Episode 3

**Waiting for Airi** is the 3rd episode of the Gekidol anime.

## Summary

Highlights of Airi's past as a junior idol are brought to light and thanks to the help of Seria, she is able to overcome the stigma behind it.

## Plot

In her room, Airi packs some old memorabilia of her days as the model Ai Ai. The following day, at the Alice in Theater, everyone is waiting for Airi's arrival and Manami tries to contact her, but is unable to get through to her. Upon her arrival, Kaworu is informed of the situation and suggests that Seira take over her role for the time being. Although hesitant, Kaworu coaxes Seria into doing it, claiming Airi set it up for her to improve herself as an actor. Acting with Doll and Akira, Seria rehearses one of the scenes from the play, but her performance is a lackluster. This leaves Seiria in a lamented state believing she's unable to copy Airi's skill.

At school, Seria receives a bit of unintentional pep talk from Makoto and she invites her to watch one of her performances in the future. Afterward, at the World Radio Station, Seria is approached by the man again who reached out to Airi the other day calling her Ai Ai. Airi was back at her home getting out of the shower and had a bad memory of her checkered past. Back to the Alice in Theater troupe whom complete another good rehearsal, Seria is praised b Kaworu for her good work. Kazuharu gives Seria a succinct and abstract piece of advice and Akira further elaborates on what she meant by it. Walking into the stage area Seria meets with Doll and the two have a heart to heart about Airi and her former partner Izumi. This conversation gives Seria an epiphany and she runs off in a hurry out of the stage area.

A reflective monologue by Aira details and shows Airi's past as a model where she confesses that in order to get the materialistic items she wanted to make her "happy". Eventually, Airi by chance meets with Izumi whom was passing out flyers in promotion to a play the theater she's a part of is playing. Completely mesmerized by Izumi's performance in the play, Airi decides to quit her old career and join the Alice in Theater troupe playing alongside Izumi. Now in the present while sitting on a bench, Airi recites a line from her play and Seria appears out of nowhere and finishes the line. The two then sit together on the bench and Seria details how she can't properly act Airi's role when she was assigned it due to her absence. Airi then details that the man whom approached them the other day was named Ken Ken, a fan of hers during her days as a junior idol under the alias Ai Kagami aka Ai Ai. She admits when she meet with Ken Ken it brought up old memories that didn't sit well with her and fled because of it. Furthermore, Airi apologizes for not attending rehearsal, but Seria reassures Airi that it wasn't a big deal and informs her of Ken Ken's message. Apparently Ken Ken was moved by Airi's performance in the play and states his love to see Airi perform more. Moved by Ken Ken's words and Seria reiterating something that Izumi once told her that a new partner would one day appear, Airi decides to return and apologize to her troupe members.

Returning to the Alice in Theater, Airi apologizes about her absence and Manami acting as the "big sister" tells Airi to don't sweat about it. To Seria's surprise, she didn't know that Manami was older than her and Airi. Realizing that she should apologize to Kaworu as well, Airi heads to the rooftop and catches an elated Kaworu dressed in a matching idol outfit. Soon, the troupe perform another idol/theater gig and after the performance Ken Ken meets with Airi and shows off his Ai Ai shirt. Ken Ken also states that he already has a ticket to the performances Airi will be appearing in. However, Airi convinces Ken Ken to do a full run and as it so happens Makoto appears before Seria, which delights the idol.

The following day, Kaworu pays Mino the landlord for the heat and electricity he covered and 3 months rent in advance. Later in the rec room, the troupe discuss a name for their idol group under their theme of being both actors and idols. Unintentionally, Seria suggests the name Gekidol, and Kaworu loves the name and decides to go with it.

## Characters

* Airi Kagami
* Seria Morino
* Mayuri Nakamura
* Kazuharu Yamamoto
* Manami Fujita
* Akira Asagi
* Doll
* Kaworu Sakakibara
* Makoto Higuchi