Uzuki Shimamura is an ordinary girl who dreams of being an idol, so she goes to a special training school. One day, a producer for 346 Production shows up with the news that she’s one of three girls chosen for the Cinderella Project, even though she didn’t pass the audition the first time around. Uzuki is thrilled, but the project can’t start until the other two members are picked... The producer scouts Rin Shibuya, who he has in mind for the second opening. However, Rin isn’t interested in becoming an idol and turns him down flat...

With the fall fest finished, the Cinderella Project members have ascended another stair. But when Uzuki suffers a crisis of confidence, she tells Producer that she wants to go back to the basics and subsequently returns to training school. Feeling that something is off, Producer frequently visits Uzuki at the school to keep an eye on her, but she sticks to her usual line of "I'll do my best." Producer doesn't think Uzuki is heading in the right direction, so he sets up a Christmas concert for New Generations and entreats her to re-enter the fold there. However, Uzuki doesn't show any enthusiasm for the plan.

When Producer tells Rin and Mio about Uzuki's condition, they become anxious and go to the training school to see how she really feels. They find that Uzuki has lost her former dazzling smile...