In order to expand their school idol club membership, Chika attempts to recruit Riko into the fold however, the latter repeatedly refuses. However, a past pain may be the true cause of Riko's resistance to becoming a school idol.
This episode contains the following tropes:
- A Day in the Limelight: This episode is very Riko centric, focusing on her past and love of piano, and eventually ends with her joining the School Idol Club.
- Cover Version: Riko sings "Yume no Tobira" as she learns more about school idols.
- Intertwined Fingers: Or close to it anyway. At the end of the episode, after Chika convinces Riko to give being a school idol a chance, the two reach out over their balconies in order to clasp each others hands. They are able to touch each others fingers at the end signifying Riko joining the group.
- Heroes Love Dogs: Chika's family owns a large dog, Shiitake. Averted with Riko as she is scared by them.
- Insert Song: "Yume no Tobira" covered by Riko. The anime cut the song short but the OST has a full version.
- Performance Anxiety: It's revealed through flashbacks that Riko is an incredibly talented piano player and that she entered a piano competition when she was still in Otonokizaka. However, the pressure eventually lead her to being unable to perform onstage and she withdrew without being able to play her song. It's shown that the trauma of that moment is preventing her from being able to play the piano for most of the episode.
- Refusal of the Call: Riko, multiple times throughout the episode, tells Chika that she is not interested in being a school idol. She eventually decides to be the composer after Chika and You help her discover the sound of the ocean. It's not until the end of the episode that Chika is able to convince Riko to give being a school idol a chance and that it can help her rediscover her love of the piano.
