Episode 1 - I Want to Be a ☆ Shining Star!

## I Want to Be a ☆ Shining Star!

"**I Want to Be a ☆ Shining Star!**" (반짝반짝☆별이 되고 싶어!) is the first episode of *Shining Star*. It first aired on October 16, 2017 on MBC, and was posted on the YouTube channel on January 31, 2019.

## Synopsis

*Chae Nara dreams of becoming an Idol, more now than ever after the mysterious Jin and her parents express doubt that someone like her could ever be one.*

## Summary

Choosing a brilliant Coordi a girl steps out on a bright stage and puts on a performance. A handsome male named Noah awaits her with flowers and a compliment, but as the girl goes to take the flowers she suddenly trips.

Nara awakens in her bedroom and hurriedly tries to return to sleep until her mom interrupts to tell her the time. Her mom informs her that she'll be late and disappointed, she gets dressed and heads down for breakfast after her mom threatens not to give her any.

After school, Nara walks through the streets listening to a song and singing with it until she bumps into someone; a handsome young man who criticizes her lack of an idol appeal, her stiff walking, and her poor singing skills. He tells this to a device in his hands and offended, Nara reports him to a nearby police officer who chases him away, allowing Nara to continue on. But when she reaches home to find the boy waiting with her parents, her mother informs her that he is related to someone they know named Jisoo; specifically he is her *husbands brothers wife-in-law's second cousin's acquaintance's son*. He's a student in need of housing, so she has given him permission to stay in their attic. Nara strongly refuses until her mom shoves an apple into her mouth.

The boy goes on to bring up that he attends *Shining Star School*, a prestigious idol school known for having raised some of the very best, and more than anything Nara has wanted to attend it. Her temper flares as her parents awkwardly try to change the subject, causing Nara to accuse the of not listening to her. They try to say otherwise but she believes this is because they don't believe in her dream or support it. Her mom plainly states that she is lacking in terms of talent, and they express concern over her being unable to keep up with the other students. When the mysterious boy goes on to taunt her by saying that *everyone* wants to become an Idol these days, Nara storms off after bringing up how dirty their attic is.

Or so she thought, when she arrives to find the mysterious boy setting up the so-called messy room, which has been tidied up. She demands an explanation from her mom and the boy takes out the device he had earlier to speak to the AI rabbit who appears, asking how sure she is that Nara could possibly replace Reena as the next Muse. The rabbit is convinced, and she tells him to trust her as Reena's past-Manager. The male still seems unsure as they end their discussion.

The following day, after Nara's parents take note of the difference between them, Nara announces that she would like to attend Shining Star School. Her parents aren't phased and Nara begins to point fingers again until Jin -the boy- reveals that there is an upcoming audition she could take. Nara excitedly asks for permission and they agree, on the terms that if she fails then she must give up this idol nonsense.

That evening Jin decides to take a walk when the Rabbit AI appears, asking if he is worried for Nara. He insists that he isn't, and that he only made the suggestion out of pity when they overhear someone singing in the distance. There, Jin sees a sparkling girl who sings alone, but after a second he realizes it's actually Nara. The rabbit has faith in Nara's capabilities, but when she starts coughing Jin expresses doubt once more. He approaches her and Nara awkwardly thanks him for earlier. He goes on to ask her what she wants out of idoling and points out that she shouldn't be fooling around and worrying her parents over this. Nara earnestly answers that she aspires to become like Reena, she wants to be able to make others happy through her singing; words that encourage Jin to help her out. He hands over the Magic Agent, where Hendel -the Rabbit- introduces herself to the excited Nara, and he produces three Noble Rosetta Muse Cards from his pocket, giving Nara permission to use them once for this audition. They were worn by Reena during her own audition.

Seeing their support, Nara thanks Hendel and Jin and seriously focuses on training until the day of the Audition. She exercises and practices her posing, singing, song reading and annunciation, and dance.

While waiting for the Auditions to start, Nara anxiously takes in the sight of the school she aspires attending one day. But after a rough first encounter with the friends of a very popular, pretty girl named Hera, along with the intense training regimen she finds the other students and Audition takers participating in, she begins to doubt herself realizing she's way out of their league. She is especially discouraged after witnessing the Auditions start in the waiting lobby, when several girls perform. Among them is Hera, who performs *Checkmate*.

As she overhears a trio of girls remark on how scary it would be to follow Hera's performance, Nara is called for her turn. Everyone awaits for Nara's arrival, but when she doesn't appear, Jin quickly runs to her location just in time to find Nara attempting to flee the building. He attempts to get Nara to snap out of it as she begins to weep, criticizing her for thinking she could become the best so quickly. But Nara claims that while she knew this and wasn't trying to be, she knows she doesn't compare to the students here. She'll be laughed at for even trying, so she should give up in silence to avoid it. Jin points out that by even trying on stage she will be closer to achieving her dream, and she thinks back to the past, and what led her to this moment before realizing that he has a point.

Choosing to take a chance with her dream, Nara uses the Magic Agent to Coordi change. Her name is called again and just as Nara is threatened with disqualification, she appears on stage. Everyone seems surprised as Nara starts to perform *Shining Star*. She wows everyone as they recognize it as Reena's song, and she quickly wins the crowd over and gains the chance to perform a Star Twinkle Change and grant her the Charming Muse Melody outfit.

In the audience, Hera and her friends are greatly disappointed by how the audience is reacting to Nara.

As the sun is setting, Nara happily embraces the badge that belongs to Shining Star School, revealing she has passed the Audition. She thanks Hendel and Jin for helping her, and in her delight she runs ahead of them. A man known as Big Jay stops Jin to ask if Nara is the Muse he was sent to locate. Jin quickly claims that Hendel was only speculating that she *might* be, and Big Jay appears to be amused. He suggests they keep a close eye on Nara.

A mysterious woman observes Nara leaving the school. She looks forward to seeing what will happen.

## Major Events

* Jin moves into Nara's household.
* Nara is given her own Magic Agent.
* Nara takes the audition to attend Shining Star School.
* Nara meets Hera, a very popular non-debuted Idol who is also participating in the Auditions.

## Trivia

* The scene where they discuss Shining Star School mirrors that of the Starlight School discussion in the first episode of **Aikatsu!**, including a star-themed border around an image of the school and shadowed images of various Idols.