Title: 藍より青し〜旅情編〜 (Ai yori Aoshi ~Travels Chapter~) Drama CD
Original Creator: 文月晃 (Kou Fumizuki)
Release Date: 9/24/04
Catalog No.: MMCC-7035
Rating: 4/4

Like Kaoru's voice actor said in his reflections of this drama CD, this is the essence of Ai yori Aoshi. After almost a full year of irrelevant drama CDs, anime, and games, they finally have come back to the story. I would be more than happy if they didn't make another season and focused on more drama CD releases like this one. Track 10 is performed really well and is very effective. Tina really should have remained a contender.

The story is almost word for word the same as the manga. I can only say that up to vol. 13 as I'm waiting on vol. 14 to be shipped to me, but they stuck with the manga and that's one of the reasons why it was so powerful.

No first edition gimmicks and the only new artwork is the cover, which is also the artwork on the CD itself.

1. 始点〜してん〜 (Starting Point): Same as first half of chapter 103. After looking over some photos, Tina decides to invite everyone to go to Kyuushuu. There's passing reference to a school that's going to be demolished.

2. 出発〜しゅっぱつ〜 (Departure): Covers the latter half of 103 and the first few pages of chapter 104. Tina manages to get everyone, including Mayu, to go to Kyuushuu. After getting off the airplane, they talk a bit about where they want to go.

3. 総湯〜そうゆ〜 (Bath): Covers the rest of 104 and a bit of 105. They first all hit the hot springs where Kaoru ends up with the girls as mixed bathing is allowed. Hilarity ensues. Afterwards, they have dinner.

4. 秘事〜ひめごと〜 (Secret): Finishes 105 and half of 106. After dinner, Kaoru asks Aoi to take a bath together. While they're bathing, Chika, Natsuki, and Chizuru come wanting to play some cards (different motivation in the manga). Kaoru and Aoi fumble around trying not to be noticed and manage to keep their experience a secret from the younger girls.

5. 動揺〜どうよう〜 (Tremors): Covers up to the end of 107. Tina and Mayu have a drink together and Tina wants to make up for everything she's done to Mayu. Mayu knows that Tina is planning on going back to America and doesn't accept the apology telling Tina that she's a coward for running away.

6. 臆病〜おくびょう〜 (Coward): Covers from the latter of chapter 108 to the beginning of chapter 109. Tina hears Mayu's scolding over and over in her head, but is still in denial and believes that fooling everyone, including herself, into thinking she's alright is appropriate. At mealtime while planning what they'll do for the next day, Tina says she wants to go on a date with Kaoru. The other girls, including Mayu, reluctantly allow her.

7. 勇気〜ゆうき〜 (Courage): Covers a little more of 109. Later that night, Tina goes into Kaoru's room, gulps down a large volume of beer and asks Kaoru to be her boyfriend, even if it's make-believe for the day.

8. 母校〜ぼこう〜 (Alma Mater): To the middle of 110. The next day, she says she has a place that she has wanted to bring her boyfriend. It's her old elementary school that the TV news mentioned would be demolished.

9. 宝物〜たからもの〜 (Treasure): Starts at chapter 111 where Kaoru digs out Tina's time capsule. Inside there are old photos and a camera that her father gave her as a way of making friends. It was then that she learned that if she was happy, everyone else would be happy too, even if her happiness was superficial. Vol. 13 finishes here.

10. 告白〜こくはく〜 (Confession): This track is twice as long as any other track on the CD. The two of them are in the classroom where Tina asks Kaoru if he's ever wanted to photograph his lover in the nude and gets her picture taken. Tina then starts her confession about how she's always been happy around others, but in fact, she's been really afraid of being disliked. She then tells him about a guy she used to have a crush on. Despite her feelings for the guy afraid of being rejected. It eventually drove her to the point where she couldn't even meet him and decided to focus on the happy things in her life. But she realized that she couldn't run away forever. The story was about Tina's first encounter with Kaoru and she finally tells him that he loves him. She then tells him that she knows that she could never replace Aoi, no matter how hard she tries. Because she doesn't want Kaoru to suffer having to juggle all these girls around, she tells him, as someone who has to live with an unrequited love, to always remind Aoi that he loves her. After she finishes confession, Tina announces that they can stop this make-believe lovers and go back to their normal selves. As they leave, the memories her childhood echo through the classroom.

11. 悪友〜あくゆう〜 (Bad Friend): Afterwards, Tina thanks Mayu for helping her. Mayu says that whoever Kaoru ends up loving, whatever he feels, it's his decision. And as someone who also likes him, Mayu will support him in his choices.

12. 波音〜なみおと〜 (Sound of Waves): On the beach alone with Kaoru, Aoi shows her (incessant) insecurity again, thinking that Kaoru would have a wavering heart after his date with Tina. Kaoru-sama... Aoi-chan... Kaoru-sama... Aoi-chan... kiss kiss kiss.

13. 帰去来〜ききょらい〜 (Returning): As they're about to return, she tells the group that she'll be return to America after she graduates. She promises to make the best of her time left and thanks everyone for allow her to be a part of their lives. Tears and group hug ensues.