Hitoribocchi no Marumaruseikatsu – Episode 1 – Bocchi’s First Friend

Believe it or not, there is someone shyer than Miyako. It doesn’t come at a surprise given the main character’s name.

At last, a girl named Hitori Bocchi, which combined together (独りぼっち) literally means lonely or alone in Japanese. It seems that she is very anxious on her first day of middle school. Yes, her childhood friend, Yawara Kai broke her friendship with Bocchi not because she is going to another school. Kai wants Bocchi to make friends with her entire class. This only when Kai will mend her relationship with Bocchi.

Still, I have to admit that what Kai did is pretty cruel. This gives me an impression that Kai is not really her true friend. I understand her intentions, but for some people, maybe they are an introvert and have a hard time making friends. If Bocchi manages to makes friends, she will probably forget that Kai even existed by the time she graduates from middle school. After all, Kai forcefully broke ties with her.

That said, Bocchi’s plans to achieve her promise with Kai easily didn’t go so well. Not only the school places her in a sizable class of 29 students, her attempt to disband it failed. This is mostly because students in her class took it as a prank. Not to mention, some students mentioned that they are shy too. Still, it’s probably not at the extreme end compared to Bocchi. At this point, Bocchi is probably shyer than Hoshino Miyako, Futaba Sana, and Takimoto Hifumi combined.

As for Bocchi’s introduction, it didn’t go so well. She was so nervous that she couldn’t say her name and ended up throwing up on Sunao Nako. Despite this unfortunate incident with Nako, Bocchi tries to become friends with her. I find it funny how Nako calls Bocchi “barf” and eventually, a “gofer” after she gave her a drink. While this sounds like an insult, Nako’s strange names for Bocchi breaks her spirits.

Eventually, Bocchi eventually made friends with Nako. It only took an umbrella and some rain to achieve this. Still, it’s hilarious how Bocchi hits Nako’s head not once, but several times while trying to give a morning greeting. As for the questions, it’s funny how she prepares them. While helpful, it seems that Bocchi has no answer for gaming after Nako mentions it. This makes me wonder what kind of mobile games Nako plays.

Thankfully, Nako exchanged contact information with Bocchi. I have to admit it’s hilarious how Bocchi rarely uses her phone because she doesn’t have any friends. Either way, Bocchi seems comfortable talking to Nako through text messages since she doesn’t have to talk. The funny thing is that she keeps asking the same questions. I guess this will eventually happen since she doesn’t know what to talk about.

Even so, it’s hilarious how she walks into the wrong bathroom, dropping food and running into things while texting. In a way, Bocchi is becoming a typical Millennial or rather, a Generation Z who have their eyes glued to the phone’s screen. Thankfully, Nako tells her to stop fiddling with her phone while walking. After all, it’s dangerous doing that. Still, I think Bocchi is close enough with Nako that she doesn’t need to do all her conversations through text messages.

In the end, Bocchi finally admits that she started liking Nako and wants to become friends with her. While this sounded like a confession, isn’t she already friends with her already? Thankfully, their friendship is now official, meaning that Bocchi finally made her first friend in middle school. If she wants to achieve her promise, she has 27 more to go. Seems daunting, but hopefully she will try to get over her shyness and anxieties one step at a time. ¶