The episode starts out with the successors singing "To be continued" for the encore on Akibastar. Just as Yuuko asks the audience if they enjoyed the performance, an important announcement is shown on screen:
The crowd is excited, but Nagisa, Orine, and Yuka are in shock that a 0048 concert will be held on their home planet. Another announcement is made concerning the concert:
All of the 0048 members, successors and understudies, are surprised at this announcement.
Tsubasa explains to the understudies how the concert at Lancastar will proceed. The understudies will perform first, and the successors will perform after as the main concert. Makoto says she cannot do it (as usual), while Megu is happy that she gets to perform on stage with Youko, the current Sae.
Yuka hears her name being called, and she notices that it is Mamoru who called her. After Yuka asks Mamoru about the message he sent her, Mamoru notices Suzuko, and blushes, as he is a Suzuko fan.
Tsubasa continues to explain that this song is one of the few solos in 0048's (as well as AKB48's) repertoire. (Who could possibly be in this song? Obviously, Nagisa and Chieri have to be in this song, as I had pointed out in episode 1.) Takamina and Yuuko have a feeling that Kanata willl have the solo parts (as the fuss with her soul being closer to the original Takamina's). Yuka thinks that it is most likely Kanata or Chieri, since they were both chosen as replacements for the successors in a previous concert. However, it is actually Nagisa who gets all the singing lines, while Chieri, Suzuko, and Makoto will be the back-up dancers. Nagisa immediately says that she cannot do a solo, and that there are other members who are much better at singing than her, but Tsubasa says that this is not up for debate.
I did not expect the series to make it so obvious by actually putting "Nagisa no Cherry" as a performance number with Nagisa and Chieri performing in it. It seems obvious that it would be Nagisa over Chieri to get the solos, and Nagisa's reaction is exactly like AKB48's Acchan when she first found out she would be the only one singing in the song.
Back at the dorms, Takamina asks Kanata if she is jealous of a younger generation getting a solo song. Kanata admits that she is jealous, but she has never been promoted anyway, and younger generations have been surpassing her, so she can only be happy that the efforts of the younger generations are being rewarded. Takamina is impressed with Kanata's captaincy, and tells her to do her best while Takamina guards their concert. Kanata is worried about Takamina's injuries, but Takamina says:
(Are they going to remind us of this every single time? >.<)
In their rooms, Yuka and Orine think about their concert being on Lancastar. Sonata is on the computer, and notices that Yuka has received two messages.
The first one is from her parents that are interested in AKB0048 gossip, while the other one is from Mamoru, who says that he heard that AKB0048 will have a concert on Lancastar, but he does not want Yuka to come back home. Yuka is speechless.
In another part of the train...
Nagisa doubts herself, and Chieri notices.
(The rain outside seems ominous...)
In the dance studio, Nagisa practices singing and dancing "Nagisa no Cherry," but not with the energy and vibrancy that the song needs, according to Ushiyama-sensei. Chieri is quick to point out that Nagisa is only worrying, while Chieri and the other girls are doing their best dancing behind her. On the other side of the studio, Kanata is telling Yuka and Sonata to concentrate and not fool around. Kanata does not want to look lame in front of Takamina, who will be doing her best to protect their concert. Yuka finds it sickening that all Kanata thinks about is Takamina. Mimori tries to mediate the situation, but to no avail. As Tsubasa is watching over the practices, Yuuko barges, with Yukirin and Sayaka behind her, asking whether it is true that S-Quadruple composed a new song, even more so that it is for the understudies. The understudies obviously overhear the conversation, and Suzuko explains why this is shocking news.
Tsubasa says that she was going to wait until after the setlist was finalized, but since everyone has heard it, she decides to announce the new song:
Tsubasa reads out loud a few of the lyrics, which the understudies listen very carefully to. Yuuko does not understand why the song is not for the successors, and Tsubasa explains that this song was created by S-Quadruple in response to the understudies, as it seems they have moved him so much to do so. Yuuko turns around, and says that the successors will practice the song as well, and sing it for the main performance. Yukirin says that Yuuko is not acting like herself, but Yuuko asks which self is she referring to: the girl before she became Yuuko or Oshima Yuuko the 9th? Yuuko says it does not matter, since both of them are the same and are her. (Ah yes, the consequences of the successor system: which one is your true self? We saw this a bit in episode 8 when Takamina says that "Takamina" is not her name.)
Tsubasa tells everyone to take a break, and use this time to let off some steam because...
During the break, the understudies talk about the new song. Sonata says that S-Quadruple should make songs more often. Mimori agrees, but Makoto says it would be a pain to memorize more songs, since...
Indeed, AKB48 has literally hundreds of songs, all written by Akimoto Yasushi (as far as I know).
In the locker room, Megu tells Youko, the current Sae, that she will be doing her best in the performance that would even put the successors to shame. Youko is surprised, but also happy.
It is nice to see that the two of them are getting along again.
We then see Chieri walking down a hallway thinking about how Nagisa's attitude is not acceptable, and how Chieri was ready to accept that Nagisa had something that she did not (especially since Kirara has never glowed for Chieri). Chieri then notices Yuuko practicing the new song in her dressing room. Chieri finds Yuuko's obsession with the song shameful, yet inspiring.
As Tsubasa is about to explain the situation on Lancastar, she receives a transmission from...
He tells her that DES has learned of AKB0048's concert on Lancastar.
The people on his side will do their best to help.
Tsubasa continues to inform the members that...
Everyone gasps. Nagisa and Orine are concerned, while Yuka finally realizes what Mamoru's message meant, while her parents did not mention anything. Despite what is happening on Lancastar, Tsubasa tells them that the concert will take plaec as here are pro-entertainment officials who have requested for it, and it is not the first time AKB0048 held a concert on Lancastar as they did so many years before.
They have safely landed on Lancastar, and the understudies are determined to look around town before the concert starts. Tsubasa allows it as long as they are dressed for battle.
(Woah. What happened to Lancastar? It is night-time, but still...)
Nagisa, Orine, and Yuka reminisce how the scenery has not changed, but...
The understudies decide to visit Nagisa and Yuka's school, but notice that it is closed down. Nagisa cannot believe her eyes, since they were attending school not too long ago.
Yuka hears her name being called, and she notices that it is Mamoru who called her. After Yuka asks Mamoru about the message he sent her, Mamoru notices Suzuko, and blushes, as he is a Suzuko fan.
Suzuko bows and thanks Mamoru for his support.
The girl next to Mamoru is named Aoi, and she is a Yuka fan.
They enter the school, and Sonata is curious as to which one is Nagisa and Yuka's old classroom. They find it, and enter to see this:
One of the guys sleeping there wakes up, and notices that 00 members. He tells everyone that 00 members are here, and everyone gets up, and starts cleaning right away to end up with this:
Mamoru, as well as all the other guys, tell the understudies to make themselves at home.
The understudies learn that the school was closed down a few months ago.
Yuka asks why did Mamoru go from hating AKB0048 to loving them. Mamoru said that he did some research on AKB0048 when Yuka left, and the more he read, the more addicted he became. (Even though Yuka is upset that Mamoru could change his mind so quickly, she is glad that he likes AKB0048.)
Yuka is still bothered by Aoi and Mamoru's relationship though, and Sonata can sense Yuka's jealousy.
The Chief explains that...
Mamoru: "it caused problems."
Nagisa feels that it is all her fault. As she heads for the door, DES starts attacking the school.
Kanata orders the understudies to split into three groups to confuse the enemy.
Two shocking truths: Nagisa becoming an understudy unintentionally got her father arrested, and the machines that Orine was working on in the factory were actually anti-entertainment weapons. What is going to happen now? @.@
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