Blue Spring Ride

Futaba experiences a surprising reunion at the end of her first year of high school when Tanaka Kou, the boy she had a crush on in middle school who suddenly transferred away, reappears in her life after three years.

Futaba, influenced by painful middle school experiences, forms shallow friendships in high school, which Kou dismisses as "friends-in-name-only." She meets Makita Yuuri, a classmate who is mocked by others for adopting a "cutesy girl" persona and often eats lunch alone.

Futaba discovers that Tanaka-sensei is actually Kou's older brother and learns the true reason behind Kou's absence at the summer festival during middle school. As her second year begins, she resolves to start fresh in her new class, only to find that Kou is in it, despite being expected to be in more advanced classes.

Futaba and Kou both run for class representative and are selected to attend a leadership workshop with Yuuri, Shuuko, and Aya. As they begin the event, an uneasy morning hints at underlying tensions and challenges ahead for the group.

Futaba starts to develop romantic feelings for Kou, while Yuuri discovers that Shuuko has been secretly admiring Tanaka-sensei, leading to emotional tension among the group. As they navigate their personal feelings and bond during a school workshop, the team faces a challenge when they become lost in the forest during an orienteering exercise.

Yuuri tells Futaba that she loves Kou, prompting internal conflict as Futaba grapples with her cherished friendship and emerging affection for him. Determined not to lose Yuuri, Futaba tries to hide her feelings, but class duties lead to unexpected alone time with Kou.

Futaba begins to develop feelings for Kou and considers confiding in her close friend Yuuri, but after meeting an old acquaintance from middle school, she becomes uncertain about how to navigate the tension between love and friendship. She ultimately decides to keep her emotions hidden, which strains her interactions with Yuuri.

Futaba decides to confess her feelings for Kou to Yuuri. After school, she shares her emotions with Yuuri and Shuuko. Later, she encounters Kou out late and follows him to the entertainment district, where he is socializing with a group of teenagers.

Futaba shares Kou's statement about the troubles of caring with Yuuri and Shuuko, prompting concern when they discover his poor school performance. Worried about his well-being, Futaba and Yuuri organize a study session at Kou's home, inviting Shuuko and Kominato to join.

Futaba becomes aware of a shift in the dynamic between Kou and Yuuri during a study session and tries to bring up the topic with Kou, but instead asks him to learn more about himself. Kou leads her to a quiet room, where Futaba comes to understand the cause of his recent behavior.

While attending middle school in Nagasaki, Kou experienced the loss of his mother to illness. Futaba comes to understand the emotional pain and helplessness he has carried since then. In an effort to comfort him as he once comforted her, she pursues Kou and honestly shares her feelings with him.

Futaba observes a rare moment of vulnerability in Kou and sends him home to his family, where he opens up to his brother and father during dinner. The next day, his friends notice a change in him, and with the end of the term approaching, the group looks forward to the start of summer.