Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend

Not to be confused with Saikano.
Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend

The cover for the first light novel volume featuring Eriri Spencer Sawamura
冴えない彼女（ヒロイン）の育てかた
(Saenai Hiroin no Sodatekata)
Genre Romantic comedy, Harem[1]
Light novel
Written by Fumiaki Maruto
Illustrated by Kurehito Misaki
Published by Fujimi Shobo
Demographic Male
Imprint Fujimi Fantasia Bunko
Original run July 20, 2012 – present
Volumes 11
Manga
Written by Fumiaki Maruto
Illustrated by Takeshi Moriki
Published by Fujimi Shobo
English publisher
Demographic Shōnen
Magazine Monthly Dragon Age
Original run January 9, 2013 – present
Volumes 8
Manga
Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata: Egoistic-Lily
Written by Fumiaki Maruto
Illustrated by Niito
Published by Kadokawa Shoten
Demographic Seinen
Magazine Young Ace
Original run February 4, 2013 – May 2, 2014
Volumes 3
Manga
Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata: Koisuru Metronome
Written by Fumiaki Maruto
Illustrated by Sabu Musha
Published by Square Enix
Demographic Seinen
Magazine Big Gangan
Original run August 24, 2013 – present
Volumes 6
Anime television series
Directed by Kanta Kamei
Written by Fumiaki Maruto
Music by Hajime Hyakkoku
Studio A-1 Pictures
Licensed by
Network Fuji TV (Noitamina)
English network
Original run January 9, 2015 – March 27, 2015
Episodes 12
Game
Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata -Blessing Flowers-
Developer 5pb. and Guyzware
Publisher 5pb.
Music by Abo Takeshi and Shiki
Genre visual novel
Platform PS Vita
Released April 30, 2015
Light novel
Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata: Girls Side
Written by Fumiaki Maruto
Illustrated by Kurehito Misaki
Published by Fujimi Shobo
Demographic Male
Imprint Fujimi Fantasia Bunko
Published February 20, 2015
Anime television series
Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata Flat
Directed by Kanta Kamei
Written by Fumiaki Maruto
Music by Hajime Hyakkoku
Studio A-1 Pictures
Network Fuji TV (Noitamina)
Original run April 2017 – scheduled

Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend (Japanese: 冴えない彼女 (ヒロイン)の育てかた Hepburn: Saenai Hiroin no Sodatekata), also known in the short form Saekano (冴えカノ),[2] is a Japanese light novel series by Fumiaki Maruto, with illustrations by Kurehito Misaki. Fujimi Shobo has published eleven volumes since July 2012 under their Fujimi Fantasia Bunko imprint. It has received a manga adaptation in addition to two spin-off manga adaptations. An anime television series adaptation by A-1 Pictures[3] aired between January 8 and March 26, 2015 on Fuji TV's noitamina block.[4] The anime has been licensed by Aniplex of America.[5] A second season was announced and will begin airing in April 2017.[6]

Plot

Tomoya Aki, a male high school teenager who works part-time to fund his otaku lifestyle (anime, dating sims, and related merchandise) encounters a beautiful girl one day during spring vacation. A month later, he finds out that the girl is his classmate, Megumi, who is hardly noticeable to her classmates. Hoping to create a visual novel computer game, he turns to school beauties Eriri Spencer Sawamura for designing the art, and Utaha Kasumigaoka for writing the game scenario. Tomoya then recruits Megumi to star as the "heroine" (the main character's love interest) of his game, thus forming the development team "Blessing Software", in which the three most renowned students in the school (Tomoya, Eriri and Utaha) work on one of the least noticeable (Megumi). The series follows their adventures in developing the game and their plans to sell it at the Comiket convention, as well as the emotional entanglements among the team.

Characters

Main characters

The main characters are members of a dōjin group named Blessing Software. Their goal is to produce a visual novel whose main heroine is modeled on Megumi.

Tomoya Aki (安芸 倫也 Aki Tomoya)
Voiced by: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka[7]
Tomoya is the viewpoint character in the light novel. He is a student in class 2B of Toyogasaki Academy. As an otaku, he enjoys reading comics and light novels, watching anime and playing galge. With his childhood friend Eriri and student novelist Utaha, he starts a visual novel project where he recruits Megumi Kato. He serves as the producer, director and programmer for Blessing Software, and manages Michiru's band "Icy Tail".
Eriri Spencer Sawamura (澤村・スペンサー・英梨々 Sawamura Supensā Eriri)
Voiced by: Saori Ōnishi[7]
Tomoya's childhood best friend is a student in class 2G and the most promising painter on the art club.[LN 1] Born to a British father and a Japanese mother, she has blond hair styled in twin tails. She is very popular at school, acting as a refined lady,[LN 1] but harbors a secret otaku lifestyle of playing video games shared with Tomoya and making adult-themed manga under the pseudonym Eri Kashiwagi (柏木 エリ Kashiwagi Eri) in a group called "Egoistic-Lily".[7] Tomoya recruits her to be the illustrator for the Blessing Software game. Tomoya describes her as an astounding beauty but upon peeling off her surface personality, she has a cruel, sadistic, passionate and animalistic nature.[LN 1]
Utaha Kasumigaoka (霞ヶ丘 詩羽 Kasumigaoka Utaha)
Voiced by: Ai Kayano[7]
Utaha is a student in class 3C, and an up-and-coming young novelist under the pseudonym of Utako Kasumi (霞 詩子 Kasumi Utako).[LN 1] Her first light novel, Koisuru Metronome, was published under the Fushikawa Fantastic Bunko imprint and had sold over 500,000 copies. She has both intelligence and beauty, and is the brightest student in the school. Most of the students hold her in awe.[LN 1] Tomoya describes her as having long black-hair with an expressionless and quiet nature that gives her the appearance of a beauty, but harbors a sharp and critical tongue.[LN 1][7] She calls Tomoya Rinri-kun (倫理君?) after he flatly rejected her suggestion that he read the last volume of Koisuru Metronome before it is published. She is in charge of writing the scenario for the game by Blessing Software.
Megumi Kato (加藤 恵 Katō Megumi)
Voiced by: Kiyono Yasuno[7]
Megumi is Tomoya's classmate and the title character, who despite being good-looking, is otherwise so ordinary that she does not stand out in class at all. She knows little about otaku culture but never keeps Tomoya at arm's length. Her attitude toward Tomoya is often described as an ordinary person.[7] She is the inspiration and working model for Meguri, one of the main heroines of Blessing Software's game. Later on, she also begins learning and helping out with programming.
Izumi Hashima (波島 出海 Hashima Izumi)
Voiced by: Chinatsu Akasaki[7]
Izumi is a student in class 3A of Honoda Junior High, and two years younger than Tomoya.[8] She is an otaku and the member of the dōjin circle "Fancy Wave" (ファンシーウェーブ Fanshī Wēbu).[7] It was through Tomoya's influence that she became interested in otaku culture. She is deeply grateful to Tomoya for this. She has loved Little Love Rhapsody (リトルラブ・ラプソディ Ritoru Rabu Rapusodī), an otome video game series[7] released by Sonar (a parody of Sony) since Tomoya bought her Little Love Rhapsody 2 and a PlayStation Portable console on her birthday. There is rivalry between Eriri and Izumi, then Izumi decided to compete with Eriri in the next Winter Comiket. Izumi made up her mind to be the illustrator for her brother Iori's dōjin circle "Rouge en rouge".
Michiru Hyodo (氷堂 美智留 Hyōdō Michiru)
Voiced by: Sayuri Yahagi[7]
Michiru is Tomoya's cousin. She is a student in class 3, in the second year of Tsubaki Girls' Senior High School.[8] She is a very versatile girl except for her poor performance in school. She is good at almost everything and doesn't stick to anything for long, but she has been absorbed in singing her favorite songs and playing the guitar in the band "Icy Tail"[7] for the past year. Michiru had a prejudice against otaku culture and wasn't happy about Tomoya being an otaku until her bandmates revealed that they were all otaku. Michiru composes the music for the Blessing Software game.

Secondary groups and characters

Rouge en rogue
A well-known dōjin circle that plans to release the game Towa to Setsuna no Évangile (永遠と刹那のエヴァンジル Towa to Setsuna no Ebanjiru, lit. The Gospel of Eternity and Transience) with illustrations by Izumi at the next Winter Comiket. Its members include Iori Hashima (波島 伊織 Hashima Iori) (Voiced by: Tetsuya Kakihara) who is Izumi's brother and the circle's representative, and Akane Kosaka (紅坂 朱音 Kōsaka Akane), the manga artist and founder of the group.
Fushikawa Shoten (不死川書店)
A publishing company which has its own light novel publishing imprint Fushikawa Fantastic Bunko (不死川ファンタスティック文庫). Sonoko Machida (町田 苑子 Machida Sonoko) is one of the editors there (Voiced by: Houko Kuwashima) is Utaha's editor.
Icy Tail (アイシー・テール Aishī Tēru)
An all-girl band consisting of mostly otaku enthusiasts. Its members include Michiru Hyodo on guitar; Tokino Himekawa (姫川 時乃 Himekawa Tokino), a petite girl who also plays guitar (voiced by Eri Suzuki), Echika Mizuhara (水原 叡智佳 Mizuhara Echika) on bass (voiced by Rui Tanabe), and Ranko Morioka (森丘 藍子 Morioka Ranko) on drums (voiced by You Daichi).
Keiichi Kato (加藤 圭一 Katō Keiichi)
Voiced by Sōma Saitō
Keiichi is Megumi's cousin. He is a student at Johoku Medical School.
Sayuri Sawamura (澤村 小百合 Sawamura Sayuri)
Voiced by Mai Nakahara
Sayuri is Eriri's mother. It is revealed that she is a fujoshi.
Yoshihiko Kamigo (上郷 喜彦 Kamigō Yoshihiko)[note 1]
Voiced by Yuuma Uchida
Yoshihiko is a friend of Tomoya's.

Cherry Blessing characters

Cherry Blessing (cherry blessing 〜巡る恵みの物語〜 Cherī Buresshingu - Meguru Megumi no Monogatari, lit. Cherry Blessing: The Reincarnation Story of a Blessing) is the name of the visual novel that the Blessing Software group develops.

Seiji Azumi (安曇 誠司 Azumi Seiji)
Seiji is the main protagonist. He is a reincarnation of Soma and has vague memories of his ancestors. He is modeled on Tomoya.
Soma Hinoe (丙 双真 Hinoe Sōma)
Soma is Seiji's great-grandfather. He inherited the supernatural ability to remember what his ancestors experienced, and so he has vivid memories of distant ancestors of his.
Meguri Kano (叶 巡璃 Kanō Meguri)
Meguri is one of the two main heroines. She is Seiji's classmate. She is a reincarnation of Ruri and has vague memories of her ancestors. She is modeled on Megumi.
Ruri Hinoe (丙 瑠璃 Hinoe Ruri)
Ruri is one of the two main heroines. She is Meguri's great-grandmother. She is Soma's sister and his fiancée. She loves him deeply. She inherited the supernatural ability to remember what her ancestors experienced, and so she has vivid memories of distant ancestors of hers. Her personality is modeled on Utaha.
Kirari Spider Kawamura (河村・スパイダー・きらり Kawamura Supaidā Kirari)
Kirari is one of the heroines. She is Seiji's childhood friend. She is modeled on Eriri.
Kaho Hibarigaoka (雲雀ヶ丘 歌穂 Hibarigaoka Kaho)
Kaho is one of the heroines. She calls Seiji Seijitsu-kun[note 2] (誠実君). She is modeled on Utaha.
Miharu Endo (炎藤 美晴留 Endō Miharu)
Miharu is one of the heroines. She is Seiji's cousin. She is modeled on Michiru.

Media

Light novels

The first light novel volume was published by Fujimi Shobo under their Fujimi Fantasia Bunko imprint on July 20, 2012. As of November 2016, eleven volumes and one short story collection have been published.

Volume list

No.Release date ISBN
1 July 20, 2012[9]ISBN 978-4-04-071078-5
2 November 20, 2012[10]ISBN 978-4-04-071081-5
3 March 19, 2013[11]ISBN 978-4-8291-3875-5
4 July 20, 2013[12]ISBN 978-4-8291-3917-2
5 November 20, 2013[13]ISBN 978-4-04-712956-6
6 April 19, 2014[14]ISBN 978-4-04-070096-0
FD August 20, 2014[15]ISBN 978-4-04-070282-7
7 December 20, 2014[16]ISBN 978-4-04-070425-8
8 June 20, 2015[17]ISBN 978-4-04-070426-5
9 November 20, 2015[18]ISBN 978-4-04-070743-3
10 July 20, 2016[19]ISBN 978-4-04-070742-6
11 November 19, 2016[20]ISBN 978-4-04-072076-0

Manga

A manga adaptation with art by Takeshi Moriki began serialization from January 9, 2013, in Fujimi Shobo's shōnen manga magazine Monthly Dragon Age. It has been collected in eight tankōbon volumes between August 2013 and November 2016.[21]

A spin-off manga titled Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata: Egoistic-Lily with art by Niito began serialization from February 4, 2013, in Kadokawa Shoten's seinen manga magazine Young Ace. It has been collected in three tankōbon volumes as of June 2014. Another spin-off manga titled Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata: Koisuru Metronome with art by Sabu Musha began serialization from August 24, 2013, in Square Enix's seinen manga magazine Big Gangan. It has been collected in six tankōbon volumes as of July 2016.

Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata

No.Release date ISBN
1 August 9, 2013[22]ISBN 978-4-04-712893-4
2 April 9, 2014[23]ISBN 978-4-04-070081-6
3 September 9, 2014[24]ISBN 978-4-04-070340-4
4 January 9, 2015[25]ISBN 978-4-04-070341-1
5 June 9, 2015[26]ISBN 978-4-04-070598-9
6 December 5, 2015[27]ISBN 978-4-04-070599-6
7 June 9, 2016[28]ISBN 978-4-04-070914-7
8 November 19, 2016[29]ISBN 978-4-04-072080-7

Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata: Egoistic-Lily

No.Release date ISBN
1 July 2, 2013[30]ISBN 978-4-04-120784-0
2 December 4, 2013[31]ISBN 978-4-04-120999-8
3 June 4, 2014[32]ISBN 978-4-04-121089-5

Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata: Koisuru Metronome

No.Release date ISBN
1 April 19, 2014[33]ISBN 978-4-75-754296-9
2 August 20, 2014[34]ISBN 978-4-75-754402-4
3 December 20, 2014[35]ISBN 978-4-75-754520-5
4 June 20, 2015[36]ISBN 978-4-75-754664-6
5 December 25, 2015[37]ISBN 978-4-75-754847-3
6 July 19, 2016[38]ISBN 978-4-75-755063-6

Anime

The opening theme song for the anime was "Kimi Iro Signal" (君色シグナル) by Luna Haruna, while the ending theme song was "Colorful." (カラフル。) by Miku Sawai. A second season to the anime was announced on May 3, 2015,[39] with the main staff returning from the previous season.[40] The sequel is titled Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata Flat, and it will begin airing in April 2017.[6]

Episode list

No. Title Original air date[41]
0 "Fan Service of Love and Youth"
"Ai to seishun no sābisu kai" (愛と青春のサービス回) 		January 9, 2015
Tomoya Aki, Megumi Kato, Eriri Spencer Sawamura, Utaha Kasumigaoka, and Tomoya's cousin Michiru Hyodo (all members of a dōjin circle called Blessing Software) go out location scouting for their project, a video game. As Eriri attempts to get Megumi to act out a scenario for the main heroine, Utaha lures Tomoya away and forces him to act out a romantic scenario with her. However, her efforts are interrupted by a jealous Eriri, and as the two girls argue, Michiru takes Tomoya to a lake and they play in the water, but wind up in an awkward position before they are interrupted by Megumi. Later on, the group plays ping-pong at their inn. The following night, Eriri, Utaha, and Michiru confront Tomoya and demand to know why he forced them to join the club and makes them do unreasonable tasks without repaying them. After being rescued by Megumi, he talks with her about her tendency to not stand out in the group. The two then express their hopes that their game will be enjoyed by the otaku community. 
1 "An Error-ridden Prologue"
"Machigaidarake no purorōgu" (間違いだらけのプロローグ) 		January 16, 2015
Six months prior to the location scouting trip, Tomoya meets Megumi after he retrieves her lost beret, which inspires him to begin development on a video game with her as the main heroine. A week later at school, he meets up with his friend Yoshihiko Kamigo, who tells him about Eriri, a well-known member of the school's art club who Yoshihiko has a crush on. Unable to recreate Megumi's exact image, Tomoya approaches Eriri and asks for her help in creating the art for the dating sim, since she is also a popular dōjinshi writer and illustrator. Believing Tomoya isn't taking the subject too seriously because he is unable to even remember Megumi, Eriri turns down the offer. During lunch, Tomoya approaches Utaha and asks for her assistance, as she is an increasingly popular novelist, but she also turns him down after noticing an absence of originality in his proposal. After school, Tomoya expands his proposal and goes to the AV room, where he promised a meeting between him, Eriri, and Utaha. On the way there, he encounters Megumi, but he doesn't recognize her until she reminds him about how he returned her beret. Eriri and Utaha meet up at the AV room, where they both engage in a bitter rivalry before realizing Tomoya isn't going to show up. 
2 "A Girlfriend Without a Raised Flag"
"Furagu no tatanai kanojo" (フラグの立たない彼女) 		January 23, 2015
Eventually, Eriri and Utaha decide to accept Tomoya's proposal to create the video game. Tomoya then has dinner with Megumi at a coffee shop, where he notices that despite her cuteness, she has a lack of presence. When they talk about how coincidental their first meeting was, Megumi refers to herself as "boring". At first, Tomoya is enraged at her statement, but realizes that she is right since she has no traits that would make her stick out of a crowd. The two are then joined by Eriri and Utaha, both of whom take a look at Tomoya's expanded proposal and continue to express their disapproval of it. They encourage him to give up on the project, but he refuses. The next day, he invites Megumi over to his house, where he has her play a dating sim game in the hopes that she would understand the subject material. When she finishes the game, Megumi is pleased by the experience, but is still unable to understand the actual appeal of it. Tomoya is then forced to have her stay the night and play the game's sequel, which she agrees to do, much to his shock. By the time she finishes playing, morning has arrived, and in her drowsiness, she agrees to join Tomoya's circle. 
3 "Retake the Climax"
"Kuraimakkusu wa riteiku de" (クライマックスはリテイクで) 		January 30, 2015
With Eriri and Utaha continuing to turn down his revised drafts for the project, Tomoya is faced with a final deadline at the end of Golden Week. He tries inviting Megumi over to his house again, but finds that she is out of town on a family vacation that will last until the end of Golden Week. Eriri and Utaha arrive separately at his house, with Eriri subtly motivating Tomoya and Utaha encouraging him to give up and that being a creator has its cons. Later on, he calls Megumi again and allows her to have fun on her vacation. She then asks him about how she was appealing to him, and he responds there is no room for improvement for her. He then tries continuing with his project, but is unable to make any progress and he contemplates giving up. Suddenly, Megumi arrives, dressed in the same attire she wore when they first met and exhibiting a new personality, and asks if this was what he envisioned of his heroine. When Tomoya is puzzled by her change in personality, she tells him that Eriri and Utaha helped her before encouraging him to continue on with the project. Eriri and Utaha watch the scenario unfold and admit that they will be involved in the project even if Tomoya is unable to finish by the deadline. 
4 "Budget, Deadline and New Development"
"Yosan to nōki to shin tenkai" (予算と納期と新展開) 		February 6, 2015
Megumi is impressed after she finishes reading a light novel series written by Utaha. Meanwhile, hoping to learn more about Utaha's new book ahead of the rest of the public, Tomoya has a job interview with her and gets a job as a part-time editor, much to her displeasure. It is then revealed that Utaha's series gained its popularity due to Tomoya featuring it on his well-known blog site. He spends much of the day writing an interview article, after which Utaha offers her assistance on his project proposal, surprising him. Later on, Eriri decides to join in on the project as well. During a meeting between Tomoya, Eriri, and Utaha in the AV room, Tomoya announces the production schedule and declares the release date to be during the Winter Comiket. However, because of the funding necessitated to further the project, Tomoya is forced to work a number of odd jobs. While working one of these jobs, he is shocked to see Megumi with another boy. Though it turns out the boy is just her visiting cousin, Keiichi, he chastises her for straying from the heroine formula and tells her not to see Keiichi for the time being. When Megumi tells him that she plans to go shopping with Keiichi, Tomoya asks her out, and she accepts. 
5 "The Date Event of Crossing Paths"
"Surechigai no dētoibento" (すれ違いのデートイベント) 		February 13, 2015
The circle activities begin, and Eriri experiences a difficulty in getting Megumi to display exaggerated emotions for inspiration for her sketches. When Megumi leaves to practice her expressions, Tomoya and Eriri talk about how emotionless she is and the challenge it presents for the game. Tomoya then asks Eriri on dating advice, as he and Megumi planned to go shopping the following weekend. At first, she gives it to him, but realizes his intentions and becomes enraged. Utaha overhears the conversation and is further inspired to write the game's plot. The next day, she finishes, and while Tomoya is impressed by the final result, he asks for a better conclusion, which upsets Eriri, as she wants to finish development as soon as possible. Tomoya and Megumi then go shopping at the mall, with Tomoya becoming increasingly uncomfortable about interacting with what he views as regular people. Upon reaching the last store, Tomoya realizes Megumi is buying glasses for him as thanks for accompanying her. 
6 "Deciding the Night for Two"
"Futari no yoru no sentakushi" (二人の夜の選択肢) 		February 20, 2015
In a flashback, Utaha meets Tomoya personally for the first time during a book signing. She becomes impressed with his knowledge of her books and eventually is enamored with him. In the present day, Tomoya misses their scheduled meeting, which upsets Utaha. She then recalls an incident six months ago, during which she gave Tomoya an advanced copy of her final manuscript before its release, only for him to turn the responsibility down because she was only doing it to hear his feedback and not those of other fans. Later on, as a rainstorm approaches, she is surprised to see Tomoya running up to her in the rain. While allowing Tomoya to take a hot bath in a hotel room, Utaha is shocked after realizing her manager ordered the room for the both of them for the night. After taking a shower herself, Utaha has a conversation with Tomoya, who asks her for help in improving the game's plot. At first, she is upset by this, but changes her mind after he suggests keeping both storylines as game routes. After spending the entire night working out the plot, Utaha leaves the room, but not before acknowledging Tomoya as a creator. The day before, Megumi and Eriri meet up at the mall after Tomoya leaves so that Eriri could draw a quick sketch. Eriri is pleased with her drawing, having unexpectedly upset Megumi when she reminded her that Tomoya abruptly ended their date to chase after Utaha. 
7 "Friend, Foe or a New Character"
"Teki ka mikata ka shin kyara ka" (敵か味方か新キャラか) 		February 27, 2015
With the deadline for the manuscript of their dōjin circle drawing near, Eriri invites Tomoya to her house. There, she comes up with an idea how to push her creativity to the limits and the two engage in a role-play scenario. Thanks to their efforts, Eriri's work nears completion. At the school gate, Tomoya realizes Megumi changed her hairstyle, and he presses her for an explanation. Meanwhile, he meets Izumi, who is a childhood friend, an otaku, and a member of the dōjin circle Fancy Wave. Tomoya reminisces with Izumi, who gives him a ticket to the Comiket and tells him that she wants him to come to her dōjin circle. Additionally, she reveals to Tomoya that everything she has now is thanks to him. As Tomoya and Eriri walk home, they reunite with their old friend, Iori, who is the representative of the dōjin circle Rouge en rouge. Iori is looking for an illustrator, so he announces a challenge to Tomoya, in which both must prove whether they are the most qualified person to use Eriri as their group's illustrator. 
8 "A Wingman's Traumatic Recollection Mode"
"Ateuma torauma kaisō mōdo" (当て馬トラウマ回想モード) 		March 6, 2015
In Tomoya's room, while Eriri silently writes a manuscript, Tomoya and Eriri argue over some minor things regarding the deadline for submitting it. Afterwards, Megumi and Tomoya play video games, during which he praises her, saying that she has become a fine otaku. He asks whether Eriri will join Rouge en rouge, but she tells him that she has decided to become his illustrator. On the day of the Summer Comiket, Megumi is bewildered by the large crowd, but, by following Tomoya, she manages to arrive at the dōjin circle where Izumi is, and the two help with Izumi's circle activity. When Izumi talks about the Comiket, Tomoya is impressed with the quality of her works, since it has only been a year since she started. Tomoya concocts a plan and when Izumi talks with Megumi, he starts carrying it out. Thanks to Tomoya's cooperation, Izumi's dōjin circle has an increase in its sales and is extremely well received, which makes a positive impression on Izumi. When the Comiket is over and Tomoya leaves, he meets Eriri, who has Izumi's circle's book. She tells Tomoya with teary eyes that she is no longer loved by him, and then runs away. 
9 "One-on-one Route After 8 Years"
"Hachi-nen-buri no kobetsu rūto" (八年ぶりの個別ルート) 		March 13, 2015
Tomoya abruptly wakes in his bed and notices that there is a woman sleeping alongside him. He realizes that it is Utaha, who was invited to his house by Megumi. When the three of them discuss why Eriri got angry, Utaha tells Tomoya that Eriri has lost her pride as a creator and that she subsequently lost her footing as Tomoya's childhood friend. She provides him with advice on how to reconcile with Eriri. Afterwards, Tomoya goes to the Comiket, where he meets Iori and asks her to help him get Eriri back to his circle. At night, against the dark sky, lit with fireworks that erupt over Eriri's house, Tomoya appears in her garden and cries out to her in accordance with Utaha's plan, and then takes her to the elementary school they used to attend. Eriri begins to cry and tells Tomoya that she is not as important to him as Izumi, who got to know him recently. He reveals to Eriri that he had blamed her for breaking off contact with him and making new friends. Afterwards, she pledges to become Tomoya's "number one", and then Tomoya carries her home on his back. In Tomoya's room, Eriri makes a new "circle cut" and delivers it to the circle's members. 
10 "A Melody of Reminiscing and Support"
"Omoide to tekoire no merodi" (思い出とテコ入れのメロディ) 		March 20, 2015
Tomoya, Eriri, Utaha, and Megumi hold a video conference in regards to producing a game, and afterwards, Tomoya heads off to take a bath. On his way there, he bumps into a girl and realizes she is his cousin, Michiru. Michiru tells Tomoya that she ran away from home after a fight with her father over her membership in a band. After school, in the club room, Tomoya is contacted by Michiru, after which Utaha attacks him with questions about his relationship with Michiru. Tomoya goes home and is shocked to discover his otaku goods dumped in the garbage by Michiru. He confronts her about it, but she orders him to cease acting like an otaku and to think about his future. After the two talk about her band activity and his otaku activities, Tomoya gets in the bath, and while he is bathing, he hears Michiru playing music. Her music touches Tomoya's heart, invoking mental imagery of a cut scene from a game. Afterwards, he decides to introduce Michiru to his game circle. 
11 "Ready to Start Resolving the Subplots"
"Fukusen kaishū junbi yoshi" (伏線回収準備よし) 		March 27, 2015
Tomoya introduces Michiru to the girls, stating that he wants Michiru to do the background music for the game. Michiru, however, voices her dislike of anything otaku-related. Utaha and Michiru argue over the difference in their views, while Eriri is traumatized because her childhood friend status has been overshadowed by Michiru, who has known Tomoya her whole life. Tomoya continues to persuade Michiru, but Michiru instead wants to focus on her band and find a manager for her band in order to win her father's approval. Michiru wants Tomoya to be her band manager, using it as an excuse to make him quit his otaku lifestyle, as well as stating that the other girls are not as passionate in game-making as he is. Meanwhile, Megumi helps Eriri and Utaha to work on the game because they are one week behind schedule. Megumi later shows Tomoya the changes she made, and also teases Tomoya's close relationship with Michiru. They both agree on the effect Michiru's music brings to the game. Tomoya agrees to be Michiru's band manager, setting up a first live show for the band in the process. 
12 "The Ups and Downs at the End of Each Day"
"Haran to gekidō no nichijō endo" (波乱と激動の日常エンド) 		March 27, 2015
Tomoya briefs Michiru's band, Icy Tail on their first gig, stating that they are warming up for other bands since they don't have a fanbase yet. Meanwhile, Utaha and Eriri accompany Megumi to offer support for Michiru's band, despite being upset that Tomoya became their manager without consulting them first. They arrive seeing Michiru and Tomoya in a provocative position while she was questioning him over the band's outfit. Tomoya explains that Icy Tail has always been playing covers of anime songs, revealing the fact that the other members of the band are actually otakus. He convinces Michiru to join his circle, with the approval of her band-mates. Icy Tail's debut is well received, with Michiru performing her own original song at the end. Meanwhile, Eriri and Megumi become close friends and Utaha finishes writing the first route of the game's scenario. Tomoya and the girls take a look at the completed first route in his room, and continue to work on the other routes with two months left until the Winter Comiket. 

Video game

In an announcement on its official website, a PlayStation Vita adventure game based on the anime was slated for release on April 30, 2015. A limited edition with an original soundtrack CD and a B2-size cloth poster will retail for 8,800 yen (about US$74), a regular edition for 6,800 yen (US$57), and a download edition for 6,000 yen (US$51). The first copies of all editions will include a download code for an original custom PS Vita theme.

The game, Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata: -blessing flowers-, will utilize Live 2D software, which moves the characters with CGI but retains their two-dimensional look.

Notes

  1. ↑ Yoshihiko's family name "上郷" may be read either Kamigō or Kamisato. It's unclear which reading is correct for him. Kamisato is indicated in the first volume and Kamigō is indicated in volume five.
  2. ↑ is the Japanese word for "sincerity".

References

Light novels

  • Vol. 1: Saekano 1

Manga

  • Vol. 1 (ch. 1–): Saekano Volume 1

Other

  1. ↑ "Saekano -How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend- - The Winter 2015 Anime Preview Guide - Anime News Network". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  2. ↑ Maruto, Fumiaki (August 20, 2014). 『冴えない彼女の育てかた FD』 [Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata Fan Disc] (in Japanese). Fujimi Shobo. p. 284. ISBN 978-4-04-070282-7.
  3. ↑ "Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata official anime website" (in Japanese). Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Saenai Heroine no Sodate-kata Light Novels Get Anime on Noitamina". Anime News Network. March 21, 2014. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Aniplex USA Licenses Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend". Anime News Network. December 17, 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  6. 1 2 "Saekano's TV Anime Sequel to Premiere on Noitamina in April 2017". Anime News Network. March 17, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 http://www.saekano.com/character/
  8. 1 2 ドラゴンマガジン [Dragon Magazine] (in Japanese). Fujimi Shobo. January 2014.
  9. ↑ "冴えない彼女の育てかた at Fujimishobo.co.jp" (in Japanese). Fujimi Shobo. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  10. ↑ "冴えない彼女の育てかた 2 at Fujimishobo.co.jp" (in Japanese). Fujimi Shobo. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  11. ↑ "冴えない彼女の育てかた 3 at Fujimishobo.co.jp" (in Japanese). Fujimi Shobo. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  12. ↑ "冴えない彼女の育てかた 4 at Fujimishobo.co.jp" (in Japanese). Fujimi Shobo. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  13. ↑ "冴えない彼女の育てかた 5 at Fujimishobo.co.jp" (in Japanese). Fujimi Shobo. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  14. ↑ "冴えない彼女の育てかた 6 at Fujimishobo.co.jp" (in Japanese). Fujimi Shobo. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  15. ↑ "冴えない彼女の育てかた FD at Fujimishobo.co.jp" (in Japanese). Fujimi Shobo. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  16. ↑ 冴えない彼女の育てかた7 at Fujimishobo.co.jp (in Japanese). Kadokawa. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  17. ↑ 冴えない彼女の育てかた8 at Fujimishobo.co.jp (in Japanese). Kadokawa. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  18. ↑ 冴えない彼女の育てかた9 at Fujimishobo.co.jp (in Japanese). Kadokawa. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  19. ↑ 冴えない彼女の育てかた10 at Fujimishobo.co.jp (in Japanese). Kadokawa. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  20. ↑ 冴えない彼女の育てかた11 at Fujimishobo.co.jp (in Japanese). Kadokawa. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  21. ↑ 冴えない彼女の育てかた 1 (ドラゴンコミックスエイジ も 3-2-1) (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
  22. ↑ "冴えない彼女の育てかた 1 at Fujimishobo.co.jp (manga)" (in Japanese). Fujimi Shobo. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  23. ↑ "冴えない彼女の育てかた 2 at Fujimishobo.co.jp (manga)" (in Japanese). Fujimi Shobo. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  24. ↑ "冴えない彼女の育てかた 3 at Fujimishobo.co.jp (manga)" (in Japanese). Fujimi Shobo. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  25. ↑ "冴えない彼女の育てかた 4 at Fujimishobo.co.jp (manga)" (in Japanese). Fujimi Shobo. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  26. ↑ "冴えない彼女の育てかた 5 at Fujimishobo.co.jp (manga)" (in Japanese). Fujimi Shobo. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  27. ↑ "冴えない彼女の育てかた 6 at Fujimishobo.co.jp (manga)" (in Japanese). Fujimi Shobo. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  28. ↑ "冴えない彼女の育てかた 7 at Fujimishobo.co.jp (manga)" (in Japanese). Fujimi Shobo. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  29. ↑ "冴えない彼女の育てかた 8 at Fujimishobo.co.jp (manga)" (in Japanese). Fujimi Shobo. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  30. ↑ 冴えない彼女の育てかた～ｅｇｏｉｓｔｉｃ‐ｌｉｌｙ～　（１） (in Japanese). Kadokawa. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  31. ↑ 冴えない彼女の育てかた～ｅｇｏｉｓｔｉｃ‐ｌｉｌｙ～　（２） (in Japanese). Kadokawa. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  32. ↑ 冴えない彼女の育てかた～ｅｇｏｉｓｔｉｃ‐ｌｉｌｙ～　（３） (in Japanese). Kadokawa. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  33. ↑ 冴えない彼女の育てかた 恋するメトロノーム(1) (ビッグガンガンコミックス). Amazon.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  34. ↑ 冴えない彼女の育てかた 恋するメトロノーム(2) (ビッグガンガンコミックス). Amazon.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  35. ↑ 冴えない彼女の育てかた 恋するメトロノーム(3) (ビッグガンガンコミックス). Amazon.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  36. ↑ 冴えない彼女の育てかた 恋するメトロノーム(4) (ビッグガンガンコミックス). Amazon.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  37. ↑ 冴えない彼女の育てかた 恋するメトロノーム(5) (ビッグガンガンコミックス). Amazon.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  38. ↑ 冴えない彼女の育てかた 恋するメトロノーム(6) (ビッグガンガンコミックス). Amazon.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  39. ↑ "Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend Anime Gets Sequel". Anime News Network. May 3, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  40. ↑ "Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend Staff Confirmed to Return for Sequel". Anime News Network. January 19, 2016. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  41. ↑ "作品情報（シリーズ） – 冴えない彼女*の 育てかた[ヒロイン]" [Work information (series) – Saenai kanojo* no sodate-kata [hiroin]]. Media Arts Database (in Japanese). Japan: Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
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