Story

Love Live’s story focuses on the idol group ?'s (pronounced 'muse') which is composed of nine high school girls and their collaborative effort to prevent their girls-only school, Otonokizaka High School from closing due to the small number of enrollment applications. To entice new students in enrolling in their school, the main heroine, Kousaka Honoka had a bright idea of forming her own idol group that will represent the school.

Despite not having any experience in singing, dancing or how an idol group is supposed to function, she involves her close friends Minami Kotori and Sonoda Umi. The three of them form ?'s core group. As the group slowly and steadily become popular, their numbers grew with new members from all levels in their school. The idol group project was a success and the soar of new students prevented Otonokizaka Academy from closing down. The girls from ?'s aim for higher grounds and decided to participate in "Love Live", the ultimate school idol competition featuring the best school idol groups in the country.