[Seong Chan Eol's Comic Book] Cliché but Classic Love is Beautiful, 'The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity'

There are quite a few people who only focus on one field. Some only read comics, while others only watch animations. As someone who has lived as a casual fan with a broad but shallow interest, I often forget this fact. Therefore, this week, I introduce a work that anyone who only reads comic books or only watches animations can challenge. It is 「The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity」 by Mikami Saka.

The original serialization has already been ongoing for four years, and in an era where the completion cycle of works is getting shorter, it can be said that 「The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity」 is already a long-running series aimed at pure love stories. Just hearing the title evokes images of a historical drama featuring warriors or lords, but the content is about the love and friendship of high school students.

「The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity」 depicts the love between Tsuzuki Rintaro, who has been hurt by the gaze of others since childhood, and Waguri Kaoruko, who approaches him without prejudice. The story expands around these two characters as Rintaro's friends and Kaoruko's friends interact and grow little by little. In the setting, Rintaro attends Chidori High School, known as the worst delinquent school in the area, while Kaoruko attends Kikyō High School, the best prestigious private school, which happens to be right next door, leading to frequent scenes of conflict. Therefore, some fans describe it as 'a Japanese version of Romeo and Juliet.'

The charm of this work undoubtedly lies in the chemistry between the positive and strong-willed Kaoruko and the delicate and kind-hearted Rintaro, who is misunderstood due to his tall stature and sharp impression. Kaoruko sees Rintaro as he is, and Rintaro opens his heart for Kaoruko. Watching these two grow their love in the most cliché yet classic way brings a smile to one's face. In an era where 'wish-fulfillment' stories featuring somewhat indifferent or dull characters are popular, or where numerous characters appear to capture the reader's heart instead of the protagonist, 「The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity」 offers a warm experience through its classic development of getting to know each other and affirming oneself with that solid heart.

However, this work has one critical flaw: the world is excessively kind. Chidori High School, known as the worst delinquent school, has no fights at all, and Rintaro and his friends never curse. It makes one wonder if all the 'troublesome schools' we have experienced in Japanese works are lies. Rintaro and his friends are incredibly gentle, and some say, "Even male high school students seem like female high school students," which I can also agree with. Additionally, most conflicts are resolved by openly expressing their true feelings, which is both the naive charm and limitation of this work.

Of course, this flaw can also be seen as an appeal in an era where even high schools are rife with cunning schemes for dopamine, making it the safest and most comfortable work. In short, if you are looking for something close to healing in the romance category, nothing beats 「The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity」. Above all, this work features truly beautiful artwork that captures the unique freshness, whether in the original or the animation. Mikami Saka is making her first long serialization, and judging by the quality of the artwork, it is not an exaggeration to call her a 'monster rookie.' 「The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity」 depicting the growth of high school students is officially published through Young Comics, and currently, 17 volumes have been released. The recently produced animation has been completed with a first season of 13 episodes, and it can be watched on Netflix in Korea.

* Thinking about it, there is one more flaw. The scene where Kaoruko eats cake at Rintaro's family's cake shop appears really often in the early parts. If you are someone who needs to cut back on desserts, be cautious.

***** Starting with 'Jo Seong-cheol's Locker' which excessively attributes meaning to objects in movies, the actor's user manual 'Kim Ji-yeon's Jewelry Box' expecting a rise, the movie music appreciation room 'Choo Ah-young's Music Box' that moved my heart, and the subculture merchant's purchase diary 'Seong Chan Eol's Comic Book', Cineplay reporters will begin bi-weekly serialization with their own tastes and perspectives. *****