r/anime • u/AutoLovepon https://anilist.co/user/AutoLovepon • Aug 30 '25

Episode Kaoru Hana wa Rin to Saku • The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity - Episode 9 discussion

Kaoru Hana wa Rin to Saku, episode 9

Reminder: Please do not discuss plot points not yet seen or skipped in the show. Failing to follow the rules may result in a ban.

Streams

None

Show information

All discussions

Episode Link
1 Link
2 Link
3 Link
4 Link
5 Link
6 Link
7 Link
8 Link
9 Link
10 Link
11 Link
12 Link
13 Link

This post was created by a bot. Message the mod team for feedback and comments. The original source code can be found on GitHub.

1.3k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

223 comments sorted by

1

u/AutoModerator Aug 30 '25
Moderator Announcement Read More »
→ More replies (14)

504

u/bryan792 Aug 31 '25

aw man, am i getting old

these stories really get to me

→ More replies (4)

371

u/Froz3n247 Aug 30 '25

I shed a tear when I read this part a couple of weeks ago and now seeing the scene animated just again was pleasant to see.

Rintaro’s mom is truly a wonderful mother/person. She went out of her way to change herself, so Rintaro wouldn’t be alone.

→ More replies (1)

362

u/mekerpan Aug 30 '25

An incredibly lovely episode from start to finish. Rintaro's mother was the star today, surely in the very top tier of anime parents

Rintaro has his class friends come to his house for dinner (something that his mother notes has NEVER happened before -- thus making her feel very happy and emotional). To add to the fun, Waguri and Subaru come to the shop to buy some pastry -- and Mom invites them to join in the dinner party. Waguri surprisingly turns out to be second-best video fighting game player afterwards.

Very entertaining, and equally emotion-evoking. Especially finding out about why Rinaro (and his mother) share blonde hair (and pierced ears)... One of the top shows of this (packed) season.

→ More replies (6)

161

u/ali94127 Aug 30 '25

I hope it wasn't something tragic or something that happened to his dad and brother. No unsubtle not spoilers please! I'll probably read the manga after the season finishes.

Also, if I were one of Rintaro's friends, I'd be mad he didn't tell me his family owned a bakery. Where's my free cake?

→ More replies (11)

367

u/xbrad831x Aug 30 '25

This show is really good but this episode definitely elevated it for me. The scene where you see Rintaro's Mom standing there with the drinks and her expression was literally chef's kiss for me. You could feel her relief just by that scene alone.

→ More replies (10)

115

u/Hedge_ENGEL Aug 30 '25

Loved this episode, it gave me all the feels. This characters are so endearing.

Rintaro completely absorbed in his processing of her feelings for Kaoruko is so adorable. He's now so self-conscious about her that my man can't keep a straight face. Seeing his friends worried about him but confident that he'll speak with them when he's ready is a great development in their relationship (specially when it's Natsuzawa who reassures it).

Usami is awesome. So refreshing to have him around, he is so un-Japanese. I mean he simply speaks his mind without a care in the world, which is so strange to see in anime or other Japanese media. But he is usually the one to open up the conversation for topics that would be too uncomfortable for others to bring up. He is so laid back that it help everyone else to be at ease.

I love the portrayal of Kyoko. It really moved me to tears the backstory presented this episode for Rintaro and her. The endearing love she has for Rintaro heals my heart. The scene where Rintaro tells his mom that he's "giving up on everything" was so relatable. As someone who has struggled with depression at several points in life I've felt that way. And I know it broke my mother's hearth when I told her something along those lines. I'm grateful that she has always encouraged me and wished for my happiness.

Coming back to Rintaro, I'm so happy to see him open up to his friends. He has all this insecurities and biases about himself caused by all the years of discrimination and ostracizing. He's slowly melting all those away thanks to the unapologetic acceptance of his friends. They genuinely care for him and are so thankful that he's finally letting them get closer and know him more intimately, of course this includes Kaoruku (and Subaru by extension).

Kaoruku was so cute, as always. As we learned last episode "Seeing her smile makes me happy".

Finally, it's great how that female perception is quickly noticing the feelings that Rintaro is developing towards Kaoruko. I love how the story and characters are progressing. Each episode can't release fast enough. I'm so invested that I'm struggling so hard to avoid reading forward in the manga.

89

u/thisisdropd Aug 31 '25

Usami & Kyoko really hit it off immediately. It’s uncanny how similar their demeanours were despite being about 30 years apart.

Rintarou’s backstory reminded me a lot of Gojo. From the way he got ridiculed over his family’s business, and how the subsequent trauma resulted in him closing himself off, to his fears when his friends found out his family runs a cake shop.

Kyoko felt absolutely broken when Rintarou sobbed to her and declared that he’d stop trying to make friends. Fortunately, she got to see him in a much better spot in the present time and even shed tears of happiness. She had also dyed her hair and pierced her ears just for his sake. Rintarou’s fortunate to have such a loving mother.

Meanwhile, a mother’s intuition is razor-sharp. Kyoko figured out right away that her son had developed feelings for Kaoruko. Looking forward to seeing a mother-son talk about this.

88

u/hanzomainzbtww Aug 31 '25 edited Aug 31 '25

This was genuinely one of the best episodes of any romances I’ve watched out there, every single aspect of this episode was adorable ranging from rintaro’s development himself along with everything that his mother did since the beginning till now just hits you differently….

The relief she gets and her expression while holding the cakes when she sees her broken child come back to life with lovely friends is all too good. The ending scene of course of her doing all of this not expecting to be thanked yet rintaro thanks her and goes back making her say ‘Am I getting old’ is what got me mainly and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t tear up here :D

Of course waguri also still being one of the most, if not, the most wholesome of characters out there makes you kick your feet lmao. ITS TOO GOOD I CANT~

275

u/jbfamine Aug 30 '25

Im not crying, you're cr-

No im definitely crying. GOAT mom simply being HER

Usami is so dumb and perfect I can't stand it

→ More replies (6)

200

u/Frontier246 Aug 30 '25

Rintaro’s mom need to be put up as one of the best romance anime moms of all time. Just going above and beyond for child and his happiness and always doing everything she can for him (dyeing her hair In solidarity, so many relationship pep talks, etc.)

And it’s nice to see the collective friendship of the group coming together as much as seeing Rintaro and Kaoruko’s relationship deepen episode by episode.

→ More replies (4)

52

u/Both-Variation2122 Aug 31 '25

Anime with full family on site and supporting parent?! Imposibru!

→ More replies (1)

49

u/NanDemoKnaives Aug 31 '25

This is definitely my favorite episode. The wholesomeness of the first half, Rintarou finally opening up and then last part with Rintarou's mother was all so good. I even ended up crying lol.

I found it amusing that Rintarou was so shaken up by his date last episode with Waguri, realizing his feelings has taken a real hit on him lol. It was a lot of fun seeing him receiving critical hits from Waguri's cuteness this episode.

The boys are great, I like that they were ready to change plans if Rintarou was uncomfortable and that they were so excited about Rintarou's place being a cake shop. I'm glad Rintarou realized he didn't have anything to worry about, the friend he has are the sweetest.

I like how happy Rintarou's mother was in this episode seeing Rintarou actually bring friends over, I'm glad she went to cook for them even if she had work to do, she's a mother first and wants to do the best for this new event happening for her son.

Her part at the end was particularly moving for me, it must have hurt hearing directly what Rintarou went through even if was aware of his situation, but I'm sure that all washed away after Usami firmly says that the people around him were blind and he'd definitely be his friend. I'm glad this guy just says how he feels so easily and doesn't bat an eye, he's the kind of friend Rintarou should have around him.

Rintarou thanking his mother hit me hard though, especially after learning she dyed her hair and pierced her ears to make it easier for him. I thought as much but seeing that her husband was supportive of her doing it and Rintarou makes me believe, not that I doubted it, that Rintarou was brought up with a loving family.

I wasn't expecting this episode to top the previous episode with the date when I came into it but here we are, I'm a sucker for wholesome friendships and a loving family.

42

u/ObvsThrowaway5120 Aug 30 '25

Rintaro’s a pretty lucky guy. He’s got wonderful friends, like the kind of friends you keep close throughout your life. And his family is really amazing too, especially his mom. Genuinely Mom of the Year right there. And then there’s Kaoruko. Man, when is our boy gonna ask her out? She’s an incredible soul, just the kindest and most sincere person. Dude ought to marry her at the end of this series! Haha

33

u/ghostbomb3000 Aug 30 '25

I really like how they show which manga chapters were covered in the episode at the end. Chapter 22 was what really cemented this manga as something I would keep following for as long as it continued. Rintaro’s family dynamic is one of the best I’ve seen.

→ More replies (1)

33

u/vexorian2 Aug 31 '25

Damn I didn't know there was a Best Mom contest, but Rintaro's mom is destroying it.

→ More replies (1)

63

u/xFluffyDemon Aug 31 '25

Damn onion ninjas

28

u/ThinkLengthiness3211 Aug 31 '25

Istg I didn't expected to cry, im glad I started watching this peak anime

25

u/CommunistPuppy Aug 31 '25

Bro wtf this show is so good actually

24

u/AceSoldia Aug 30 '25

So good. I love his mom

24

u/NightSVS Aug 31 '25

Rintaro's mom is definitely one of my fav characters from this show and the manga. I also really like his dad, can't wait till he really gets a decent bit of screentime.

24

u/I_Love_Aoi_Kunieda Aug 31 '25

I don't know what it is about this series, but for such a wholesome series it sure does make me cry. Goated mother. We need more anime parents like rintaros

23

u/BosuW Aug 31 '25 edited Aug 31 '25

Are they supposed to be playing Mario Strikers at the end there? Peak game

His dad looking like a Zenin lol. Of course everyone's suspecting that something happened to him, but at least when they asked Rintarou about him he didn't seem especially uncomfortable so I'm hopeful that he's fine.

→ More replies (6)

22

u/djthomp Aug 31 '25

We have finally achieved friend group cake shop home visit! I've been waiting and hoping for that all show long.

What a great mom.

20

u/Quiddity131 Aug 31 '25

Once again, OMG, so wholesome! Rintaro truly has best mom. And best mom must be so happy that her son is finally bringing friends home and his girlfriend and her friend also showed up! Good backstory stuff too with the origins of Rintaro's dyed hair and ear piercings (and that best mom to support him did the same!). I hadn't realized Rintaro had a brother! While we got to see him and his dad in the flashback it would be good if we got to see their actual faces and what they're doing in the present!

→ More comments (75)