Aoi Hana Episode 01

Aoi Hana Episode 01: “Flower Tales”
Director: Kasai Kenichi (Honey and Clover)
Studio: J.C. Staff (Hatsukoi Limited, Kimikiss)
VA: Takabe Ai (First Role), Gibu Yuuko (Koi Koi 7’s Akiwo Suzuka) and Horie Yui (Da Capo’s Kotomi and II’s Yume)

Summary: Fumiko has always been a crybaby, even now that she is a high school student, tall, and refined looking. Akira is a much more self-sufficient girl. Both are entering all-girl high schools, albeit not the same one. They encounter one another on the train when Akira steps on a pervert’s foot who is touching Fumiko. The two go their separate ways. Akira finds it hard to meet people but does end up walking home with a nice girl named Kyouko Ikumi. Fumiko meets a girl named Youko and her group of friends try to recruit her into the Theater Club but she declines. She does agree to have tea with Youko later but regrets it.

That evening, Akira’s mother has a vistor. As it turns out Akira and Fumiko, who didn’t introduce themselves to each other previously, were childhood friends and neighbors 10 years ago. They spend some time talking but when the evening ends, Fumiko goes home. She talks to her cousin, Chizu, who is older and getting married. Fumiko is having a hard time dealing with Chizu leaving and seems more upset when her mother presents Chizu with a congratulatory engagement cake.

The next day, Akira sees Fumiko at the train station again, tearful. She hands her her handkerchief and says a familiar phrase, “Fumi-chan, you always cry as a first resort.”

Thoughts: First off, this one of the new shows available on Crunchyroll. They aren’t marketing it as a yuri, but watch the opening. It’s yuri. That said, I really didn’t expect Fumi’s personality because of her looks. She does look like either the standard tsundere or the cool, quiet, intellectual type. Instead, she’s pretty emotional. Akira is short but confident. It looks like a boy gets involved eventually too. I expect this show to be endearing and slice-of-life type. Something relaxing for the summer.