Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today we’re checking back in on The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity, last year’s gentle romance about two would-be lovers from different sides of the tracks. The show’s premiere did a fine job of introducing us to protagonist Rintaro Tsumugi, who suffers from a history of consistent rejection and a resultant sense of disconnect in his current life. Hoping to avoid a repeat of his youthful trauma, Rintaro now studiously maintains an emotional distance from his classmates, and refuses to reveal his home situation to even his closest friends.
Into this buttoned-up world has stumbled Kaoruko Waguri, a diminutive attendee of the esteemed Kikyo Girls’ Academy. Pursuing both cakes and Rintaro with unqualified gusto, Kaoruko has already proven herself an excellent foil for Rintaro, balancing his “big timid guy” energy with lots of “tiny proactive girl” counterpoints. The two are quite charming together, and this production’s detail-rich designs and energetic character acting are realizing their courtship in fine style. Let’s get back to it!