I Became Friends with the Second Cutest Girl in My Class

[FacelessOne]

Alternative Names
Class de 2 Banme ni Kawaii Onna no Ko to Tomodachi ni Natta
クラスで２番目に可愛い女の子と友だちになった

Genre
Comedy, Romance, Slice of Life, School Life

Author
Takata

Artist
Tom Nagabe

Japanese Publisher
Kadokawa/Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko

Year
2021

Number of Volumes
1

Manga
No

Website
https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/322108000086/

Synopsis

I, Maehara Maki, someone who couldn’t make any acquaintances or friends in high school, finally had someone I can hang out with outside of school. A girl.

Her name was Asanagi-san. The boys in my class called her ‘The class’ second cutest girl’ behind her back.

On Fridays, she would refuse her best friend, Amami, ‘the cutest girl in class’ invitation just to hang out in my house with me.

Together, we played games, watched some movies, read some manga while eating junk foods like pizza and hamburgers, and chugging cola without a care in the world. To others, we may seem sloppy, but it was a precious, secret time together for Asanagi-san and myself.

My Thoughts
This is a really example of a wholesome and fluffy romcom where the romance develops at a good pace from them becoming classmates to friends and then into lovers. Their shared "secret" with one another makes for some great comedic scenes and there's also a little bit of drama, more related to friendships and the feelings of self-worth rather than romantic issues. Both of the MC's are great characters but the real OG of the series has to go to Yuu, a real chad wingwoman and a great friend to both characters.

[Geezer Weasalopes]

The artist is also known as 'Tom Osabe' per MAL.
The WN is at 182 chapters as of 2022/01/19; it appears to be ongoing.
Bookwalker has a series page for it, and they don't tend to do that unless they expect it to be a series. Volume 1 was released on 2021/12/24 per Bookwalker, which also supports no Volume 2 as of yet not being a negative indictor.

It sounds like it could be a pleasant RW High School RomCom, and I must admit to enjoying those.

[FacelessOne]

Cover illustration for volume 2, releasing in August

[FacelessOne]

Cover illustration for volume 3, releasing in January.

[elkensteyin]

let's keep this one relevant - would like to see this, as well

[Torka]

Anime confirmed

[Geezer Weasalopes]

Publisher Series Page
Franchise Official Twitter (Anime announcement on 2023 September 24)
Author's Twitter
Illustrator: 長部トム | Twitter | Pixiv

[elkensteyin]

I've been reading the manga, and it is an enjoyable series. Much less cringy than things like Keikenzumi na Kimi to, Keiken Zero na Ore ga, Otsukiai suru Hanashi or Suki na Ko ga Megane wo Wasureta

[Torka]

Short bump: Today Second Cutest won first place in the KimiRano Best Light Novel award for 2023 (in the Bunkobon division)

[Aruseus493]

I'll give this my vote. It's been a pretty cute series so far from what I've read.

[Aruseus493]

Volume 6 is scheduled to come out in a few days in Japan.

[Aruseus493]

Volume 7 came out this month in Japan.