Cinderella Girls S1 E5

## Plot

The episode starts off right where the last one ended, with the producer announcing that five girls will make their CD debut: Minami, Anastasia, Uzuki, Rin, and Mio. Minami and Anastasia are one unit, and Uzuki, Rin, and Mio are the other unit. Everyone is excited, until Rika has to ruin the mood. She wants to put out a CD too. All the other girls are stunned. Then Miku jumps in. She wants to make her debut too. The producer just says that other plans are pending. Chihiro says that he put Rin, Uzuki, and Mio in a sink or swim situation. However, the timing just felt right, since they have experience being on stage. The manager thinks he made the right decision. The producer tells them that they'll do a mini-concert to promote the new CDs. Miku, Rika, and Miria, who looks up to Rika, challenge the girls again. Mio loses this time, and Miku finally wins. It's a cat based game. Since Miku won, she and the others want the producer to let them make their debuts. Before he can answer and be put in an awkward situation, the trainer handles the girls. The girls meet another of their trainer's sisters. She's in charge of vocal lessons. Minami and Anastasia are already practicing. They listen to their songs. Anastasia says that it's like a shooting star. Miku, Rika, Miria, Kanako, Chieri, and Riina want to negotiate with Minami and Anastasia. They think that their unit should have one more person in it. Miria wants to join their unit. Anastasia thinks it's a good idea, but it's up to the producer. His answer is plain and simple: Minami and Anastasia's unit will remain at two people. He apologizes, but preparations for the two are already underway. Anastasia says sorry to Miria. After all, **no one** in their right mind wants to upset a cute 11 year old. Especially someone as upbeat and energetic as Miria! She takes it really well though, with a smile and everything! The producer wants Rin, Uzuki, and Mio to come up with a name for their unit. The girls can't think of a name. All the girls are drawing what their dream debuts would be like. They're drawing up debut proposals for the producer. While Minami is in the recording booth, the others listen to the song. *I see your smile again and again Starting to overflow in the middle of time* Their group name is Love Laika. Chieri, being really shy, can't imagine making her debut. But she wishes that she could make one person happy, even just a little. Aw! So sweet! Minami is worried about the concert. She and Anastasia have never even been on stage. Anastasia comes up to her and holds her hand. All the other girls have come up with proposals. Anzu… wants to sleep. How typical. When the producer walks in, he is once again put in an awkward situation. He tells the girls not to get their hopes up. Miku has had enough. She announces that she's going on strike. Even Anzu gets up at this. As Minami and the others are talking, Kanako runs up to them. She asks them where the producer is. Miku, Rika, and Anzu have gone on strike and "taken over" the cafe. They have a bullhorn and are using tables as walls. The producer is in a meeting somewhere. Nana Abe tells them that they're making a scene. The order is an iced tea. So Miku gives her an iced tea to deliver. Okay then. After Mio says that Mika would be disappointed if she heard her little sister was on strike, Rika gives up. Miku wants them to promise that they'll make their debuts. At this, Anzu give up too, because she doesn't want to work. The producer arrives. He must've heard what had happened. Kirari tells Miku to stop this. They can talk to the producer about their debuts together. Then we get this: "I did, nya. Over and over. But I never got a good answer. Why not? Why is the answer no? We're doing our best too, so why? I was thrilled when I passed the audition for the Cinderella Project. I had faith that if I did my best during the lessons as well as with the work we were given here and there, I'd eventually be able to make my debut. But more and more, I'm left behind… Left alone… What am I doing wrong? Should I work harder? How much harder? I have no idea! But I don't want things to keep going like this. I wanna become an idol, too. I wanna make my debut!" The poor girl starts crying towards the end. And there's no music for the most part. When the music does return, it's a sad piano song. My heart is breaking! And the reactions of the other girls… The producer goes up to her. He apologizes. He tells her that they're going to have all of them make their debut. It wasn't set yet, so he couldn't talk about it, but the plan is for Minami and the others to be the first wave of debuts, then the second and third waves to make their debuts as well. Afterwards, the producer, Miku, Rika, and Anzu apologize to the cafe staff, including Nana Abe. Miku also apologizes to the other girls. At their meeting with the producer, the girls notice that their group name is New Generations. It's a placeholder because the producer had to put something there. The girls like it so much that they make it their permanent group name.

## Review

I really like this episode! It provided some much needed development for Miku, who I didn't really like until I saw this episode. Talk about hidden depths! I totally cried the first time I saw it! Anastasia and Minami are such good friends! I'd want someone like Anastasia as my best friend. In case you didn't pick up on it, there's definitely some romantic subtext between Anastasia and Minami. And yes, I ship them. I wonder what kinds of ship names you could make out of Anastasia and Minami. The two are in a unit together, were friends before that, hang out a lot, support each other, and hold hands a lot. **I. LOVE. IT!!!** I will now call it Love Swans because their unit name is Love Laika and their outfits look like swans.