So basically, Chidori are the Montague’s and Kikyo is the Capulet family of the anime world.
The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity Episode 2 Review
Why didn’t I realize this sooner? I found out that this anime was shonen and not shojo, and despite all of the shonen elements in front of me (Rintaro always bleeding or having bruised knuckles each episode so far along, with the low self-esteem) I never caught the Romeo and Juliet elements until now.
Provided, we didn’t get the absolutely ridiculous scenes in episode 1 of Waguri’s friends dramatically pulling her away from Chidori because they didn’t want her to “catch the stupid” from them, but still – why on earth are these two schools fighting?
I don’t think we ever actually found out why the Capulet and Montague families are feuding in Shakespeare’s work, but I remember everybody around Romeo and Juliet acting cartoonishly overprotective like Rintaro and Kaoruko’s friends are.
Rintaro’s friends in particular seem to have a strong complex about the Kikyo girl’s arrogance, and when confronted about it Usami admits that he’s just jealous that he’s not getting female attention because he wants a girlfriend.
I wonder if the Kikyo girls are secretly feeling the same way? And it’s a puberty thing as to why they think the Chidori guys are gross and dumb, as opposed to simply rumors and their upbringing making them feel superior.
Rintaro and Kaoruko are Honest with One Another
Thank the stars for Rintaro’s mother talking some sense into her son, or otherwise this prospective romance would be hopeless.
I guess it’s because of his low self-esteem and inferiority complex that Rintaro didn’t initially realize Kaoruko came to see him at Chidori. I mean…they never had any of the Kikyo girls show up outside of Chidori before (they won’t even open their curtains for the boys to see them in their classrooms) so common sense would dictate that Kaoruko is there for the only Chidori student she now formally knows – Rintaro.
Also, I’m glad Kyouko yelled at her son for allowing Kaoruko to leave alone at night when last time she was ambushed by thugs. I know he was embarrassed, but Rintaro really should have went after Kaoruko to make sure she got to the train station to get home safely.
Either way, I’m happy these two have decided to ignore their school’s vague rivalry and start a relationship with one another – whether that be a friendship or something else.
It’s great, too, that Rintaro realized he was being judgmental toward Kaoruko and internalizing the school’s rivalry as opposed to getting to know Kaoruko on her own. She just happens to be a student at Kikyo, just as Rintaro just happens to be a student at Chidori.
I think Usami even said he never meant to be a student at Chidori – so why make it your entire identity?
But, tell me your thoughts: Do you think the curtains will be open on the Kikyo classroom facing Rintaro’s once Kaoruko’s friend group realizes not everybody from Chidori is trash?
Does The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity remind you of Romeo and Juliet?
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☆ In Asian Spaces
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