Komi Shouko/Relationships

## Friends

### Tadano Hitohito

Tadano is the first friend that Komi makes on her goal to make 100 friends. Because of Tadano’s ability to ‘read a room’ he was the first to recognize that Komi’s lack of speech was due not to a carefully crafted persona, but a crippling anxiety which forms her communication disorder. Additionally, Tadano has an uncanny ability to understand what Komi is thinking at any given time which helps him to ‘translate’ what she is thinking to everyone else or otherwise smooth over misunderstandings.

Komi trusts and cares about Tadano and views him as a reliable friend and companion. She consistently depends upon Tadano to help her in her quest to get friends. Other than Manbagi, Tadano is the one whom Komi has spoken out loud to the most (including phone conversations). Komi chooses to sit next to or be near to Tadano at every available opportunity. When she received her first cell phone she made it a point to have Tadano be the first contact even before her family members . Komi also is inspired by Tadano at various times to reach out to people in need, and even imagines him motivating her when she is about to take on a challenge.

Komi finds interacting with Tadano to be comforting, if occasionally embarrassing. One night Komi is kept up due to her anxiety over the previous day’s conversations and just thinking about her interactions with Tadano calms her down and lets her fall asleep . She recognizes that Tadano makes a special effort to use simple yes or no questions as much as possible and consistently keeps conversation going while being patient and understanding of her condition. Komi tells Manbagi that when she’s together with Tadano she feels that everything will be alright and it’s always fun.

Throughout the series Komi develops feelings for Tadano, ultimately admitting so to Manbagi as she is confronting her about her own feelings. Among other things, she says she finds Tadano to be cool, mindful, observant, and always willing to help someone in trouble. When Tadano gets sick she holds his hand as he falls asleep only to be walked in on by Najimi. She gives Tadano chocolates on Valentine’s day and says that those were ‘the best of the batch. When caught in the rain, she offers to let Tadano sit under the blanket with her even though it would be embarrassing. Komi shows a special interest in Tadano’s cross dressing the various times he appears as a girl (often appearing as an excited ‘cat-Komi’).

During the cultural festival Komi is even able to admit her true feelings directly to Tadano in her role as the princess in the play. However, because her confession occurred as the lines of the class play Tadano does not fully recognize it as a confession (though he appears embarrassed). Later-on during the cultural festival Komi asks Tadano to walk around the festival with her as a date. Again, Tadano does not understand the implications of this until much later (and even then, he still doubts that he was asked on a date).

During Valentine's Day, Tadano confesses his feelings for Komi after turning down Manbagi. They've been a couple ever since.

### Manbagi Rumiko

Komi considers Manbagi a close friend and, later, a romantic rival. She initially reacted with surprise to Manbagi’s gyaru makeup, but ultimately recognized that Manbagi seemed somewhat lonely in the new class. 10 days into the new year Manbagi breaks down and cries during class due to being lonely and Komi goes with Tadano to help her. Once alone in the nurse’s office, Manbagi confesses her fears of never adjusting to her new surroundings and spending the rest of her life alone. Komi shares that a year ago she felt the same until Tadano helped her get friends. Inspired by Tadano’s example, Komi asks to be Manbagi’s first friend. Komi and Manbagi become close friends after this initial incident.

Komi respects Manbagi for her outgoing and cheerful demeanor. When Manbagi introduces Komi to her other gyaru friends she is overwhelmed by their slang and how well they communicate but she expresses how happy she is to meet Manbagi's friends. Manbagi’s friends, in turn, thank Komi for taking care of their friend in her new class.

Komi shows a level of comfort with Manbagi as she has spoken out loud to her the most (with the possible exception of Tadano). This is most apparent during the cultural festival when Komi has full spoken conversations with Manbagi on multiple occasions. Earlier when Manbagi sleeps over at Komi’s house, they feel comfortable enough to gossip with each other and Komi speaks about her first crush.

Komi was able to recognize when Manbagi was feeling down after realizing her feelings for Tadano. Like Tadano, she asks Manbagi if she is okay. She even confronts her later despite Manbagi’s attempts to assure Komi that everything was alright after Tadano recommends that she does so.

Komi holds the friendship she has with Manbagi in very high regard. Though their mutual romantic interest in Tadano leads them to be love rivals, Komi does not want to give up her friendship with Manbagi or avoid competing for Tadano’s affections. When Manbagi tries to give up her right to pursue her romantic interest in Tadano, Komi immediately rejects the idea and says that Manbagi’s relationship with Tadano should be decided only by the two of them. Komi admits that even though she would be devastated, angry, and jealous to see Manbagi go out with Tadano she insists that her friend honestly pursue her feelings.

After this conversation Komi and Manbagi actively compete and support each other in their romantic advances. Whenever one girl experiences something with Tadano they immediately offer or coax the other to have the same experience right after. This includes Komi bringing Manbagi and Tadano to the supply shed to ‘lock them in together’ after she herself was locked together with Tadano by herself. They quickly realize that both are helpless at love so they put extra effort into supporting each other even though it’s the exact opposite of what they truly want.

Once Komi begins to date Tadano Manbagi becomes a supportive, if occasionally jealous, wing-woman for Komi. She is often curious of the progress that the two are making in their relationship and notably becomes a permanent member of the Council of Girlfriends where they continue to talk through their love foibles.

### Najimi Osana

Najimi is the second official friend that Komi makes and is arguably the greatest contributor to Komi's quest to make friends and overcome her communication disorder. Although Najimi spends less time with Komi than Tadano overall, Najimi ultimately does more to take Komi out of her comfort zone and force her into situations where she can make friends and learn to speak more.

At first, Najimi was scared of Komi since she would never talk to them and Najimi assumes Komi is too popular. Tadano convinces Najimi to reach out to Komi and while walking back home Komi inadvertently saves Najimi from trouble and from that point onward Najimi decides to be Komi's friend.

Immediately, Najimi starts to help Komi build her confidence. Najimi asks Komi to get a complicated order from Starbucks, and is understanding when Komi ultimately fails this task.Najimi helps Komi early on find her first set of friends by analyzing their own numerous list of friends for compatibility. When a group is playing games in the class room, Najimi goes out of their way to call out to Komi to include her in the game.Najimi is the one that recommends Komi, and friends, go on their first shopping trip and creates the second best outfit for Komi according to her. Najimi creates the study group which meets throughout the series in the library and Komi enjoys. When the gang goes to the pool and Komi hurts herself, Najimi is the first to recognize and act on what Komi wants and makes sure everyone has fun. Komi also selects Najimi's recommendation for the first cultural festival, maid cafe, out of all the other class suggestions.

Throughout the series, Najimi continues to help Komi in small and big ways like this. Though this help is good for Komi, it does fill her with fear and trepidation while also occasionally putting her in situations she doesn't like. Najimi also has a keen awareness of the budding romance between Tadano and Komi and inserts themself into their love life on multiple occasions throughout the series. Ultimately, Komi recognizes how much fun Najimi brings into her life and considers them an important and precious friend.

## Family

### Komi Shousuke

**Shousuke Komi** is Shouko's younger brother. Shousuke appears to share many traits with his older sister, often choosing to remain silent and being widely popular among his peers. Unlike Shouko however, who stays quiet mainly because of her anxiety, Shousuke simply doesn't feel bothered talking most of the time. He is, in fact, perfectly capable of speaking without any difficulties.

## Others

* Yamai Ren
* Natsukido Rei
* Onemine Nene
* Isagi Kiyoko

## References

1. ↑ Chapter 4
2. ↑ Chapter 16
3. ↑ Chapter 35
4. ↑ Chapter 227
5. ↑ Chapter 142
6. ↑ Chapter 227
7. ↑ Chapter 118
8. ↑ Chapter 145
9. ↑ Chapter 223
10. ↑ Chapter 231
11. ↑ Chapter 233
12. ↑ Chapter 130
13. ↑ Chapter 132
14. ↑ Chapter 140
15. ↑ Chapter 255
16. ↑ Chapter 303
17. ↑ Chapter 313
18. ↑ Chapter 10
19. ↑ Chapter 11
20. ↑ Chapter 12
21. ↑ Chapter 14
22. ↑ Communication 19
23. ↑ Chapter 33
24. ↑ Chapter 36
25. ↑ Chapter 40
26. ↑ Chapter 63