The Fresh Girls Cup is announced, in which students get the chance to challenge Mizuki for the title of Starlight Queen. Ran, who competed the previous year before Ichigo and Aoi transferred in, explains how remarkable Mizuki is for facing off against every single student, stating it will be tough to beat her and all of their rivals. This year, Mizuki throws in a new rule that performers will have to perform three special appeals on demand or otherwise fail, pushing the bar exceptionally high. Ichigo and the others soon start training intensely for the cup, though Ichigo feels there is something they are missing. After receiving a call from Raichi, she comes to understand the most important thing; to have fun and appeal to their fans. On the day of the cup, Ichigo, Aoi, Ran, Otome, Yurika and Sakura are grouped together to face Mizuki, though only Ichigo, Aoi and Ran manage to keep up with the special appeals until the end and qualify for the semifinals.