The first series of Aria often did not bother about the supernatural aspect, but in Natural, I noticed that it had been rather persasive. We already had (including this) two episodes about the cats and I would say that it was definitely a little different. I found the change rather interesting, but it did not really affect my viewing since Aria was still a very feel-good anime to watch. It is just about the best anime to watch when you are feeling down, low, or simply want to have a good day to relax.

This episode concentrated on the lands of the cats and I quite enjoyed it, even though there was no real lesson learnt. It was just beautiful but I wished that there was a deeper meaning from this episode. In a way, there might be but it was too subtle until I was unable to capture. There were some thoughts still when I watched this though.

Without further ado, my summary + thoughts!

It was summer time as Akari changed into the short sleeves clothes of summer time. Akari was about to bring Aria for training but she noticed that Aria was not around. After searching for a bit, she left as she met up with Alice and Aika for their joint training session. Aika asked Alice about the pair party and she said that it was good to be considerate once in a while. Aika took it to mean that she was not considerate with them. Alice also mentioned that she was going to train with her company people as well, and said that she might be a prima faster than all of them.

Aika, with her competitive spirit, went down to a very difficult waterway. As they went through with relative ease, Akari noticed that Aria was on a Gondola, going on another waterway. She pointed it out, asking Aika to follow Aria. However, She was not interested until Alice mentioned that it was also another difficult waterway. With that, they gave chase as Aika wanted to prove herself.

As they followed Aria around the narrow waterway, they reached the point where there was a giant gate that was usually closed. That was why they were surprised it was open but Akari and Alice felt that there was this presence that felt dangerous, as though there was someone who did not want them to come. Since Alice had to leave for school soon, they gave up on the idea and went back. When Akari went back to Aria company, she noticed that President Aria was not around still, and Alicia hinted that Aria might have gone for a cat’s meeting. However, Cait Sith had cast black magic so that humans would not be allowed into the place. As Akari went up the room, Aria finally came back and immediately fell asleep. Aria seemed exhausted.

The next day, Akari noticed that Aria was not around once again and they decided to give chase, both Aika and Akari. However, Akari let Aika do the oarring as it was a very narrow waterway to navigate. Aika noted that there was no branching, which made that it was a direct route at the very least. They had then passed back a house of windmills, as Akari stared aimlessly as the windmills turned.

They lost Aria but Aika noted there were no intersections so they would probably be able to find Aria soon ahead. They then went past a narrow pathway, where an old building that looked like an immigration faculty was left abandoned. They then caught the sight of Aria as they continued to give chase. As they continued to find Aria, we could see tons of cats in the background, watching the two.

Time seemed to freeze as the two of them tried to find their way, only to find themselves in a loop, reaching the same place over and over again. Aika thought Akari was just being paranoid as she suggested to Akari to change positions. Still, they continued to do so and Akari said that it must be punishment for trying to enter a place that they should not go. Both of them started to panic as they were worried that they could not get back anymore. That was when Aria came and showed them a path that both of them did not see until now. They then went through the waterway. As Akari looked back at the exit, an image of Cait Sith and the cats was shown as they waved at her.

They finally got out, with Akari feeling a bit out of sorts. The next day, the three continued to train and realised that the gate was closed. Alice wondered what was happening with them and they shrugged it off, saying there was nothing at all.

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Episode thoughts

A very interesting episode. I cannot find the moral or message in this story, but if i was to think of one, it would be this. I felt that what Ai-chan in her email said was right. It seemed that even though the cats did not want humans to come in, they probably wanted the company of Akari in this.

Sometimes, we were curious and wanted something very badly. However, it was not the right time or right place to demand for it. It was the same case here. Akari wanted so badly to see the cat’s meeting but sometimes, there were some things that we just cannot get because we want it. Everything needs time and the timing was not right. That was a rather derived message I had gotten from this episode.

From the warning of enz and anga, it seemed that the next episode is Valentine. Gonna watch it now!~

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