Kenja ga Nakama ni Natta!

Mara here. A high school student has decided that real friends are a waste of time, and he spends his days online. That is the whole premise, and it's a funny one. Then a mysterious girl arrives with a patience that is hard to resist, and she starts to show him that friendship offline might be worth the effort.The charm is in the gentle comedy. The lead's self-assured retreat from the world is funny, and the contrast with the girl's steady kindness drives most of the warmth. The story is comfortable with its own silliness and rarely takes itself too seriously.The limitations are the usual ones. The premise rests on a familiar idea about two people drawing each other out of their shells, and the supporting cast is thin. The later chapters can feel repetitive as the lessons about friendship pile up. Still, it's a light, pleasant read for anyone who enjoys stories about lonely people slowly opening up. It doesn't break new ground, but it's kindly written and easy to recommend for a relaxed afternoon.