Him, the Smile & Bloom (Hanaemu Kare to & bloom) is a slice of life otome game developed by MintLip and published by Edia for the Nintendo Switch. Follow four couples as they navigate the ups and downs of love in four interconnected love stories set in around the cozy flower shop, Fill Flower.
Game Details
- Genre: Romance | Slice-of-Life | Mature
- Get the Game: CD Japan (Physical) | Nintendo eShop JP
- Rating: Cero D (ESRB’s 17+)
- Developer & Publisher: MintLip & Edia
- Similar Games: Lover Pretend | War of Roses | My Last First Kiss
About Him, the Smile & Bloom
I’ll give you the kind of love that makes flowers smile—
A man who works at a flower shop, and you, his lover. A love simulation game that heals your heart by
depicting your days with a boyfriend who showers you with sweet and sour love, like smiling at a flower.We bring you a love story connected by flowers.
Characters of Him, the Smile & Bloom
Where most otome games follow one heroine as she pursues her own personal himbo harem, Him, the Smile & Bloom does things a bit differently. Follow four different couples connected through their love of flowers as they meet, fall in love, and navigate their budding relationships. Each couple represents a unique dynamic and romance story from cute, wholesome first loves to steamy passionate romance. Since flowers play a big part in the story, each romance route is represented by a different flower 🌷
- Tweedia (Wataru & Serina): The flower of happiness; a wholesome and innocent romance between a cheerful college student and hard working flower shop employee.
- Mimosa (Ginnosuke & Ami): The flower of gratitude; a sweet and honest romance between the flirty “prince” of Fill Flower and a hardworking interior designer.
- Anemone (Hokuto & Fuuka): The flower of love; a slow burn romance between two childhood friends finally taking their first steps from friends to lovers.
- Nandina (Tenya & Miku): The flower of passion; two acquaintances meet again by chance after years apart, sparking a passionate love affair.
You can pretty much play the routes in any order, but But, if you really want a personal route order recommendation: Wataru 🡆 Ginnosuke 🡆 Hokuto 🡆 Tenya
Wataru (VA. Ryohei Kimura)
Tweedia Route
Serina Aoki is an employee at the flower shop Fill Flower. While working a booth at the local Tanabata Festival she meets Wataru a upbeat and sociable college student fresh off a bad breakup. After receiving encouragement from Serina, Wataru decides to apply for an open part-time position at Fill Flower to get closer to her.
His endearing puppy dog charm makes him a favorite among the older female customers. Though he does tend to get flustered when he’s around his crush Serina.
Wataru Route Impressions
Wataru’s route is the perfect first route! Low on the drama with lots of wholesome fluff—this route is the absolute cutest. I am a sucker for innocent, happy babygirl coded love interests because they’re just so sweet and loving, you kinda can’t help but get swept up in his enthusiasm. Wataru is very straightforward with his feelings, when he falls for someone he falls hard, doing everything he can for his lover. I’d usually find that level of attention a little annoying, but he’s just so endearing and genuine, that it comes off as really sweet. Serina has her own insecurities from previous relationships and Wataru’s unwavering love goes a long way towards making her feel comfortable opening her heart to love again.
Wataru is on the younger side so he can come off as a little immature, but the route does include a timeskip that shows their growth as individuals and as a couple. We really get to see him mature and come into his own and while he does keep a lot of his boyish charm the glow up was amazing. Baby boy went from kid brother to fuckable overnight.
Wataru is a sweetheart you just can’t help but spoil and trust he will return any affection you give him a hundred fold. There is nothing sexier than devotion! He can be a little immature at the start, but his straightforward and loving personality will make your heart melt! His best end is his Wither End, seriously had me in tears!
Ginnosuke Sagawa (VA. Ryota Suzuki)
Mimosa Route
Interior designer Ami has always admired a certain flower delivery guy she met by chance when she was just starting out. Inspired by his dedication and charm she aspired to be just like him in her own work. Years later her firm Second Spring is hired for a renovation project at Fill Flower and Ami is assigned to the team. While visiting Fill Flower she is reunited with her inspiration, Gin, but he’s nothing like she remembers…
Ginnosuke Route Impressions
Ginnosuke’s route was the biggest surprise for me, in a good way. I am usually not a fan of blondes flirty playboy types, they get annoying real quick, but Gin couldn’t be further from the trope. With his good looks and charming personality, Gin is literally the embodiment of the fairytale prince. In reality he’s a no nonsense sass queen. The man has no filter and I live for it, he is not afraid to speak his mind, your feelings be damned. This leads to some really fun moments between him and Ami. While she is initially thrown off by how different Gin is from his usual prince persona, she gives just as good as she gets! There is a lot of really fun banter and teasing that goes on between them that is reminiscent of a 90’s rom-com.
Gin is no stranger to relationships, man literally admits to smashing anyone who asks, but he is also clear to draw the line between playing around and genuinely falling in love. When he does fall for someone all bets are off and he becomes a flustered, awkward mess—and I live for it! There was a smidge more drama in this route, but the writers don’t drag it out for too long opting to have Ami and Gin actually talk through their problems rather than let a misunderstanding fester. Other otome writers take notes!
Of all the routes, Gin’s is the most sexual~ Gin is knows how to treat a lady right and the voice acting was insane, Ryota Suzuki was all up in his mic and my heart could not take it!!
Ginnosuke was a huge surprise for me, man ended up being one of my favorite characters! I fully expected him to be frustrating and messy, but he is surprisingly straightforward with his feelings. He falls hard for Ami and literally trips over himself trying to make the relationship work. Ami was the real MVP in this route, sis was not here to play games! She keeps Gin on his toes and I love that she RUNS this man’s life!
Hokuto Ichige (VA. Makoto Furukawa)
Anemone Route
Fuuka is an employee at a major trading company who has harbored a one-sided crush on her childhood friend Hokuto—the manager of Fill Flower. While they get along well, Hokuto is a bit oblivious and treats her more like a younger sister than a woman. But, Fuuka is determined to get her hot neighbor senpai to notice her. But when a new opportunity has her leaving on an extended trip, the time apart may give her a chance to reevaluate her relationship with Hokuto.
Hokuto Route Impressions
If I catch Hokuto out in the streets, it’s on sight! 👊🏾 Mans can catch these hands! As far as childhood friend routes are concerned, this is probably one of the best ones I’ve played. But, Hokuto is so friggin’ frustrating he, I was literally yelling at my Switch… Fuuka is a saint for putting up with this man’s bullshit, because I would have given up on his ass to the curb a long time ago. Sis is down bad for Hokuto to the point of ignoring some pretty insane red flags from her sweet protective oniisan.
Clawing your way out of the friendzone is rough, especially when the man you love is a dense as a bag of bricks. It is obvious to EVERYONE that Hokuto has feelings for Fuuka. He dotes on her in ways he doesn’t with anyone and when another guy so much as looks at her he is quick to assert his dominance. But, for whatever reason the man has deluded himself into believing his feelings for her are those of an older brother. Which is both maddening and extremely sad, since Fuuka is very upfront about her romantic intentions towards Hokuto. Which has them stuck in this weird romantic limbo, where they can’t move forward and neither of them is willing to walk away.
Hokuto is messy and the whole dynamic between him and Fuuka is toxic AF, love is truly blind… In spite of it all Fuuka loves and accepts Hokuto for who he is and as delulu as she is, her unwavering devotion is kind of endearing. Sis carried this route (along with Rei and Kozue, they’re the besties you need in your corner when your man is trippin’).
Obviously this route is super dramatic and full of unnecessary angst, it was like a K-drama with all the highs and lows. But, at least we do get some pretty steamy scenes towards the end to make up for the nonsense in the rest of the route. Also, this man’s Wither End was wild…
Oniisan Hokuto’s route was a ride. Given how tame he is in the rest of the game I never would have imagined he’d be this messy in his own route. Bro is a walking red flag and his Wither End fully explores just how intense he can be. This man had me yelling at my Switch and ready to throw hands.
Tenya Minami (VA. Atsushi Tamaru)
Nandina Route
Miku Yukihara is an employee from a local Botannical Garden who is returning to Japan after being transferred to their Canada branch. Excited to be home again, a lot has changed in the 2 years she’s been away. While searching for a new apartment, she stops by Fill Flower, and there she reconnects with her high school classmate, Tenya Minami. Though their time together in school was brief, this chance encounter may be the start of something new…
Tenya Route Impressions
In the rest of the routes, Tenya mostly keeps to himself so I wasn’t sure what to expect. But, I never expected to fall head over heels for this man! Tenya practically radiates “can’t be bothered” energy, but the guy is probably the most emotional and compassionate love interest in the game. This man is the gold standard of otome LIs, everyone needs to take notes! Tenya’s route is literally a rom-com—two high school classmates with unresolved feelings for each other meet by chance and rather than just dating like normal people, they decide to do a sort of trial run.
Part of the week they’ll treat each other like friends, while the rest of the week they’ll act like lovers. It’s convoluted AF, but trust me it’s super cute watching them get reacquainted with each other and go on little dates. It’s very clear from the start that they both had crushes on each other in high school and see this as a second chance to finally make something happen.
Their past plays a big role in the route and I liked that there were a few extended flashbacks to their time in high school to give context to their relationship in the present. Both Tenya and Miku have changed during the years apart and have to reconcile with who they are now and not the idealized versions of themselves they have in their heads. The story takes some pretty emotional turns, delving into topics I think a lot of folks will relate to.
Miku is pretty shy and struggles with feelings of self doubt, something that keeps her from fully embracing her own feelings. Tenya on the other hand seems pretty eager to be with Miku, but in a refreshing twist he lets her set the pace for their relationship. He never pushes boundaries, respecting her limits and showering her with unconditional love and devotion. Of course that doesn’t stop him from taking every opportunity to let her know just how much she means to him. The man is horny for Miku and he spends most of the route telling her exactly how much she makes his dingle tingle. Man has the restraint of a saint, he is DTF, but only when she’s ready. Consent is sexy.
I saved Tenya’s route for last and his route absolutely delivered! This is the best route in Him, the Smile & Bloom! This is the most emotionally resonant and well written route. I love how grounded the conflicts in this route were. Rather than creating an external obstacle, the biggest hurdle they have to overcome are their own insecurities. This allows the natural chemistry between Miku and Tenya to really shine, since they are driven to support one another to make the relationship work.
Him, the Smile & Bloom Review
Him, the Smile & Bloom is a true slice-of-life otome game. Set in and around a cozy flower shop, follow the budding romances between four unique couples brought together by their love of flowers. Explore the everyday magic of falling in love and making lasting connections. It’s not an ambitious story full of dramatic twists or intriguing mysteries. Rather, Him, the Smile & Bloom is a much smaller story that focuses on the romance. We have been craving a true romance otome and MintLip has delivered.
Love comes in all shapes and sizes, and Him, the Smile & Bloom delves into the different types of love. The sweet innocent romance of Wataru and Serina, two people once burned by love finding happiness in something new. The slow burning romance of Ginnosuke and Ami, two people inexperienced in true love learning to embrace their own hearts and finding solace in one another. The secure and everlasting romance of Hokuto and Fuuka two childhood friends finally stepping into a new phase of their relationship. Finally, the patient devotion of Tenya and Miku, two people carefully fostering a passionate love that will last through the many changes to come.
Instead of playing as a single heroine and pursuing four love interests, in Him, the Smile & Bloom, each route focuses on a different dynamic and the obstacles the couples face as they navigate their unique love story. I worried that locking players into this type of gameplay would feel restricting but each story is unique and the couples balance each other well. They truly bring out the best in one another and it was a lot of fun experiencing their stories.
Romance is always at the forefront in a way that really lets the characters and their relationships shine. Him, the Smile & Bloom is a very intimate story that focuses just as much on the characters’ individual journeys and growth as it does the obstacles they face as a couple. I really feel like I got to know these characters inside and out and much like their partners grew to love them flaws and all. You really can’t help but root for their success because you spend so much time getting to know them and their quirks.
Of course the romance does get a bit spicy, not explicit, but there are a few scenes that’ll have your blood pumping. The voice acting is especially effective during the steamier scenes–the VAs literally swallow their mics and the intimate ASMR will definitely have you blushing. Hokuto and Ginnosuke’s routes definitely delivered on the spice! But, that said, Him, the Smile & Bloom is a mature romance that depicts genuine adult relationships.
Him, the Smile & Bloom is on the shorter side, but that works in its favor, it doesn’t drag out plot points or conflicts for too long. Most issues are resolved just as quickly as they arise because the characters actually talk with one another about their problems. It is so refreshing to play an otome where misunderstandings aren’t left to fester for chapters upon chapters. Any conflicts serve to strengthen the bonds between the characters. These are problems that any couple can face from tackling baggage from past relationships to feelings of insecurity and self doubt, Him, the Smile & Bloom is one of the most relatable stories. Even if you’re new to love, they do a great job of exploring those aspects as well.
In the game each route has three endings: Glow ends are the best outcomes and tend to be the most romantic; Bloom ends are the good outcomes and tend to lean more towards cute and hopeful; while the Wither Ends are the bad outcomes that usually involve the couple splitting.
Usually, you can skip the bad ends in an otome, but in Him, the Smile & Bloom I challenge you to play the bad ends! They are some of the most emotional and heartbreaking endings, because they feel so real! In one end the couple splits up not because they fall out of love, but because they’re just going in different directions. It impactful not just because they’re breaking up, but because you know that they still love each other and genuinely want to be together, this just isn’t the time for them. Anyone that has been through a tough break-up can relate… So, please play those Wither Ends, in some cases they’re better than the Glow Ends.
Because these are everyday stories and experiences it makes the routes so much more resonate and endearing. We can literally see ourselves in these characters. And they are all great characters too! (Hokuto aside, the man can kick rocks). Its a small cast but a memorable one, even when they aren’t at the center of the story, I found myself seeing the other guys pop up as side characters. They are a family of sorts and their chemistry is so fun. I love that they support each other through all the ups and downs and there were quite a few funny and lighthearted moments with everyone in the shop.
Of course there are some pretty memorable side characters too that serve as a support system for the MC in each route. Rei and Kozue are the besties we all need–especially in Hokuto’s route those two were ready to burn that man’s whole house down if we asked. And I live for chaotic besties!
GAMEPLAY AND FEATURES
As far as features go, Him, the Smile & Bloom does give a few extras to enjoy after the routes are done. Completing the Glow End for each route unlocks a special side story with that route’s characters and they are fun, sweet episodes that are worth reading through.
Since flowers play a big role in the story, you can unlock flower facts throughout your playthroughs that are collected in the Flowerbook. There is a picture of the flower, a brief description, and even the flower language meanings. I am allergic to pollen, so I tend to avoid flowers, but the facts were pretty cool and since they come up in the story a lot it was nice to have a place to reference them all.
There were a few things I wished were in the game, like a skip to choice feature–having to skip through all the text to get all the endings was kind of a pain. Also, I had trouble figuring out how to view the CGs in the Gallery at first since the default screen shows the chapters for each route. To see the CGs you have to press the ZL or ZR button to toggle over to the CG gallery and Ending video for each character. While I get wanting to streamline everything, it’s easy to overlook so it was a smidge annoying.
But, one of the biggest let downs for me is that the MCs don’t have on screen sprites nor do they have voice actors. The not having the sprite sucks, why spend time creating four unique and beautiful heroines only to not show them off as much as possible. They do appear in the CGs, so that is a consolation of sorts. But, it was frustrating that the MC don’t have VAs when no sprite having female NPC have voice actors… come on seriously?!
LOCALIZATION
Okay, so the localization is the thing I was most worried about since it seems MintLip decided to handle that in house. Even Aksys and Idea Factory Intl. have had trouble nailing their localizations so I wasn’t sure what to expect with Him, the Smile & Bloom. However, it actually wasn’t that bad–I’d heard that a few folks weren’t happy with the localization, but I didn’t see anything that was a deal breaker. Now, that said, this isn’t perfect, there were some minor issues I did notice:
- Swapping pronouns: Using “her” instead of “him” or “ma’am’ instead of “sir”
- Weird capitalization: Stuff like, “It’s” being capitalized in the middle of a sentence and whatever was going on with the capitalization in the chapter titles.
- Awkward phrasing/word choices: Using words that weren’t necessarily wrong just awkward from a native English speaking perspective. Also there was an issue with stilted or odd phrasing of sentences.
- Repeating lines: I only noticed one instance of it in Hokuto’s route where a whole line was repeated. I thought I had forgotten to click to the next line, but when I checked the log there it was duplicated.
Overall, this is a pretty modern story, so the characters speak more casually. They show this by using more modern English phrases like “cringe” or “down bad”. Its always funny seeing stuff like that in otome localizations since they can date a story. But, I didn’t hate it.
So, is Him, the Smile & Bloom Worth Playing?
If you love rom-coms and sweet slice-of-life stories you are going to love Him, the Smile & Bloom. It’s a low stakes quick play that is chock full of genuine emotion and sweet romance. Fall in love with each of the four couples and immerse yourself in the highs and lows of their romance as they navigate not just getting together, but maintaining their relationships. Cozy and warm, Him, the Smile & Bloom is a must play!
I’m looking forward to the sweet stories that this game has to tell.
HRKAGSSKSHSB TENYA’S ROUTE SOUNDS SO UP MY ALLEY
I love that this game fulfills my desire to read a bunch of shoujo romance one shots 😭❤️❤️
Ahhhh reading the review definitely made me want the game even more! Im happy to see the guys I liked more at 1st sight have such good feedback, let’s me know I’m going to enjoy it 🩵 Thanks for the lovely post and detailed review blerdy 🌸
Oh dear it’s truly kinda shame that our unique Heroine didn’t have VA😭💔💥although they have truly put so wonderful persona in each heroine, well still I’m looking forward to meet Hakuto and his Heroine😻💗✨