Aria the Animation

Synopsis

During the annual flooding of Neo-Venezia, when the city comes to a standstill, Akari is caught out in a rainshower and shelters in Aika's room at Himeya Company. While there, Akari sees the other employees are deferential to Aika, the heir to the company. When Aika's strict mentor, Akira, chastises Aika for slacking off despite the flood, they fight and Aika leaves to stay the night with Akari at Aria Company. Aika describes in a flashback her first meeting with Alicia, and how Alicia inspired her to become an undine (gondolier). The next morning, Akira arrives to demand that Aika return home, and the trainees learn that their mentors have been friends and rivals since childhood. Akira set Akari and Aika to a gondola race to determine where Aika will stay, but partway through, Aika scraps the race because she plans to return, as she admires Akira for being the only one at Himeya Company to stand up to her. After they return with Akira's favorite walnut bread as an apology, Akari realizes Aika and her mentor are good friends despite their squabbling, and hopes she and Alicia will become friends like that.

(Source: Wikipedia)