ARIA Doujinshi – snowdrop

By Raku-gun.

Paddling with the minority.

If I hadn’t hinted before, I’m…
1) An ARIA fangirl
2) An Akira fangirl
3) A closet Akira × Alicia loser fangirl who wears her over-powered yuri goggles too much for the safety of her own mental health

Because of 3), you could guess I’d been uncomfortably squirming in my seat during those days of reading the last few chapters of the Manga, not to mention while watching ARIETTA and the finale of the TV series. As undeniably wonderful as ARIA turned out to be on an overall scale, guess it’s still hard to ignore that splinter in the side. It’s worse due to the fact that I tend to naturally look out for that “oh-so-subtle conjured only in the loser fan’s imagination” vibe between two characters whenever there seems to be some sort of (microscopic) implication. Strangely enough, I’ve always viewed ARIA solely as a slice-of-life series and nothing else, not even a yuri series, let alone pegging the main Undines as having such relationships. Yet, there’s this hidden little side of me which tends to observe things at a bent angle despite how much I tell myself to disregard it. I suppose it’s one of those things I can’t ignore and I can’t avoid. To put it in clearer terms, it’s called “petty desperation”. :p

The lot of us who have finished ARIA, one medium or another, would know the kind of life each of our favorite characters ended up with; and I imagine a great big mass of Alicia fans were probably pulling their hair out by the time the final credits rolled in, maybe even before that. Woe is me, I was one of them. So, to take my screwed up mind off reality for a sec, the next best thing is of course to escape into the world of doujinshi and fanfictions. Sad, no? Anyway, I’m glad there’s quite a large group of like-minded fans who think that there could be indeed something *special* between our grumpy Crimson Rose and blithe Snow White when we fine-tune our goggle’s vision enough to heat-spot the suggestions. If it’s enough to spark a number of circles to draw a coupling doujin of them, why not? o(≧∇≦)o

Said one of those circles are Raku-gun, who are probably better known for their Marimite doujin, but they’ve been producing quite a number of yuri-themed fan books for ARIA as well, with their main focus being Akira × Alicia, and currently on a much lesser scale, Athena × Alice. Whoo~ no surprises on their choices.

Let’s get on with snowdrop’s story.

It started off with a flashback to Akira and Alicia’s trainee days, where Akira pointed out one of Alicia’s habits.

Akira: It was like that since back then, for instance in this situation…
Alicia: Akira-chan, your hair, aren’t you going to grow it longer?

Akira: ……………
Alicia: Hm?
Akira: I don’t want to. It’s such a pain.
Alicia: Ara ara, is that so?

Unfazed, Alicia followed up with a remark that Akira’s hair is beautiful, and it would be a waste to not let it grow longer. I’d like to think this is Akira’s reason for having that long flowing hair she has now but since this is doujinshi, it’s not comparable to the suggested canon motive that she wanted to be more feminine. Nmm… (￣～￣)

Akira: And again, even in a situation like this.
Alicia: ———Ah.
Akira: What?
Alicia: Don’t move.

Alicia: Look, a snow bug.
Akira: Ha? It was attached to me? Since when…

Neo-Venezia was already well into winter, not that Akira cared. Something else was on her mind apart from the season.

Alicia: Ne, Akira-chan.
Akira: What?
Alicia: Is something wrong?
Akira: …No, nothin’.

She was wincing inside about Alicia’s tendency in casually touching her. Of course, there wasn’t anything wrong with that. After all, they are friends. Friends tend to do that to one another without feeling awkward. At least that’s what Akira reasoned on Alicia’s part. She hastily diverted the topic by telling Alicia they should head their respective ways to their companies for their appointments. Perhaps unaware to Alicia, Akira in fact wanted to avoid being seen with an obvious red tinge on her face.

Akira: Don’t blush because of something as little as that, stupid me!
Rather…the one who’s strange is me… Just how long will this repeat itself?

Back at the present, Alicia and President Aria were out on a snowy day, and they spotted Akira sitting on a bench, sound asleep.

Alicia: Ara ara. Did she freeze to death? Akira-chan.
Akira: I’M NOT DEAD!!

Akira had been waiting for Aika who went off somewhere to run an errand. Alicia suggested it would have been better if she had waited at a place which had a roof but Akira being Akira, insisted on remaining at where she said she would wait for her protégé, which invoked an “Ara ara, how dashing of you.” comment from her friend.

Alicia: In that case, I’ll give you something good.
Akira: What? Are you giving me a heater pack or something?
Alicia: Ufufu.

Alicia: My body temperature. Ah, you’re cold.

Akira: ——————!!
Alicia: My hands are warm, aren’t they? I warmed them with the heater pack.

Flustered, Akira pressed for Alicia to hand over the heater pack and brushed off her hands, retorting that using her hands isn’t any different from using a heater pack. Alicia however, had a better reason for what she did…

Alicia: I thought this way would be faster because…

Alicia: Since back then, you turned red whenever you’re touched by me.
Akira: Wha……?

Akira: What do you mean? You…noticed it back then? In that case…

Akira: You were also aware of the meaning behind it———!?

Well, Alicia’s people skills are amazing after all.

Akira: Eh……?
Alicia: It seems the President is lending this to you. It won’t do if you catch a cold.

Akira: Ah…Ahh. Thanks, President Aria.
Aria: Nyu. Nyu?
Akira: Hm? What are you…

Keiri’s brain explodes.

Recovering in dumbfounded embarrassment, Akira demanded an explanation from Alicia to which the latter nonchalantly responded by teasing her even more and realization finally dawned on her.

Akira: Up until now… Were you amusing yourself about this when you knew everything all along?
Alicia: Ufufu.
Akira: OII!! Bull’s-eye, huh!!
Alicia: I just…

Alicia: …thought of wanting to move things a little forward.

…because the both of them had always kept their feelings to themselves all this while, so the morale of the story is “Actions >>> Words”.
Good Job, Alicia Florence!! d(￣▽￣)

After Alicia left, Akira silently sat on the bench taking in the former’s words, and grasping the revelation was worth years of shock when it came to her that Alicia intentionally did not tell her the truth despite having found out about her feelings.

Omake time – Aika just got back.

Aika: Sorry for being late! Here, Akira-san.

…and Akira is in less than a happy mood.

Aika: UWAA! You have a layer of snow on you!? Even though it stopped snowing… Why did you not wait at a place that has a roof?
Akira: Shut up! I said I would wait here! Rather, don’t tell me the same thing!
Aika: Ha?

Akira was still miffed Alicia deliberately did that to her when the latter already knew everything, and she was further annoyed by the fact that Alicia confronted the whole matter wearing a carefree expression the entire time.

Mmm… Carefree expression…

Aika: Akira-san? …Red! Isn’t your face completely red? Did you catch a cold!?
Akira: Don’t look at me! Don’t talk to me! Ah, dammit.
Aika: Haa!? Is it really that bad!?
Akira: In a way.

Seems Akira had been played by her childhood friend all along. All’s well that ends well so far. Speaking of which, I find Alicia to be partially out of character in all of Raku-gun’s doujin as she tends to be a little too forward when taking the initiative to progress in the relationship. Then again, I suppose it’s even weirder if Akira played that role instead. Plus, it’s kind of cute to see Akira as a hesitant and cranky tsundere in all this whilst Alicia as usual, mercilessly teases her about it. Perhaps in minor contrast, at least Akira was the one who took the first step in the second fan book but among their doujin collection, snowdrop is still my favorite. KISU 4TW!!

Most likely a silly question but if you’ve ever viewed ARIA even in the dimmest light as having yuri-esque relationships among the characters, wonder who do you usually single out as a potential pair…
1) Akira × Alicia (Being biased)
2) Alicia × Akari
3) Akira × Aika
4) Athena × Alice

Until the next fan book then. :)