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Manga Info
Kare wa Tomodachi ![]()
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Description
In her middle school days, Hiyori only has eyes for Mizuno, a popular guy in school. She then partners up with Sasamoto Ren, Mizuno's best friend, and both hatch a plan to bring her and Mizuno together. However, things begin to change, as Hiyori and Ren grow closer, and they find themselves falling in love... with each other. As old loves fade away and pave way for new ones, obstacles also threaten to tear them apart, especially Ren's seemingly innocent but scheming friend, Kotone, who shares a past with Ren and isn't about to let him go.
Type
Manga
Related Series
Associated Names
He Is My Friend
หลงรักหนุ่มข้างโต๊ะ (Thai)
他只是朋友
彼はトモダチ
그와 난 친구사이
หลงรักหนุ่มข้างโต๊ะ (Thai)
他只是朋友
彼はトモダチ
그와 난 친구사이
Groups Scanlating
Latest Release(s)
c.Extra by Midnight Scans over 13 years ago
v.7 c.28 (end) by Midnight Scans over 13 years ago
v.7 c.27 by Midnight Scans over 13 years ago
Search for all releases of this series
v.7 c.28 (end) by Midnight Scans over 13 years ago
v.7 c.27 by Midnight Scans over 13 years ago
Search for all releases of this series
Status
in Country of Origin
7 Volumes (Complete)
8 Volumes (Kanzenban, Complete)
8 Volumes (Kanzenban, Complete)
Completely Scanlated?
Yes
Anime Start/End Chapter
N/A
User Reviews
N/A
Forum
1 topics, 3 posts
Click here to view the forum
Click here to view the forum
User Rating
Average: 7.6 / 10.0 (377 votes)
Bayesian Average: 7.5 / 10.0
Bayesian Average: 7.5 / 10.0
10
29%
9+
12%
8+
18%
7+
15%
6+
9%
5+
5%
4+
4%
3+
2%
2+
3%
1+
4%
Last Updated
June 12th 2020, 4:37am
Image [Report Inappropriate Content]
Genre
Categories
Category Recommendations
My Cotton Candy
Truth (Namori)
Ubawareta Shukufuku no Yoru
Kanagawa Nanpakei Love Story
Koi ga Bokura wo Yurusu Hani
Truth (Namori)
Ubawareta Shukufuku no Yoru
Kanagawa Nanpakei Love Story
Koi ga Bokura wo Yurusu Hani
Recommendations
Author(s)
Artist(s)
Year
2007
Original Publisher
Serialized In (magazine)
Bessatsu Friend (Kodansha)
Licensed (in English)
No
English Publisher
N/A
Activity Stats (vs. other series)
Weekly Pos #682 
(+55)
Monthly Pos #1546(+172)
3 Month Pos #3384 (No change)
6 Month Pos #4349(+466)
Year Pos #6375(+732)
(+55)Monthly Pos #1546
(+172)3 Month Pos #3384 (No change)
6 Month Pos #4349
(+466)Year Pos #6375
(+732)List Stats
On 541 reading lists
On 602 wish lists
On 991 completed lists
On 50 unfinished lists
On 257 custom lists
On 602 wish lists
On 991 completed lists
On 50 unfinished lists
On 257 custom lists
User Comments
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Sasamoto actually did something, and everyone bashes him for it?
For those who want to know how it goes and whether you want to ragequit after Kotone's antics, I've read up to the latest chapters, and mark my words...
I don't mean for this to turn into a "Sasamoto vs Yuuma" thing with this remark, but I'd just like to say that Sasamoto is by no means as stupid as some of the posters are making him out to be, and Yuuma is nowhere near as mature as the posters are claiming him to be too.
... Last updated on September 20th, 2009, 6:05am
Spoiler (highlight to view)
He's aware of his dysfunctional relationship with Kotone - he's not blind to her faults. He knows exactly what kind of person she is deep down, even if he might not be aware of her more sinister side. He knows that she's a difficult person to get along with, and THAT is the difference between other shoujo males and Sasamoto - he chose to fulfill his duty of staying with his clingy, obsessive, weak friend over his own love for his girlfriend... and he knows it very well. He knows that his thing with Kotone will inevitably get in the way of his and Hiyori's happiness, and coupled with his belief that Hiyori could deserve better, he lets her go.
It's easy to say, KOTONE IS A BITCH HE SHULD LET HER G0 but think about it from Sasamoto's perspective. Is it that easy to sever a relationship with a woman that came with more baggages than you can shake at? Is it that easy to simply walk away from a history that bound them both? No, it's not.
That is why Sasamoto "chose" Kotone. He doesn't jump to and from both women; he's able to look at the bigger picture and make a decision to fulfill the obligation he made with his longtime friend and accepts the burden of caring for her when no one would. Yes, it's a burden - and he knows it fully well.
But above all, if there is one thing you cannot accuse Sasamoto of, that would be being ignorant and indecisive. As disagreeable some might find his break-up decision to be, it was glaringly obvious he did it, not because he "couldn't make up his mind", but because he rationalized it to be the most sensible out of the current circumstances, for what he thinks were to the benefits of both women.
Nowhere had he placed his own interests on top of it. Sasamoto knew exactly what he let go when he separated from Hiyori. This is why he cried, after all.
The comment below where the poster refers to the manga as "stupidly unrealistic" is pretty amazing as Sasamoto's decision and Hiyori's inability to forget Sasamoto are reflections of ordinary occurrences in real life, even if a bit exaggerated but by no means as terrible as he/she makes it out to be. It's frustrating, slow and unfortunate - does that sound familiar? Yes! If you're looking for something cheesy, straight-forward and mindless, go look for Shinjo Mayu instead.
It's easy to say, KOTONE IS A BITCH HE SHULD LET HER G0 but think about it from Sasamoto's perspective. Is it that easy to sever a relationship with a woman that came with more baggages than you can shake at? Is it that easy to simply walk away from a history that bound them both? No, it's not.
That is why Sasamoto "chose" Kotone. He doesn't jump to and from both women; he's able to look at the bigger picture and make a decision to fulfill the obligation he made with his longtime friend and accepts the burden of caring for her when no one would. Yes, it's a burden - and he knows it fully well.
But above all, if there is one thing you cannot accuse Sasamoto of, that would be being ignorant and indecisive. As disagreeable some might find his break-up decision to be, it was glaringly obvious he did it, not because he "couldn't make up his mind", but because he rationalized it to be the most sensible out of the current circumstances, for what he thinks were to the benefits of both women.
Nowhere had he placed his own interests on top of it. Sasamoto knew exactly what he let go when he separated from Hiyori. This is why he cried, after all.
The comment below where the poster refers to the manga as "stupidly unrealistic" is pretty amazing as Sasamoto's decision and Hiyori's inability to forget Sasamoto are reflections of ordinary occurrences in real life, even if a bit exaggerated but by no means as terrible as he/she makes it out to be. It's frustrating, slow and unfortunate - does that sound familiar? Yes! If you're looking for something cheesy, straight-forward and mindless, go look for Shinjo Mayu instead.
For those who want to know how it goes and whether you want to ragequit after Kotone's antics, I've read up to the latest chapters, and mark my words...
Spoiler (highlight to view)
Though it looks like Sasamoto and Hiyori are drifting apart even further, make no mistake, this manga is definitely their love story.
I don't mean for this to turn into a "Sasamoto vs Yuuma" thing with this remark, but I'd just like to say that Sasamoto is by no means as stupid as some of the posters are making him out to be, and Yuuma is nowhere near as mature as the posters are claiming him to be too.
... Last updated on September 20th, 2009, 6:05am
I enjoyed this manga. I think it was very emotional and you can relate it to real life in someway.
There are alot of relationships in the world that are just like this. I'm so glad this wasn't one of those "She'll end up with her first of everything" type of manga.
I like to read those but then that makes me kinda jealous of those girls because that doesn't happen in real life.
Life is unexpected and everything that happened in this manga was unexpected. Rushed but I never saw it coming.
I have more to say about this but lol I'm not good with explaining what I am trying to say.
I kinda understood Kotone but her actions were ridiculous.
I do know a lot of girls though who do what they do because they are lonely. But now they aren't lonely anymore and have a little someone to take care of.
The ending was to rushed though. That's the only thing. I understood it but it didn't fit at that point of the story.
There are alot of relationships in the world that are just like this. I'm so glad this wasn't one of those "She'll end up with her first of everything" type of manga.
I like to read those but then that makes me kinda jealous of those girls because that doesn't happen in real life.
Life is unexpected and everything that happened in this manga was unexpected. Rushed but I never saw it coming.
I have more to say about this but lol I'm not good with explaining what I am trying to say.
I kinda understood Kotone but her actions were ridiculous.
I do know a lot of girls though who do what they do because they are lonely. But now they aren't lonely anymore and have a little someone to take care of.
Spoiler (highlight to view)
It is sad that Hiyori is the one who ended up pregnant and not Kotone.
But like I said life is unexpected.
But like I said life is unexpected.
The ending was to rushed though. That's the only thing. I understood it but it didn't fit at that point of the story.
I had such high hopes for the manga... I ended up not liking it.
Spoiler (mouse over to view)
The beginning was unrealistically fast, when she fell for Ren, but that's expected in some mangas.
I thought the manga was gonna go great, until Kotone broke them up. I still thought the story had potential, but it just all downhill from there.
There was just too much "I love you, but I hate you, and I actually want to love the other guy, and I suck, this sucks, baaaww."
I really wanted Hiyori to stay with Mizuna, but she didn't. She was being waaaay too selfish, and I was like "STOP DANCING AROUND AND FIND OUT WHAT YOU WANT WOMAN. AHHHH."
In the end, none of the characters were likable at all, except Mizuna. For me at least, and I felt so bad for him.
And the ending was too rushed, and kind of a big WTF? So, I don't recommend reading this manga at all.I thought the manga was gonna go great, until Kotone broke them up. I still thought the story had potential, but it just all downhill from there.
There was just too much "I love you, but I hate you, and I actually want to love the other guy, and I suck, this sucks, baaaww."
I really wanted Hiyori to stay with Mizuna, but she didn't. She was being waaaay too selfish, and I was like "STOP DANCING AROUND AND FIND OUT WHAT YOU WANT WOMAN. AHHHH."
In the end, none of the characters were likable at all, except Mizuna. For me at least, and I felt so bad for him.
This should have just ended at volume one, to be honest. The following volumes just get progressively more and more ridiculously melodramatic and, in the end, absolutely spoiling the central characters for me. All but the character who needed to change changed, and for the worse.
Spoiler (highlight to view)
I had hoped that, after all the drama that had occurred, Kotone would have had SOME character development but she remains a selfish bitch right to the last volume. Even the 'tragic past' cannot explain that level of sheer heartlessness. As for Mizuno, I could've sworn he got a sex change from all the PMSing he does. Ren is just plain flakey and getting nowhere. And Hiyori. I used to have some kind of admiration for her in the way she dealt with the early Kotone-related drama. But then she started dating Mizuno and mirrored Ren's flakey behaviour.
Random note: I was somewhat amused by Hiyori's sister's resemblance to Kotone.
Random note: I was somewhat amused by Hiyori's sister's resemblance to Kotone.
dying by chapter 5..
things happen too fast, with too little history behind it...everything is fueled by sudden impulses -.-;
heartfelt tears and "glowing" smiles (that come along with the half page *shine* that makes the other characters go goggled eye...like this "O.O" ) all come veryy spontaneously.
its hard to sympathise with anyone but Yuuma, who is a side character that doesn't have many scenes or even say much for the matter.. LOL, doesnt that say something? but wait, there aren't any thoughtful lines anyway..
other than the trivial daily talk...the lines that are highlighted are:
(happy side) "this is destiny" "i-i like him!" "im so happy" *happy tears*
(sad side) "i cant do this anymore" "thank you for everything" "you liar!" *sad tears*
soo...i agree with the criticism that the characters have communication problems =.=; 'lack of all verbal skills' - when they have something in their minds, they are either too cowardly, or lack the skills to actually talk to each other about it...and instead they try to convey it through their actions, and the three top actions are: running away, crying and grabbing each other~ (of course they then shout some things to hurt the other person, without explaining why the heck they are saying it)
cant help but laugh at all the attempts to make this heartwarming and drama-worthy.. shouldn't they label this as a comedy? too cliche...and predictable...Kotone is just this 2D selfish girl with no sense of morals or proper emotions - and the guys are just miraculously oblivious to it.
- kotone has everyone in the palm of her hands, they dance to her false stories and things get stirred up by just this one little sad girl...she doesn't seem to have ANY good points at all? is that realistic? even Hitler had a scarce few things that can be said to be good (like saving the german economy...) but this girl... =_=; she's like an empty human filled with all the bad things we dont like..(she cant even be called particularly pretty....)
- sasamoto is like a playboy that isn't smooth enough or sweet -_-;
something like Bokura ga Ita's Yano or Aishiteruze Baby's Kippei are awesome playboys that you can easily imagine falling in love with because of their sweet attachment to one girl...but sasamoto...has none of these endearing traits -_-
all in all, i would say that this is a very good portrayal of immature and unrealistic infatuations.
its too idealistic to think that they could understand each other without saying much -_-; but actually i dont think they had much to be understood anyway...too flat =.=;...
such transparent characters....
and humans aren't transparent.
i can sum this story up with one word:
"shallow".
thats my opinion.
lol intemango's link poor communication kills sums it up perfectly too
sigh...the story line itself can explore many twists, and its alright for many coincidences to happen (which there are MANY here)...and the only thing that would save it from being condemned for bad plot would be amazing characters that we can sympathise with~ characters that aren't so predictable and 2 dimensional, or it'll all fall apart..
i'm giving it two because it could have been done worse and the art is alright.
... Last updated on October 10th, 2010, 8:26pm
things happen too fast, with too little history behind it...everything is fueled by sudden impulses -.-;
heartfelt tears and "glowing" smiles (that come along with the half page *shine* that makes the other characters go goggled eye...like this "O.O" ) all come veryy spontaneously.
its hard to sympathise with anyone but Yuuma, who is a side character that doesn't have many scenes or even say much for the matter.. LOL, doesnt that say something? but wait, there aren't any thoughtful lines anyway..
other than the trivial daily talk...the lines that are highlighted are:
(happy side) "this is destiny" "i-i like him!" "im so happy" *happy tears*
(sad side) "i cant do this anymore" "thank you for everything" "you liar!" *sad tears*
soo...i agree with the criticism that the characters have communication problems =.=; 'lack of all verbal skills' - when they have something in their minds, they are either too cowardly, or lack the skills to actually talk to each other about it...and instead they try to convey it through their actions, and the three top actions are: running away, crying and grabbing each other~ (of course they then shout some things to hurt the other person, without explaining why the heck they are saying it)
cant help but laugh at all the attempts to make this heartwarming and drama-worthy.. shouldn't they label this as a comedy? too cliche...and predictable...Kotone is just this 2D selfish girl with no sense of morals or proper emotions - and the guys are just miraculously oblivious to it.
- kotone has everyone in the palm of her hands, they dance to her false stories and things get stirred up by just this one little sad girl...she doesn't seem to have ANY good points at all? is that realistic? even Hitler had a scarce few things that can be said to be good (like saving the german economy...) but this girl... =_=; she's like an empty human filled with all the bad things we dont like..(she cant even be called particularly pretty....)
- sasamoto is like a playboy that isn't smooth enough or sweet -_-;
something like Bokura ga Ita's Yano or Aishiteruze Baby's Kippei are awesome playboys that you can easily imagine falling in love with because of their sweet attachment to one girl...but sasamoto...has none of these endearing traits -_-
all in all, i would say that this is a very good portrayal of immature and unrealistic infatuations.
its too idealistic to think that they could understand each other without saying much -_-; but actually i dont think they had much to be understood anyway...too flat =.=;...
such transparent characters....
and humans aren't transparent.
i can sum this story up with one word:
"shallow".
thats my opinion.
lol intemango's link poor communication kills sums it up perfectly too
sigh...the story line itself can explore many twists, and its alright for many coincidences to happen (which there are MANY here)...and the only thing that would save it from being condemned for bad plot would be amazing characters that we can sympathise with~ characters that aren't so predictable and 2 dimensional, or it'll all fall apart..
i'm giving it two because it could have been done worse and the art is alright.
... Last updated on October 10th, 2010, 8:26pm
Lack of verbal skills , possessiveness, teenage angst, stubborn pride, cliched unwarranted self-justification for further misunderstanding and drama, which in turn just reveals the superficiality of the relationships. Yupe that's both adolescent "love" and shoujo for you.
And Kotone is a real piece of work. Every character is just selfish anyway. One wonders what would have happened if the main character hadn't got involved with the three.
... Last updated on February 20th, 2010, 4:54am
And Kotone is a real piece of work. Every character is just selfish anyway. One wonders what would have happened if the main character hadn't got involved with the three.
... Last updated on February 20th, 2010, 4:54am
KOTONE... PISSES....ME....OFF!!!
Why doesn't Sasamoto just tell her to EFF OFF once and for all and AHH...
BEWARE!! If you don't want to lose hair over this, then don't read this.
God, Sasamoto & that annoying whore Kotone piss both of me off. Go throw them over a cliff or something.
Yuuma ftw. >_> She should have just stayed with him since the beginning of the series. ~_~
... Last updated on September 18th, 2009, 10:21am
Why doesn't Sasamoto just tell her to EFF OFF once and for all and AHH...
BEWARE!! If you don't want to lose hair over this, then don't read this.
God, Sasamoto & that annoying whore Kotone piss both of me off. Go throw them over a cliff or something.
Yuuma ftw. >_> She should have just stayed with him since the beginning of the series. ~_~
... Last updated on September 18th, 2009, 10:21am
This would have gotten a WAY worse rating if not for the last like 10 chapters. To put it simply way too much drama, that is almost completely because of that b*tch (Kotone). If she wasn't in this story, there wouldn't have been any drama (or at least not much). She is HORRIBLE!!! I'd go insane if I was Hiyori and had to put up with that bullsh*t while dating the guy I liked (who also liked me). Unbelievable.
I liked the ending (last like 10 chapters). Thought that it actually made sense and the plot made sense (those chapters). The character growth was also not bad. The message not bad. But before those last chapters... my lord...
Side note: the amount of people calling Hiyori a slut on this site is depressing... she sleeps with 1 guy in the whole manga, and it's her boyfriend (who she was dating for quite some time). What in heavens name makes her a slut? I don't understand.
I liked the ending (last like 10 chapters). Thought that it actually made sense and the plot made sense (those chapters). The character growth was also not bad. The message not bad. But before those last chapters... my lord...
Side note: the amount of people calling Hiyori a slut on this site is depressing... she sleeps with 1 guy in the whole manga, and it's her boyfriend (who she was dating for quite some time). What in heavens name makes her a slut? I don't understand.
When it started out, this manga was in the 8 or maybe 9 range, but then in the last 2 or 3 volumes it gets way too over the top. The series should've ended at 4 or 5 volumes but the mangaka felt the need to pointlessly stretch it out 3 extra volumes w/ asinine melodrama.
I love drama and it was acceptable for a time but then the mangaka just piles on the schmaltz. All the characters do a complete 180. Mizuno turns into a whiny b*tch, Ren loses all common sense, Hiyori becomes a flakey wuss, and Kotone somehow becomes a tragic heroine (? what the hell). I've noticed a trend w/ most female mangaka in that they seem to have an issue w/ making bad people... well, bad. Needless to say, this is usually the way typical teenagers act, but a story has to have some sense of character consistency.
Art: 7
Story: 6.65
Lasting Impression: 8
... Last updated on November 23rd, 2010, 8:46am
I love drama and it was acceptable for a time but then the mangaka just piles on the schmaltz. All the characters do a complete 180. Mizuno turns into a whiny b*tch, Ren loses all common sense, Hiyori becomes a flakey wuss, and Kotone somehow becomes a tragic heroine (? what the hell). I've noticed a trend w/ most female mangaka in that they seem to have an issue w/ making bad people... well, bad. Needless to say, this is usually the way typical teenagers act, but a story has to have some sense of character consistency.
Art: 7
Story: 6.65
Lasting Impression: 8
... Last updated on November 23rd, 2010, 8:46am
I thought there would be something original with this manga, because it was so interesting in the first chapter. I think it would've been a great stand-alone oneshot.
As the series progresses, it becomes more cliche. Maybe the character design for Sasamoto and his friend switched...Sasamoto is a manwhore, the main character a fly caught in his trap, and Kotone is the typical bitchy ex-girlfriend/slut/lover/whatever, and his best friend is the nice guy supporter.
Drama ensues.
I'm hoping she'll make the better choice and go with her first object of desire, but I doubt that will happen. This is why I hate the male lead so much sometimes. The side character is oftentimes the better choice.
Art: Decent. 7/10
Story: Overused. 1/10
Execution: Horrid. 1/10
I suggest ending at the third chapter. :'3
... Last updated on February 15th, 2010, 12:14pm
As the series progresses, it becomes more cliche. Maybe the character design for Sasamoto and his friend switched...Sasamoto is a manwhore, the main character a fly caught in his trap, and Kotone is the typical bitchy ex-girlfriend/slut/lover/whatever, and his best friend is the nice guy supporter.
Drama ensues.
I'm hoping she'll make the better choice and go with her first object of desire, but I doubt that will happen. This is why I hate the male lead so much sometimes. The side character is oftentimes the better choice.
Art: Decent. 7/10
Story: Overused. 1/10
Execution: Horrid. 1/10
I suggest ending at the third chapter. :'3
... Last updated on February 15th, 2010, 12:14pm
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