Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru. Zoku, Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e 2nd Season Recommendations
Teenage angst is probably the best word to describe in what genre these two fit in. Many issues that could be solved by simple communication can get unimaginably awkward and tricky in the setting these series take place in. As opposed to the uncaring nature of how other high school students are portrayed, our protagonists get the unlikely role of helping others and solving problems (Ayanokouji helping Class D, Hachiman working in the Service Club) but they tackle it on their terms with Ayanokouji pulling the strings behind the people in his class that often results in a surprising turn of events in the favor,
while Hachiman does things "his way" that at times involve self-sacrifice to fix problems. Nonetheless, some of their schemes include provoking others to achieve something, speaking bluntly, and exposing people's facades.
Rundown of similar characters traits: (CotE/Oregairu)
-Good guy that's more thoughtful than what initially seems: Hirata/Hayato
-Cold and stoic girl that burdens the weight of expectations from her family: Horikita/Yukinoshita (at least in the first season)
-Popular girl, that's even hated by some because of it, who reveals her true colors to the protagonist: Kushida, Karuizawa (also similar at times to Miura from Oregairu)/Iroha
-Dumb/Silly side characters: Yamauchi, Ike/Tobe
-Teacher aware of the protagonist's mindset, also a smoker: Chabashira/Hiratsuka
I decided to recommend both shows' second seasons not only because of the introduction of a character I deem similar to another but also because Classroom of the Elite season 2 is far more grounded than its predecessor which involved high schoolers surviving on a tropical island whereas most of the setpieces for s2 adhere to more realistic standards (well, as realistic as the hierarchical point system in a school could be). A huge difference between Ayanokouji and Hachiman's approaches is that the former views everybody else as tools, so even if it seems as though he does good deeds he's always thinking ahead and how it can benefit him in the future whereas the latter at times acts like a pushover for the sake of other people and is more emotionally involved with his friends and family. Both shows tend to get philosophical.
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