156 - The Perfect "Me"
Ritsuko is raving about an AI app she found that can break down dancing videos and give advice on how to improve. She then shows Nao and Tomoka other things the AI can do, like generating live setlists. P then comes in with Karen and Azusa. Given her love of gadgets, Ritsuko is quite interested in this new AI technology. Regardless, the purpose of this meeting is to talk about Ritsuko performing a new song at the upcoming performance. She's particularly excited because wants to use AI to create the training menu.
So lessons start with the AI-generated plan suggesting a rather intense routine to build stamina, though they're totally worn out at the end of the day due to the weather conditions making things worse. As Ritsuko teaches the AI to consider these factors for next time, this leads to a conversation about whether AI idol lives will become a thing and replace them one day. This leaves Ritsuko deep in thought, as she isn't particularly confident in herself and believes that AI can create a perfect idol version of herself instead. She brings this idea to P to have an AI version of herself perform in the next live, which he immediately shoots down. Ritsuko persists and is confident he'll change his mind eventually.
Later that night, Ritsuko starts off a conversation with AI Ritsuko, who responds back confidently in her own voice as she goes on to keep training it. She shows off the AI model to the others the next day, who are impressed by now similar it is to the real thing. Ritsuko mentions the AI live proposal to have a perfect version of herself perform, but they seem uncomfortable with that. Ritsuko is confident though that P will agree once he sees the model, and goes off to show it to him. Despite doing a perfect rendition of Discord Area and handling the MC without issue, P still says no, because the fans come to the Theater to see the real imperfect Ritsuko.