Hana wa Kotori wo Suki Sugiru

Kotori Yamada is a cheerful but entirely ordinary high school girl, content with her quiet place in the world. That world, however, is constantly brightened—and overshadowed—by her two closest companions. Tsubaki, her childhood friend, boasts a beauty as vivid and striking as a red rose, while Akiomi carries the title of the school's prince, with looks and charm that make him the center of every female student's attention. Walking alongside these two radiant figures, Kotori has long accepted her role as the plain, forgettable third wheel, never expecting anyone to glance past her dazzling friends and truly see her. One ordinary day, Kotori stumbles upon a classmate confessing her feelings to Akiomi. The prince declines gracefully, explaining that he already has someone he likes. Certain that his heart must belong to the gorgeous Tsubaki, Kotori files the moment away as nothing more than a predictable turn of events. But the truth is far more startling: Akiomi's secret affections are directed not at the rose, but at the overlooked sparrow—Kotori herself. Unaware of his hidden gaze and the quiet turmoil stirring beneath his composed exterior, Kotori remains trapped in her own belief of her insignificance. As love quietly blooms in the most unexpected direction, she must grapple with her crushing self-doubt and the shocking revelation that the prince of the school might see her as far more than just a shadow.