History Main / SecondYearProtagonist

* The main characters of ''ElGoonishShive'' are all in junior year, something WordOfGod states was only briefly meant to be the case. [[WebcomicTime Eight years later]], they've reached May of that year...

* Same thing happened with ''PowerRangers''. The [[MightyMorphinPowerRangers first season]] was originally supposed to end with a prom. When the show became a hit, episode 40 had it's ending changed so that they didn't leave school. Since one of the original six rangers was still there at the beginning of the [[PowerRangersTurbo fifth season]], which showed them graduating, season 1 was effectively retconned from senior year to their freshman year.

For whatever reason, the main characters in high school settings are often divided among these lines. While not an ironclad rule (such as in the case of SchoolDays or {{Clannad}}) it is actually surprisingly rare to find a high school setting that breaks this mold for no reason.

* ''KimPossible'' starts her series in her sophomore year of high school, hits senior year in season four and [[GraduateFromTheStory graduates in the]] GrandFinale.

* ''{{Daria}}'' starts with the title character here, but [[GraduateFromTheStory ends with her graduation]]. This also had the benefit of letting her younger sister and {{Foil}}, [[LovableLibby Quinn]], attend school at the same time.

* ''{{Shuffle}}''. Asa is older, Primula is younger, no graduation in sight and everyone is comfortable.

Depending on the medium and culture, there can be more to it as well. For example, the Japanese school system divides high school into three years instead of four. There's also more importance placed on age. The end result is that the main character of a high school setting is normally a second year. Why? As a second year, he has both [[SempaiKohai kohais and senpais]], meaning it allows for more variety; you have the more mature third years and the immature first year students as love interests. While of course the heroines' actual personalities will vary to an extent, it usually gives a hint to the viewer or player of how they will act. Or just allows you to label them easier. Or the greater diversity may merely appeal to the audience.

It is also sometimes evoked in the division of sections, especially if the classes are arranged in a hierarchical order based on academic performance. Being put into the first, or "star" section may interfere with the plot due to academic pressure (except when it is the focus of the plot, of course) interfering with the protagonist's high school life, while being in the last section may indicate that the protagonist is of poor academic standing or is a delinquent. That's why the protagonist is usually put in the median section of the year level. (This type of classification standard in Japan, as such, a protagonist in Anime or Manga will be put into section 2-C or 2-D for the matter.)

* ''Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya'': Volume 9 sees the SOS Brigade (except for Mikuru, who's now in third year) become second years. This becomes a plot point in the tenth novel when Haruhi [[spoiler:decides to recruit freshmen.]]

* ''Literature/{{Toradora}}'': Ryuuji and Taiga are put in section 2-C.

* ''Anime/{{Toradora}}'': Ryuuji and Taiga are put in section 2-C.

* ''{{Daria}}'' starts with the title character here, but [[GraduateFromTheStory ends with her graduation]]. This also had the benefit of letting her younger sister and {{Foil}}, [[LovableLibby Quinn]], attend school at the same time.

* ''KimPossible'' starts her series in her sophomore year of high school, hits senior year in season four and [[GraduateFromTheStory graduates in the]] GrandFinale.

* ''{{Toradora}}'': Ryuuji and Taiga are put in section 2-C.

* ''ToAruMajutsuNoIndex'': Kamijou Touma is in second year in [[NoNameGiven a certain high school]]. The other protagonists: [[spoiler:Accelerator]]'s year is not given, and Hamazura Shiage is a drop-out.
* ''HaruhiSuzumiya'': Volume 9 sees the SOS Brigade (except for Mikuru, who's now in third year) become second years. This becomes a plot point in the tenth novel when Haruhi [[spoiler:decides to recruit freshmen.]]

* Shirou and Tohsaka in ''FateStayNight'' are both second years, while Sakura is a first year. No real important third years, but the fact they aren't graduating until the next year is an important detail in the UBW True End epilogue.

* Hayana from ''TwinkleSaberNova''.

* {{Buffy the Vampire Slayer}}
* {{Glee}}
* {{Gilmore Girls}}
* {{Dawsons Creek}}
* {{The OC}}

* ''{{Toradora}}''

* The class in ''SayonaraZetsubouSensei'' are second years and [[StatusQuoIsGod always]] [[ZeroContinuity remain that way]].

Depending on the medium and culture, there can be more to it as well. For example, the Japanese school system divides high school into three years instead of four. There's also more importance placed on age. The end result is that the main character of a high school setting is normally a second year. Why? As a second year, he has both [[SempaiKohai kohais and senpais]]. Meaning it allows for more variety; you have the more mature third years and the immature first year students as love interests. While of course the heroines' actual personalities will vary to an extent, it usually gives a hint to the viewer or player of how they will act. Or just allows you to label them easier. Or the greater diversity may merely appeal to the audience.

* ''KimPossible'' starts her series in her sophomore year of high school, hits senior year in season three and [[GraduateFromTheStory graduates in the]] GrandFinale.

* "{{Buffy the Vampire Slayer}}"
* "{{Glee}}"
* "{{Gilmore Girls}}"
* "{{Dawsons Creek}}"

* "{{Buffy the Vampire Slayer}}"
* "{{Glee}}"
* "{{Gilmore Girls}}"
* "{{Dawson's Creek}}"

* "{{Buffy the Vampire Slayer}}"
* "{{Glee}}"
* "{{Gilmore Girls}}"
* "{Dawson's Creek}}"