Ah, all the nostalgia is coming back. Good times, good times. STORY This being a one-episode DVD special, one would think story would be complete filler. But then, this is a slice-of-life show, where things are episodic, and very few plotlines actually last. Anyhow there isn't much to write about here without giving things away. Suffice to say it's about Akari's secret place. ART Worthy of a DVD special. Animation is top notch, the background is as usual gorgeous, detailed and extremely accurate when compared to the real-life counterpart, and there are no errors as far as I've seen. SOUND Exemplary, just like the rest of the Aria series. Every BGM piecematches the scene very well. The insert song however is forgettable, though it certainly doesn't jar the ears.

CHARACTER
Once again the Goddess that is Akari manages to effortlessly draw us in into her world and gives us a front-seat view of what she sees. And what she sees is a beautiful world brimming with positivity, with more than a healthy tinge of mono no aware.
The only issue I have is that the other characters in this episode are overshadowed, but then this wasn't exactly an episode about them.

ENJOYMENT/OVERALL
I enjoyed this immensely. Charming atmosphere, soothing music, great animation, Akari. Couldn't have asked for more.
Plus it's not filler.