"A Lonely Life in XX" is a four-panel manga currently being serialized in Dengeki Comics NEXT. It was written by Katsuwo, who is also known for "Mitsuboshi Colors." It's been decided that an anime adaptation of the same title will be released in 2019, and the work is currently garnering a lot of attention. The protagonist, Ichiri Bocchi (Hitori Bocchi), is extremely shy and only made one friend in elementary school, Yahara Kai (Yawaraka Kai). The two become separated when they graduate from elementary school. So, he and Kai make a promise: "If he doesn't make friends with everyone in his class by the time he graduates from middle school, then we'll break up." Will Bocchi be able to make friends when he enters middle school? Today, we'll introduce our own ranking of the most memorable scenes from "A Lonely Life in XX."
10th Place: Ichiri Bocchi and Sunao Nako's First Fight?!
Source: A Lonely Life ©KADOKAWA CORPORATION
One day, Ichiri Bocchi and Sunao Nako were talking. The conversation turned to Bocchi's friend-making. When Bocchi said he'd become friends with everyone in his class, Nao asked him why. So Bocchi tells him about how he promised his childhood friend (Yahara Kai) that he would break up with her if he didn't become friends with everyone in the class. "Kai said that because he thought it was for my own good," Bocchi says tearfully, but Nako seems to be thinking something. Nako asks, "So that means the reason you first spoke to me was because of your promise to her?" Bocchi answers with a smile, "Yes." However, Nako sulks and says, "I was angry." Having upset Nako, Bocchi sits down on the stairs, devastated. His classmate and vice-president, Honjo Aru, comes over to him and offers his support. Aru encourages Bocchi, telling him that if he tells her everything he's thinking, she'll understand. Bocchi goes to see Nako and explains that he was initially afraid of her, that she only spoke to him because of his promise to Kai, and that "it was because of that promise that I fell in love with you!" Upon hearing this, Nako pats Bocchi on the head and says, "I'm not angry anymore." This is a memorable scene in which Bocchi and Nako have a fight for the first time, but they manage to make up.
9th Place: Ichiri Bocchi's Foreign Apprentice?!
Source: A Lonely Life ©KADOKAWA CORPORATION
Sotokarakita mistakes Ichiri Bocchi for a ninja. Sotoka seems to admire ninjas, and seems to have mistaken Bocchi for a ninja, as he usually hides his presence like a ninja and moves quickly at times. However, Bocchi's behavior stems from his extreme shyness, and when Bocchi tells him he's a ninja, he replies "no" and leaves. After that, Sotoka seems somewhat depressed. He even sighs and mutters, "Ninja..." Sotoka, wanting to cheer Sotoka up, makes a shuriken out of origami and throws it at him. Inside the shuriken is a message, and when Sotoka opens it, it reads, "I'm not a ninja, but..." and "Would you like to be friends?" However, Sotoka seems to have thought about it a lot after Bocchi tells her he's not a ninja, and ultimately comes to the conclusion that "ninjas are a secret group," and still seems to believe Bocchi is a ninja. Bocchi asks Sotoka to be his friend, but she replies, "No, I won't," and happily adds, "Sotoka will be my disciple." It's a surprising and memorable scene in which Bocchi finally gets a "disciple."
#8: Are Bocchi's Nights Amazing?!
Source: A Lonely Life ©KADOKAWA CORPORATION
It was a day shortly after Ichiri Bocchi became friends with his classmate, Sunao Nako, who sits across from him. In the middle of the night, Bocchi was engrossed in a book titled "How to Make Friends." It said things like, "If you share your worries, there's no way you can't become closer," and Bocchi said with a smile, "Now I can become even closer to Nako-chan...!" There was also a scene where she was alone in her room and said, "Wait for me, Nako-chan. I... feel like I can do it," appearing somewhat confident. However, the next morning she was completely out of sorts, trembling with weakness, suddenly unable to talk about her worries. Bocchi was worried, thinking that she was becoming bolder at night, when Nako asked him what was wrong and he replied, "I'm amazing at night." It seems that Bocchi at night is a little different.
7th Place: Bocchi and Kai's Promise
Source: A Lonely Life ©KADOKAWA CORPORATION
It was the time when Bocchi Ichiri and his childhood friend, Kai Yawara, were graduating from elementary school. Due to Bocchi's extreme shyness, Kai was the only friend he made in elementary school. However, Bocchi and Kai went to different junior high schools. Kai, thinking of Bocchi, wants him to make an effort to make friends, and tells him, "I've decided that unless you become friends with everyone in your class by the time you graduate from middle school, I'll break up our friendship." Bocchi immediately reacts negatively, but Kai gives him a small stuffed toy called the Ganbaru Fairy, crying, "Promise me you'll make lots of friends and make up with me." Bocchi then cries and says, "Yes... I promise..." This is a scene that shows Kai's kindness, thinking of Bocchi, who is terrible at making friends, and is a famous scene in which Bocchi decides to make friends.
6th Place: "He's following me even though he's weird," says Sunao Nako, her true feelings.
Source: A Lonely Life ©KADOKAWA CORPORATION
It was a day shortly after Ichiri Bocchi became friends with his classmate, Sunao Nako, who sat in front of him. Late at night, Bocchi is intently reading a book called "How to Make Friends" in his room. It says things like, "If you share your worries, there's no way you can't become closer," and Bocchi smiles and says, "Now I can become closer to Nako-chan...!" Alone in his room, he seems somewhat confident. However, the next morning, his spirit is completely gone, and Bocchi is suddenly shaking with fear, unable to share his worries. Seeing Bocchi like this, Nako realizes he's overthinking things again, and invites him to explore the school. They visit various places, including the school store and a suspicious-looking bathroom, but halfway through, the bell rings, and the time limit is up. However, as if they still haven't explored enough, Nako passes a piece of paper to Bocchi during class that reads, "Next, let's go to the rooftop!" After class, the two head to the rooftop. Bocchi immediately puts into practice what he learned in the book, "How to Make Friends," in order to share his worries. When asked what worries Nako, she says, "I guess it's the fact that he's been following me around, even though it's weird, ever since we started school." She continues, honestly, "He suddenly started saying he wanted to be my friend, and I don't know what he wants to do but he's strangely proactive, but it's actually fun." It's hard to tell what Nako is thinking on a normal day, but this is a great scene that shows that she is enjoying her school life with Bocchi.
5th Place: Ichiri Bocchi and Sunao Nako Sharing an Umbrella
Source: A Lonely Life ©KADOKAWA CORPORATION
It's the first day of junior high school. Ichiri Bocchi musters up the courage to talk to the person sitting in front of him. Sitting in front of him is Nako. Bocchi tries to talk to her, but becomes so nervous that he suddenly flops his head on the desk and suddenly buys her a juice, displaying mysterious behavior. Nako mistakes Bocchi for wanting to be her errand boy and asks her to ask another child. On the way home that day, Nako looks out the window and sees that it's raining. Nako complains that she forgot her umbrella, but upon hearing this, Bocchi hands her his folding umbrella and runs off. Nako chases after Bocchi and offers to go home with her. At that moment, Nako gives him a delicious candy in return for Bocchi's juice and says, "Call me Nako." She then adds, "It's nice when someone says they want to be friends, so don't be so self-conscious." It was unclear what would happen to Bocchi, who had been shy from the very first day, but it's a great scene in which he meets a kind friend.
4th Place: The Day I Became Friends with Sotoka Rakita
Source: A Lonely Life ©KADOKAWA CORPORATION
Ichiri Bocchi was worried about not making a single friend in the second semester. In order to feel stronger than he was in the first semester, Bocchi decided to become "Super Strong Bocchi." Bocchi tried to show off his strength by stepping on the heels of his indoor shoes and adding mustard, which isn't usually added to natto. However, it didn't work, and Bocchi became depressed, thinking, "I'm weak after all..." Seeing this, Sotoka Rakita consulted Sunao Nako and Honjo Al on how to make Bocchi feel like the strongest. Al advised, "If he could make friends and realize that all his efforts to become stronger weren't in vain..." Hearing this, Sotoka, not wanting Bocchi to think that all he'd done for him were in vain, said he would stop being Bocchi's apprentice and repay Bocchi, and headed towards Bocchi. Sotoka came up to Bocchi on the rooftop. She told him, "You made me want to be your friend rather than a ninja." Furthermore, Sotoka uses the origami shuriken that Bocchi first taught him, and says, "Master, please be friends with Sotoka." Hearing this, Bocchi says, "This is the first time someone has asked me to be their friend," and faints. It's a classic scene in which the two, who had always been in a master and disciple relationship, become friends.
3rd Place: The Moment Ichiri Bocchi and Kai Yawara Became Friends
Source: A Lonely Life ©KADOKAWA CORPORATION
Ichiri Bocchi and Kai Yawara, both extremely shy people, were asked how they became friends. Bocchi and Kai met when they were five years old. It all started when Kai approached Bocchi, curious about what he was doing because he was alone and not playing with anyone. However, when Bocchi escaped, Kai assumed Bocchi had a secret and chased after him. After chasing him every day, Kai finally caught him 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. From then on, Kai played tag and hide-and-seek every day, but Bocchi seemed to have a talent for tag, and Kai always got caught in no time. As they spent their days like this, they gradually began to talk more, and before they knew it, they had become friends. Furthermore, one day, Kai discovered that Bocchi and Kai shared the same birthday. Kai put candles in a cream puff he had secretly brought with him and celebrated together. So, when Bocchi sang "Happy Birthday Dear Yahara-san" by his last name, Kai felt that he was being distant and said, "I won't let you go until you call me by my name." Kai was upset that Bocchi wouldn't call him by his name at all, so later he asked Bocchi, "Do you really hate it when I call you by your name?" Bocchi replied that he thought if he didn't call him by his name, he would always be with him. The two of them have remained good friends ever since. It's a heartwarming and memorable scene between Bocchi and Kai.
2nd Place: My First Purikura
Source: A Lonely Life ©KADOKAWA CORPORATION
By chance, Ichiri Bocchi met Ojousamayo, a true rich girl. However, Bocchi still couldn't bring himself to ask Mayo to be his friend. So, Bocchi invites Mayo to take some Purikura photos with him using the money he earns from a part-time job she introduced him to, folding origami cranes. So, the five of them—Bocchi, Sunao Nako, Honjo Aru, Sotoka Rakita, and Mayo—head to the game center. Since this is the first time for Bocchi, Mayo, and Sotoka to take Purikura photos, they seem to be moved by each and every step of the process. After taking the Purikura photos, they move on to doodling. Mayo asks Bocchi what he'll write, and Bocchi replies, "I'll write everyone's friends." After writing the doodle, Bocchi plans to show it to Mayo, and seems flustered, saying, "I, I said it." Mayo then asks, "Does that mean I'm everyone...?" Bocchi responds, "Will you be my friend?" She smiles and replies, tears in her eyes, "Yes. Everyone, I'd love to meet you." He then sends an email to his parents, who are always overseas, along with the photo stickers, expressing the feelings he normally can't express: "I miss you, Mom and Dad." This is a memorable moment in which Bocchi makes new friends and Mayo takes a step forward after meeting the Bocchis.
#1: Ichiri Bocchi's Growth Over the Year!
Source: A Lonely Life ©KADOKAWA CORPORATION
On the way home from the day of the third-year graduation ceremony at Ichiri Bocchi's junior high school. Nako Sunao asks, "How was Bocchi's first year? I only made six friends, though." Bocchi happily replies, "I made so many friends. It's like a dream." She adds, "At the beginning of the first semester, I gave up on becoming friends with Nako. But because you pursued me and became my friend, I can try my best to make friends too. So, Nako, thank you for being my friend." This is a great scene that shows how meeting Nako has helped Bocchi make friends, and even how the shy Bocchi is finally able to express his gratitude to Nako.
A Summary of the Great Scenes from "The Lonely Life of XX"!
Source: Hitoribottinomaru's Life ©KADOKAWA CORPORATION
What did you think? This time, we've ranked the most memorable scenes from "Hitoribottinomaru's Life." Ichiribottinomaru, who only had one friend in elementary school, makes new friends, and the series features many memorable scenes filled with the memories he makes with those friends. This work is scheduled to be made into an anime in spring 2019, so be sure to check out the manga as well. Thank you for reading to the end.
