Moé Moé Rabu

Akari is asleep in bed and pulls on her blanket. Aria rolls off his bed which wakes Akari up. Seeing that he is alright, Akari sees that it is raining outside and notes that training will be cancelled for the day. Later on Akari is on the computer when the telephone rings. As she was about to answer the telephone, Aika is the caller saying that she is slow and asking what she is doing. Afterwards Akari is walking with Aria and explains that on days when it is raining, the girls gather together and study, taking turns on whose place they study at. This time it’s Aika’s turn. Having met up with Alice first the two girls head towards Himeya and Aika is waiting for them outside.

Inside the girls were about to head up to Aika’s room, they were greeted by Akira. Alice says that with the rain, it’s a shame that her bookings with her customers were cancelled. But Akira says that with Alice having the day off school she can study to become an Undine and sees that as great. As they were talking there were two girls in the background talking to each other but then suddenly leave. This catches the girl’s attention but Akira wonders what they are looking at, whilst Aika has a smirk look on her face. In Aika’s room, Aika explains that the girls they saw earlier were talking about Aika. Aika thinks that they sense that Aika is becoming a Prima and are talking about her. Aika asks the others for their opinions but Alice stops the conversation and says they should start studying. Whilst the girls are discussing about Primas, Aria is being chased around by Maa who eventually bites onto his flabby belly. Whilst discussing about Alicia, Aika mentions to Akari that Alicia became a Prima at the age of 15, the same age as when Akari joined Aria Company. Akari is surprised to hear that and thinks that Aria Company is a great company, but Aika says that it excludes Akari.

After studying in silence for a while, Aika speaks up, but Alice says to not neglect her studying, but Aika replies saying it’s an important topic. That topic being the names they are called when they become Primas. Whilst thinking about the names, they go through each of the Water Fairies names where Alicia is Snow White, Athena is Selene, and Akira is Crimson Rose. Akari then asks what kind of names would fit them, so Aika says “Pigtails” for Akari, which Akari says that’s not it, so Alice suggests “Great Pigtails”, but that just makes Akari depressed. So Aika then asks what her name should be, Akari suggests “Great Crybaby”, but Aika says embarrassing names are not allowed while pulling Akari’s cheek. Alice says that Aika’s name would be “gachapen” but Aika starts yelling out “kinshi”. Akari then asks what Alice’s name would be and Aika suggests “dekai kinshi”, but Alice disagrees strongly. Whilst discussing more on the topic, Akira comes into and gives them some documents for the girls to help her go through. But Aika tries to avoid this by saying they are studying, which Akira tells her that she knocked on the door many times and no one answered. Overhearing their conversation before, Akira explains to the girls the history on how an undine received their names. Just as Akira was leaving, Aika asks why they have to help out, which Akira replies that they should follow what a senior tells them, so Akari and Alice agree to do it. Walking out the girls see the other two girls they saw earlier down the hall. But then the two girls walk off and Akari and Alice do think they are talking about Aika and think that Aika is famous. But at that Aika tells them that they have to start going through the documents that Akira gave them.

After a while, the girls finally finish reading through the documents. Aika complains about doing it, but Alice then comes to think that this is part of an Undine’s work. Akari agrees thinking that it’s not just about gondola practise but paperwork as well. She then thinks that Akira gave them this work on purposes to teach them about it and both Alice and Aika come to understand this as well. With that, Aika picks up all the documents and tells the girls she’ll take them to Akira’s room. Whilst walking to Akira’s room, Aika notices the girls from before but with another person. Aika is curious to hear what they are saying about her and decides to eavesdrop on them. Listening to what they are saying, the rain is still going and drowns out what the group of girls are saying. But Aika can hear what they are saying and drops the documents, which grabs the attention of the group of girls. Aika is standing there shocked so the group of girls leave and walk past Aika.

Back in Aika’s room, Alice and Akari are talking when suddenly Aika opens the door and her face shows that she is about to cry. Akari asks what’s the matter but Aika replies that it wasn’t her. The girls don’t understand so Aika explains that the other girls were talking about Akira and how she is with Aika a lot and they think that Aika is being favoured by Akira. While crying on her bed, Akira is standing at the doorway carrying the documents and some tea. Akira hands them over to Akari and talks to Aika about the conversation they had earlier. After talking to Aika for a while, Akira thanks Aika and walks over to the window, opening the window to reveal that it has stopped raining. Standing outside, the three girls are looking up towards the sky and saying that Akira is amazing and realise that being a Prima is difficult. Aika raises her hand towards the sky and whilst looking at it realises that the gloves are not to just protect their hands, and this surprises both Alice and Akari. With that Aika says that they all should get stronger and stronger, and the girls gather around and stretch their arms towards the sky. Aika says that they should get stronger and have a strong heart but the scene then changes to the girls rowing their gondolas without their gloves on. Coming back to the girls, Akari and Aika grab each of Alice’s hands and start running around in circles with Akira looking above from the window. In her letter to Ai, Akari tells her that they know they need to be strong and if they keep doing their best, they will one day become Primas.

Preview:

Impressions

Ok first off I think I wrote too much and I didn’t quite understand the conversation between Akira and Aika. Anyway this episode is based on Navigation 44, from Volume 9 and it went rather well despite that the manga didn’t have Alice in that chapter. Well its another Aika focused episode and it reflects the kind of situation that Aika has at Himeya. This kind of reinforces the statement Aika made back in ARIA The Animation in episode 2 about people being not being polite to her because she’s dignified. Well in this case its people who think that Aika is have it easy since she is with Akira quite often.

Animation was solid this week and this screenshot of Aika is just damn cute. It was good to see this in the episode as this is a full scaled picture where as the manga has cropped versions.

On a translation note, I found it quite odd when I looked up toori na which literally translate as street name. But I knew in context it was just the famous names that are given to the Undines. Also dekai kinshi is a difficult line to translate which could be interpreted as Great Prohibition.

At first when I read this chapter of the manga I found it quite hard to follow towards the end, which just shows I need to learn more japanese. But the way that this episode ended, with the inclusion of the girls having a glimpse of their future selves, is a rather fitting ending and would’ve made a nice ending to the series. Now with only 2 episodes left I can’t believe its coming to an end soon.

Looks like next episode will be Navigation 20, Volume 4.