The iDOLM@STER S1 E21

For those wondering why I didn't give "Promise" a review: 1. I had no battery life left. Literally, it read 0% and I didn't want to lose all my work. 2. You can't just review something like this. You can't label it with a number, or try to approach it from a professional angle. *Everyone* can relate to at least one aspect of this episode. It's pathos (emotion) incarnate. It has that one emotion everyone has, or at least should have, felt at some point in their lives, no matter their religion, language, heritage, race, gender, or sexuality: It has love. "Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time." Maya Angelou, my favorite poet. "You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams." Dr. Seuss.

## Plot

Chihaya and the producer have decided that she'll do an exclusive interview with Takagi's journalist friend so they can stamp out all the rumors. Chihaya is performing in Idol Jam. Kuroi is very angry about this. He does his best to sabotage them during Idol Jam, like canceling the hairdresser and make-up artist. The girls do their own hair and make-up and help each other out. Kuroi talks to one of the sound guys, and Touma sees him. The sound guy tells 765 Pro that something's happened to their music and they'll just skip them. He's backed into a corner when the producer gives him a CD with the music and follows him to the tent. The girls try to figure out a way to fill the gap until they get the music back. Chihaya is opening, so she's sent to the wings, but she has an idea. Haruka encourages her to share it with everyone. Chihaya thanks everyone for helping her get this far, but she has to do this on her own. She wants to sing a cappella, with no music. She knows that not everyone who came today is a fan, but she wants to sing and show everyone that she's okay now. She sings Nemuri Hime (Sleeping Beauty). *If I could sleep forever I could forget this pain There are nights when these thoughts guide me to sleep The days we spent together so long ago Are the light and darkness in my memories Still wandering the labyrinth of my heart It was a fleeting dream The transient dream I saw together with you Even if it could be a sleep of a hundred years Every story will end someday And if you should turn that final page* Touma remembers Kuroi talking to the sound guy and realizes what he did. Everyone is moved when Chihaya sings a cappella, and the sound guy is so touched that he restores the music. Touma, Hokuto, and Shouta confront Kuroi, who yells at them. Touma and Kuroi end up fighting, but Hokuto and Shouta convince Touma that it's not worth it and they quit 961 Pro. Kuroi leaves and runs into Takagi, but the two don't speak to each other. All of this is going on while Chihaya is still singing. *Sleeping Beauty awakens, and I now Seek help from no one. Even if I'm alone So that I can keep walking 'til tomorrow Even if the morning light is so blinding that tears fill my eyes I'll keep my eyes raised No matter the thorny road I was fine if I was with you If we could clasp hands and just walk forever Before I knew it, the person beside me Had vanished into the distant forest Even if I outstretch my hands, no matter how many times I called his name Would that it were a bad dream- -wiped my tears and flew away Staring into the sky* Everyone welcomes Chihaya back and loves her performance. Chihaya thanks Haruka for all her help. Touma and Jupiter apologize to the producer about everything. Takagi takes them to a restaurant, and by sheer coincidence, Takagi's journalist friend and Kuroi are there too. Also there by sheer coincidence is Kotori, of all people, who sings Flower. Oh my gosh, she's actually a really good singer! *A single seed was born It was small and weak But its roots ran deep And lives strong moment to moment Eventually it pushed up the soil And into the brilliant, never-ending sky Because it never looked down And continued to look up Let's bloom someday If we never give up Spread our leaves with confidence And stretch our stems out We can go however high it takes Let's face our sprouts Straight at our never ending tomorrows Flower buds swaying in the wind Look like they're protecting something No matter how many times they're hurt They hold on tight When the sun comes out, we'll bathe in the light When it rains, we'll make it a blessing And one by one we'll–* During the song, Takagi and Kuroi finally speak to each other. Neither hates the other, they just have different ways of thinking, and Kuroi has trouble expressing his emotions. Kotori used to be an idol that worked for the two of them when they were still partners. The girls were surprised to see her there. She says she's happy where she is right now and just sings once in a while. On the way back, Miki, Haruka, and Chihaya discuss what an "idol" really is. It's almost Christmas time.

## Review

I liked this episode. It wrapped up Chihaya's arc and hinted at Haruka's at the tail end. There was so much singing in this episode. I loved all of it! *Especially* Chihaya's VA/seiyuu singing a cappella! I love you Asami Imai!