Haruka, Kanata, and Beyond

Haruka, Kanata, and Beyond (ハルカカナタ) is the seventh episode of the ''Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club'' anime series. It aired on November 14, 2020.

Summary
Concerned that Kanata Konoe is overworking herself, her sister Haruka Konoe who is also a school idol at Shinonome Institute comes to check out Nijigasaki's School Idol Club. However, she learns that Kanata has been more sleepy lately, prompting Haruka to say she will quit being a school idol so she can help out Kanata more with the housework. Kanata tries to persuade her not to quit, but Haruka storms out of the clubroom. Haruka talks with the other club members the next day, telling them that she wants to stay in the club while also protecting her sister's happiness. On the day of what was to be Haruka's last performance, she witnesses Kanata perform, and the two sisters reconcile by Kanata suggesting that they support each other from now on both at home and as school idols. Haruka agrees to take over the cooking at home, but she still needs her sister to teach her how to cook.

Cast

 * Hinaki Yano as Yu Takasaki
 * Aguri Onishi as Ayumu Uehara
 * Mayu Sagara as Kasumi Nakasu
 * Kaori Maeda as Shizuku Osaka
 * Miyu Kubota as Karin Asaka
 * Natsumi Murakami as Ai Miyashita
 * Akari Kito as Kanata Konoe
 * Tomori Kusunoki as Setsuna Yuki
 * Maria Sashide as Emma Verde
 * Chiemi Tanaka as Rina Tennoji
 * Kaede Hondo as Haruka Konoe
 * Manaka Iwami as Christina
 * Sayaka Senbongi as Kasane Hasekura

Trivia

 * International streaming version End Card: Kanata Konoe
 * This episode marks the very first animated appearance of the Shinonome Academy school idols, including Haruka Konoe.
 * Only two of the characters, Christina and Kasane, are newly voiced.
 * Kaede Hondo reprised her role as Haruka from Love Live! School Idol Festival ALL STARS.
 * Haruka's cup has a pair of Pocky sticks printed on it. This is also a nod to Pocky Day, an event celebrated at November 11 every year, which ironically is also Haruka's birthday.
 * If you look closely on Ayumu during Haruka and Yu's interaction, her expression slightly changes, showing signs of her clinginess.
 * The episode also downplays Kanata's drowsiness (which is one of her charm points during her very first introduction), as her sister Haruka points out that she will potentially die from karoshi (death by overwork).
 * The shopping mall at the beginning is named "SOROR", which translates as Sister in Latin.
 * Setsuna continues to use her original Nana Nakagawa identity even though she eventually accepted her new alter ego since Shout Out Your Love.
 * Haruka's inability to properly cook is a callback to the School Idol Festival game.
 * The Fluffy Blueberry Milk Bread Roll from the Kasumi's Bread Roll Campaign made an appearance.

Callbacks to previous Love Live! series

 * Like Honoka, Haruka Konoe plans to quit as a School Idol. Unlike the former, Haruka did this for the sake of her sister's health.

Differences from the ALL-STARS game

 * Unlike in the game, where Rina has her board up all the time and uses only that to talk, she is able to pull her board up at will and seems fine to talk without it.

Errors & Goofs

 * 04:44 Kanata appears standing too far from Haruka.
 * 04:43 Yu's arms are down however in the next cut had her arms up already.
 * 07:10 Kanata's sweats aren't properly animated.
 * 20:07 Kanata isn't facing directly to Haruka.

Changes in the BD/DVD release

 * 01:21 Haruka moves without stalling for a moment.
 * 04:32 Kanata now stands close to Haruka upon turning back, then returns to position before cutting to the next scene.
 * 04:36 Kanata can be seen full.
 * 04:43 Due to Kanata now standing close to Haruka from aforementioned error, Yu's facing on Kanata has been changed.
 * 05:51 The camera centered on club members before panning to the door when Emma and Rina arrives. Also Karin looks at them upon arriving.
 * 06:18 Some fixes during Haruka's introduction to the club.
 * 06:24 Ai simply raised her hand instead of extending further.
 * 06:56 Shizuku was added during training with Kanata and Ai.
 * 07:03 Kanara runs slightly faster.
 * 07:30 Kanata's reaction is altered.
 * Some details from the training were mostly redrawn.
 * 07:58 Emma, Kasumi, and Rina widen their arms.
 * 08:19 Cups were added and a stack of cookies repositioned.
 * 08:38-08:43 Karin scene was shorten for additional scene where Emma respond to her joke and everyone laughs. Ai also joins the scene.
 * 09:08 Some additional fixes; Setsuna and Yu seats properly.
 * 10:07 Kasumi and Shizuku looks on Kanata upon waking up.
 * 13:30 Haruka is facing directly at Yu.
 * 14:19 Haruka is showing signs of unetiquette manner while eating.
 * 15:15 Kanata shook her head in disagree.
 * 21:50 Kanata scene is entirely redrawn.