Hana-Kimi (花ざかりの君たちへ)

Hey, Mizuki.

Mm-hmm?

Are you legit going to do this?

Last I checked, my mind hasn't changed.

I'm asking 'cause I'm worried about you.

I can't believe you got the paperwork done already.

Convincing my parents to let me go

was totally grueling.

It's unreal.

Suddenly you're just running off to Japan by yourself?

You're even transferring to a Japanese high school.

Like, what?

Who are you?

This dude must be a hottie

if you're, like, blowing up your life to be with him.

There. All done.

Hello?

You gonna tell me what's up?

Yeah, yeah.

Mirror, mirror.

Why'd you cut all your hair off?

Ah!

Um, excuse me.

Uh, coming through!

Ah!

Not good, not good, not good.

I can't walk in late on the first day at a new school.

Ah, wrong way.

Come on, 1-C. Where are you?

Maybe you're-- uh--

Oh, thanks, man.

I'm sorry about that.

They let girls in?

Oh, crap.

No time.

I'm in a huge rush.

Hey!

I'm terribly sorry.

My plane was late, but I'm here now.

My name is Mizuki Ashiya, and I'm the new transfer student.

Uh, well, that's all right.

Class, please say hi.

Ashiya transferred all the way from America,

so he's not quite settled in.

He's lived abroad for a long time,

and some things may still confuse him.

So try and help him out, OK?

It's super nice to meet all of you.

Here, shorty.

Oh.

No way.

Pardon me?

It's him, Izumi.

You're late, Mr. Sano.

Yeah, sorry.

Wow, Izumi, you're a real slacker, huh?

Can it.

That's enough.

It'll take a while for Ashiya to readjust--

It's like I dreamed.

I thought I was prepared, but being around this many guys

is weird.

Plus--

You still sulking, big guy?

Who are you talking to?

We're actually in the same class.

I should buy a lottery ticket.

I'm God's favorite!

You, baby-- you've been too spoiled and for too long,

my man.

Hey, Sano.

To be frank, I like you. So we should hang out.

Oh!

Uh, what's with everyone?

Did I say something I shouldn't have or what?

Hey, Sano.

It's cool and all, but, uh, I'm not really into dudes.

Sorry.

I swear to you, I didn't mean it like that.

Hey, where are you going now?

Cutting class.

No, wait! Hold on!

Hear me out!

Oh.

I can't believe I screwed up so bad on my first day.

This is going to be hell to recover from.

Still, I won't back down.

I crossed a freaking ocean.

There's no way I quit now.

Is he, like, laughing at himself or what?

Guess America only sends weirdos now?

You're a real comedian, aren't you, bro?

Huh?

Never seen someone confess so soon after they got here,

but hey, I can dig it.

That's not what I meant.

I straight up just want to be friends with the guy.

I swear, that's all.

He must hate me, though.

Yeah.

No, he's way too busy brooding.

He's brooding?

Yeah!

Oh, and I'm Shuichi Nakatsu.

Uh, nice to meet you.

I'm the quickest guy on Osaka's soccer team.

I'm a first-year forward

and the team's favorite fiery lion cub.

Or so they say.

Pleasure is yours.

Eh, you're the lion cub?

Yeah, the pleasure is mine.

I can't hear you!

Come on, little dude.

We're grown men now.

We gotta start acting like it, yeah?

We're in the same class, but so what?

Oh, right. Listen up!

I need one friendly volunteer to show Ashiya to the dorms.

Thank you, Nakatsu.

It's no big deal.

They placed both of us in dorm two anyway.

So it's no skin off my nose.

Having three dorms seems wild.

I know, but we got tons of kids

here on scholarships for sports and liberal arts.

I mean, the Lion wouldn't be prowling

these halls if it weren't for his soccer scholarship.

So are you here for anything?

Uh, I run a little track and field,

but I don't have a sweet scholarship.

Listen here, dude.

I gotta ask.

Everyone won't stop talking about how

you've got loads of wisdom since you lived abroad.

Fess up.

Are the chicks super easy there?

In what way?

Like, do they get freaky on the first date or what?

Ah!

Yeah, I would say it's like everywhere else.

No one's really the same, so--

I got you.

You haven't done it yet either.

Ooh!

Hey, it's all cool, bro.

But as virile young man, it's important to know

where we stand so we can help each other out.

We need the testicular testimonies

of other guys' junk.

- Please, shut up. - Come on.

Tell me you're-- argh!

Perhaps you and your gonads should go to your dorm room.

Are you a school doctor or an actual sadist?

Aw.

I fear a call to the wambulance might be justified.

Hey, are you OK?

Have I met you yet?

Oh, I'm Mizuki Ashiya, new transfer.

Ah, yes, I did hear something about a new student

from the States starting this term.

Welcome.

Thanks.

I'm honored to be here.

Hmm.

Uh--

I'm Umeda, the school doctor.

Come by the infirmary if you need me.

OK.

I swear, I hate that slimeball more every day.

Ah!

Home sweet home!

Whoa!

Sano lives here too?

Lucky me!

No, wait.

Is that mine there?

Yeah, Sano had a room to himself this whole time,

and now he has to split it with you.

Hence the tude.

He's pissed that he has to move his stuff around.

I'm in his room?

Just read it for yourself.

I knew that everybody lived in the dorms.

I thought we had our own rooms, though.

Well, I feel you, brother.

It sucks.

I thought the exact same thing when I first got here, too.