Episode 18 - Together with Yuri-chan

Together with Yuri-chan (ゆりちゃんと一緒) is the eighteenth episode of the Aikatsu Stars! Anime Series. It aired on August 11th, 2016.

Summary
It is announced that anyone who is a first year is to be implemented into a fan voting. The top 4 idols of this vote will have to stand on the opening stage for the summer event, "Aikatsu☆Island". While everyone strives for no accidents to occur, Yume has seemed to have found a new Aikatsu...?

Plot
While relaxing in the Cafeteria, the trio watch as S4 announce a big event for Summer: Aikatsu Island. An event where the entire island in the south is transformed into an Idol Theme Park. Everyone is expected to lend a hand and help to make it special, and four lucky first years will be earning the right to take the stage for the opening performance. Fans will be choosing which Idols will be representing the event with the Fresh Idol Elections.

In the hallway, the girls observe the details on the election when Laura remarks on how it sounds like a popularity contest. Everything they do will probably determine if they get votes or not, but since they have the week off due to summer, they have to put in a lot of effort. Koharu and Laura take off to do some work but Yume is left befuddled over what she can do. She sees Yuri struggling and offers her a hand, picking up the posters she dropped. She comments on how hard Yuri works and she goes on to bring up that beneath the S4 are her and three other girls. They are known as Admin. With Aikatsu Island coming up its expected of them to be working during the event.

She prepares to leave when Yume asks to help assisting her, much to her surprise. She agrees and they leave for the Dress Make room to find several students. They begin to restock the shelves when Yume runs into Anna, who believes she is very lucky to experience this moment. Not many students get a chance to work with the Admin. Yume thinks this over and continues work until late in the evening, where she tiredly returns to the dorms.

Koharu points out that Yume working with the Admin is a great opportunity, because it might mean they see potential in her as a future Admin. Yume is doubtful of this, but she begins to take to the idea after Koharu mentions that it could be a big step heading towards S4.

The next day, Yume and Yuri discus the event with a man who runs a program on television. He seems interested and offers to spread word of it, but before going he remarks that Yuri should return to idoling for herself at some point, and as she receives more compliments Yume is left to admire her.

Back at the Cafeteria, Yume quickly eats lunch, excited to return to Yuri and head to the radio station. She is joined by Koharu and Ako, who discuss the efforts of the other students, such as Laura being invited to several locations to perform for the guests, Mahiru is working in several fashion shows, and Ako made an appearance on a late night drama, while Koharu just got a gig in a fashion magazine. Yume congratulates her, only for Ako to bring up the midpoint update in the election. Yume checks to find that Laura and Mahiru are extremely far ahead in the lead, and she looks on to see her ranking is very poor.

Later, Yume and Yuri prepare to leave when Yume is reminded of the event and how she's done nothing for it. Yuri notes her concern and they stop at a bench for a moment, where she apologizes to Yume for letting her get caught up in helping them so much lately. Yume claims not to mind and Yuri goes on to say that there is Aikatsu in the work of an Admin/ Before she became one she was doing the same thing as Yume is now, back when Tsubasa was an Admin for Theater Class she lent her a hand. It was so much fun that she forgot about everything else, although she forgot to showcase herself as an idol. Somehow she ranked third place when the elections ended, but this miracle led her to believe that as long as someone shows effort in Aikatsu, their fans will know how to recognize their work.

Yume is encouraged as she gets up, telling Yuri that she wants to keep helping out. She will do what she can while self-producing to ensure a win.

Yume awakens at her desk the following day to find a letter left from Koharu. She reads it before noticing someone at the door, and in steps Yuri. She brings up that she has some promo work to do and has come by to ask Yume if she wants to join her. Yume asks to have a few minutes first, then she begins to jot something down. Yuri curiously observing her and Yume announces that she is going to be doing "Grassroots Aikatsu". She was inspired watching Yuri this entire time, and she's decided to work steadily at her own pace to reach her goal and the fans. This is what led to her writing personal letters for each one. She makes a wish before sending off her package in the mail and expresses that while she would like to do more, she will happily settle for this.

Yuri believes it is possible to do more like she wants, and they return to the Admin office to find Miki Katsura from Dance Class, and Arisa Sakamoto from Theater Class. The girls bring up that they heard of how much they heard of Yume from Yuri, and they go on to reveal the documents of handshake events from years before, along with a list of places where live performances can be held. They support Yume's desire just as much as Yuri has and they plan to help her out as much as their limit allows so that everyone shows off their best for the Elections. The rest will depend on Yume though, and they wish her luck.

And so, Yume is able to host a small handshake event. She is approached by several, and arrives back to the dorm to find Koharu practicing her walk. She explains that she got to meet several fans, and reveals the items needed for a performance she plans on holding the final day of voting. She got permission to do it, and even made the posters herself.

Curiously, Subaru observes the poster Yume made while at a job sight. He remarks on how weird Yume is being.

On the final day of voting, Yume rides a bike through the park while advertising a free live she will be holding. Several people hear this and recognize her and excitedly show up, along with Mahiru, who finds Laura and Koharu. Subaru also shows up, with Yume anxiously noting how many people have shown up. She decides that she must put everything she has into the performance, to wow those who are in the audience who like her, and those who have never seen her perform before. She changes into her chosen coord and appears on stage to sing "Aikatsu☆Step!".

After the performance ends, Subaru watches as several of the people take off. Yume tiredly sits down on some nearby stairs and appears to be exhausted as he approaches her, bringing up that he has a job nearby and some time to kill. Yume begins to cough, causing some concern as she goes on to say how different she felt performing this time. He helps her out after seeing her struggle and asks if this has ever happened before, but Yume doesn't really understand as Koharu and Laura join them. Subaru decides to leave, expressing annoyance as Koharu hands her a cough drop.

Back at school, Subaru remains suspicious while looking up something. He's seen this before, and he finds a performance Hime put on in the past. As she was leaving the stage, she passed out after walking by the curtain, then the video abruptly ends. Subaru begins to wonder what is going on.

Eventually the results are announced; Mahiru has taken first place while Laura is in second. Ako in third, and surprisingly Yume came in fourth. Yume is shocked by the turn of events, and its remarked that her performance was what gave her a last-second boost. Yuri arrives to congratulate her efforts and Yume thanks her, although she insists she did nothing to help. Koharu admits to feeling a little sad since she wanted to perform with them, but she cheers up after being offered some gum and a sympathetic smile. Yuri goes on to remark that from now on this makes them rivals. The girls agree.

Characters

 * Yuri Ashida
 * Yume Nijino
 * Laura Sakuraba
 * Koharu Nanakura
 * Ako Saotome
 * Mahiru Kasumi
 * Hime Shiratori
 * Tsubasa Kisaragi
 * Yozora Kasumi
 * Yuzu Nikaidō
 * Anna Hibiki
 * Coco
 * Nico
 * Subaru Yūki
 * Miki Katsura
 * Arisa Sakamoto

Trivia

 * During the scene with Subaru looking at Yume's flyer, in the lower left you can see a flyer with Luminas from the original Aikatsu series, albeit with different hair colors.
 * The ending song has been changed to include some scenes from the upcoming movie.
 * The Melty Flower Fairy Coord makes its debut in this episode.