Haganai: I Don't Have Many Friends (僕は友達が少ない)

Does he seem to be in a bad mood to you?

We might get punched if we go near him.

He's here again.

He's scary!

KODAKA HASEGAWA

My same old life of being treated like a Yankee.

The same old after-school hours.

And our same old Neighbors Club.

Hey.

SENA KASHIWAZAKI

Sorry, wrong room.

Hold it, Kodaka!

What do you think?

It looks great on you.

Thanks.

No. I'm asking you whether or not it's funny!

Funny?

Right. We were talking yesterday about how we could make friends

by polishing up our comedic skills, remember?

Yes... So you did this?

Yes! The sign in the toy store said, "Guaranteed to be a hit with everyone!"

Look, don't take stuff like that seriously...

I couldn't agree more!

As I suspected, a high-level art such as comedy was beyond Meat here.

YOZORA MIKAZUKI

What's with that getup?

Today, I'm cosplaying the most laughable creature in existence.

What do you think, Kodaka? Funny, right?

Okay then, how about this?

MEAT

Is that actually...

I'm, like, so rich and pretty!

Hey, I don't talk like that!

I don't talk like that! I'm like, just rich and pretty and that's all!

What exactly makes me a laughable creature?

And anyway, that's not funny, it's just annoying!

Really? But seeing you ranting and crying is always such a good time for me.

You're an awful person!

Anyway, Yozora, aren't you embarrassed to be looking like that?

Listen up, you two.

True comedy is about more than just one-off gags like that.

You don't get to be condescending. You're just Kodaka.

Let's see this true comedy you speak of, then.

Very well. True comedy is about talking!

-Talking? -Talking?

Oh, yes, I'll give you a taste of my hilarious talk!

The title is Manju Buns Are Scary.

And then, Man A says, "Right now, I'm scared of some hot coffee!"

What?

-Lame. -Lame.

Comedy?

Yes, one does tend to think of funny people as popular.

Have some tea, boss.

Sure.

I wish I could have heard your funny story too.

You're better off this way.

Yes, it was terrible.

At least I didn't try to get a few easy laughs with my hairstyle like you!

Shut it!

Speaking of hairstyles, I recently got some very interesting information.

What do you mean?

According to a magazine I read,

something called a "pouf" is popular around town right now

among people with actual lives.

Pouf?

You literally poof up your hair to give it volume,

and when you've got it really big, you put various decorations on it.

That might be kind of fun.

Rika has seen pictures on the Internet.

They almost reminded me of medieval European nobility...

Nobility? Hey, that's perfect for me!

In the really extreme ones,

people twist their hair into a birdcage and put in a real bird,

or use big accessories that spell out the word love.

What is that supposed to be, a Warring States general?

Since they emphasize individuality over functionality,

the overall concept may be the same as the one behind the Warring States helmets.

Then this pouf, like the helmets of the Warring States generals,

is meant to serve as proof of identity for those beheaded in battle,

so that their heads will receive the respect appropriate to their--

Wrong, Yukimura.

That's a shame.

I don't totally get it, but it does seem kind of similar.

Quite. It would take an exceptional person to pull off the pouf.

I suppose a commoner would be reckless to even attempt it.

Sorry to bore you with talk of something so irrelevant to your life.

The safest bet for a commoner

would be to get an ordinary hairdo at an ordinary salon.

Still, I do hope to see a pouf in real life one day.

True, it would be difficult.

There just aren't many people out there

with the naturally aristocratic and gorgeous aura needed

to pull off the intense self-assertiveness of the pouf style.

True. What a shame.

Talk about an obvious ploy.

But there is one, right here!

And it worked!

An aristocrat overflowing with that very aura.

There isn't a woman alive better suited to the pouf than me!

Don't push yourself, Meat.

She's right, Sena. The pouf is an extremely tricky hairstyle.

I'm not pushing myself!

The aura of divinity I project from within is enough to pull off any hairstyle.

She's such an easy mark.

I see. If you're that set on it, I'll poof up your hair for you right now.

Rika has all sorts of tools in her lab! Rika will go get them!

That's...

All right, are you ready?

Don't do anything too crazy.

Don't move, Meat.

Now, here we go!

It's pretty nice having another girl brush your hair.

Wow, Sena's hair is so smooth. And no split ends at all.

I'll give you credit for good hair, if nothing else.

Really?

But Yozora, your hair is very pretty too. Rika is jealous.

Sure, I'll give Yozora credit for good hair, if nothing else.

But Rika, yours is glossy and pretty too.

I told you not to move.

Is it really?

-Here, a refill. -Yes, it is.

Right.

Thank you very much.

All right, it's poofing time. Any requests, Meat?

Make me look like someone with a real life, please.

A person with a real life theme...

Real social lives make me think... Summer?

Nice! Then a girl with a real life enjoying summer feel is perfect.

We'll wave the sides to evoke the image of rolling ocean waves!

I like it! Now let's put in ringlets to represent the swirling tides!

And this part will be a summer storm, so we'll do kind of flashy curls...

What do you think, Sena?

Yes, I think it works.

Now for the top. Since the sides are the ocean,

the top should be a sandcastle on the beach!

How about using a bikini instead of ribbons?

Oh, yes, a watermelon and some fireworks would complete that picture.

Bikini?

Watermelon?

And why not yakisoba while we're at it?

You're a genius!

-Yakisoba? -Don't move!

I shall go purchase a swimsuit, a watermelon, fireworks, and yakisoba.

Thanks!

Kodaka!

Sorry. There's nothing I can do.

Poke!

Fly! Go on, fly!

MARIA TAKAYAMA

Hey...

I'm doing it! I'm doing it, just like I'm supposed to. I promise...

I DID A PRANK. I'M SORRY.

Oh, Yukimura.

What are you doing, Sister Maria?

The old hag is making me do forced labor as punishment for slacking off.

So, what are you doing?

You see, Sena... Blah-blah, so on and so forth...

Oh, so you want something summery!

In that case, take these!

-All done! -All done!

The Ultimate Social Life Meets Midsummer Night's Dream Mega Max Pouf!

You look super cute, Sena!

That's just too horrible.

It really is cute.

Your head would make a magnificent war trophy.

Really? It looks that good on me?

Seriously, it looks super good!

It's not just gaudy. It evokes the world's poignantly ephemeral nature.

I'm jealous. Now I wish I had tried a pouf before I cut my hair.

Yes, this might be a real winner.

Have you lost your minds?

Well? What do you think, Kodaka?

It really expresses the group aesthetic.

Doesn't it just? Okay, I'm going home now.

Will she be okay?

-Morning. -Morning.

Kodaka!

Sena.

Daddy was so mad at me when I got home yesterday! Can you believe it?

He gave me a good spanking, and he made me put my hair back to normal!

It's awful!

Oh, I see...

Good job, Mr. Pegasus.

Rika got carried away with excitement yesterday,

but now that she's calmed down, she realizes that was wrong.

I went a little too far.