Aria the Animation - Episode 3: With That Transparent Girl...

A rival appears.

Nice info.

 While Akari and Aika are doing morning training, they meet up with an unfamiliar undine.  Aika confirms that she is from Orange Company, a rival company. Akari doesn't care much and proceeds to introduce herself. The unknown undine introduces herself as Alice.

It would be a shame if they ended up being poisonous.

She must have a lot of friends.

 Aika initially shows a strong dislike for Alice, saying that she is too "stuck up" for a pair. Even so, Akari continues to make conversation with Alice. Alice doesn't say much to the two but she doesn't ignore them either. Akari and Aika stop to pick flowers for Alicia on the riverside and when Akari asks Alice if she wants to have breakfast with them, Alice says that they are nosy and leaves.

Of course.

When Akari and Aika return to Aria Company, Alicia shows them the new issue of Undine. Inside the new issue is an article about Alice. Akari and Aika learn that Alice is a gondolier prodigy at the age of 14.

Oops.

I'm scared.

On the way to school, Alice is confronted by an underclassman that wants her autograph. Alice coldly refuses her request and causes the underclassman to cry. After school, Alice sees a fellow undine and is troubled by the fact that even though she is an undine, she can't smile properly. This causes Alice to remember the sincere smile that Akari had earlier that morning.

Good thing for translator notes.

Where have I heard that before?

Stand back!

Decline it while you still can.

Later that day, Akari meets Akatsuki, a salamander (weather controller), who is waiting for someone. Akatsuki talks Akari into giving him a free ride because they are friends. As they are talking, Alice sees Akari and mistakes Akatsuki as a harasser while he is playing with Akari's pigtails. Alice confronts him but Akari clears up the misunderstanding and asks if Alice wants to come with her and give Akatsuki a practice tour. Alice reluctantly accepts and goes with Akari.

So that's how they keep Mars inhabitable.

Tough love.

Much better.

During their tour, Alice is confused as to why Akari can smile so naturally even when Akatsuki is insulting her. Akatsuki finally meets with his older brother who he was waiting for and he gets a loan from him. After Akatsuki's older brother praises Akari for hanging out with Akatsuki, Akari smiles and Alice finally understands the secret behind Akari's smile. When Akari drops Akatsuki off, he offers to take Alice and Akari up to Ukijima as thanks and they both accept.

So that's what the money was for.

Good end.

While they are all up on Ukijima, Akari shows Alice a wonderful view of the sunset from Ukijima. Akatsuki treats them all to food as they watch the sunset. When Akari gets home, she reads an email from Ai. Ai told Akari that she remembers the scent of Neo-Venezia and asks her if she will be able to become one with the wind someday.

Analysis:

This episode introduces us to the young genius, Alice. Alice is an undine trainee at Orange Planet. Alice is only fourteen years old but was scouted by Orange Planet for her high gondolier skills. Even though Alice is talented and famous, she lives a relatively solitary life with little friends. Before Akari showed up, Alice seemed to rarely show emotion. A common phrase that she says is "you're really nosy".

Akatsuki is also further introduced in this episode. Akatsuki is a salamander that protects the people of Aqua from Mar's natural conditions by controlling the atmosphere from Ukijima. Akatsuki acts conceited all the time but shows genuine care for others such as when he used the money he borrowed from his brother to buy the girls food.

Throughout the episode, Alice is troubled by the smile that Akari gave her. Eventually Alice tags along with Akari and Akatsuki for a day. Alice initially acts cold to Akari and Akatsuki but being around them helps her open up to them. In the end, Alice is able to smile perfectly fine and opens her heart up to Akari.

The theme of this episode is having an open heart. Alice didn't have many friends and so she didn't have anyone that she could open up to. Akari became her friend and spent time with her. Alice noticed that Akari was always positive no matter what and that she was able to make friends with everyone. This was because Akari had an open heart. Alice figured this out, the secret to Akari's smile. Opening your heart up and making it lighter is also associated to becoming one with the wind as said by both Ai and Alice in the end of the episode.

Ai appeared as an extra at the end of this episode because Alice and Ai's arcs are very similar. They were both young girls who closed their hearts and weren't very happy. Ai was able to open her heart up to Aqua and turned her dislike for it into love. Alice opened up her heart up to Akari and learned how to smile and make friends. 
This episode was called "With That Transparent Girl" because Akari believes that people who are alone, have their emotions fade away. Alice was alone and sealed up her heart so her emotions grew more faint until Akari became friends with her and showed that Alice wasn't alone.