Akari meets Hinaki Shinjyo, a child actor from Sumire's class, who has been interested in her ever since her entrance audition where she inadvertently introduced herself as Ichigo. The two of them decide to enter for the Pon Pon Crepe Girl audition, with Hinaki suggesting they practise their ability to express how delicious something is. Hinaki later reveals she's been lacking confidence in her own expressions, having done so many gourmet reports during her work that she feels her comments haven't been fresh lately, and states it was Akari's audition that lit a fire in her. Hinaki gives Akari a hair accessory card for their audition, which gives Akari the edge needed to win.