We start in high school, but I promise we won’t be there long. Our lead, Haruka, has a list of college goals, including getting a boyfriend and growing her hair out.
It’s called Cinderella Closet, so here’s the glass slippers
We see them for a moment before they turn into sneakers. It’s a year after high school, and a long-haired Haruka is cleaning broken glass from a restaurant floor.
These days, despite the new hair, she feels unfeminine. Walking to work, she’s so preoccupied with how the other women look that she walks into one.
Staaaaaaaaring, because Haruka thinks this stranger is beautiful. And the stranger calls her on the staaaaaaring.
As she helps the stranger get her make-up back in her bag, Haruka wishes aloud that she could also use make-up. The stranger says she’s fine the way she is, then teases her about her messy hair. With a “let’s do our best!” the beautiful stranger is off.
At work, Haruka learns that Kurotaki is newly single
And he wants to drink. Haruka has a crush on him, but isn’t old enough to drink for another week.
Kurotaki suggests they drink on her birthday. Haruka is thrilled. But on her birthday, she wakes up screaming and unprepared.
Lost in a make-up store, she sees the beautiful woman again. She pounces on her for help, only to realize she’s being extra. Haruka walks away, but the woman follows and helps anyway.
Outside, they run into Kurotaki. He’s on the way to work and has completely forgotten their date. Haruka sheds a tear as she tells her new friend it’s her own fault for getting her hopes up.
New friend thinks she’s done nothing wrong. Every girl wants to be pretty for the person they like. But Haruka doesn’t feel like a girl. She feels ignored, like she can’t catch up, and has no confidence.
Haruka needs a fairy godmother to put a spell on her
New friend takes Haruka to her beauty school to do just that, giving her a magic make-over.
Haruka meets Kurotaki outside work. He compliments her appearance, and she nearly lets it end there. Then she remembers her new friend told her that how she uses the spell is up to her. She reminds him of their date.
He’s immediately sincerely apologetic and invites her on a real date. She gives an enthusiastic yes.
So she’ll be needing more help from her new friend. She asks her to teach her more about makeup/magic.
The two go out drinking, and the next morning, Haruka’s messy place is magically clean. She optimistically thinks she did it until a shirtless man walks from the bathroom.
It’s her new friend, Hikaru! Who claims he’s the wizard that she summoned. He suggests she forget about Kurotaki and choose him instead.
When Hikaru puts on the wig, Haruka realizes he’s a cross-dresser
He likes beautiful things and wearing what he wants. He has fun teasing her, and he’s earned it, since he spent the night cleaning her place and making sure she didn’t vomit on it.
Despite her embarrassment, she gets his help preparing for the date. He encourages her to buy the high heels that catch her eye, despite already being tall, and pushes her to be confident.
Later, he wants to know why she’s okay with him being a cross-dresser. She just wants to be his friend. Like any good friend, she wants to know if he has a crush on anyone or is seeing anyone.
He whispers in her ear that it’s a secret and she’s stupid.
Before the date, she comes to Hikaru’s school looking… overblushed
He fixes it and scolds her for not being confident enough.
After Haruka leaves, Hikaru remembers Haruka’s enthusiastic praise and affection. He’s maybe not thrilled they’re “girlfriends”. Someone has a crush.
The date is at a launch party, and Kurotaki immediately compliments Haruka. But she follows him around like a lost puppy. Then she lies to him that she’s been on dates before, it’s just been a while.
Alone, she runs into Hikaru, who is there with his classmate Shu. Shu calls Hikaru his “date”, though Hikaru may not agree.
Haruka is feeling low and apologizes to Hikaru for wasting his help. He insults her for not being confident. She takes this to heart, realizing that she shouldn’t have lied to Kurotaki.
Kurotaki finds them, and Haruka confesses that this IS her first date. Hikaru watches in horror as she bows deeply.
Kurotaki is touched that she made so much effort for him when he’s not someone special. Also, he kinda already knew she was inexperienced.
After Kurotaki steps away again, Hikaru worries that Kurotaki won’t want a cross-dresser like him near Haruka. Haruka wouldn’t like anyone with that attitude, but doesn’t believe Kurotaki would think that way anyway.
Then, stumbling on sore feet, Haruka nearly falls, and Hikaru catches her in a princess carry.
Only for Kurotaki to return and ask what’s going on.
Really, Hikaru’s the one who fell first
Haruka is an adorable puppy who just needs a little encouragement. While we may not have her sunny disposition, I think most of us have been in her place. We had dreams, we thought we’d reach them, we didn’t, and our confidence has taken a hit.
Hikaru is the more complicated, contradictory character. He’s full of confidence and sarcasm, but expects Haruka and Kurotaki to reject him because of his cross-dressing. He’s encouraging her to pursue her crush, but makes a joke of his own feelings.
This is where Haruka’s comparatively simple nature is so charming. Because she sees none of this, just that he’s an awesome person. And if anyone is mean to him, she wouldn’t like them either.
They’re perfect for each other.
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