Aoi Hana (青い花?, lit.
Blue Flower), also known as
Sweet Blue Flowers, is a Japanese
yuri manga series written and illustrated by Takako Shimura. It began serialization in November 2004 in Ohta Publishing's
Manga Erotics F manga magazine. The first bound volume was released in December 2005 in Japan; as of April 2009, four volumes have been released. The story focuses on Fumi Manjōme, a lesbian high school girl, and her close childhood friend Akira Okudaira, who tries to keep her friends happy through difficult times. When Shimura was writing her manga
Dōnika Naru Hibi, she became interested in a story between girls, leading her to create
Aoi Hana. While she felt that the story focus should be on girls for
yuri works, Shimura also wanted to introduce some males since she thought it would add an interesting aspect to the series.
An 11-episode anime television series produced by J.C.Staff and directed by Kenichi Kasai aired in Japan between July and September 2009 on Fuji TV. An Internet radio show to promote the anime began in June 2009 on HiBiKi Radio Station hosted by Ai Takabe and Yūko Gibu, who voice Fumi and Akira in the anime, respectively.
At the start of
Aoi Hana, Akira Okudaira is beginning to attend high school at the prestigious Fujigaya Girls Academy. Later that day, Akira becomes reacquainted with her childhood friend Fumi Manjōme whom she has not seen for ten years. Fumi also just began high school at Matsuoka Girl's High School where she meets a handsome third-year student named Yasuko Sugimoto; the two quickly becomes friends. Akira joins her school's drama club with her friend and classmate Kyōko Ikumi, who is in love with Yasuko, though Yasuko turns her down. Akira meets Kyōko's fiance (in name only) Kō Sawanoi while Yasuko and Fumi are out on a date together. Yasuko soon comes on to Fumi and they kiss in the library; they become a couple and start dating. Fumi comes out to Akira who is at first unsure on how to act, but still tries to support Fumi's new relationship.
Akira's school puts on a drama festival with the high school division doing an adaptation of
Wuthering Heights. Yasuko is asked to play Heathcliff, while Fumi and her friends Yōko Honatsugi, Misako Yasuda, and Miwa Motegi help out; the play is well-received. Fumi is invited to Yasuko's huge house, and shortly after meeting her older sisters and mother, Yasuko breaks up with Fumi. Fumi learns Yasuko's sister Kazusa is marrying a teacher at Fujigaya named Masanori Kagami whom Yasuko had fallen in love with. Akira goes to the wedding and meets up with Kyōko and Kō. Time passes, and Kyōko reveals to the others that Yasuko is going to be studying abroad in London after she graduates. Miwa starts to take notice in Akira's older brother Shinobu, saying that she thinks he is cool. Miwa finally confesses to Shinobu that she likes him, and Fumi tells Akira that she was her first love, much to Akira's embarrassment.
When Akira and her friends enter their second year of high school, she and Kyōko meet an energetic first-year student named Haruka Ōno who joins the drama club soon after. Akira and Kyōko are split into different classrooms, and Akira meets a tall girl in her new class named Ryōko Ueda. The high school division of Fujigaya will be putting on the play
Rokumeikan this year. After Haruka discovers Ryōko reading the play aloud in the library, she recruits her into the play, though only because Akira also agrees to act alongside her. Fumi and Haruka become friends, and Haruka confides in Fumi one day that she suspects her older sister Orie may like women. Not knowing how to respond, Fumi seeks advice from Akira, but ends up confessing her love for her instead. Kō suggests to Kyōko to break off the engagement, but Kyōko wants to marry him. The play goes well and everyone praises the actress' performances.
Source:
Wikipedia 
