Recently, J-Novel licensed and released the author Murakami Rin's https://j-novel.club/series/guide-to-the-perfect-otaku-girlfriend-roomies-and-romance volume 1, so I wanted to draw attention back to this older work.
Why It Should Get Picked Up:
IMO, this is an underrated gem of a series that was dropped, and I wanted to make a post so a willing translator might pick it up again. It's a romantic comedy/drama set in a normal high school and story-wise reminds me of a mix between "Toradora" and "Bottom-Tier Tomozaki".
From the 4+ volumes I've read so far, I think it's a heartfelt and sweet series that is underappreciated and very enjoyable for those who like coming-of-age school-life stories with themes of romance and friendship.
Description:
The plot follows a male otaku MC and female riajuu FMC, but the two like others who are out of their league. The MC likes a certain girl but is too shy and socially awkward to get close to her, while the FMC likes a different otaku guy but cannot relate to him or talk to him since she isn't an otaku herself.
The story progresses with the MC and FMC forming an unlikely partnership, teaching each other about their respective worlds and providing opportunities to help the other get closer to their high school crush.
Why I Personally Like the Series:
My favorite aspect is the partnership between the two leads, which actually reminds me of the partnership in "Toradora" with Ryuuji and Taiga helping each other with their respective crushes. There's a lot of times when one feels down or depressed or feels despair at a failure, but the other helps comfort/assist them, which I found really sweet and wholesome.
I also enjoy the growth of the main character so far. He starts out as a bit of a loser and loner but gradually improves socially just like in "Bottom Tier Tomozaki", trying to go out to more events and talk more socially in groups. Even though he's still awkward and out of place, you can see his gradual shifts and change of perspective really well so far.
The characters are also enjoyable. I liked the personalities of their respective crushes as well as certain side characters; most characters clearly have a lot more to be revealed about them, and it's very interesting to see the interactions of the MC and FMC with others outside their comfort zone.