With Kanon re-interested in singing and on board with becoming a school idol, Keke tries to submit an application form for her school idol club. To Keke’s dismay, the proposal is rejected by Ren, who is apparently the student council president (so 99.9% chance that she’ll inevitably join the club she just rejected). Ren’s argument is that school idols have become so competitive that anyone representing Yuigaoka will drag the school’s reputation down if they screw up. It’s still unfair to not even give Keke and Kanon a chance but you do get where Ren is coming from.
Since Chisato is in the music program, Kanon asks her to find some dirt on Ren. To her chagrin, all the intel Chisato gets is that Ren is greatly respected and admired in the school. I find this tidbit a little farfetched considering that Ren is a first year and the school year is on its second day at this point in time. How the hell did she obtain such a reputation for herself in such short notice? Then again, this is a student council in an anime. They always act like they’ve been running things for eons when their jobs only last for three years.
Keke has some pretty wild solutions to the problem. First, she proposes that she and Kanon quit Yuigaoka and transfer to a different school where they’re free to become school idols. Obviously, this plan is so insane that it immediately gets shot down. Second, is having Kanon pull a carriage so she can stand on top to advertise a petition to get better agency for the school’s clubs. I don’t know what’s funnier: Keke and Kanon actually making the vehicle or Kanon somehow agreeing to lug the darn thing around despite the whole thing being both exhausting and embarrassing. That said, this plan is so outlandish that it naturally gets the school director’s attention, giving Kanon and Keke the opportunity to circumvent Ren’s decision.
Ren brings up her previous argument though it is implied that her decision to reject the club stems from her own feelings towards school idols. When Keke and Kanon take the issue to the school’s director, Ren briefly mentions her mother before the director tells her that it’s irrelevant to the issue. I’m guessing whatever Ren feels about school idols has been passed down from her mother. Was her mother a school idol? It’s a possibility. If so, it must not have gone too well if Ren isn’t fond of the hobby.
The school director does veto Ren’s decision though she does agree with the student council president’s concern over Yuigaoka’s reputation. As such, she tells Kanon and Keke that she’ll only approve of the school idol on the condition that they get first place in an upcoming school idol festival. That’s an awfully tall order though I suppose it’s not that dissimilar to when Mari told Aqours to get full house on their first performance back in Sunshine!!. At least, attendance is unlikely to be an issue this time around.
To prepare for the festival, Keke decides to write lyrics for a new song and Kanon agrees to create instrumentals for them. More importantly, they enlist Chisato’s help with dance training. I thought for sure that this would be where Chisato joins the club and Keke does invite her during this scene. Surprisingly however, Kanon immediately declines the invitation on Chisato’s behalf, arguing that Chisato is too busy studying under the music program to be a full time club member. The only ones who will be performing at the festival are Kanon and Keke. I suppose Chisato could join after that but I did notice a scene in the ED where the club assembles one by one and Sumire comes after Kanon and Keke. It’s looking like Sumire will be the third member. Assuming that’s the case I find that surprising. With Chisato’s background in dancing and her being Kanon’s close friend, she’d like one of the more obvious recruits to the idol club.
I can’t help but notice that the scene doesn’t actually bring up Chisato’s feelings about joining the club. Kanon does have a sound argument and Chisato goes along with it but that doesn’t exactly tell me what the latter is thinking here. Joining the club would be a good excuse for Chisato spend time with Kanon so I imagine the prospect might have some appeal and Kanon’s point might sting more than it relieves.
On the first day of dance practice, Kanon and Chisato learn that Keke has poor stamina and can barely keep up with a basic routine. It wouldn’t be “Love Live” without at least one character struggling with physical activity. and I can’t think of a better candidate than the one who is most passionate about being a school idol. I’m with Chisato on this, how the hell did Keke plan on being an idol? In addition to dance training, Chisato decides to also put the wannabe idols in a training regimen. With how invested she is their goal, I almost forget that she’s technically number a member of the club.
During training, the trio overhears a choir singing in the school. Kanon looks over with an unpleased face. This provides some insight into her motivation. Perhaps Kanon is interested in being a school idol because it’s her way to prove herself as a singer and make up for her failure to enter the music program. I wonder if at some point, Kanon will get call back for the entrance exam. If that happens, will she make the switch or will she stick with her school idol career?
Things appear to be going smoothly. Chisato manages to whip Keke into shape and both idols successfully fulfill their respective contribution for their song. I have to wonder then what might go wrong during the festival. Save for Nijigasaki, there’s always been a roadblock during the first concert so Superstar!! probably has something up its sleeve. I noticed in this episode that Keke gets increasingly sleepy. Between school, practice, exercise, and writing the lyrics for the song, she’s clearly been working overtime. Maybe she’ll power on through like Kanata can but I worry she might pass out during the festival. There’s also Kanon’s stage fright. She seems to have gotten over it after the first episode but only one instance, the show may have her second guess it to drum up some drama. This episode ends with Keke asking Kanon to sing their song out in public. It’s a nice scene but the fact that the show cuts to the ED right as Kanon is about to sing has me thinking this might not go well and the next episode will be spent with Kanon dealing with her fear again.
OP: “Start!! True Dreams” by Liella!
ED: “Mirai wa Kaze no Yo ni” by Liella!
Watch Love Live! Superstar!! on Crunchyroll and Funimation.
Xenodude Scribbles 