Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai - Light Novel Discussion

[Crossheart]

... at first i think that those scan was a hoax... then i read it and.. it's true...
SALTINESS INCARNATED

[Xero8420]

Originally Posted by Marcus H.

I guess it's like in the last few words of the volume: rephrased, "I don't have many friends, but I have friends."
Won't blame the others for longing for a more substantial ending, but the afterword seems to point out that this is what Hirasaka-sensei wanted from the start.

So that's it? Forever friendzoned ending?

[Kuroageha]

No, Sena wants to go to the same university as Kodaka in order to pursue her romance.
Kodaka didn't want to break with Yukimura. It was her that put him against the wall for his sake with that proposal about X'mas.

Rika on the other hand, Kodaka finally got over her.

[Somethindarker]

Originally Posted by Kuroageha

No, Sena wants to go to the same university as Kodaka in order to pursue her romance.
Kodaka didn't want to break with Yukimura. It was her that put him against the wall for his sake with that proposal about X'mas.

Rika on the other hand, Kodaka finally got over her.

Yea I'm still bummed about Rika... The only ones, in my opinion, who are still gonna actively go after him are Sena and probably Kate since the only reason she backed off at all was because of the amount of rivals, now that Yozora, Rika and Yukimura are out of the picture...

[Kuroageha]

Yukimure being OOP isn't guaranteed if you read Kodaka's thoughts before the party.

[relentlessflame]

Originally Posted by mironicus

I consider the ending to be a complete capitulation.

Any attempts to seriously befriend Kodaka failed, because he is unwilling to change his life. Some girls got mentally broken and there was nothing they could rely on to get him. They wasted their time on him.

Kodaka is nice and friendly but you can't do anything with him, this will be the impression that most people get from him. You can get along with him but he always will avoid that an interested person will ever have a chance to become a part of his life.

The kid's still in high school. He isn't fully grown-up, isn't looking to "settle down" yet, and it isn't necessary that he devote his time to pursuing his life-long partner at this point. And besides, high school is full of all sorts of crushes, experimentation, drama, hurt feelings, and on and on. If the other girls were trying to rely on him to fix their brokenness or fill a void in their lives, they're not ready for a real relationship anyway and need to grow up first -- as does Kodaka. This is just part of that growing-up process; I'm sure they'd all look back on these days with embarrassment.

I realize these works are ship-teases that tend to take things a bit too far to get peoples' hopes up (and perhaps editorial interference played a role in this), but realistically Kodaka and friends actually have a good high school life by the end of the work. They found people that could understand them for all their idiosyncrasies. That's more in keeping to the theme of the work than any of the shipping stuff ever was. The ending isn't a capitulation but a stepping stone to the future for these characters, just like high school itself.

(Of course, I do realize that there's a strong bias against "life goes on" sort of endings, even though I think that was what the premise for this work had suggested from the start.)

[Somethindarker]

Originally Posted by relentlessflame

The kid's still in high school. He isn't fully grown-up, isn't looking to "settle down" yet, and it isn't necessary that he devote his time to pursuing his life-long partner at this point. And besides, high school is full of all sorts of crushes, experimentation, drama, hurt feelings, and on and on. If the other girls were trying to rely on him to fix their brokenness or fill a void in their lives, they're not ready for a real relationship anyway and need to grow up first -- as does Kodaka. This is just part of that growing-up process; I'm sure they'd all look back on these days with embarrassment.

I realize these works are ship-teases that tend to take things a bit too far to get peoples' hopes up (and perhaps editorial interference played a role in this), but realistically Kodaka and friends actually have a good high school life by the end of the work. They found people that could understand them for all their idiosyncrasies. That's more in keeping to the theme of the work than any of the shipping stuff ever was. The ending isn't a capitulation but a stepping stone to the future for these characters, just like high school itself.

(Of course, I do realize that there's a strong bias against "life goes on" sort of endings, even though I think that was what the premise for this work had suggested from the start.)

Yup that's pretty much my point of view on the ending, this was never about romance but friendship and finding people who understand you. Most anime fans are so used to shipping that they have a hard time reading past their OTP and just because this character didn't end up fucking that character automatically it's a fail. Shit, thinking back on my middle and high school days all the guys and girls I dated and all my missteps I think those are great days. I'm 31 right now and still haven't found someone I wanna spend the rest of my life with, even though I've been in a relationship for 2 years, and probably won't for at least a while longer. Take off your shipping glasses people life after high school is amazingly better.

[Marcus H.]

The kid's still in high school. He isn't fully grown-up, isn't looking to "settle down" yet, and it isn't necessary that he devote his time to pursuing his life-long partner at this point. And besides, high school is full of all sorts of crushes, experimentation, drama, hurt feelings, and on and on. If the other girls were trying to rely on him to fix their brokenness or fill a void in their lives, they're not ready for a real relationship anyway and need to grow up first -- as does Kodaka. This is just part of that growing-up process; I'm sure they'd all look back on these days with embarrassment.

Do you think Kodaka has grown up throughout the series, aside from the claim at the finale that "I don't have that many friends, but at least I have them"? Personally, I expected more than just a resolution about Kodaka getting some friends. It felt bland, considering that it's a small, often disregarded achievement compared to getting a nice score in a college exam or a sure way to earn a living.

If Haganai was in-fact a coming of age story, then why does it feel like he never approached adulthood at the end of it all?

life after high school is amazingly better.

That's what they think. Japan loses more people to karoshi and there are not enough active reproductive systems to compensate for that.

[Somethindarker]

Originally Posted by Marcus H.

Do you think Kodaka has grown up throughout the series, aside from the claim at the finale that "I don't have that many friends, but at least I have them"? Personally, I expected more than just a resolution about Kodaka getting some friends. It felt bland, considering that it's a small, often disregarded achievement compared to getting a nice score in a college exam or a sure way to earn a living.

If Haganai was in-fact a coming of age story, then why does it feel like he never approached adulthood at the end of it all?



That's what they think. Japan loses more people to karoshi and there are not enough active reproductive systems to compensate for that.

The ending was a perfect example of "life goes on". Didn't like it but didn't hate it either, just a story that quietly faded into obscurity, and nothing of value was lost.

[mironicus]

Originally Posted by Somethindarker

The ending was a perfect example of "life goes on".

"Life goes on" without any decisons being made.

The message of the show is just terrible. Just accept life how it happens without your own ability to change it to the better. The show ended like it began. There is nothing you can achieve out of this ending for yourself. Something like "Always try, never give up".

Isn't this just trolling? The main protagonist is afraid of changes and so of course is not willing to change his life and so never makes decisions that could change his life. So of course we have no decision from Kodaka at the end of the show.

We have to find Hirasaki Yomi. Then we strip him naked and whip him out in public.

[Somethindarker]

Originally Posted by mironicus

"Life goes on" without any decisons being made.

The message of the show is just terrible. Just accept life how it happens without your own ability to change it to the better. The show ended like it began. There is nothing you can achieve out of this ending for yourself. Something like "Always try, never give up".

Isn't this just trolling? The main protagonist is afraid of changes and so of course is not willing to change his life and so never makes decisions that could change his life. So of course we have no decision from Kodaka at the end of the show.

We have to find Hirasaki Yomi. Then we strip him naked and whip him out in public.

Haha very true. But happiness is different for everybody this isn't a shounen nor was it originally supposed to be romance heavy Kodaka is happy keeping them as his closest friends and who knows maybe down the line one of them will end up with him Sena seemed to still be optimistic, last I heard someone said she still intended to follow Kodaka to college, about Kodaka and Pegasus and Stella will no doubt still try to get them together. But take it how you will I'm lukewarm about the ending no strong feelings either way I just feel the ending was kinda lacking.

[mironicus]

Originally Posted by Somethindarker

Kodaka is happy keeping them as his closest friends

I actually believe that the club and the members will just become a good memory for him while he continues to live his friendless life. Life just happens, people come and go and Kodaka don't make any new bonds in his life.

While being in college he will try to find a new place that makes him happy, so he waits that another childhood friend appears to create a club for him to isolate themselves from the normal cruel world.

And this time it is Sena who creates a club so she can spend much much time alone together with him... *naughty thoughts*

[zerozeronine]

Shipping ruined this story,ending from spoilers seems to be ok.But Yozora confessing was a bit weird since she never seemed to be in love with him,but only wanted to be his friend again or restore their past friendship.Btw the premise of the story is about loner/lonely kids not having friends which the club fixed,and they being friends in the end is a fitting final to the story.

[relentlessflame]

Originally Posted by Marcus H.

Do you think Kodaka has grown up throughout the series, aside from the claim at the finale that "I don't have that many friends, but at least I have them"? Personally, I expected more than just a resolution about Kodaka getting some friends. It felt bland, considering that it's a small, often disregarded achievement compared to getting a nice score in a college exam or a sure way to earn a living.

If Haganai was in-fact a coming of age story, then why does it feel like he never approached adulthood at the end of it all?

Sure he has, but consider his role in this whole story. He was basically the straightman in a world of insanity. I mean, sure, he had his hardships like everyone else, but he wasn't woefully dysfunctional, just widely misunderstood. So he ends up hanging out with the "rejects", and finds "a place where everybody knows [his] name". For all the minor drama, the whole thing is basically a sitcom in the end.

The bigger impact he had was on everyone else in the story, whether directly or indirectly. They all grew up a fair bit over the course of the story, even to the point where they can acknowledge each other as friends now. And so the club became their "home" too, and it just took them all time (and their own journeys) to realize that in their own ways.

The ending is understated because friendship isn't the mythical thing they were making it out to be. It is, in fact, just "a small, often disregarded achievement"; it's just finding a place where you belong. And yet, it was the one thing they all felt was woefully lacking from their lives. Having understood that, and realizing that he found what he was looking for, Kodaka was content. Indeed: "I don't have that many friends, but at least I have them." That's all he really needed.

[havensgate]

so this is story about friend and friendship? and they end as friends? just.like.that? wow....

[LordZero25]

Originally Posted by havensgate

so this is story about friend and friendship? and they end as friends? just.like.that? wow....

If ever Sena and Yozora won very hard.

[mironicus]

Originally Posted by relentlessflame

The bigger impact he had was on everyone else in the story, whether directly or indirectly. They all grew up a fair bit over the course of the story, even to the point where they can acknowledge each other as friends now..

Well, his interactions helped the girls to move forward in their life, while he never changed himself.

it's just finding a place where you belong.

The club is a place where Kodaka can be happy. It's a remote place for a guy like him who lost his happiness to make friends. A substitute for the missing fun, happiness and love he can't achieve anymore because of his loneliness.

Kodaka is addicted to the club, he does not get addicted to people.

The girls can try as hard as they want, they will not succeed to befriend him, because he always avoids to start a new path in his life (fear of change). So there are no relationship routes he goes in his life, things just happens and life moves on. And this is also the "unfortunate life" that he will continue to live how the end of the story implies.

The girls are fine. Yukimura for example can get a new boyfriend in no time. Rika, Sena, Yozora as well. They can have relationships with "Normals" if they try and don't give up. They are much more sociable now. The girls achieved that over the time while trying to get Kodaka.

[ImperialFlameGod8190]

The problem with the story is pretty much the neighbors club never should've happened in the first place. If you look at the events in hindsight it paints an ugly picture.
Yozora basically admitted she originally created the neighbors club because she didnt have the courage to tell Kodoka she was his old friend Sora and she wanted to talk with him again.
Kodoka felt miserable about losing Sora and became a loner afterwards.
Yozora regretted it also because she finally could find the happiness she was seeking after a miserable childhood.
Now lets look at the other girls in the club.
Sena represented everything that Yozora hated about life and of course her eventually being with Kodoka rubbed a huge amount of salt in a gaping wound
Rika and Kodoka's relationship was likely what Yozora hoped her relationship with Kodoka would be after she revealed herself.
A person who enjoys life and has fun with it while being a girly girl and of course Kodoka eventually gained a friendship with her was bittersweet.
Yukimura might has well have been yozora 2.0. A girl who pretends to be a guy and bonds with kodoka and of course once she's revealed as a girl the bond continues and ironically grows. Now if what you guys said was true and he confessed to Yukimura i imagine yozora must've been furious because yukimura succeeded where she horribly failed.

All of these things tell me that its one of those stories with unnecessary drama that should've never happened and its sad.

[Fwarlord]

Originally Posted by ImperialFlameGod8190

The problem with the story is pretty much the neighbors club never should've happened in the first place. If you look at the events in hindsight it paints an ugly picture.
Yozora basically admitted she originally created the neighbors club because she didnt have the courage to tell Kodoka she was his old friend Sora and she wanted to talk with him again.
Kodoka felt miserable about losing Sora and became a loner afterwards.
Yozora regretted it also because she finally could find the happiness she was seeking after a miserable childhood.
Now lets look at the other girls in the club.
Sena represented everything that Yozora hated about life and of course her eventually being with Kodoka rubbed a huge amount of salt in a gaping wound
Rika and Kodoka's relationship was likely what Yozora hoped her relationship with Kodoka would be after she revealed herself.
A person who enjoys life and has fun with it while being a girly girl and of course Kodoka eventually gained a friendship with her was bittersweet.
Yukimura might has well have been yozora 2.0. A girl who pretends to be a guy and bonds with kodoka and of course once she's revealed as a girl the bond continues and ironically grows. Now if what you guys said was true and he confessed to Yukimura i imagine yozora must've been furious because yukimura succeeded where she horribly failed.

All of these things tell me that its one of those stories with unnecessary drama that should've never happened and its sad.

I agree with you. This story is basically about a bunch of useless cowards who're afraid of life and human relationship so they try to create fake paradise where they can find illusory happiness. Some people think the Neighbors Club gave them happy memories of school life, but in reality, the only thing it did was encouraged their shut-in and sociopathic tendency, making it harder for them to grow up into proper adult and interact with other people. They did make some change over the story, but in the end, they all reverted back to their old self, because of the cowardice and the fear to change. It's just so sad and disturbing to read something like that.

[Somethindarker]

Originally Posted by Fwarlord

I agree with you. This story is basically about a bunch of useless cowards who're afraid of life and human relationship so they try to create fake paradise where they can find illusory happiness. Some people think the Neighbors Club gave them happy memories of school life, but in reality, the only thing it did was encouraged their shut-in and sociopathic tendency, making it harder for them to grow up into proper adult and interact with other people. They did make some change over the story, but in the end, they all reverted back to their old self, because of the cowardice and the fear to change. It's just so sad and disturbing to read something like that.

That's the entire point of the novels dude.

You guys seemed to completely miss the point of the ending. They began all over again BECAUSE in the beginning they were a bunch of losers who were socially inept and afraid to open themselves up to other people but by the ending they'd already come to terms that what they held up on a pedestal ie; "friendship" wasn't that hard to find so they ate hotpot again to welcome Yukimura who was the only one who wasn't their "friend". Everyone else was already friends by that point Yukimura was the lynchpin since she basically rejected their entire time together so Kodaka wouldn't call her a friend and accept her confession.

Also why is everyone already assuming Kodaka is miserable or never grew up by the end of the story, he seemed to be reminiscing about his high school days at the end of the story with fondness? Not wanting to fuck a girl you don't love doesn't make you a loser it makes you far more mature than anyone else his age, even me when I was at his age. Kodaka by the novels end had already come to terms with them being friends and seemed perfectly happy in the epilogue. You guys need to take your shipping glasses off for a second and realize while the stories end was not that great from a plot perspective everyone had a happy ending. Kodaka isn't a materialistic horndog throughout the entire novel he's been shown, frustratingly so, that he's a simple guy who enjoys cooking and shit like spices.