Haganai: I Don't Have Many Friends Vol. 20

I had hoped very much that Volume 20 of Haganai would finish well, and under all circumstances, I can say it has.There is no completely happy ending, and no one rides off into the sunset, because for the members of the Neighbors Club, life really is just beginning. High school is supposed to be that ground where you find yourself, learn discipline, set a course, and prepare for a productive life.I can honestly say from experience, that is not true.I fell for firstly the artwork--a sweeping style that showed nuance and then crashed into violence and surrealism, with a dark humor that I fully understood. The cast from the beginning to me was well-drawn and utterly mad--there are no stereotypes in Haganai, just the uncool kids who so desperately wanted to belong, but knew that wasn't an option.The one thing they all wanted was friendship, and over time, the Neighbors Club, singly and in a group grappled with growing up, their own pasts, and change. Some took it more seriously than others, but at this end, we are left with the beginning.I was disappointed in the last three or four volumes. While they remained well-written and crafted, I felt too much of a need to explain everything, and the rapier-sharp, cutting humor was lost. Characters like Yukimura and Rika vanished into the background, and I wondered how this would end.Again, this is not an end, but Kokada and the gang are considering their options, and they realize that while they may have gotten all the answers, at least they walk way with experiences, and yes, they have made friends in very unconventional ways.Personally, I recognized every character from my high school, and I identified a little bit with each. The series is wacky, perverse, a little vulgar, dreamy and captured so much humanity. It's one of the finest series I've read, and while not perfect, it is inspiring, and in this final volume, I howled with laughter more than once.Well done!

Wow. The story finally wraps up here. So sad to see it go. Too bad the LN aren’t in English print. I came across this series back in 2016 watching a YouTube video of “Top 10 cutest little sisters in anime” (I think) and Kobato was in it that’s how I learned about the anime and manga and quickly got into both. Wish Kodaka and Sena at least kissed in the final Chapter but I know their future will be good. Great Series!!!