I can not believe we are in 2026, let alone the Winter season of anime already. My brain is still in 2025, while my to-do list and watch list are rapidly moving ahead with 2026. New seasons always feel a little like this: exciting, slightly overwhelming, and full of shows that make you pause and ask whether you are in the mood for something new, something nostalgic, or something quietly familiar. That is where Hana-Kimi: For You in Full Blossom landed for me.
What is Hana-Kimi about?
Hana-Kimi: For You in Full Blossom is a romantic comedy centred on Mizuki Ashiya, a Japanese-American girl who transfers from the United States to Japan to attend an elite high school with a very specific twist: it is an all-boys institution, and she enrols while disguised as a boy. Her decision is driven by admiration for Izumi Sano, a talented high jumper she once saw on television, and the story follows her attempt to live out everyday school life while keeping her secret intact.
Set within a lively boarding-school environment, this shōujo anime blends gender-disguise comedy with school antics, sports elements, and the slow stirrings of romance. As Mizuki navigates dorm life, friendships, and rivalries among a cast of eccentric classmates and observant staff, the tone remains light and playful, drawing humour from awkward situations and misunderstandings while threading in themes of admiration, identity, and personal growth.
I stream Hana-Kimi on Crunchyroll
Hana-Kimi For You in Full Blossom Episode 1: Please Be My Friend!
- Episode Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
- A solid, enjoyable shōujo opener with good pacing and charm, slightly let down by awkward moments and familiar tropes that have not aged gracefully.
Episode one of Hana-Kimi: For You in Full Blossom left me more amused than anything else, mainly because Izumi Sano clocks Mizuki Ashiya as a girl almost immediately, which took some of the usual suspense out of the setup but added its own quiet humour. The premiere largely matched what I expect from a classic shōujo cross-dressing romance, to the point that it rang faint bells for me; I am fairly sure I read or at least started the manga years ago, though the details are foggy.
The premise itself is very standard for this kind of story: a girl disguising herself to attend an all-boys school. While her motivation is explained clearly enough, I did find myself briefly wondering how her parents signed off on this before reminding myself that this is probably thinking too hard about it. Pacing-wise, it feels just right for a first episode, introducing the core dynamics without dragging.
Mizuki comes across as likeable but wildly impulsive in a way that feels both charming and risky, while Sano quietly intrigued me enough that I want to learn more about him.
Among the side cast, the dorm doctor caught my attention, but it was Shuuichi Nakatsu who really held it. The comedy leans heavily into gender-disguise hijinks, and while much of Mizuki’s idolising behaviour toward Sano is endearing, it is also oddly worrisome at times, especially moments where she gets far too close to him while he is asleep, which felt awkward rather than romantic.
That said, the balance between comedy and softer emotional beats feels natural, the themes are handled mostly for laughs rather than depth, and the visuals, music, and voice acting work well together to support the tone.
Hana-Kimi For You in Full Blossom Episode 2: I Want to Be with You
- Episode Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
- It builds confidently on episode one, deepens the characters, and smooths out earlier awkwardness while keeping the romcom energy intact.
Episode two of Hana-Kimi strengthened my interest after episode one’s solid start, mostly because it builds so smoothly on what came before rather than feeling like a reset, picking up right where the doctor’s pointed question left off.
The dynamics shift in a way that feels more grounded: Mizuki comes across as adorably clumsy rather than worryingly intrusive, clearly confused about her own feelings, while Sano, despite occasionally blanking on the fact that she is a girl, becomes noticeably more considerate toward her, which adds a softer undercurrent to their scenes.
Plot-wise, episode two does more than just string together gags, giving us hints about why Sano quit high jump, introducing his childhood friend as a potential rival, and setting up Nakatsu’s growing, deeply confused feelings for Mizuki, so suddenly everyone has emotional complications brewing.
The pacing feels similar to episode one, but the character work is richer, with Sano really owning the episode as we start to see multiple sides of him.
Comedy still leans into light chaos, with moments like the bathroom mishap and Nakatsu’s dramatic internal crisis over an “indirect kiss,” but the romantic beats land better this time, especially quieter moments like walking home together or Sano brushing things off to spare Mizuki’s feelings.
The elements that felt a bit dated in episode one are less noticeable here, and there is a clearer sense that the show is moving toward deeper emotional stakes without losing its playful tone.
Verdict:
Across its first two episodes, Hana-Kimi: For You in Full Blossom proves itself to be a solid, confident romcom shōujo adaptation that understands its tone and audience. Episode one lays down a familiar yet effective foundation, while episode two deepens interest by smoothing out early awkwardness, developing character dynamics, and hinting at emotional threads beneath the chaos. The humour remains broad and occasionally dated, but it is balanced by growing tenderness, clearer romantic framing, and stronger characterisation, particularly for Sano. After two episodes, the series feels playful, nostalgic, and comfortably watchable, not groundbreaking, but engaging enough to justify continuing, especially for viewers who enjoy classic shōujo setups with a light, energetic touch.
It may not surprise seasoned shōujo viewers and readers, but it does enough right to justify continuing on to episode 3.
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