Slow Start
Original title: スロウスタート
Hana Ichinose is a normal 16-year-old high school student. However, there is something different about her: She enrolled in high school one year late! Her classmates are unaware of this, and Hana will have to work hard to catch up with everyone else.
Seasons
1
Episodes
12
Country
Japan
Status
Ended
Cast
Reina Kondo
Hana Ichinose (voice) · 12 eps
Ayasa Ito
Tamate Momochi (voice) · 12 eps
Maaya Uchida
Hiroe Hannen (voice) · 12 eps
Mao Ichimichi
Shion Kyouzuka (voice) · 12 eps
Manami Numakura
Kiyose Enami (voice) · 12 eps
Maria Naganawa
Kamuri Sengoku (voice) · 12 eps
Tomomi Mineuchi
Eiko Tokura (voice) · 12 eps
Yoko Hikasa
Hazuki Ichinose (voice) · 6 eps
Yuka Nukui
Maho Ogano (voice) · 4 eps
Yuna Yoshino
Amane Otani (voice) · 4 eps
Rikiya Koyama
Takeru Ichinose (voice) · 3 eps
Inori Minase
Nanae Takahashi (voice) · 2 eps
Marika Kouno
Sachi Tsubakimori (voice) · 3 eps
Tomori Kusunoki
Miki Tokura (voice) · 2 eps
Konomi Kohara
Kei Iwasaki (voice) · 2 eps
Aimi Tanaka
Hina Sasaki (voice) · 2 eps
Yuiko Tatsumi
Chihiro Imai (voice) · 2 eps
Kiyoko Miyazawa
Takako (voice) · 2 eps
Chika Makihara
Fumio (voice) · 2 eps
Yumi Uchiyama
Motoi Nishimura (voice) · 1 eps
Ai Kakuma
Yuri Endo (voice) · 1 eps
Harumi Sakurai
Teacher (voice) · 2 eps
Shizuka Ishigami
Rikano Sato (voice) · 1 eps
Miyuri Shimabukuro
Student (voice) · 1 eps
Hina Kino
Banbi Fujii (voice) · 1 eps
Haruka Shiraishi
Ao Masuda (voice) · 1 eps
Miho Okasaki
Girl (voice) · 1 eps
Juri Kimura
Chinami Nakamura (voice) · 1 eps
Kouichi Souma
Old Man (voice) · 1 eps
Minami Shinoda
Momoka Sekine (voice) · 1 eps
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Where to Watch
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Episode Guide
1
The First Butterflies
2
Exercise Wears Me Out
Hana and her classmates have lunch together. Hana enjoys comparing lunches and sharing food with each other, but she still keeps her past a secret. Meanwhile, the school's sports test begins. Unfortunately, Hana hasn't gotten any exercise at all during her year off between middle school and high school.
3
Teardrops are Falling
The girls talk about how they're going to spend their Golden Week vacation. After realizing that they all have the final day of the break open, they make plans to meet up for a study session to prepare for proficiency tests the following day, and decide to go to Hana's apartment. Hana can't contain her excitement over having friends coming to her place and Shion is just as thrilled when she hears the news. As Golden Week begins, the four enjoy their stretch of days off, each in their own way, until it's finally the day of the study session.
4
The Premium Tournament on the Second Floor
Hiroe Hannen is the mysterious resident of Temari Heights apartment 202. When Hana goes up to deliver a package for her, paranoid Hiroe mistakes Hana as a suspicious intruder. Her misunderstanding is straightened out with Shion's introduction, but it soon becomes clear that Hiroe is a shut-in, who cannot step out even to the convenience store. Her high school years were smooth sailing until an accident that became a turning point in her life. Hearing Hiroe's personal story resonates with Hana, who then shares her secret of being a year behind in high school.
5
Kamuri's Fluffy
The Eiko-loving Kamuri is thrilled when she gets a middle school-era photo of her. However, the Eiko in the photo doesn't look like the Eiko Kamuri saw in passing one year earlier. And yet, Eiko confirms that it is indeed her in the picture. Unsatisfied with the lingering mystery, Kamuri talks to Hana who recalls that she recently saw a girl who looked a lot like Eiko in the shopping district. The two are intrigued by the possibility of a look-alike and set off in search of Eiko's secret.
6
Sliminess of an Eel
The point of the sleepover at Hana’s apartment is supposed to be a study session to prepare for the girls’ upcoming semester finals, but Tamate is more interested in cooking a delicious dinner for them. The girls also enjoy playing a video game and taking a bath, rewards for studying hard. They cap off the enjoyable evening with bedtime ghost stories which results in a freaked-out Hana being unable to sleep.
7
Cuffed Wrists
Eiko gets presents from her classmates on her birthday, but they all turn out to be hairpins. Being a good friend, Eiko puts them all on, resulting in a head full of hairpins and the new nickname "Pinko" bestowed upon her by their teacher, Ms. Enami. On the walk home from school, Eiko is back to wearing just her normal mature-looking hairpin, which becomes the subject of a discussion. A curious Tamate asks where she bought the hairpin, but Eiko only gives an enigmatic smile and says it's a secret.
8
Hana's Friends
Hana hasn't talked to half the students in her class since the school year started. Worried about Hana, the girls try to help her break her shyness. Later, Hana and her friends go shopping for swimsuits.
9
Gorilla in a Swimsuit
10
The Shark's Cousin
Eiko is still keeping her accessory-making a secret from her friends, but gives a handmade brooch to Hana, her one confidant. Hana is thrilled to get it, but feels guilty about continuing to keep her own secret about her gap year before starting high school. She can't decide whether to share the truth with her friends.
11
Tomato Festival
At last the summer vacation starts! The four decide to go to the summer festival together. They have lunch at Tama's place and get ready to attend the festival in their yukatas!
12
Starting Slow
Hana's mother always bought clothes for her, but now she's going to choose her own outfit for the first time. The problem is she can't imagine what kind of clothes would suit her. When Hana goes to her friends for advice, Eiko proposes they all go out shopping the following day. Tamate is also excited about helping Hana choose an outfit that would look good on her, while Kamuri is more interested in having post-shopping parfaits. When she gets home that day, Hana ponders over the kind of clothes that would be her style.
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