Ep 1. Page 1

Shogakukan's Bessatsu Margaret magazine launched a new shojo anime series known as Blue Spring Ride in 2014. The anime is directed by Ai Yoshimura, while Tomoko Konparu wrote the screenplay. The show follows a high school girl named Futaba Yoshioka, who has a difficult time making friends with boys due to the rumors and misunderstandings that surround her. Despite being popular with girls, Futaba is constantly deemed as unapproachable and unfeminine by her male classmates.

Blue Spring Ride's first episode is titled "Page 1". It begins with Futaba entering her first year of high school, and she is excited to start anew. She had acted as a tomboy in middle school since she wanted to be liked by the other girls, but in high school, she wants to be more feminine. She decides to change her image by wearing skirts instead of pants and joining a girls-only clique. However, on the first day of school, she runs into Tanaka-kun, her middle school acquaintance. She remembers him as being the nerdy guy who always wore glasses, but now he looks like a completely different person. His hair is styled differently, and he is wearing contacts instead of glasses.

Futaba's current clique is discussing boys, and one of the girls points out that Kou, a transfer student, is very good-looking. This name triggers a memory for Futaba, and she suddenly remembers Kou Tanaka, her first love from middle school. Kou had promised to meet her under the Camphor tree on the last day of middle school, but he didn't show up. Futaba has been holding onto this memory ever since and is now heartbroken, realizing that Kou is the same Tanaka-kun from middle school, and he will be attending her high school.

Futaba is in shock and can't believe that Tanaka-kun is Kou, as he has changed so much. As they're walking home, Kou informs her that he will not be attending school the next day, and she asks him why. Kou tells her that he has a heart condition and that he's been hospitalized for the past three months. He doesn't share any further details and abruptly ends the conversation. Futaba becomes curious about Kou and wants to know more about him.

The next day at school, Futaba is still thinking about Kou and his heart condition, and she finds herself frequently checking over her shoulder for him. Inoguchi, one of Futaba's classmates, is talking to Kou and is trying to be friendly with him. Kou appears uninterested, and when Futaba arrives, Kou quickly makes it clear that he and Inoguchi are not friends. Realizing that she has feelings for Kou, Futaba starts to feel conflicted and confused, wondering how she should approach him.

Blue Spring Ride's first episode ends with Futaba wondering how to proceed in her relationship with Kou. She is unsure whether to act on her feelings or let them go since it has been a while since they've seen each other. The story sets up the tone for the rest of the show, which deals with the complex nuances of high school romance, friendship, and social life. As the audience gets more insights into the characters and their web of relationships, they start to develop invested interests in their respective fates. The show delicately portrays the lives of teenagers while capturing the nostalgic moments and fleeting romantic dilemmas of youth.