I Became Friends with the Second Cutest Girl in Class April 7, 2026. Connect, 12 eps, romance. The short version: this is one of the few spring entries where the trailer made me want to reread the source.
The hook
I, Maehara Maki, struggled to connect with anyone during my high school years, finding it hard to make friends. Then, a turning point arrived. A girl named Asanagi entered my life. Despite being clandestinely referred to as the "second cutest girl in class" by the boys, she chose to spend her Fridays with me instead of her best friend Amami, who held the "cutest girl in class" title. In the comfort of my home, we delved into the realm of games, watched movies, immersed ourselves in manga, indulged in junk food—pizza, hamburgers—and guzzled cola, carefree and content. It's the kind of premise that sounds tidy in two sentences and gets weirder on screen — in a good way. Stick around past the cold open.
Studio side
Production sits at Connect; Nippon Columbia, KlockWorx, Asmik Ace handle the committee. The studio's track record on adjacent material is the reason fans of the source went from cautious to optimistic the moment the staff list dropped.
Broadcast
Tuesdays at 23:30 (JST). Episode count: 12. Same-day simulcast windows are on the usual Western streamers — check your local Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, or Hulu listing for the timed slot.
Verdict
15,607 viewers have it at 7.89. Read between the lines: that's not a niche audience, that's broad pickup with steady reception. Add it to the rotation. It's not the loudest pick of the season; that's exactly what makes it a worthwhile one.