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Spoiler Alert!
This article contains details about plotlines described in the anime.
Do not proceed unless you want to be spoiled.



Hanamaru Kunikida is a main character in Love Live! Sunshine!!. She was a first year student at Uranohoshi Girls' High School prior to its closure and is currently a second year student at Numazu High School, being temporarily integrated at Seishin High School before the former's opening. She is a member of AZALEA, a sub-unit under Aqours. Her image color is yellow.

Background[]

Hanamaru, known as "Maru" for short (by herself and her friends), is a first year student and the daughter of a family who has run a nearby temple for generations. She lives with her grandparents, and since she does not have a computer, she often reads a lot. Hanamaru is Ruby Kurosawa's best friend, and both are often seen near the other. She also attended the same kindergarten as Yoshiko Tsushima, also one of her friends.

Hanamaru has a distinctive verbal tic and dialect, tending to end her sentences with "zura" (ずら), as well as using "ora" as a first-person pronoun to refer to herself.

In the anime, in the first episode, Hanamaru and Ruby are quickly approached by Chika Takami, who invites them to be school idols. Confused, Hanamaru quickly dismisses the invitation. It is later revealed in Season 1 Episode 4 that Hanamaru actually was interested in school idols, especially after seeing a picture of Rin Hoshizora from µ's, but couldn't bring herself to being a school idol herself because of her appearance and lack of physical condition. She talks Ruby's sister, Dia Kurosawa, into paying attention to what her sister actually wants, which was being a school idol. After Ruby joins Aqours, she tells Hanamaru about the story of Rin and µ's, and Hanamaru finally decides to join Aqours, supporting Ruby in her endeavor.

Personality[]

Hanamaru is a hardworking girl who diligently works at her family's temple. She spends a lot of time reading alone and is easily distracted by books. Since she was raised as a temple girl, Hanamaru does not watch television much, nor does she use the internet, making her outdated. Because of this, she is fascinated with modern technology, yelling her catchphrase "Mirai zura!" (未来ずら "It's the future, zura!") when she sees something advanced such as a computer. She was often teased due to this, but was usually defended by her best friend Ruby; however, the first time it happened, Ruby ended up crying, causing Hanamaru to comfort her instead.

Hanamaru seems to be quite self-depreciating, calling herself a "chibi procrastinator" and "neither cute nor interesting". She aspires to be like Ruby, whom she sees as "beautiful, cute and dazzling". She is also gentle and caring for those around her. Despite her appearance, Hanamaru is also smart and not easily fooled.

Due to the fact the Second Years are considered "the heart" of Aqours, Hanamaru has some difficulty relating to the Third Years, which is shared with Yoshiko; this is due to her preference for the indoors and for calmer activities. Season 2 Episode 2 explores this, and after a rainy evening forces the girls to stay indoors, the First and Third Years are able to relate to the others, with Hanamaru seemingly relating to Kanan Matsuura the most.

Hanamaru is shown to have a playful and mischievous side; this is especially present when she teases Yoshiko's Fallen Angel behavior and her embarrassing moments (often alongside Ruby), which annoys Yoshiko all the time. She has a surprisingly large appetite, able to eat a food helping quickly and often asking for another one immediately after, and is usually seen eating sweets in the background, the most common of them being a roll of noppo bread.

In Season 1 Episode 4, Hanamaru stated that since she was little, she was a quiet girl who played off to the side.

Clubs and Hobbies[]

She is a gifted singer, earning her a spot in a choir. She loves reading and has a deep fondness for Japanese literature, often spending most of her time in the school library, which she helps out at. Her ambition is to become a writer some day.[1]

Appearance[]

Hanamaru is short with a slim figure with brownish gold hair and amber eyes.

Other Data[]

Note: Dengeki G's Magazine is a monthly magazine that is part of the Love Live! and Love Live! Sunshine!! multimedia projects. As it is usually the first source of news for all major projects under these titles, its monthly sections will detail how the project has progressed over time. The issues are usually published a month ahead of time. For example, the July 2010 issue would've been released on 30th May 2010.
2015
Official Introduction from Website[2]
Sunshine!! character intro - Kunikida Hanamaru

The fact that I would actually become a school idol, that was something I had never even imagined--- But I can't just leave my best friend, Ruby-chan, alone... Guess this is just a part of human fate, and I will work hard! I am sure that if I continue accumulating good deeds in this world, I might be able to live happily with Ruby-chan again even after reincarnation--- Such a thought must have come into my head after listening too much to the temple priests' talk. Ehehe♡ I was born as a temple girl but, I'm always thinking of the books which I love reading. No matter where I am or who I'm with, I'm always alone, after all. If there was someone else who could understand my feelings, I would be happy♪


Official Translation[3]

Sunshine!! translated character intro - Kunikida Hanamaru
Character Introduction (September 2015)[4]
Dengeki G's Magazine Sep 2015 Kunikida Hanamaru Scan
Character Introduction

Hmm, it's not here after all...
Just where on earth is it? The book about idols that Ruby-chan mentioned---
This is troubling.
It's great that Ruby-chan invited Maru to try being a school idol but--- Maru doesn't know a single thing about idols at all---
I have no choice but to study really hard from now on zura!
Yes.
Maru was raised in a temple as a temple girl, so she doesn't really watch the television or use the internet--- Because of that, she's distant from the world's trends--- She had always been teased for that since a long time ago.
But during those times, Ruby-chan would always come to Maru's rescue. Every time others said things like "Maru doesn't even know something like this~" or "So slow!" or "Lame!".
"Maru-chan isn't anything like that! Because, instead of knowing things that everyone knows from watching television, she knows lots and lots of difficult things nobody knows about! She'll always be amazing because of that!!!" That cute face blushing from both rage and embarrassment, even remembering it now--- brings a tear to my eye.
With that said, rather than the Maru who was being troubled, it was always Ruby-chan who began crying first--- In the end, I have to end up comforting her--- Kusu kusu♡
She's so cute after all, Ruby-chan♪
Cute, just like that. I think she definitely can become an idol! Ruby-chan is beautiful, cute, and dazzling--- She was always something Maru aspired to be.
So, even though such a Ruby-chan aimed to become a school idol, since she requested for Maru's help, I will do whatever it takes to get her there!
But for this Maru who is out-of-date, and is neither cute nor interesting, all she can do is research books with all her might.
Right, idol books, idol books--- Ooh.
Ah!
Ahhhh!!! This--- is the biography of Serizawa Kojiro which I had always been searching for!!!
This encounter might just be the work of fate, so just for a little while before continuing idol research--- Only a little bit, let me read this book. Sorry Ruby-chan, please wait for me a little longer---

Typical off-day schedule
Time Activity
6:00am: Wake up
6:30am: Morning rituals (Offerings and cleaning the temple)
7:30am: Breakfast
9:00am: Choir practice
12:00pm: Go home and have lunch
1:00pm: Meet with Ruby-chan
2:00pm: Date at Numazu City♡ (Shopping)
5:00pm: Going home would be a waste so we take a stroll by the beach (And so we happen to meet Chika-chan and Kanan-chan!)
7:00pm: Go home (While trying to send Ruby-chan home, we get caught by Dia-chan and are scolded together)
8:00pm: Have dinner at Ruby-chan's place...
9:00pm: Take a bath
10:00pm: End up staying over at Ruby-chan's place and fall asleep
Aqours After School Talk - Hanamaru[5]
Dengeki G's Aqours Afterschool Talk Hanamaru

Caption: Hya~, it's the first time I've worn such a cute costume since I was born zura! So happy zura♡

Amazing zura~!
Even though the person inside is still the chibi procrastinator Maru, looking at her like this--- She really seems like a true school idol!!!
Ruby-chan had always emphasized numerous times that the most important thing to an idol was a cute costume but--- to think that it would really make such a huge difference--- Somehow, I was still really surprised by it...... Tehehehe♡ For some reason, my heart is pounding♡♡
How does everyone find it, I wonder?
In spite of everything, does it really resemble a real school idol?
But, if that's the case, I'm sorry---
We've only just begun, so my voice is still quivering during songs, and I've no confidence in my dance at all---
But, now that I've been allowed to wear such a cute costume, I really have no choice but to try my best!!
Yes. I will work hard zura♪

Oh My Favorite!! Aqours Trending News (December 2015)[6]
Dengeki G's Magazine Dec 2015 Riko Hanamaru

Ah, you caught me--- Ehehe♡
I see. Lately, the fallen leaves in the temple grounds where I live have been steadily piling up into a mountain---
Autumn is here zura♪
Once the leaves pile up, I always roast sweet potatoes like this and give them out to the neighbors♡ It's been my role since childhood, so roasting sweet potatoes is my specialty. No--- It might be bad if Maru said something as haughty as that--- Ehehe♪ I'll bring some to Ruby-chan later, too.
Ah, how about one for you too? It's superbly sweet and delicious zura♡

Aqours 1st Center Election

Appealing For Votes[7]
Caption: Just being able to sing along with everyone makes me feel blissful zura♡

Uhm, when I think about whether I've really become a school idol, even now I still feel my heart pounding as well as slightly embarrassed but--- Is this really reality? Even now, I still find it marvelous zura. As for the center election, of course, I'm entirely not suitable for it, so I've not even thought about it and spent my time carefreely, but--- What if this is a survival of the fittest election, and the girl who gets last has to do something like withdraw from Aqours, what would I do in that case--- Just having my imagination run wild like that, it seems tonight too, I'll have no choice but to visit the toilet...

Results Comments: 5th Place[6]
Caption: I believe that you can do anything if you try your best zura!

Receiving so much support despite being unable to fix my habit of saying "zura", thank you all so much! I was so happy I was crying together with Ruby-chan zura--- Ah. I'll work hard in order to become a more lovelier idol!!

Aqours's Gallery (February 2016) [8]
Dengeki G's Magazine Feb 2016 Hanamaru

Caption: Won’t everyone spend a chaste night with Maru and the rest of us---?

Is it holy, is it holy--–?♪

Maru’s Christmas season always begins in the sanctuary, surrounded by sacred hymns♡
Ehehe---, the truth is, even though I’m a temple maiden, Maru is in the choir♪
Maybe it’s because I’ve loved to sing ever since I was little, and I sang by myself in the temple garden a lot?
Although, it started when I was scouted during a vocal solo test by the music teacher--- When it first began, I was thinking to myself, would it be bad if I was in the choir, even though I’m a temple girl, and I was thinking that maybe I should quit.
And in the first place, Maru is really bad at standing out---.
But during those times, Ruby-chan knows about it, and she encourages me a lot---
I talked to Uncle and Auntie at the temple, and they said they’d support me♡
Until that point, I was in the choir out of my own selfishness even though I live in a temple, so I had thought that Uncle and Auntie would definitely object. But when Ruby-chan tried talking to them about it, they were sooo overjoyed---. They told us that we should both go for it, and that it’s a very prestigious thing to be chosen as solos for the choir, and they were really happy for me. I’m always really thankful for Ruby-chan zura♡ So, from then on, Maru's done her best in choir!
Maru’s songs echoing off the high ceiling of the sanctuary--- I want you to hear that at least once zura♪

2016
Koi ni Naritai AQUARIUM
Dengeki G's Magazine Apr 2016 KoiAqua Yoshiko Hanamaru Chika

Costume Reveal[9]
Caption: Turning into the fluffy froth atop the ocean, I feel like I may disappear at any moment zura♡

Uwah~, what should I say--- Somehow it's fluffy and fluttery all over--- If I dance wearing this costume, I feel like I might just melt into the frothy ocean zura~♡ Even someone as dense as me might possibly appear cute wearing such a cute costume, isn't that amazing? I'll work hard so as not to lose out to this costume zura!

Dengeki G's Magazine May 2016 Chika Hanamaru Yoshiko

Purchase Bonus Art[10]
Caption: With the coming of spring, I feel like going somewhere far away. I would be happy if you could go on a trip with me zura♡

Since childhood, spring had always been the season of excursions--- When the breeze carrying the scent of flowers blow, my body just somehow feels the urge to move. So I would be happy if our first date could be a long trip with packed lunches! And within the packed lunches would be the inari and futomaki sushi my grandma taught me to make♡ If you take a large bite, it'll be so delicious that you're guaranteed to eat too much zura♪

OUR PRIVATE LIFE (May 2016)[10]
Dengeki G's Magazine May 2016 Hanamaru Dia

Kunikida Hanamaru
Caption:Having such a kind elder sister, Ruby must feel so blessed zura---♡

Eh, ehehehehe---♡
Wh-what should I do.
When Dia-chan praises me like this, I somehow get nervous instead and my heart beats faster, zura---♡
Dia-chan, the always cool and collected student council president, is someone all of us underclassmen aspire to be like!
Just having her check my homework like this is amazing in itself, but for her to pet me--- Hyaa~ Somehow, I feel kind of warm and fuzzy---.
Ah, but, definitely, today was vocabulary homework and I’m good at that, so I did do well, but--- if she saw my scores in math, she might be disappointed......
Ehehe♡
I’m glad I had vocabulary homework today!
In any case--- Ruby-chan is always telling me that Dia-chan scares her, or that Dia-chan is strict, or that Dia-chan does nothing but scold her.
She seems so kind though--- Could she really be that strict?
Maru has no sisters, so if I had a kind and pretty elder sister like her, I would definitely be happy, and definitely boast about her---.
Perhaps, the thing where she scares her while she’s sleeping at night--- Maybe that's just Ruby-chan’s misunderstanding?
Ruby-chan's a scaredy-cat, and her house is big, so it wouldn’t be odd for sounds to come out of somewhere at night---.
I know, next time, I’ll go to Ruby-chan’s house and sleep together with her to confirm it!
That would be great, camping in Ruby-chan’s room♡
If Dia-chan was with us, it would definitely be even more fun!

Aqours Big Reveal: Member Introductions (Q&A) (June 2016)[11]
Dengeki G's Magazine June 2016 Q&A Yoshiko Hanamaru Ruby

Caption: It's a blissful idol live surrounded by wonderful big sisters zura♡

What is the charm of being a school idol?
Maru is just a tiny kid who doesn't fit the idol image at all--- But Aqours has extremely cute and beautiful seniors, as well as the really adorable Ruby-chan and the cool Yohane-chan, being able to be together with such members is like a dream come true to me♡ Everyone is so kind even to such a Maru zura♡♡

What are the good points about Uranohoshi Girls' High School?
The bright and quiet library where one can see the sea is my favorite place in Ura Girls'! Reading novels that are based in Izu within the vacant library--- almost makes me feel as though I slipped through time and became the protagonist of the story--- It's a mysterious feeling zura♡ I think it's a wonderful school where one can really get closer to books♪

OUR PRIVATE LIFE: We'll Tell You About Our Secrets♡ (July 2016)[12]
Dengeki G's Mag July 2016 Yoshiko Hanamaru

Hanamaru
Caption: Yohane-chan, if you do your work with that attitude, you definitely won't be able to finish even by night time...

Uhm, I just kind of like reading books---.
I don't really think I'm someone who's that great at studying but---.
Is it really okay asking someone like me?

Today, I'm doing homework together with Yohane-chan, who told me none of that matters and that she wanted my help no matter what.
But, the subject isn't Japanese, but rather Math and English---.
Yohane-chan's been called out by the teacher many times, and warned for not doing her homework. It seems like if she doesn't do it this time, she would be banned from club activities.
Since it has come to that, even if it's me, I have to help her in any way I can, that's what I thought but---.

Ah, uhm, Yohane-chan, that---.
You made a mistake in the positive and negative signs.
If you subtract a minus, it becomes a plus but if you add a minus, it's still a minus after all...

Ah, uhm--- so-sorry, maybe it's better if I work harder at helping you after all zura---.

OUR PRIVATE LIFE: We'll Tell You About Our Secrets♡ (December 2016)[13]
Dengeki G's Mag Dec 2016 Hanamaru Chika

Hanamaru
Caption:Chika-chan looks cool when she sets down to work zura♪

Uwaah---.
Uwawawawawaaaah---!!

I cried out loudly without thinking---.
"Shh! I'm at a good part right now, so keep quiet Maru-chan---♪"
With her hand gripping the brush raised up high, Chika said sharply without turning towards me.
Ah, s-sorry, I was so surprised I cried out without--- After saying that, I hurriedly covered my mouth.
Just like that, Chika-chan began moving her hand once more, as I watched her from the side---
Her hand moved swiftly.
And with it, her upper body moved dynamically.
A faint humming---.

Amazing, she looks so happy and energetic zura♡
Looking as though she didn't notice my intense gaze at all, Chika-chan continued moving her arm.
The characters she wrote were---.
"A Million Customers", "Please leave your luggage here", "Washroom", "Today's Menu"
Though it always surprises me, Chika-chan's brushstrokes are just a bit different in image than her usual self♡♡
"Uwaah, Chika-chan, you're cool as ever zura! Now if you please--- Help me with my temple's too---"
"Okay♪ Leave it to me~"
After saying that, the words she wrote this time were:
"In front of Lord Buddha", "Main Hall", "Higan Equinox Service", "Please be quiet in the corridors"---.
Chika-chan and Maru, we're both children of an inn and a temple.
Today is our accustomed calligraphy meeting.
As autumn is the season of events, these jobs tend to come up too.
Today, the two of us will work hard--- at helping out at our homes♡

Dengeki G's Magazine First Cover Girl Election Special Gallery (February 2017)[14]
Dengeki G's Mag Feb 2017 Hanamaru

Message from Hanamaru
Caption: What should I do--- No matter what, I can't pick a cake I like best--- I want you to choose one for me zura♡♡

Uwaah---!
Amazing, there's so many of them---♡
There's a ton of cakes--- a-amazing isn't it♡---
Ah, I see--- For a confectionery to have tons of cakes, that's to be expected--- Ah, ahahaha♡

What- what should I do---
Somehow I, I'm quite nervous---.
I ended up saying some weird stuff zura...

Ah, uhm, don't mind me--- please.
Because it's my first time doing something like this, I'm not used to it---.

Though I've read about first dates in storybooks quite a number of times before, but--- As expected, when I'm the one standing here---.

Ever since the start--- my heart has been thumping.

My heart is racing in my chest---.
I feel like my face has to be red.
It's embarrassing zura---.

The truth is I've been preparing myself since yesterday, thinking about things like what we should talk about--- but I'm so excited, it seems all of that has flown out of my head---.

Ah, uhm!

I'll muster my courage to talk!!

I've been too excited since the start--- I'm entirely unable to decide which cake is best so---.
Won't you choose for me and tell me "This one's good!"

If you choose for me then I'm sure--- I'll be so happy that it would be the tastiest cake to me no matter which one it is♡

2017
HAPPY PARTY TRAIN
Dengeki G's Mag Mar 2017 HAPPY PARTY TRAIN Bonus Art 1

Travel Comments[15]

I generally get lost when I go to unfamiliar places as I’m bad at getting around by myself. But, if someone’s with me, I love viewing sceneries I’ve never seen before♡ If I get drowsy while looking through the window, I’d be happy if you woke me up, zura♡

Places I would like to travel: USJ, Tohoku and Shikoku (Shikoku Pilgrimage♡).

Aqours's Gallery (April 2017) [16]
Dengeki G's Mag Apr 2017 Hanamaru

Caption: Drawn by the lovely spring sunshine--- there're nice days for reading like this every once in a while♪

Yawn, mumble mumble---
Aah--- what should I do.
When did I---?
Start getting sleepy, zura---.

Monday, after school.
I was waiting here for Ruby to finish her cleaning duty but...
But.
The library filled with the early spring sunlight streaming in was--- warm.
Warm as if it was a greenhouse♡

It was different from the cold main hall of my temple home, which was full of holes and openings.
So, even when I was reading a book, it was snugly warm.
Aah, it feels so good, no matter what, my eyelids are drooping zura---.

Maybe it was because I was reading a book till late last night?
It’s been a while since I last took out “Ningen no Unmei” ---.

It’s an old story set in Izu, and it’s a long, long coming-of-age story that spans six volumes.
When I read it, I think of all the terrible hardships the people of old experienced. “They’re working very hard every day,” I would think.
When I read, I would always get concerned about the protagonist’s dramatic fate, my heart pounds and my chest hurts--- continuing on makes it quite hard to stop reading.
Even though I knew it's already past midnight, I just can't stop, books are really troubling zura.

Ruby-chan still isn't here huh?
If that’s the case, then it's alright if I keep reading just a little bit...
No.
I wonder if it’s alright for me to continue dozing off just a little bit?
Ehehe♡
This sleeping beauty of the book kingdom--- hopes you can forgive her for this zura.

Aqours's Gallery (May 2017)[17]
Dengeki G's Magazine May 2017 Kanan Maru Dia

Caption: Sitting by the spring sea and relaxing, zura

OUR PRIVATE LIFE (June 2017)[18]
Dengeki G's Magazine June 2017 Hanamaru Riko

Kunikida Hanamaru
Caption: I am spending time in a quiet library with Riko-chan -- this really does feel like as if she were my "sister"♡

Aqours's Gallery (September 2017)[19]
Dengeki G's Mag Sept 2017 Mari Riko Hanamaru

MESSAGE FROM HANAMARU
Caption:

OUR PRIVATE LIFE (November 2017)[20]
Dengeki G's Mag Nov 2017 Ruby Hanamaru

Kunikida Hanamaru
Caption:

Aqours's Gallery (December 2017)[21]
Dengeki G's Mag Dec 2017 Yoshiko Hanamaru Ruby

MESSAGE FROM HANAMARU
Caption:

Aqours DIARY: Everyone's Diary (March 2018)[22]
Dengeki G's Mag Mar 2018 Hanamaru

Caption:

Question & Answer Corner
Please tell us your favorite genre of light novels.[4]

Asked by アシュンさん @Twitter

What I like most is Japanese literature. The genre I love best is Bildungsroman--- coming-of-age novels, stories about maturing are just great♡ When I first read novels like Yasushi Inoue's Shirobamba and Serizawa Kojiro's Ningen no Unmei, I was really really moved--- My heart was so excited that I became unable to sleep at night zura♪

Out of all the songs you sing in the choir, is there one you particularly like?[4]
Asked by ハラコーさん @Twitter

Uwah~ I will be troubled if I don't manage to choose one--- ehehe♪ But the songs I like are numerous, like "Nobara no Niou", "Izayorokobe" and so on... Maybe I like more cheerful songs. Ah, but in the end, my number one has to be the Christmas song "Ame no Mitsukai no", huh? It's a song I remember singing alone so many times since childhood♡

What are your favorite snacks? Also, which end of the taiyaki do you start eating from?[23]
Asked by らら @Twitter

Maru's favorite snack is--- ohagi and mikan♡ There're a lot of mikan farmers around here, so since childhood, my house would be overflowing with mikan every time it got to the mikan season--- No matter how many there were, I always ate them all♪ Ah, and Maru loves red bean paste, so Maru really loves ohagi. And, oh, taiyaki must definitely be eaten from the tail onward. After all, they're so cute zura...

Being a temple girl... When it comes to summer, do you enjoy listening to ghost stories?[12]
Asked by 紫鮫さん @Twitter

Scary stories are--- Maru has always been bad with them since a long time ago. My grandmother at the temple always said, "Ghosts and hitodama aren't things to be afraid of, everyone is nostalgic for this world, and they are just our ancestors who have come to visit, so they won't do anything bad to you", but--- But as expected, scary things are scary zura... That's why I always keep my eyes tightly shut on dark nights and sleep zura♡

What is your favorite snack that has red bean paste?[24]
Asked by まゆまるさん

As expected, that would be rice cake dumplings zura--- Ehehe♡ Just thinking about it makes my mouth water♪ Since I live in a temple, whenever it comes to the spring and autumn equinoctial weeks, we make a whole mountain of rice cake dumplings♡ I give them out to the other members too!

Hanamaru-chan loves Japanese literature, but does she also read foreign literature?[24]
Asked byさめぱるさん

Books by foreign authors are filled with katakana--- they're a little bit difficult zura♡ Ahahahaha---... But when I was a child, I loved the Harry Potter series and read all of it, and I also loved Tales from Earthsea. Lately I also read a few novels by Kazuo Ishiguro-san!

When you buy books, do you decide based on the cover? Or is it the title, or the wraparound band?[24]
Asked by野菜さん

I usually read all the works of my favorite authors, so I tend to buy books just based on the author's name. If it's someone new, I read the short synopsis on the back cover to decide, but in the end perhaps it's the wraparound band after all? If there are lovely words written on the wraparound band, it gets me excited♡♡

Do you have any daily routines?[24]
Asked byりんくさん

The temple's daily routines are the morning cleaning sessions and making offerings to Buddha--- aside from that I don't think there is really anything that I decided on by myself. Aah, I'm so slothful huh... Ah! There's something! Choir vocal exercises♡ I do them after having breakfast. They're also useful for Aqours's songs♪

What's your favorite season?[24]
Asked byケニィさん

My favorite season--- Nope, that's troubling zura, I haven't really thought about it before zura---. Even though I know it's definitely not summer--- Nope nope nope. Maybe it's winter after all♡ I love the scenery of light snow falling gently during Uchiura's cold winters. I want everyone to see it too!

Is there anything you take note of when cleaning the temple?[24]
Asked by彩狐さん

When cleaning the temple, using the dust cloth is part of the basics, but I always make sure to wipe all the corners of the temple properly! When I was a child, I didn't wipe corners at all, and I didn't squeeze the water out of the dust cloth enough which left the Buddha statue dripping wet--- I messed up a bunch of times but now I'm a full-fledged temple maiden zura♡

To the book-loving Hanamaru-chan, just how many books do you have in your room?[25]
Asked by 紫鮫さん

Ah--- what should I do, I never really counted them before--- I don't know zura... Hmm, maybe, I have 2 large bookshelves and 3 smaller paperback-size bookshelves so--- around that much♡ Ever since childhood, I would always go to Numazu's bookshop on my off days and buy entire paper-bags filled with books--- I remember being filled with joy over it!

Video[]

LL!SS!!_Aqours_Special_Monologue_Show_【Part_7_Kunikida_Hanamaru】

LL!SS!! Aqours Special Monologue Show 【Part 7 Kunikida Hanamaru】

ENG_SUB_Love_Live!_Sunshine!!_New_Years_Greeting_-_Hanamaru_Kunikida

ENG SUB Love Live! Sunshine!! New Years Greeting - Hanamaru Kunikida

ENG_SUB_Love_Live!_Sunshine!!_Aqours_Special_Reading_Video_-_Kunikida_Hanamaru

ENG SUB Love Live! Sunshine!! Aqours Special Reading Video - Kunikida Hanamaru

Audio[]

Does not work on iPad, or any medium that does not support the .ogg audio format.
No. Songs Duration Audio
01 Greetings from Kunikida Hanamaru[26] 2:49

Songs[]

The songs featuring Hanamaru are:

Kimi no Kokoro wa Kagayaiteru kai?
Step! ZERO to ONE
Aqours☆HEROES
Koi ni Naritai AQUARIUM
Mattete Ai no Uta
Todokanai Hoshi da to Shitemo
Aozora Jumping Heart
Humming Friend
Yume Kataru yori Yume Utaou
Sunshine Pikkapika Ondo
Yume de Yozora o Terashitai
Mijuku DREAMER
Omoi yo Hitotsu ni Nare
MIRAI TICKET
Pops heart de Odorun damon!
Daydream Warrior
Thrilling・One Way
Taiyou o Oikakero!
Jingle Bells ga Tomaranai
Seinaru Hi no Inori
HAPPY PARTY TRAIN
SKY JOURNEY
Shoujo Ijou no Koi ga Shitai
Landing action Yeah!!
Mirai no Bokura wa Shitteru yo
Kimi no Hitomi o Meguru Bouken
Yuuki wa doko ni? Kimi no Mune ni!
"MY LIST" to you!
MY Mai☆TONIGHT
MIRACLE WAVE
Awaken the power (Featuring Saint Snow)
WATER BLUE NEW WORLD
WONDERFUL STORIES
Kiseki Hikaru
Hop Step Waai!
Thank you, FRIENDS!!
No.10
Bokura no Hashittekita Michi wa…
Next SPARKLING!!
Hop? Stop? Nonstop!
Brightest Melody
Over The Next Rainbow (Featuring Saint Snow)
Jump up HIGH!!
I-n-g, I TRY!!
Bouken Type A, B, C‼
Mitaiken HORIZON
Deep Resonance
Dance with Minotaurus
KOKORO Magic "A to Z"
Wake up, Challenger!!
CYaZALEA☆Kiss☆DADANDAAAN
Fantastic Departure!
Aqours Pirates Desire
JIMO-AI Dash!
Sora mo Kokoro mo Hareru kara (9 Members Ver)
Future flight
Smile smile ship Start!
Kokoro no Hane yo Kimi e Tondeke!
DREAMY COLOR
KU-RU-KU-RU Cruller!
SUKI for you, DREAM for you!
Namida×
Not ALONE not HITORI
GEMSTONE "DE‐A‐I"
Nando Datte Yakusoku!
Yume + Mirai = Mugendai
BANZAI! digital trippers
KA-GA-YA-KI-RA-RI-RA
SORA, FUJI, SUNSHINE!
Genjitsu Mysterium
GAME ON!
Kimi no Tame Boku no Tame
SILENT PAIN
Wonder sea breeze
La la Yuuki no Uta
Numazu Yassa Yoisa Uta
BLOOM OF COLORS
Deep Blue

Chronology[]

Ep. Title
01 "I Want to Shine!!"
(輝きたい!! "Kagayakitai!!")
LLSS S1Ep1 099
In Episode 1, Uranohoshi Girls' High School student Chika Takami discovered the school idol group μ's while trying to catch a runaway flyer. Having had looked for something to devote her all to for a long time, she was inspired and decided to form her own school idol group.

With help from her friend You Watanabe, Chika tried to gather members at the school entrance ceremony, without any response from the student body. You and Chika then encountered first year students Ruby Kurosawa and Hanamaru Kunikida, and Chika tried to interest them in joining the school idol club. Yoshiko Tsushima suddenly interrupted the conversation and Hanamaru recognized her from kindergarten. Yoshiko ran off with the other two first years chasing her and Chika proclaimed she would recruit them later.

02 "Catch the Transfer Student!"
(転校生をつかまえろ! "Tenkousei o Tsukamaero!")
LLSS S1Ep2 060
In Episode 2, Chika and You met Hanamaru and Ruby again, luring the shy Ruby out of hiding using a lollipop. Chika learned Yoshiko had not been at school after running out of class on the first day, and that Dia is Ruby’s older sister.
03 "First Step"
(ファーストステップ "Faasuto Suteppu")
LLSS S1Ep3 207
In Episode 3, Chika met Ruby and Hanamaru after their trip to a bookstore. After receiving a flyer from Chika, Ruby asked what their school idol group's name was.

Before their concert, Aqours worried about people not attending due to the rain. They laughed it off and stood behind the stage's curtain, hand in hand. However, when the curtains raised, they only had a small group of audience. Included in the audience were Mari Ohara, Ruby, Hanamaru, and a disguised Yoshiko. Despite this, they continued their concert and performed "Daisuki dattara Daijoubu!" while Kanan and Dia listened from outside the gym.

04 "Two Girls' Feelings"
(ふたりのキモチ "Futari no Kimochi")
LLSS S1Ep4 191
In episode 4, Hanamaru explained how she came to love reading, using it as a way to deal with her loneliness, and how she met Ruby.

Chika, Riko, and You entered the library to return books they had found while cleaning up, just as Ruby was excitedly telling Hanamaru the news of the school idol club officially being formed. Once again, Chika tried recruiting the duo as school idols.

As soon as they were alone, Hanamaru asked Ruby if she wanted to become a school idol. Ruby declined, saying she cannot like things her sister cannot stand, and that she was okay not being a school idol if Hanamaru was not interested.

While Hanamaru was at the bookshop, thinking it was impossible for her to be like μ's and Rin Hoshizora, Yoshiko passed by in disguise, muttering about why Hanamaru (referred to as ‘Zuramaru’ by Yoshiko) was there.

Met by a very excited Chika, Ruby and Hanamaru started a trial period as members of the school idol club, saying they would join if they liked it. Short of a place to practice, the school idol club ended up taking their dance practice to the rooftop, inspired by μ's.

When Hanamaru struggled running up the stairs during stamina practice, Ruby stopped and suggested they run together. Hanamaru told Ruby she should care more about her own feelings and exhorted Ruby to go on without her. To herself, Hanamaru thought about how her own dream was to let the light of Ruby’s aspirations and dreams out and shine in all the corners of the world.

While Ruby and the school idol club were celebrating having reached the top, Hanamaru met with Dia and told her to pay more attention to what Ruby had to say about her feelings.

After Ruby officially joined the school idol club, she confronted Hanamaru at the library. Ruby explained how she suspected that Hanamaru went along just because she thought being a school idol was something Ruby wanted to do, but that she also thought maybe Hanamaru was interested herself, too. Ruby drew a parallel to Rin also thinking she was not fit to be a school idol, and admitted she had always wanted to become a school idol with Hanamaru. Hanamaru finally agreed to become a school idol after Riko, You and Chika entered the library, Chika saying what matters is the will to do it, rather than your skills.

05 "Yohane Descends"
(ヨハネ堕天 "Yohane Daten")
LLSS S1Ep5 180
In episode 5, The school idol club, now with five members, were looking at their ranking and comments online. Hanamaru was revealed to never have seen a computer before, due to living in a temple without many electronics. The members of Aqours wondered how they could stand out more in order to raise their popularity.

Whimpering in the school idol clubroom, Yoshiko explained she knew she was not a fallen angel and wanted to be a normal high school student. Chika, on the other hand, got the idea of fallen angel idols as a way to make them stand out more. Therefore, she asked Yoshiko if she wanted to become a school idol, addressing her as “Fallen Angel Yohane-chan”.

Much to Dia’s dismay, the school idol club uploaded a fallen angel themed video online using their new costumes. Dia showed the Aqours members that the initial boost in rankings the video had gotten them was already declining and their rank was dropping. This broke the spirits of the school idols, causing Chika to second guess their trying to be like μ's and Yoshiko to once again say she wanted to be a normal high schooler and quit the school idol club.

The day after Hanamaru made the other Aqours members understand why Yoshiko had wanted to be a fallen angel in the first place, they confronted Yoshiko wearing their new costumes and asked if she wanted to join Aqours as the fallen angel Yohane. Chika yelled to the fleeing Yoshiko that she was fine the way she was and that μ's got so popular due to their being themselves and not caring about what others thought. After being assured all the members of the school idol club were okay with her antics, Yoshiko accepted their offer and joined.

06 "Let's Make a PV"
(PVを作ろう "PV o Tsukurou")
LLSS S1Ep6 225
In episode 6, news of the school possibly being closed and merged with a school in Numazu reached Chika, and she was overjoyed to be put in a similar situation to the one μ's faced, becoming motivated to do more school idol activities in order to save the school. After some careful thinking, Aqours decided to create a promotional video, with the purpose of showing people what made their small town Uchiura a great place. They all went out to film, but most of the things the group could come up with seemed quite unimpressive after reconsideration. The group gathered at a café to think things through, and Chika realized that what they had at their current school was something special she did not want to lose.

Showing the chairwoman their promotional video, Mari told Chika and the rest of Aqours that they did not know what it was that made their town and their school great. After Mari proclaimed she knew better herself, Chika decided not to ask about it, considering it something they had to figure out for themselves for it to be worth something.

On her way to the clubroom Chika spotted Dia on stage in the empty auditorium. While she did decline Chika’s offer of joining the school idol club, Dia stated she was happy that they wanted to save the school. As Dia was leaving the room, Ruby stopped Chika from calling out to her, and a flashback showed the third years seemingly right before a school idol performance. Mari showed up and told Dia you can not run away, only move forward, but Dia denied she had been trying to run away.

In accordance with Uchiura tradition, all the town members gathered early in the morning of the first day of beach season to make and release floating lanterns. Riko, for whom it was the first time experiencing the tradition, talked about how she did not realize there were so many people living in the town and suggested that maybe that was the special thing about Uchiura and Uranohoshi Girls’ High School. Hearing this, Chika gathered everyone’s attention and introduced Aqours, saying they needed the help of everyone in town to save their school. "Yume de Yozora o Terashitai" was performed as an insert song by the currently six Aqours members, thus concluding the episode.

07 "TOKYO"
(TOKYO)
LLSS S1Ep7 088
In episode 7, the members of Aqours realized that their PV had boosted their popularity enough to push them into the top one hundred school idol groups. Because of this, they were invited to perform at an event in Tokyo.

Getting to Tokyo, the school idol club (sans transfer student Riko) tried not to let on that they were from the country side, without much success. After getting temporarily separated, Aqours paid a visit to Kanda Shrine, and got excited about running up the same stairs that μ's once used for stamina practice.

Once they reached the top of the stairs, Chika heard Sarah Kazuno and Leah Kazuno singing “SELF CONTROL!!”. Although the two girls were strangers to Chika and the rest of Aqours, Sarah recognized them from their PV and asked if they were in Tokyo for the upcoming event. The Saint Snow members then left, leaving Aqours impressed with their acrobatics and singing skills.

The next day, Chika went out for a run and visited the place where she first found out about school idols, UTX High School. There, the rest of Aqours caught up with her and the six of them saw the next Love Live! competition being announced on the screen of the UTX building. Aqours decided they wanted to enter the competition.

At the event location, the Aqours members were surprised to find out the girls they had met at Kanda Shrine were school idols, too. Sarah introduced herself, and the episode ended just as Saint Snow were to take the stage.

08 "Isn't it Frustrating?"
(くやしくないの? "Kuyashikunai no?")
LLSS S1Ep8 151
In episode 8, Saint Snow performed “SELF CONTROL!!” on stage at a school idol event in Tokyo. After all the school idol groups invited had performed, neither Aqours nor Saint Snow were announced as one of the winners. In spite of their loss, Chika talked about how it was Aqours's best performance yet. The other members, on the other hand, worried about how far from being top idols they were.

Having been given the results of the audience poll used to rank the groups at the event, Aqours learned that they not only placed last, but also got zero votes. Approached by Saint Snow, Aqours was complimented on their performance but told they might be better off giving up competing in Love Live! by Sarah, and warned not to take Love Live! lightly by a crying Leah.

On the train ride back to Numazu, five quite depressed Aqours members and one seemingly less depressed Chika discussed Saint Snow’s statements. Once they arrived they were greeted by Uranohoshi Girls’ High School students, relieved and happy to hear it was the group’s best performance so far. When Dia arrived at the scene, Ruby ran into her arms, crying.

Dia talked to Aqours about their placing last, saying she was afraid it would happen, considering how tough the school idol scene had gotten. She explained how she, Mari and Kanan formed a school idol group two years back, but were unable to sing at the very same event, overwhelmed by the other groups’ performances and the atmosphere.

Riko Sakurauchi followed Chika to the beach, who, after holding all of her feelings in for a long time, finally allowed herself to cry and let out her frustration about all of their hard work not bearing fruit. When Chika said she thought it would make the other members sad if she allowed herself to be sad, Riko pointed to the rest of Aqours and said that no one joined for Chika’s sake, it was a decision they all made on their own. The sun’s rays hit the six girls standing in the water as they decided to try to turn their zero into a one.

09 "Young DREAMER"
(未熟DREAMER "Mijuku DREAMER")
LLSS S1Ep9 018
In episode 9, the six members of Aqours tried to figure out what to do for the upcoming summer festival. Chika wondered what made Kanan (who had been evasive when Chika asked her about it) quit being a school idol since she did not think it was like Kanan to quit just because of one failure. Ruby revealed she had heard Dia speaking to Mari back then, saying neither Dia nor Kanan were running away.

On one of her early morning walks Kanan was followed by the school idol club, who overheard Kanan and Mari talking about Kanan’s returning to school. However, Kanan said she was not going to become a school idol again and that she did not want to talk to Mari any more.

At school, Kanan and Mari got into a heated argument, which made Chika burst into the room and yell at them to break it up, and to come to the club room of the school idol club after school. There, Kanan continued to claim that the fact she could not sing in Tokyo was the reason she had quit being a school idol. Once she had left the room, the other girls pushed Dia into revealing that Kanan did not sing at the event to prevent Mari from performing with an injury, and that she quit being a school idol because she did not want Mari turning down other opportunities.

Aqours convinced Dia to join them, Chika saying they’d all help out if juggling school idol duties and student council president duties got too much, and Ruby handing her a stage costume. All nine girls performed “Mijuku DREAMER” as an insert song, and Dia turned out to be the one who wrote “Aqours” in the sand, it being the same name the third years’ previous idol group had.

10 "We've Got Stewshine"
(シャイ煮はじめました "Shai-ni Hajimemashita")
LLSS S1Ep10 052
In episode 10, summer vacation began for the now nine members of Aqours. Summer is the season of the Love Live! competition, and Dia had somehow managed to get her hands on the training schedule μ's used when they were active. Since Kanan and Chika had been asked to help run a snack bar on the beach, the members decided to camp at the Takami family inn in order to make time for practice.

Initially intimidated by a competing snack bar on the beach, Dia quickly took charge and assigned tasks once she received encouragement from Mari. Riko, Chika and Kanan begun advertising in order to draw in customers, seemingly somewhat unwillingly. Meanwhile, You, Yoshiko and Mari started cooking the food.

With everyone exhausted after attempting to train the way μ's did, they all sat down to eat Mari’s Stewshine and Yoshiko’s Tears of a Fallen Angel takoyaki that had not sold during the day.

Aqours's second day of managing the snack bar wasn’t all too successful either, but everyone enjoyed the curry You made using both Mari’s and Yoshiko’s culinary creations. Dia tried to hold a lesson on Love Live! history, but it was cut short due to Chika’s sister Mito thinking they were being too loud.

11 "Aye-aye, My Friend"
(友情ヨーソロー "Yuujou Yousoro")
LLSS S1Ep11 217
In episode 11, all the members of Aqours saw Riko off as she left for Tokyo to compete in a piano competition that would take place the same day as the regional Love Live! qualifiers. They made the promise to sing together on the same stage next time.

As “special practice”, Dia got the eight of them to help clean up the school’s pool, and once they finished they decided to practice their dance in the empty pool. With Riko missing, Aqours needed to adjust their formation, and opted for You to fill in Riko’s spot.

Chika and You struggled to find harmony in their dance, Chika being accustomed to the way Riko performed the dance moves. They had just made it through the part they had problems with because of You’s mimicking Riko’s movements, when Riko called from Tokyo. After Ruby, Hanamaru and Yoshiko greeted her, the call was cut short due to Chika’s battery running low just as You was about to say something to Riko.

The night of the Love Live! qualifiers and Riko’s piano competition, everyone wore the matching scrunchies Riko had sent as bracelets. Riko played her piece at the competition, and the remaining eight Aqours members performed “Omoi yo Hitotsu ni Nare” on stage.

12 "It's Time to Fly"
(はばたきのとき "Habataki no Toki")
LLSS S1Ep12 072
In episode 12, the members of Aqours were happy and relieved to find out they made it through the regional qualifiers of the Love Live! after a nervous wait. While the video of their performance had gotten a lot of views and comments, the number of applicants for the school’s open house was still zero.

Chika couldn’t help but compare Aqours to μ's, and wondered if the school idols she looked up to weren’t regular people after all. Calling the other Aqours members, she suggested they’d all go to Tokyo before Riko went back home, and try to figure out what made μ's great.

In Tokyo, Chika had arranged for Aqours to meet up with Saint Snow, who told Chika and the others they did not know what made μ's and A-RISE different. To them, what mattered was winning and following in the footsteps of their predecessors. Together, both groups watched the announcement of the Love Live! finals being held at the Akiba Dome on the screen outside the UTX High School building.

At Riko’s suggestion, Aqours visited Otonokizaka High School. They learned that μ's had not left anything from their school idol days at Otonokizaka, saying their hearts would be connected even without those things. Chika and Riko said the visit had brought them closer to the answer of their question.

On the train back to Numazu, the nine of them took a stop to look at the sea. Chika said that they couldn’t compare themselves to μ's, and all of the members started realizing that they had to run freely, stand on their own feet and not chase after someone else in order to become great. They decided that what they were running towards was turning the zero into a one.

13 "Sunshine!!"
(サンシャイン!! "Sanshain!!")
LLSS S1Ep13 225
In episode 13, Aqours were practicing for the Love Live! regionals during the hot days of summer vacation. Meanwhile, the number of applicants for Uranohoshi Girls’ High School was still zero. At the end of the day, Mutsu, Itsuki and Yoshimi showed up to tell Chika that they, along with other people in the school, were also interested in saving the school and had thought about becoming school idols. Chika invited them to sing with Aqours at the Love Live!.

The nine members of Aqours met up with Mutsu, Itsuki and Yoshimi, who brought with them an abundance of other Uranohoshi Girls’ High School students. However, everyone’s excitement was restrained when Riko announced that the rules said only the people who had applied initially would be allowed on stage. In the end, although only Aqours would be on stage, all the other girls decided to cheer them on from the audience.

Before their performance, the school idol club members reflected on their time together. Ruby and Hanamaru were embraced by Yoshiko, while Mari, Kanan and Dia thanked each other for getting this far, and Chika told You and Riko she wanted to enjoy everything the future had in store together. Proclaiming there weren’t just nine of them, Chika opened the door to the stage.

Prior to performing their song, Aqours introduced themselves by telling the audience their story and their goal. When they counted to nine, part of the audience yelled “ten”, pronouncing their being the tenth member of the group.

Halfway through the performance of “MIRAI TICKET”, Chika called out for everyone to shine together with them. The Aqours supporters of the audience ran down to stand next to the stage, creating a circle of blue light sticks around it. Meanwhile, the number of applicants for the school flipped from zero to one.

Ep. Title
01 "Next Step"
(ネクストステップ "Nekusuto Suteppu")
LLSS S2Ep1 181
In episode 1, Mari and Dia were motivating the student body, including the rest of Aqours, to work hard at attracting students to the school this term, too. Chika showed up just when the upcoming Love Live! was mentioned, and they all decided Aqours was going to participate.

During their regular afternoon practice session on the roof, the girls started discussing holding a concert at the open house. Realizing they would not be able to stay as long at school with the buses’ fall timetable, they set out to find a place to practice in Numazu.

The next day at school, Aqours revisited the issue of a new practice space. Without anyone noticing the third years suddenly disappeared.

In a locale made available to the group thanks to You’s father, the third years revealed that the open house had been cancelled, and the decision about the school merger made final. Chika reacted strongly, saying she would personally seek Mari’s father out and convince him to change his mind, but let it go when the others explained to her how there was nothing to be done. Disheartened, the girls went home.

When Chika showed up at school early to tell the universe she was not going to give up yet, she was surprised to find the rest of Aqours followed a similar impulse and were there, too. Together, they decided to keep working toward their goal no matter how impossible it may seem. They were going to aim for a miracle.

02 "The Sound of Rain"
(雨の音 "Ame no Oto")
LLSS S2Ep2 181
In episode 2, Aqours got the news that the school would stay open for another year if the number of prospective students was raised to at least one hundred. Although this initially sounded like to much for them to handle, Chika motivated them by saying they should not worry about whether it was possible, but rather simply make it happen.

With the Love Live! coming up sooner than expected, the second years found the workload of having to create two songs at once difficult to handle. To make it easier on them, everyone decided to split the workload and had the second years create a song for the open house while the third and first years created one to perform at the Love Live!.

While Chika, Riko and You headed for Chika’s house to work on their song, the rest of the girls initially tried Mari’s home as a work space, but found the extravagance there too distracting. Having moved somewhere more understated, they discovered that the differing tastes of the third contra the first years made it difficult to agree on lyrics and music for the song.

Ruby sent a text to Chika, Riko and You, who so far had not come up with anything either, asking them to come at once. In order to better work together, the first and third years decided to spend some time together try to get to know each other better.

Having tried a couple of activities together, it was clear that the two groups did not find the same things fun. Needing to seek shelter from a sudden rainstorm, the girls headed to a temple nearby as per Hanamaru’s suggestion.

Revisiting the idea of creating a song together, it still seemed hopeless until the ceiling started leaking. Together, they all helped place plates and pots on the floor to catch the water, and found that although the tones and tempo of the different raindrops were out of tune, they all came together to create music.

When all nine girls regrouped, celebrating the two completed songs, Mari received a phone call.

03 "Rainbow"
( "Niji")
LLSS S2Ep3 128
In Episode 3, a new problem arose. The school open house was postponed by a week, putting both the Love Live! qualifiers and the open house on the same Sunday.

Aqours tried to find a way to travel between the two venues in time to perform at both events, without luck. With going by boat and by helicopter both out of the question, it seemed the only possible way to make it in time would be to perform as the first group and catch a bus.

As the order of the performances would be decided by lottery, the group decided to let Yoshiko do the honors. Much to everyone’s disappointment, they ended up as the 24th group to perform. The group thought the only option left was to choose just one event, but could not decide on one. The next day Chika and Riko suggested they split the group and perform at both events, to which the group reluctantly agreed.

When Sunday finally came, Chika, Riko, You, Dia and Ruby were overjoyed to be joined by the other four onstage for the performance of MY Mai☆TONIGHT. Confused when the second years immediately ran off after the song ended, the group found out Chika had arranged for them to use a monorail for mikan transport to travel back to school. With this and help of their school mates, they made it back in time to perform Kimi no Kokoro wa Kagayaiteru kai? at the open house.

04 "Don't Call Me Dia-san"
(ダイヤさんと呼ばないで "Dia-san to Yobanaide")
LLSS S2Ep4 030
In episode 4, Chika woke up in an unusually happy mood. In reply to the other girls’ queries about why she was not nervous to see whether or not they had passed the Love Live! qualifiers, she stated she was sure they would pass, something that proved true moments later. Chika’s mood fell with the realization that Aqours was out of funds after the recent performances. They turned both to the gods and Mari’s family in a futile effort to get more money, but had to begin thinking about other options.

Forced to come up with an idea to replace one she shot down, Dia led the group into setting up a stand at a flea market. Her expectations of getting close to the others and being addressed informally fell short as she became upset with the rest of the girls not handling the task in the same way she would.

Working together at Izu Mito Sea Paradise, Dia tried her best to make small-talk and play around, becoming increasingly frustrated as the others took this to mean she was angry or upset with something. Finally, Mari and Kanan told the others what was going on, explaining how Dia, despite her cold exterior, gets lonely easily. When a class of kindergartners at the aquarium ran amok, Dia took control of the situation by being authoritative but not as harsh as usual.

At the end of the day, Aqours gathered. Chika told Dia that it was best if she acted like herself, and how they all appreciate her for who she is. Dia accepted this, and was delighted to finally be addressed with the preferred honorific.

05 "Taking in A Dog"
(犬を拾う。 "Inu o Hirou.")
LLSS S2Ep5 041
In episode 5, Aqours had to cut their practice short due to the rain. Yoshiko was offered a ride with the others but said no as she lived nearby.

The group gathered at Chika’s house to decide on a theme for their performance in the Love Live! regionals. While the girls were discussing trying new things for this performance, they noticed Yoshiko had gone home early without warning.

A few days later, the members of Aqours became concerned with Yoshiko and Riko's weird behavior.

06 "Aqours WAVE"
(Aqours WAVE)
LLSS S2Ep6 017
In episode 6, the venue for the Love Live! regional preliminaries was revealed to be the same as during the last Love Live!. During practice, everyone was happy to discover Aquors on a list of groups most likely to make the national competition. Before they had time to finish celebrating, the less good news that success in the regionals would rely heavily on the number of students in the school hit them.

Chika’s brought the question of what made Aqours special up at practice, prompting Mari to introduce a move the third years had failed to pull of when they created Aqours to the rest of the group, much to Kanan’s dismay. Despite Kanan’s warnings that it would be the most difficult for the center, Chika said she would be able to do it.

As Chika was struggling to learn the move, everyone became increasingly more worried that she was pushing herself too far. After almost a week of endless trying and failing, she agreed to Kanan’s demand that she give up if she could not do it come next morning.

Determined to make it work, Chika spent the night on the beach practicing. Despite Riko, You and the first years coming to cheer her on, she failed and felt that she had not accomplished anything. Riko and You reminded her that she had forgotten to thank herself for how far they had come already. As Chika was getting ready to try the move one last time the third years showed up, and the episode concluded with Chika perfectly landing the move during the performance of MIRACLE WAVE at the Love Live! regional preliminaries.

07 "The Time Left"
(残された時間 "Nokosareta Jikan")
LLSS S2Ep7 018
In episode 7, Aqours was announced to be one of the groups in the Love Live! finals. The video of their performance had been doing well, the only problem was that the number of applicants for the school was not rising as hoped.

Calling in another favor from Mari’s father, the girls managed to get an extension until 5 AM the next morning. Chika initially was eager to do anything she could to help make the number rise, but was talked out of it by the rest of the girls.

By 1 AM, there still were only 87 applications. Becoming more and more desperate and restless, they sent out the first years to buy something to eat. Yoshiko, Hanamaru and Ruby talked about how they were thankful for everything Aqours had given them and how they wanted to take care of their upperclassmen.

They were still six applicants short by the final hour. Everyone was on edge waiting for the last two applications to drop in during the last minute. Finally, the application page shut down.

The next day, Mari announced the news to the rest of the school. Aqours initially tried to ignore what had happened and commence practice as usual, but stopped when Chika started crying. They decided to call it a day and take some time to think about whether they still wanted to partake in the Love Live!.

Sora mo Kokoro mo Hareru kara was performed as an insert song while everyone took to their respective houses to consider what to do next. Meeting up the next morning, the nine girls agreed that they would never manage to shine as school idols when they had not succeeded in saving their school. At this moment, the rest of the student body showed up saying that they would like for their school to be remembered through Aqours, and convinced the girls not to end their journey yet.

08 "HAKODATE"
(HAKODATE)
LLSS S2Ep8 117
In episode 8, Aqours were invited to Hakodate to attend the Hokkaido Love Live! preliminaries as guests. Before the competition, they visited Saint Snow in their dressing room. Chika accepted Sarah’s challenge to bring their best to the Love Live! finals, but Ruby noticed that something seemed to be the matter with Leah.

During Saint Snow’s performance, they made a mistake in the choreography and fell on stage, which ended up costing them their spot in the finals. When Aqours went back to their dressing room, they had already left.

The Uchiura girls went sightseeing in Hakodate, and ended up at the restaurant where Sarah and Leah worked. At dinner the sisters’ fight about Leah wanting to disband Saint Snow resurfaced. In contrast to the other Aqours members, Ruby seemed to understand Leah’s feelings, saying she probably was afraid being a school idol would not be worth it without her sister.

09 "Awaken the power"
(Awaken the power)
LLSS S2Ep9 175
In episode 9, Ruby recruited Yoshiko and Hanamaru to help out with the concert for Dia and Sarah. Leah felt uncomfortable around the other first years to begin with, but soon warmed up to them. The first years told the rest of Aqours they would be staying behind for a while, neglecting to mention the actual reason they were doing so.

Seeing Leah’s room for the first time, the first years found a snow globe with a snow crystal inside it, and Leah told the story of how it became the symbol of Saint Snow. Yoshiko’s surprising social tact and Ruby’s reasoning brought the four to a conclusion regarding the theme of the song they would be creating: unknown powers.

The next day, Ruby and Leah had to talk to the board of the christmas event they wanted to perform their song at. It went better than expected, and afterward Ruby sent an email to Mari asking if she could make sure Dia came to Hakodate to watch the performance.

After Leah, Ruby, Yoshiko and Hanamaru have made a radio announcement about their upcoming performance, Leah was confronted by two of her classmates. They told her how they used to think she did not like them, but how they were proud of Saint Snow despite what happened at the regionals.

Ruby and Leah finally revealed their secret to their sisters, and the rest of Aqours were acting mysteriously about also showing up in Hakodate. At the event, Saint Aqours Snow performed Awaken the power.

10 "Finding a Way to Shine"
(シャイニーを探して "Shainii o Sagashite")
LLSS S2Ep10 263
In episode 10, Aqours got a visit from Saint Snow to help them practice. After Aqours switched their kimono for more appropriate practice wear, they were pushed hard by Sarah and Leah.

The guests were surprised to find out the students of Uranohoshi had failed to save their school from the merger, but were quick to show their support. Mari recieved a phone call from her parents offering her the position as director at the new school. Due to already having plans for next year she turned the offer down, making everyone aware of their limited time left together.

The third years gathered the rest of Aqours for a late night drive to find shooting stars. Arriving at a plateau, the rain still had not stopped. Just as the girls wished to be together forever in spite of this, promising to work on making the sky visible, the episode concluded with the clouds clearing up to reveal a night sky full of shooting stars.

11 "Uranohoshi Girls' High School"
(浦の星女学院 "Uranohoshi Jogakuin")
LLSS S2Ep11 234
In episode 11, Aqours and the rest of the students of Uranohoshi Girls’ High School were preparing for the School Closing Festival set for the next day. Chika, You and Riko set up an arch at the entrance, Mari set up a stand to serve an improved version of her Stewshine dish, and it turned out Yoshimi, Itsuki and Mutsu were the ones to suggest holding the festival.

Preparations continued, with Hanamaru and Yoshiko working together, Ruby making costumes and Dia putting aside her student council duties to focus on the event. Everything was going smoothly until Shiitake turned up at school, setting everyone back by destroying some of the decorations. To give students more time to finish preparations, Mari arranged for transport home with the help of her family.

The next day at the festival, everyone’s hard work paid off. Chika walked around school seeing Kanan and You’s underwater showcase, Ruby and Dia’s Love Live! Quiz, Yoshiko, Hanamaru and Riko’s fortune telling stand, as well as her older sisters’ serving grilled mikan. At the end of the day, Yoshimi, Itsuki and Mutsu showed an impressive balloon display.

After the festival, the students all gathered around a bonfire. Mari spoke about how much the school had meant to her, and ended up voicing her regret about not being able to save it through tears. The student body cheered her up by showing their support for Aqours through a chant, and finally they all sang together.

12 "Sea of Light"
(光の海 "Hikari no Umi")
LLSS S2Ep12 325
In episode 12, the members of Aqours met up at school, and set off toward the Love Live! Final in Tokyo. Arriving in Tokyo, the girls headed to Kanda Shrine, where they prayed for good fortune in the competition and realized many other school idols had done the same. Before leaving, they met Saint Snow, and Sarah asked Chika if they wanted to win the Love Live!.

Back at the inn, they started a pillow fight to take their thoughts off of the upcoming performance. Chika, You and Riko decided that come tomorrow they would all go their separate ways before meeting up at the venue.

In the morning, Chika asked the other members of Aqours if they wanted to win the Love Live!. After going on their respective excursions, the first years crossed paths and reflected on their past, present and future. Finally, all nine girls ran toward the concert as a group, and did one final Aqours chant together before performing WATER BLUE NEW WORLD at the Love Live!.

13 "Our Own Radiance"
(私たちの輝き "Watashitachi no Kagayaki")
LLSS S2Ep13 342
In episode 13, the day had finally come for the combined graduation and school closing ceremony. At school, Yoshiko had hair dressing problems, attended to by Ruby and Hanamaru.

Dia was surprised to find out Mari had arranged for the students to paint farewell messages on the school walls, and the student body arrived at the ceremony splattered with paint. Mari handed out diplomas to the graduating students, and Dia held a speech as student council president. To conclude the ceremony, Aqours announced their Love Live! victory, and Aozora Jumping Heart was used as an insert song.

Afterwards, Aqours and the other students went around the school to close doors and finish saying their goodbyes, to each other and to the school. You and Riko were in the music room, Yoshiko, Hanamaru and Ruby in their classroom, Kanan and Dia in Mari’s office giving her her diploma, and Chika closed the door to the club room. Finally, Chika was about to break down in tears as she was closing the school gates, but received help from her friends.

Some time later, Chika went to the school auditorium and found Aqours, including the third years who had come back to sing together one last time. For their last performance, Aqours sang WONDERFUL STORIES.

Trivia[]

  • Hanamaru fulfills the smile attribute of the Aqours first years.
  • The name Hanamaru means "flower, blossom" (花) (hana) and "round, circle, pills, purity, suffix for ship names, complete" (丸) (maru), in which her character symbol consists of a spiral and a flower.
  • Hanamaru's surname Kunikida means "country" (国) (kuni), "tree, wood" (木) (ki) and "field, rice paddy" (田) (ta/da).
  • Unlike the rest of Aqours, Hanamaru wears a yellow cardigan in her winter uniform, similar to Nico Yazawa wearing her pink cardigan as part of her summer uniform in the original Love Live!.
  • Hanamaru is the fictional artist of Maru's 4-koma, a 4-frame comic strip detailing Aqours's activities that started serialization in Dengeki G's Magazine October 2015.
  • In real life, Hanamaru's home is based on Raikoji Temple.
  • Unlike the other girls, Yoshiko calls Hanamaru "Zuramaru" (ずら丸), as a reference to the latter's verbal tic.
  • Hanamaru is the shortest of the Aqours characters at 152 cm (or 5'0"), which is ironic since her seiyuu is the tallest of the Aqours seiyuus.

Gallery[]

Please refer to this character's Image Gallery.

References[]

  1. Maru's 4-koma Drop 1, Dengeki G's Magazine October 2015 issue
  2. Official Introduction from Website
  3. Official Character Introductions
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Dengeki G's Magazine September 2015 issue
  5. http://gs.dengeki.com/news/39867/
  6. 6.0 6.1 Dengeki G's Magazine December 2015 issue
  7. Dengeki G's Magazine November 2015 issue
  8. Dengeki G's Magazine February 2016 issue
  9. Dengeki G's Magazine April 2016 issue
  10. 10.0 10.1 Dengeki G's Magazine May 2016 issue
  11. Dengeki G's Magazine June 2016 issue
  12. 12.0 12.1 Dengeki G's Magazine July 2016 issue
  13. Dengeki G's Magazine December 2016 issue
  14. Dengeki G's Magazine February 2017 issue
  15. Dengeki G's Magazine March 2017 issue
  16. Dengeki G's Magazine April 2017 issue
  17. Dengeki G's Magazine May 2017 issue
  18. Dengeki G's Magazine June 2017 issue
  19. Dengeki G's Magazine September 2017 issue
  20. Dengeki G's Magazine November 2017 issue
  21. Dengeki G's Magazine December 2017 issue
  22. Dengeki G's Magazine March 2018 issue
  23. Dengeki G's Magazine October 2015 issue
  24. 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 24.5 Dengeki G's Magazine October 2016 issue
  25. Dengeki G's Magazine January 2017 issue
  26. Kimi no Kokoro wa Kagayaiteru kai? Single
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