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 Star-like Fairy... その 星のような妖精は...
Sunset over Neo-Venezia. Aika, Akari and Alice are drawing to the end of a day's practice, and Aika's feeling depressed. It's Autumn, and as Akari tells Ai, the undines have changed into their winter uniforms. The three make their way back to ARIA Company, where they sit and watch the sun set.
Aika realises she feels unhappy with the slow pace of their training. She tells Akari and Alice that her dream is to surpass even the legendary undine, and become the best undine in the history of Aqua. Akari hasn't heard of the legendary Undine, and a shocked Aika and Alice tell her about her. The 'grandmother of undines' was the best undine for 30 years (before Alicia, Akira and Athena came along), extremely talented in everything, was underrated, and what is more - founded ARIA Company. This last bit of news surprises Akari a great deal. Alicia brings them some drinks, and Aika begs her to help them become top undines. Alicia suggest that they ask the best one.
The next day, Aika, Akari, Alice and Aria-shachou are on a train speeding through the countryside. Alicia has sent them to meet the legendary undine, known only as Grandmother. As usual, Akari is enjoying herself and looking forward to meeting her senior, but Aika is uptight and extremely nervous.
They get off the train and stare in wonder at the scenery. Alice reads out from a book that this place was modelled on the countryside on Earth. Akari is overcome at how beautiful it is, and her joyous voice echoes across the hills. A voice addresses them, and they turn around to meet a kindly-looking lady carrying a parasol. Aria-shachou is particularly delighted to see her. Aika, however, greets her extremely formally, but she smiles and tells them to relax and call her Grandma. She laughs at Aika's strange behaviour. Akari watches her with shining eyes.
Grandma leads the way to her house, and on the way Aika beseeches her to train them in any way necessary for them to become great Undines. However, Grandma laughs and asks them to collect some chestnuts from the hill.
Later, the three girls are in a brightly-coloured clearing, collecting the fallen chestnuts. Aika believes that Grandma has set them a special challenge, to pick out only the best chestnuts as a test of judgement and resolve (in order to spot potential customers in a crowd). Therefore, she picks extremely carefully. Alice and Akari, however pick as many as they can, paying no attention to Aika's theory.
Finally arriving at Grandma's house, she greets them and asks if they picked a lot of chestnuts. Aika is crestfallen - she was wrong. Grandma offers to cook the chestnuts, and Aika asks what they can do next to cover her failure. She asks them to dig for sweet potatoes.
The girls head out to Grandma's sweet potato patch. Again, Aika has a theory - Grandma wants to test them on their careful handling of customers' belongings. Several minutes later, Aika is having trouble pulling them out. Akari is having fun, and like before, Alice has a full basket. Grandma appears and places a sun hat on Akari's head, saying that the sun is hot even if it is Autumn. She tells them that she cares for this patch by herself, and then hands Aika and Alice their hats. Akari looks on with a smile, commenting that Grandma is so gentle, just like Alicia.
Later, the girls are cooking the sweet potatoes in a pile of coal. Akari pulls some chestnuts out of her pocket and decides to roast them. Before Aika and Alice can protest, Akari has thrown them onto the fire; and as a result, chestnuts fly everywhere. Grandma watches from the verandah with a smile.
Later on, the girls are eating the cooked sweet potatoes and chestnuts happily; however, Aika feels guilty - she thinks that they should be training, and they haven't done any since they arrived. Akari tries to steal Aika's sweet potato, and Aika gobbles it down quickly, burning her throat; to everyone's amusement.
Sunset comes, and the girls are sitting out on the verandah staring at the scenery. Akari and Alice are enjoying themselves, but Aika is still depressed. Akari comments that this is just as good, as they are having so much fun. Aika doesn't answer.
Night falls, and Grandma has made a wonderful dinner. Everyone tucks in with much enjoyment, and before long the table is empty. Outside, the stars begin to emerge. Grandma asks them to follow her, and Aika thinks that the legendary training is about to begin; however, Grandma has run them a bath in a wooden bathtub. Akari and Alice are enjoying their bath, but Aika is still worrying about all the questions that they wanted to ask but will not if they carry on like this. Akari offers to scrub her back and pandemonium ensues. In another room, Grandma stokes the fire and comments to Aria-shachou that they're all good kids.
Later, the three are dressed in yukata, and follow Grandma down the hall to another room - in which is laid three futons, to Akari and Alice's delight. They're used to sleeping on beds, so futons are a novelty. Aika asks why they're going to bed so early, and Grandma tells her that they will be getting up early. Everyone says goodnight.
Outside, the crickets chirp. Aika laments that they didn't get to ask any questions, as they were wasting time having fun. She thinks that Grandma thinks them unworthy of teaching. Akari tells her that she's making a mountain out of a molehill, and Aika gets up to pull her cheek, blaming her. Alice, however, opens the sliding door and crawls out to sit on the verandah. Akari and Aika follow her, concerned; but Alice is looking up at the sky. The three stare up in wonder at the stars.
Grandma spots them out on the verandah and brings them jackets to keep them warm. It's the first time Akari has seen such a starry sky, as Neo-Venezia is always filled with bright lights. She comments that as the sky changes, they will never see this one again - a once-in-a-lifetime treasure. Surprisingly, Aika tells her that embarrassing comments are prohibited. She tells Alice off for her sentimental comments also. Turning to Grandma, she asks for valuable advice on how they can become outstanding undines.
Grandma asks her what she thinks of Alicia. Aika replies that her talents make her an outstanding undine; she's worked hard, and that's why she's one of Aqua's top undines. Grandma tells her that she did give Alicia some advice, but that there's another reason why Alicia has been so successful; she knows how to enjoy what she's doing. She tells them to treat pain and sorrow as adding spice to life, and that it's all about having a positive, hard-working attitude, being sincere and appreciating everything the world has brought you. She asks them if they enjoy being on a gondola; and that because they do, there's nothing she can teach them. Aika is finally happy.
A shooting star crosses the sky above. Grandma tells them if they can make a wish three times in the time it takes for one to fall to earth, their wish will be granted. They all have a go, but the stars are too quick. Grandma smiles.
Back in bed, the girls discuss how Grandma is such an amazing person, and that they want to be like her someday. Akari wants to become the most energetic and wonderful undine on Aqua. In her e-mail, Ai agrees that Grandma is a wonderful person; but that Akari is also wonderful, because her smile is as dazzling as the stars, lighting up others' lives.
New characters met: Grandma
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