I watched Aria the Origination ep9 a bit ago. I always get that warm, fuzzy feeling while watching Aria. But this time it went beyond that to a melty feeling. After a while it felt like I was in a puddle, dripping off my chair onto the floor.
Then I started noticing the hints as Alice guided Athena around. Suspense built bit by bit as I wondered if it was really going to happen. That, "Good luck," comment by the other undine passing by really drove it home. I was still feeling like a puddle, but a tense puddle, as if I were trying to pull myself back together again—only I didn't even realize I was doing it.
At the big moment I felt a kind of happiness that no other anime has managed to evoke within me. Then at the bigger moment I came as close to crying tears of joy as I've ever been. All the tension leading up to that was suddenly released at once and it left me with that slightly shaken feeling you get after finishing something big and stressful.
But, of course, it had to end with a laugh. And as the credits rolled I evaporated into bliss.
