees. As they prepare to train Yume asks about the brand holding the audition "Jewel Ice", and Koharu looks it up to reveal it's a recently founded ice cream company that enjoys trying new, never-before-seen flavors; which explains their specific Idol request. Yume is very supportive over Laura, but right away Laura can see that while she genuinely wants her to pass, she's mainly in it for the ice cream she might be able to get as a friend of the winning Idol. Yume attempts to claim this isn't true but they can see right through her. Koharu also voices confidence in Laura, who remains uneasy as she brings up that the auditions will be full of unique idols showing of what makes them special, so the key to winning is to leave a big impact. She isn't sure she could do that on talent alone, which makes the others start to worry, but they promise to help her out.

Firstly, the girls try to decide on a Coord she will wear, and Laura reveals a top design she was working on. She worries it lacks anything special and asks Koharu is she could draw her something. Koharu agrees, but it's old-fashioned and very oriental, and while Laura compliments the design she notes how difficult it would be dancing in. Koharu shows her the next drawing of a cowgirl, but it lacks femininity, and when Laura asks her to take some inspiration from a fairy tale; Koharu draws her as the Little Match Girl. Laura is depressed and she goes on to suggest trying aliens, followed by a cave woman and pretty cat girls, followed by Koharu's last idea, an ice cream mascot named Icemon. Laura settles on the cowgirl design and they move on to select a song, deciding to had to the school library to search through its musical database.

Their initial choices are an enka song "Amakaze and Tears and Men and Woman" but deem it inappropriate for an Idol, followed by a rap song "De Su Yo Ne" but don't believe a rapper image fits Laura. Yume suggests she just choose a song she likes but Laura worries this would be a lazy decision since it's lacking impact, but Yume still thinks it would work. Laura decides to think things over and she heads off to return some books when she bumps into Anna. She mentions that Laura was the first student to apply for an external audition and wishes her luck, noticing that something seems off as Laura leaves.

As everyone is preparing for bed, Yume voices her concerns for Laura. As both a close friend and her rival she wants her to go very far in her Idol career and wants her to succeed. Koharu is happy hearing this and they lay down. Meanwhile, Laura attempts to fill out her audition sheet and begins to play with her hair before turning in for the night.

The following morning at the Jewel Ice building, the girls head to the Audition Room. Laura becomes distracted while she observes several, unique Idols, noting that they don't only come from their school; only to bump into a bundle of brooms and knock them over. She hurriedly starts picking them up and apologizes to the cleaner nearby but he isn't upset at all. He asks if she is okay and remarks on the interesting, unique idols as of late. Laura comments that they're all desperate to show off their unique traits, but he suggests that standing out and being unique are separate things- simple is best he believes. He wishes her luck and walks off, leaving Laura to think about things until her audition approaches.

She introduces herself and answers their questions, such as asking her what her favorite flower is. Laura answers the cherry blossom, which is both her family crest and name, followed by answering papaya as her favorite fruit, responding with a small joke. A man asks her what made her decide to take this audition and Laura earnestly states that everyone believes she has what it takes to be an individual Idol. While they compliment her response and talent as a Four Star Academy idol, one of the judges seem to be concerned and wonders if Laura may be forcing her personality a little. The audition ends and they invite her to return in two days for the singing audition.

Laura recalls what happened back in her dorm room and is disappointed by what happened. She really didn't think she was forcing herself and starts wondering if she selected the right Coord, she then recalls what Yume said earlier and wonders if she is lacking something. She complains unable to find an answer and gives up.

But this is shown to take a toll on her the next day when Yume finds her and notices how tired she looks. Laura asks Yume if she seems forced, but before Yume can respond Anna shows up and seems aware of something being wrong. She also knows Laura can overcome her troubles and offers to teach her. Laura agrees and Anna sends her out to run fifty laps on the track, with an exhausted Yume trailing behind for support. They also hula-hoop, pull tires with ropes tied on them, climb a large tree, and sit beneath a waterfall. The entire time Yume complains as Laura searches for an answer, but by the time the girls can no longer go on and Anna comes by to ask her a complicated math equation. When Laura is unable to think of an answer, Anna happily remarks that the girls understand what she was trying to show them and leaves, with the girls utterly baffled.

They tiredly retire to Laura's room and while Yume lays on the floor. Laura refuses to give up but she's unable to understand what Anna was trying to teach them, then she recalls that her performance is tomorrow. Yume brings up wanting some ice cream and explains that whenever she feels sad or tired, she likes eating some. She asks Laura what she likes to eat and she reveals that she keeps some Konbu on hand. She made it and while it may seem old-fashioned or plain, she truly admires the art it takes to make it. She happily eats a piece and Yume is glad seeing her perk up, and it dons on Laura that the old man from the other day was right. Yume lays on her bed to spot a poster stuck on the base of the bed above hers an Laura brings up that she likes the band Metal Dolls. She would love to wear a coord like their outfits, and suddenly she comes to the decision that she doesn't need to be worried anymore. She thanks Yume and leaves her room, heading into the Dress Make area to prepare a wonderful new outfit.

The next day, the song audition arrives and Laura realizes that she's been an individual this entire time; because the things she likes and values are different from everyone else. She changes into her coord and appears on stage to perform Aikatsu☆Step!.

After the performance the Judges and audience applaud Laura, going on to reveal a fourth judge will be participating today. The girls head backstage and await the results of the audition and Laura is proclaimed the winner. Happily she embraces Yume and Koharu.

In the Headmasters office, Hikaru chats with Anna about her success in managing to reach Laura.

Eventually free samples of the ice cream inspired by Laura are being handed out as it's revealed she gained many new fans to the point of instant recognition. Laura spots the cleaning man and approaches to thank him for his advice, but as it turns out he's actually the President of Jewel Ice, which a woman staff worker reveals to her as the woman goes on to try to convince the man to stop cleaning. They share a laugh and come to the agreement that simple is best. With that, she watches as more workers come by and force the man to return to his Presidential work.

It's then revealed the new ice cream based on Laura is black, which startles Yume and Koharu as she points out that it was made from konbu. Koharu attempts to eat it to avoid being rude, while Yume tries to run off in search of water because its too strong in flavor- only for Laura to happily hold her back as she happily enjoys it.

Characters

 * Laura Sakuraba
 * Yume Nijino
 * Koharu Nanakura
 * Anna Hibiki
 * Hikaru Moroboshi

Trivia

 * This is the first episode where the idols from S4 do not appear.