AKB0048 Ep 8

This episode starts out with the concert where the 4 selected understudies were chosen to replace the successors that went to a peace ceremony. 

Kanata, Chieri, Mimori, and Megumi performing "Aitakatta"

The 77th generation cheer on their fellow understudies, while Ushiyama-sensei and Tsubasa watch from behind. Sonata cheers on Kanata, while Yuka thinks how amazing Chieri is. Ushiyama-sensei comments how the selected understudies are not half bad, while Tsubasa notices the 77th generation doing the hand movements for "Aitakatta," even though they should not have learned the song yet. Ushiyama-sensei tells her that the 77th generation were so persistent about watching in on the practices that he let them have some practice space. 

The concert was a success. Let us look at the faces of the understudies that performed an entire concert. 

Idols sweat so much when they perform at concerts that even their hair gets all sweaty. 

After the concert, the 77th generation congratulates the selected understudies for their amazing performance. Sae congratulates Megumi, but Megumi looks away instead.

Linda looks up on the news about the peace ceremony,  and everyone gathers around to see it. 

The video cuts out due to DES interfering with the broadcast. Kanata says how Takamina looked really cool. Mimori mentions that Kanata is Takamina's biggest supporter. Kanata blushes and says that it is not like that. Linda mentions to Kanata that Takamina and the others should be back from the peace ceremony.

 Kanata runs out in a panic. 

Kanata and a few of the other understudies come to welcome back the successors. 

Tsubasa holds a meeting concerning the next concert. 

The fans are asking for AKB0048 to perform on their planet, but because they are under the Entertainment Ban, conflict with DES is inevitable. Tsubasa says that this will be an unpredictable guerilla concert.

Tsubasa says that Kanata, Mimori, Megumi, and the 77th generation will be performing as stand-ins for this concert. Kanata and Mimori are ecstatic, the 77th generation is in shock and happily surprised, while Megumi is upset that no one else from the 76th generation was chosen. Tsubasa asks whether the 76th generation can perform the set list from the last concert. The 76th generation cannot look Tsubasa in the eyes because they know they cannot perform the set list, while the 77th generation can because they practiced. However, Takamina has a concerned look on her face, most likely because of what happened on the sacred grounds concerning Kanata.

Kanata runs to find Takamina before she leaves, and tells her that she will give it her all as Takamina's stand-in. Mimori tells Kanata that everyone is heading home, and they head back together. But Takamina is wondering whether she is acting normally, and what would the original Takamina do. (Takamina is still concerned that her soul is no longer the closest to the original Takamina.)

You can see that Yuuko and Takamina are about to enter a mini-bus. This is how a lot of idol groups travel to get from place to place. 

Back on the train home, the 76th generation are upset because they were not selected to be stand-ins, despite being accepted way before the 77th generation. Kanata does her best to calm them down and give them motivation to do their best for next time. However, Megumi is quick to point out that Kanata has been working the hardest out of all of them, but has not yet become successor.

Kanata is speechless. Sonata is so upset that she calls Megumi "Nasty." What is most surprising is Linda headbutting Megumi, demonstrating that what she did hurt just as much to herself as it did to Megumi. Linda is determined to make Megumi apologize to Kanata, but another 76th generation member, Hazuki, pulls Megumi away and apologizes in her stead.

Slightly random, but Ichikawa Miori (nickname: Miorin / Fresh Lemon), former Team 4 member and current Team B member, is known for her headbutts. 

Kanata appreciates Linda's thought, but it was not necessary as Kanata fully understands how the 76th generation feels, since Youko from the 76th generation got promoted and became the current Sae. Kanata and Mimori both panicked because they were from the 75th generation. The 77th generation do not know what to say, but the girls all eventually head back to the dorms.

Back at the dorms, Linda is asleep (although her forehead is still injured from the earlier headbutt). Nagisa says to Chieri how she is nervous, and Chieri tells her that Nagisa needs to perform with confidence or else it will be disrespectful to the understudies that were not chosen. Yuka is writing a message to Mamoru (her "ex-boyfriend?") about how she will be a stand-in for a concert. However, Makoto and Sonata were peaking, and so Yuka decides to deal with them like so.

The understudies are off to Tundrastar. Kanata tells the 77th generation to get practicing in the lesson rooms on the Katyusha. She also offers Megumi to join in, but Megumi decides to go somewhere else to practice.

While Megumi is singing through the lyrics of  "Oogoe Diamond," Sae comes in and asks why Megumi is not practicing with the others. Megumi still calls Sae by her real name "Youko" and tells Youko how she is upset that they never get to see each other when they used to be so close as understudies.

In the cafeteria, Tsubasa informs the girls of the information she has received from the WOTA, the fans who saved them during the handshake event.

Tsubasa decides to cancel the concert for everyone's safety, but Takamina says that they will do it because AKB0048 has always put their lives on the line to perform for their fans who are counting on them.

Kanata agrees.

However, it seems that DES' attack is much earlier than expected and everyone is sent to their battle stations, including the understudies. Takamina, Sayaka, and Sae are ordered by Tsubasa to divert the enemy crafts away from Tundrastar, while the Katyusha finds a safe place to hide. It seems like the LAS units are outnumbered, and so Yuuko decides to join in (due to Takamina not being herself). Kanata joins in as well for combat support. Because Takamina is not concentrating on the battle due to doubting herself as to whether she is fit to be captain of AKB0048 and hold the title of Takamina, her craft is destroyed, and her pod is recovered by Yuuko. Takamina notices before she passes out how the Kirara are illuminating Kanata, and she concludes that it is because the Kirara are choosing Kanata as Takamina. Takamina hears Kanata continuously calling out her name, but she replies to herself that "Takamina" is not her name.

Takamina eventually wakes up in the infirmary, and is greeted by Yuuko saying how Takamina has been unconscious for so long that she had to send the worried Kanata away. Kanata feels powerless as she could not protect Takamina.

Yuuko mentions to Takamina how Takamina was not herself today. 

The "calm, kind, and just" comes from the chant that AKB48 members say just before they perform. 

Takamina admits to Yuuko that she does not want to give up on her dream. Even though she is not the best singer or dancer, she does not want to graduate from AKB0048 after gaining confidence from being selected as Takamina the 5th. But it hurts her that because of her selfishness, Kanata will never be promoted. Takamina is aware that Kanata looks up to Takamina and adores her so much, and that Takamina is crushing Kanata's dream by staying in AKB0048 for her own dreams. 

Yuuko tells Takamina how everyone cares for the understudies, but following your own dream is the most important thing. Everyone in AKB0048 are chasing the same dream, but in different ways. 

Yuuko: "Your dream belongs to you alone. So what is wrong with that?"

Kanata feels that she needs to get stronger and work harder (most likely in order to protect those who are important to her like Takamina).