The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity First Impressions After 3 Episodes: Beautiful Slow-Burner
The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity (Kaoru Hana wa Rin to Saku) didn’t start strong.
The first episode was a bit generic, and I wasn’t really clicking with the characters, but everything changed in the second episode. I. AM. HOOKED!
Don’t take me wrong, the Romeo and Juliet setup is way overplayed, and I find the setting of elite vs delinquents a bit childish for today’s world, but the main characters and their romance are just brilliantly done.
I’m in awe of the details of their movements, feelings, and overall interactions. They look remarkably human and very sweet.
I added Fragrant Flower to my list of most promising anime of the season a few weeks ago, and it’s not going anywhere!
Stick around to learn more about why that is.
At a glance
| Field | Info |
|---|---|
| Studio | CloverWorks |
| Source | Web manga |
| Genres | Romance, Drama, School |
| Streaming on | Netflix |
| Release Date | 6th of July 2025 |
| Season | Summer season 2025 |
| Airing Day | Sundays at 00:30 (JST) |
| Episodes Watched | 3 |
The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity follows the slow-burn romance between Rintarou Tsumugi, a misunderstood student at a rough all-boys school, and Kaoruko Waguri, a refined girl from an elite all-girls academy next door.
Their worlds couldn’t be more different. While his school is full of delinquents, hers is reserved for society’s elite.
But an unexpected connection begins to blossom when they cross paths at Rintarou’s family café.
Despite the long-standing rivalry between their schools (and judgment from those around them), the two continue to meet in secret, slowly falling for each other.
Why I picked The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity
The characters’ design was why I decided to give The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity a chance.
That, and because it’s a romance anime from CloverWorks – but mainly because of the characters.
Rintarou, Kaoruko, and Shouhei look really good. I love how simple the designs are, but so well-executed and beautiful at the same time.
Honestly, you need to be a great artist to pull that off.
The Romeo and Juliet setup is a bit played out. And the romance looked more childish than what I usually like.
Still, I decided to give it a go and I’m glad I did so.
The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity first 3 episodes breakdown
| Element | Take |
|---|---|
| Animation | The character designs are beyond beautiful. |
| Characters | Both protagonists are so sweet that my heart just melts every time. I’m loving following their inner thoughts and how they navigate the relationship. |
| Story Pacing | It’s a slow burner, giving the characters time to grow and fall for each other. |
| Tone/Genre Balance | It matches the romance genre perfectly. Not so sure about the drama part, though. |
| Sound & Music | The protagonists’ voice actors are pretty good. |
As I mentioned, I love The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity’s character design!
There’s something about Rintarou’s design that pulls me into watching the anime. He just looks so cute by being so serious all the time.
Even better than Rinatarou is Shouhei – clearly my crush of the season.
But then something surprised me – one of Kaoruko’s first close-ups. Her eyes and wavy hair are beautiful.
But having nice-looking characters can only make you so far (at least in my books, anyway).
The main characters have that kind of personality that you’ll love.
Rintarou might look like a (hot) delinquent, but he’s actually very respectful, soft-spoken, and deeply kind. He’s just a protector who will help his friends in a heartbeat.
Meanwhile, Kaoruko Waguri looks like a shy, elegant girl who has never had a care in the world. However, she’s actually someone who works hard and thinks for herself. I liked something they added to her character in episode 3, which I won’t get into because of spoilers.
The story is a slow burner.
I don’t mind it! It gives enough time for the characters to develop and fall for each other.
But the romance and the characters are the centerpiece. The Romeo and Juliet setting is not only played out, but, in this case, is not very relatable.
Plus, many of these small problems and character hesitations are too childish, especially considering we’re speaking about high schoolers.
Nevertheless, the story is meeting my expectations and has a feel-good vibe I’m enjoying so far.
I haven’t felt sad yet, though. It’s true that there’s some drama in the anime, but since the story is a bit out there, I can’t relate.
Sound and music are alright – nothing to write home about. But! The protagonists’ voice actors are pretty good! They’re able to bring the characters’ complex emotions and personalities to life.
Meanwhile, the intro song starts a bit generic but gets good when the upbeat part starts.
As usual for romance anime, the outro is calmer and sadder – it’s ok. Not my favorite, but also not the worst thing ever.
The outro visuals are beyond beautiful, though.
Pros & cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Gorgeous character design | Romeo and Juliet setting feels overused |
| Protagonists’ personalities | A bit childish |
| Strong voice acting | Drama lacks emotional impact |
| Feel-good atmosphere | |
| Slow pacing |
The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity standout moments and scenes
There have been many moments in The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity so far that made me smile. But here are my top 3 (which I just realized they’re all from episode 3):
- Scene where Rintarou protects Kaoruko: It shows how much Rintarou started caring about Kaoruko. It’s impulsive, as Shouhei isn’t going to hurt Kaoruko, but Rintarou’s instinct to step in says a lot about his growing feelings.
- Scene where they speak on the phone: At the end of episode 3, there’s a phone call between Rintarou and Kaoruko. The scene itself is sweet, as you can see that feeling when you start liking someone and get flustered by every word the other person says. But what caught my attention was Rintarou. He just looks so natural and cute in his bed. The animation is perfectly executed, and having him change his position is very close to how a human would react.
- Bench scene: I love the image of Kaoruko looking down at Rintarou while he’s lying on the bench. To me, it’s the first time they look more like lovers than friends, and it’s such a heartfelt moment.
What sets The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity apart
As a high school-themed romance, there are plenty of anime to compare The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity with:
- My Dress-Up Darling: Also in a high school setting, My Dress-Up Darling features a male protagonist who is respectful, supportive, and not overbearing. However, the female leads couldn’t be different. Plus, My Dress-Up Darling has the ecchi part, focuses on cosplay culture, and covers more adult topics of teenage romance, such as sex.
- Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You: Both anime shows feature a shy female lead who starts opening up with time in a slow-burn romance with a supportive male protagonist. However, Fragrant Flower focuses on the couple’s private interactions, whereas From Me to You focuses more on friend group dynamics. Kimin ni Todoke is also more melancholic.
- Horimya: The two anime deconstruct first impressions with their male leads, as they look like delinquents on the surface but are gentle guys. Horimiya and Fragrant Flower provide slice-of-life pacing with a balanced relationship dynamic. However, Horimiya focuses on more coming-of-age themes and covers multiple couples.
- A Silent Voice: Like Fragrant Flower, A Silent Voice features two reserved characters learning how to connect and communicate. Plus, they both share the emphasis on emotional nuance and non-verbal storytelling. But A Silent Voice deals with much heavier themes like disability and depression. A Silent Voice is also a movie, whereas Fragrant Flower is an episodic anime.
- Blue Box: In addition to a slow-burn romance, Blue Box and Fragrant Flower go for a quiet, sincere male lead and a story with minimal melodrama. The focus is on daily life and long-term character development. Blue Box, however, blends romance with sports and features more internal monologues and conflicting feelings.
Who the Fragrant Flower is (and isn’t) for
| Ideal for: | Probably not for: |
|---|---|
| Romance lovers | People who prefer more mature, adult-oriented stories |
| People who like Romeo and Juliet types of stories | Pure comedy lovers |
| Slice-of-life lovers who appreciate slow burners | Watchers who prefer fast-paced romance |
| Fans who love simple yet beautiful character designs | Fans who prefer big plot twists |
| Viewers who enjoy school settings | Romance fans who enjoy heavy melodrama or love triangles |
Final thoughts: Will I keep watching?
The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity is wholesome, soothing, and totally adorable.
I’ll be honest: the first episode felt too generic, and I was this close to dropping it. Thankfully, I didn’t.
The anime bloomed into a beautiful romance with two characters who are a delight to watch.
So, yes! I’ll keep watching! I’m so curious and excited to see Rintarou grow (and I also won’t mind looking at Shouhei when he shows up in the background somewhere).
Plus, in a fast-paced world, it feels nice to sit back and watch a slow burner where everything has time to grow and bloom.
Depending on how the story goes, it might end up on my list of the best anime of the season!
My current rating: 8/10
The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity FAQ
Where to watch The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity?
You can watch The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity on Netflix.
When does The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity come out?
The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity came out on the 6th of July 2025, and episodes air on Sundays at 00:30 (JST).
Is The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity manga finished?
No, the manga The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity is not finished. It is currently ongoing and has 17 tankōbon volumes as of writing this article.
