"Hitoribocchi no XX Seikatsu" is a four-panel manga currently being serialized in "Dengeki Comics NEXT." Its original author is Katsuwo, known for "Mitsuboshi Colors." It's also set to be adapted into an anime with the same title in 2019, and is currently garnering a lot of attention. The protagonist, Ichiri Bocchi (Hitoribocchi), is extremely shy and only had one friend in elementary school: Kai Yahara (Yawaraka Kai). Kai and I were separated after graduating from elementary school. So, Kai and I made a promise: "If I don't make friends with everyone in my class by the time we graduate from middle school, we'll break up." Will Bocchi be able to make friends in middle school? This time, we'd like to introduce the charm of Kai Yahara, Ichiri Bocchi's childhood friend, the protagonist of "Hitoribocchi no XX Seikatsu."
① Bocchi's only friend in elementary school!
Source: Hitoribottinomaru's Life ©KADOKAWA CORPORATION
A childhood friend of Ichiri Bocchi, the protagonist of "Hitoribottinomaru's Life." She attends a different private junior high school than Bocchi. Her hair is slightly longer than a bob, and she has a large, swollen hair growing from the top of her head.
② A Kind and Caring Personality
Source: A Lonely Life ©KADOKAWA CORPORATION
Hitori's childhood friend, Bocchi Ichiri, is extremely shy, and there's a scene where she tearfully promises Bocchi that if he doesn't make friends with everyone in his class by the time they graduate from junior high school, they'll break up. At the time, she even gave him a small stuffed toy called the Ganbaru Fairy. Thanks to this promise, Bocchi seems to be actively working to make friends in order to make up with Kai.
③ Keep your promise!
Source: A Lonely Life ©KADOKAWA CORPORATION
One day, Ichiri Bocchi, Sunao Nako, Honjo Aru, and Sotoka Rakita came to karaoke. They were enjoying karaoke, with Al singing the original theme song and Sotoka adding some Okinawan interjections that she had memorized. One day, Bocchi suddenly looked towards the door and saw something that looked like a familiar ahoge. Kai Yahara noticed Bocchi running outside and was about to call out his name, "Bocchi," but instead said, "Oh, we're breaking up, we're breaking up." Even though it had been a long time since they last met, they kept their promise to "make friends with everyone in the class or we'll break up."
④ She loves being a loner
Source: A Lonely Life ©KADOKAWA CORPORATION
When they met by chance at a karaoke bar, Kai Yawara refused to respond when Ichiri Bocchi spoke to him, in order to keep his promise to "make friends with everyone in the class or break up." However, Bocchi says, "I made some friends!" and introduces Sunao Nako, Honjo Aru, and Sotoka Rakita, who had come to karaoke with her. Bocchi then continues, "Kai-chan, I... swear to the Ganbaru Fairy that I'll definitely become friends with everyone in my class! And... I'll make up with Kai-chan!", but then Kai just goes off into the karaoke room. You'd think Kai hadn't even thought about Bocchi at all, but as soon as he entered the room, he crouched down and cried, saying, "Bocchi, I've made some friends. I... don't hate you anymore." It seems she really likes Bocchi, as she cried.
⑤ Vomits when happy
Source: A Lonely Life ©KADOKAWA CORPORATION
Like Ichiri Bocchi, who vomits when happy, Yawara Kai also seems to have a habit of vomiting when happy. This happened when he met Bocchi again at a karaoke bar after entering junior high school. Bocchi and Kai hadn't been able to say a single word to each other because they had made a promise that they would break up unless they made friends with everyone in the class, but it seems Bocchi had already made three friends. Bocchi then turned to Kai and said, "I'll definitely make friends with everyone in the class! And then... I'll make up with Kai-chan!" After leaving Bocchi and going into the karaoke room, Kai crouched down and began crying. Kai was so happy to find out that Bocchi had made friends and that Bocchi didn't hate him that he was crying. In the end, he was so happy that he threw up.
⑥ Worrying
Source: A Lonely Life ©KADOKAWA CORPORATION
Kai Yawara was Ichiri Bocchi's only friend from elementary school. After they went to different junior high schools, she became so concerned about Bocchi that she promised him that she would break up with him if he didn't make friends with everyone in his class by the time they graduated, so that Bocchi could make friends. Furthermore, Kai seems to have continued to worry about Bocchi even after they became middle school students. When they met by chance at a karaoke bar, Kai kept his promise and didn't say a word to Bocchi. At that time, a friend who was at the karaoke with Kai said, "Kai, why don't you say something?" to which Kai replied, "It's okay," but it seems that he had also talked about Bocchi with his middle school friends, who said, "But Kai, the girl you always talk about and worry about is that girl." He also went so far as to pray, "I hope Bocchi doesn't cry too much," when they came to visit the shrine for the New Year.
⑦ Speaking with Impulse
Source: A Lonely Life ©KADOKAWA CORPORATION
When he graduated from elementary school, he made a promise with Ichiri Bocchi. Yawara Kai was extremely shy, and Kai was the only friend he had in elementary school. However, the two ended up attending different junior high schools. So Kai came up with the promise, "If you don't become friends with everyone in your class by the time you graduate from middle school, we'll break up." But Bocchi seemed somewhat hesitant. Kai encouraged Bocchi, saying confidently, "I believe in you and I'll wait for you. After all, you've never broken a promise before." However, right after that he added, "Maybe. I'm not so sure." It seems that sometimes he speaks on impulse.
⑧He can be a bit persistent too?!
Source: A Lonely Life ©KADOKAWA CORPORATION
When asked why Ichiri Bocchi and Kai Yawara became friends in the first place, Bocchi and Kai met when they were five years old. It all started when Kai approached Bocchi, curious as he was alone and not playing with anyone. However, when Bocchi escaped, Kai assumed Bocchi was hiding something and chased him. They continued to chase each other every day after that. Kai finally caught Bocchi and asked him, "Why are you running away!?" Bocchi then weakly replied, "I'll play tag," and before he knew it, Kai was playing tag with Bocchi. Kai says that playing tag with Bocchi was much more fun than playing tag with other people. From then on, they played tag and hide-and-seek every day, but Bocchi seemed to have a talent for tag, and Kai was always caught in no time. As they spent their days like this, they gradually started to talk more, and before they knew it, they had become friends. It seems that Kai's persistence was what allowed Bocchi to become friends with Kai.
⑨Good at making friends
Source: A Lonely Life ©KADOKAWA CORPORATION
One day, Ichiri Bocchi, Honjo Al, and the others went to visit the shrine together for the first time of the year. As they were walking through the shrine after praying, Al received an email. It was from Yawara Kai. When Sunao Nao exclaims in surprise, "Kai-chan?! How did you know his contact information?", Aru replies, "We secretly exchanged contact details when we were at karaoke." Kai then sends him a text message saying, "Happy New Year! I'm visiting the shrine for the first time this year! Are you crying, Bocchi?" They seem to have become quite close. Ataru was Bocchi's only friend in elementary school, and he seems to have no problem making friends in middle school, showing that he's good at making friends.
⑩A little out of sync?
Source: A Lonely Life ©KADOKAWA CORPORATION
Kai Yawara seems to be a bit of an eccentric character. He even wears a jinbei (jinbei beanbag) instead of a kimono for his first shrine visit of the year. His friends ask him, "Isn't it cold?" to which he responds without any awkwardness, "Yeah, I'm fine." When asked why he became friends with Ichiri Bocchi, Kai revealed that he was curious about Bocchi, who was often alone at the time, and would chase him around. Bocchi would run away from Kai, but before he knew it, the two of them ended up playing tag. Since then, he's started talking to Bocchi.
Summary of Kai Yahara's Charms!
Source: A Lonely Life ©KADOKAWA CORPORATION
What did you think? This time, we introduced the charm of Kai Yawara, childhood friend of Ichiri Bocchi, the protagonist of "A Lonely Life." Kai may be a little eccentric, but he seems to really love Bocchi. Perhaps it was because Kai was Bocchi's first friend that he was able to make friends even after entering junior high school. Please be sure to check out the article. Thank you for reading to the end.
