Fragrant Flower Episode 9 Was Beautiful

Article at a glance:

• Fragrant Flower just keeps hitting us with emotional gut punches week after week, and Episode 9 is no exception.
• Rintaro’s character arc gets even deeper this time, with a flashback that finally explains why he dyes his hair.
• This episode may not be as flashy as Episode 6, but the mix of comedy, heartfelt moments, and raw emotion makes it unforgettable.

Dude, how the hell has this anime given us so many touching episodes in the span of just 9 weeks? How the hell do they keep coming up with these relatable yet traumatic pieces that just pull at your heartstrings in just the right way? So Fragrant Flower Episode 9 just dropped, and we finally know Rintaro dyes his hair. And wow, I was NOT expecting THAT to be the reason behind it, bro. I really like how this anime can take relatable stuff that many people go through and then turn it into a whole compelling character arc.

So yeah, welcome back to another article. And today we are talking about Fragrant Flower Episode 9. There will be spoilers ahead as we will be discussing Rintaro’s flashback that was revealed in this episode. So let’s start.

What did I think of Fragrant Flower Episode 9?

I really like how much development Rintaro has been getting for a few episodes now. First, with the sports festival, he learned to rely on his friends more without the fear of judgment. With last week’s episode, he came a step closer to accepting his feelings for Kaoruko. And then it comes full circle when, for the first time in his life, he brings his friends to his home. And trust me, Episode 9 ties together the themes of Episodes 7 and 8 perfectly. I really like how much all the boys look out for Rintaro; it’s really cute.

But yeah, more importantly, we learn why Rintaro chose to dye his hair. It was because when he was young and really depressed because of how others treated him at school, he saw a foreign patissier with blonde hair and piercings, and as a kid, he wanted to be as happy as that patissier someday. And MAN, hats off to Rintaro’s mom. She got blonde hair and piercings BEFORE him so that he would be more comfortable with the decision. Towards the end of the episode, Rintaro just says “thank you” to his mom, and that one thanks carries so much weight.

This was nothing fancy like Episode 6, but man, this episode still struck a chord with me. This episode had a great balance of comedy, character moments, and a touching flashback that added further depth to Rintaro’s character. It may not have been pure serotonin like last week’s episode, but I loved this episode; it was great.

That is all for now

So far, I think Episode 6 is still the best episode of the season, with Episodes 7, 8, and 9 tied for second place. I cannot praise Fragrant Flower enough. It is by far the best anime from Summer 2025 for me, and I don’t think anything even comes close to this show. Please let me know what you think in the comments. I will take my leave here. See ya!

Also, check out my thoughts on The Water Magician here.