Next Step

Next Step (ネクストステップ) is the first episode of the ''Love Live! Sunshine!! Season 2'' anime series. It was aired on October 7, 2017.

Summary
Despite not making it to the nationals, the girls become eager to enter the next Love Live! event taking place next Spring. As the girls prepare to hold a concert at a school open house, Mari is perturbed by a phone call from her father, something Kanan and Dia are quick to pick up on.

Mari eventually reveals to the others that, despite her attempts to overturn her father's decision, the school open house will be cancelled as it has been decided Uranohoshi High will officially stop accepting new students and be closed down.

As Chika is initially hit hard by this news, she remains determined not to give up and make a miracle happen, a sentiment that is quickly met by the rest of Aqours.

Cast

 * Anju Inami as Chika Takami
 * Rikako Aida as Riko Sakurauchi
 * Nanaka Suwa as Kanan Matsuura
 * Arisa Komiya as Dia Kurosawa
 * Shuka Saito as You Watanabe
 * Aika Kobayashi as Yoshiko Tsushima
 * Kanako Takatsuki as Hanamaru Kunikida
 * Aina Suzuki as Mari Ohara
 * Ai Furihata as Ruby Kurosawa
 * Kana Asumi as Shima Takami
 * Kanae Ito as Mito Takami
 * Risae Matsuda as Yoshimi
 * Hisako Kanemoto as Itsuki
 * Yuu Serizawa as Mutsu
 * Hekiru Shiina as Yoshiko's Mother
 * Anna Mugiho as Shiitake

Trivia

 * Ending Credits character appearance: Chika Takami
 * Yoko Sato is seen during Uranohoshi's student meeting.
 * The plush from the Numazu Gamers poster is seen as one of Yoshiko's collections in her room.
 * This episode marks the appearance of Yoshiko's mother.
 * It is revealed that when Yoshiko was younger, her mother let Yoshiko to use her feeding bottle until kindergarten.
 * Yoshiko also revealed that as "Yohane", her mother is a temporary housemate, despite the fact that her mother is not aware of her daughter's fallen angel persona.
 * Riko's '普通怪獣りこっぴー' (normal monster Riko-pi) is a reference to Chika's '普通怪獣ちかっちー' (normal monster Chika-chi) when the duo first met in the first episode of Season 1.
 * Although not physically seen, Mari Ohara's father was mentioned by his daughter, until his physical appearance is briefly seen in Finding a Way to Shine.
 * Due to sharing similar release dates, this episode also inadvertently celebrated the 1st release anniversary of Kimi no Kokoro wa Kagayaiteru kai?.

Continuity Notes

 * Riko saved Chika on the docks from jumping (and in a flash), as a return for stopping her from diving from I Want to Shine!!.