What does a forbidden love trope look like? The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity tries to execute something like Romeo and Juliet. But instead of the main leads’ families, it’s their high schools that despise each other. We later see, though, that it’s only one-sided. And much of the story focuses on the characters’ growth in both romantic and social aspects.

Released in the summer of 2025, the series was hailed as the best romance anime of the season. It’s highly praised for its adorable characters, sugary romance, eye-candy animation, and vibrant opening song. But it also received mixed reactions, especially when it came to its melodramatic themes.

I remember liking the manga when I read the first two volumes. It was promising, and I felt the rawness of life in the art style. I held it in high-regard even when I’ve only seen the surface, partly because it reminded me of my favorite manga, Kono Oto Tomare. But watching the anime made me see it from a different angle — and I felt like I had to apologize, too.

This review is spoiler-free.

What Young Love Tastes Like

The romance between Kaoruko Waguri and Rintaro Tsumugi is as sweet as the cakes in Rintaro’s family’s bake shop. The height difference is adorable, and their awkward reactions when they’re together show the tension and unforgettable concept of first love. Similar to a typical high school romance couple, Kaoruko is portrayed as the pretty, kind, and studious girl in class, and Rintaro as the “bad boy” who’s secretly dealing with issues of his own.

As described in the opening theme song, which is Tatsuya Kitani’s Your Gaze, Crepuscular, Rintaro finds the warmth and affection he needs in Kaoruko, who sees him for who he is. At the same time, Kaoruko experiences the sensations brought by Rintaro being by her side. They motivate and support each other, and allow the viewers to feel the butterflies in their stomach.

Their love story is paired with CloverWorks’ animation, making the scenes even more appealing (and the cakes appetizing). Kaoruko’s character design is also a standout, as she frequently changes her clothes and hairstyles, which is similar to shoujo female leads. It may not be a major concern to some, but it helped her become the new icon in the anime community.

About Friendship…

While the romance is at its best, the themes of insecurity, self-loathing, and self-esteem set the drama in motion, with the theme of friendship being mishandled. All these are explored through Subaru Hoshina, who has a hard time loving herself and fitting in. She hates herself for being the way she is and frequently apologizes, even for the little things. I totally get her character because people like her exist in real life — “insufferable” people who are meant to be loved by a good, gentle, and understanding friend like Kaoruko. But the problem lies in the way the characters, especially Rintaro and his friends, communicate in the same way as Subaru.

Friendship dynamics in fiction have always been fascinating to me. What I like the most is the authenticity — when they show who they truly are, speak the ugly truth, mess around, and have arguments — because it mirrors what real friendship looks like. In the anime, however, we see Rintaro’s friend circle talk with each other as if they’re walking on eggshells most of the time. This is shown randomly, which I don’t get at all because they normally act like real friends when they’re with other people. And, somehow, when they’re with Kaoruko and Subaru, everyone is trying so hard not to hurt each other’s feelings. And when they do, they’ll apologize an unhealthy amount of times. 

It’s nice when a series portrays healthy communication between its characters — when they are sensitive enough, considerate, and talk over the issues they need to address. But when it’s done excessively, that’s when it becomes unhealthy. Because it means letting shame, guilt, or anxiety affect how they relate to other people, and even to their friends. If they allow the fear of hurting other people’s feelings take over, their relationships will not thrive, and neither will their well-being. It would’ve been fun to see the healthier side among male friends who know how to get silly and serious, but instead, we have these characters and this quality of hit-and-miss writing.

When the Fragrant Flower Blooms

There’s no need to apologize. I hope the characters realize it, because it feels out of place in a romance series that’s lauded as the best. There are many anime that successfully show the art of character relationships, but I will not make a comparison. As fans expect the next season, I just wish our characters would bloom on their own. 

Rating: 7.5/10