Episode 23 - Into a Dream

Into a Dream (夢の中へ) is the twenty third episode of the Aikatsu Planet! TV series. It aired on June 13th, 2021.

Summary
Having won the Planet Princess Grand Prix, Mao receives a request for an award stage. For the special stage in which she can freely decide the song and theme, what is the big idea Mao has envisioned? And Ruli and the other idols are all moving towards their next goals...

Plot
Mao arrives at the agency to find Izumi, Segawa and Sala swamped with phone calls, all with job offers for Hana. Sala warns Mao that she'll be busier with work now that she's won the Planet Princess Grand Prix. One such job is an award stage celebrating Hana's victory, and everything about the performance is up to her discretion.

At school, Mao goes over her ideas for the stage with Shiori, but Keito dismisses them as being too outlandish. This upsets Mao, but Ryōka and Shō teasingly clarify that Keito is only concerned out of excitement. Mao and Shiori rebuke Keito's criticism, citing that you can't deem something impossible if you don't at least try first.

Later, Mao and Shiori meet up with Ruli and Kyōko, who show support for Mao's fantasies. In turn, they reveal that they've also been thinking of doing new things - Ruli is going to try her hand at designing for MELTYHOUSE as opposed to just producing, while Kyōko is learning how to play the drums with the intentions of doing Aikatsu in a band.

Shiori confesses that she wants to write and star in her own fairytale, and plans to show Natalie Katagiri when she's finished with the manuscript. Mao then takes her leave after Izumi summons her for work. Mao engages in her various jobs for the day, and is finally given a reprieve when Izumi receives word that the staff for her interview with Meisa will be late.

Sala approaches Mao with refreshments and reminds her to speak up if the work gets to be too much for her. Mao assures her that it's fine since she's having fun, and notices that Sala has been working on new dress designs. Sala explains that she's preparing for when she meets new Dressia in the future, having been inspired by their evolutions in the Grand Prix.

They start conceptualizing other kinds of Dressia, with Sala noting that imagination is what gives way to a new future. Meisa shows up and commends Sala on her thinking, bringing up that Ayumi and Ann have also made big plans for themselves. Announcing their name as Lovely Marron, they aim to become the greatest unit in the sphere of Aikatsu.

Mao admits to Sala and Meisa that she's still undecided on what to do for her award stage, and Sala states that because of this, in a way, Mao can do anything. At home, Mao determines that the show should be entertaining for everyone. She begins thinking of her friends working towards their new goals, and decides she wants to perform with them.

The day of the show, Hana explains to the audience that she wanted to be surrounded by those she loves, and surprises the audience by bringing out Shiori, Beat, Ruli, Q-pit, Ann, Sala and Rose to take the stage with her. In the dressing room, Hana thanks everyone for coming together, and they resolve to put all their passionate feelings into the performance.

The group performs "Bloomy＊Smile", transitioning from Aikatsu Planet to the school. As the crowd calls for an encore, Mao declares that their Aikatsu will continue on. Afterwards, Mao, Ruli, Kyōko and Shiori linger at the school rooftop. Shiori inquires Mao on what her plans are now, with Mao wanting to try new things while doing Aikatsu with everyone.

Ruli playfully questions how that's any different than what they've been doing so far, but Mao cheerfully remains steadfast in what she's envisioned for herself. Resolute, the group cheers for their new Aikatsu going forward.

Characters

 * Mao Otoha/Hana
 * Ruli Tamaki/Ruli
 * Kyōko Umekōji/Beat
 * Shiori Motoya/Shiori
 * Ayumi Tsukishiro/Q-pit
 * Ann Kurimu/Ann
 * Meisa Hinata/Rose
 * Sala Itoi/Sala
 * Izumi Watanuki
 * Itsuki Segawa
 * Keito Kirihata
 * Shō Kurosaki
 * Ryōka Dōba
 * Kanade Otoha

Trivia

 * Episode Title Reference: "Into a Dream" (夢の中へ) by Yōsui Inoue.
 * Starry Pink Meruli, Starry Blue Meruli, Starry Green Meruli, Starry Red Meruli, Starry Light Green Meruli, Starry Lavender Meruli, Starry Magenta Meruli and Starry Orange Meruli make their debut in this episode.
 * Glory Turquoise and Message Iris make cameo appearances in this episode.
 * Q-pit is shown wearing Love Sagittarius despite it having evolved into Sagittarius Milky Way.
 * As revealed in Episode 25, the live performance at the school was the last scene filmed by Sayaka Akimoto and Shimba Tsuchiya.