The iDOLM@STER S1 E25

## Plot

Of course I finish this on New Year's Eve in real life, over nine years after this show originally aired its last episode. Kotori visits the producer in the hospital. He's looking much better, but he still can't leave yet. Today is the day of the New Year concert. Normally, Kotori would be with the girls, but she tells the producer that Takagi is helping them out today. He worries that he's just causing everyone trouble. They've looked after him so much. Kotori tells him that they're all supposed to help each other. His job right now is to recover, so he should focus on that. He asks her for a favor. The girls are at the venue with Ritsuko. Hibiki mentions the producer, and Ami teases her. Ritsuko tells Ami to stretch and asks her what's in her bag, but she tells her not to worry about it. While getting some water, Haruka and Miki talk about what an idol is, like they did before. Chihaya sees them talking. She and Miki had answers to what an idol is. Haruka was the one without an idea of her own. Now though, she has an answer she can give with confidence. When she's standing on stage with everyone else, she has the most fun. All their fans and everyone from 765 Pro is there. That moment is when she most feels like an idol. Miki thinks that's a good answer. This is the biggest concert 765 Pro has put on since they started. In the rehearsal room, everyone becomes sad when Takagi mentions that the producer is still is the hospital, so he's unable to give them any words of encouragement. However, he suddenly arrives in a wheelchair, thanks to Kotori. They left the hospital without telling anyone. Takagi tells them that it should be fine, since he heard that the staff would allow him to go outside starting sometime next week. He apologizes for making them manage their own lessons due to his injuries, and not knowing how things were going for them. He was worried about how today's concert would go, but now that he's seen their faces, he's not worried anymore. It took a lot of people to put together this concert. Now they need to go out there and do everything they can to repay their efforts. If even one of them weren't here, it wouldn't work. All of them together make up 765 Productions. When they're together, they're invincible. The producer apologizes to Haruka for not being able to do anything to help her when she needed it the most, but it looks like she was able to find the answer herself. The concert starts with a special edition performance of Ready!! and Change!!!! The cinematography! The "camera" movements! People animated this! And it looks amazing! Later on, in different costumes, Haruka tells the huge crowd that she can see the people in the back, and the ones on the third level. She says that it's amazing that they get to sing in a hall so big in front of so many fans. Miki tells everyone that she's excited, and the audience is too. Makoto says they were able to make it this far, because, as Yukiho finishes, their fans have been cheering them on. Azusa thanks them for everything. Iori says it's a bit early to start looking back. Hibiki agrees, they're just getting started. Yayoi says they need to do even more. Takane agrees with her as well, but first, they need to make this concert a huge success. Ami and Mami tell the crowd to have fun with them today until the end. Chihaya says she'll use every last ounce of her strength to make sure her songs reach their hearts. But before they get going again, they have a surprise guest: Ryuuguu Komachi's producer, and fellow idol, Ritsuko Akizuki, in costume. That's what was in Ami's bag. She agrees to perform onstage with the girls. Takagi tells the producer and Kotori that he's closer to his goal now. Those girls are what he was after when he first created 765 Pro. The perfect idols. He believes that the producer is the one who made that possible, but he thinks that all of them still have a long way to go, and he agrees. The girls perform a new song called No Matter When, No Matter Where, set to flashbacks of all the girls, and then new animation. *I want to see you being serious Let's dance with our true desire today again. Each movement of our fingers is a tiny "I love you." We can always get better, as we rise higher and higher. I'll fly with you, far away, using my arms like wings. I want to be chosen to stand on that stage of light. Hard work is attractive. Keep it up, me… Right now. Right? I'm sure we'll sparkle. Right? No matter where. Right? A dream always begins completely by chance, right? This desire will be forever. This smile, carrying our hopes, will go out to reach you. I'll do it… Right? That means… I'll do it! Right! That's what it means. We need to go and find our futures. We won't give up. Our hearts cry out for the future. Right? I'm sure we'll sparkle. Right? No matter where. Right? A dream always begins completely by chance, right? This desire will be forever. This smile, carrying our hopes, will go out to reach you.* The audience cheers, and Kotori is so emotional that she starts crying. The audience gets an encore. Sometime later, everyone greets the producer at the office when he returns to work. He once again apologizes for being away for so long, but Ritsuko tells him that it was a good opportunity for them to reexamine themselves. Chihaya says it helped them realize how important he is to 765 Pro. Miki tells him that Are We Live!? Sunday has been renewed, and they can all start in the spring. The show's new name is "Live!? Revolution!" Miki and Haruka's musical will be touring nationwide. They also made enough money to *buy a whole new office building*. Takagi got a call that said they could get this place for cheap, so they're moving. 765 Pro's bank accounts are basically back to empty again. None of them have ever heard of the name Blackwell Company before though. Haruka points out an announcement about them on the TV. They've decided to cease construction on all buildings, bankrupting the company as a result. Kuroi has denied his involvement in the company's bankruptcy, but he obviously got involved to send 765 Pro back to the bottom. Takagi was tricked, so they're staying in this building after all. On the bright side, at least they're still popular, unlike how they were last year. Everyone talks about the situation as we see pictures of them having fun as the credits roll for a final time. Haruka notices that they ran out of drinks. Before the producer can leave to get more, she tells him to relax while she gets some. Chihaya gets up to go with her. The producer takes out his wallet to give them some money. Haruka notices that it's the wallet she got him for Christmas, which makes her happy. We see Jupiter performing. The girls' dreams are to become top idols. They keep the bonds they share and that wish close to their hearts. They thank the producer, who agrees to keep producing them. Takagi takes a picture of everyone.