AKB0048 Ep 12

So we last left off with all the understudies trying to get away from DES forces. However, Orine trips and is attacked by the machine she worked with in the factory with the name "Sakura" engraved on it. Orine thinks the following as she faces a shocking reality: 

As I mentioned in episode 1, "Sakura" stands for all the Sakura singles that AKB48 has released over the years: "Sakura no Hanabiratachi," "10nen Zakura," "Sakura no Shiori," "Sakura no Ki ni Narou," "Give Me Five," and this year's "So Long," which are all about graduation, becoming adults, and remembering the times they spent together. Although they will be going their separate ways, they can always reunite with one another when the cherry blossoms bloom again. 

Despite Orine being completely defenseless and Sakura missing like crazy, Nagisa jumps in and pushes Orine out of the way, while Chieri destroys Sakura's weapon. Chieri and Orine continue to run, while Nagisa becomes a diversion to lead the DES machines away. 

Orine feels at fault, but Chieri tells her that she did not know. Chieri says the blame should be on her since Zodiac, her father's company, is the one that made Orine and all the women at the factory make those weapons. Orine says that it is not Chieri's fault, and Chieri says the same thing back at Orine. Sakura comes after them, and Orine cannot bring herself to hurt it, so Chieri decides to do defeat it instead. However, Chieri is caught off-guard by a projectile attack, and is saved by WOTA. The two are directed to get into a car as the rest of the understudies are being gathered. 

The Chief of the WOTA tell the understudies that they will be rushed to the Flying Get, but Nagisa is determined to save her father. Kanata decides to help, and explains to the Chief that the understudies are all trained for combat, so they can protect themselves, and those who love entertainment. The Chief comments that Kanata acts very much like her father. 

Nagisa reminisces that the tunnel they are running through is the same one that led them to that fateful AKB0048 concert, but where the concert took place is now the detainment facility. (Coincidence much?)

The WOTA will create a diversion, while the understudies infiltrate underground via a passage through the mines. Yuuka wants to help the WOTA, but Mamoru says that it is too dangerous. 

Kanata joins Yuuka in helping the WOTA, and tells Nagisa to save her father. The rest of the 77th generation travel through the mines, while the rest of the understudies are on standby with the WOTA. There is some back and forth between Mamoru and Yuuka where Yuuka is happy that Mamoru is concerned for her, but Mamoru wants her to remember that she is an idol, and that many people are waiting for her.

Suzuko has located that the detained pro-entertainment officials are to the left of their current position.

They have successfully located Nagisa's father, but her father has no intention of leaving with them because...

(Oh, that is some harsh words for your daughter.)

The girls receive a transmission from Kanata that DES is aware that they are underground. Nagisa's father tells Nagisa to leave, and the girls have to retreat without completing their mission.

Everyone ends up at Yuuka's family restaurant to eat, and rest before the concert begins. 

Yuuka is helping out, even though she should be eating with the others.

(Look how devastated Nagisa is.)

In another room, Mimori tends to Megu, who was injured during the rescue operation. Megu is sad that she will not be able to be on stage with Youko, but Mimori tells her that there is always next time. 

While Yuuka makes small talk with her parents about how they said nothing in their messages about Lancastar, Nagisa cannot take it anymore and decides to ask Yuuka's parents the following: 

As they drive by Nagisa's house, Nagisa notices the flowerbed that her mother took such good care of has withered, and Nagisa realizes just how much trouble she has caused her parents. 

When the understudies finally get back to the Flying Get, Ushiyama-sensei tells them to start practicing, and they start off with "Nagisa no Cherry." 

(Nagisa looks really depressed.)

Ushiyama-sensei seems to sense something off with Nagisa. 

As Nagisa starts singing, her voice is barely audible. No matter how hard she tries to sing, nothing improves.

Nagisa is taken to the infirmary, where Yukirin diagnoses Nagisa as having lost her voice due to stress.

Tsubasa says that the concert is tomorrow, and while the rest of the members can take over Nagisa's parts in the other songs; the problem is with "Nagisa no Cherry." As Tsubasa says that they might have to change the set list, Chieri tries to convince Tsubasa to let her sing it because she knows all the lyrics and choreography by heart, since she has practiced all the time with Nagisa as a back dancer. Tsubasa is convinced.

Nagisa is devastated, and is unable to voice her opinions, while the rest of the understudies volunteer to cover Nagisa's parts in the other songs. Yuuka and Orine try to reassure her, but they do not realize the shock that Nagisa is currently facing. 

We then see Yuuko practicing Sensei-sensei's new song, and Takamina joins her. However, Yuuko does not like the song at all as it keeps talking about the next generation. Takamina loses her balance, and Yuuko notices that Takamina has a fever again. Takamina says she will be fine, and besides...

Takamina feels that it is time to pass on her dreams to a new generation.

Back at rehearsals, Ushiyama-sensei is pushing the 77th generation really hard to make sure that they can properly cover Nagisa's parts.

The understudies finish their last-minute rehearsal, and Chieri notices Nagisa walking away, holding her throat. Chieri finds Nagisa, and asks her the following:

(Wow. Chieri clearly sees Nagisa as a rival, most likely because of the whole Kirara thing.)

Tsubasa preps the understudies for their first concert performance. 

Yuuka thanks Mamoru for everything, and that she will do her best to dazzle on stage. 

After Yuuka comes back from her talk with Mamoru, Kanata huddles the girls together for the "enjin," a small cheer/chant to get them fired up for the concert. You can see this in Team B's song, "Shonichi." 

Many people from Lancastar have gathered for a fireworks festival, when in reality, they are all there for the AKB0048 performance, starting with the understudies. 

The understudies start out with the song "Oogoe Diamond" with Kanata singing Takamina's lines. Nagisa is still looking depressed as ever, and barely dancing or smiling in comparison to the others.

The WOTA and the successors are doing their best to protect the understudies' concert, but Tsubasa can tell that DES is serious this time as the Flying Get gets a direct hit. 

Mamoru looks at a picture of Yuuka that he had secretly hidden under his picture of Suzuko. 

(Unrequited love at its finest. They both love each other, but they cannot say it, and they are both determined to keep these feelings in their heart and never say it.) This is such a contrast to the lyrics of "Oogoe Diamond" which says to simply say "I love you" out loud because those are the best words to say.

Tsubasa gives the call to retreat immediately as the concert is cancelled. Yuuka says farewell to Mamoru in spirit as she sings the rest of the lines of "Oogoe Diamond" and giving birth to her own Kirara. 

(Yuuka's Kirara has Yuuka's hairstyle.) 

The last words of the understudies is that they will definitely come back.