Hana-Kimi (花ざかりの君たちへ)

Hey, I got me a yakisoba bun!

My heart's singing! Another great lunch!

Let's eat!

He looks so freaking happy.

So, how far did you get with you-know-who?

Oh, well, yesterday, she fed me handmade cookies.

H-Handmade cookies?!

Hey, what's Komari-chan like?

Well, she's just great.

Seems like she's really into baking.

I'll introduce you to her next time.

Okay!

This is the right path...

I'm glad that Nakatsu seems so happy.

I've got to pick myself up too.

Oh? Ashiya-kun!

Karasuma Kinuko!

H-Hello.

On your way to pick up Sano-kun?

Don't let her get to you.

Just remember you know Sano in ways that she doesn't!

Oh, that's right!

Sano-kun made team captain.

What?

The latest news...

She got to it first.

Still, I'm delighted, if a bit surprised, that he's come back to the high jump.

To be honest, I thought it would never happen.

When I first came here,

I heard that Sano had quit the high jump, and...

It was quite a shock.

But then I realized...

Nobody wants to jump as much as he does.

Maybe your feelings got through to him.

Huh?

A little birdie told me.

I get it. Everybody wants to do whatever they can for the person they love.

Wh-What are you talking about?

The power of love is mighty. Isn't that right, young man in love?

D-D-Don't get the wrong idea!

I'm not like that!

My, my!

What a lovely shade of red you've turned.

I-I've gotta go!

Did I tease him too much?

H-How does she know?!

Ashiya?

Did you come to watch me?

You're too late.

I'm headed home now.

Sorry.

Could you take Yuujiro and go back without me?

Are you hiding something again?

What?

N-No, nothing at all.

Did that crow say something to you?

N-Not particularly.

So it's something you can't even tell me about.

To...

To?

I have to use the toilet!

My bad.

Infirmary

Doctor!

There! All done.

Hey.

Even though I know what's going on here, the sight is still bad for my heart.

How can I help you, Ashiya?

You want me to align your body too?

No, thank you.

But that's right!

Kujo-san, I have a favor to ask of you.

What?

I'd like to get strong.

Please make me stronger!

That's a pretty intense way of asking for help.

I'll do it, but I'm strict.

Fine.

Then come to the dojo tomorrow for a trial period.

We'll start with a week of practice.

Yes, sir!

Please Make Me Stronger!

This is all because you don't want to lose to that reporter?

Are you daft or something?

How naive.

Every time I run into her, it saps my confidence.

So I was thinking...

If I learn some karate, maybe I can become strong enough

to get my deflated self back to normal.

Well, getting stronger couldn't hurt,

but just maybe someone appreciates that you wear your heart on your sleeve.

I'm back!

Hey. You're pretty late.

Yeah, kinda, I guess.

I heard they made you team captain!

Congratulations!

Sorry we didn't throw a party or anything.

I don't need one...

Is that right?

Osaka High Karate Team

Osu!

Thank you!

That was so hard!

This is more than I was expecting.

Kujo-san's a monster.

Ashiya.

Heart

So, Kujo-san...

No, I mean, Kujo-senpai.

You're not a member of the team, so the former is fine.

Well, you wanted to talk to me?

Blindly doing your best, like you did today,

won't help you get better quickly.

Right.

No matter how hard you train or temper your body,

you won't find a source of strength there.

True strength is born from within yourself.

That's what tempering your heart is truly about.

Granted, that doesn't mean hardening your heart like steel.

It should be flexible, like a large tree unfazed by storms.

This one-week period is for you to learn that concept with your body.

You'll have plenty of time to get strong after that, right?

I almost waited long enough to kill me.

Sano?

Where did you suddenly get the idea to join the karate team?

I haven't joined.

I'm just doing some trial lessons.

What's this all about?

I just don't want to lose to Karasuma-san when it comes to you.

But everything I know about you comes from her,

so I've kind of lost my nerve.

It sounds stupid,

but I had this idea that if I just got stronger,

it would fix everything.

That really is stupid.

T-Talk about blunt.

Sheesh.

I am who I am now because you were by my side.

You can't tell me you didn't know that.

Right...

I feel like he just said something unbelievable to me...

Now let's hurry up and get home.

We'll miss dinner if we don't.

That was so fun!

And that last action scene!

I don't know. It was just so satisfying.

Let's get something to eat.

Yeah, let's.

I've always wanted to do something like this...

It's so good!

Oh, yours does look good.

What is that? Chestnut?

Want a bite?

S-Sure.

Nakatsu-kun.

You've got a bit of cream on your face.

There you go. All clean again.

Thank you...

Going to the movies with your girlfriend,

stopping somewhere to eat...

I guess this is what they call happiness.

Oh, look! These are so cute!

I'll give you a discount.

Dang, they're so tiny.

Girls really dig this stuff, huh?

Can your finger even fit in there?

That...

would look good on Mizuki.

Hey, Nakatsu-kun.

Look. What do you think?

Hey, yeah, that's real cute.

And look, only 300 yen. That's a steal.

You should buy it.

You've still got a lot to learn, my dude.

Huh?! About what?!

Man, I'm so hopeless.

I was out with Komari-chan,

but then I go thinkin' about someone else?

I was supposed to be over this.

Why can't I get it out of my head?!

Your aura's quite a convoluted entanglement of colors.

Sano-kun sure can jump!

He's in top form.

One more time.

Okay.

Still, I wonder what really got him back into the high jump.

I want to ask, but I wouldn't get anywhere.

Oh, there's someone.

Someone who'd spill the beans!

Hey there, eager beaver.

Doctor!

Well?

Have you figured out how to get stronger?

I've kind of let that go for now.

Huh?

I've decided to let myself go at my own pace.

I figure there's no sense in rushing things.

Sounds like a wise decision.

As they say, "A little learning is a dangerous thing."

Doctor, I have a question!