Episode Title:
Love Live Once Again!.
Episode Description:
With a new school year approaching, Honoka succeeds Eli as student council president, with Umi and Kotori as her aides. Word soon reaches the gang that Love Live is taking place yet again, on a larger scale than that of the previous year. However, since the format has now changed to include regional preliminaries, they quickly realize that in order to qualify for the tournament, they would have to beat A-Rise in their regional competition. The group is taken aback when Honoka suggests they don't need to enter Love Live, feeling it is not something she would say. Later that night, Yukiho informs Honoka that the opening date of Love Live is at the end of March, when the new school year begins. The next day, as Nico challenges Honoka to a race to decide if μ's should enter Love Live or not, Honoka comes to understand the meaning of Yukiho's words, as come March, Eli, Nozomi, and Nico will all graduate and no longer be school idols, making this year's Love Live the last opportunity for μ's to perform together as a group of nine. With the others easing her worries, Honoka states her true desire to enter Love Live and aim for victory.
