The Idolmaster

Season 1

Episode 12: A Goal with a One-Way Path

As the day of the concert gets closer, the Producer and the idols are worrying about Miki, who hasn't come for practice sessions for the past few days. After Ritsuko explains about the talk she had with Miki about the misunderstanding over Ryugu Komachi, the Producer realizes what happened and tries to call her to come back and to stop being selfish, but Miki tells him she no longer has enthusiasm to perform. Kotori calms the Producer down, explaining that Miki is still a teenager. The Producer regrets treating her like a professional and never considering her feelings. As the Producer searches for Miki around the city, the idols begin to have doubts if Miki will return, but Chihaya believes she will come back and they should continue practicing. When the Producer finds Miki, he apologizes to her, but Miki reveals she wants to quit being an idol as she lost her enthusiasm after learning she can't join Ryugu Komachi. As the Producer follows her around the city trying to make her reconsider, they stop at a lake where she reveals she worked hard during the practice sessions hoping to join Ryugu Komachi so she could wear cool costumes, be on stage and popular just like them. But the Producer tells her things have changed since now it's the rest of other idols' turn to be in the spotlight, so he promises her that he will help her become just like or better than Ryugu Komachi if she promises to return to 765 Production with the same enthusiasm she had. Back at the studios, Miki apologizes to everyone for her absence, but Chihaya has no time to hear it as she wants Miki make up for lost time. Glad to have her back, the idols watch Miki trying on her new costume.