Episode 08 - Rock 'n' Beat!

Rock 'n' Beat! (ロックンビート！) is the eighth episode of the Aikatsu Planet! TV series. It aired on February 28th, 2021.

Summary
Thinking that no one knowing Beat's identity is one of her charms, Kyōko also keeps her Aikatsu! a secret to her parents. However, while filming for a show, she unexpectedly shows her Kyoko-like side and is told it's interesting, and a certain feeling grows... After thinking it over, what is the decision Kyōko and Beat have made?

Plot
At the agency, Mao, Kyōko and Izumi are looking at various fan polls in which Beat has placed first. Izumi reveals that as a result of Beat's rising popularity, she has received an interview request wishing to disclose Beat's true identity. A hesitant Kyōko opts to decline, feeling that the secrecy is part of Beat's allure. In addition to this, she has also yet to tell her parents that she is an idol.

With that being said, Izumi presents both girls another job opportunity - a battle stage between Beat and Hana with a program promoting the event before that. Ruli acts as MC for the show, pitting Hana and Beat against each other in a series of small competitions that Beat wins.

Beat offers the show staff refreshments to thank them for their hard work, with one of them commending her on her thoughtfulness. He reveals a shot taken of her sorting everyone's shoes at the restaurant they had filmed at earlier. The director decides to include the image as part of the program, deeming it interesting. Elated by this reaction, Kyōko is suddenly hit with an idea.

She decides to accept the interview offer and reveal that Kyōko is the person behind Beat. When the journalist inquires what changed her mind about the interview, Kyōko explains that she has come to the realization that both Kyōko and Beat are a part of herself, and even when she is acting as one, she still finds the other to be important.

Afterwards, Izumi and Kyōko discuss about the article increasing hype for the battle stage, but Kyōko states there's one more thing she has to do before it gets published. At home, Kyōko sits her parents down for a talk and reveals to them that she does Aikatsu as Beat. Her parents are shocked to learn this, and an uneasy Kyōko asks them to watch her upcoming performance. The following day, the published article becomes the talk of the entire school.

The battle stage between Hana and Beat finally begins, with Hana using Aurora Pegasus and Smart Kyūbi while Beat summons Bloody Rock and Hip Hop Break. The pair perform a duet of "Glittering☆Party♪ Time", with Hana claiming victory. Beat is visibly disappointed by the results, but praises Hana for her improvement.

Kyōko returns home apprehensively and starts to apologize for having lost the battle stage. Her parents interject and tell her that they thought Beat was amazing, positively surprising Kyōko. The following day, Kyōko, Mao, Ruli and Shiori are having lunch together in the secret room. Kyōko once again congratulates Mao on her win, but Mao states that the reason the event was a success was because of Beat.

Shiori marvels at how great idols are, and reveals something to the other girls that she's been thinking about for a long time: she wants to become an idol herself.

Characters

 * Mao Otoha/Hana
 * Ruli Tamaki/Ruli
 * Kyōko Umekōji/Beat
 * Shiori Motoya
 * Izumi Watanuki
 * Keito Kirihata
 * Shō Kurosaki
 * Ryōka Dōba
 * Aurora Pegasus
 * Smart Kyūbi
 * Bloody Rock
 * Hip Hop Break

Trivia

 * Episode Title Reference: "Rock'n Rouge" by Seiko Matsuda
 * The ending sequence mistakenly credits Shiori despite not appearing.
 * Kyōko's mother and father are played by actors Ryōko Yūi and Takashi Yashiro, respectively. Their characters' given names were not disclosed in the credits.