The narration was done by Aqua in fine detail about how she was falling deep into the flamepit. I was more wondering wether they'd let her die or have her rescued, I made the link with her short apparence in the OP, but was not sure which route they'd chose.
To me the show could work either way, since Ai was killed and we've had her full last moments.
So Akane's suicide used for the show was possible.
But Aqua saving her was also possible and better meshes with the idea Aqua should start to save lives, as he was a doctor but didn't save neither Sarina's, nor his own life. I can't blame him for Ai though.