Well I think a big part of the problem is how your going about it. For instance, you said you tried being ****y & funny. This is one of the terms I have a serious problem with on this site. It's not really a tip or method. It's not like you can read a post and say to your self "OHHHH girls like funny guys, thats what I'll do!!!"
Being funny is part who you hang out with, part how quick thinking you are, and most of all it's all about not trying. The moment you think to yourself "it's time to say something funny!" is the moment you blurt out something even you don't understand.
The second part of this, being ****y, is another thing that is much harder to achieve than people think. Girls are excellent BS detectors, especially when it comes to confidence. If you talk a big game, you better believe it because if you don't you're just going to look like a fool.
As for using kino, are you using it at appropriate times? Are you sure you're reading her moods and reactions well? Is it possible that the times you used kino the girl was uncomfortable with it?
A big part of successfully using kino to you're advantage is making her more comfortable with you. If you go about it the wrong way it can be counter productive. I suggest reading some posts about this from people who can explain it better than I can.
You're friend might make a lot of mistakes, but he might have a few things you don't. Calling him an AFC might be a stretch considering it sounds like he is pretty successful. He could be better looking, more confident, more opitimistic, have more social proof (matters a lot in high school), or is just more fun to be around. Because we don't know either of you it's hard to say exactly what it is.
I guess what I'm saying boils down to this. It sounds like you're trying to use the tips and tricks so much that they are coming out forced. Think of them as training exercises to improve your comfort and confidence rather than surefire keys to a girl. You're friend isn't trying, and its helping him. If you manage to fix some of you're problems my guess is you'll manage to pass him in the future, but until then don't get mad and never let a girl ruin your friendship
