Episode 13 - Shifting Feelings

Shifting Feelings (揺れる想い) is the thirteenth episode of the Aikatsu Planet! TV series. It aired on April 4th, 2021.

Summary
Facing off against Q-pit who she admires, Mao is pressured feeling like must also be perfect to beat the perfect girl. However, a mysterious girl sees this and asks what she cherishes about doing Aikatsu!... she realizes she's lost sight of something important from her desire to win. Will the battle's outcome be what Mao wants? And the identity of the mysterious girl is―?

Plot
In the secret room, Mao laments over how she and Shiori are still far from entering the top four on the Aikatsu Ranking and being eligible to compete in the Planet Princess Grand Prix. Shiori says they have to win at the upcoming Happy Dream Fest so that they can earn a lot of points. Mao then receives a call from Izumi, who notifies her that Hana's opponent for the competition is Q-pit.

At the plaza, the big screen is broadcasting one of Hana's performances. This gains the attention of the mysterious girl from the previous episode, who claims that everything she's done is for the sake of meeting Mao. Mao, on the other hand, is troubled at the thought of taking on Q-pit. Ruli and Kyōko arrive, having also heard the news.

The senior idols remind Mao that she was bound to battle Q-pit eventually in the wake of the Grand Prix, and they themselves don't intend to lose should they go up against her. Prompted by Shiori, Mao decides there's nothing else she can do but train. She practices choreography by herself, believing that in order to beat Q-pit she must also be perfect.

The mysterious girl finds Mao, eager to finally meet her. However, she notices something off about Mao's dancing and calls out to her. She questions Mao on her idea of perfection, in the process showing off her own dance skills. Mao is amazed at how the girl is able to learn the steps just by seeing it once, when she herself had to practice to not make any mistakes.

The girl asks if it's necessary to be fixated on such things, to which Mao brings up Q-pit. The girl states that Q-pit isn't just "perfect" and her charm runs deeper than that, with the same going for Mao. She asks Mao what it is that she considers important above all else, citing that for her it's freedom. The girl then begins dancing freestyle, entrancing Mao.

She urges Mao to find her own answer in anticipation for her next performance and leaves. The girl then discovers Ayumi jogging before taking off again. Ayumi stops in her tracks, seemingly having recognized who was watching her. That night, Mao contemplates the girl's question but struggles to come up with her response.

The following day at the agency, Mao poses the same question to Ruli and Kyōko. For Ruli, it's treasuring every moment and making them 'shine'. For Kyōko, it's devoting herself to the beat in her heart and becoming one with its music. When Izumi arrives, Ruli asks what she finds important, with Mao recalling her encounter with the girl.

Finding Mao's description of the girl familiar, Izumi asks for her name but her suspicions remain unconfirmed as Mao never got to learn it. As for her answer to the question, Izumi says that she considers them to be most important to her. She explains that the girls' dedication to their craft gives her energy, sparking something in Mao.

Mao meets up with Shiori, who is training hard in preparation for the competition. Though both desire to win, Mao says she doesn't think she'll be satisfied with her performance if that's all she thinks about on stage. Reflecting on this, Shiori says that Mao has lifted the weight on her shoulders. With renewed feelings, the pair go off for a run together.

The Happy Dream Fest begins, with Ruli, Beat and Shiori winning their respective battle stages. Ann is worriedly watching over Q-pit, who is training continuously up until her time slot under the belief that the person she saw while jogging was Meisa. Before the last few battle stages, a special corner takes place in which idols disclose their happiest moments.

Q-pit's was the moment she became number one, but she also declares her intention to go to even greater heights. Hana reveals her happiest moment to be "now", explaining that after contemplating on what is she finds most important, she realized it was her fans. She wants to make them happy by performing just as they make her happy with their support.

Hana and Q-pit perform a duet of "FLYING TIPS", with Hana as the victor. Backstage, Ann persists that Q-pit should have rested prior to her performance. Q-pit rebuffs her concerns, stating that she was preparing for future stages. Elsewhere, Hana is congratulated by the others, with Izumi informing them that they've all increased their rank.

Later, the mysterious girl once again meets up with Mao by chance. Thrilled after watching Hana and Q-pit's battle stage, she asks Mao how she was able to pull off such a performance. Mao says she was just thinking of being happy with her fans, thanking the girl for her advice. Asked for her name, the girl identifies herself to be Meisa.

Mao is shocked, but the pair's conversation is interrupted by the arrival of Izumi. Izumi wishes to apologize to Meisa, who instead tells her not to worry and that she's going to start Aikatsu again. Meisa claims that she's come back because she wants to take the stage with Mao, and expresses her excitement for what's to come.

Characters

 * Mao Otoha/Hana
 * Ruli Tamaki/Ruli
 * Kyōko Umekōji/Beat
 * Shiori Motoya/Shiori
 * Ayumi Tsukishiro/Q-pit
 * Ann
 * Meisa Hinata
 * Izumi Watanuki

Trivia

 * Episode Title Reference: "Shifting Feelings" (揺れる想い) by ZARD
 * This episode premiered on the birthday of Shimba Tsuchiya.
 * Pop Grape Crepe, Scorch Arabian Night and Natural Capricorn make cameo appearances in this episode.
 * Each idol from Starlet Promotion performed a different Part 1 song for their battle stage in the Happy Dream Fest.
 * Hana - "FLYING TIPS"
 * Ruli - "Glittering☆Party♪ Time" (This is also in spite of Ruli being seen practicing the choreography for Bloomy＊Smile at the agency.)
 * Beat - "Bloomy＊Smile"
 * Shiori - "HAPPY∞Aikatsu!"
 * As revealed in Episode 25, the scene with Ayumi jogging was the last scene filmed by Mizuki.