I Made Friends with the Second Prettiest Girl in My Class

High school is a fresh start for most people—but not for Maki Maehara. He’s always been a loner, and he knows this year isn’t going to be any different. As expected, Maehara sees no change even six months in…until he runs into his classmate Umi Asanagi at a video store! Always at the center of attention and ranked the second-prettiest girl in class by the boys, Asanagi’s from a totally different world. But it turns out the two have some things in common, and not just the B movies they came to rent. When they become friends in secret, Maehara discovers his days are about to get a little more colorful!

Maki Maehara never thought he’d make friends with anyone, much less Umi Asanagi, the girl ranked second prettiest by his classmates! Now, he’s also caught the attention of Asanagi’s bright-eyed, peppy best friend, Yuu Amami, the most popular girl in class. The three start hanging out together, but Asanagi feels left behind when she sees Amami get closer to Maehara. As Asanagi pushes for some alone time with Maehara, could their secret friendship be developing into something more…?

Maehara and Asanagi get an unexpected visitor during their hangout! Amami’s here, and she’s confused why Asanagi would hide her camaraderie with Maehara from her own best friend…only for Asanagi to reveal that Amami is the last person she wanted to find out. At school the next day, Asanagi acts like she didn’t just drop a bombshell, but Maehara knows it’s eating her up—and his concern may just convince her to divulge the secret she’s been struggling with since middle school…