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Roku Sakura's "April Showers Bring May Flowers" was serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's seinen manga magazine Young Ace from April 2016 to September 2022. The chapters were collected into a total of twelve tankōbon volumes.
In November 2022, an anime adaptation of the series was announced. Additionally, in 2019, the series reached fifth place in the Print Category of the Next Manga Award.
How is April Showers Bring May Flowers Vol. 1?
"April Showers Bring May Flowers" starts with a concept familiar to many readers of romance manga: an insecure protagonist takes center stage, seeing herself as neither pretty nor special. Hana is an unremarkable, pessimistic student who is convinced that she could never be the heroine of a romance. Her everyday life consists of trying to attract as little attention as possible. One particular routine for Hana is replacing the flowers in the classroom — a small moment for herself, showing that despite her negative self-image, she finds beauty and meaning in small things.
However, her quiet routine is disrupted one day when she is caught by Yousuke Ueno, a popular classmate. For Hana, it's a moment of horror, as she is sure he will either laugh at her or humiliate her in some way. But to her surprise, Ueno reacts kindly and with interest. This unexpected encounter lays the foundation for the story's development, as Ueno's friendliness initially seems incomprehensible to Hana. For someone like her, who sees herself as insignificant and unattractive, his attention feels almost like a cruel joke.
The first encounter between Hana and Ueno not only sets the story in motion but also establishes the central conflict: Hana's struggle with her self-image and the challenge of accepting someone's genuine affection. Ueno, on the other hand, is quickly introduced as the typical "nice guy" of the romance genre — friendly, straightforward, and naturally charismatic, making him popular among his female classmates. What sets him apart is his patience and seemingly genuine interest in Hana, which is apparent from the very beginning.
Shortly after this incident, a second main character enters the scene: Uguisudani, the pretty and confident girl in the class, who quickly realizes that Ueno's interest in Hana is more than fleeting kindness. This realization sparks a subtle jealousy in her, which she skillfully hides behind a smile. Her attempts to get closer to Ueno repeatedly bring her into contact with Hana, leading to an unusual rivalry that has the potential for interesting developments.
The plot of the first volume is mostly episodic, with loosely connected events focusing on Hana's daily observations and her interactions with Ueno and Uguisudani. There are no major dramatic twists but rather a series of smaller moments that gradually build Hana's character and her relationships. This quiet, almost everyday narrative style fits well with the introspective themes of the story and gives the characters room to develop organically.
A recurring element is Hana's tendency to question every positive interaction in her head and to interpret them negatively. Her insecurity leads her to see Ueno's kindness not as genuine interest but as a misunderstanding or even as pity. While the focus on Hana's inner life and her gradual development is understandable, the lack of significant plot twists or events can also feel tiresome.
At the end of the first volume, Hana remains largely the same insecure character she was at the beginning. The problem is not that Hana is insecure, but that the story sometimes gets too caught up in her negativity. Nevertheless, there are moments of hope: small instances where Hana starts to question her perspective or allows herself to have new experiences. Although the story tries to play with some romance clichés, it still largely adheres to them. Ueno, the "perfect" male lead, and Uguisudani, the "jealous beautiful rival," are familiar archetypes that show some potential for depth but do not fully explore it in the first volume.
Overall, the manga leaves a mixed impression: not bad, but not outstanding either. Those expecting a dynamic story with rapid development might feel out of place here. However, readers who are patient and enjoy introspective character studies might appreciate the quiet, melancholic atmosphere. Perhaps the story will develop further in the coming volumes — for fans of subtle, emotional romance manga, it might still be worth a look.
Is it worth reading?
"April Showers Bring May Flowers" is a manga that places a lot of value on inner conflicts and quiet, emotional developments. The story benefits from its calm narrative style and introspective characters but suffers from a protagonist heavily focused on negativity. Readers who prefer a more dynamic plot might find it disappointing.
April Showers Bring May Flowers Vol. 1
€14,67
Pessimistic high school student Hana Tabata doesn't believe her life could ever be like that of a heroine from the shoujo manga she reads-she's convinced she's ugly, and she's always alone. Still, she can't help but imagine herself as a… read more
