There’s nothing sweeter than this…
About Kimi no Sumire: Your Spring Flower
Kimi no Sumire: Your Spring Flower is a boys’ love manga series by Arashi Arima, published in English by Animate International. We begin the story with Sumire, a first-year high school student who has just transferred to a new school. Immediately upon his arrival, they tell him about the school’s “Madonna,” a third-year who’s beautiful but is always alone. When Sumire finally lays his eyes on the Madonna, who’s name is Tojo, he’s instantly captivated. The two meet when Sumire stops Tojo from getting hit in a fight, and are soon inseperable. Before long, a flower of love starts blooming between the two.
My Thoughts
There is nothing more I love than when I start a new story and know it’s going to be a new favorite. Kimi no Sumire: Your Spring Flower has that slow sweetness that I find irresistible. Although Sumire and Tojo meet due to a “scuffle,” they quickly fall into rhythm with each other. The rest of the story focuses on them processing their feelings and becoming boyfriends. They go on dates, deal with jealousy, fears of separation, and more. There’s so much beauty in the ordinary for their relationship progression. I love that this story focuses on how fulfilling it can be to read about two people falling in love.
One of my favorite parts of this story is Tojo and his backstory. Tojo has always been beautiful and as a result, has dealt with a lot of people trying to take advantage of him. He’s also been assaulted by people who he trusted. When we meet Tojo, he seems so blasé about this, as if it is something he has accepted due to his looks. As Tojo starts getting closer to Sumire, we see how his past has affected him and at times, puts him on edge with Sumire. Even with the love they share, it can still be scary to let someone in after bad experiences. We don’t stay here long but I love that it was a stop on their journey.
Both Sumire and Tojo are such beautiful characters, and I love them both individually and together. There’s so much beauty in just meeting someone exactly where they are and falling in love with them for all that they are in this very moment. While they differ in their approaches to their relationship, they both move from a place of love and we can feel it in the pages of their story. In the author notes at the end of volume one, Arima sensei mentions that they wanted readers to see Sumire and Tojo “as they are.” With their incredible writing, that’s exactly what I was able to do.
Kimi no Sumire: Your Spring Flower reminds me that there is so much to be found in the slow, in the careful, and in the thoughtful love. I hope we get to read the rest of their story soon.
Where to Buy Kimi no Sumire: Your Spring Flower
Kimi no Sumire: Your Spring Flower, Volumes 1 and 2
Author: Arashi Arima
Translation: Nomnom Namako
Typesetting: Mirucha Tea
Editing: Melanie Kardas
Publisher: Akihiro Sotokawa
Publisher: Animate International
Kimi no Sumire: Your Spring Flower, Volumes 1 and 2 are available now on BookWalker.
Thank you BookWalker for a copy to review!
