HSHK Chapter 12

Mitsuba's Epic Friend Operation (ミツバの友達大作戦) is the twelfth chapter of the spin-off Houkago Shounen Hanako-kun.

Summary
In the broadcasting room, Mitsuba obsesses over wanting friends. Natsuhiko tells Sakura that he's been like this since yesterday, after seeing a magazine article about activities to do with friends over the summer. Since Mitsuba can't befriend normal humans who can't see him, Natsuhiko offers to become friends with Mitsuba, but Mitsuba runs over to Sakura instead, begging her to spread a rumour that will allow him to make friends. Sakura tells him to look for a simpler option as the rumours are a last resort, but Mitsuba finds the Mokke somewhat terrifying, and vehemently rejects being friends with Kou when Sakura suggests it.

Mitsuba ends up telling Tsukasa that he wants to make friends. Tsukasa agrees… and begins to physically build Mitsuba a friend. Mitsuba frantically stops him and clarifies that he'd meant making friends with Tsukasa, to which Tsukasa agrees easily. However, he then attempts to make Mitsuba swallow fireworks (rather than playing with fireworks together as Mitsuba had envisioned), causing Mitsuba to unfriend him within 10 minutes.

Finally, Sakura consoles Mitsuba by saying that they can at least go along with whatever he'd wanted to do with friends. Sakura, Mitsuba, and Natsuhiko end up taking a group photo in a pose, with Tsukasa in one corner of the photo.