I Made Friends with the Second Prettiest Girl in My Class

Shy and introverted, Maehara Maki immediately messed up her self-introduction on the first day of school. She watched the exchange between Amami Yu and Asanagi Kai, whose self-introductions were the complete opposite of her own, as if it were a world she had no connection to. Maki spent the first semester without making any friends, but one day at a video rental store, she was given a real self-introduction card by Kai, who was rumored to be the second prettiest girl in the class. On it were Kai's true hobbies, including watching B-movies, which she shared with Maki.

Kai receives a confession from an upperclassman, but she easily rejects him. Maki, who was secretly watching the scene with Yu and Niina, exchanges contact information with Yu as they part ways. One afternoon after school, Maki and Kai go out into town as planned and have a good time, when Maki runs into Yu and Niina, who were hanging out with another group while Kai was out. Maki tries to act as if nothing is wrong to prevent their secret relationship from being discovered, but Yu invites her to hang out with them... Maki refuses in a firm tone and leaves.

Maki starts talking to Yu at school, and in the course of their conversation, she invites Kai and Yu to her house. Seeing Maki and Yu spending time together like friends in the house where she and Maki usually played together, Kai shows a complicated expression. On another day, Kai and Maki play at Maki's house as usual, but they become so engrossed in reading manga that they fall asleep. Maki's mother, Masaki, comes home late at night and notices, and although she scolds Kai, he stays the night. Meanwhile, at school, they begin deciding on the organizing committee for the school festival.

In a lottery to select two members for the school festival committee, Maki draws the winning ticket, and Yu is furious when her classmates playfully treat the remaining ticket as a losing one. As the atmosphere becomes tense, Yu volunteers, but Kai draws the winning ticket, and the situation calms down. However, Kai had actually drawn the losing ticket and was lying to save face. Afterwards, at Maki's suggestion, the school festival will feature art made from empty cans, and Maki and Kai work together with their classmates to prepare.

Kai expresses his complex feelings towards Yu. He talks about the first time he spoke to Yu when she transferred schools in third grade, how they became closer and closer after that, how he was only seen as "Yu's best friend" by those around him, and how he was ostracized by friends who were jealous of his position... Yu is shocked to hear about Kai's feelings for the first time. Meanwhile, Maki, who wants Kai and Yu to return to their former relationship, wants Kai to prioritize spending time with Yu over spending time with her.

Maki invited Kai to spend Christmas Eve together, but Kai declined, saying he had plans. There was a Christmas party being held jointly with a nearby high school on Christmas Eve, and Kai had signed up to attend with Yu and others, but Maki hadn't. In the end, they made plans to have a Christmas party just the two of them after the party, but Yu ended up joining them as well. Meanwhile, rumors spread throughout the class that Nozomi Seki from the baseball club had confessed his feelings to Yu and been rejected.

While out with Kai and Yu, Maki unexpectedly runs into her father, Itsuki. Itsuki is with his subordinate, Minato Kyoka. Seeing the two of them together, Maki is reminded of her parents' past strained relationship, and even when she goes to a yakiniku restaurant with Kai and Yu, she can't concentrate. The next day, Kai and Maki go to the movies on a date, but Kai finds the movie boring and falls asleep early on. Both of them feel that even on a date, they should have watched a B-movie instead of a romance film. They then enjoy a cafe and karaoke, and before they know it, it's nighttime.

Maki feels embarrassed as Kai and Masaki happily look through the Maehara family's photo album. After Masaki leaves for work, Maki eats breakfast with Kai and tells him that she will be meeting with Itsuki on Friday. After school, Maki, Kai, Yu, and Nozomi gather at Maki's house to study for their tests. Kai feels jealous and insecure as he watches Maki kindly teaching Yu, and despite Yu and Nozomi's presence, he flirts with Maki. On Friday, Maki meets with Itsuki and confronts him about his relationship with Minato.

Maki and her friends ask Nozomi's older sister, Chio, the student council president, if Maki can join the school's Christmas party. After negotiations, she is able to attend the party. A few days later, Maki is invited to dinner with Kai's parents, but despite the welcoming atmosphere at the Asanagi household, she can't hide her nervousness. As she experiences the warmth of the family gathering, she gradually begins to relax, but as she remembers the time when her own parents were close, she finds herself shedding tears.

On the day of the Christmas party, Maki calls Minato aside and asks about his relationship with Itsuki, but Minato wants to mend the relationship between Maki and Itsuki. When Maki returns to the venue, she is captivated by Umi's beautiful dress. After that enjoyable time passes, Maki meets up with Masaki outside the venue. Itsuki and Minato also arrive there. Maki had hoped to reunite her parents and get them to make up, but Masaki and Itsuki start arguing. Although her wish was not fulfilled, Maki feels relieved after venting her feelings.

One morning after Christmas, Maki falls ill with a fever and is confined to bed. When Umi and Sora find out, they come to visit her and end up taking her to the hospital. Since Masaki is out for work, Maki recuperates at Umi's house. Umi diligently takes care of her, but her father, Daichi, watches his daughter from the sidelines and is very worried. The next day, Umi goes out, leaving Maki alone with Sora. Sora thanks Maki for getting along with Umi, and Maki declares that she will cherish Umi as well.

Umi was making Valentine's Day chocolates, but things weren't going well. Worried, Maki went to Umi's house. Seeing Umi dejected because she wasn't happy with the result, Maki suggested they make chocolates together again. The chocolates were successfully completed, and Umi smiled. Then White Day arrived, and this time Maki gave Umi a present. More time passed, and it was Umi's birthday, April 3rd, and Maki attended Umi's birthday party at Yu's house.