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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On That Special Day... その 特別な日に...
Another beautiful morning in Neo-Venezia. All is quiet and sleepy (especially Aria-shachou). Akari is writing an e-mail to Ai, (the girl from Manhome whom she met in episode one) telling her about her morning. Earlier that day, a sleepy Akari woke up to discover ARIA Company, and indeed the whole of Neo-Venezia, flooded. Alicia told her that this phenomenon is the Aqua Alta, a yearly flooding which marks the beginning of summer on Aqua. It's a time for relaxing, and so everyone at ARIA Company is taking it easy.
Ai replies to Akari's e-mail. She's happy to hear from Akari, is already missing Aqua and wishes she could see the Aqua Alta. Alicia leaves to attend a Gondola Association meeting, and asks Akari to buy Aria-shachou some cat food. Akari wakes a sleepy Aria-shachou up and decides to set forth into the city on foot, pulling Aria-shachou behind her in his mini-gondola. After a while, her Wellington boots become filled with water and she continues her happy journey on bare feet.
Later, Akari realises that she's lost. It starts to rain, and she hurries to find shelter. Eventually hiding underneath a gondola platform, Akari and Aria-shachou wait for the rain to stop. Aria-shachou blushes - he's spotted another cat (Hime-shachou) on a windowsill above. Aika appears at the window and invites a sneezing Akari inside the Hime-ya (Aika's undine company) building.
Inside, Aika leads Akari up some plush stairs and down a corridor to her room. On the way, they meet two of Hime-ya's male employees. The first is looking for Akira, and the second is taking Hime-shachou's food to Aika's room. Aika takes it from him. Akari comments on how everyone treats Aika with such respect - it's understandable as Aika is the heir to the company, but Akari attributes this to Aika's grace and skill. Aika seems disgruntled at this and disagrees.
Aika puts Hime-shachou's food on her bed, and proceeds to quiz Akari. She brings Akari some tea. Aria-shachou pulls himself up onto the bed and drools on Hime-shachou's food, and a disgusted Hime-shachou lets Aria-shachou eat it.
An older Hime-ya undine (Akira) enters the room with a bang and berates Aika for lazing about. Aika's excuses fall on deaf ears, and Akira tells her to get on with her training despite the Aqua Alta. She finally notices an intimidated Akari, and comments that she and Alicia are a comedian pair. She then goes on to berate an absent Alicia for being so slack with her trainees. Aika gets angry at Akira for speaking badly of Alicia, and argues that Alicia is kinder than Akira. The argument continues until Aika jumps up and proclaims that she is going to work for ARIA Company instead. She rushes out, followed by a bewildered Akari.
Later, Akari and Aika have arrived at ARIA Company. Aika begs Alicia to let her stay at ARIA Company, and proceeds to make dinner to prove her skills. Akari is worried, but Aika ignores her pleas to return to Hime-ya. Dinner (Aika's special fried rice) is set out on the table and the four of them tuck in - it's delicious. Alicia compliments Aika on her cooking, and Aika complains about how different Akira is to Alicia. Alicia simply smiles and listens to Aika, then comments that Akira seems strict but is very kind, as Aika knows. Aika looks away.
That night, Aika sleeps in Akari's room. They talk about the 'three great water fairies' (Alicia, Akira and another undine, Athena) then conversation drifts back to Alicia. Aika tells Akari about when she was younger. She'd run away from home, and trainee Alicia found her sitting on a bridge. Aika got up to run away, but her shoe fell in the water and Alicia invited her onto her gondola while it dried. During the ride, Alicia cheered Aika up by re-styling her hair. At sunset, Alicia took Aika home.
Back in the present, Aika tells Akari that Alicia was her motivation to become an undine - she wants to become just like her, and regrets the fact that she's Hime-ya's daughter and can't join ARIA Company.
The next morning, Akari and Aika are awoken by loud shouting from outside. It's Akira, and she angrily orders Aika down. As they panic, Alicia comes out and greets Akira. Aika and Akari appear, and Akira orders Aika to come home, before Alicia's nature rubs off on her. Annoyed, Aika tells Akira just why she doesn't like her. Aika tells her that Alicia is better and kinder than her. Akira blows up. Alicia smiles pleasantly and giggles at her, which drives Akira even further up the wall. Akira reminisces how Alicia has always been this way, following her into becoming an undine then becoming a prima first. She complains about how luckier Alicia is than her, but Alicia continues to smile and giggle. Akira gets even more annoyed and chases her round the corner.
Aika and Akari are surprised to hear that Akira and Alicia were childhood friends, but are given no time to think about this as Akira barges into the room and orders the two of them to race. If Aika loses she'll return to Hime-ya, if she wins she can do as she wishes. Aika and Akari set off. Akari is worried about Aika and asks what she's planning to do. She doesn't answer. Alicia and Akira watch them go then amicably head inside for some tea.
Out on the gondolas, Aika leads Akari down a dead end to a bakers. She buys some walnut bread (Akira's favourite). Aika tells Akari that Akira's only making them race so that Aika's feelings aren't hurt. They return to ARIA Company slowly. On the way back she tells Akari that Akira is the only one at Hime-ya who treats her normally and without false respect (because she's the heir to the company). Akari comments on how alike Aika and Akira are.
Back at ARIA Company, Alicia and Akira are having a similar discussion. Akira appears very fond of Aika and thinks about leaving Hime-ya if Aika does. Alicia is amused, and tells Akira that she and Aika are exactly the same. Akira blows up again, but then notices Aika and Akari, who have returned, looking very nervous. Aika tells her they quit the race, provoking an angry outburst from Akira - which is in turn remedied by Aika's walnut bread.
Later the four undines sit and talk, Akira and Aika's 'argument' again in full swing. Akari muses over how things are precious when seen in a different light. She's a little jealous of Aika and Akira's now obvious friendship, and hopes to have the same friendship with Alicia. Alicia and Akari exchange a smile.
New characters met: Hime-shachou, Akira, male Hime-ya undines.
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