Kirarin Revolution, episode 21

(きらりん☆レボリューション) 2006

Kirari (voiced by Koharu Kusumi of Morning Musume!) is a middle schooler who LOVES her food. So much so that it's scary! While girls her age swoon over idols, Kirari swoons over her dad's cooking, and couldn't care less about the life of a celebrity. But when she saves the pet turtle of Seiji of pop group SHIPS and falls in love, she decides to become an idol herself so that they can be together (or so she hopes).

It's almost time for "Nojo's Hot Idol Award." This honor is given to the best new artist of the year - and Kirari's agency wants her to win. SHIPS won themselves last year - naturally, this is motivation enough. But you can't expect an idol's career to be free of greed and manipulation (at least, behind the scenes). When Kirari and her manager go to do a photoshoot, they see the room is already being occupied - by none other than the famous model, Fubuki Todou. Fubuki has been modeling since she was a small child, and certainly doesn't have any self-esteem issues. To add insult to the fact that Fubuki is actually Kirari's age (yet looks so sophisticated and mature), HER manager, a shady looking woman who seems to have a history with Kumoi-san and the chairman, announces that Fubuki will be debuting as an idol the next week. This means she can take part in the Nojo award competition. And nobody who opposes the Higashiyama company has ever done well.

Keeping with the tradition of characters having a pet cat, Fubuki has one of her own. A cat named Mya-san, along with a bird named "Bird Year" (!?). Both are horrible little trouble makers who see no problem with throwing a banana at poor Naa-san and Nayan (who had followed them). Fubuki also doesn't think much of Kirari - is she really an idol? Are they really the same age? Her body doesn't have much to it, and her singing is bad. It annoys the black-haired beauty that someone like her could be a #1 idol. SHIPS, who was also there (they came to get someone's autograph), tells her that being so direct will hurt Kirari's feelings. This doesn't help at all.



Through her own photoshoot, which follows after, Kirari tries to show Fubuki what she believes an idol must be. Someone who wants to make people happy, someone who puts on a smile and makes people smile. It doesn't work - Fubuki finds her approach stupid. Anyone can smile. And it's rude to stuff your face (Kirari's photoshoot involved eating). She will destroy Kirari's career and teach her a lesson.

Finally, the time has come for "Nojo's Hot Idol Award." Everyone you expect is there - Erina, Arashi, Fubuki, Kirari, Mochida, and two unknown others. In the end, it is no surprise that it boils down to Kirari and Fubuki. But it is a surprise that while Fubuki did in fact win, Kirari also won. It's a double award! Stubborn and unwilling to "share" with an un-sexy chow hound, Fubuki challenges Kirari to see who's really the top new idol. Unable to back away, and not wanting to let down everyone, she accepts.

Hmm... could be interesting :)