Ensemble Stars Log

My Summary

• Shinobu is overwhelmed by the crowd at the school gates. He was personally scouted by Chiaki to join Ryuseitai. Since Yumenonsaki has no Ninja Club, Shinobu will form his own Ninja Association, as suggested by Chiaki. He hopes to make friends in high school. Yuta greets him but Shinobu is frightened and runs away to classroom 1-B. He regrets not taking the opportunity to make friends with Yuta.
• During lunch, Shinobu goes to the SC room to submit his application for the Ninja Association. Hinata is looking for Yuta to practise with him. Shinobu tries to sneak past Hinata but he greets him. Shinobu is frightened and runs away to the stairwell. Yuta find him there and Shinobu is frightened. Yuta tries to talk but he runs away again. He quickly comes back to retrieve a shuriken he dropped. He realises after listening in on Yuta that the person he encountered earlier was Yuta's brother instead of Yuta. Shinobu finally says something to Yuta before running away again.
• Yuta was hoping that he would be seen as an individual in high school instead of Hinata's knock-off like in middle school. Yuta feels like he will be stuck in Hinata's shadow because they already decided to be a unit since the first day of school. Hinata finds Yuta. Yuta tells Hinata that he was running away from practise but Hinata just brushes it off as Yuta's rebellious phase.
• Midori is in the gym but he really wants to leave as he has to help out at home after school. Shinobu comes looking for Chiaki who is looking for the Basketball Club members. Midori was forced to join the Basketball Club and Ryuseitai by Chiaki. Chiaki returns with nobody. Shinobu tells Chiaki that the Ninja Association application has been approved.
• Midori is tired from activities. Hinata energetically greets him. Yuta comes and Hinata tells him about the new producer department. Midori is so tired he thinks he is seeing four Aoi's. He is trying to feel for the real Aoi and pinches Yuta's cheek. Hinata laughs off Midori mistaking Yuta for him but Yuta is quiet.
• Yuta is thinking how people wouldn't notice he's gone if Hinata was still there. Shinobu is frantic to find Yuta head-down on his desk. Yuta quietly returns to his own desk which makes Shinobu think Yuta has a bad impression of him. Chiaki is still awaiting Tetora's response to his invitaiton to Ryuseitai.
• Yuta is aimlessly at the shopping district. He encounters Midori who mistook him for Hinata at first. Yuta goes on about his fight with Hinata which is why he is there. Midori says he wants to go home which is the vegetable shop nearby. Midori doesn't want others to know about this. Midori has no intention of being friends with either of the Aoi twins. Hinata has sent an email apologising to Yuta. Yuta apologises back.
• Midori asks what the Ninja Association does so Shinobu excitedly shows him the "art of camouflage" with a cloth he conveniently carries around for this specific scenario. Shinobu covers himself with the yellow cloth against the yellow shoe lockers but Midori says he is very noticeable (bro thought he did something). Chiaki has come to announce that Tetora has accepted the invite to Ryuseitai.

Favourite Quotes

• Midori: "Hah... Why am I holding this ball... I'm so depressed, I wanna die..." (ch5)
• Midori: "As soon as I entered the school, Morisawa-senpai came to my classroom and said stuff like “Ossu! I'm Morisawa Chiaki, the captain of the Basketball club! And, starting today, you're a member of said club! Nice to meet you!”" (ch5)
• Shinobu: "You can't die!" (ch5)
• Midori: "It's fine. I will be rejecting your offer, from the very bottom of my heart." (ch5)

Random Points

• Shinobu had no friends in middle and elementary school
• Shinobu is a ninja. You better believe it! (I'm giggling at my own joke, please laugh)
• The Aoi twins have been told that it's like they are two of the same person since middle school
• The Aoi twins wear different coloured hairpins and headphones so others can tell them apart
• Midori is in the idol course because he accidentally took the entrance exam for the idol department (ch6)
• Midori seems to have a hard time turning people down
• Midori is canonically attractive
• Kanata is part of the Marine Biology Club
• Midori has an older brother
• Midori's family owns a vegetable shop, "Greengrocer Takamine"
• Shinobu's specialty ninja move is "jumping through rings of fire"
• Yuta likes videos game
• Shinobu and Yuta are classmates, Hinata and Midori are classmates, ok?

My Thoughts

• Hinata: "[...] are we playing tag or something?" (ch1) Setsubun flashbacks. Or flashforwards..? Since I haven't covered it yet in this log but now that I think about it, it was the first (!) story I read. How nostalgic.
• I think Shinobu has social anxiety. I never had any opinions on Shinobu before because I just didn't know enough about him but I think I'm quickly starting to like him now. He's so #relatable.
• When I first got into Enstars, I was a Yuta-P. Reading about him again makes me remember why that was. #relatable
• It's not like Hinata is just all fun no depression, I mean... Setsubun (though that is much much later in the timeline). At the moment, his emotions are not the focus so I wonder how he feels about being the one constantly being in the spotlight.
• Chiaki be collecting first years like Pokemon (Edit: I just found out the Japanese title is Pikapika no Ichinensei. Pikapika...). He seems to have chosen the members of Ryuseitai very intentionally so I wonder how he even knew about them.
• I like how Shinobu has such an anxious personality that whenever Midori says he wants to die, as he always does, Shinobu takes it seriously and is like NO MIDORI DON'T DIE DON'T SAY SUCH SCARY THINGS!!!!!! I love Shinobu, dawg.
• Yuta: "I don't think a person like that would accept to transfer to such a troublesome position though...?" (ch6) Yeah, Anzu basically only joined because she was desperate. I think there was some nefarious plot behind the sudden establishment of the producer course, right? Idk, my memories are vague.
• I think Hinata finds it amusing that people think him and Yuta are "two but one" but obviously Yuta isn't fond of it because it's always "Yuta looks like Hinata" but never the other way around. As someone who never had many friends, I relate with Yuta except in my case my "Hinata" is my younger sibling which feels a bit more shameful.
• I may have forgotten to mention in the summary that Hinata keeps saying that it's lonely when Yuta isn't around and I wonder if that's an indication of something bigger with Hinata. Maybe that's why he uncharacteristicly (according to Yuta) apologised because he probably thought Yuta might leave for good after missing one phone call. He even replied immediately because he was probably anxiously waiting for Yuta to reply. Hinata is very clingy, with this and how he maintains the twin act. It's no wonder why Yuta wants to separate and be his own individual but that must also be hurtful for Hinata because it's like Yuta is abandoning him. I'm just going on, I don't know if any of this is accurate.

I like this story. It mainly establishes Shinobu and Yuta's struggles but I also managed to infer some things about Hinata. Midori... Oh Midori. I love him. I relate to these three so I enjoyed reading about them. I'm also glad to know that I like Shinobu now. Chiaki was... okay. Chiaki is the type of person I would be scared of. This isn't a very plot-heavy story so I did struggle a bit to decide which bits were relevant to put in the summary because a lot of it didn't feel relevant.

My Summary

• Subaru is excited to prepare for DDD but Hokuto is brooding. He has decided to accept Eichi's proposal (see Kingdom). Makoto and Mao have supposedly already went through with it.
• Subaru is brooding in the lesson room. Chiaki comes in as he has found out about the proposal. Chiaki scouts Subaru to be his successor in Ryuseitai as Subaru will be able to take vengeance on the SC. Subaru immediately shuts him down. Turns out Chiaki was testing his will to fight on and expresses his desire to render support to Subaru. Anzu comes in wearing an idol outfit. She will be a temporary mystery member of Trickstar so they can participate in DDD.
• Day of DDD. All battles will be on the outdoor stages except the finals in the auditorium. Trickstar is preparing to perform. Rei comes to check on Subaru. Tsukasa, Arashi, and Ritsu are introduced. Trickstar will be competing against Knights. Turns out Makoto was forced to join Knights. He has been confined by Izumi for days. Ritsu tells Rei that he can tell Trickstar where Makoto is, intending to make Trickstar to forfeit this round by their absence. Rei advises Subaru against looking for Makoto but Subaru insists.
• Akatsuki (ft. Mao) are helping with SC duties. They're not participating in the DDD. Mao is having doubts about being in Akatsuki.
• Subaru is looking for Makoto with little time until DDD starts. Subaru encounters Izumi for the first time and ask if he's seen Makoto. Izumi refuses to cooperate. Makoto in confinement has been starved of food and sleep by Izumi. He hears Subaru outside and tries to call to him but the room is soundproof. Subaru and Izumi manage to hear Makoto. Since Izumi won't release him, Makoto begins slamming his face, his redeeming feature to Izumi, to disfigure himself. Izumi is frantic and opens the door. Makoto was actually banging the wall with other objects instead. Makoto and Subaru run off to DDD.
• Hokuto is having doubts about being in fine, thinking about his upbringing. Eichi tells Hokuto to sort himself out as he will be debuted in the final round. Chiaki comes to bicker with Eichi. Ryuseitai will compete with fine. Kanata is introduced.
• Keito has let Mao return to Trickstar. Keito wonders what is Eichi's motive behind DDD. Makoto and Subaru are surprised to see Mao has come back and has been holding fort on stage until now. Anzu has called upon her connections from her previous school to help vote for Trickstar. Izumi has come back for revenge. Ritsu is getting weak from the sunlight. Apparently, Arashi was told by Akiomi to rid of Trickstar. Mao exposes Izumi for kidnapping Makoto.
• Ryuseitai expectedly lost against fine. Trickstar won against Knights thanks to Anzu's connections. 2wink lost in the second round as a sacrifice. They played around on stage against fine until they were temporarily prohibited from being in DreFes's. Sakuma has been sending his lackeys to go against fine.
• Trickstar is rushing to the auditorium for the semi-finals. This was a sudden change that has left everyone in a frenzy. Trickstar will be going against Ra*bits.
• Hokuto is brooding. Wataru comes and gives Hokuto a rose which turns into a letter. It's from Hokuto's grandmother. Wataru leaves on an air balloon. Hokuto is no longer brooding.
• Ra*bits lost against Trickstar. fine against UNDEAD. Eichi is getting tired and is not happy with what Wataru did with Hokuto. UNDEAD lost. Eichi says he's jealous of them for having fun.
• Hokuto emerges wearing Trickstar's outfit. Hokuto says that his decision to join fine was because of his parents, who were under Eichi's influence. He realised he wants to be with Trickstar after reading the letter from his grandmother which basically tells Hokuto that he should do what he wants.
• fine against Trickstar. fine's song order is the same as Trickstar's so it's basically a 1:1 challenge. Wataru against Mao. Mao is intimidated as Wataru is freakishly good at everything. Wataru removes his mask (serious business). Mao starts break dancing. Yuzuru against Hokuto. Tori against Makoto. Eichi against Subaru. There was dialogue idk what to say man.
• Akiomi is in disbelief that Trickstar may have won. He was not fond of DDD from the start as he wanted fine to go to SS.
• Subaru asks Eichi why he held DDD. Eichi says he wanted to see a miracle happen (Trickstar winning) so he could love like an idol. Akiomi announces that fine has won. Trickstar is upset. Eichi tells Akiomi to announce the real results. Akiomi insists on this result.
• Eichi decides to concede the encore, making Trickstar the winner of DDD. Subaru thanks the audience and everyone joins in Trickstar's encore.

Favourite Quotes

• Subaru: "(I've become all alone again.)" (ch92)
• Subaru: "I'm Trickstar" (ch93)
• Midori: "My name is Midori, so I'm Green... Ryusei Green, Midori Takamine..." (ch94)
• Wataru: "That's right, it's your Hibiki Wataru...☆" (ch120)
• Wataru: "How idiotic! 'Normal' would just be boring, wouldn't it?" (ch120)
• Hokuto: "Hmph. That's the one word I'll never say even if I were to die." (ch121) (He's referring to "Amazing")
• Eichi: "I just, simply... wanted to become an idol." (ch131)

Random Points

• Souma uses the "dono" honorific on everyone except those younger than him
• Adonis is not from Japan
• Tetora likes to say "ossu"
• Kanata likes to swim in the fountain
• Jin calls Akiomi "Akiyan"
• Jin and Akiomi used to be idols
• According to Akiomi, Jin wasted his life as an idol with "alcohol, tobacco, and women"
• Rei and Ritsu are brothers, but Ritsu is not fond of him. Ritsu calls Rei "anija"
• Souma has carries around a real sword with the approval of the school
• Eichi and Keito are childhood friends
• Rei is so bad with phones that he texts entirely in hiragana (which is hard to understand. This is why we have kanji, kids)
• Hokuto's father is a renowned idol "who even created a social phenomenon"(?) and his mother is a renowned actress.
• Eichi was born with a weak constitution (unnamed chronic illness)
• Keito is Eichi's right hand (this is relevant in other stories)
• Knights is held together simply for the members' own personal benefit. These bitches hate each other
• It seems the kidnapping incident was settled without any law enforcement involved. Makoto this is not okay please don't be used to it
• Makoto is the tech savvy guy
• Subaru finds Chiaki annoying
• Wataru can do magic tricks, conversation arts, vocal mimicry. He knows something we don't
• Wataru possibly believes in God? (The Christian one)
• Wataru has many interests, one of them being haikus
• Wataru is acquainted with Hokuto's grandmother and even exchanged email addresses
• Eichi compares Wataru to Mephistopheles
• Yuzuru is an honours student
• Besides machines, the votes are also counted manually which sounds ridiculously diffcult

My Thoughts

• SUBARU NOOOOO BABY NO. On the surface Subaru is just some kid bouncing off the walls but deep inside he is very lonely and agghh. Pre-Trickstar Subaru is so depressing (though my only reference is my vague memories of Meteor Impact). I want to give Subaru a hug he doesn't deserve his unitmates leaving him alone. As much as Subaru is annoyed by Chiaki, he does brighten things up, doesn't he~☆
• Chiaki: "Most stars will burn themselves out and be filled with darkness. However, in Ryuseitai you will be able to shine again!" (ch93). The "star" is obviously Trickstar but I think it's worth mentioning that "ryusei" in Ryuseitai means "meteor" or "falling star". So what Chiaki is suggesting here is that Subaru should abandon a dying star for a falling one. Something something ensemble STARS. So many STAR references. Subaru is the Japanese name for the Pleiades star cluster, Hokuto is the Big Dipper. There's probably more I just don't know.
• Tetora: "Ah, so you mean me when you say Black, I want you to properly call me by my name!" (ch94). I'm guessing the confusion here is because Chiaki would be calling him "Kuro", which is another character in their circle.
• Subaru: "I just got depressed on my own and deluded myself into thinking I was all alone." (ch95) Maybe I should learn from Subaru. Where my homies at.
• I'm now realising the mystery surrounding DDD is not what it is but what it stands for. Unlike the other DreFes which are just generic letters and numbers, DDD falls outside of that convention. I suppose it is a mystery.
• Jin keeps being like "stop that Akiyan, you'll go bald" and Akiomi really took it to heart. I will not go bald Jin I won't I won't!!!!! I take care of my diet and hair care I won't go bald!!! Okay baby chill.
• Tsukasa: "In the first place, you're not a maiden, right...?" (ch100) I know this is probably something that will be developed in later stories but I guess for now I have to look past the bigotry. I don't even like Arashi anyway, to be honest. I can feel tomatoes being thrown at me right now.
• The members of Knights are all insane actually. We get a glimpse of it here where Izumi has kidnapped Makoto for multiple days. The other members are aware (Edit: Tsukasa wasn't) and know it's bad for their reputation but other than that they don't really care enough to intervene. Tsukasa will also have his turn being a kidnapper in (!!)'s main story. Leo isn't introduced yet but I've read The King's Horseback Ride and Checkmate so I know that guy isn't very normal either. Is this what it takes to be a powerhouse in Yumenosaki? Being completely unhinged? Or is that just all Enstars characters?
• Does YOUR idol game have the characters act like singing and dancing is life and death? Yeah, I wouldn't know I don't play other games, too busy with this one. I guess the military imagery is kind of not metaphorical sometimes considering Ibara and Yuzuru used to be in a military camp and don't get me started on whatever is happening in (!!), we'll get there when we get there.
• Enstars characters be like "Hey, isn't this illegal?" and it's treated as a joke (as a yaoi reader this isn't new to me but that doesn't mean I'm desensitised by it). These bitches need to be locked up man. Specifically Izumi. I know he's a popular character, maybe he's really compelling, but lawddd the IzuMako thing tests my patience. Though I am a Wataru-P so maybe I don't have a place to speak when he kind of has a similar thing with Tomoya.
• Eichi: "You will step on countless corpses and will bathe in the blood of your enemies so much at some point that you won't feel anything anymore." (ch109) It's scary the things Eichi says so casually. This is certainly the mindset which has gotten him to this point. Heh... Ok I won't say anything but let's just say ummm something something WataEi heh... Ciel what does this have to do with WataEi you stupid fuck? Heh... WataEi... Wait for Element, people. Ok I'm going to collapse from heart failure, let's continue.
• Hapiele be like: Ok we're going to make a depressed character, ok? He's going to say how depressed he is and want to die every other time he speaks, ok? This is how depressed people are, ok?
• Eichi: "I'll use any method I need to win. The only way for someone who was born this weakly to keep winning is to sometimes even go as far as to use underhanded tactics." (ch111) So we've already established in Kingdom that Eichi, while I do believe is sincere, uses questionable methods and I think this line tells us that the reason he does this is not because he is straight evil like a lot of characters see him as but rather it's him doing what he can. For the life of me I cannot remember which story shows the SC being established but it's clear that Eichi uses people to do his bidding (especially Keito and formerly Tsumugi) whether through their devotion to him or whatever. He manipulates people to do what he wants because he himself physically cannot do those things so this is his best option. Listen baby Enstarries: you will have an Eichi hating phase, I did too, but he is so good I swear. I love Eichi now, once you get past Main Story he becomes a lot more silly and little less murderous.
• Seeing Souma itching for war and battle in 2025 where I have hindsight for the atrocities HapiEle will commit... It's weird, idk. The traditional Japanese concept unit loving war and fighting? Baby these characters were not going to go without controversy from the beginning.
• Enstars conspiracy theory: Subaru and Daikichi are the same being.
• Ch113 we get a reference to Ensemble Girls, the spiritual predecessor to Enstars. I'm not very familiar with that franchise but from what I've heard, Anzu started a revolution at her old school and got kicked out which led her to transfer to Yumenosaki's impromptu producer course. Anzu is the step-sister of Engirl's male self insert protagonist. I guess it runs in the family, huh?
• Yuta: "Aniki, you were fooling around way too much. You even jumped onto the president at one time, didn't you? Getting a penalty is well deserved." (ch117) Dang, I really want to see that. Imagine Eichi getting so mad at that. Maybe it's in the anime but I doubt it. I need to rewatch it...
• After what happened in their debut (see Rebellion), I'm really glad to see Ra*bits in the semi-finals. They made it far and they deserve it. Ra*bits is one of my favourite units music-wise but also you know their members are cute as hell I can't lie. Lala lalala lalalala hirake Joyful*Box or something.
• Wataru: "That is my style! No, that is the man named Hibiki Wataru...☆" (ch120) Wataru is an... eccentric guy (no shit he's an Eccentric) but his high-strung nature is more of a performance to him, a character he plays than his real self. Which is why Wataru here is making it clear that "Hibiki Wataru" is separate from himself which is the one he initially refers to by "my".
• Hokuto: "[...] do you think you're a phantom thief? [...]" (ch121) Heh... Wataru? Phantom thief? Sure sounds familiar, eh...
• Eichi: "No, I am not wrong- I still believe so. An overwhelming ruling power was needed in order to reform the lawless Yumenosaki Academy." (ch123) Something something I mentioned earlier about Eichi using any means necessary.
• I think Eichi's facade is slipping. He doesn't even bother to pretend to be nice anymore the longer we go in.
• Holey moley... Ok the Rei CG in ch124 is lowkey hot asf.
• This Eichi CG in ch129 UGH look I'm not generally a fan of the older art but this eats.
• I find it funny how Jin and Akiomi act like their idol days were wayyy behind them and they're like. 30 years old. Akiomi might be a year or two younger even. I'm not very familiar with idol culture but at the very least former idols are usually still in their prime in their 30s. I guess this is what happens when you peak in high school.
• Not related to the story but having to add italic tags every time I want to type fine is really annoying but if I don't it will 1. look very wrong and 2. be very confusing unless I capitalise the F which goes back to point 1.
• Love like you but with WataEi MAKE IT HAPPEN PEOPLE (me, I'm people)
• I saw some comments say that Trickstar winning DDD was some sort of plot armour but I don't really think so. You could argue that all those little things to tire Eichi out into conceding the encore was plot armour but to me it more like strategy by Rei. Admittedly, I'm not a huge fan of early Trickstar music so I do find it hard to believe the votes were THAT close but I may be biased.

A lot happened in this story and I'm just glad it's over. I'm really tired of reading Enstars, I've been reading for like 3 days straight (with sleep in between but still).

My Summary

• Trickstar are preparing themselves to perform. Makoto is anxious but the rest encourage him. Hajime sees Anzu to her fron row seat that Subaru requested.
• 2wink introduce Trickstar on stage individually before leaving. Trickstar's performance is going well, they've got the audience captivated. Trickstar are all having fun performing.
• Their performance is over. The unit leader is supposed to wait on stage but Trickstar doesn't have a leader. They decide Anzu should be their leader and call her to the stage.
• Keito says he will accept whatever the result. Trickstar wins the S1. Followed by Akatsuki, UNDEAD, and 2wink.
• Keito leaves quietly. Trickstar is invited to perform an encore and Ra*bits, UNDEAD, and 2wink join as backup dancers.
• Mao is called to the SC office and is met with a silent Keito and Tori. Mao expects to be punished harshly but Keito lets him off with a light scolding, despite his anger. SC is swamped with work. Akiomi drops by and tells Keito he is disappointed in him (for losing).
• Trickstar is in the garden after Subaru collapsed on stage. Eichi is introduced as he approaches Trickstar in the garden to praise them. Subaru and Makoto don't know him but Hokuto does and fears he is their biggest obstacle.
• The next morning, there is commotion in classroom 2-A. Other idols have come to request Anzu produce them too after Subaru credited her at the S1. Souma relays Keito's letter to Anzu calling her to meet after school.
• Eichi welcomes Trickstar to the SC room and introduces himself. Hokuto is on guard. Eichi says he's been waiting for a revolution to happen and tells Trickstar they should disband. Keito advises Eichi against this for the SC's reputation.
• Eichi says Trickstar's victory was a fluke. He proposes that Trickstar disbands and the members will be assigned to other established units to bring out their potential. Subaru and Hokuto to fine, Mao to Akatsuki, and Makoto to Knights.
• Hokuto is sure about rejecting but Mao has reservations about rejecting immediately. Eichi singles out Makoto, telling him his talents are wasted on Trickstar and better spent in Knights. He then goes on about the lack of system in Japan's entertainment industry.
• Eichi offers them 100 million yen per person as compensation if they go through with it. He invites Trickstar to watch fine in an upcoming B1 DreFes where he also plans on making an announcement
• SC usually doesn't perform at unofficial matches so Hokuto suspects that fine is attempting to capture the hearts of normal students by performing at one. Mao expresses how Eichi's plan may be for the better.
• UNDEAD is going against fine in the B1. Their performance did not go well as Kaoru was absent and Rei was tired. This was likely according to Eichi's plan.
• Rei laments how the effect of the revolution is being reversed by Eichi. Wataru is introduced.
• fine's performance is going strong. Hokuto is worried. Eichi announces that he will be holding a DreFes, DDD, to decide which unit will represent Yumenosaki at the upcoming SS.

Favourite Quotes

• Wataru: "Amazing! Delivering the brilliance of love into the universe today too...☆ It is I, your Hibiki Wataru!" (ch88, Freddie24f)
• Wataru: "Let me prove it not with words but with actions- the thing called the power of love, that is...☆" (ch88, Freddie24f)

Random Points

• Subaru likes money and spending it
• Mao originally had doubts about being in Trickstar as he thought they were just using him for his position in SC
• Tori explicitly treats Yuzuru as his slave
• Shinobu eats hyourougan and Anzu learnt how to make them from him
• Hokuto is popular among the kindergartener and old lady demographic. Why...
• According to Mao, Eichi and Tori are childhood friends as both of them come from influential families
• Eichi is acquainted Hokuto's parents
• Rei gets fatigue from sunlight. This is because he is a vampire #real
• Wataru is known as the Masked Freak/Pervert (変態仮面, Hentai Kamen)
• Wataru is the president of the theatre club, which Hokuto is also part of
• Tori doesn't like that Eichi made Wataru part of fine
• Wataru can play five instruments simultaneously
• SS is a very prestigious national DreFes held at the end of the year and much higher than an S1
• Yumenosaki is a sponsor for SS but has never had their unit be a winner
• The Tenshouin Zaibatsu invests the most into Yumenosaki

My Thoughts

• Tori and Eichi's kitten and owner relationship lowkey gives me mixed feelings. On one hand I do find Tori cute so yeah it's cute but on the other hand Tori worships Eichi so Eichi playing around with him feels a bit weird.
• Mao joining Akatsuki back in 2015 must have seemed temporary as part of the plot. Here in 2025 someone else joins Akatsuki for real and it has much worse implications.
• EEEK OMG WATARU FINALLY IN CH88 AHHHHHHHHHHH WATARU YAY YAY YAY
• So THAT'S what DDD is. I remember watching an Enstars iceberg video mentioning DDD like it was some mystery but it's just the preliminary DreFes to SS. Anyway I think fine's comeback performance was a lot more grand in the anime, I'm kind of disappointed Wataru doesn't actually jump out of a helicopter. =(

Personally, as a fine-P, I was quite excited for this story because both Eichi and Wataru are introduced. I love Eichi, he is a wolf in sheep's clothing. His dialogue towards Trickstar seems very empathetic, like he is just looking out for them, but everything is all just part of a greater plan. Eichi is definitely someone who would get what he wants through any means necessary. This aligns with how Rei speaks of him during the B1. Despite his cunning nature, I think Eichi is still very sincere. Everything he does comes from a genuine desire to make things better. He genuinely thinks that the things he does is what is best for everybody. The war didn't happen because Eichi hated the school, he loved idols and Yumenosaki and could't stand to see it in shambles. It's just that his methods, while effective, are extreme. I really like how Eichi is just a genuine person that's just misguided, so to speak. I don't know maybe after the next story I will be proven wrong and he actually has ulterior motives.

My Summary

• Trickstar have been training for, under Rei's guidance, and plan on competing at the upcoming S1 Dream Idol Festival (DreFes) a week from now against the student council (SC). Since Eichi is hospitalised, fine is unable to participate in the S1. This leaves Akatsuki as their main opponent.
• Anzu receives a letter from Kuro to meet him in the Karate Club's martial arts dojo alone. Kuro returns Anzu's handkerchief he borrowed (see Hierarchy). There was a mix up so it isn't hers but he gives it to her anyway.
• Kuro offers to help teach Anzu how to sew to make Trickstar's outfits. He is aware of their plans of revolution and he and Tetora are supportive of it. Keito is also aware that Trickstar has some sort of plan but isn't worried about it.
• Mao introduces himself to Anzu. Turns out Mao is a double agent as Keito tells him to keep watch on Trickstar while he tells Trickstar about inside information on the SC.
• Trickstar have their rehearsal in a soundproof room rented by Rei. He has offered to compose a song for Trickstar since they don't have many yet. This conclude's Rei's mentorship over Trickstar.
• Mao looks for Anzu in the garden terrace kitchen as she went missing, assuming she went to get refreshments for Trickstar. We meet Kaoru who says he is the only guy allowed in the garden terrace.
• After Kaoru leaves, Rei tells Mao that Anzu is in the cupboard. She was hiding from Kaoru because he was harrassing her and wanted to take her somewhere by force (what the fuck?).
• After some snacks, Trickstar continue their rehearsal. Mao stays back late at night to practise. He expresses his concerns about the DreFes and Makoto to Anzu.
• Makoto returns later than promised due to being caught up with someone. He plans on staying in the practice room overnight until S1. Izumi is introduced as he is looking for Makoto. He was the one Makoto was caught up with.
• Izumi tells Makoto has no talent as an idol and is only good for being a model. Izumi calls Makoto many degrading names such as a disappointment and "a beautiful puppet" (ch53, Kageyama8).
• The day before S1, Rei gives Trickstar a final pep talk. He narrates how the student council has become overly strict and vanquished the Five Eccentrics to the point that the school has become suffocating. The revolution by Trickstar will "clean up" after the Five Eccentrics.
• On the day of S1, many people from the public come to watch. The student council is understaffed ans swamped with duties.
• Souma tells Keito there is trouble in the auditorium. UNDEAD has infiltrated the S1 and begun performing when they aren't registered to.
• Keito and Rei have a bitter reunion. Rei invites him to rid of him and UNDEAD in a battle. Keito accepts. UNDEAD take over the stage and Akatsuki try to subdue them.
• Keito realises UNDEAD's plan of simply being a decoy by losing on purpose. Keito is caught off guard as 2wink enter the stage to transition to the main act and UNDEAD retreats.
• Akatsuki is forced to retreat and Keito realises they were just the opening act for the real stars of this DreFes.

Favourite Quotes

• Subaru: “What? That's a shame! I even prepared a metal bat~☆” (ch44, Creampuffs)
• Subaru: “Let's join forces and beat the student council black and blue! Hip hip hooray~☆” (ch44, Creampuffs)
• Subaru: “Of course! I'll try real hard until I start vomiting blood~☆” (ch46, Creampuffs)
• Subaru: “She can resuscitate us if we black out, so we can train until our bodies fall apart ☆” (ch46, Creampuffs)
• Kaoru: “Hey could you stop staring at me? I'm not exactly the type of guy who gets happy at men gawking at me.” (ch47, Creampuffs)

Random Points

• Hokuto's grandmother is very doting
• Makoto had to watch his weight while he was a model
• Kuro has a little sister he likes to embroider and sew things for. He also made the outfits for Akatsuki and Ryuseitai
• Mao is part of the Basketball Club and the treasurer of the SC
• Dude how many songs does a unit need for a DreFes?? Trickstar performs SIX like thats pretty crazy?? and theyre learning the song and choreo in like a week??
• Hokuto's parents have extensive connections.
• Anzu keeps going missing. Girl please inform people of your whereabouts
• Kaoru is rumoured to be the most extreme and dangerous at the school. Hard to believe but okay
• Kaoru has like really high potential as an idol but he's unmotivated to actually practise
• Apparently Shinobu says emergency foods and food pills for ninjas are “300km per pill ~de gozaru!”. What is he eating
• Hokuto's favourite food is konpeito
• Mao can breakdance
• According to Mao, Makoto feels he is the weakest link of Trickstar
• Makoto implies that he has a troubling home life
• Izumi knows Makoto from he was still a model
• According to Izumi, Makoto suddenly quit being a model
• Makoto expresses how being in Trickstar makes him feel more alive than he was as a model
• Izumi thought of Makoto like a younger brother
• Rei says locked rooms are pointless before him because he is a vampire. What does this mean?
• Keito isn't very athletic but is satisfied having just a necessary amount of muscle and stamina. Checks out.
• Kiryu calls Keito “Hasumi no Danna”. There's probably an explanation out there for what this means because I am not qualified to be the one doing it
• Adonis and Souma are in the same class
• The colour of the audience's cyalume (glowstick) corresponds to the number of points and unit they are voting for. Normally, the score range will be from 1-10 but for Battle of the Bands format the score is in increments of 2 as each unit gets 5 colours each

My Thoughts

• You know what Kaoru is that trope of the womaniser who hates literally any interaction of men that could be misinterpreted as gay in the slightest and I'm living for it. Why is bro so pressed at a guy just looking at him. He's not living down the events of Crossroads. The womanising part can get a bit annoying, though, with the way he describes Anzu sometimes but I just don't like those types of characters in general.
• I'm not Japanese so I don't know how their schools work but are they just allowed to stay in the school late into the night. This is something I see across at least a few stories and I'm assuming it's just Yumenosaki because I can't imagine that being acceptable in real life.
• Everyone seems to treat Anzu like some sort of saviour who decended from the high heavens to put Yumenosaki out of their misery. I find it a bit weird like wow pressure much but also like everyone worships Anzu. On an unrelated note I feel the urge to read Ensemble Girls.
• Tori be like “I dont even feel or see any signs of a rebellion!” Don't speak too soon baby.
• Do you think Rei does his whole “old man” thing because he retained a year or is he just always like that. Bro you are one year older you haven't even met Crazy:B yet.
• Hey... I have hindsight here in 2025 and Akatsuki's traditional concept is going to be a problem and it's part of the reason I've been questioning my interest in Enstars.
• Keito calls this current era “peace” which is interesting because everyone else calls this the War. To the student council, the current state of the school is ideal but to everyone else they are being oppressed. I felt like bringing that up idk if it means anything.

I took a long break in the middle of reading this so I didn't realise some parts were still from this story. I don't have any strong opinions here it's just build up for the real climax in Kingdom.

My Summary

• Jin, the school nurse and class 2-A's homeroom teacher, is introduced. He is aware of Trickstar's plans of revolution but chooses not to report it.
• Koga is having a tantrum because he didn't really get to compete in the DragonKing Competition (see Hierarchy). Hinata and Yuta (the Aoi twins) are introduced.
• Rei is introduced as he is awoken by Koga's noise. He requests the twins to “fetch” Anzu.
• Trickstar discusses their plans for revolution then check out the auditorium where the next S1 Dream Idol Festival (DreFes) will be held in two weeks time.
• Hajime is introduced as he is cleaning the auditorium. Hajime's unit (Ra*bits) is performing at the S2 DreFes that day so Subaru says he'll go watch.
• Anzu is missing as she followed the Aoi twins who beckoned her (they abducted her).
• Trickstar goes to the Light Music Club (LMC) room to find Anzu. Rei wishes to test them if they are worthy of her.
• Rei knows of Trickstar's intentions of rebellion and wants to make sure they do it earnestly.
• Koga is gagged..? as Rei makes Koga apologise to Trickstar for trampling on Anzu (see Hierarchy) but he escapes his restraints and refuses to apologise to her.
• Hokuto refuses to hand Anzu over to Rei who wants her in his unit since Trickstar isn't worthy.
• Hokuto requests Rei to be their mentor. Rei refuses at first but assesses Trickstar's abilities then gives them feedback and advice. Rei agrees to produce Trickstar.
• Subaru and Anzu head to the auditorium to watch Ra*bits' performance. Hajime is manning the reception booth as a part-time job.
• Subaru meets Ra*bits in their changing room. Turns out their opponent is Akatsuki, one of the student council's (SC) units.
• Hokuto and Makoto recount the absurd training methods they've been put up to before Anzu tells them something is wrong with Subaru.
• They find Subaru alone in the auditorium. Apparently, after Akatsuki's performance, the entire audience except Subaru and Anzu left the auditorium before Ra*bits had even begun.
• Despite this, Ra*bits still performed to their fullest ability, but Hajime cried after.
• Subaru expresses his desire for REVOLUTION..

Favourite Quotes

• Subaru: “Eh~? Classes are a pain! I wanted to run wild. Instead of classes, it's way better to play terrorist~!” (ch19, Riitranslates)
• Rei: “Poochy, come here, boy. I shall toss a ball for you to fetch...♪” (ch21, Linnæus)
• Subaru: “How 'bout we seriously act like terrorists and blow up the student council guys during their live~?” (ch24, Linnæus)
• Rei: “Kukuku, people are not meant to live long lives. ♪” (ch28, Riitranslates)
• Hokuto: “Nobody... can win against the student council.” (ch39, Riitranslates)
• Subaru: “Then I want to destroy them. All of them, every last bit.” (ch39, Riitranslates)

Random Points

• Jin habitually drinks before bed??
• I think Anzu is like, secretly really strong.
• Rei is a vampire, or at least claims to be. He sleeps during noon in his coffin bed in the LMC room.
• Rei treats Koga, the epitome of alpha wolfhood of course, like a puppy.
• Rei, Wataru, and Kanata are the Three Eccentrics after another two (who are not introduced at this point) left the Five Eccentrics.
• Since the producer course was established so suddenly, Anzu has to take the same classes as the idol course.
• Eichi, the SC President or the "Emperor", is away from school at the moment due to hospitalisation.
• Subaru and Hajime met as they both do part-time jobs on campus. Hajime is poor. =(
• The part-time jobs pay in on-campus-only currency. What a world.
• Hajime is a "spacey kid".
• Rei talks like an old man. (Rei time loop theory, anyone?)
• Subaru has trouble sympathising/empathising with people.
• Nazuna has a lisp that gets more prominent when he is mad.
• Where tf did Hajime get that tea in that classroom.
• Tomoya was a big fan of idols before he became one.
• The twins tickled Hokuto to death.
• Koga made Makoto bungee jump off the school roof, threw him in a pit of reptiles, and tried to shoot him on a motorcycle with a model gun.
• Nazuna is Chairman of the broadcasting committee and Captain of the Tennis Club, and Tomoya is in the Theatre Club.

My Thoughts

Jin is such a weird addition like he's a teacher but also the school nurse and an alcoholic and he's lowkey creepy towards Anzu 😭 dafuq. He also fulfills that "30 year old that keeps saying they're old" trope because I guess in anime 30 is middle aged. I know he has significance in Enstars' lore as a whole but as a teacher he's kind of weird, in my opinion. This game loves kidnapping doesn't it? I'm reading this with some hindsight, Anzu was the first strike. Anyway the boys be yapping as always. How earnest, but if this was reality I think everyone would be dying. Of course, there is a lot of shining, illumination, and brilliance imagery, aka STARS. GET IT. The school's currency system sounds so dystopian.. I'm not sure if it's related to an in-game mechanic or something. Also the grading system sounds HORRIBLE. I know thats like the point of the revolution, how the SC is favoured due to the system leaving rookies to be left out, but DAMN. How does anyone become an idol in this school if only the SC wins?? And the voting system is basically a bet, fitting for a gacha game, I guess. The way how the most popular unit goes first is obviously a system that sets up the best to stay on top. Normally opening acts are by less known artists, but this is a system where anyone who isn't outstanding stays at the bottom. Seeing the broken system illustrated is really heart wrenching. We SEE why rebellion felt so necessary for Trickstar. While everyone has learnt to be helpless and submit to the SC, Trickstar decided to step up. Honestly when I first got into Enstars, I thought Trickstar was kind of stupid. Just a bunch of kids believing in the power of friendship. And yeah, they kind of are.. but it's also a story about standing up against a system that keeps the powerful in power and the weak in the shadows, no matter how much or what kind if effort you put in. UGHHH UGHHHH IT SO SAD OKAY ITS SO SAD WHAT HAPPENED TO RA*BITS THEY DONT DESERVE THIS. I think this story is when Trickstar evidently gets more serious about the revolution. It was something they aspired to before, but now they are really trying to act on it by picking up a mentor and also Subaru's epiphany.

My Summary

• Transfer student (Anzu) is introduced to Subaru, Hokuto, and Makoto (Trickstar). Hokuto gives Anzu a tour of the school, explaining about Yumenosaki Private Academy and how Anzu is part of the new producer course.
• The group notice a B1 Dream Idol Festival (DreFes) performance being held outside the cafeteria and go to it. Tetora is the emcee for the DreFes called the DragonKing Competition and Koga is a contestant.
• Tetora panics as Kuro, who was supposed to battle Koga in the DreFes, is missing. Kuro is found buying food but he is confused as he forgot about the DreFes. He isn't inclined to go through with it.
• Koga taunts Kuro which was effective as Kuro accepts battle. Kuro and Koga kinda taunt each other, then Kuro begins to get physical, overpowering Koga. Koga fuckin' “soars through the air”.
• Subaru narrowly avoids getting landed on as Koga lands on Anzu instead, knocking her out.
• The student council (SC) have found out about and seize the B1. Keito, the Vice President of the SC, orders the arrest of the students involved as everyone runs away.
• Tori has his lil' evil anime villain monologue and OH MY GOD HE HAS A GUN (a stun gun). Kuro disarms tori and they all retreat.
• Mao, a member of the SC and Trickstar, helps Trickstar get away from the SC. He scolds them over their carelessness.
• Hokuto takes Anzu to the infirmary and apologises to her whe she's still unconscious (but actually awake). He explains the current war-stricken state of Yumenosaki and shares Trickstar's goal and plans for REVOLUTION..

Favourite Quotes

• Hokuto: “You two get along so well it makes me sick” (ch1)
• Subaru: “Hokke~. You are a perverted old man ~☆” (ch4)
• Kuro: “Quit yapping, mutt.” (ch11)
• Koga: “DIEEEEEEE!” Subaru: “AGHHHHH!” (ch13)
• Tori: “Lookie here, what's this, I wonder? Tadah! It's a stun gun~ ♪” (ch14)

Random Points

• Subaru begs Anzu for money (and generally attracted to shiny things) cuz he broke asf
• Throughout the story Hokuto already implies there is something up with Yumenosaki that Trickstar needs Anzu's help with (aka the revolution)
• Makoto and Subaru have this manzai/comedy duo thing going on
• Subaru's current email address starts with moneypower@...
• Anzu is a test for the new coed system the school wants to implement (not how that works but sure..)
• Yumenosaki is like, a really reputable school
• Koga da wolf boy.. awooooo.. he is besties with Subaru's dog, Daikichi, dafuq 😹😹..
• Apparently Subaru is an outcast and Makoto is forced to do modelling (which is why he is sensitive to it being brought up)
• Hokuto is in the Theatre Club and his President is dubbed "the Masked Pervert".

My Thoughts

I'm starting from the beginning, even though I've read quite some Enstars stories before. Seeing the old art is quite refreshing, Enstars is 10 years old already, can you believe? There was a lot of banter between Trickstar so it's kind of hard to summarise main points because idk how much of their conversation actually matters outside of fleshing out their characters. A lot of this story is just explaining the basics of the game in general. Interesting to see in the unit explanation section that the game started with 8 units? I know Alkaloid, Crazy:B, and Double Face are from (!!) era and that MaM and Eden were introduced later during (!) era but I didn't know Valkyrie, Switch, and while Knights was there, Leo was also introduced later. Probably not a coincidence that all three of these units are directly linked to the war. It seems the concept of time is really weird to me while reading this. They be like “We don't want to be late for lunch” and then yap for like the whole chapter like um you're not making it, dude. Also while Koga was flying through the air it somehow took him long enough to get down for them to have a whole conversation (let alone how they can hear him?). Seeing Trickstar before they became totally buddy buddy is kind of interesting, I just assumed they were all friends but going off of their dialogue, especially with Mao, I think Trickstar was formed for the revolution. I know there is a story that covers the formation of Trickstar, I'll get to it eventually. Honestly Hokuto makes a lot of comments about Anzu being a girl throughout the story and idk why he does that.. I don't really like it. Overall this is mostly an introduction to Yumenosaki and the game and while it does its job you have to admit there is a shit ton of banter. Enstars characters yap for centuriesss.