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 Gentle Wish... その やわらかな願いは...
Afternoon in Neo-Venezia, and the whole city is covered in snow. All is quiet at ARIA Company, where Alicia and Akari are shovelling snow from the balcony. It starts to snow again. Alicia comments that they'll have to close for today, then reminds Akari about a place she wanted to visit. It's the oldest bridge in Neo-Venezia. Alicia hasn't seen it in a long time, as customers no longer want to visit it. Akari, however, still wants to visit it (of course), and soon sets out with Aria-shachou. They make their way on foot through a snowy and freezing cold Neo-Venezia.
The bridge itself is in a desolate part quite a distance from any other buildings. It's old and in disrepair, but Akari is overjoyed to have found it. Akari leads the way. Despite the cracks in the wall, it's very dark, and Akari becomes scared; especially when she spots several pairs of yellow eyes staring out at her from the shadows. Hearing Aria-shachou on the other side of the bridge, she hurries after him into the sunlight.
On the other side, the sky is a bright blue, and the snow has disappeared; as has the water in the canal. Through the trees, Akari spots a woman by the canal side. She has dropped her camera and is trying to fix it as Akari and Aria-shachou approach. Akari introduces herself and Aria-shachou, but the woman seems confused by Akari's uniform, Aria-shachou and what an undine is. Akari is equally surprised, and the woman assumes that it's something everyone on Aqua knows, and that it's just her. The woman just moved from Earth to Aqua, and her name is Akiko Hoshino. She invites them to tea at her house.
When they arrive, Akiko begins to make the tea. Akari learns that Akiko has one companion, a shy cat called Dido (who is extremely nervous of Aria-shachou in particular). As they drink their tea, Akari asks Akiko how she likes Aqua; Akiko likes it that there's twice as many months in a year. Akiko is overjoyed - they appear to have much in common. Aria-shachou does his 'hero dance' for Dido, and Akiko smiles down at her. She comments that it's getting warmer, and they all go out onto her balcony, which she built herself. Akiko gets excited and pretends it's a café - an idea Akari warms to. They're more alike than they look! Akiko invites Akari to stay for lunch, and the cats are getting along like a house on fire. Akari helps Akiko pick a lettuce from her greenhouse, and accompanies her to fetch water.
With their chores done, Akiko resumes trying to fix her camera; and at the same time, comments that this will be the last day that she has to fetch water. Akari's turn to be confused; and Akiko is surprised that she doesn't know; today, the water from the terraforming process is due to arrive in their canal. Akari is embarrassed as she also feels that this is something commonly known on Aqua that she doesn't know; then promptly falls off the balcony backwards through a weak fence. She helps Akiko to fix it. Akiko tests its strength, and then both of them fall over when the whole fence breaks. Akari then smells something... the lunch is burning.
It's clearly not Akiko's day. Akari however, eats cheerfully, telling her the food is delicious. Akiko asks her about her job as an undine, and Akari explains to her. She's surprised to learn that undines row gondolas (not surprising, as there's no water for miles), but (mis)understands when Akari mentions that they're closed temporarily. She cheerfully notes that they'll be busy soon. They decide to go back over to the bridge after their meal. Akari mentions the strange difference in the weather on the different sides of the bridge, and Akiko tells her she's been dreaming; it only snowed lightly a few days ago. Akari is puzzled. Akiko reveals her intent to capture the moment the water finally comes with her video camera, and that she bought a new memory card. She shows this to Akari, who is shocked - it's the same (obsolete) type of card that she came across in episode 4.
Later, Akiko and Akari, alongwith the two cats (Aria-shachou carrying Dido!), head back over to the bridge. On the way, Akari notices that the floating island looks very different (smaller, and older-looking). Quite a crowd has gathered at the bridge, waiting for the moment the water arrives; including Akiko's class, for she is a school teacher. She introduces Akari and Aria-shachou to her class, and Aria-shachou is immediately set upon by the eager boys, to Akiko and Akari's distress. Two little girls (who look amazingly like Aika and Akira!) tell them that this is prohibited!
The sun begins to set. Everyone is now gathered on the bridge, waiting for the water to appear in the canal below. Akari has worked it out - this is Aqua, before there was any water; she's gone back in time to the beginnings of Neo-Venezia. The people around her discuss the likelihood of the water appearing - it's failed before, and it's been a long wait for the water to finally come. Akari interrupts their argument by telling them that Aqua will become a magnificent planet filled with water. Beside her, Akiko realises something. She speaks of the place she hopes Neo-Venezia will become. Akari tells her that it's a hand-made planet - made with the memories and hard work of many people; and that's why it's important not to give up. Many miracles will come of this wish.
Just at this moment, the water finally arrives, spilling out along the dry canal below them. The people erupt into cheers. With shining eyes, Akari comments that the water is filling up the void in her heart. An old woman beside her remarks that this is a sign that Aqua has finally accepted them. Akari's memories of the past year appear, as she thinks to herself that these people's wish was the starting point, the origin of all the beautiful and wonderful things she's discovered. She and Akiko agree that they're both glad they came to Aqua. Before long, everyone is in the canal, playing in the water as the sun goes down.
Back on the bridge, Akari is saying her farewells. Akiko comments that cats are the link between the past and the future, and that's why people on Aqua like to keep cats. She bids Akari goodbye, calling her her 'future era'. Akiko and Dido disappear as Akari and Aria-shachou head back across the bridge; back into the heavy snow of the present. Night has fallen.
Back at ARIA Company, Alicia is worrying about Akari being late. Akari appears, and gives her a hug. She's happy to be home; and so, they all go inside. In her e-mail, Ai tells Akari how much she wishes to encounter such miracles when she comes to Aqua.
New characters met: Akiko Hoshino, Dido, various early colonists of Aqua.
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