Ichigo nervously attends her first meeting with Mizuki's staff as they plan for her next concert. After the meeting, Mizuki starts training Ichigo on a trampoline, teaching her about the Special Appeals she'll need to use. As Ichigo struggles to think about how to pull it off, her friends give her some advice.

An article appears in the tabloids features photos that expose Yurika's normal appearance that she keeps secret from the public.

As a new school year arrives and Ichigo and the others move up a year, the now second year students are assigned to help mentor the new freshmen.

Kaede, who is a super idol in America, manages to get a place in the final audition by showing she has done more extreme versions of the trials the other idols went through.

Orihime arranges for Soleil to perform a concert at a local open-air stage in Ichigo's hometown. The catch, however, is that they must fill every seat without using television or the internet, otherwise the event will be called off.

As the STAR☆ANIS members return to their individual units, Shion is preparing for an audition for the role of Alice in a production of Alice in Wonderland.

As the idols have some new promotional photos taken, Ichigo, Aoi, and Ran, along with Seira, are asked to help promote a new camera model by letting fans take pictures of them. After running into each other while practising their candid expressions, Ichigo, Aoi, Ran, Seira, and Kii go shopping together to explore the range of expressions they can make, before stopping by Seira's café.

The presence of a reporter known as Mister S, who is infamous for exposing idol love affairs, puts the other idols on high alert. Meanwhile, Aoi and Kii are asked to participate in a fashion show themed around 'first love'. Feeling that Mister S may be targeting Seira, Kii has her take asylum in Starlight Academy, as she feels her secret hobby of cutely talking to cats clashes with her rock idol image.

Dream Academy decides to hold a Christmas party with Kii as producer and Sora at the designer, while Ichigo features on a Christmas cake designed by Asuka.

Dream Academy idol Maria Himesato, who is due to appear on an 'Idol Princesses' television program where she will receive a Constellation Dress from Green Grass, decides she wants daisies incorporated into the design to remind her of the mountains.

The day before the Star Dream Festival & Carnival begins, Dream Academy is busy with preparations for the Dream Carnival day. Seira, who has been nervous about being the headlining act, learns from Ichigo that she plans to perform alongside her friends.

Otome explains that she was so focused on including everyone into her schedule that she forgot to include herself, refusing to make any further changes to the timetable.

Having become close friends with Otome during the Partner's Cup, Maria becomes keen to learn more about her, wondering how she became how she is. Meanwhile, Otome hears from Makoto that he is designing a Constellation Premium Dress for Happy Rainbow, but is struggling with ideas. Afterwards, Maria comes across Otome at a kindergarten, which is revealed to be Otome's home, and helps her with preparations for a play of The Wizard of Oz.

Orihime and Tiara announce the beginning of the Aikatsu8 Elections, in which fans will show their support for their favorite idols, and the eight most popular idols will form a special unit known as Aikatsu8. They declare that the Elections are not limited to idols from Starlight and DreAca, so Mizuki and Mikuru from WM are eligible to participate.

The results of the Aikatsu 8 elections are announced, with the chosen idols being Seira, Otome, Sora, Maria, Mikuru, Yurika, Ichigo, and Mizuki. The chosen girls soon set off on their summer tour, with Mizuki put in charge of producing their performances.

On the night before the last concert in their tour, the girls decide to hold a pajama party, taking pictures to use in their final concert.

Akari, who has been struggling with performing Special Appeals, has to stay at school over the summer break for a training camp, whilst Ichigo sees Aoi and Ran off as they go to the Amazon for a film shoot before resuming her training with Seira.

With the first years due to perform a yearly recital, Akari tries to keep thoughts of admiration for Ichigo out of her head so she can focus on her performance. As such, when Akari comes across Ichigo on the day of the performance, she attempts to run away from her but is eventually caught.

As an audition is held for the starring role in a new drama alongside Ichigo, Aoi, and Ran, a new transfer student, Juri Kurebayashi, expresses her passionate desire to win the role.

With a week until Christmas, Sakura is put in charge of preparations for the Christmas Party, which includes a special Aikatsu Christmas Stage. Aiming to audition for the stage alongside Akari and Sumire, Hinaki decides she needs to get a Vivid Kiss Premium Dress so she can perform a Heroine Appeal.

As Akari begins her job as a weather girl, Sumire decides she needs to find her own speciality too. However, she gets a throat cold just as she receives word of a shampoo girl audition, which seems to favor her beauty rather than her singing talent.

As Tsubasa struggles to come up with a design for his next Premium Dress, Akari's popularity as a weather presenter earns her a stage during a concert being planned by her TV channel, feeling she needs to up her game to earn the right to wear the Premium Dress.

When Rin gets an offer to appear in a dance event, she decides to get a Premium Dress from her favorite brand, Dance Fusion, whose top designer, Sonny, used to be in a dance unit with Johnny.

Yuu goes on another exchange program, this time to Etoile Academy in Kobe, who send over their student, Kokone Kurisu, who is friends with Miyabi. Upon arriving at Starlight Academy, Kokone, used to being the center of attention, becomes downhearted that she's not as well known outside her hometown.

After Akari and Sumire are requested for a wedding-themed event, they overhear Johnny discussing an upcoming wedding over the phone, jumping to the conclusion that he's getting married.

As the end of her transfer program approaches, Kokone seems defiant about Akari and the others holding a send-off party for her, leading them to think that she doesn't want to leave.

Hinaki decides to join Akari and Sumire for their three person unit, wanting to become more passionate after losing out on the Aikatsu8. After doing some model shoots for Kayoko, Hinaki is a bit concerned when she is asked to retake them, only to learn that Kayoko wants her to demonstrate a new Fine Drum Coord that she made just for her.

As Luminas work to improve themselves before the festival, Kaede approaches Yurika about entering the festival as Tristar. While initially believing it to be impossible, Yurika eventually realises from spending time with Powa Powa Puririn that she wants to reform Tristar too. After being approached by Kaede and Yurika, Mizuki feels the same way and gets Orihime's okay to reform Tristar.

Nono Daichi and Lisa Shirakaba have received offers to perform during the fashion event that has been gathering everyone's attention: "Urban Girls Collection"! The two who are overjoyed by the news have decided to obtain the Premium Rare Coord from their favourite brand, Dolly Devil. To meet with the top designer Lucy Kisaragi, it was a pay out to meet in the big city!

The three idols from Luminas who are now in Osaka will be participating in a local program alongside the idol of comedy, Nina Dōjima. The theme of the program is "Going around various places, deliver laughters to people from kids to adults". While looking for a location and being seen at the same time, the real form of Nina's theory of comedy is...!

Akari Ōzora who is thinking hard everyday on what kind of stage she will have to create in order to please the audience decides to consult Tsubasa Sena, who has once said that designers and idols are a team. However, Tsubasa has caught a cold...?

With word spreading about a top secret guest set to headline the Starlight Queen Cup, everyone becomes curious as to who it will be, including Johnny. While visiting Ichigo's bento shop, Johnny comes to the assumption that Masquerade is the special guest in question. His guess turns out to be completely off the mark, however, as the real guests are revealed to be Mizuki and Mikuru, who have reformed WM.

While the other idols prepare for the next day of the Starlight Festival, Nono makes Risa a meal to cheer her up, promising to win in her stead. The next day, as Miyabi and Kokone come to Starlight to watch the event, Nono kicks the day off with her performance, also falling just behind Juri in the rankings. Rin lands in the spot after Nono, while Madoka places between Juri and Nono. With Juri still in the top spot, Akari, Sumire, and Hinaki prepare for the next day's performances.