I Made Friends with the Second Prettiest Girl in My Class (Japanese: クラスで2番目に可愛い女の子と友だちになった, RR: Kurasu de Nibanme ni Kawaii Onnanoko to Tomodachi ni Natta) is a heartwarming and popular light novel and manga series written by Rinata with illustrations by Tomose. In the landscape of modern rom-coms, it stands out for its "slow-burn" approach and its focus on a genuine, low-stakes friendship that gradually blossoms into something more.

The story follows Maki Maehara, an average high schooler who prefers to stay in the background. One day, he strikes up a conversation with Umi Asagi, a girl who is widely considered the "second prettiest" in the class (the first being her best friend, the "perfect" heroine). Unlike the typical popular girl tropes, Umi is down-to-earth, slightly socially awkward, and tired of being compared to her best friend. The two find common ground in their shared interests and begin meeting secretly on Friday nights to hang out, play games, and talk.

Alternative Names and Titles

Nibanme / The Second Prettiest Girl / Class de 2-banme