The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity (薫る花は凛と咲く)

Hey, boys, break it up!

When D equals zero, there's one real solution.

And finally, when D is negative...

The school building next to ours.

Beyond those curtains.

It's a world I'll never have anything to do with.

THE FRAGRANT FLOWER BLOOMS WITH DIGNITY

Listen, man.

You're the ones who bumped into me.

Huh? What? You're saying we're the bad guys here?

That's what I keep telling you. I even stepped out of the way.

So then, you know what?

Seriously, just drop it already.

- Pretty sure you did it on purpose-- - Hey.

- Huh? - Those are Chidori uniforms, aren't they?

You know a tall, blond guy? Our junior had a run-in with him.

Figured we'd give him our regards.

Saku, by "blond," do you think they mean...

Oh, you're talking about Rintaro?

He's not here right now...

Huh? What's your deal?

Did these guys do something?

If so, I--

Classic Rintaro. You always come through.

Would you guys quit bothering people?

You better get your eyes checked! We were the victims here!

- If anything, this is on you! - Me?

They said their junior had a run-in with you.

What the heck did you do?

Come on, Usami, take it easy.

Let's get going, or we'll be late.

Hey!

Right, I think I know what that was about.

I heard people arguing outside my house last night.

Going on about cheating and it being a misunderstanding.

Lame.

So I figured I should go see what was going on.

You're the worst!

The guy got slapped, and I felt kinda bad leaving him there.

So I went up and talked to him.

But then...

You good?

GASP

He ran off, tripping over himself.

Not gonna lie, I kinda feel for the guy.

Running into you at night would freak me out too.

You can be pretty intimidating.

He must've thought you were gonna kill him.

Kill?

Sure, sure. It's all my fault.

Don't be like that. It was a misunderstanding, right?

- Oh, Kikyo students. - No way!

I swear. I'll show you later--

Hey, you dropped this.

- You can throw it away. - Huh?

I've just lost all my desire to use it.

They sure do hate us, don't they?

Guess they got flustered by my good looks.

Talk about a positive spin!

Anyway, not like it matters.

Those princesses want nothing to do with us idiots.

Kikyo Private Academy Girls' High School.

A prestigious school for elite young ladies.

But when it comes to us,

they don't act like ladies at all.

Chidori Public High School.

A bottom-feeder school where all the idiots end up.

As you can see.

The girls at Kikyo openly despise the boys at Chidori.

Even though it's just next door,

we've never seen the inside of their classroom.

After graduation, we won't have anything to do with their kind anyway.

Hey, Rintaro.

Let's all hit up karaoke after school.

Yeah, sorry. I'm gonna pass today.

Wait, what? Don't tell me you've got a girlfriend!

Of course not, idiot.

All right, take your seats.

Yes, sir.

Rintaro, you're late! It's already 6!

Come on, cut me some slack. It's a long walk from school.

And it started pouring on the way back too.

Anyway, you sure you want a scary guy like me at the counter?

Don't worry. There's only one customer right now.

And no one else is gonna show up in this rain.

Besides, we've got tomorrow's prep.

We're short-staffed today, and you're the only one free.

All right, I'm counting on you. I'm off!

Fine.

My folks run a cake shop, so they drag me in to help out sometimes.

Not that I've ever mentioned the family business to anyone at school.

Right.

She did say there was a customer.

Huh?

What? Oh, sorry. Are you okay?

I'll get you some water.

Sorry.

No, I should be the one apologizing.

What the heck?

I didn't know a girl could eat so much.

She's tiny. Is she in middle school?

Everything was delicious.

Thank you.

Please... come again.

Guess I scared her off.

Oh, her? That's Ms. Waguri.

Ms. Waguri?

She's been coming by a few times a month.

We hit it off once we got talking.

So she's a regular.

Wait, why are you even asking?

STARE

She saw me and bolted.

If she stops coming here, that's on me. Sorry.

Why would it be on you?

Ms. Waguri isn't that kind of person.

And you always blame yourself for everything.

It's a bad habit.

Anyway, if she really stops coming, I'll win her back with our cake.

She'll be hooked again in no time.

Come on, let's go.

Man, I'm starving.

What if I traumatized her or something?

I can't exactly search every middle school around here just to apologize to her.

I mean, I'd look like a total creep.

Hey, you okay?

Something on your mind?

Need our help?

Nah, it's nothing.

I'm gonna go buy lunch. You guys start without me.

Okay.

Is it just me,

or does Rintaro always keep people at a distance?

What the heck?!

Rintaro!

Ms. Waguri's here.

She says she wants to see you.

She's actually here.

Hello.

Right...

About yesterday...

Well...

Allow me to treat you.

Huh?

THE FRAGRANT FLOWER BLOOMS WITH DIGNITY

Wait, what is this?! A younger girl treating me to cake at my family's place?

So...

Sorry for suddenly running off like that yesterday.

Please have that cake. It's my way of apologizing.

Wait, but...

I can't just accept this.

Here.

What? No, it's for you!

It's fine.

This one's really good, so please try it.

But...

- Thank you. I'll try it then. - Sure.

Cake aside,

she really does love to eat.

Welcome.

Sorry if I surprised you.