Episode 3 of "The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity" kicks off with Shouhei, his enthusiasm barely containable, regaling Rintarou with tales of the upcoming sports festival. However, a dark cloud looms over their excitement; participation is contingent upon passing the midterm exams, a hurdle Shouhei finds himself struggling to clear. Despite his earnest desire to succeed, his attention span barely spans ten minutes, leading him to conclude that he must seek tutorial assistance. The catch? Saku has already attempted to tutor him to no avail last year, resulting in a spat that drew in their friends and further complicated matters. Consequently, Rintarou, who is equally in need of academic support, finds himself paired solely with Shouhei, while Saku and the other friend strike out on their own.
After the final bell rings, Rintarou and Shouhei retreat to the local library in search of a quiet corner conducive to studying. But Shouhei's resolve crumbles almost instantly, surrendering to a problem he deems insurmountable. It's then that Rintarou, breaking his usual reserve, suggests they mend fences with Saku and band together as a quartet for study sessions. Shouhei, noting the uncharacteristic move, is nevertheless pleased. He promptly exits in search of Saku at school to tender his apologies.
Meanwhile, Rintarou vacates his seat to accommodate two incoming students. Wandering in search of a new study nook, he stumbles upon Kaoruko and a friend preparing for their exams with an air of casual ease. Overhearing snippets of their conversation, he learns that she tops her class, a revelation that stings his pride. Although his school's academic prowess pales in comparison to hers, he still occupies the cellar.
As he broods on this, perched on a bench, Kaoruko greets him, having noticed him earlier and sought him out. Their chat reveals that despite her perceived affluence, she attends the prestigious Kikyo Academy on a scholarship, necessitating her perpetual excellence. Witnessing her openness about her circumstances and aspirations, Rintarou feels an urge to confide in her too. Desiring to participate in the sports festival alongside his friends, he humbly seeks her help with his studies. To his delight, she readily agrees to assist him whenever her schedule permits.
Just as the promise of tutoring begins to take shape, a silver-haired Kikyo student interrupts, her demeanor haughty as she demands to know who Rintarou is. She warns Kaoruko to steer clear of the Chidori boys. At this juncture, Rintarou's friends arrive, catching the tense scene. Shouhei, recognizing Kaoruko, makes a move to engage her, only to be restrained by Subaru and Rintarou. Subaru, surprised by the blonde's protective stance, nevertheless retreats with her companion, leaving Rintarou and his circle to ponder the encounter.
Nevertheless, Saku begins to disparage Kaoruko's intelligence and appearance, fueled by his anger over her rudeness towards his friends. His words visibly sting her, but Rintarou steps in before the situation escalates further. He rebukes Saku, stating that such vulgar remarks are uncharacteristic of him, causing the boy to halt his tirade. This unexpected intervention astonishes Subaru yet again.
Subsequently, Rintarou assumes full responsibility for the sequence of events, disclosing that he was the one who initiated the conversation with Kaoruko to apologize for the incident at Chidori's gate. Shouhei follows suit, acknowledging that it was he who frightened her. To everyone's astonishment, Kaoruko not only accepts their apologies but also expresses her regret for igniting the entire fiasco.
Later that evening, Kaoruko phones Rintarou to apologize and commend him for his composure. The compliment delights the boy, who, in turn, assures her that she needn't address him with such formal politeness anymore before ending the call. Following this exchange, both find themselves immersed in embarrassment, their minds vividly conjuring up images of what the other might be looking like at that very moment.
