Prologue: A Tribute to Mizunashi Akari

“What makes Akari Mizunashi so special?”

Akari is a girl who almost always looks happy; she is a girl who says “hahii” cutely whenever she agrees; she is a girl who mistakenly practiced backwards rowing, thinking that it’s the normal way to row a gondola. Considering these things, it would seem that Akari is just a simple, cute clumsy girl with a childlike personality. So, at first, I thought that she is just another one of those cute childlike airheads.

But after I finished Aria, my opinion changed drastically. I felt that there is really something that distinguishes Akari from other characters. If this feeling can be justified, the first question is: what makes Akari different from other characters that seem to share her personality archetype? This is quite difficult to answer, because Akari is a character that seems to lack those flashy moe traits, like traits of Tsunderes or Yanderes for example. (Although her overuse of “hahii” and “hohee” might qualify as a flashy moe trait, hehe). Nevertheless, I had this inkling that Akari “must” have some special trait or at least some distinguishing characteristic; there must be something that makes her unique, something that makes Akari, Akari.

I believe that Akari’s distinguishing traits are very subtle. Yes, Akari is a wonderful girl but it is not evident why. Thus, in order to uncover what makes her uniquely wonderful, I had to embarked on a quest to discover this “mystery” behind Akari’s personality. Well, its not really a grand quest or anything, but it is quest I found worth pursuing, hehe.

After watching the anime version of Aria, I have decided to write a “Tribute to Akari” to express the subtle wonderfulness of her being. The first time I attempted to write the tribute, I thought that it will be quite easy. Unfortunately, it was not as simple as I think. Even though I know, at the back of my mind, that there are several things that make Akari different from other characters, it was difficult to put them into words. So, at the early stage of writing this tribute, I just gathered dialogues and quotes from people who describes Akari in the Anime series; hoping that I will find some “flags” that will help me move forward in my quest.

At this stage, there are two episodes that stood out for me: the Neverland episode (Aria the Animation, Ep. 5) and the Puppeteer episode (Aria the Natural, Ep. 10). In the Neverland episode, Alicia points out that Akari’s wonderful perspective is what makes her see the wonderfulness of the world. While, in the puppeteer episode, the term “Akari filter” is mentioned by Aika and Alice. They describe how her “filter” lets her see the hidden brilliance in even the most mundane things. At this point, I found a lead. Indeed, there was an obvious trait that makes Akari stand out in the series: Akari is very perceptive and appreciative of almost everything she sees and encounters. From there, I was able to come up with two decent write-ups: the first version of The Akari Filter and my old write up: the Neverland of Akari’s Heart. But it was not long before I encountered another difficulty. In my attempt to uncover the reason why Akari became perceptive, I hit a brick wall. I tried to gather information about Akari’s past but I found almost nothing. At that time, I felt like that I have truly hit a dead end. However, something came to mind: maybe details about Akari’s past can be found in the original, that is, Kozue Amano‘s manga. At this point, I started reading Aria manga, which I should have done ages ago!

Reading Amano-sensei’s original work reminded me why Aria is indeed a beautiful work of art. And it made me feel, once again, that Akari is really a wonderful girl. This gave me a renewed spirit to continue my tribute to Akari. There was this particular beautiful manga-exclusive quote that really inspired me to write again:

“Akari-chan you really are pure white – a white as pure as snow, able to reflect the palette of the world. Including the tiniest colors that everyone else seems to overlook. Like so, you are truly able to find infinite wonder. Perhaps, Akari-chan, you’re the real Snow White.”
– Alicia Florence (Aria Manga : Vol. 10, Ch. 49)

This quote made me realize that what I should focus on is how Akari changed the lives of people around her. Truly, there were several insightful things that people say about Akari. In Aika and Alice’s dialogues, in Alicia’s conversations with Akari, and even in Mr. Mailman’s comments about her. Certainly, this idea, along with my renewed inspiration, enabled me to write the first version of Akari’s Pure White Heart and Aquamarine: the Completion of Akari’s Light. Yes, when I wrote those two write ups, it made perfect sense to me why Akari is called miss expert of happiness. Indeed, one cannot take away the word happiness when a person attempts to describe her, all because being happy seems so natural for her. And because the nature of happiness is embedded in her being, she is also able to spread that happiness to people around her.

After 6 months of writing, these thoughts enabled me to write the last chapter of the tribute, titled My Aquamarine, My Distant Blue. Writing this chapter was a very emotional experience for me, because I’ve come to fully feel and realize how much Akari changed my life. Indeed, because I witnessed how Akari changed the lives of people around her, somehow it brought about a change in my life as well. Contemplating on these thoughts and putting them into words, in this particular chapter, was very very emotional for me. Yes, even now, every time I re-read the last chapter, I cannot help but be teary-eyed from time to time.

After writing the last chapter, I was satisfied. I finally felt that I’ve finished the tribute. At that time, I really thought that my quest to uncover Akari’s being was done… But after a few months, I stumbled upon a fan-fiction that illustrates Akari’s past: The Lies of Akari Mizunashi.  The writer’s in-depth illustration about Akari’s possible dark past gave me a new and very important perspective: It made me realize that there is a possible darkness behind Akari’s innocent and easygoing personality. At the surface, Akari seems to be just an easy-going and happy girl. But, looking at it from another perspective, what if Akari is carrying dark memories behind her light personality?  What if Akari was actually a wounded girl who just wears a mask of cheerfulness, and is actually seeking true happiness in Aqua? Indeed, because Akari’s past was not discussed in the series, this possibility cannot be denied.

Because of these thoughts I came to realize what was missing in my tribute. All along I focused on the beautiful and positive points of Akari’s personality. I never considered the possibility that there is an ugliness or negativity in her life. Yes, if I would describe my current tribute at that time, I would say it was a colorful painting that is full of pastel colors. But even though it can be said to be beautiful, there is really no depth in the painting, all because there are no shades of black in it. Indeed, the tribute illustrates how amazing Akari is, as a person, but this illustration is only based on what people around her see and say about her. I’ve have yet to uncover the depths that is hidden behind the possible veil of Akari’s being.

If Akari really had a dark past, her cheerful demeanor will be a symbol of strength. Truly, a wounded girl who can be so happy despite her dark past is really admirable. But the reality of Akari’s dark past will not only make her admirable, it will also give real depth to her already amazing personality. Yes, it would be like adding shades of black to a painting that is full of pastel colors. The black colors will not only make the painting richer, it will also highlight the light colors embedded in it and give it more depth and beauty.

And so, I re-embark on the quest to discover the mystery of Akari’s being. With the thought of uncovering Akari’s past in mind, I have re-read Aria manga and re-watched the Anime version of it. I’ve gathered everything I can about her past, no matter how little it is. Fortunately, even though there was only a handful of information about Akari’s past, for me, it was enough to make a decisive conclusion about the general state of her past. With this gathered points in mind, I’ve decided to re-write the whole tribute. At some point, I have written a new chapter: The Secret Behind Akari’s Smile. I’ve also heavily revised the contents of the chapter: Akari’s Pure White Heart and made minor revisions to the chapter: The Akari Filter.  Aquamarine: the Completion of Akari’s Light is the chapter that I really put a lot of effort in re-writing. In the new version of this chapter, I believe that I have given enough points to show that Akari really had a dark past. I also attempted to show that her dark past cannot be separated from her being. In a sense, I’ve concluded that Akari’s dark past is what made her a wonderful girl in the first place. The only chapter which I barely revised is the last one, because, I think, it is already at its most fitting form. So, my whole tribute is currently structured like this:

My Aquamarine, My Distant Blue: a Tribute to Mizunashi Akari

>Prologue: A Tribute to Mizunashi Akari

> The Secret Behind Akari’s Smile, Chapter 1

> The Akari Filter, Chapter 2

> Akari’s Pure White Heart, Chapter 3

> Aquamarine: the Completion of Akari’s Light, Chapter 4

> My Aquamarine, My Distant Blue: a Tribute to Mizunashi Akari, Epilogue

As of now, I think this tribute is already done. After a year of hard work, I can attest that writing it was a fulfilling experience for me. The process of making this tribute was not only a very emotional experience for me, it also proved to be intellectually insightful for me. Without a doubt, Akari really changed my life so much. I hope this tribute can, in one way or another, change other people’s lives as well, even if it is just a menial change. At the very least, I believe that this tribute will succeed in enriching the meaning and value of Amano-sensei’s Aria series and, most especially, the hidden value of Akari’s being.

I want to thank those people who read the first versions of this tribute and I appreciate those who took the time to give some of their inputs.

For those who are planning to read this, I hope you enjoy it.

P. S.

This tribute is the symbol of my appreciation and gratitude to you, Akari. I’ve done, in the best of my abilities, everything I can to express your beauty and greatness.

I hope this tribute is enough to reciprocate the wonderfulness of your being and the world that you live in.

Thank you Akari, and Happy Birthday….

Read the first chapter, here: The Secret Behind Akari’s Smile

 Like How Anime Changed My Life on Facebook to get updates.

 Follow Anime Insights on Twitter to get updates.

The Secret Behind Akari’s Smile

“I finally understand the secret behind… [Akari’s] smile.
Not fighting the current… using the water skilfully… Proceeding slowly and calmly. When you let someone on your gondola, if you open your heart, lighten your heart, and become one with the wind… together… I’m sure… [that smile] will come naturally.”
– Alice Carroll (Aria the Animation, Ep. 3)

Alice knows and has experienced for herself this secret behind Akari’s smile. Her frequent interaction with Akari convinced her that there was something really different with Akari’s smile. In fact, Alice declared that Akari’s smile is the greatest ever (more on this later). But the secret behind this great smile is something Alice discovered as early as her first meeting with Akari. Unfortunately, Alice first meeting with Akari and Aika was not exactly pleasant. Maintaining her aloof and distant attitude, Alice ignored Aika’s somewhat demeaning remarks and rejected Akari’s invitation to have lunch together.

Alice first encounters Aika and Akari during their gondola practice

But she rejected both of them so hard, hehe.

Nevertheless, even if Alice shielded herself with her aloof mask during the meeting, she did not escape that encounter with Akari and Aika unscathed. Well, she was not exactly hurt by Aika’s seemingly demeaning remarks or anything, rather, she was troubled by the smile that Akari exhibited during that meeting.

The next day, before going home from school, Alice got a glimpse of an undine smiling at her customer. That smile was similar to the supposed compulsory, insincere courteous smile that she always sees in her co-workers. Even though an Undine is required to wear such smile during their work, Alice admits that she will not be able to do that herself; she cannot smile insincerely just for the sake of pleasing the customer. But Alice thought that the smile she saw yesterday was different; she had a feeling that there was something different with Akari’s smile.

 

Fortunately, as if destiny was trying to provide answers to Alice’s questions, she meets Akari again for the second time; however, fortune did not extend to the manner in which this second meeting was going to start. Again, it was not exactly a pleasant meeting, well, at least the start was not pleasant.

Alice saw Akari’s “pigtails” being pulled by Akatsuki and so she decided to “intervene”

Alice misunderstood the situation and thought that Akatsuki was harassing Akari. Thus, Alice immediately threatened Akatsuki by saying that she will report him to the tourist society while preparing her oar as a weapon. Eventually the misunderstanding was resolved, which then led to this scenario:

Akari invites Alice to practice

Alice hesitates but…

 
This smile was in front of Alice – this was the smile that occupied her thoughts
since yesterday

Alice stares at Akari for a moment, obviously, she is really fascinated
with Akari’s smile

In the end, she decided to agree while maintaining that aloof and distant attitude
(Alice, you Tsundere!)

And so they decided to practice with Akatsuki. During this practice, Alice was observing Akari’s tour guiding. Eventually, she found Akatsuki’s casual name calling: “momiko (pig tails)” to be rather rude. Alice pointed out this “rudeness” to both Akatsuki and Akari, but Akatsuki did not press the issue and requested for Akari to continue the tour. (Well, Akatsuki’s endearment for Akari may indeed appear rude to an outsider even if it really isn’t.) Regardless, Alice was not pleased with this situation. She wondered why Akari can still smile even though Akatsuki was being rude to her. Perhaps because Alice was unable to make sense of the situation clearly, she thought that Akari was just like the other undines, she assumed that Akari may as well be wearing that same compulsory, insincere smile that she often sees in her colleagues:

However, Alice’s scepticism was rather short lived. She was immediately force to reconsider her assumptions because Akari uttered something that only a sincere person can say.

While passing through the statues of the guardian deities of Aqua, Akari made a analogy. She compared the guardian deities to salamanders (weather man), stating that Akatsuki, and other salamanders like him, are always working day and night to make Aqua’s weather comfortable, all while managing to protect the people from the harmful elements of nature’s weather:

Well, Akari is really good with words. Here’s what happened after her remark:

Akari’s remark made Alice look like this ^

Even Akatsuki was surprised by that remark

At this point, Alice was slowly being convinced that there was something really different with Akari’s smile. And so, the final event that will make Alice discover the “secret behind Akari’s smile” was  drawing closer.

After their supposed tour guiding practice, Alice, Akari and Akatsuki goes to some bridge to wait for the arrival of Akatsuki’s brother. Unfortunately, his arrival was delayed (or he is late), which bothered Akatsuki. After a short period of waiting, Akatsuki exhibited his impatience quite bluntly. In response, Akari proposed a way to kill time: observing people who passes by the bridge.

“Who is this?” – you ask? It’s the Old man that Akari decided to “observe”

Akatsuki was not exactly impressed. After all, who in the world would make “watching a slow old man walk to his destination” into a pass time!? But Akari found this slow walk interesting, which Akatsuki labelled as something that does not matter:

Then, Akatsuki asks: “How can you be amused at things that don’t matter like that?”

Akari replies: “Yes, well, it’s something I’m good at.”

Alice found Akari’s remark funny, and smiled for the first time in front of her

Akari was glad to see Alice smile and said that she looks really happy

Alice was surprised, because Akari said something that is supposed to be obvious which Alice failed to recognize: That you naturally smile when you are really happy. Indeed, the moment Alice found Akari and Akatsuki’s conversation funny, she smiled so naturally that she did not even know that she was already smiling until Akari pointed it out. Indeed, this is one of the insights Alice was looking for since the day she met Akari. Now, she draws ever so closer to discovering the secret behind Akari’s smile.

The noon bell rings, and after a few moments, Akatsuki’s brother arrives. After giving Akatsuki the money he needs, his brother thanked Akari for accompanying his little brother and said that Akari seems to be a superb undine:

That compliment left Akari speechless and clearly embarrassed, so she just smiled in reply:

After seeing Akari’s smile once more, Alice was now sure, she can finally tell herself that she understood the secret behind Akari’s smile. Ever since she met Akari, Alice knew that there was something different with Akari’s smile, but now she can finally put it into words:

“I finally understand the secret behind that person’s smile. Not fighting the current… using the water skilfully… Proceeding slowly and calmly. When you let someone on your gondola, if you open your heart, lighten your heart, and become one with the wind… together… I’m sure… it will come naturally.”

Yes, Akari’s smile is a smile that comes naturally. It is not a smile made to please the customer; it is a smile that springs from genuine feelings of happiness. Indeed, miss expert of happiness (Reference: Aria the Natural, Ep. 2; Aria Manga: Vol. 5, Ch. 25), the title that the cafe manager gave to Akari, suits her very well, all because she seems to be so good at finding happiness wherever she goes. But such happiness only flows into her being because of her light and open heart. Certainly, with that kind of heart, one can glide through life without resisting it, one can enjoy the flow of the situation by becoming one with it.

It would seem that happiness flows ever so easily to people who has an open heart. This is the secret behind Akari’s smile: it is not a forced smile, it is a sincere smile that comes from an open and lightened heart. The moment happiness fills Akari’s heart, that sincere smile naturally comes about. Happiness naturally flows into Akari’s open heart, as natural as how the wind glides and flows over the ocean. This openness to happiness is the secret behind that smile.

That moment Alice realized this secret, she was able to sincerely smile as well. In that moment, she was able to express herself honestly and open her heart just like Akari. Indeed, after her encounter with miss expert of happiness, Alice was, in one way or another, changed. Yes, the start of this change can be seen on how she called Akari by her name while sincerely smiling:

This moment is significant for Alice, all because she normally wears her mask of aloofness and does not usually show her emotions to people. The fact that she sincerely smiled at Akari and called her by her name is the start of Alice’s willingness to open up. Indeed, this opening-up may have changed Alice life forever. To what extent her life will be changed if she hadn’t known Akari’s secret can never be revealed to us, but we can be certain that Alice recognizes how much Akari’s smile changed her life. Certainly, it did. It can be easily seen in Alice’s remark during her single/prima exam:

– Alice Carroll (Aria the Origination, Ep. 9; Aria Manga: Vol. 11, Ch. 55)

This remark shows how much significance Alice gives to Akari’s smile. Thus, perhaps, that moment when Alice discovered the secret behind that smile, is a significant moment that will forever remain in her heart. If this is true, maybe Akari’s smile is not merely a reflection of her happiness. Perhaps it can be compared to a lamp – a lamp which spreads the light of happiness to people around it. In the same way that a lamp naturally emits light, maybe Akari’s smile naturally emits a sense of happiness to people around her. This may be the thing that captivated Alice in her first meeting with Akari.

Indeed, a person that has a light and open heart will naturally emit what may be called: a radiance of happiness. But another mystery is unsolved here: how can Akari easily open up her heart to everything that she sees and encounters? How can she find happiness in the most mundane things, enough happiness to make her smile so beautifully? The answer lies in Akari’s unique perspective, which will be the topic of the next chapter.

Continue Reading
Next Chapter: The Akari Filter

This write-up is part of a larger tribute to Mizunashi Akari

 Like How Anime Changed My Life on Facebook to get updates.
 Follow Anime Insights on Twitter to get updates.

Akari’s Pure White Heart

     “Akari-chan you really are pure white – a white as pure as snow, able to reflect the palette of the world. Including the tiniest colors that everyone else seems to overlook. Like so, you are truly able to find infinite wonder. Perhaps, Akari-chan, you’re the real Snow White.”
– Alicia Florence (Aria Manga : Vol. 10, Ch. 49)

Akari’s filter lets her see the brilliance in each everything that comes to her perception; it is a seemingly childlike and pure eyes that can reflect infinite wonders in the most ordinary and mundane things. Indeed, as Alicia said, Akari is pure white – a white as pure as snow. But is it possible that Akari’s perception is only “pure white” because it never encountered the dark side of reality? Is Akari just another naive child that has not yet been stained by the harsh reality of growing up? Perhaps, every person has seen through their own pure eyes during their childhood. Unfortunately, growing up often makes this pure eyes so indifferent and so jaded that the childhood magic that was once seen subsides. Akari is not ignorant of this “phase” of growing up, in fact, she has experienced this subsiding for herself, as she states:

“Mysterious things, when you were a child you used to think ‘They exist for sure!’,
but all of a sudden it changes to: ‘It would be nice if they existed.’
I wonder when and why you stop believing.”
– Akari Mizunashi (Aria the Animation, Ep. 5)

 When does a person stop wondering about the magic of life? Why do we throw away this childlike attitude of wonder in the first place? – Akari struggled with these type of questions. Even Akari, with her childlike demeanor, recognizes the fact that growing up inevitably leads to the subsiding of that wonder for the mystery of life. When Akari was just little girl, she used to believe that a beautiful fairy-tale land – called Neverland – really existed:

“…when I was a child I was sure Neverland existed!
I never thought of it as a fairy tale.”
– Akari Mizunashi (Aria the Animation, Ep. 5)

But as she grows up, her naivete subsides. Indeed, now, Akari knows, perhaps knows to well, that the Neverland she dearly treasured and strived for, as a child, was merely a fictional place; Neverland is nothing more than a figment of her imagination.

Nonetheless, she did not become indifferent and jaded to the magic of life, like some grownups do. Her emotions of wonder was never lost, it was redirected to her most loved planet: Aqua. Thus, even if the fictional Neverland that she once sought will never exist, it does not really matter, because she has already found a magical land that exist here and now, a place that is right in front of her; Aqua is that beautiful fairy-tale land she was looking for. Certainly, Akari believes that Aqua is the real “Neverland” she seeks, as she states:

“I feel that I’m really on Neverland! This island might really be it.
Perhaps, the very planet called Aqua might be my Neverland.”
– (Aria the Animation, Ep. 5; Aria Manga: Vol. 4, Ch. 16)

 Akari’s Neverland, then, is not an fictional place somewhere in a far-off-heaven or in the world of ideas and imagination. It is in the place where she stands, where she exist now. Akari’s appreciation for her planet – Aqua – is not an innocent and helpless child’s fascination for fairy tales; nor is it some fetish for a far away ideal to be sought; it is a real recognition of what is there in front of her – a recognition of value of everything that is conceived in her eyes. This is what makes Akari’s filter different from the normal childish eyes: Akari is not innocent of reality, she is perceptive of it.

Indeed, Akari’s mysterious filter, her pure eyes, is not like a clueless childlike fascination of the world. It is a pure perception that has outgrown the ignorant phase of fascination but retained that wonder and appreciation of the world. But these pure eyes is not only perceptive of the world, it is also free from the taint of egoistic negativity. It is important to remember that Aqua’s Venice is an imitation of the original Venice on Man-Home (earth). Nevertheless, Akari does not believe that the Neo-Venezia she lives in is a “fake”, as she states:

     “I believe that there is nothing fake in this world. For example, among the tourist who visit Man-Home there are people who say it’s just an imitation that once existed on Man-Home… The buildings on the street might be an imitation of Manhome’s Venezia, but if you think about the process of building Neo-Venezia and the time and effort spent on it, wouldn’t that make it a distinctly different place? The Citizens living here and the emotions and experience are different too.

Whether it’s the real thing or an imitation doesn’t matter to me. Because I love Neo-Venezia. And it’s true that I, who treasure that feeling exist here, and now! My life in Neo-Venezia is real. So, I really don’t mind what anyone else says.”
– (Aria the Natural, Ep. 11; Aria Manga: Vol. 6, Ch. 27)

Because of Akari’s pure white filter, she can see the beauty and meaning of Neo-Venezia. For Akari, it really does not matter if Neo-Venezia is an imitation of the original. What matters is the presence and the experiences that Neo-Venezia has given to her. Certainly, how can a mere comment from a tourist devalue Akari’s direct experience of Neo-Venezia? The abstract idea that originals are better than fakes is merely a concept up in the air. On the other hand, Akari’s memories and experience in Neo-Venezia is within her, it cannot be more real for her.

Even if stains from other people’s ego attempts to devalue Neo-Venezia, Akari’s pure perceptiveness lets her go beyond those negativity and enables her to see the real value of the Neo-Venezia that she knows and loves. In this sense, it does not matter if what Akari loves is the best, the first, or even the original, she chooses to love them regardless, all because she genuinely perceive the beauty and value of those things she loves. This is the secret of Akari’s filter: She has this “pure white” perceptiveness that cannot seem to be stained by people’s abstract negative thoughts about the world. With this kind of pure perceptiveness, one is able to reflect the world as pure as snow, without the stain of pride or the dominance of needless ego.

Indeed, Alicia was right: Akari is pure white. This is why Akari can see things that other people can’t; gaze from angles that other people never look; find meaning in seemingly mundane things; and find infinite wonders in this finite world. This pure perceptiveness allows Akari to see the tiniest colors people overlook, and thus enables her to see a hidden shine of brilliance, making the world appear more beautiful, more wonderful in her eyes, as Alicia describes Akari:

     “Akari, you are so wonderful. There are some people who are rich, and stay in beautiful places but are still unhappy. There are some people who are poor but [are still] happy. In the end, happiness or sadness [is a thing that] only the person can determine. Only because Akari’s heart is so wonderful, does everything in the world seem so wonderful.”
– (Aria Manga: Vol. 4, Ch. 16)

(Reference: Aria the Animation, Ep. 5)

Witnessing Akari’s filter and her pure perception, perhaps, one can say that Akari’s heart is really pure white. We have seen that this purity and whiteness cannot be stained by egoistic floating abstract ideas, but can Akari’s pure white heart still remain pure if it was stained by actual and real experience of suffering? As we have seen in Aria, Aqua is a utopian place that seems to be free from real despair and actual human cruelty. So, at first glance, it seems unlikely that Akari encountered such darkness already. What if Akari witnesses, first hand, this kind of dark reality? Certainly, because of Akari’s highly perceptive nature, she will be unable to neglect such darkness. Will Akari be able to remain “pure white” if she ever did encounter such things? I think the answer is yes, but this is not because of my blind faith in Akari’s optimism, rather, it is because I think that Akari’s heart is not “pure white” since the beginning, in fact, it is most likely the case that her heart has a stain of darkness before she came to Aqua. This thought will be expounded in the next chapter.

Continue Reading
Next Chapter: Aquamarine: the Completion of Akari’s Light

This write-up is part of a larger tribute to Mizunashi Akari

Read the previous chapter here:
The Akari Filter

 Like How Anime Changed My Life on Facebook to get updates.
 Follow Anime Insights on Twitter to get updates.

Aquamarine: the Completion of Akari’s Light

“When I was a child, I thought I wanted to be a fairy…one that flies around everywhere, bringing happiness to everyone.”
 – Akari Mizunashi (Aria the Natural, Ep. 26) 

With a heart as pure as Akari’s, it is natural for her to make an earnest wish to bring happiness to everyone around her. This wish is perhaps the reason why Akari strived to become a Prima Undine in the first place. We can say that her earnest childhood wish to be a fairy that brings happiness, now translates to her goal of being an Undine: a “water fairy” that brings happiness to customers that rides her gondola. Nonetheless, Akari was able to unwittingly spread happiness to the people around her, even if she was just in training to be an Undine. As Aika states in her conversations with Alice:

Aika:“You see just being with you, she calms you down or so, its just a strange feeling of comfort you might say. Akari is somewhat like this Vaporetto after all. Watching this scenery from the deck like this the same view of Neo-Venezia you’re supposed to be so familiar with becomes so brilliant that it’s almost amazing. One might call it quaint and it might simply be one being slow… but from her perspective, what we take for granted once again becomes stunningly beautiful. Akari is that kind of person.”

Alice:“Somehow if you think it over Akari-sempai is really an amazing person isn’t she?”

Aika:“Akari really is incredible.”
– Conversation from Aria Manga: Vol. 7, Ch. 34

Indeed, Akari is incredible, just by being herself she is able to lead people to see the beauty of the most mundane things and find happiness in the simplest things, as one of her customers, Anno Namihei (Mr. Mailman) remarks:

     “You’re great at discovering good things from my eventless day such as this… you’re a master of bringing happiness. There is no customer that wouldn’t enjoy themselves in the presence of a girl like you”
– (Aria Manga: Vol. 12, Ch. 60)

Having that pure heart, having that pure eyes, Akari is able to spread beauty and happiness to everyone around her. This is the reason why she can easily get to know a perfect stranger; this is the reason why people around her find comfort and beauty to the usual mundane sceneries. Her love for all of creation, and the happiness that she feels from that love, spreads like a light. Indeed, one can say that Akari is like a lamp – a lamp which spreads the light of happiness to people around it.

It is easy to see how Akari’s light reached the people of Aqua. Her pure white heart makes it so that it is natural for her to be happy and spread happiness along the way.  However, I cannot help but question how Akari became such a wonderful girl in the first place. Unfortunately, in the writings of Kozue Amano (the author of Aria manga), and even in the Anime adaptation of Aria, only a handful of information about Akari’s past was given. Furthermore, Akari never voluntarily talked about her personal past and never mentioned her specific experiences in Man-home (earth). The only information we have about Akari’s past are her general statements about Man-home:

In the first chapter of Aria manga and the first episode of its anime adaptation, Akari differentiates the fast and convenient lifestyle in Man-home (most likely because of technological automation) as opposed to Aqua’s slow and inconvenient lifestyle where several laborious task are not yet automated that which Akari preferred. As she states:

“Yes, [Aqua] is very inconvenient… Cleaning, laundry, preparing dinner, everything has to be done by hand…
The place is ‘inconvenient’ so I can do everything myself. This makes me very happy!”
– (Aria Manga: Vol. 1, Ch. 1)

Besides the lifestyle in her home planet, Akari also points out a few things about Man-home’s environment. During Akari’s group training/vacation on an island (called “Neverland”) in Aqua, she mentioned that people cannot anymore swim in the seas of Man-home (Reference: Aria the Animation, Ep. 5).

Another is when Akari was harvesting sweet potatoes in Grandma’s farm, she said that people in Man-home can’t play on dirt anymore, implying that there is not much accessible natural fertile land there (Reference: Aria the Animation, Ep. 9).

Unfortunately, general statements like this are the only facts that give us a clue about Akari’s past experience in Man-home. Nevertheless, this information alone tells us an important fact about Akari’s life: We can be sure that Akari lived in an technologically automated and environmentally damaged world. That being the case, it can be said that Akari lived in a convenient but broken world. In some sense, her home planet can be called a “dystopian world.”

Now that it has been established that Akari once lived in this kind of damaged world, what can this tell us about Akari’s past? With so little information about her personal life, the only thing that we can emphasize about her personal history is her decision to stay and work in Aqua at the young age of 15.

(Reference: Aria the Animation, Ep. 1; Aqua: Vol. 1, Ch. 1)

Akari said that her initial reason for coming to Aqua is because she admired the Undines in Neo-Venezia, but as she arrived in Aqua she has grown to love it, as she states:

“At first I came here [Aqua] because I admired the cool undines. That’s all it was, but now I like Aqua and Neo-Venezia, the inconvenience, the slow-moving time… All of it. The city is made of miracles. That’s right. On this planet that didn’t have water or air. The feeling of the people who wanted to build a city gave birth to a wonderful miracle.”
 – Akari Mizunashi (Aria the Animation, Ep. 1)

Akari calls Neo-Venezia a city of miracles. Indeed, Neo-Venezia and Aqua would appear to be a miracle for her, all because she came from a barren planet. Since Akari was so used to the seemingly dystopian Man-home, she saw Aqua as a miraculous place, a utopian world that she has never seen before. Certainly, because of Akari’s perceptive nature, she can see almost every little thing that makes Aqua different from Man-home. Each beautiful things that she encounters in Aqua, that is not present in Man-home, will be something very valuable and wonderful for her, no matter how mundane or little it is.

The natural air that people breathe in Aqua; the beautiful seas that covers the whole of Aqua; the slow but fulfilling work the people from Aqua do in their everyday life – A person who has lived in Aqua since birth may not notice these little beautiful things but, for Akari, its different. Because she came from a dystopian world, she is more perceptive and more appreciative of the things that a native citizen of Aqua may overlook.

From this perspective, Akari is certainly not a naive optimistic girl who is ignorant of the ugliness of the world; she is a girl who genuinely appreciates beauty to the fullest, all because “ugliness” was once normal and ordinary for her. In this sense, Akari’s filter – her pure perception – is not “pure white” because it is a unstained by any kind of darkness; rather, it is a perception that is very sensitive to light because it once came from the darkness.

Unfortunately, we have no way of knowing how “dark” Akari’s life was in Man-home. For all we know, she might be an orphan, or maybe worse. Nonetheless, no matter how dark Akari’s experience in Man-home is, it is certain that her pure perception and seemingly pure white heart came from that strong contrast – the contrast between the dystopian Man-home and the utopian Aqua. Yes, this is what makes Akari different from the rest of the characters in the Aria series: Because she came from an ugly and dark world, she can see the tiniest colors and the faintest light, thus enabling her to see the beauty and value in the most mundane things.

In a sense, Akari is not really a special girl. She is just an ordinary girl who is more perceptive than others; an ordinary perceptive girl who just happens to skillfully contrast Aqua from Man-home. Yes, that is why, like any other growing girl, Akari was also afraid of change. Because she has experienced very wonderful things in Aqua, she was scared of losing them. This can be seen on how difficult it was for Akari to part with her old gondola and, also, how attach she was with her nightshine chime:

(Reference: Aria the Natural, Ep. 17; Aria Manga: Vol. 8, Ch. 36)

(Reference: Aria the Natural, Ep. 12; Aqua: Vol. 2, Ch. 7)

Evidently, Akari’s reluctance to accept change is also the reason why she was initially very scared the moment Alicia decided to retire as an Undine, as Akari states:

     “I finally understand it now. I was… terrified. Alice-chan’s double promotion, Aika-chan’s promotion and assignment to the new branch… Alicia-san’s marriage and transfer to the association and also my graduation. Even though all of them were things to be really happy about. Even though it isn’t like we’ll never meet again, I couldn’t help but to feel anxious and scared.

     Maybe somewhere in my heart, I thought that doing the same things in the same places was the place I belonged, where I was supposed to be. That’s why I was so afraid of all of it changing. That’s why I tried to stop everything in its tracks. When we’re walking together we feel like everyone is walking the same path. But that’s wrong, everyone is walking their own path. Their beginnings and their destinations are all different. There are never two paths that are the same they are all each person’s own, unique path.

     And it was also because I didn’t stop in the middle of my path, that I was able to come to Aqua and join Aria company. To meet Alicia-san… to meet everyone. That’s why I won’t stop anymore because I want to see what’s waiting for us ahead. I want to see everyone’s beautiful futures.”
– (Aria Manga: Vol. 12, Ch. 59; Aria the Origination, Ep. 13) 

Like any other growing person, Akari needed to overcome that fear of change. And she did. She realized that wanting everything to stay the same is wrong because her decision to live in Aqua (a decision that changed her life forever) is the reason why she experienced several wonderful things, with Aika, Alice, Alicia and everyone in Aqua. Yes, even though Akari is, at first, reluctant to accept change, she gathered enough courage to face the future and await the possible wonderful events that it will bring.

Akari cannot be more right. Her desire for change, her decision to live in Aqua changed her life so much. Truly, Akari led a very wonderful life in Aqua. I will even dare to declare that her life in Aqua is the most wonderful thing that happened to her.

While it is true that Akari is just an ordinary girl that is more perceptive than others, her very perceptiveness became so special and so valuable because she finally finds a place that she can perceive and love. Since Akari came from the darkness of Man-home, her perceptive nature allows her to see the beauty and wonder of the most ordinary things in Aqua, in turn, she also unwittingly shows this “hidden” beauty to the people around her. This is precisely the reason why Aika and Alice finds Akari amazing; this is why Alicia thinks that Akari is like a pure white snow that is able to purely perceive the beauty of the world; this is why Akari is called the miss expert of happiness and a master of bringing happiness to people around her. In a sense, Akari is really like a light  – a light that brings happiness to several people.

It can be said that Akari’s light (her perceptiveness) was once floating in the empty darkness of Man-home, but now that she came to Aqua, her light became a lamp that illuminates every little thing that comes in its way. In this sense, Akari’s light is no longer an isolated one, it found its home and refuge in the water planet: Aqua.

Yes, looking at Akari’s name: Akari 灯里 (light), Mizunashi 水無 (no water): “light without water,” it is as if she is destined to be the light that shines upon the waters of Aqua; it is as if Aqua is the only place that can complete her being. This, for me, symbolizes perfectly how Akari was born to live in a wonderful world such as Aqua. Man-home was obviously a place that is sufficient and efficient but lacks a certain aesthetic value that Akari was looking for. That is not to say that Akari does not appreciate Man-home at all; rather, her light – her love for life – can only be fulfilled to the highest extent in Aqua.

Indeed, Aqua welcomed Akari with open arms. Aqua showed Akari mysterious things, wonderful encounters, and lovely people to be with. In turn, Akari brings the light of her being to each person and each encounter she received from Aqua. And, of course, in Aqua, Akari fulfilled her earnest childhood wish to be a fairy that brings happiness: She became a Prima Undine; a water fairy that brings the wonderfulness of Aqua to each and every person that rides her gondola. By becoming a Prima-Undine, Akari becomes Aquamarine the “distant blue” that lights her surroundings with the love of her pure white heart.

Similar to how the distant blue in the horizon of the sea is colored by the sun’s light, coloring the sea Aquamarine; Akari’s light, her being, is fulfilled to the highest extent by being Aquamarine – by being a water fairy that emits light in the seas of Aqua. This is the light that lets everyone around her experience a radiance of happiness, this radiance enables them to see even the tiniest colors and the little beauties that is within Aqua. In a sense, Akari really completed her childhood wish to become a fairy that brings happiness. Indeed, Akari Mizunashi, the light without water, finds her completion by becoming Aquamarine. Truly, Aquamarine is the completion of Akari’s light; it is the completion of her being.

Continue Reading
Next Chapter: My Aquamarine, My Distant Blue

This write-up is part of a larger tribute to Mizunashi Akari

Read the previous chapter here:
Akari’s Pure White Heart

 Like How Anime Changed My Life on Facebook to get updates.
 Follow Anime Insights on Twitter to get updates.

The Greatest Lie ever Told: Lelouch’s Noble Sacrifice

There Lelouch stands prepared to complete the greatest lie ever conceived. This lie is not simply a simple white lie; it is a lie stained with the blood of those he killed – those lives that were sacrificed in order to execute such feat. Indeed, it is a dark lie, a lie that is clouded by the stains of the sins that Lelouch committed. But such lie is only intended to be so dark in order for it to absorb all the darkness around it… allowing the different spectrum of colors to emerge from the light that will come after.

-=[Code Geass Spoilers inbound]=-

-Lelouch Lamperouge (Code Geass R1: episode 3)

Lelouch knows that the world cannot be changed by naïve ideals alone. To change the world, one must be willing to stain one’s hands with blood, one must be willing to hurt the people he treasured the most. Yes, Lelouch knows that if he wants to change his wretched world, he must be willing to commit the greatest of all sacrifices.

Followers of the Code Geass series know the story behind Lelouch’s plan to change the world. This ingenious plan (Zero Requiem) involves the feat of pretending to be the enemy of humanity – a dark villain that will gather all the hate in the world:

Lelouch: As planned, the world’s hatred is focused on me. All that remains is to get rid of me and break the chain of hatred… With this, the world will be able to gather not through force or arms, but around one table for discussion. They can move forward into the future.
Suzaku: That is… the Zero Requiem.
-(Code Geass R2: Episode 25)

While the worldly implications of such feat were clear in the series, I believe its costs to Lelouch, personally, were not explicitly shown. One of the few great costs of executing the greatest lie is Lelouch’s need to throw away his personal life.  To become the ultimate object of hate, Lelouch must become the devil himself. But, unlike his previous endeavors where he can hide behind Zero’s mask, this feat cannot be fulfilled without revealing himself and being Lelouch vi Britannia – the tyrant prince that will rule the world through sheer force and cruelty.

To play the role of a cruel tyrant, Lelouch needed to abandon his only chance to go back to his normal school life – a life where he can live happily with Nunnally; a normal life where he can be with his friends; a normal life where he can fall in love. Yes, to complete the greatest lie, he needs to abandon his former life. By doing so, he will have lost his normal self – his identity, his personal wants, his desires, and his relationships. To become the devil himself, he must erase Lelouch Lamperouge, his real self that his sister and friends know and love.

But I cannot help but ask: what motivated Lelouch to pursue such costly feat? What made him so willing to sacrifice his normal and happy life with his love ones? Something must have motivated him; something must have driven him to execute the greatest lie. It would seem that Lelouch’s catharsis, happened during the time he lost sight of his purpose in changing the world (Reference: Code Geass R2, episode 7).

The first moment Lelouch decided to challenge the world and attempt to change its landscape, the only purpose that was in his mind was to make a world that will accept Nunnally, a world where weak people will be given the chance to live happily (We all know how much Lelouch is devoted to Nunnally,  some might even think that it is a unhealthy form of devotion).

The Black Knights and Zero were created for Nunnally’s sake. Thus, the moment Nunnally declared that she will succeed the wish of her late sister Euphemia – a wish that will most likely render the Black Knights useless – everything crumbled; Lelouch lost all reason to continue his endeavour to change the world.

If Zero was created for Nunnally, why would Lelouch continue to be Zero if it will go against his beloved sister? Yes, at that time, Lelouch seems to have no reason to fight anymore.

And so, Lelouch became a mess, losing all purpose, losing all the motivation; he was just another walking mat. Fortunately, the attempted wake up call (with a slap) by Kallen put a little bit of sense in his mind.

Remember this scene? Lelouch tries to “use” Kallen to comfort himself, but she resisted and slapped Lelouch. (Nice one, Kallen!)

After the encounter with Kallen, Lelouch decided to go back to his school. Expecting the school to be empty because of the supposed school trip, he was surprised to see all the fireworks lighting up the skies. So, he hurriedly checked to see who would lit up those fireworks at such unexpected time.

To his surprise, Shirley, Milly, Rivalz was there, inviting him to also light up some fireworks.

Shirley, Milly and Rivalz skipped their school trip to set up a fireworks-lighting-gathering with everyone else: Lelouch, Nunnally, Suzaku, Kallen, Nina and even Rolo. Unfortunately, only five of them came. But even though they were not complete, this simple gesture of friendship made Lelouch recall a very precious memory:

“A long time ago, there was something Nunnally, Suzaku and I talked about.
If you could give form to happiness, what would it be like?
That’s right… I think it was Suzaku who said that it might look something like glass. 

Because, although you don’t normally notice it, it’s definitely there.
The proof is that you just have to change your point of view slightly…
and then that glass will reflect light.
It will state it’s presence and existence more eloquently than any other thing in this world.”

Lelouch realizes that a happy world is there right in front of him, showing its brilliance through the kind gesture and presence of his friends. And so, Lelouch remembers, he remembered now. This is a fragment of the world that his sister also wished for: a gentle world full of happiness.

Nunnally: “They say if you fold a thousand cranes, your wish comes true.”

Lelouch: “And you, Nunnally? Do you wish for anything?”

Nunnally:  “I wish the world was a gentle place.”

Yes, now Lelouch was sure: “A gentle world is this close… even if it was spoiled by phony memories… Like transparent glass. Always. Always… Always…”  It will always be there stating its presence and existence more eloquently than anything else in this world.

And so, Lelouch decides: he is not fighting just for Nunnally’s sake anymore; he is now fighting to make that gentle world into a reality. A world that Nunnally once wished for, a world that is already there but is left unnoticed because of the stains that humanity has inflicted to the transparent glass. Yes, Lelouch believes that the gentle world is always there. That peaceful, serene, gentle world is not a far of dream. One just needs to remove all the stains in the transparent glass of the world. As such, removing those stains became the purpose of making the greatest lie.

The purpose of this great lie is the factor that distinguishes Lelouch’s quest to change the world from Schneizel’s (his brother’s) own quest. To achieve peace, Schneizel resorted to total control through fear: using the F.L.E.I.J.A. unit  to threaten every nation that is thinking of starting any wars or conflict.

Damocles and the ultimate weapon: FLEIJA
Remember, that super weapon stronger than a nuclear arsenal?

Schneizel believed that, with this type of control, the world will no longer experience unnecessary fighting, and so it will know peace… through fear. Certainly, the reason why Schneizel’s method is so cruel is because he did not trust in human nature; he believed that it was natural for humans to engage in wars and conflict.

“Peace is an Illusion. Mankind’s history is one of war.
Is not discipline what is needed to make that illusion a reality?”
-Schneizel el Britannia (Code Geass R2: Episode 23)

Thus, for him, discipline through fear is the only logical path to achieve peace. That being the case, Schneizel settled to maintain the present state of things, believing that humanity’s future, if left by itself, will generate chaos. In order to do so, he would have to keep the world stagnant, stuck in the “eternal now.”

On the other hand, Lelouch, believes that Schneizel’s “eternal now” is meaningless, for a “life without change cannot be called life.” Peace generated through control and fear leads to stagnation. Thus, Lelouch, believing in the goodness of human nature, and the existence of that ever present gentle world, gambles on a different method.  Unlike Schneizel, Lelouch believes that the only obstacle towards peace is those stains that clouds the transparent glass of the world. By removing those stains, the innate gentle nature of humanity will flourish, and the world will know peace.

And so, Lelouch gambles everything he has, believing in the nature of humanity to struggle towards hope and happiness – towards a better future, as he states:

“… I seek the future… It’ll be better. Because, no matter how long it takes, people will continue to seek happiness.”

Is this just a naïve rambling by Lelouch? Certainly not. Unlike Schneizel who watches the world from above – while sitting at his comfortable royal chair, Lelouch was immersed in the world. He experienced first-hand the struggles of normal people; he experienced their strife against pain and suffering to achieve happiness. Indeed, as Lelouch declares:

“I’ve seen it, over and over. The people who struggle against sadness.
Those who seek the future. How they all carry on wishing for happiness.
That’s why I have Geass. Why I wear a mask…”

-(Code Geass R2: Episode 23)

Thus, equipped with Geass – the power of the king – he chooses to manifest this noble wish of humanity. Indeed, Lelouch gambles everything he has in order to make such wish come true, and make the existence of that transparent glass of happiness ever so present.

Lelouch: Say, Suzaku… Geass is like a wish, isn’t it?
It’s a request to someone to give you the power to achieve what you can’t on your own.

Suzaku: Wishes?

Lelouch: Yes, I shall gamble on the geass known as peoples wishes. For the future of the world.

–(Code Geass R2: Episode 25)

And there Lelouch resides smiling, knowing that his lie is finally completed. Indeed, this event – Lelouch’s lie – is probably the greatest lie ever told. It is not an unstained white lie, it is a dark lie; it is so dark and cruel with its methods, and yet so pure in its intention – almost to the point of naiveté.

Lelouch was pragmatic in his methods. He would do everything it takes to achieve his goals, even if it meant shedding blood, even if it meant destroying everything he holds dear. But he was only willing to do so because he holds a noble wish that he must fulfill. Lelouch stained his own hands; he has done what was needed in order to fulfill that simple wish – that wish of humanity towards happiness. By doing so, he opens that path for humanity to finally move on towards the future.

Thus, with the completion of the lie, the wish to change the world for the better has been completed. All the people that were sacrificed for this event, all the blood that was shed to make this possible, all the sins committed to achieve this lie – Lelouch carries them all… the stains of the world culminate in his being. By becoming the devil himself, Lelouch gathered all the hate in the world; he compiled all the darkness he can muster to finally destroy it along with his existence.

By destroying all that darkness, the light of the world can finally show its brilliance. Like a transparent glass, the gentle world – a presence that has always been there – will show its light; it will show its existence and presence more eloquently than anything else in this world. And someday… such existence, such presence, will form the gentle world that Nunnally once wished for.

And so, Lelouch final words speak nothing but truth:

(“Yes… I… I… destroy… the world… and create it… anew.”)

 

 Like How Anime Changed My Life on Facebook to get updates.

 Follow Anime Insights on Twitter to get updates.

A Clone More Human than Human: MISAKA’s Uncanny Humanness

<Post incomplete, I will finish it ASAP>

Can a clone be considered human? Since the advent of cloning technology the existential and ethical question of how to treat and view clones has been raised. Can a “human” who is made from artificial means be even considered human? A very insightful episode from To Aru Kagaku no Railgun S (ep. 6) seems to answer this question beautifully.

“Guinea pigs aren’t people. They’re lives, [are] all the same.
At least in the eyes of those researchers they’re the same.
…I was the same.”

– Shinobu Nunotaba (To Aru Kagaku No Railgun ep. 5)

Shinobu Nunotaba, a prodigy scientist, worked for a radical experiment called: Sister Radio Noise Project. Followers of the Railgun series knows that this experiment involves the mass production of one of the strongest psychics in the city: Misaka Mikoto. Hoping that cloning Misaka will enable them to create an army of obedient strong psychics, they venture on this dark experiment.

Indeed it is a dark experiment, any person with proper common sense can tell that experimenting on clones is a highly inhumane practice. It’s “inhumanness” could be on par with experimenting with humans themselves. But for the members of the project, the clones of Misaka are “just synthesized masses of drugs and protein… mere puppets”, as one head scientist says (Railgun S: ep. 13). They are meant to be used as sacrifices for the greater glory of their own endeavors. At first Shinobu was no different, but an event made her change; an event so simple yet so profound and beautiful changed her perception towards all of the clones of Misaka.

It was an ordinary day and a regular work for Shinobu. Nothing seems to have changed. This MISAKA, just another clone of the original, was there standing seemingly indifferent, displaying no signs of emotion. The only thing that was noticeably different was MISAKA’s curiosity towards Shinobu’s tea. Amused, Shinobu lets MISAKA sip from what Shinobu’s tea, which she called “black tea.”

MISAKA was surprised, because, from the memory she inherited from the previous clones, she knows what black tea tastes like, and what she drank was nothing like it. But instead of questioning whether its really black tea or why Shinobu would lie to her, she carefully assess the difference in taste and ingredients and seems to appreciate this new experience of the black tea that is in front of her. Eventually, Shinobu revealed that its milk tea: black tea that has milk added onto it. Despite such display of curiosity, Shinobu remains unsatisfied by MISAKA’s still indifferent reaction to the change. After some sighs of disappointment, Shinobu finally declared that its time for the experiment.

Even though its routine work as usual, there is something different with the experiment they are about to conduct. MISAKA, and the previous clones,  was confined within the walls of the facility all their lives, so they have no experience of the outside world. Thus, even the passed-on-knowledge and memories – memories all the previous MISAKAs’ accumulated – cannot help her, since her predecessors never went outside either. As Shinobu and MISAKA waits for the elevator to reach the surface Shinobu asked whether MISAKA has any questions. Showing some signs of curiosity MISAKA asks:

“Is the air outside bitter or sweet?
We were taught that the air outside tastes better, but I would prefer it if it’s sweet, says MISAKA unveiling her preference.”

Not opting to answer, Shinobu just tells MISAKA that she’ll know what the air is like when she gets there. Then finally, the elevators stopped, the doors open and a beautiful cityscape engulfed with the light of the sun was revealed.

MISAKA was speechless, she was stunned by view in front of her. The vastness and the brilliance of the cityscape left MISAKA in awe. On the other hand, Shinobu, expecting a reaction, asks MISAKA: “Not what you wanted?” For MISAKA, the answer to Shinobu’s question no longer matters. She knows that the question of wanting was no longer relevant. What she feels right now, while beholding the cityscape, is something so fresh, so profound that her initial preferences and expectations fades at the amazing sight in front of her. Thus, MISAKA replies without hesitation:

“No. That is not it.”

Choosing not to answer directly with a yes, she continues:

“There are various scents stimulating my sense of smell, and filling my chest.
The wind ruffles my hair and blows around my body. The sun’s rays pour down on my skin, and I can feel it warming my cheeks… ah…

….I did not know that the world was such a wonderful place.“

<Post incomplete, I will finish it ASAP>

 Like How Anime Changed My Life on Facebook to get updates.

 Follow Anime Insights on Twitter to get updates.

My Aquamarine, My Distant Blue: a Tribute to Mizunashi Akari

     “Akari-chan. Ever since you came to Aqua my world had completely changed. The ordinary days and the face of the world began to shine brilliantly. Right… As if magic has been casted on them. It calmly covers Aqua and spreads everywhere, warming, embracing all of Aqua like the infinite sky and sea.

     I’m really glad I met you. Thank you, my Aquamarine. My Distant Blue.”
– Alicia Florence (Aria the Origination, Ep. 13; Aria Manga: Vol. 12, Ch. 58)

Alicia is no stranger to the meaning behind the moniker she gave to Akari. Aquamarine, “that distant blue,” is the wonderful future that Aria Company was founded for. Akino Ametsuchi (a.k.a Grandma, the greatest undine in the history of Aqua), founded Aria Company, believing in that distant blue – the endless horizon at the sea that President Aria watched and strived for (Reference: Aria the Origination, Ep. 7; Aria Manga: Vol. 9, Ch. 45.5).

When Akino was still working for Himeya Company, she noticed a stray cat gazing at the sea. The cat was just siting there, patiently watching the horizon of the sea. Akino dismisses this sight as a one-time event and brushes it off for the time being.

But as days passed, she witnesses the cat’s perseverance: the cat remains at the same spot, still gazing at the horizon. Akino wondered: what was the cat looking at; what was he waiting for all this time? Then, one night, heavy rain falls. While taking a break from her Prima-Undine duties, Akino remembered the stray cat she saw at the harbor. She had a worrisome thought that the cat might still be there despite the heavy rain. At first, she was reluctant to confirm that possibility, but in the end she decided to check the harbor.

Akino’s worrisome thought was true. The cat was there, he remains in the same position, persevering and continuing to gaze at the horizon of the sea despite the cold that the rain has brought to his body. Akino tried to carry the cat to a safer place, but the cat remains firm in his position, ignoring Akino’s attempt to help. Accepting the cat’s stubbornness, Akino decided to stay with him. Then, she covered the cat with a “rain coat” and protected him with her umbrella.

Morning arrives. The rain stopped pouring, paving way for the radiance of the sun to light the seas. That light slowly engulfs Akino. While beholding this beautiful sight, Akino realized a precious insight: Akino, being too caught up in the work of being an Undine, saw something valuable from the cat’s gaze towards the sea. The cat’s patience and stillness, made her realize that she was pushing herself too much. In her 14 years of hard work, as the ace Undine of Aqua, she realized that she moved so fast, too fast that she can no longer appreciate the wonderful things in her world.

Inspired by the cat’s patient and still appreciation of the horizon of the sea, Akino decided to look at the world that the cat was seeing; she decided to gaze at that “distant blue” with the cat that inspired her, as she declares:

“Can I wait here with you too?
I also want to see the world that is reflected in your beautiful blue eyes.”
– (Aria Manga: Vol. 9, Ch. 45.5; Aria the Origination, Ep. 7) 

With that she founded Aria Company at the spot that the cat – Aria – viewed the horizon: that distant blue, that vast ocean, and that vast sky.

The Vast Horizon of the Sea, that Distant Blue reflected into Aria’s Eyes

Akino and Aria gazing at that Distant Blue

Certainly, because Alicia always sees this vast horizon – that distant blue, she knows very well the implication of the moniker: Aquamarine. Alicia likened Akari to “the infinite sky and sea” of Aqua; a presence that warmly embraces everything in Aqua. Again as she declared:

“Akari-chan. Ever since you came to Aqua my world had completely changed. The ordinary days and the face of the world began to shine brilliantly. Right… As if magic has been casted on them. It calmly covers Aqua and spreads everywhere, warming, embracing all of Aqua like the infinite sky and sea…“

Indeed, Alicia was true to her words; her life truly changed when Akari came to Aqua. At the time that she was just promoted into a Prima, she was still insecure when Grandma left her; she was not confident if she can be a great teacher and senior like Grandma was to her.

But when Akari came, this changed, as Alicia states:

“I wasn’t certain, when I chose you… that I could really be a good senior to you.
But you always stuck right behind me. With your pure heart, you found many wonders I hadn’t noticed.
You gave me my confidence, Akari-chan.”
–(Aria the OVA ~ Arietta)

Yes, this is why when Alicia says that Akari’s presence is like magic that embraces Aqua like the infinite sky and sea, she truly meant it. In a sense, she truly believes that Akari is comparable to the distant blue that Aria Company was made for. As Aria’s gaze at that distant blue transformed Akino’s life; in the same manner, Alicia’s life was also changed by Akari’s wonderful being. This is why she can declare with full confidence:

“I’m really glad I met you. Thank you, my Aquamarine.
My Distant Blue.”

Indeed, Akari is the Aquamarine, the distant blue of Alicia’s life – the person that changed her life forever, the Prima Undine whom she can entrust Aria Company’s future to.

Gazing at that Distant Blue
Towards that Wonderful Future

The expert of happiness, the person with a pure white heart, the Aquamarine, that distant blue – in the end, all these words, all these titles are not enough to describe the whole person of Akari. To fully know Akari, one must experience the light of her personality first hand. Unfortunately, Akari’s personality is so ideal that it seems almost impossible to be seen in a real person. Akari is like a utopian character, an ideal fictional character that may never be realized. This is the magic of fiction and the power of imagination: it lets us perceive of an ideal that we can hope for, even though it may never be. It enabled Kozue Amano –  the writer of Aria – to create a wonderful world such as Aqua, and a wonderful character like Akari… even though she may never exist in our world. Akari, and her world, Aqua, are ideals that I deeply sought. Like president Aria’s persevering gaze towards the distant blue, I will not stop hoping that a Utopian world like Aqua can someday be realized, despite the wretchedness of my own world.

But looking at it from another perspective: what if I adopt Akari’s paradigm, can I not say that the place that I live in is already a wonderful world as it is? Perhaps, if I shift my own perspective – similar to Akari’s – the world that seems so wretched may shine like it never did before. Maybe the problem is not the world itself, but my perspective of it. If Akari lives in our world, how would she view it? I’m guessing she will say a lot of wonderful things about it. Wonderful things that are simple, so evident, and yet we miss; wonderful things that are right in front of us but we take for granted.

Perhaps, beauty and value is something that only the person can determine. Yes, as Alicia said, only with a wonderful heart, can a wonderful world be conceived. Indeed, I believe a utopian world such as Aqua can be achieved if each and every person recognize the value of the most important things in their life. Maybe, if all people give the same amount of value and love as Akari does to the world, the world will realize a utopian place like Aqua. Perhaps, at a time that such utopia is reached, people as wonderful as Akari can be born and live peacefully appreciating the world to the fullest.

Post Script
My Aquamarine, My Distant Blue

For now, I will gaze at that distant blue with hope that a utopia, like Aqua, may someday be realized. Without forgetting the value of the ground that I currently stand on… with full appreciation of the present that I live in… I will hope, I will strive for the wonderful future that awaits humanity, no matter how unlikely it is.

Akari… even if I’m faced with the current wrongness and ugliness of my world, you were able to give me the courage to hope, to strive for a wonderful future. I thank you for reminding me to value the closest and the most important things in my life. Thank you Akari… You are indeed Aquamarine… that distant blue that can change people’s lives.

Akari… you are that ideal girl that I can never reach; you are that dream girl that I sought but can never possess… Indeed, you’re really like that sky at the horizon of the sea… you are that which I can only marvel at from a distance. In one way or another, you are really my Aquamarine… my Distant Blue. Just like how your presence changed Alicia’s life, making her ordinary days shine brilliantly, the light of your being also brought brilliance to my mundane life. Yes… that’s the irony of it, even if you are so distant from me, your light, your being, shines so closely onto me that it makes everything around me shine as well.  This light… this presence, whispers closely to me, as if you are right here beside me… reminding me that what I should treasure are the things that are right here in front of me: my own world… my own time and my own place… I will heed this message and treasure the things that are closest to me, as you treasured yours.

I am really glad that I witnessed your wonderful being
in your own wonderful world.

 Thank you, Akari. Thank you, my Aquamarine… my Distant Blue.

This write up is an epilogue of a larger tribute to Akari:

Prologue: A Tribute to Mizunashi Akari
Chapter 1: The Secret Behind Akari’s Smile
Chapter 2: The Akari Filter
Chapter 3: Akari’s Pure White Heart
Chapter 4: Aquamarine: the Completion of Akari’s Light

 Like How Anime Changed My Life on Facebook to get updates.
 Follow Anime Insights on Twitter to get updates.