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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To That Island Which Shouldn't Exist... その あるはずのない島へ...
The episode opens upon a young Akari, reading a picture book. Akari tells us that when she was younger, she believed in Neverland.
In the present, it is morning. Akari has received a strange anonymous invitation to 'Neverland'. Over breakfast she tells Alicia about it, however, Alicia doesn't appear to know who it's from. It also tells her to bring a bathing suit. Akari wonders about who sent it, and where Neverland is. Alicia smiles mysteriously.
Later, Akari rows her gondola out into open sea, following the directions on the invitation. She's visited by gulls and dolphins, which she races. After a pleasant journey, a green island appears on the horizon.
Akari drags her gondola up onto the sands, and then sets off into the trees to find 'the second glowing beach on the right' as instructed. There's no one around, and Akari is soon lost and going in circles. She spots someone through the trees, and is surprised to meet Alice. Alice was also sent a similar invitation and is also lost. Akari is worried - she's afraid Peter Pan invited them both. Aika sneaks up behind her and tells her that's impossible - of course, Aika was also sent an invitation. The four of them (Aika brought Hime-shachou) set off together to find the beach.
As they walk, the three wonder who sent them the invitations and why. Aika wants to sunbathe and drink iced tea, and Alice wonders if it is a prank, from someone who hates them and wants to see them disappointed. Aika and Alice begin to bicker. Akari stops and smells the air - she can hear the waves. The others stop. Suddenly, Aika takes off at a run, followed by the others. They emerge from the trees onto a shining white beach. Akari is incredibly excited, however Aika stops her from enthusing.
From behind them, a familiar voice announces their arrival - Akira, accompanied by Alicia and Aria-shachou. They're all wearing bathing suits. Aria-shachou welcomes Hime-shachou and is shrugged off. Akira announces to the unsuspecting trainees that today is to be a special all-day training session. Aika, Akari and Alice are incredibly depressed. Faced with Akira's taunting however, they agree to try their best. Akira mentions that Athena must have gone to the wrong island, and tells Alice to do her best regardless. Alice tells Akari that Athena is her senior. Aika adds that together with Alicia and Akira, Athena is one of the three water spirits. Akari wants to meet Athena, but their conversation is cut short by an angry Akira's glaring. Akira tells them to change.
Later, Aika, Akari and Alice are running and exercising on the beach to Akira's whistles and commands. Hime-shachou is relaxing in the shade, but Aria-shachou is joining in. Aika and Alice are tired and disheartened, but Akari is enjoying herself immensely, running across the sands. Next, the trio practise their steering and balance skills on makeshift gondolas of logs. Aria-shachou paddles in circles in a round boat. Akira continues to shout instructions, but the three fall off their logs continuously. Eventually, the three begin to improve (while Aria-shachou has managed to make himself very dizzy). Aika tries to show off, and falls - then Akari collides into her and also falls. Akira and Alicia decide to show them how it's done.
Akira and Alicia pilot the logs wonderfully, and the three trainees look on enviously. Akira announces a race. Eventually, the three collapse exhausted on the sand. Alice and Aika moan about how tired they are, but Akari is happy because they're tired together. Aika is almost (but not totally) too tired to tell her that her embarrassing comments are prohibited.
Lunchtime arrives, and Alicia has brought along homemade lunchboxes (bento). Aika, Akari and Alicia's enthusiasm has amazingly returned. The group eat. Aika becomes worried about what training the afternoon will bring, but a reluctant Akira explains that their afternoon is free time (Alicia said that taking a break is also important!). Alicia comments that Akari has never been able to swim in the sea before (it's forbidden on Man Home), and tells her to enjoy it. Akari is overjoyed.
Later, the group are hard at work having fun. Akira flattens Aika at volleyball, and Alice practises swimming with the shachou. Akari, however, is content to sit at the water's edge and let the tide ebb over her feet. Alicia joins her and tells Akari about the many undiscovered islands like this one in the Neo-Adriatic sea. Akari agrees that it is like a wonderland. Alicia suggests that they go for 'a stroll in the sea'.
Soon, everyone is snorkelling in the sea and enjoying (or being scared by!) the various sea life. Alicia takes Akari's hand and they swim to the surface. Akari is enjoying herself very much, and comments that she feels like she's become Peter Pan. Of course, Aika arrives to halt her embarrassing comments. Alice is nowhere to be seen, but they soon spot her on a cliff above them. She stands on the edge, obviously trying to work up the courage to jump off. Aika and Akira hurry past her and leap into the water, followed by Akari, who stares after them, scared. Akari and Alice hold hands and jump in together with a scream, but come up laughing.
Later, Aika buries a sleeping Akira in the sand. The group enjoy eating watermelons, building sandcastles and having fun. Eventually, as the sun sets, the girls have once again collapsed at the water's edge, this time relaxed and contented. Aika notices that one of Akari's bows has gone missing from her hair. Akari recalls the same thing happening to her as a child. Her mother bought her a new one, but she never found the one that went missing. She looks round to discover that Aika and Alice have fallen asleep, and joins them.
Night has fallen, and the group are having a barbecue. Akira encourages everyone to eat lots. Alice, Aika and Akari are overjoyed. Akira announces roasted rice balls, and Aika tells the others about Akira's famous roasted rice balls. She comments that it's 'a man's cooking'. Akira takes offence at this and stops roasting the rice balls. The three hurry to pacify her with flattering comments and manners. Akira and Alicia share a laugh and continue to cook.
Later, everyone is asleep inside the tents, except Akari. She is standing staring out across the ocean. She shivers, but Alicia places a coat around her shoulders. Akari tells her that it's a shame to fall asleep, and talks about how she used to believe in Neverland when she was a child, but realised it was just her imagination. Alicia says that those important feelings are still inside her heart, and appear when she least expects them. Akari comments that the sea made her remember, and this island really is Neverland - perhaps even Aqua itself is Neverland, though it is hard to believe that man could make such scenery. Akari runs into the sea and thanks Alicia for bringing her here, then tearfully finds her bow in the water.
Finally, Akari's voice is heard, relating the day's events to Ai. Ai seems surprised at the amount of times Akari used the word 'wonderful' in her e-mail, but agrees that it must have been wonderful. She wonders when she will find her Neverland - and that when she finds it, she will invite Akari there.
New characters met: None
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