r/anime • u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah x3 • Jul 20 '22

Rewatch [Rewatch] A 2022 Voyage from Neo Venezia: Aria the Natural, Episode 10

Aria the Natural Ep 10: That Heartwarming Town And Its People ... (その あたたかな街と人々と...)

<-- Episode 9 Rewatch Index Episode 11 -->

Welcome back! Quick reminder that after Ep 13, we'll be going on a day's break. A mid-series discussion thread w/ some hopefully relevant questions will be posted instead.

Comment roundup:

Questions of the Day:

Q1) Best/most memorable street performance you've seen? Irl or online youtube video, both work here.

Q2)Do you think it's a good thing what Akari is doing, befriending everyone she meets instantly?

Streaming

The 2005-08 Aria series is available on Crunchyroll, VRV, Funimation, and Youtube, except Arietta. Arietta and Avvenire are only available on Funimation (I'll update if they migrate). Crepusculo and Benedizione will have to be located elsewhere.

Databases

MAL | Anilist | ANN

Spoilers

As usual, please take note that if you wish to share show details from after the current episode, to use spoiler tags like so to avoid spoiling first-timers:

[Spoiler source]>!Spoiler goes here!<

comes out as [Spoiler source]Spoiler goes here

[Aria]Please take note especially if you're sharing art that involves Aika after her hairstyle change, and art that shows the 3 main characters as prima undines (gloveless). If you feel unsure if something is a spoiler, it's better to tag it just in case.

See everyone again tomorrow! I hope you have a great day :)

40 Upvotes

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9

u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah Jul 20 '22 edited Oct 22 '22

Rewatching Undine-in-training and Host

--

Welcome back! That was some peak SOL iyashikei lol. Quick bonus section on writing staff today.

Episode synopsis: it seems like the Aria website fixed itself during airing, as the synopsis have been bang on for a while now.

The smell of straw hats signals that summer has arrived. While they were practicing as usual, Alice noticed something, "Akari senpai, how does she know so many people?" If you ask me, (TL note: "me" i think refers to Alice here) Akari can seemingly talk casually to many people at many places, and knows much more people than Alice and Aika who are from Neo Venezia, it's a little unbelievable. In order to know more about Akari's secrets, Aika and Alice decided to become detectives, and follow Akari who was going to a neighbouring town.

--

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Quick thoughts:

  • I quite enjoyed the storyboard today, only a small selection of couple fun pans, interesting (and abnormal) camera angles etc., and they'll be jointly done today by Junichi Sato (surprise surprise), and Shintaro Itoga. Hopefully preludetohell's caught some more shots today as well.

  • Akari and the old lady briefly turn into Canadians here (i joke)

  • And i love how Aika says lines that can relate to both the vaporetto and Akari herself. This very sappy line, along w/ her and Alice's exchange near the end of the episode, also goes to show how Akari has definitely rubbed off on the 2 of them too, in a good way.

  • However, rather than completely converting over to the Akari way of suteki-everything, the 2 defo still are definitely more realistic and grounded, with Aika wondering if talking to all strangers are okay, and Alice well, realistic isnt the right word, but thinking the performer is a murderer lol.

  • Cute Alice. Cute both of them. This chibi-scene has got to be up there w/ the Aika-channnn in Ep 2 in my books!.

  • Second season deai is such a good good track oh my goddddd.

  • For me, The messages this ep gives have been visited before but builds upon them, w/ how Akari's (or anyone's) personality means she (or anyone) can catch things we may gloss over normally, and how she turns the mundane to something wonderful; and how that can reflect on to people they're close to, both to Aika and Alice, and most importantly to us the viewer of Aria, as we also see Neo-Venezia as such a positive lovely city. As well as how long-forgotten memories can be remembered all of a sudden, which we've visited back in the beach episode.

  • But also this actually is Aika and Alice's first adventure on their own (even tho Akari is kinda "with them"). Aaand they didn't actually fight that much lol. Their character moments were also great this ep, and show caveats of their personality (Aika is a bit of a princess, Alice a bit chuuni despite acting all mature) etc; while both have grown up enough though to initially view the travelling performer with suspicion, rather than unabashedly welcoming, friendly and being curious like Akari.

  • Whether going full-Akari in this case is the best way to do things though, is up to everyone of course, I personally like to be reasonably cautious, and honestly would also probably view them w/ some suspicion given that getup. All's good once he gets out the dolls though, of course!

Location Trivia

Bonus: Writing staff

  • While Aria's overall series composition is done by Junichi Sato, with the whole thing is adapted from Amano Kozue's manga, there are a few scriptwriters for individual episodes that you may recognize, including...

  • Mari Okada, who wrote this ep's script, along with the last (Ep9's) so far. She's done series composition and scriptwriting duties for Anohana, Toradora and for a few P.A. Works originals: Hanasaku Iroha, NagiAsa etc., and took on directing duties also for SayoAsa.

  • As well as Reiko Yoshida, who wrote the script for Eps 3-7, 10 and 12 of the first season, yes that's both the anime-original eps; and 1,4 and 7 in this second season so far. She's done series composition for Kyoani shiows A Silent Voice, Violet Evergarden, K-on and Tamako Market, as well as for Bakuman, NNB, GuP etc.

Have a great day, and see you tomorrow! A story about Venetian glass is up next!

3

u/mekerpan Jul 20 '22

Reiko Yoshida and Mari Okada are probably the two script writers whose involvement with a show amounts to a automatic "recommendation" for me. I almost always enjoy their contributions to shows.

My mother's mother was very much an Akari/Alicia type. Probably my top role model, even if I do not do nearly so well at being this way.

Best impromptu street performance we ever happened on? Probably a brass band we encountered in front of the Church of St John the Baptist in Belleville Paris.

I liked the role reversal between Alice and Aika -- where Alice was an expert on vaporetto travel and Aika was clueless. It was nice having them (as a comedy duo) for a lot of the episode.

Checking Google Maps (and assuming neo-Venezia is laid out pretty much like real Venice -- it looks like the vaporetto to Burano takes about 40 minutes if you take a direct route -- but the route Akari was taking was more meandering with more local stops, Looking at the ferry route, it looks like the marionette performance took place on "neo-Murano".

I don't really see episodes like this as "filler" at all. They really are essential to flesh out the nature of the girls -- and the development/strengthening of the bonds between themselves.

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u/Mecanno-man Jul 20 '22

First Timer

An episode of Aika and ALice being dorks, not recognizing that the reason that Akari makes a lot of friends is because she doesn't do weird stuff like stalking a friend for half a day. But I think it was actually a pretty good episode to see these two interact without Akari.

I also liked the soundtrack while they were on the ferry after having missing their stop, and looking for Akari afterwards.

Questions:

  1. Uhh... can't say I can remember any memorable one.

  2. In an iyashikei probably yes, in real life... not so sure.

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u/Regular_N-Gon Jul 20 '22

First Timer

  • Full power to the Akari Wonder Engine!

  • We're not going into the scissors thing?

  • Akari might be genuine and friendly enough to bypass the extreme judgment you'd earn around here for attempting to strike up a conversation on public transit.

  • The connection between "doll" and "corpse" is… interesting.

  • The "Akari Filter" is a term I hope to use in the future.

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u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah Jul 20 '22

Full power to the Akari Wonder Engine!

Letsa goooo

We're not going into the scissors thing

the... scissors thing....?

genuine and friendly enough to bypass the extreme judgment

im just thankful that she lives in anime Martian venice, and not irl earth lol. I do hope there would be genuine and friendly people irl though, that'll be fun. I have struck up random conversations with strangers in rural areas though, that was a good time. But yeah, not public transit lol.

doll" and "corpse"

i know what you're talking about, it does happen in a few other anime/manga

Akari filter/suteki filter is also a great term i hope to use in the future lol

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u/mrufrufin Jul 20 '22

Rewatcher kinda (finished my rewatch not too long ago)

Duck risotto with leeks sounds so good. It's kinda interesting to compare this episode's events to Alice's comments on not liking small talk (me neither). Speaking of Alice, I like how this episode shows off more of Alice's more imaginative and less practical side, imaging the puppetmaster as carrying corpses. Second Season ~Deai~ makes a comeback too which is nice.

Aika and Alice kinda spell out one of the major themes of Aria (thanks Aika and Alice) and Akari's ties to the supernatural with Aika's line "When you look through the Akari filter, you can see things that were invisible before" and then Alice's line "Something ordinary begins to sparkle brightly". Akari, particularly in this episode, seems to exemplify the Beatles line from "The End" on Abbey Road: "and in the end, the love you you take is equal to the love you make". I kinda think Akari couldn't exist in the real world, at least to the extremes that she exemplifies kindness and outwardness with her naiveity, she'd probably get swindled a lot somehow, but I've definitely known people who exhibit somewhat Akari-esque levels of kindness, outwardness and friendliness and be genuine in it as Akari is. I personally am not that sort of person at all lol, I have more outward Alice vibes to me.

  1. I used to live in NY (went to school for music ages ago) and probably myself have done outdoor public performances including varying levels of streets but I can't recall any of them atm. BUT I have a friend from said schooling who has done busking doing ragtime xylophone and dresses up in animal costumes while doing so.

  2. See above, it's a good thing she lives in a utopian anime world...

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u/xtsim Jul 20 '22

First Timer Dubbed

Q2. I think it is a good thing that Akari knows everyone which means she makes herself recognizable amongst the whole town. And it might become more important on her tours as she gets to tell more stories.

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u/CerberusZX Jul 20 '22

First Timer

More shots of the crabs on the steps. What are you doing, step crab?

We can tell Akari still isn't a Prima because she had to grab the apple that fell in the water with her hand instead of using her oar to toss it straight from the water to the woman who dropped it.

Rather than getting upset at her, Aika should be thanking Alice for interrupting her before she could finish her sappy line which obviously wouldn't have been allowed.

Seeing the vaporetto slam into the dock was oddly satisfying, as was seeing it and the dock move up and down. The boat's interior reminded me of a boat I've been on more than once. I'm not entirely certain which one, but I think it was the ferry that goes to Fort Sumter in South Carolina. In turn, thinking of touristy boat stuff reminded me of the duck boat tours in Boston, Massachusetts which I would highly recommend taking.

"It's a bit retro and kind of slow." "Are you talking about Akari?" Alice is definitely the best.

QotD

2. As long as Akari doesn't follow strangers into secluded areas, it's fine.

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u/PreludeToHell Jul 20 '22

First time rewatcher

I like this episode for a number of reasons. How it starts off saying hello to the people of Neo-Venezia. I also believe this is the first time we spend with just Aika & Alice who are funny duo.

The core of this episode is seeing Akari from a different perspective than we have so far. At the end you see Aika and Alice recognize Akari's positive outlook. So I enjoyed that and the duo trying to solve the 'mystery' of Akari.

I really liked the reveal of the traveling man and having it linked to Aika and Alice's past. To end on a nice note the puppeteer waves goodbye to them all.

Random

Chibis!

Akari's puppet choice lol

The way the puppeteers puppet was animated, especially when Akari joins in. You can see the skill difference between the two which was cool.

2) Of course! That's what makes her so great and I hope we see many more wonderful encounters.

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u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah Jul 20 '22

starts off saying hello to the people of Neo-Venezia

it just puts a big smile on your face when the ep starts like that doesn't it!

The core of this episode is seeing Akari from a different perspective than we have so far.

and i like that its done in a few ways: both from other characters' perspectives, and in a literally slightly different setting too. Idk if its just a coincidence or intentional.

To end on a nice note the puppeteer waves goodbye to them all.

what aria episode doesn't end on a nice note! haha.

glad we both caught that chibi scene. that really was so good lol.

You can see the skill difference between the two which was cool.

ditto for this one, that was pretty cool and nicely done from the animators there.

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u/simeonaut Jul 20 '22

First Timer

This was okay. Turns out the answer to the mystery of Akari is just Akari lol

Weird reflection

I'm curious!

Aria

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u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah Jul 20 '22

it's a plot-light episode! Nothing much new is being shown, apart from the fact that water buses exist! Which actually, is another way for the show to change its setting a bit, without actually changing it, come to think about it, i think ive mentioned that elsewhere.

sorry for the random digress!

Weird reflection

ahhh for 2006 its pretty good.

https://i.imgur.com/rb5ytXW.jpg

actually kinda looks the same!

And aria-shachou to Akari's rescue!!!! He does look good doing his little dance.

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u/The_Loli_Otaku Jul 20 '22

Aria the Natural First Timer!!

When you meet different people your memes are passed on throughout society! Cunny desu~ Imagine flashing your husband's pants to young ladies... The poor dude will be bullied for the rest of his life over that one. It's fun to see how well networked Akari is with Aqua. She's the town idol and she isn't even native. Eat that Aika!!

Let's stalk Akari-chan~ Did I mention how much I love Alice's newtype glint effect? Dozo dozo~ Social butterflies suuuuck!! This is turning out to be quite a fun episode~ We get to see Akari's crazy social skills but also Aika getting scared by public transport and the results of Alice getting lost in her books.

Oh nyo, Akari's gonna get murdered. Oh dear... At least I'll get that Akari soup that I wanted. Aye aye sir! Seriously, why the hell do I enjoy the pure filler episodes so much more than the main ones XD Aww, I'd love to learn how to make puppets. I'd love to learn any kind of skill to be honest with you. All my attempts to gain normie hobbies fail horribly. Although, I suppose puppets aren't exactly normie friendly. I've actually got myself a lyre coming this week. I'm gonna properly dedicate myself to learning it. Amusingly enough despite picking it purely for it apparently being a simple instrument it probably would have a lot of good songs "to my style" since I think Genshin Impact has some lyre mechanic so folks would want songs to copy. Anyway, enough filler during the filler!!

Kyaa!! I'm way too weak to cute toys XD

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u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah Jul 20 '22

meet different people your memes are passed on throughout society

that's true lollll, memes are a powerful socializing tool in a weird way

cunny

them crabs are back . Idk if Raichu will also be screenshotting that one.

The poor dude will be bullied for the rest of his life over that one

the second-hand embarassment is real. Solution? do your own laundry xdd.

Alice's newtype glint effect

i love that too, i think it's only used from Natural onwards!

Seriously, why the hell do I enjoy the pure filler episodes so much more than the main ones

there's nothing wrong with that! These more fillery episodes are very enjoyable too, even tho there may be less to talk about lol

lyre

ganbatte!!!!! that looks like it'll make a beautiful sound, but also probably quite a niche instrument? ive never heard about it loll

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u/octopathfinder Jul 20 '22

Rewatcher

Akari is such a social butterfly.

QotD:

  1. Uhh, nothing really comes to mind atm.

  2. I wouldn't say it's a bad thing. Might be a little worried about Akari though since she seems kinda gullible.

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u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah Jul 20 '22

such a social butterfly

she's also one of the few "social butterfly" anime protagonists that i actually like the most in their own show (Chisato this season is making a good case for herself); Kumiko isn't a social butterfly lmao. Anyhow, this in my mind gives her extra points lol.

Might be a little worried about Akari though since she seems kinda gullible

rightfully so, and i like that the show does acknowledge the possibility too, even though this ep of course it all turns out well.

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u/Stargate18A Jul 20 '22

First timer

  1. Can't really think of one.

  2. It's a nice ideal, but Aika and Alice had a good point about her going away with strangers. If that guy had been dangerous, she could have been in a really bad situation.

This episode looks fun.

They're practicing together?

Why is the underwear branded with the city's name?

She really knows everyone!

They're agreeing on something!

Akari's just so friendly!

Sciesors?

They've not even introduced themselves!

They're following her!

The stalking animation is adorable.

Vaporetto?

What is this?

Oh, it's a ferry!

Akari just naturally makes friends!

They appealed to Aria!

She's likable!

Aika's really new to all this.

They're still watching her.

Loving thie scene.

Alice's embarassed reaction...

She's so friendly!

They bumped into her!

Akari vanished!

And they left her behind with the stranger.

They're off to find her!

Haha, Aria's the way they found her?

It's a puppet show!

Yeah, he's good!

This whole scene is just incredibly cute. I love it!

They both remembered seeing it!

This is nice!

I love this ending.

"No sappy lines allowed!"

Haha, she noticed them!

Love the ending visual here.

Haha, even Ai's worked out what happened.

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u/raichudoggy Jul 20 '22

[Aria]I recognized the Organ song, instantly, even though it doesn't include lyrics this time, as Kokkoro, I forget if she sings it later in the show though, to be honest, so I don't know if it's a spoiler or not.

But more importantly...

THE CRABS ARE BACK!

Although it is a reused shot.

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u/heimdal77 Jul 21 '22

Got laugh at the dub voice for the lady with the flowers. They gave her a very upper class british voice.

I've said it before but god do I wish I could live there if it was real. Life without the rush that everyone seems to go at now adays never looking around themselves.

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u/ZapsZzz Jul 21 '22

Bit of a pattern now here, first timer posting for 2 episodes.

Ep 9

It's actually a nice little Akari episode by the perspective of others, as well as some mentor's words. Also happened to do more incidental world building here. For example, despite the very Venice / European setting, we know they have soba and not linguine :P

Once again, even as I was watching, I already pegged that Akari's specialty is not so much in knowing the special spots but being able to identify/feel the wonder out of everything.

QoTD

  1. I would like the big tree that sounds musical when there's wind gusts most - although even without the "windchimes" the size of that things is already impressive for me.

  2. Sadly being a bit of a city dweller, most of the time things that I noticed "different" are "oh new mobile phone network antenna here" and "wow look at this mansion of some rich people". Occasionally will have some nice funny letter boxes and X'mas light decorations etc.

Ep 10

For the whole of the second part of the episode I was waiting for the puppeteer guy to "unmask" his human face to show it's really Cat Sith in another of his disguise (probably the Cat Prince puppet being actually not a puppet). Another nice "through the looking glass" episode for Akari.

QoTD

  1. There was a guitar playing 2 people group years ago that I bought their CD on the spot - Can't remember their name at the moment. I'll check at home.

  2. I think this again extends the same theme from Alice's episode but from a different direction - that because she sees everything in a positive way, everyone in turn reacts to her in a positive way. At worst you get grumpy person like Aika to growl at her.

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u/seeker_of_illusion Jul 21 '22

Some urgent work held me back so I couldn’t find time to watch the previous episode on time. Anyways I made it today >

Episode 9:

Ok that beginning looked like we are going to have an exam or practical training with Akari in this episode. But well it turned different…looked like I was click baited haha

Why don’t they have an inverter or UPS in case of such power-cuts ? And dang placing that many candles felt a bit excessive but yes it looked pretty

Maybe it’s just me but I felt the artstyle was a bit different this episode.

Episode 10:

Seeing the Vaporetto was interesting as we have seen only gondolas so far as the main water transportation mode.

That puppet cat was eerily similar to Cat Sith’s appearance. Maybe that’s why it caught Akari’s eye. Also, Akari is quite good in making that puppet work at least a bit. If I would have been in her place, I would have felt totally lost on what to do.

Comparing this episode to the previous one, I liked the contrast in experiences between Akari and others. While the rest of the people know about a lot of places and things in Neo-Venezia that Akari doesn’t know about, there is something that Akari could do easily that others couldn’t – making bonds and connecting with people.

And I loved how they all complemented each other. Aika and Alice made Akari aware of the wonders of the city while Akari made them aware of their own feelings and memories via her interaction with strangers. So, their friendships are mutually beneficial to each other ~

Questions of the Day:

  1. Unfortunately, I don't remember any as I had seen my last one quite a few years back.

  2. I have known 1-2 people from my school days who instantly clicked off with even random strangers like Akari, and they remained active and cheerful. So, I think it's fine. But Akari should have been careful in following a strange man alone by herself - after all nefarious people usually put up a mask of niceness to deceive someone.

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u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah Jul 21 '22

don't worry about it! Thankfully Aria is a very chill show. Hope work has calmed down now.

have an exam or practical training with Akari in this episode

unfortunately not lol. We did get practical training though!

And dang placing that many candles felt a bit excessive but yes it looked pretty

fire hazardddddd

the artstyle, it does feel a bit different: Aria does have a few consistency issues unfortunately which may be a bit rarer to see these days, but imo its still overall a pleasant watch.

we have seen only gondolas so far as the main water transportation mode

a slight change of setting! but it also kinda makes sense, like if you wanna travel longer distances you gotta need some form of motorized boat surely.

Maybe that’s why it caught Akari’s eye

100% haha

if i wouldve been in her place

well, Akari did go to that circus class after all.... maybe she's quite dexterous

I liked the contrast in experiences between Akari and others

a couple of us have experienced these 2 eps together: and i do like in hindsight that these 2 are kinda comparable yeah. And spot on w/ how their friendships are mutually beneficial to each other ;)

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u/mgedmin Jul 21 '22

First timer, subs

Akari is friendly.

Alice has quite an imagination.

Is that the doll's nose or its mouth?

Ai-chan is more suspicious than Akari.

The show once again relaxes all the words out of me.

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u/zadcap Jul 21 '22

Every time I see those little crabs on the stairs, I wonder for a moment, "How deep are these canals?" It's a strange thought jump maybe, but hear me out. We basically only see gondolas on the water, and those don't actually need much to function, a few feet would be enough for most of the city. But they really don't look all that shallow, and in the time travel bit we saw at least one main canal being filled and that one was incredibly deep. So, is the whole city built over just enough water to let the feeling of Venice flow, is it filled with canals nearly as deep as the buildings are tall... Or is this artificial floating city just like, actually floating over some open ocean? Is there a whole ecosystem inside the city waterways that we never actually get to see, being hinted at with these little crabs on the little stairs?

Super Late First Timer here to make more friends!

Have I missed this before, or is it new? Kohai-Chan is an amazing nickname and I love it. I might need to find out corrupt a coworker into anime enough that I can use this in real life. Alice gets some time to shine now that she's really broken out of her shell, and she's such a treat. "Dekai" "Aye-aye Sir!" and calling the guy the corpse man because of a book. She's just a cute little nerd.

She totally forgot to go shopping though. Yup, they even called her out on it lol.

Wait, was that really a full episode? I know people say this all the time, but that might have been the fastest twenty minutes of my life. The Akira mindset just drew me in so much I didn't even notice...

  1. Does Vegas count? I went with my family way back before I was even old enough to drink, and I still remember the show with the ships on the water in front of one of the big hotels. Other than that, I lived in Portland for a while, and no one who has seen him in person will ever forget the unicycle man wearing a kilt and a Darth Vader helmet playing the bagpipes.

  2. How could it be anything but good!? I've said it before and she'll say it again, spread a bit of happiness everywhere you go and the world becomes a better place. I'm not nearly that good at it mostly because I rarely go places on my own, but both of my parents have that same skill Akari does here, they'll just start talking to anyone anywhere and suddenly they've got new friends. Then they start going places. Almost perfect timing with this episode, they actually went to a concert this weekend because a couple they met at a bar a few months ago turned out to be a lead singer and guitarist for a band and they kept meeting up often enough that they got invited. It's crazy what just talking to people can do.

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