About ARIA * The Manga * The Anime * The PS2 Game * Characters * Aqua * People
ARIA the ANIMATION * ARIA the NATURAL * ARIA the OVA ~ARIETTA~
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That Wonderful Miracle... その 素敵な奇跡を...
It's morning. As the sun rises over an idyllic landscape, people are already busy on their errands. At the ARIA Company building, two girls in matching uniforms prepare breakfast as their white cat looks on expectantly.
After setting up, the older of the two girls (Alicia) jumps onto a gondola and rows away. The younger (Akari) hurries to answer the phone - it's one of Alicia's admirers, Akatsuki, and he impatiently hangs up when she answers and interrupts Alicia's voice message.
Akari tells us that it's Spring and that she's been on Aqua for 20 months - almost a year. In a flashback, Akari's spaceship is seen arriving on the planet Aqua and in the city of Neo-Venezia. An enthusiastic Akari speaks of her ambition to become an undine.
Back in the present, the phone rings again. It's a young girl who wants to ride on Alicia's gondola. When Akari tells her that Alicia is busy and that she is not allowed to take customers, the young girl hangs up. Akari and Aria-shachou go out to practise.
When Akari reaches the gondola, the young girl is there. She persuades Akari to take her for a ride on the gondola by making her agree that they're friends. Out on the gondola, the girl silently watches Aria-shachou rolling about on the gondola and Akari makes brave attempts at starting a conversation. The young girl is Ai and from Manhome (Earth). She is also disillusioned with the slowness and inconvenience of Neo-Venezia. Akari introduces herself as Akari Mizunashi.
As they float down a canal, they meet another gondola coming the opposite way. It's Aika, Akari's friend from another company. Aika isn't impressed by Akari's excuses for Ai being on her gondola, and orders Ai off. Again, Ai cons her way into staying on the gondola and the foursome end up in the same gondola, with Aika rowing. They decide to find Alicia, of whom Aika is very fond.
Akari begins to tell Ai about Neo-Venezia and is interrupted by Aika, who thinks she shouldn't go to such lengths for a free-rider. Akari tells her that she wants to help Ai to love Neo-Venezia as she does. Ai is surprised and begins to ask Akari about Neo-Venezia. Akari tells her how much she loves the city and the planet, embarrassing Aika.
Later, in an attempt to cheer Ai up, they head over to a jacket-potato stand at the water's edge, and sit down on the grass to eat. Ai isn't sure - she's never eaten a whole potato before, but she loves it and eats it quickly as Akari and Aika look on.
Later on, Aria-shachou is chasing seagulls at the water's edge, and falls in. The girls notice he's missing, then Ai spots him floating away towards the sea. In a panic, they run back to the gondola. Aika tells Akari to row, and she does - at a great speed, and backwards. Aika explains that Akari practised backwards on Manhome by mistake. Aika directs Akari towards Aria-shachou. Ai is beginning to enjoy herself.
A large spaceship suddenly dips into the water and Aria-shachou disappears, only to be flipped into the air and caught by Alicia, who has appeared on the scene with her customers. She returns Aria-shachou to the girls' gondola. A shy Ai hides behind Aika as Alicia addresses her.
Later, Ai explains why she was so adamant on riding on Alicia's gondola - her sister came to Neo-Venezia on her honeymoon and praised Alicia highly. Ai hated Neo-Venezia as she felt her sister was boasting, but came to see for herself. Despite not having been on Alicia's gondola, Ai has had a great time with Akari, Aika and Aria-shachou and realises that she really likes Neo-Venezia. Aika dreamily agrees and embarrasses herself.
At sunset, Akari and Ai are back at ARIA Company. Ai's parents have arrived to collect her and she's saying goodbye to Akari. Akari makes her promise to keep in contact. Ai tells Akari it doesn't matter that she didn't get to ride in Alicia's gondola as she really likes Akari's, and wants to ride with her when she comes back. She gives Akari a letter for Alicia and leaves.
Later, Alicia opens the letter. Inside is a photograph of Ai's sister and her husband, with their newborn baby. Alicia tells Akari about their heated argument on her gondola, but that they made up soon afterwards. They talk about Ai's sister and her husband, and of Ai and her sister, learning to get along - miracles.
New characters met: Akari, Alicia, Aria-shachou, Akatsuki, Ai, Aika, Ai's parents.
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