Aqours

Aqours (pronounced as "aqua") is a school idol group that was originally formed and led by Kanan Matsuura two years prior to falling apart and was eventually succeeded by Chika Takami in Love Live! Sunshine!!. They were the school idol group of Uranohoshi Girls' High School. The original group consisted of three members (Third years). A new group led by Chika was founded after coming across the name (which is later revealed to be written by Dia) and started using it unofficially until the group was officially assembled when the third years joined. At the beginning of the movie, the group continues with six of the members at Numazu High School following their temporary integration at Seishin High School and the name is later used again by new members for their idol group at the end. They debuted with the song Kimi no Kokoro wa Kagayaiteru kai?.

Member positions
These are the positions for all of the members:


 * Chika Takami - (Leader/Co-founder; Reformed) (Lyricist)
 * Riko Sakurauchi - (Co-founder; Reformed) (Composer)
 * Kanan Matsuura - (Leader/Co-founder; Original) (Choreographer)
 * Dia Kurosawa - (Co-founder; Original) (Wardrobe designer)
 * You Watanabe - (Co-founder; Reformed) (Wardrobe supervisor)
 * Yoshiko Tsushima - (Reformed) (Video editor)
 * Hanamaru Kunikida - (Reformed) Unknown
 * Mari Ohara - (Co-founder; Original) Unknown
 * Ruby Kurosawa - (Reformed) (Wardrobe designer)

Songs
All of Aqours's songs and albums can be found here.

The songs they performed with and without full members in the anime, including the opening and ending songs, are:

Season 1

 * Aozora Jumping Heart (OP)
 * Yume Kataru yori Yume Utaou (ED)
 * Kimeta yo Hand in Hand (Episode 1)
 * Daisuki dattara Daijoubu! (Episode 3)
 * Yume de Yozora o Terashitai (Episode 6)
 * Mijuku DREAMER (Episode 9)
 * Omoi yo Hitotsu ni Nare (Episode 11)
 * MIRAI TICKET (Episode 13)

Season 2

 * Mirai no Bokura wa Shitteru yo (OP #01-12)
 * Yuuki wa doko ni? Kimi no Mune ni! (ED)
 * MY Mai☆TONIGHT (Episode 3)
 * Kimi no Kokoro wa Kagayaiteru kai? (Episode 3)
 * MIRACLE WAVE (Episode 6)
 * Sora mo Kokoro mo Hareru kara (Episode 7)
 * Awaken the power (Episode 9, as "Saint Aqours Snow")
 * WATER BLUE NEW WORLD (Episode 12)
 * Aozora Jumping Heart (OP #13)
 * WONDERFUL STORIES (Episode 13)

The School Idol Movie Over the Rainbow

 * Bokura no Hashittekita Michi wa…
 * Tousou Meisou Mobius Loop
 * Hop? Stop? Nonstop!
 * Brightest Melody
 * Kiseki Hikaru
 * Next SPARKLING!!

Chronology
{{Aqours Tab| Season I = {| class="wikitable" width="100%" align="center" ! scope="col" style="width:10%;text-align:center;"|Ep. ! scope="col" style="text-align:center;"|Title ! scope="col" style="width:25%;text-align:center;"|
 * style="text-align:center;"|01
 * {{Nihongo|"I Want to Shine!!"
 * 輝きたい!!|"Kagayakitai!!"}}
 * style="text-align:center;"|LLSS S1Ep1 247.png
 * colspan="3"|In Episode 1, Uranohoshi Girls’ High School student Takami Chika discovered the school idol group μ's while trying to catch a runaway flyer. Having had looked for something to devote her all to for a long time, she was inspired and decided to form her own school idol group.
 * colspan="3"|In Episode 1, Uranohoshi Girls’ High School student Takami Chika discovered the school idol group μ's while trying to catch a runaway flyer. Having had looked for something to devote her all to for a long time, she was inspired and decided to form her own school idol group.
 * colspan="3"|In Episode 1, Uranohoshi Girls’ High School student Takami Chika discovered the school idol group μ's while trying to catch a runaway flyer. Having had looked for something to devote her all to for a long time, she was inspired and decided to form her own school idol group.

With help from her friend Watanabe You, Chika tried to gather members at the school entrance ceremony, without any response from the student body. You and Chika then encountered first year students Kurosawa Ruby and Kunikida Hanamaru, and Chika tried to interest them in joining the school idol club. Tsushima Yoshiko suddenly interrupted the conversation and Hanamaru recognized her from kindergarten. Yoshiko ran off with the other two first years chasing her, and Chika proclaimed she would recruit them later.

After third year student and student council president Kurosawa Dia denied Chika permission to form a school idol club, Chika and You took the ferry to meet up with Matsuura Kanan, who told them she would not be re-entering school for a while longer. The three of them saw a helicopter flying past, in which Ohara Mari was sitting.

On the way home, Chika met Sakurauchi Riko, a student from Otonokizaka High School in Tokyo, and introduced her to school idols. Riko said they look normal, and Chika explained that the way normal people can become so radiant as school idols was why she was intrigued by them to the point of wanting to become one herself.

You told Chika she would join the school idol club, saying she had always wanted to be passionate about something together with Chika. Together they confronted Dia once again, who rejected them once more, questioning how they were planning to compose songs.

When Riko unexpectedly showed up as a transfer student in Chika and You’s class, Chika recognized her and asked her to join the school idol club. "Kimeta yo Hand in Hand" was performed by Chika, You and Riko as an insert song, and the episode ended with Riko declining Chika’s request.
 * style="text-align:center;"|02
 * {{Nihongo|"Catch the Transfer Student!"
 * 転校生をつかまえろ!|"Tenkousei o Tsukamaero!"}}
 * style="text-align:center;"|LLSS S1Ep2 155.png
 * colspan="3"|In Episode 2, one of Riko’s piano performances was shown through a flashback. Present day Riko hesitated playing the piano, thinking back to her fingers trembling as they hovered over the piano keys, the filled auditorium growing impatient.
 * colspan="3"|In Episode 2, one of Riko’s piano performances was shown through a flashback. Present day Riko hesitated playing the piano, thinking back to her fingers trembling as they hovered over the piano keys, the filled auditorium growing impatient.
 * colspan="3"|In Episode 2, one of Riko’s piano performances was shown through a flashback. Present day Riko hesitated playing the piano, thinking back to her fingers trembling as they hovered over the piano keys, the filled auditorium growing impatient.

Not letting herself be stopped by the initial rejection, Chika persisted in trying to persuade Riko into becoming a school idol and composing songs for their group. However, Riko continued to politely decline the proposal.

Meanwhile, You had been working on costume ideas for the school idol group. Chika initially was not impressed, saying they did not look like something a school idol would wear, until You showed her one drawing she fell for.

Still only having two members and no one to compose their songs, Chika and You yet again faced Dia with their club application. Chika’s mention of μ's and how they must have struggled only having three members initially upset Dia, who corrected Chika on her pronunciation of the group name and started quizzing her on μ's trivia. The conversation was unknowingly broadcasted to the entire school.

Chika and You met Hanamaru and Ruby again, luring the shy Ruby out of hiding using a lollipop. Chika learned Yoshiko had not been at school after running out of class on the first day, and that Dia is Ruby’s older sister.

Meeting each other on the beach, Riko told Chika she had not been able to improve her piano playing recently, and had hopes a change of scenery and hearing the sound of the ocean could change that. In an attempt to help her out of her slump Chika invited Riko to come hear the sound of the ocean with her.

As Kanan, You, Chika and Riko were out diving, Riko at first had troubles using her imagination to hear the sound of the ocean as per Kanan’s advice. Diving down again, Chika and You pointed to a spot where the sunlight hits the water, and the three of them managed to experience the sound of the ocean.

At school Riko told Chika and You she would compose for the school idol group, but not become a school idol herself. They realized they did not have any lyrics written, and together the three of them tried writing lyrics at the Takami family’s {{W|Ryokan_(inn)|ryokan}}.

Inspired by Chika’s love for μ's, Riko listened to "Yume no Tobira" and even tried singing it, accompanying herself on the piano. Chika interrupted and Riko revealed her feelings of nothing feeling fun and everything feeling static and unchanging to her. In response, Chika again suggested trying out being a school idol, and Riko accepted.


 * style="text-align:center;"|03
 * {{Nihongo|"First Step"
 * ファーストステップ|"Faasuto Suteppu"}}
 * style="text-align:center;"|LLSS_S1Ep3_196.png
 * colspan="3"|In Episode 3, Chika, You, and Riko were training on the beach when they saw the Ohara family's helicopter flying by, which eventually landed near them.
 * colspan="3"|In Episode 3, Chika, You, and Riko were training on the beach when they saw the Ohara family's helicopter flying by, which eventually landed near them.
 * colspan="3"|In Episode 3, Chika, You, and Riko were training on the beach when they saw the Ohara family's helicopter flying by, which eventually landed near them.

With Mari's arrival to the school, she introduced herself as the new chairwoman of Uranohoshi Girls' High School. Dia, who knew Mari back from their first year in Uranohoshi, pointed out how unbelievable it was for a third year to be the new chairwoman. Mari showed her proof and stated that she came to support Chika, You, and Riko. She then challenged them to fill the gym with audience in order to get her approval for their School Idol Club. The three second year students realized that there weren't enough students in their school to fill the gym, which caused them to advertise their concert in other places as well.

They started handing out flyers in front of Numazu Station, where Riko unknowingly met a disguised Yoshiko while advertising their concert. Chika also met Ruby and Hanamaru after their trip to a bookstore. After receiving a flyer from Chika, Ruby asked what their school idol group's name was.

While training, Chika, You, and Riko thought up of possible names for their currently nameless school idol group. They soon stumbled upon the name "Aqours", which was written on the beach, and decided to use it as their school idol group's name.

The newly-named school idol group Aqours continued to advertise their upcoming concert. Chika also asked her classmates Yoshimi, Itsuki, and Mutsu to help them out during their concert. In Chika's house, Aqours continued to work on their dance steps until Riko and You noticed that Chika fell asleep, and decided to call it a day. Shima, Chika's elder sister, drove You home as no buses ran when it is late at night.

Before their concert, Aqours worried about people not attending due to the rain. They laughed it off and stood behind the stage's curtain, hand in hand. However, when the curtains raised, they only had a small group of audience. Included in the audience were Mari, Ruby, Hanamaru, and a disguised Yoshiko. Despite this, they continued their concert and performed "Daisuki dattara Daijoubu!" while Kanan and Dia listened from outside the gym.

A power outage occurred halfway through the song, halting their performance. Chika continued to sing, followed by You and Riko, until she started to cry. Right before they lost hope, Chika's sister Mito arrived and said that Chika told her the wrong start time. Meanwhile, Dia secretly hooked up a backup generator and the power returned, which illuminated the gym that was filled with audience. Aqours then resumed their performance.

After Aqours's concert, Dia went in front of them then said that their success was only due to the efforts of previous school idols and the town's good will. Chika answered she knew it but that it was their only chance to shine.
 * style="text-align:center;"|04
 * {{Nihongo|"Two Girls' Feelings"
 * ふたりのキモチ|"Futari no Kimochi"}}
 * style="text-align:center;"|LLSS_S1Ep4_263.png
 * colspan="3"|In Episode 4, Hanamaru explained how she came to love reading, using it as a way to deal with her loneliness, and how she met Ruby.
 * colspan="3"|In Episode 4, Hanamaru explained how she came to love reading, using it as a way to deal with her loneliness, and how she met Ruby.
 * colspan="3"|In Episode 4, Hanamaru explained how she came to love reading, using it as a way to deal with her loneliness, and how she met Ruby.

Much to the second years’ delight, the school idol club was finally approved by Mari, although they questioned why she was so keen on helping them. Entering their new club room for the first time, they realised it would need intensive cleaning up before they would be able to use it.

Chika, Riko and You entered the library to return books they had found while cleaning up, just as Ruby was excitedly telling Hanamaru the news of the school idol club officially being formed. Once again, Chika tried recruiting the duo as school idols.

As soon as they were alone, Hanamaru asked Ruby if she wanted to become a school idol. Ruby declined, saying she cannot like things her sister cannot stand, and that she was okay not being a school idol if Hanamaru was not interested.

A surprised Kanan got a visit from Mari, who explained she had come to scout Kanan as a school idol. The two were revealed to already know each other, and the scene concluded with Mari sighing at Kanan’s stubbornness.

Dia was seen lovingly looking at Ruby as she was reading about idols, Ruby herself reminiscing about the times they both liked idols.

While Hanamaru was at the bookshop, thinking it was impossible for her to be like μ's and Rin Hoshizora, Yoshiko passed by in disguise, muttering about why Hanamaru (referred to as ‘Zuramaru’ by Yoshiko) was there.

Kanan impressed the second years with her stamina, running past them as they were trying to raise their own stamina by running up stairs like μ's.

Met by a very excited Chika, Ruby and Hanamaru started a trial period as members of the school idol club, saying they would join if they liked it. Short of a place to practice, the school idol club ended up taking their dance practice to the rooftop, inspired by μ's.

When Hanamaru struggled running up the stairs during stamina practice, Ruby stopped and suggested they run together. Hanamaru told Ruby she should care more about her own feelings, and exhorted Ruby to go on without her. To herself, Hanamaru thought about how her own dream was to let the light of Ruby’s aspirations and dreams out and shine in all the corners of the world.

While Ruby and the school idol club were celebrating having reached the top, Hanamaru met with Dia and told her to pay more attention to what Ruby had to say about her feelings.

After Ruby officially joined the school idol club, she confronted Hanamaru at the library. Ruby explained how she suspected that Hanamaru went along just because she thought being a school idol was something Ruby wanted to do, but that she also thought maybe Hanamaru was interested herself, too. Ruby drew a parallell to Rin also thinking she was not fit to be a school idol, and Ruby admitted she had always wanted to become a school idol with Hanamaru. Hanamaru finally agreed to become a school idol after Riko, You and Chika entered the library, Chika saying what matters is the will to do it, rather than your skills.
 * style="text-align:center;"|05
 * {{Nihongo|"Yohane Descends"
 * ヨハネ堕天|"Yohane Daten"}}
 * style="text-align:center;"|LLSS_S1Ep5_212.png
 * colspan="3"|In episode 5, Yoshiko was talking to the viewers of her online video stream (whom she addressed as her ‘little demons’) while using her fallen angel persona. Once the stream ended, Yoshiko questioned her own actions and told herself she was too old for acting like that, unveiling that the reason she had not come to school since the first day was embarrassment over the way she acted.
 * colspan="3"|In episode 5, Yoshiko was talking to the viewers of her online video stream (whom she addressed as her ‘little demons’) while using her fallen angel persona. Once the stream ended, Yoshiko questioned her own actions and told herself she was too old for acting like that, unveiling that the reason she had not come to school since the first day was embarrassment over the way she acted.
 * colspan="3"|In episode 5, Yoshiko was talking to the viewers of her online video stream (whom she addressed as her ‘little demons’) while using her fallen angel persona. Once the stream ended, Yoshiko questioned her own actions and told herself she was too old for acting like that, unveiling that the reason she had not come to school since the first day was embarrassment over the way she acted.

The school idol club, now with five members, were looking at their ranking and comments when Hanamaru was revealed to never have seen a computer before, due to living in a temple without many electronics. The members of Aqours wondered how they could stand out more in order to raise their popularity.

Seeing Yoshiko sneaking around the rooftop, Hanamaru confronted Yoshiko about her being back at school. After explaining to Hanamaru she wanted to have a do-over and live as a normal high school student, Yoshiko convinced Hanamaru to be her supervisor and make sure she did not let the fallen angel come out. However, the next day at school Yoshiko fell into her persona when doing fortune telling for her classmates.

Whimpering in the school idol clubroom, Yoshiko explained she knew she was not a fallen angel and wanted to be a normal high school student. Chika, on the other hand, got the idea of fallen angel idols as a way to make them stand out more. Therefore, she asked Yoshiko if she wanted to become a school idol, addressing her as “Fallen Angel Yohane-chan”.

Aqours visited Chika’s house to try their new fallen angel themed costumes on, and Riko ended up being chased by Chika’s dog Shiitake. Later, Chika giggled when Riko said she was still hurt from the encounter, which caused Riko to question if she found Riko’s distress amusing. Chika denied this, saying she had simply realised the Aqours members were not at all plain like she initially thought.

Much to Dia’s dismay, the school idol club uploaded a fallen angel themed video online using their new costumes. Dia showed the Aqours members that the initial boost in rankings the video had gotten them was already declining and their rank was dropping. This broke the spirits of the school idols, causing Chika to second guess their trying to be like μ's and Yoshiko to once again say she wanted to be a normal high schooler and quit the school idol club.

The day after Hanamaru made the other Aqours members understand why Yoshiko had wanted to be a fallen angel in the first place, they confronted Yoshiko wearing their new costumes and asked if she wanted to join Aqours as the fallen angel Yohane. Chika yelled to the fleeing Yoshiko that she was fine the way she was and that μ's got so popular due to their being themselves and not caring about what others thought. After being assured all the members of the school idol club were okay with her antics, Yoshiko accepted their offer and joined.

In the last scene of the episode, Dia confronted Mari about an email she had received. Mari stated it meant exactly what it said and the flustered Dia asked if she was kidding. However, it was not revealed what was written in the email.
 * style="text-align:center;"|06
 * {{Nihongo|"Let's Make a PV"
 * PVを作ろう|"PV o Tsukurou"}}
 * style="text-align:center;"|LLSS_S1Ep6_257.png
 * colspan="3"|In episode 6, Mari told Dia that Uranohoshi Girls’ Academy might be closing due to a declining number of applicants and merging with a high school in Numazu. Mari expressed how important the school was to her, and how she thought school idols could save it, with which Dia disagreed.
 * colspan="3"|In episode 6, Mari told Dia that Uranohoshi Girls’ Academy might be closing due to a declining number of applicants and merging with a high school in Numazu. Mari expressed how important the school was to her, and how she thought school idols could save it, with which Dia disagreed.
 * colspan="3"|In episode 6, Mari told Dia that Uranohoshi Girls’ Academy might be closing due to a declining number of applicants and merging with a high school in Numazu. Mari expressed how important the school was to her, and how she thought school idols could save it, with which Dia disagreed.

When the news reached Chika, she was overjoyed to be put in a similar situation to the one μ's faced, and became motivated to do more school idol activities in order to save the school. After some careful thinking, Aqours decided to create a promotional video, with the purpose of showing people what made their small town Uchiura a great place. They all went out to film, but most of the things the group could come up with seemed quite unimpressive after reconsideration. The group gathered at a café to think things through, and Chika realized that what they had at their current school was something special she did not want to lose.

Kanan payed Mari a visit to ask about the school shutting down, to which Mari replied that it was something they would have to fight for, and that she wanted Kanan to fight again.

Showing the chairwoman their promotional video, Mari told Chika and the rest of Aqours that they did not know what it was that made their town and their school great. After Mari proclaimed she knew better herself, Chika decided not to ask, considering it something they had to figure out for themselves for it to be worth something.

On her way to the clubroom Chika spotted Dia on stage in the empty auditorium. While she did decline Chika’s offer of joining the school idol club, Dia stated she was happy that they wanted to save the school. As Dia was leaving the room, Ruby stopped Chika from calling out to her, and a flashback showed the third years seemingly right before a school idol performance. Mari showed up and told Dia you can’t run away, only move forward, but Dia denied she had been trying to run away.

In accordance with Uchiura tradition, all the town members gathered early in the morning of the first day of beach season to make and release floating lanterns. Riko, for whom it was the first time experiencing the tradition, talked about how she did not realize there were so many people living in the town and suggested that maybe that was the special thing about Uchiura and Uranohoshi Girls’ High School. Hearing this, Chika gathered everyone’s attention and introduced Aqours, saying they needed the help of everyone in town to save their school. “Yume de Yozora o Terashitai” was performed by the currently six Aqours members, thus concluding the episode.
 * style="text-align:center;"|07
 * {{Nihongo|"TOKYO"
 * TOKYO}}
 * style="text-align:center;"|LLSS_S1Ep7_197.png
 * colspan="3"|In episode 7, the members of Aqours realized that their PV had boosted their popularity enough to push them into the top one hundred school idol groups. Because of this, they were invited to perform at an event in Tokyo.
 * colspan="3"|In episode 7, the members of Aqours realized that their PV had boosted their popularity enough to push them into the top one hundred school idol groups. Because of this, they were invited to perform at an event in Tokyo.
 * colspan="3"|In episode 7, the members of Aqours realized that their PV had boosted their popularity enough to push them into the top one hundred school idol groups. Because of this, they were invited to perform at an event in Tokyo.

When Ruby sought permission for the trip from her sister, Dia hesitated at first but eventually agreed, encouraging Ruby not to care what someone else thought. Dia confronted Mari, worried that Aqours would not succeed in Tokyo. To this Mari responded that Dia could try to stop them if she wanted, but questioned if Dia did not have hope that Aqours could succeed where they had previously failed.

Getting to Tokyo, the school idol club (sans transfer student Riko) tried not to let on that they were from the country side, without much success. After getting temporarily separated, Aqours paid a visit to Kanda Shrine, and got excited about running up the same stairs that μ's once used for stamina practice.

Once they reached the top of the stairs, Chika heard Sarah and Leah Kazuno singing “SELF CONTROL!!”. Although the two girls were strangers to Chika and the rest of Aqours, Sarah recognized them from their PV and asked if they were in Tokyo for the upcoming event. The Saint Snow members then left, leaving Aqours impressed with their acrobatics and singing skills.

Riko declined Chika’s suggestion to pay Otonokizaka High School a visit, and after the rest of Aqours had gone to sleep she explained to Chika she felt pressured to perform well and live up to expectations at her old school. In response, Chika talked about how she felt like she had to live up to the expectations of the Uranohoshi Girls’ High School students who came to see them off in Numazu.

The next day, Chika went out for a run and visited the place where she first found out about school idols, UTX High School. There, the rest of Aqours caught up with her and the six of them saw the next Love Live! competition being announced on the screen of the UTX building. Aqours decided they wanted to enter the competition.

At the event location, the Aqours members were surprised to find out the girls they had met at Kanda Shrine were school idols, too. Sarah introduced herself, and the episode ended just as Saint Snow were to take the stage.
 * style="text-align:center;"|08
 * {{Nihongo|"Isn't it Frustrating?"
 * くやしくないの?|"Kuyashikunai no?"}}
 * style="text-align:center;"|LLSS_S1Ep8_208.png
 * colspan="3"|In episode 8, Saint Snow performed "SELF CONTROL!!" on stage at a school idol event in Tokyo. After all the school idol groups invited had performed, neither Aqours nor Saint Snow were announced as one of the winners. In spite of their loss, Chika talked about how it was Aqours's best performance yet. The other members, on the other hand, worried about how far from being top idols they were.
 * colspan="3"|In episode 8, Saint Snow performed "SELF CONTROL!!" on stage at a school idol event in Tokyo. After all the school idol groups invited had performed, neither Aqours nor Saint Snow were announced as one of the winners. In spite of their loss, Chika talked about how it was Aqours's best performance yet. The other members, on the other hand, worried about how far from being top idols they were.
 * colspan="3"|In episode 8, Saint Snow performed "SELF CONTROL!!" on stage at a school idol event in Tokyo. After all the school idol groups invited had performed, neither Aqours nor Saint Snow were announced as one of the winners. In spite of their loss, Chika talked about how it was Aqours's best performance yet. The other members, on the other hand, worried about how far from being top idols they were.

Having been given the results of the audience poll used to rank the groups at the event, Aqours learned that they not only placed last, but also got zero votes. Approached by Saint Snow, Aqours was complimented on their performance but told they might be better off giving up competing in Love Live! by Sarah, and warned not to take Love Live! lightly by a crying Leah.

On the train ride back to Numazu, five quite depressed Aqours members and one seemingly less depressed Chika discussed Saint Snow’s statements. Once they arrived they were greeted by Uranohoshi Girls’ High School students, relieved and happy to hear it was the group’s best performance so far. When Dia arrived at the scene, Ruby ran into her arms, crying.

Dia talked to Aqours about their placing last, saying she was afraid it would happen, considering how tough the school idol scene had gotten. She explained how she, Mari and Kanan formed a school idol group two years back, but were unable to sing at the very same event, overwhelmed by the other groups’ performances and the atmosphere.

Meanwhile, Kanan met up with Mari after hearing that Aqours had come in last place at the event. She asked Mari what she was going to do, and said saving the school by winning Love Live! was impossible. Mari asked if giving up was a better option, and Kanan walked off the scene saying it was indeed better to do so before someone got hurt, ignoring Mari’s open arms. A crying Mari was left behind, set on regaining the feeling she had had with Kanan and Dia.

Riko followed Chika to the beach, who, after holding all of her feelings in for a long time, finally allowed herself to cry and let out her frustration about all of their hard work not bearing fruit. When Chika said she thought it would make the other members sad if she allowed herself to be sad, Riko pointed to the rest of Aqours and said that no one joined for Chika’s sake, it was a decision they all made on their own. The sun’s rays hit the six girls standing in the water as they decided to try to turn their zero into a one.
 * style="text-align:center;"|09
 * {{Nihongo|"Young DREAMER"
 * 未熟DREAMER|"Mijuku DREAMER"}}
 * style="text-align:center;"|LLSS_S1Ep9_255.png
 * colspan="3"|In episode 9, a flashback showed Kanan quitting the third years’ school idol group after their return from Tokyo. She mentioned Mari’s turning down an opportunity to study abroad and also said Dia agreed with her there was no point in them continuing.
 * colspan="3"|In episode 9, a flashback showed Kanan quitting the third years’ school idol group after their return from Tokyo. She mentioned Mari’s turning down an opportunity to study abroad and also said Dia agreed with her there was no point in them continuing.
 * colspan="3"|In episode 9, a flashback showed Kanan quitting the third years’ school idol group after their return from Tokyo. She mentioned Mari’s turning down an opportunity to study abroad and also said Dia agreed with her there was no point in them continuing.

After the six members of Aqours tried to figure out what to do for the upcoming summer festival, Chika wondered what made Kanan (who had been evasive when Chika asked her about it) quit being a school idol since she did not think it was like Kanan to quit just because of one failure. Ruby revealed she had heard Dia speaking to Mari back then, saying neither Dia nor Kanan were running away.

On one of her early morning walks Kanan was followed by the school idol club, who overheard Kanan and Mari talking about Kanan’s returning to school. However, Kanan said she was not going to become a school idol again and that she did not want to talk to Mari any more.

At school, Kanan and Mari got into a heated argument, which made Chika burst into the room and yell at them to break it up, and to come to the club room of the school idol club after school. There, Kanan continued to claim that the fact she could not sing in Tokyo was the reason she had quit being a school idol. Once she had left the room, the other girls pushed Dia into revealing that Kanan did not sing at the event to prevent Mari from performing with an injury, and that she quit being a school idol because she did not want Mari turning down other opportunities.

Crying, Mari sprinted out into the rain, and ended up at Uranohoshi Girls’ High School. Kanan joined her there and Mari said they needed to talk. She shared her feelings, and slapped Kanan, saying she shouldn’t take it lightly that Mari cared about her. Kanan answered she should tell her straight if that was the way she felt, and the two of them hugged.

Aqours convinced Dia to join them, Chika saying they’d all help out if juggling school idol duties and student council president duties got too much, and Ruby handing her a stage costume. All nine girls performed “Mijuku DREAMER” as an insert song, and Dia turned out to be the one who wrote “Aqours” in the sand, it being the same name the third years’ previous idol group had.
 * style="text-align:center;"|10
 * {{Nihongo|"We've Got Stewshine"
 * シャイ煮はじめました|"Shai-ni Hajimemashita"}}
 * style="text-align:center;"|LLSS_S1Ep10_108.png
 * colspan="3"|In episode 10, summer vacation began for the now nine members of Aqours. Summer is the season of the Love Live! competition, and Dia had somehow managed to get her hands on the training schedule μ's used when they were active. Since Kanan and Chika had been asked to help run a snack bar on the beach, the members decided to camp at the Takami family inn in order to make time for practice.
 * colspan="3"|In episode 10, summer vacation began for the now nine members of Aqours. Summer is the season of the Love Live! competition, and Dia had somehow managed to get her hands on the training schedule μ's used when they were active. Since Kanan and Chika had been asked to help run a snack bar on the beach, the members decided to camp at the Takami family inn in order to make time for practice.
 * colspan="3"|In episode 10, summer vacation began for the now nine members of Aqours. Summer is the season of the Love Live! competition, and Dia had somehow managed to get her hands on the training schedule μ's used when they were active. Since Kanan and Chika had been asked to help run a snack bar on the beach, the members decided to camp at the Takami family inn in order to make time for practice.

Initially intimidated by a competing snack bar on the beach, Dia quickly took charge and assigned tasks once she received encouragement from Mari. Riko, Chika and Kanan begun advertising in order to draw in customers, seemingly somewhat unwillingly. Meanwhile, You, Yoshiko and Mari started cooking the food.

With everyone exhausted after attempting to train the way μ's did, they all sat down to eat Mari’s Stewshine and Yoshiko’s Tears of a Fallen Angel takoyaki that had not sold during the day. Going back to the inn to get more sauce, Chika overheard a conversation between her sister Shima and Riko’s mother, and found out there was a piano competition Riko was invited to partake in.

The piano competition being on the same day as the Love Live! preliminaries, Chika woke Riko up to ask her about it. Riko said she wavered at first, but that their camp made her realize that Aqours was more important to her.

Aqours's second day of managing the snack bar wasn’t all too successful either, but everyone enjoyed the curry You made using both Mari’s and Yoshiko’s culinary creations. Dia tried to hold a lesson on Love Live! history, but it was cut short due to Chika’s sister Mito thinking they were being too loud.

Once again, Chika woke Riko up, this time asking her to play the song she had composed. Afterwards, Chika told Riko she wanted her to enter the piano competition. Chika explained she had hoped being a school idol could make Riko feel good about playing the piano again, and said Riko needed to figure out if playing the piano wasn’t just as important to her as the town, and the school, and their friends.
 * style="text-align:center;"|11
 * {{Nihongo|"Aye-aye, My Friend"
 * 友情ヨーソロー|"Yuujou Yousoro"}}
 * style="text-align:center;"|LLSS_S1Ep11_227.png
 * colspan="3"|In episode 11, all the members of Aqours saw Riko off as she left for Tokyo to compete in a piano competition that would take place the same day as the regional Love Live! qualifiers. They made the promise to sing together on the same stage next time.
 * colspan="3"|In episode 11, all the members of Aqours saw Riko off as she left for Tokyo to compete in a piano competition that would take place the same day as the regional Love Live! qualifiers. They made the promise to sing together on the same stage next time.
 * colspan="3"|In episode 11, all the members of Aqours saw Riko off as she left for Tokyo to compete in a piano competition that would take place the same day as the regional Love Live! qualifiers. They made the promise to sing together on the same stage next time.

As “special practice”, Dia got the eight of them to help clean up the school’s pool, and once they finished they decided to practice their dance in the empty pool. With Riko missing, Aqours needed to adjust their formation, and opted for You to fill in Riko’s spot.

Chika and You struggled to find harmony in their dance, Chika being accustomed to the way Riko performed the dance moves. They had just made it through the part they had problems with because of You’s mimicking Riko’s movements, when Riko called from Tokyo. After Ruby, Hanamaru and Yoshiko greeted her, the call was cut short due to Chika’s battery running low just as You was about to say something to Riko.

Having been surprised to discover the first two Aqours members were Chika and You rather than Chika and Riko, Mari confronted You suggesting she was jealous of the relationship between Chika and Riko. Although initially denying the accusation, You eventually opened up and took Mari’s advice to be honest with Chika to heart.

Being totally honest proved to be a difficult task for You, and she did not know how to express her feelings to Chika. After You was encouraged through a call from Riko to not just adjust to what Riko and Chika did before and find their own dynamic in the dance instead, Chika showed up at You’s house. Chika suggested they start over and relearn the dance together, and a crying You ended up embracing Chika.

The night of the Love Live! qualifiers and Riko’s piano competition, everyone wore the matching scrunchies Riko had sent as bracelets. Riko played her piece at the competition, and the remaining eight Aqours members performed “Omoi yo Hitotsu ni Nare” on stage.
 * style="text-align:center;"|12
 * {{Nihongo|"It's Time to Fly"
 * はばたきのとき|"Habataki no Toki"}}
 * style="text-align:center;"|LLSS_S1Ep12_220.png
 * colspan="3"|In episode 12, the members of Aqours were happy and relieved to find out they made it through the regional qualifiers of the Love Live! after a nervous wait. While the video of their performance had gotten a lot of views and comments, the number of applicants for the school’s open house was still zero.
 * colspan="3"|In episode 12, the members of Aqours were happy and relieved to find out they made it through the regional qualifiers of the Love Live! after a nervous wait. While the video of their performance had gotten a lot of views and comments, the number of applicants for the school’s open house was still zero.
 * colspan="3"|In episode 12, the members of Aqours were happy and relieved to find out they made it through the regional qualifiers of the Love Live! after a nervous wait. While the video of their performance had gotten a lot of views and comments, the number of applicants for the school’s open house was still zero.

Chika couldn’t help but compare Aqours to μ's, and wondered if the school idols she looked up to weren’t regular people after all. Calling the other Aqours members, she suggested they’d all go to Tokyo before Riko went back home, and try to figure out what made μ's great.

In Tokyo, Chika had arranged for Aqours to meet up with Saint Snow, who told Chika and the others they did not know what made μ's and A-RISE different. To them, what mattered was winning and following in the footsteps of their predecessors. Together, both groups watched the announcement of the Love Live! finals being held at the Akiba Dome on the screen outside the UTX High School building.

At Riko’s suggestion, Aqours visited Otonokizaka High School. They learned that μ's had not left anything from their school idol days at Otonokizaka, saying their hearts would be connected even without those things. Chika and Riko said the visit had brought them closer to the answer of their question.

On the train back to Numazu, the nine of them took a stop to look at the sea. Chika said that they couldn’t compare themselves to μ's, and all of the members started realizing that they had to run freely, stand on their own feet and not chase after someone else in order to become great. They decided that what they were running towards was turning the zero into a one.
 * style="text-align:center;"|13
 * {{Nihongo|"Sunshine!!"
 * サンシャイン!!|"Sanshain!!"}}
 * style="text-align:center;"|LLSS_S1Ep13_269.png
 * colspan="3"|In episode 13, Aqours were practicing for the Love Live! regionals during the hot days of summer vacation. Meanwhile, the number of applicants for Uranohoshi Girls’ High School was still zero. At the end of the day, Mutsu, Itsuki and Yoshimi showed up to tell Chika that they, along with other people in the school, were also interested in saving the school and had thought about becoming school idols. Chika invited them to sing with Aqours at the Love Live!.
 * colspan="3"|In episode 13, Aqours were practicing for the Love Live! regionals during the hot days of summer vacation. Meanwhile, the number of applicants for Uranohoshi Girls’ High School was still zero. At the end of the day, Mutsu, Itsuki and Yoshimi showed up to tell Chika that they, along with other people in the school, were also interested in saving the school and had thought about becoming school idols. Chika invited them to sing with Aqours at the Love Live!.
 * colspan="3"|In episode 13, Aqours were practicing for the Love Live! regionals during the hot days of summer vacation. Meanwhile, the number of applicants for Uranohoshi Girls’ High School was still zero. At the end of the day, Mutsu, Itsuki and Yoshimi showed up to tell Chika that they, along with other people in the school, were also interested in saving the school and had thought about becoming school idols. Chika invited them to sing with Aqours at the Love Live!.

Standing on their respective balconies, Chika and Riko talked about the increase in members on stage. Chika said that although it would be impossible for everyone to dance, they could all sing the song together, and it might make more people realize the greatness of their town and school. Chika’s mother surprised both Riko and Chika by showing up, making for a short intermission in their conversation.

The nine members of Aqours met up with Mutsu, Itsuki and Yoshimi, who brought with them an abundance of other Uranohoshi Girls’ High School students. However, everyone’s excitement was restrained when Riko announced that the rules said only the people who had applied initially would be allowed on stage. In the end, although only Aqours would be on stage, all the other girls decided to cheer them on from the audience.

Before their performance, the school idol club members reflected on their time together. Ruby and Hanamaru were embraced by Yoshiko, while Mari, Kanan and Dia thanked each other for getting this far, and Chika told You and Riko she wanted to enjoy everything the future had in store together. Proclaiming there weren’t just nine of them, Chika opened the door to the stage.

Prior to performing their song, Aqours introduced themselves by telling the audience their story and their goal. When they counted to nine, part of the audience yelled “ten”, pronouncing their being the tenth member of the group.

Halfway through the performance of “MIRAI TICKET”, Chika called out for everyone to shine together with them. The Aqours supporters of the audience ran down to stand next to the stage, creating a circle of blue light sticks around it. Meanwhile, the number of applicants for the school flipped from zero to one. Season II = }}

Trivia

 * In real life, the girls met for the first time at a four-days three-nights training camp in Summer 2015 at this facility, where they practiced the songs and dances for their first single in preparation for their first live event. Some footage from the camp can also be found from their first live-stream and here.
 * It being summer, the camp was filled with bugs, especially crickets, and all of them were bad with bugs.
 * The girls bonded over making dinners together, though breakfast and lunch were catered for them.
 * The girls were also shown training by jogging on the western edge of Lake Yamanaka.
 * The name "Aqours" is a portmanteau of the words "Aqua" and "Ours."
 * It is revealed that the third years were the original members of Aqours before Chika took over as leader. They were supposed to debut with Mijuku DREAMER, which they wrote the lyrics on their whiteboard. However, they disbanded two years later due to Kanan not being able to sing in their performance and Mari's opportunity to study abroad.
 * Dia suggested the group's name by writing on the sand, prior to their disbandment until Chika took over as leader.
 * Unlike µ's, Aqours did not disband after their third years graduate, and instead they continued as a 6 member unit, however, their school was closed.

Gallery

 * Please refer to this group's Image Gallery.