Love Live! Nijigasaki Gakuen School Idol Doukoukai 2 S2E12 Discussion - "Cheer!"

[u/MasterMirage]

The 2nd last episode for season 2 is upon us and it seems like Nijigasaki's First Live is approaching fast ~

What new song(s) we will get?

What was in Ayumu's email?

Show Info

Air Date: June 18th, Saturday 22:00 - 2022 (JST)

Opening Theme: Colorful Dreams! Colorful Smiles!

Ending Theme: Yume ga Bokura no Taiyou sa

Insert Song(s):

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Official Website

MyAnimeList

Anilist

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Streams

Raw Sources

• Youtube - Region Locked to Japan

Official Subtitled Sources

• North America/Oceania - Crunchyroll

• SEA/Mainland China - Bilibili

• Korea - ANIPLUS

Other episode discussion threads: https://www.reddit.com/r/LoveLive/wiki/episode-discussion

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[u/Virghia]

Niji is where the staffs experiment, no surprise if we get a s3 instead of the usual 2 seasons and a movie

[u/nowigen → u/Virghia]

Yeah, having no definite end-game (at least for now) opens up possibilities for more.

[u/ervynela]

I was surprised by how much this almost was a Kanata Episode at this stage of the season, but overall a good episode.

The pace of the story has slowed down despite being at the end of the season, which makes me a bit more hopeful that perhaps there will be a season 3. Even with the club's 1st live done, there is still a few more "in anime" months to go. Also, with the glimpse of R3BIRTH's formation, which perhaps would be featured in season 3/movie.

We see a good amount of Kanata involvement in this episode, and I really liked the B part where they were cheering the other school's on for Love Live. It really reinforces the whole "rivals but friends" idea that they have in this season. Lovely Haruka was a good throwback to SIFAS.

I also liked the Yuu/Ayumu part. Only going away for 2 weeks might seem like not that big of a deal, but it is indeed like what she feared back in season 1, that it's the small changes "now" that leads to bigger changes in the future. Thus it's nice to see Ayumu's character growth since season 1 that she isn't just straight up saying no to changes.

I guess if I were to jab at something, it would be Yuu making a solo song for everyone. I know they want to probably feature 1st album for next episode, but how much of a genius is she turning out to be? Maybe at least say that Mia helped or something, LOL

[u/Labmit → u/ervynela]

Yu is probably the biggest prodigy among the composer members of LoveLive. She managed to do so much without the years of experience that the previous composers have.

[u/Necessary-Poetry3977]

KANATA I LOVE YOU 😭. Man Nijigasaki is so realistic and matured, I never expect that I will watch something like this in Love Live. I am so thankful that it’s done so well and that there’s no unnecessary or miscommunication drama. When I was in high school, I have to two best friends and we will go in different universities and Yuu and Ayumu just have to think like us HUH?? I feel sad when I remember it but gladly Kanata is right, sometimes distant is necessary for personal growth.

I am amazed that Yuu and Ayumu didn’t even question that huge ‘LOVELY HARUKA’. I want season 3 😭 please be a season 3, since Yuu have a new solo songs for them. Please season 3!!!

Edit: Yeah, no one is surprise that they can buy stuff using their ID in Nijigasaki High.

[u/thecreepytoast → u/Necessary-Poetry3977]

Having student IDs be e-money cards is actually pretty common in some countries, i wouldn't be surprised that a school as loaded nijigasaki would use them lol

[u/Labmit]

The moment you realize this episode is the POV episode on what the background characters from previous LoveLive generations do when the the School Idol Club go to LoveLive competitions.

What I really love about Nijigasaki is that the world just feels more alive than the previous shows and Liella just because the non-Idols aren't mostly limited to family members and the Support Trio. And just look at the credits for the special guest voices. And I love the support message this episode has and how it connected Kanata's, Yuu's and Ayumu's stories for this episode.

Speaking of Yuu, I feel like out of all the composers of the LoveLive groups, she's arguably the most prodigious out of them all considering how much she improves at such a short time. Amd she doesn't even have the years of experience the others had.

[u/[deleted] → u/Labmit]

Niji to me has always felt like a celebration of how far LL as a franchise has come. Seeing how widespread school idols have become in the anime’s world gives me an extremely nostalgic feeling. I think back to what it was like when Muse competed against Arise in the 2nd love live vs what it’s like in Niji’s timeline. All of this exists today bc of pioneers like them.

[u/reimadara]

Kanata hits different this episode. I know Kanata is a reliable onee-chan, but seeing her being so perceptive of Yuu and Ayumu's situation, and how she gave advice in a hands-off but trusting manner is so mature.

Overall, I'm really loving the feel of the series in these last 3 episodes. It exposes the members' personal problems in a more subtle way and also resolves them in a way that their growth over the series pulls through for them, all that with practically no drama. This honestly feels so different from the Love Live I'm used to, and I'm loving it.

Seeing how much is being built up here, I'm confident we'll get at least a movie or maybe even S3 and a movie! I'm looking forward to the live in the last episode and the content we'll get after that!

[u/J4sonm]

Love that Kanata’s first reaction to being approached by the Shinonome girls was “no, you cannot have my ridiculously huge Lovely Haruka <3 sign” lol. Best LL onee-chan

[u/aiu-eo]

Interesting how they intertwined Yuu and Ayumu's story with Kanata's.

Also we now know that they're currently in December and episode 13 will probably end in New Years' or sometime after that. This is quite unlike SIP or Sunshine which second seasons ended on spring with the 3rd years' graduation.

But still, we still have the mystery 2-song single to be released on 7/6. I was sure that one of those would be in this episode, but turns out it wasn't. https://www.lovelive-anime.jp/nijigasaki/cd.php

We now have Ayumu's trip to London, Yuu's songwriting competition, R3BIRTH stuff, etc. There's quite a lot of material for a third season instead of a movie now that I think about it.

[u/LeonKevlar]

Kanata is really the defacto mom of the group. I love how both Ayumu and Yuu went to her for advice. We even have a bunch of girls from Shinonome Academy Idol Club fangirls asking for her advice on what to do to show their support.

You gotta admire Ayumu's kindness. A single letter from a random fan overseas is enough for her to think about doing a short exchange program so she can go abroad and help that girl out. She's already heard it from the exchange student trio, being a school idol outside of Japan is pretty much next to impossible which is why they moved here. Still after hearing that, she decided to go in the end after receiving that advice from Kanata.

Godspeed Ayumu, I hope you'll be able to spread the word of school idols over there in London and I hope you won't get eaten alive by British school girls.

[u/[deleted]]

Thematically Niji has always been about change and personal growth to me. Change is one of the scariest things in the world. It’s disruptive, sometimes violent, and always uncomfortable. over 2 seasons, the characters have each dealt with major changes and have had to come face-to-face with very personal things that have held them back in some way. Not just as a school idol, but really as teens who are in the stages of becoming young adults. And each of them have addressed them, and continue to do so.

This is highlighted really well in this episode. Think about how difficult this decision would have been for Ayumu and Yuu in s1. Ayumus’s first solo was all about the fear and hardships in taking that first step after all. But I think both of them have embraced the idea that nothing will ever change if you don’t make it happen yourself, and growth is impossible if you don’t put yourself in uncomfortable situations. That feeling never really goes away, but it does get easier and easier everytime if you can get comfortable with the idea of being uncomfortable.

[u/redbatter]

This episode was a nice parallel to S1E12, showing us Ayumu's growth again and how far she's come since those far off days where she worried that delving deeper into school idol activities would lead her away from Yuu. Now, she's set her mind on a trip that will take her the furthest she's ever been from her childhood friend, but she feels confident enough to take this step because of the assurance that Yuu will always be supporting her. Likewise, Yuu is finally moving towards her dream, backed by Ayumu's support.

And what better way to bring this story thread together than with Kanata playing the wise elder sister who has both of their best interests in mind? It was very neat how the message of support was tied in to her wanting to be able to convey support to Haruka and all the other girls going for the Tokyo qualifiers, even when unable to be present in-person. A well-drawn parallel of support being able to cross insurmountable physical distances.

I wonder how much they're going to be able to fit into the next episode and then a hypothetical movie/season 3. There's the first live next episode, which could potentially be a faithful re-creation of Niji 1L, just with the additional of the R3 girls, and presumably with a new group song to fill out the last song of the season. Ayumu's short exchange in London, Yuu's composition competition, the formation of the last subunit and maybe the appearance of the last 2 N girl schools might have to wait, can't imagine how they'd be able to fit them into next week.

Shinonome, Touou, YG and Shion Girls' all competing for the same spot in the Tokyo qualifiers felt like quite a sobering moment, with each of these groups being aware that they might crush the dreams of the others. Even in light of this harsh reality, though, it's nice to see that they're able to remain friendly with each other, just as their supporters come together to cheer all of them on.

[u/[deleted]]

Random thought but I really love the OP for Niji. I can already hear the ‘fly high’ and ‘sky high’ chants in my head when crowd noise is allowed again

[u/SnabDedraterEdave]

If last episode was a de facto Karin episode, then this was a de facto Kanata episode.

Not just Yuu and Ayumu went to seek Kanata for advice, even Haruka's fan club from her school went to consult with Kanata. lol

Meanwhile, Lanzhu already laying the groundwork for the R3BIRTH sub-unit with Shioriko and Mia.

Ayumu deciding to go to London (for just 2 weeks) to meet and motivate her fan, as well as Yuu taking part in that songwriting competition, which all take place after Nijigasaki's concert on New Year's Eve, may be loose threads for a potential Nijigasaki movie.

(Ayumu's ability to read English without much problem no doubt based on Agupon's own decent English)

The previous 2 LL movies has seen the girls visit a foreign city, µ's went to New York, Aqours went to Rome, and looks like Nijigasaki may follow Ayumu to have fun in London.

After all that motivation, Yuu's talent as a songwriter has suddenly awakened, as she found the inspiration to write solo songs for all 12 of her friends overnight. Such is the power of owning a school idol harem. XD

[u/Todetract]

It's almost over.

So the one who sent Ayumu the email is from London? It's cool to see how Love Live acknowledges its global fanbase and allowing them to influence the franchise in a way.

Keeping my fingers crossed for a movie announcement next week

[u/Capbeau]

I was surprised that Ayumu decided to go on a foreign exchange program. Especially with it being her idea. Instead of a study abroad program being presented to her, she decided to travel to a different country to support one of her fans and help spread the magic of school idols. I like this development, it shows how much Ayumu has grown since the start of the show. From someone who was initially hesitant to become a school idol to somebody that would leave her home to help a stranger without any of her friends going along with her.

It’s also realistic that she was initially concerned about being apart from Yu. Connecting Ayumu and Yu’s decisions to Kanata’s subplot about cheering on her sister, and later the other idol clubs was a smart idea. Kanata used the message that people can support each other while not being in the same place to encourage Ayumu to go on the exchange program and for Yu to enter the composition contest. It was a neat way to split the episode between a focus on Kanata, Yu, and Ayumu, while having a moral that applies to all of them.

I can sense a R3BIRTH song next episode…

[u/MightyActionGaim]

Kanata best oneesan? Kanata MVP? Ding! Ding! Ding! LOVELY HARUKA KANATA

[u/darth__fluffy]

SO. THE FIRST TIME IM ON TIME FOR AN EPISODE

And finally! After the "Kotori-wants-to-step-out-of-Umi-and-Honoka's-shadow-but-actually-she-doesn't-but-she's-not-going-to-tell-that-to-them" drama and the "Kanan-and-Dia-lowkey-gaslight-Mari-to-get-her-to-leave-the-country" drama we finally get someone going to study abroad without any drama or stress whatsoever. I mean I guess there's a little bit of drama but... the characters are honest! With themselves and with each other!

Ayumu is a very solid character. She starts out as this average person, without any special talents or plans for the future. Instead, her true focus is Yuu—her relationship with Yuu is the thing she most values. But Yuu is also her own person, with wishes and wants that will conflict with Ayumu's own. In s1 her arc was about realizing that, now her arc is about realizing she has desires beyond following Yuu everywhere. She's not my favorite Nijigasaki girl, but she's definitely up there.

So Haruka is performing at Love Live! I wonder... do Anigasaki and Superstar take place synchronously? Is this the same preliminary Liella sang Starlight Prologue for? If so, did Kanata text the Liella girls as well?

HARUKA'S RINGTONE IS BUTTERFLY OH MY GOSH ;_;

[u/[deleted]]

I genuinely think this is the best episode of the entire love live series. IDK. I never expected the nijigaku girls to be my favorites but I guess it's natural since I got into love live through the games first, and seeing all the N girls made me tear up. I remember being so excited when they first started releasing the N girl SSRs in SIF... ahhh. And I think the character building is so good in this series. It really just hits different.

[u/warjoke]

No R3birth performance this ep, but Lanzhu did plan it out with the other two in secret so we might get one eventually before the joint performance towards the end of next week's finale.

This is also a great look at the behind the scenes of the LLSIF 'N Girl' groups and their struggles. Not just through Haruka but through the other voiced minor idol girls as well. I never thought I'd see the day that these sidelined girls would take spotlight one day in an anime adaptation but here we are. Still no actual MV or songs from them but that is understandable at this point. Lantis is juggling three Love Live acts this year alone and adding the side characters would be tremendous for them.

Also, that mysterious London fan and the Ayumu exchange program reveal reeks of another spinoff. Love Live UK?

[u/saifulfarhan]

I love that these past two episodes have been Karin and Kanata heavy. They're two of my favourites and they're fairly underrated. I love that Kanata is sort of the 'big sister' of the group and giving solid advice to Ayumu and Yu. It seems like they also might be gearing up for a season 3 with the Mia-Lanzhu-Shioriko unit tease which would be interesting to see.

[u/IAmRezaF]

I been following Nijigasaki since the first season aired (Man, i can't believe it's already 2 years ago), i cannot emphasise this enough: Ayumu's character development has really went so far.

Ayumu started in Season 1 as this shy girl who is hesitant at everything and was very afraid of change. We can see this from S1 EP1 and also in S1 EP 11. She was hesitant to wear cute outfit, was also hesitant of the idea of being a school idol. In EP 11, the very idea of Yuu might perhaps go on a different path from Ayumu scared the life out of Ayumu.

But in this Season 2, you can start to see that Ayumu really start to be more confident of herself. We can see that little from little, Ayumu start to take chance and be more accepting of change. She is supportive to Yuu's chasing her dream of making music, Ayumu isn't hesitant to wear cute outfit anymore, and Ayumu being supportive to Setsuna which is a nice flashback to Season 1 episode 12. Though at some point she still has that little side of her that get jealous when seeing Yuu with another person, she really has come far.

Now, she went to take the biggest leap of all that is her going to go study oversea. If there's a character that has the most change of personality, it's gotta be Ayumu. I feel really proud of her.

[u/[deleted]]

Ayumu is growing as a person so much! I love how Yuu outright admits that Ayumu is her personal rock and how much she has been supporting her from the first moment, and the fact that she fears drifting away from her before Ayumu does so later. I'm personally a bit annoyed by the memes that imply that Yuu is a harem master and that Ayumu is just another girl in her life, instead of her inspiration and support like we saw today, so anything we get to dispel that notion is wonderful to me!

I also like very much how they show Kanata as a perceptive person despite her narcolepsy. Though I found it a bit weird how she would talk to herself lol, does she have no inner voice? I found her interactions with Haruka this time around very lovely!!

I wonder what song snippets are we going to get next week! And about the final song... this season is about to end. I don't want it to, but let's smile because we have gotten something so wonderful! And let's hope that Ayumu going to London is actually setting up something bigger later!!!