Aharen-San is Indecipherable is an all-new rom-com anime series starring the petite kuudre protagonist Reina Aharen, a shy girl whose personal life was transformed after she befriended her classmate, Raido. The two of them are now best friends who have all kinds of innocent adventures in their daily life, from claw games at the arcade to eating meatballs for lunch.

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Aharen-San is a fine anime for fans of the high school slice-of-life genre, and Komi Can't Communicate fans are sure to enjoy this series, too. In a variety of ways, Reina Aharen is like the quiet Shoko Komi, and they would probably make friends if they ever met in a crossover event. But these two heroines have their differences, too.

10 Similar: They Made A Male Best Friend

Reina Aharen & Raido (Aharen-San Is Indecipherable) study

Every story needs an inciting event to set the plot into motion, and for romance and slice-of-life stories, that inciting event is usually the meeting of two people. That's when an essential friendship and/or romance may take root, and both Reina Aharen and Shoko Komi had that experience.

Shoko Komi made her first real friend with the plain Hitohito Tadano, while Aharen befriended her kuudere classmate Raido, who's almost like the next Tadano. Aharen had a friend or two before this, but Raido is definitely the friend who made the biggest impact in her life.

9 Different: Aharen A Kuudere, Not A Dandere Like Komi

Komi blushing in Komi Can't Communicate.

Anime characters often fit one of the dere archetypes, from hotheaded tsunderes to creepy stalker yanderes and arrogant himederes, among other types. Shoko Komi is a dandere, a shy and quiet lover who must overcomer her anxiety and insecurities before finding true happiness.

Reina Aharen isn't quite like that. She has some dandere elements to her, but overall, Aharen is best described as a kuudere, a cool-headed lover who maintains a politely aloof exterior until she is ready to show her affectionate side later. Other kuuderes include Shoto Todoroki, Hirotaka Nifuji and Yuki Sohma.

8 Similar: Aharen Can't Easily Communicate

Aharen rapping 1

Aharen and Komi both have difficulty expressing themselves clearly to their teachers and most of their classmates. In Komi's case, she is a terribly shy dandere who can't bring herself to speak, while Aharen has learned that speaking to others usually turns out badly for her.

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Aharen tends to speak in an unintelligible whisper, hence the anime's title. People can never tell what she's saying even when they lean in closely to listen, but Raido can understand her words, at least. He's always happy to chat with her.

7 Different: Aharen Uses More Visual Comedy

Aharen ninja pose

Humorous anime series like Komi Can't Communicate and Aharen-San is Indecipherable don't always present their humor in the same way. Some use witty and sharp dialogue to deliver humor, while others might use pop culture references. Meanwhile, Reina Aharen is all about visual gags.

Aharen tends to use goofy postures, props, and even visual metaphors for humor, from her use of a periscope in class to clinging to the walls like a ninja or looking like a freestyle rapper. She also once appeared as a KISS-style rock star in Raido's imagination. Shoko Komi doesn't do anything like this.

6 Similar: Aharen Is Generous & Compassionate, Just Like Komi

komi cant communicate

Even if they are quiet girls who can't easily express themselves to others, Reina Aharen and Shoko Komi are both kind-hearted people who always put others first. Shoko Komi's classmates think she's self-absorbed ice queen, but the opposite is true. Komi is happiest when she can do something sweet for a friend.

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Reina Aharen knows what that feels like. Time and again, she gives thoughtful gifts to her friends or makes a friendly gesture for them, and she asks for very little in return. She loves to feed Raido meatballs at lunch, for example, and she made sure that the local kids all get along.

5 Different: Aharen Is Petite & Childlike

This is a picture of the main protagonists of Aharen-san wa Hakarenai.

Some anime characters look their age, like the main cast of Komi Can't Communicate, but other characters might be mistaken for an adult or child in everyday life. That is the case for Reina Aharen who, despite being 15 or 16, looks more like a 4th grader. In fact, her 4th-grader brother looks nearly identical to her.

Aharen is a petite 4'6" tall, or about 137 centimeters, making her one of the shortest slice-of-life heroines out there. By contrast, Shoko Komi is around 5'7" in height, or about 170 centimeters, a bit taller than the typical Japanese teenage girl. Aharen would be impressed if she met the much taller Shoko Komi.

4 Similar: Aharen Has Subtle Romantic Feelings For A Boy

shoko tadano umbrella

Neither Komi Can't Communicate nor Aharen-San is Indecipherable are full-blown romances like Fruits Basket or Maid-Sama!, but they still have romantic subplots that shoud satisfy passionate romance fans all the same. For example, it's increasingly evident that Shoko Komi has a serious crush on the plain but kind Hitohito Tadano.

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Similarly, the subtle romance of Aharen-San is slowly heating up with each episode, and it's clear that Aharen is developing special feelings for Raido, and vice versa. It's not exactly a love saga of the ages, but it doesn't have to be, either. It's actually cuter that way.

aharen in her room

Reina Aharen isn't particularly disliked or unpopular, and she never really makes a bad impression on others. In fact, there's a squad of young boys at the local park who look up to her as their "king," and Aharen has a protective friend named Oshiro. But that's the extent of her popularity. Otherwise, she is ignored by the world at large.

Meanwhile, Shoko Komi is hugely popular among all her classmates, and they all adore and look up to her, most of all Ren Yamai the yandere and Himiko Agari the librarian. Shoko isn't entirely aware of her popularity, though, and she doesn't bask in it, either.

2 Similar: Aharen Doesn't Consider Herself Special

aharen in class

Reina Aharen and Shoko Komi both have their admirers, but neither of these heroines consider themselves to be anything special, especially Komi. That squad of boys all view Aharen as the king of cool, but Aharen merely plays along without really believing that for herself. Her self-image is humble.

The same is true of Shoko Komi, who doesn't view herself as a queen bee or model at all. In her own eyes, Komi is an ordinary girl living an ordinary life, and she doesn't deserve any special treatment or fame just for being who she is. Ren Yamai would be shocked if Komi actually stated this out loud.

1 Different: Aharen Has No Particular Goals, Unlike Komi's 100-Friend Mission

Komi-Cant-Communicate-82

Some anime characters are highly proactive, since they have clearly-defined goals or desires to strive toward, while other characters passively go with the flow. This might be the biggest factor setting Shoko Komi and Reina Aharen apart, since Aharen has no real mission on her mind. She simply lives her life, one day at a time.

Shoko Komi, meanwhile, set the entire plot into motion by declaring her goal of making 100 new friends this year, no matter what. Hitohito Tadano is just the start – she has 99 more to go, and she will befriend classmates ranging from Nakanaka to Makoto Katai and Nene Onenime to fill up her friend roster. Perhaps Aharen should try that, too.