Aria the Origination #12: Embraced by That Blue Sea and Wind…

Why are Akari and Aika friends? They couldn’t be more different. Akari’s cheerful optimism clashes with Aika’s emotional outbursts. Aika was born on Aqua and is supported by a wealthy family. Akari left Manhome to pursue an uncertain future by herself. Although they have both chosen to become undines, even their career paths are opposites. Himeya has grown large enough to open branch offices, of which Aika will begin her professional life as the manager of.

When Alicia asked Akari what kind of prima she would be, Akari turned her gondola to home. Akari wants to preserve the Aria Company that Grandma envisioned. While Aika is growing and evolving Himeya (to compete with Orange Planet), Aria Company will remain the same as it was under Alicia.

Yet despite these opposing and contradictory viewpoints, they’re the closest of friends who support and encourage each other. So much that the proud Aika feels guilty for having become a prima before Akari. She recognizes that Akari deserved to be the first to be promoted. Even Alice must have realized it. Speaking of Alice, isn’t it unfair that she was able to skip the narrow canal that other primas are tested with?

As I enter the final month of the year, I bid a happy birthday to Sayaka Oohara on Friday the 6th. Next week’s episode is Aria the Animation #1: That Wonderful Miracle…

Aria the Origination #4: Those Who Aim for Tomorrow…

When Akari remarks on Alicia’s busy schedule, she doesn’t mention the number of customers who have to be turned away. That’s to be expected from a company with only one prima. If you don’t call far in advance, then you’ll be disappointed. So it is with any finite resource, and the most limited resource of all, that no one will ever reduce the value of, is time.

Not everyone who wants an appointment with Alicia will be able to get one. And not everyone who trains to be a prima will achieve it. Akari, Aika, and Alice are exceptional undines, but their status can be a source of stress. Alicia sends Akari to the traghetto so she can have the experience of a typical single. The girls she meets are not guaranteed to become primas. They have to accept that what they desire may not be possible. Or, in the case of Ayumi, to reach for a less ambitious goal that is nevertheless just as personally satisfying. Which isn’t to say that you shouldn’t try. Akari’s words of encouragement are not “you can be a prima if you try,” but “keep trying to be the best you can be.” Don’t focus only on a far-off goal that may not be possible. Instead, accept the challenges that are placed in front of you right now. Your small successes will be a source of pride. After a while, you’ll look back and be amazed at how far you’ve come.

When she takes the oar, it’s obvious to the others that Akari is in a different class. She was worried that she wasn’t doing enough as a single. After working on the traghetto, we see that it isn’t a deficiency on her part that’s keeping her a single, but because of the strict standards at Aria Company. Akari will not only be working with Alicia as a prima, but eventually will take over for her. It’s a decision that Alicia won’t make until she is absolutely certain the time is right.

Picture Drama #2

Like everyone else who meets her, the three undines are now trapped in Akari’s circle of friends. How will they react to meeting the “Orange Princess,” and the heiress of Himeya?

So this is a lunch with panini, onigiri, manjuu, hamburgers, something Chinese from Alice, and I think Aika brought tea. Well, at least one of the foods was Italian.

The next episode will be Aria the Animation #7: Doing That Wonderful Job…