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薫る花は凛と咲く [Kaoru Hana wa Rin to Saku] #3

The Fragrant Flowers Blooms with Dignity - Kaoru & Rin Vol. 3

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Rintaro Tsumugi, murid SMA Chidori, tempat berkumpulnya cowok berandalan, dan Kaoruko Waguri, siswi Akademi Kikyo, sekolah para gadis kaya-raya. Mereka bertemu, menghabiskan waktu bersama, dan mulai merasa nyaman satu sama lain. Namun, dinding penghalang berwujud permusuhan kedua sekolah, rupanya begitu tinggi untuk dilewati. Rintaro harus memberanikan diri membuka rahasianya kepada kawan-kawannya sebab rahasia justru menimbulkan kesalahpahaman. Demi menyelesaikan masalah tersebut, Rintaro mengajak Kaoruko dan sahabatnya, Subaru Hoshina, untuk bertemu sepulang sekolah.

192 pages, Paperback

First published July 8, 2022

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Saka Mikami

26 books98 followers

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5 stars
1,625 (60%)
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833 (31%)
3 stars
199 (7%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 259 reviews
Profile Image for Saranya ⋆☕︎ ˖.
990 reviews269 followers
July 15, 2025
This was a strong continuation of the series. It was an incredibly innocent and heartwarming story that prioritizes the power of friendship alongside a blossoming rom.

I feel that it's getting stretched for too long though... just my thoughts:)
But it does give heartfelt and cozy vibes.

If you're looking for a genuinely sweet, character-driven manga with a focus on wholesome connections, this volume (and the series as a whole) is highly recommended!!!
Profile Image for Mark.
2,799 reviews269 followers
October 11, 2024
Rintaro has been keeping secrets from his friends and it’s really bothering him, so he talks it out… with Waguri and Hoshina instead. But it’s a prelude to a story so wholesome it’s part of your complete breakfast.

Just the dang cutest. That’s about as simply as I can sum up this unbelievably heartfelt ode to the power of friendship. Yes, we’re waiting on Waguri and Rintaro to make their relationship happen, but this volume is far more about the friends we made along the way.

The guys accidentally overhearing what Rintaro says about them is one thing, but what he’s saying is just so dang nice. This is probably the only manga where the revelation of why the lead has pierced ears and dyes his hair turns out to be because of something very innocent and pure.

Watching the evolution of this incredibly innocent love story and seeing it pivot to also being about genuine friendship is a lot of fun. It can definitely feel a little TOO sweet at times, but that’s what it’s going for and I don’t mind it (and there are still some grittier elements buried in there).

Hoshina, especially, was really letting her prejudice against the boys fly last time, so it’s quite the nice turnaround to see her being so apologetic. Her slowly becoming more comfortable with the group is one of the best parts of the whole volume.

And, yes, we manage a ‘date in all but name’ visit to the aquarium for some quality time between Rintaro and Waguri that’s also, yes, adorable, dammit. There’s no other way to properly describe something like this, which wears its heart right on its sleeve.

The last section, where Rintaro feels comfortable enough to invite the guys to his place and the girls show up, is a very sweet way to end the volume. His mom is just the nicest, bless her, and her joy at seeing the connections Rintaro has made is palpable.

If you’re looking for something with high drama, this isn’t it. Much like Rintaro, it only appears to be rough around the edges, but is pleasant right to its core. A pair of safety scissors is more cutting. That’s what the story is going for and it nails that vibe. This is wonderfully cozy.

4 stars - it may lay it all on pretty thick, but it doesn’t feel that way, which is a testament to how well it’s written. It remains a really solid read with a surprisingly high dollop of heart that impressively doesn’t veer into pure schmaltz.
Profile Image for Beka.
Author 40 books113 followers
October 1, 2024
*BAWLING*

Another heartwarming volume full of character growth and relationship developments both romantic and platonic. Beautiful!
Profile Image for charly.
132 reviews
June 6, 2024
THIS VOLUME LITERALLY MADE ME CRY WHILE READING IT. IT WAS TOO CUTE😭😭😭
From Rintaro and the guys making up by beating up those dicks to Saku and Rintaro making up to Subaru and the guys becoming friends to THE AQUARIUM DATE TO EVERYONE GOING TO RINTAROS HOME TO RINTAROS LORE. IT WAS TOO MUCH ANGST TO FLUFFY RATIO. MY HEART CAN ONLY TAKE SO MUCH.
I loved how the gang are breaking through the hate between their schools. Their friendship I can already tell is gonna be one Ill be jealous of. Also loved how the most innocent friend beat up like ten built guys. Super unexpected.
The aquarium date was the best thing Ive read. It was so romantic. WHEN RINTARO DID EVERYTHING KAORU WANTED AND WHEN HE REALISED HIS FEELINGS😭😭😭😭.
The next chapter after that was just adorable but also sad. The gang back at Rintaros place was just so funny and cute. His mom was so cute too when she was happy that Rintaro brought home friends.
His blonde hair lore had me in tears. Those kids in elementary truly did miss out on an amazing person. His friends and Kaoru are just too cute for saying if they knew him back then they wouldn’t hesitate to become his friend😭😭
Honestly this volume deserves 6 stars. My favourite I’ve read so far. It was just so sweet and the romantic development is so natural and nicely paced. I LOVED IT
Profile Image for aimi.
19 reviews
September 14, 2024
This Volume was.. okay. :)
I loved the last part with Rintaros Family and friends but this volume felt like everyone apologizing constantly for something trivial and i really dislike authors using kids as a catalyst for the „oh“-moment. It feels forced and i would have liked Rintaro to come to his own realization as time progresses.
Profile Image for 灰.
160 reviews29 followers
October 22, 2025
With this series I feel like I’m settling in bed with a nice cup of warm tea, my comfiest blanket, and the sweetest jazz. It’s so wholesome, welcoming, and easy breezy. I honestly never thought I’d be so excited to continue reading a series like this but I’m having such an amazing time. It’s quite beautiful.
Profile Image for Alicia ^^.
226 reviews
November 15, 2025
De momento la historia sigue bastante en su línea, aunque me está gustando mucho el rumbo que está tomando en cuanto a Rintaro.
El desarrollo de personaje que está teniendo no es el mejor que he leído/visto. Pero sí que es el más real y el más humano de todos.
Me ha gustado mucho la construcción de su pasado, y el trauma response de “cómo me cuesta confiar en los demás me cierro a ellos” está súper bien representado (soy una friki de estas cosas uf).

Por otro lado, Subaru me sigue dando bastante igual. No la entiendo muy bien y cada vez que sale un capítulo de ella me da bastante pereza. Ante todo honestidad JASJSH.

Y Waguri me parece bastante maja y mona y todo. Pero aún siento que no la puedo juzgar mucho (ni para bien, ni para mal), ya que en varias ocasiones ha dicho cosas que dan a entender que ella ya sabía de la existencia de Rintaro de antes. Y que antes de la primera conversación que tuvieron en el manga, an ella ya le gustaba él.

La cita del acuario me ha parecido una monada🥺. Me encanta verlo desde el pov del chico, porque literal se ven más frames de Waguri siendo la persona más bonita para los ojos de Rintaro, que de delfines o cosas del mar idk JAHSJAB.
Aunque is soy 100% sincera. QUIERO VER MÁS COSAS ROMÁNTICAS. Cosas para tirarse de los pelos con la tensión, escenas un poquillo más comprometedoras, todo esto es lo que me falta para acabar de amar completamente a este manga.

Seguiremos informando 🫡
Profile Image for LindSlay.
59 reviews1 follower
November 22, 2024
This gets cutier and cutier with every volume. The romance is slow, but the small pay off's really make that okay for me. The couple hasn't backtracked in their continued growth, which is always very refreshing in a cute slower romance. It's slow because they are intentionally trying to take the time to learn about one another, not because of miscommunication or random plot drama. Also, getting to know the side characters is super nice and adds to the story a lot. It doesn’t feel smashed in for the sake of having other characters. It feels natural to the story and even important to the couples' growth. Really love the care that is put into this story. Rintaro and Kaoruko are so stinking cute!
Profile Image for Jellyjeli.
72 reviews2 followers
September 2, 2025
จากเล่มที่แล้วแก๊งเพื่อนของรินทาโร่แอบตามมาดูตอนนางอยู่กับคาโอรุโกะกับสุบารุ ทีนี้ทุกคนเลยได้เสิร์ฟความซึ้งไปหนึ่งที (ฉันด้วย!) แล้วหลังจากนั้นมีจังหวะที่แก๊งอื่นมาหาเรื่องรินทาโร่ เพื่อนๆที่แอบอยู่ก็เลยโผล่มาช่วยเคลียร์ให้ ตรงนี้ตลกมาก ตลกโยริตะนี่แหล่ะที่ตัวเปิดโรง เห็นผมยิ้มๆ ความจริงอย่าทำผมโมโหนะครับ

และดีใจที่รินทาโร่เปิดใจให้เพื่อนๆเยอะขึ้นแล้วน้า ทั้งบอกเพื่อนเรื่องคาโอรุโกะ&สุบารุ ทั้งเรื่องเปิดร้านเค้กและพาเพื่อนมาที่บ้าน แกเก่งมากๆ แล้วเพื่อนก็คือดีมากกก แบบแกน่ารักกันมากๆเลยทุกคน นี่อ่านไปน้ำตาไหลไป เห็นทุกคนอยู่ด้วยกันแล้วเอ็นดูมากๆเลยอ่ะ 😭

ปล. ขอบคุณที่ไป(เดต)ที่อควาเรียม ในที่สุดรินจังมันรู้หัวใจตัวเองซะทีเว้ยเห้ย แม่ๆปลื้มใจมากค่า
Profile Image for Martina Koa Alice.
Author 15 books34 followers
November 29, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
A questo punto non so se continuerò questo manga. È stata carina la prima parte basata sull'amicizia tra Rintaro e gli altri, ma tutto il resto è stato estremamente cliché, come se stessi leggendo un modello di shojo preimpostato e non qualcosa che avesse sentimenti dentro. Forse per evitare questo è stata aggiunta tutta la parte conflittuale su Rintaro alla fine, ma ha finito per essere esagerata e irrealistica.
Profile Image for maya ☆ (aced her finals!).
280 reviews122 followers
July 12, 2025
this one is very japanese in the sense that the way it unfolds and these kids’ reasonings are very far from western society so western readers are like……… this is a bit of a roundabout and it was a bit annoying, BUT!! ALSO!!! it was fun to see the guys sticking up for each other and rintaro, and the aquarium date was SOOO CUTE i might faint for them
Profile Image for Himeka.
7 reviews35 followers
June 27, 2025
Wow what a volume! I can’t describe the feeling but I can’t get enough of this series 🤍 how can it make me feel so many emotions. Can’t wait to read more!
Profile Image for M•C.
81 reviews6 followers
July 19, 2025
tear jerker ending 🫂
Profile Image for Tania.
846 reviews11 followers
December 2, 2023
Wholesome como siempre. Me caen bien todos en este manga y me gusta que no se vayan a los dramas innecesarios, los personajes se dan el tiempo para hablar, explicar las cosas y evitar malentendidos entre ellos.
Acá Rintaro se da cuenta de lo que siente por Kaoruko durante su salida al acuario y verlos es enternecedor porque se llevan muy bien y se animan mutuamente, además de que son muy transparentes entre ellos. Los quiero mucho.

También quiero mucho a Subaru, la beffie de Kaoruko, se disculpó y está dispuesta a ayudar en todo a su amiga, igual que los tres mejores amigos de Rintaro, quienes me sorprendieron por su apoyo incondicional. Sin dudas las amistades son lo segundo mejor de este manga.

El estilo de dibujo también es precioso, en especial es los momentos muy emotivos, como en el pasado de Rin, cuando cuenta por qué se tiñe el cabello o por qué no mencionaba que su familia tiene una pastelería. Sin duda el miedo al rechazo deja secuelas muy dolorosas en quien lo ha experimentado y es bueno saber que poco a poco está aceptando que sus amigos no le harán eso y que su círculo está creciendo con la adición de Kaoruko y Subaru.

Otra cosa, la mamá de Rintaro es todo lo que está bien en este mundo, por más madres así, por favor.
Profile Image for James DeSantis.
Author 17 books1,203 followers
April 28, 2025
To my surprise, Volume 3 might actually be the strongest one yet.

Rintaro finally opens up to Kaoruko and Subaru about his friends. He’s trying to make things right, trying to bring everyone together. And while he’s pouring his heart out, his friends are literally spying on him, only to overhear just how much he cares, how much he worries about them. It hits. They realize they've been too quick to judge, and what follows is this touching, kinda badass moment where the girls almost get jumped but the boys show up to save the day. Ayato especially, dude finally steps up, and it works on every level.

Then we get to the second half: the date. Rintaro and Kaoruko are freaking adorable. It’s just a really sweet, soft series of moments that builds up to an even sweeter payoff when everyone shows up, his whole circle of friends, including the girls, and his mom gets to see her kid growing into someone better. It’s touching as hell.

Yeah, it’s sappy. Yeah, it can be over-the-top. But fuck it, I was smiling the whole time. Also? The art is gorgeous. Like, absolutely stunning in some panels.

Bring on Volume 4.
Profile Image for Mary.
165 reviews4 followers
October 25, 2024
Bellissimo. Meraviglioso. Adorabile.
Giuro mi sono commossa con questo volume 🥹

Io amo quando nei manga ci sono tanti personaggi secondari e questi non sono semplici comparse. Perché si ok si legge una storia d’amore per i suoi protagonisti però non mi piace quando ci si concentra esclusivamente su di loro. E quello che mi piace proprio di questo manga è proprio il fatto che i due protagonisti ci sono sempre e il loro rapporto cresce di più e il tutto senza mettere in secondo piano gli altri o comunque altri temi che non sono gestiti in maniera banale.

Bellissimo come Rintaro abbia risolto con i suoi amici e poi a loro volta questi abbiano risolto con le ragazze.
Il capitolo a casa di Rintaro poi stupendo, se continua così diventerà uno dei miei preferiti ❤️❤️❤️

Profile Image for Susanna.
Author 52 books102 followers
October 1, 2024
This series is so sweet and wholesome it’s almost too much to bear, but I love it. Continuing where the previous volume left, Rintaro’s friends follow him to his meeting with Kaoruko and Subaru. Instead of a confrontation, it leads to everyone becoming friends, much to Rintaro’s surprise. We learn he didn’t use to have any in middle school. And he and Kaoruko go on a date! Neither calls it that, but Rintaro can no longer deny he has a crush on her. No cliffhanger ending this time.
Profile Image for Katyj.
56 reviews2 followers
June 8, 2025
3.5 ?

It’s clear this series is about overcoming prejudice and acceptance. However it already feels pretty repetitive. If it continues this repetitive pattern with no real reason it’ll get old very quickly, so my fingers are crossed that this wraps that part up until a new character joins the group. I’d like to see more of the relationships unfold rather than read about people apologizing to each other over and over.
Profile Image for Ilsa༄⸼۪❀.
109 reviews
August 21, 2025
I COULDN'T HOLD BACK MY TEARS WHEN THE PANEL SHOWED HIS FRIENDS AFTER RINTARO SAID THAT HOW MUCH THEY MEAN TO HIM AND THEY'RE IRREPLACEABLE!!!

And DAMN!!! My cute adorable boy Ayato is actually the fierce one. The cutest guy in the group is actually the scariest. It’s always the quiet or nicest ones lmao I hope each of Rintaro’s friends get a feature back story.

And I really like the way the author depicts Subaru’s mentality and thoughts. Her anxious and reserve behavior because of past trauma. It feels realistic to some point.

Rintaro and Waguri both are so cute. I think they both fell at the same time he just couldn't realized his feelings yet cause he was insecure about himself. The little girl did made him realize though I'm pretty sure the guy that the little kindergarten girl likes is gonna be the little boy from a few chapters ago with the soccer ball. Please be him 🙏🏻

the last chapter ahhh i love their friendship and how they're healing my baby's scars from past. As Rintaro's mom said I'm not crying I'm just getting old. 😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for givememycheetos.
600 reviews17 followers
July 28, 2025
Bellisimo tomo, las amistades de este manga son hermosas. Me encanta que haya demasiada comunicación, a pesar de los malos entendidos.

El dialogo que hay para conocer y ahondar en los sentimientos de las personas, o la complejidad entre personalidades y percepción de los personajes…

Y ya al final con el ultimo panel de la mamá de Rintaro 🥹🥹

Me encantó
Profile Image for isaac⁷ .
295 reviews44 followers
October 25, 2025
keeps getting better and this whole series is quite literally a warm hug. please read the manga and watch the anime if you need some feel-good, uncomplicated stories and characters in your life. you won’t regret it.

also, the aquarium date is so perfect to me 🥺💙
Profile Image for Anahys.
101 reviews2 followers
November 29, 2025
Les amis de Rintarô sont si classes !! Encore beaucoup d’excuses et de remerciements mais quel plaisir de voir que la série se focalise sur l’expression des sentiments, et que ça ne soit pas exclusivement centré sur le couple en devenir ! Voir évoluer ce petit groupe d’amis est si réconfortant… et chaque tome veut vraiment nous faire verser des larmes… 🥹
Displaying 1 - 30 of 259 reviews

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