Haganai, also known as Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai (I Don’t Have Many Friends), is a popular light novel series by Yomi Hirasaka, with illustrations by Buriki. It was adapted into two anime seasons, a manga series, and a live-action film. The story follows Kodaka Hasegawa, a transfer student who is mistaken for a delinquent due to his blond hair and fierce eyes. He joins the Neighbors Club, a group of misfits who are looking for friends, and gets involved in various hilarious and awkward situations with the club members.
The Neighbors Club consists of:
- Yozora Mikazuki, the founder and leader of the club, who is a loner and a bully. She is actually Kodaka’s childhood friend, but he does not recognize her at first.
- Sena Kashiwazaki, the daughter of the school’s headmaster, who is beautiful, rich, and popular, but has no real friends. She is obsessed with video games and anime, and has a crush on Kodaka.
- Rika Shiguma, a genius scientist and inventor, who is perverted and eccentric. She is openly attracted to Kodaka and often makes sexual advances on him.
- Yukimura Kusunoki, a boy who dresses as a maid and admires Kodaka as his master. He wants to become more manly and follows Kodaka’s advice. He later turns out to be a girl who was raised as a boy by her father.
- Maria Takayama, a 10-year-old nun and teacher, who is childish and naive. She is the club’s advisor and often quarrels with Yozora. She sees Kodaka as her older brother and calls him “Onii-chan”.
- Kobato Hasegawa, Kodaka’s younger sister, who is a gothic lolita and a chuunibyou (someone who pretends to have supernatural powers). She is obsessed with a dark fantasy anime and calls herself “Reisys VI Felicity Sumeragi”. She joins the club to be with her brother and competes with Maria for his attention.
The series is mainly a comedy that focuses on the club’s activities and interactions, but it also has some romantic and dramatic elements. The main question that fans have been wondering is: Who does Kodaka end up with in Haganai?
Haganai Light Novel Ending:
The light novel series consists of 11 volumes, with the last one published in 2015. The ending of the light novel is widely considered to be disappointing and controversial by many fans, as it does not provide a satisfying conclusion to the romantic subplot.
In the last volume, Kodaka confesses his love to Yukimura and starts dating her. This shocks and angers the other girls, especially Sena and Yozora, who both have feelings for him. Sena confronts Kodaka and asks him to date her instead, but he rejects her. Yozora also confesses to Kodaka, revealing that she is his childhood friend “Sora”, whom he used to play with when they were kids. However, Kodaka also turns her down, saying that he loves Yukimura.
Yozora then decides to leave the club and run away from home. She cuts her hair short and changes her appearance. She also gets into a fight with some delinquents and gets injured. Sena finds her and takes her to her mansion, where she offers to adopt her as her sister. Yozora refuses at first, but then agrees to become Sena’s butler instead.
Meanwhile, Rika realizes that Kodaka is an idiot who does not understand his own feelings or those of others. She decides to give up on him and focus on her own life. She also reveals that she was the one who hacked into the school’s system and made Maria the club’s advisor.
Kodaka then breaks up with Yukimura after realizing that he does not love her romantically. He tells her that he values their friendship more than anything else. Yukimura accepts his decision and remains his loyal friend.
The series ends with Kodaka returning to the club room, where he finds all the members waiting for him. They decide to continue their friendship and have fun together.
Haganai Manga Ending:
The manga series consists of 20 volumes, with the last one published in 2018. The ending of the manga is different from the light novel’s ending, as it provides a more conclusive and satisfying resolution to the romantic subplot.
In the last volume, Kodaka chooses Sena as his girlfriend and asks her to wait until they graduate before they start dating officially. He does this to avoid hurting the other girls’ feelings and to preserve their friendship. Sena is confused and upset by his request, but she eventually agrees to it.
Yozora also confesses to Kodaka, revealing that she is his childhood friend “Sora”. However, she accepts his rejection and decides to move on with her life. She cuts her hair short and changes her appearance. She also reconciles with Sena and becomes her friend.
Rika also gives up on Kodaka and focuses on her own life. She continues to be his friend and supports his relationship with Sena. She also reveals that she was the one who hacked into the school’s system and made Maria the club’s advisor.
Yukimura remains Kodaka’s loyal friend and respects his choice. He also reveals that he is a girl who was raised as a boy by her father.
Maria and Kobato also accept Kodaka’s decision and continue to see him as their older brother. They also become friends with each other and stop fighting.
The series ends with Kodaka and Sena graduating from high school and officially becoming a couple. They kiss in front of the club room, where the other members congratulate them. They all promise to stay in touch and remain friends forever.
Haganai Anime Ending:
The anime series consists of two seasons, with the first one airing in 2011 and the second one airing in 2013. The anime adapts the first eight volumes of the light novel, with some changes and additions. The anime does not have a definitive ending, as it leaves the romantic subplot unresolved.
In the last episode of the second season, Kodaka is confronted by Rika, who accuses him of being a coward who is afraid of making friends or falling in love. She challenges him to admit his feelings for one of the girls or face her wrath. Kodaka is unable to answer her and runs away from the club room.
He then encounters Yozora, who tells him that she is his childhood friend “Sora”. She explains that she changed her name and appearance after he moved away when they were kids. She also confesses her love for him and asks him to be her friend again.
Kodaka is shocked and confused by her revelation and confession. He does not know how to respond to her and runs away from her as well.
He then meets Sena, who tells him that she loves him and wants to marry him. She also asks him to be her friend and join her family.
Kodaka is overwhelmed and speechless by her declaration and proposal. He does not know how to react to her and runs away from her too.
He then runs into Yukimura, who tells him that he is a girl who was raised as a boy by her father. She also tells him that she loves him and wants to be his wife.
Kodaka is stunned and speechless by her revelation and confession. He does not know what to say to her and runs away from her as well.
He then runs into Maria, who tells him that she loves him and wants to be his sister. She also tells him that she is not a real nun or teacher, but a genius prodigy who skipped grades.
Kodaka is astonished and speechless by her revelation and confession. He does not know how to deal with her and runs away from her too.
He then runs into Kobato, who tells him that she loves him and wants to be his lover. She also tells him that she is not a gothic lolita or a chuunibyou, but a normal girl who likes cute things.
Kodaka is dumbfounded and speechless by her revelation and confession. He does not know how to handle her and runs away from her as well.
He then runs into Rika again, who tells him that she loves him and wants to be his partner. She also tells him that she is not a pervert or an eccentric, but a normal girl who likes romance.
Kodaka is flabbergasted and speechless by her revelation and confession. He does not know what to do with her and runs away from her too.
He then runs out of the school building, where he finds all the girls chasing after him. They all declare their love for him and ask him to choose one of them.
Kodaka is terrified and speechless by their declarations and requests. He does not know what to do with them and runs away from them all.
The series ends with Kodaka running away from the girls, while they chase after him, calling his name.
Conclusion
Haganai is a hilarious harem comedy that explores the theme of friendship among a group of misfits who are looking for friends. The series also has a romantic subplot that involves Kodaka’s relationship with the girls of the Neighbors Club. The series has three different endings: the light novel ending, the manga ending, and the anime ending.
