Slow Start

Seventeen-year-old Hana Ichinose transfers to a new high school while carrying a quiet worry: she’s a “slow start,” having missed a year and now finding herself older than everyone in her class. Introverted and easily shaken, Hana fears standing out even more as she tries to settle into an unfamiliar place.

A birthday mention during her self-introduction unexpectedly opens the door to new connections. Through that moment, Hana begins spending time with three classmates—outgoing Tamate Momochi, the small and timid Kanmuri Sengoku, and the admired, personable Eiko Tokura—and their everyday interactions gradually turn into friendships that help Hana feel at home.