Love Live! Nijigasaki Episode 8: Truth or Shadow

This time Shizuku got the spotlight. Show us what you’re made of girl!

We began with Shizuku literally on stage, which was kind of a flash forward and a look inside her mind at the same time. We’ll get back to this along with Shadow Shizuku later.

We joined our heroines being interviewed by the newspaper club and taking photos. It was Shizuku’s turn to be interviewed. She was asked what kind of school idol she wanted to be. Basically the ideal idol in everyone’s mind. More on this in a bit.

Another question she answered had to do with playing the lead role in the upcoming play. Immediately afterward the Drama/Theatre Club president said she was out of the lead role. When asked why the prez said she wanted someone who put themselves into the role. Basically someone who gave it their all and wasn’t holding back.

Long struggle short Shizuku was anxious. She’s afraid of what others would think of her true self because she’s different from other girls, hence the “Becoming everyone’s ideal idol” motivation. Better to be someone people liked than be disliked for being yourself.

Kasumin sensed her Shizuko was in trouble so she asked Rina/The Mask for help. They invited their fellow first year for a good time. Unfortunately when they said they wanted to support her for the re-audition she was too scared to open up and ran away.

As someone who used to dislike herself Rina could relate but it was thanks to her beloved Ai (and the gang) she came to love herself. She was like “Thanks to Ai’s love my heart was saved so maybe what Shizuku needs is…”. Kasumi didn’t let her finish as she rushed off to become Shizuku’s heroine.

Kasumi wasn’t playing games. Not this time.

Shizuku’s anxiety was strong indeed. So strong in fact she considered quitting both drama and idol out of fear of resentment.

Definitely not playing games.

She didn’t KO her but was like “So what if some people don’t like you? Look at me! I’m the cutest idol in the universe and I know there are some who have the nerve to disagree. Big deal! what about you? You haven’t called me cute once! Tell me right now to my face. Do you think Kasumin is cute?

Shizuku: Ummm…kinda.

Kasumi: That’ll do. You see? That wasn’t so hard to say. My point is this. There may be people who don’t like you…

That’s all she needed to hear.

Very cool seeing Shizuku and Shadow Shizuku do the Fusion Dance (but gay) to create a cool yin-yang costume signaling her accepting herself and her faults. Take a wild guess who gave her the loudest applause.

We will see these two again next time as my 3rd hype girl finally gets the spotlight to herself instead of being her girlfriend’s co-star (which was still excellent of course). Speaking of, I wonder what her role will be then? Hopefully similar to last time.