The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity: Why does Kikyo hate Chidori?

Rintaro and Toki as seen in the manga
Rintaro and Toki as seen in the manga (Image credit: Kodansha)

The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity is one of the most popular romance anime in recent history. The series follows the wholesome relationship between Rintaro and Kaoruko, two drastically different individuals who bring out the best in each other.

A major focus of the story is the tension between the main characters’ schools, Kikyo Private Academy and Chidori Public High School. While the cause of their strained relationship remained unaddressed for a long time, the latest chapter of the manga has begun shedding light on it.

The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity chapter 162 reveals that there was an accident that took place between Kikyo and Chidori 10 years in the past, which resulted in bodily harm to a student. This sparked the enmity between the two institutions.

Rintaro and Kaoruko as seen in the manga (Image credit: Kodansha)
Rintaro and Kaoruko as seen in the manga (Image credit: Kodansha)

Kikyo and Chidori’s enmity in The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity

Kikyo and Chidori’s rivalry has been a recurring storyline ever since the first chapter of The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity. The girls studying in Kikyo were told to stay away from the boys of the other school, with professors teaching their students that the attendees of Chidori were simply violent and unserious individuals who did not care about their future.

As a result, Kikyo students often showed blatant hatred toward the students of Chidori, either displaying a superiority complex or simply running away out of fear. This level of isolation influenced the students of Chidori, too, as they returned the treatment they received.

The intense tensions between the schools helped highlight the inspiring themes of The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity, as Rintaro and Kaoruko, who were meant to be enemies, saw each other’s true selves without prejudice. Without caring about societal restrictions, the two started dating and even helped their friends realize the truth about the “enemy” school.

However, in the latest chapters of the manga, Kaoruko’s homeroom teacher, Toki, discovered her relationship with Rintaro and even suggested that she drop out of Kikyo in the principal’s office. However, in a touching scene, Subaru, Madoka, and the rest of Kaoruko’s friends stormed inside the faculty meeting and stood up for her.

They revealed their relationship with the students from Chidori and even pointed out the biased view of Kikyo toward their neighbor. As Kaoruko’s friends went into greater detail about Rintaro’s group, Toki was visibly distressed. Thankfully, before she could say something she’d regret, the principal stepped in and calmed the situation down.

Chidori and Kikyo's history as seen in the manga (Image credit: Kodansha)
Chidori and Kikyo's history as seen in the manga (Image credit: Kodansha)

Before ending the meeting, the staff present in the room shared that there had been a particular event in the past that resulted in the bodily harm of a student. Due to the exhausting nature of their conversation till then, they decided to reconvene on another day.

Therefore, The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity has finally revealed that Kikyo’s hatred toward Chidori is not simply due to their preconceived notions, but due to a tragic history. Toki’s mental turmoil during the meeting seemingly confirms that she was either the student who was harmed in the past by Chidori, or she had a close relationship with the victim.

Edited by Sugnik Mondal