More gentle fun, and a bit more character exploration this time. ( )

The third volume of the ARIA series is another beautiful, serene, slice-of-life book. The focus this time is on the celebration of spring and friendship.

In the first Navigation (#11, The First Gale of Spring), Singles Akari and Aika use the changing of seasons (and switch to summer uniforms) to tackle a difficult course for the first time, where they meet Pair Alice Carroll of the rival Orange Planet. Alice is fourteen years old with a somewhat rude attitude for a kouhai, but naturally Akari wins her over and the three appear to swiftly become good friends. Alice's facial expressions (especially her comedic chibi face) are hilarious — she's easily a favorite character.

In the second Navigation (#12, Under Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom), Akari and Alicia set out to "search for spring". Alicia knows of a beautiful vista, but can't quite remember how to get there, and the trio (with President Aria) lose their way, but soon find something even better.

In the third Navigation (#13, Town Treasure), Akari, Aika, and Alice chance upon a scavenger hunt of sorts which shows them many hidden parts of Neo-Venezia and develops Alice's character some, showing us that she's a quirky girl, if somewhat lonely before meeting Akari and Aika. Also, this chapter gives a lot of development to the Neo-Venezia setting. I wish that the opening two-page illustration of the three girls were in color, as it seems to have been originally, because it is quite beautiful. Of course, the drawings of the Neo-Venezia scenery in this chapter are really wonderful, too.

In the fourth Navigation (#14, Three Major Fairies), we learn more about the operations of the Undine companies in Neo-Venezia in a bit of exposition that leads up to the appearance of an old friend of Alicia's and Aika's senpai/mentor, Akira E. Ferrari of Himeya. I really love the relationship between Akira and Alicia, as shown here, and I hope there are plenty of chapters in future volumes about the two of them when they were younger. (I know the anime adaption has a few such flashbacks, but I don't know if those were from the manga or not.)

The fifth Navigation (#15, Festa del Bocolo) features Akatsuki once again and has the most romantic theme so far in the series. Festa del Bocoloi is a day when one gives a red rose to a loved one, rather like the Valentine's Day chocolate tradition. Akatsuki calls Akari out to help him deliver "all the roses in Neo-Venezia" to Alicia, because he can't carry them on his own, especially as it is Aqua Alta once again. I love Akatsuki, so I'm always glad to have a chapter featuring him.

So this is another volume of ARIA and it doesn't fail to uphold the standards of the series. Tokyopop really should have included the colored versions of the illustrations at the beginning of Navigation 13 and the title/contents pages, because they look pretty awesome even in b&w. I would have gladly paid more than the standard price if they were included. (It doesn't hurt that the title page is of Aika during Aqua Alta and the contents page has Alice out of her Undine uniform. I'm a sucker for Aika and Alice illustrations.) ( )