HanaDoll* ~Flowering~ Boys were still in a dream[]
The manga was illustrated by Nao Ikuhiro and published in December 2021 through Magazine Edge Comics (Kodansha). The first chapter was released in December 2020 in the physical and digital version of the magazine.
Translation[]
There is no official English translation as of today. A fan-made full translation (without images) can be found here (translation by Mira).
The translation is only to be used as an aid in understanding the original work and does not aim to replace it. Please do not use, redistribute or edit any part of the translation or the images from the manga.
Plot[]
The manga showcases scenes from the everyday lives of the six initial Anthos members during their pre-debut time. Each chapter focuses on a different character and sheds light on some of their individual strengths and weaknesses.
#1 LIHITO[]
The first chapter can be read here for free.
This chapter takes place during the Birth era.
#2 CHISE[]
This chapter takes place during the filming of Juliet. As they finishes their outdoor shoot due to an unexpected shift in the weather, Anthos heads inside to take shelter from the rain. However, Chise soon realizes that his pendant was lost. Desperate, he goes out in the rain to look for it, followed by his worried unitmates. Lihito, who also followed them, declares that it was "causing trouble" for everyone and Chise shouldn't have brought it with him if it was so precious. He is asked by Haruta to find it with the power of his newly bloomed flower, to his dismay. As he walks away from the group, Lihito comes to find Chise's pendant, opens it to reveal the content inside - which shocks him deeply. He calls Chise, revealing that he has found the pendant. When he later returns it to Chise, the latter wonders how come Lihito knew the pendant was his.
#3 HARUTA[]
This chapter takes place during Rise to Stardom's Sports Festival. Haruta has his doubts about his flower, which only gets elevated in the event of the Sports Festival as a reporter comes and ask for the idols who've gotten their flowers bloomed for an interview. However, in the latter half of the chapter, Anthos show their reliance on Haruta, boosting his confidence. They participate in the final event of the sports festival, the relay race, and wins first place with Haruta being the one who crossed the finish line. The chapter ends as a reporter sneaks his way into Amagiri Production (possibly being the same person in Project Archive 1-11), with a determination to expose the truth about the company.
#4 KAORU[]
This chapter takes place after Project Archive 1-15. Anthos appears in the show "Rise to Stardom" again, this time having to carry out a cooking showdown. Kaoru, Mahiro and Haruta compete against Ryoga, Lihito and Chise, which ends up in a success on the younger-brothers-team's side. Kaoru however keeps feeling like he isn't doing enough, because everyone's been taking care of him while he is unable do anything to cheer up his friends Mahiro and Haruta whose flowers still haven't bloomed. He thinks about his past, and the fact that he could never make any friends when he was younger because a heart-disease forced him to stay inside the hospital for most of his childhood. After revealing his doubts about being useful to his friends, they reassure him that he's very much needed on their team. He decided to make special decorated cupcakes for them, hoping that they can deliver his feelings and give his friends hope. The chapter ends with Kaoru wishing that they can become even closer in the future.
#5 RYOGA[]
Chapter summary.
#6 MAHIRO[]
Mahiro's chapter is different from the others as it focuses on the same events as the drama tracks of For..., while showing more of Mahiro's emotional conflict and the way he gets treated by Amagiri Production. There is no visual representation of Amagiri Hajime, which slightly changes the story compared to the drama tracks as Mahiro does not have to confront him in order to make his flower bloom.