I read the novel sometime ago so i might be wrong. but there were some changes, sure, but it was the same. His friend was left behind :( i feel sad for the friend, like his friend was comforting him and while he depressed being back in the world, his friend was always there for him, visiting him, drinking with him. And when the duke came to Yuri's world as a plush he even threatened to hurt the friend coz he realised this was childhood friend that yuri mentioned before. :(
If im not mistaken, when they went back to the "book world", any trace of Yuri on earth was wiped, so like his friend forgets about him or something. or this could be another novel and i got confused because i read like 100 novels at the same time lol
it was good but.. i feel like they sort of rushed everything. like they were suddenly in love with each other but there was no development towards that. and yuri literally gave up his life on earth with no second thought? what about his friend?!???? the novel is probably better i hope ╥﹏╥