Episode 10 - The One and Only Hana in the World

The One and Only Hana in the World (世界に一つだけのハナ) is the tenth episode of the Aikatsu Planet! TV series. It aired on March 14th, 2021.

Summary
Mao finally reveals that she is Hana. The place she has chosen for the important confession is, not the press conference that had been prepared, but her first fan event. She wants to tell the truth to the fans directly in her own words... The serious Hana in the face of anxiety, and Mao in the face of Hana's fans, how will their courage and determination reach everyone's hearts―?

Plot
In Aikatsu Planet, Hana begins a livestream of her talk show. During a segment in which she gives advice to fans about their personal dilemmas, she receives many submissions from people who are scared to confess to their crushes. Hana struggles to come up with an answer, but is encouraged after seeing positive engagement from her viewers. She thanks everyone for their support and wishes she could provide the same for them.

At school, Mao confides in Shiori about her inability to help her fans. She bumps into Keito as she and Shiori are leaving the classroom, dropping her AiPla Phone. As Mao scrambles to pick it up and heads off, a puzzled Keito discovers Hana's Idol License on the floor.

The girls eat lunch together on the rooftop, where Mao asks Shiori to perform with her at Hana's fan event as a guest. Mao explains that after contemplating about how to entertain the fans, she believed she'd be able to bring out the best of herself if Shiori was with her. Shiori agrees, as they are after all, best friends.

Their conversation is interrupted by Keito, who questions Mao about Hana. He reveals the Idol License Mao left behind and reacts with disbelief about her identity. Ruli and Kyōko meet up with Mao and Shiori in the secret room after hearing what happened. Though Keito has promised not to tell anyone, Mao is afraid of how the rest of the fans will react when they find out she's Hana.

The girls comfort Mao, with Kyōko adding that some people were disappointed when she revealed herself as Beat, and that everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Shiori says that as best friends, she would want Mao to be completely open with her, and thinks Hana's fans are the same way. Mao decides to properly reveal herself as Hana, noting that the way she's feeling right now is similar to the fans who had asked her for advice.

At the agency, Mao asks Izumi for permission to make the confession at her fan event, as opposed to the press conference as they had planned. Not only does she want the fans to find out directly, but maybe in doing so, they will find the courage to overcome their own problems. Izumi agrees, telling a concerned Segawa that she could tell Mao's decision was made in consideration of the fans.

Mao begins preparations for Hana's fan event with the help of the others. As she and Shiori are practicing for their performance, Keito watches from afar and smiles at seeing the effort Mao is putting in. The day of the fan event, Mao is visibly nervous as she and Shiori are about to enter Aikatsu Planet. Shiori admits that she's nervous as well, as this will be the first time they go together as fellow idols.

As the fan event begins, Beat and Ruli notice that Q-pit and Ann are also in attendance, with Izumi explaining that Hana invited them. While Hana and Shiori take the stage, Izumi notes that the atmosphere is more friendly in comparison to the last fan event with Meisa, which was more extravagant. As a result of the difference made by Mao taking over, some of Hana's old fans have left, but she's made new ones in exchange.

After a small break, Hana returns to the stage and thanks her fans for coming before finally making her announcement - she is Mao Otoha, having taken over as Hana from Meisa. Izumi joins her to address the situation, revealing that Meisa has quit on her own terms. Not wanting to upset the fans with Hana's disappearance, Izumi asked Mao to take up the mantle but requested she keep it a secret until they held the press conference.

The attendees are audibly shocked, with Ann affirming she knew something was up while Q-pit is left wondering about Meisa. Hana declares that she will relinquish all of her previous points on the Aikatsu Ranking and start again from scratch. She opens up about feeling scared of everyone's reaction to the news, and thus why she brought in Shiori so that she could more easily be herself.

To wrap up the event, the pair perform a duet of "See You See You See You See You See You Tomorrow", with the fans acknowledging that they like the current Hana just fine and will continue to support her. The following morning at the Otoha household, Kanade is astounded after a news broadcast reveals Mao as the new Hana. An amused Mao announces that she's off to school.

As Mao and Shiori are walking together, various passersby recognize the former as Hana. The pair run into Ryōka and Shō, with the latter teasing Keito about asking Mao to shake her hand. An embarrassed Keito claims to have only been a fan of the previous Hana, but says he'll support Mao and tells her to do her best.

Characters

 * Mao Otoha/Hana
 * Ruli Tamaki/Ruli
 * Kyōko Umekōji/Beat
 * Shiori Motoya/Shiori
 * Q-pit
 * Ann
 * Izumi Watanuki
 * Itsuki Segawa
 * Keito Kirihata
 * Shō Kurosaki
 * Ryōka Dōba
 * Kanade Otoha

Trivia

 * Episode Title Reference: "The One and Only Flower in the World" (世界に一つだけの花) by SMAP
 * "See You See You See You See You See You Tomorrow" makes its debut as an insert song in this episode.
 * This marks the first instance in which Keito Kirihata is referred to by name despite debuting several episodes prior.
 * This marks the first instance in which two idols perform a Dress Change simultaneously.
 * Hana's fan event is subtitled "vol. 17", indicating Meisa held a total of 16 previous ones.