Summary

• In many romance anime, the most exhilerating points in the series is seeing who ends up together – especially when they're a power couple worth rooting for.
• Many couples, like Mafuyu and Uenoyama from Given, aren't just adorable, but they depict a very important dynamic and exploration of diverse love in fiction.
• Other love stories, like Tohru and Kyo from Fruits Basket, represent the changes one can go for to become better for the people that they love.

Romance is a popular and heartwarming genre, especially in anime, as it depicts an array of emotions, conflicts, and ultimately the lengths a character will go to reach the heart of the one they love. Audience are filled with hope and love themselves, as they vicariously experience it through characters in the show.

The satisfaction of these series can be felt ten-fold if the end-game couple meshes perfectly. Whether they learn to overcome obstacles together, share an exemplary standard of affection, or are destined to find each other despite all odds, some couples stand out above the rest in this category.

10 Kaguya Shinomiya & Miyuki Shirogane

Kaguya-sama: Love is War

As Shuchiin Academy's illustrious student body leaders, Miyuki and Kaguya always seem at odds with each other. Shielded by their inflated egos, these two rivals secretly love each other, but would never be the first to it it. Following their strategic maneuvers and psychological warfare, watchers enjoy this wholesome duo, their fellow student council , and their complicated yet innocent budding love.

This hilarious series is a fun depiction of high society, teen affection, and the pressure both characters face from expectations. Although comedic, viewers see through multiple seasons how one must overcome embarrassment and pride to express love and in turn receive it from the ones they cherish most.

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9 Takeo Gouda & Rinko Yamato

My Love Story

Takeo is not the standard heartthrob by any means, but after saving Yamato from a harasser on the train, their comedic romance begins. The two must work around their shy nature and limited knowledge of relationships, but viewers quickly understand what it means to unabashedly love a person and pour your heart into caring for them.

Fans cannot help but root for Takeo and Yamato, as the two share a wholesome and caring relationship despite societal norms and judgment. This lovely story also includes navigating self-doubt, outside opinions, and jealousy all while nurturing a demure companionship.

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8 Mafuyu Satou & Ritsuka Uenoyama

Given

In a time of self-discovery, teenage years come with every shade of heartache and yearning. As Mafuyu struggles with loss and grieving, his chance encounter with Uenoyama takes them both on a journey of healing, musical creativity, and realization about young LGBTQ+ romance. Uenoyama's cold nature is slowly melted by Mafuyu's sweet demeanor, and the main characters grow close while reconciling the past and artistically exploring their band's future.

Seeing their vulnerability and respective confusion around new feelings, this series stands as a front-runner in a realistic depiction of gay relationships. Both boys are remedied by opening their hearts, and audience are compelled to root for the two throughout.

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7 Sawako Kuronuma & Shouta Kazehaya

Kimi ni Todoke

Sawako is a sweet girl with all the right intentions. Unfortunately, due to her ghostly appearance, she's often mistaken for being malicious. Shouta is a warm social butterfly, whom she ires and eventually befriends. As she overcomes her misconstrued reputation, Sawako finally begins a normal life and a soft-hearted love with the boy who gave her a chance.

Throughout, we not only see a young girl rescued by her classmate, but a character that becomes stronger in her own right, all in turn to share that growth with a caring companion. This sweet romance shows a comedic and light-hearted bond, leaving viewers with the feel-good satisfaction expected from this classic series.

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6 Kagome Higurashi & Inuyasha

Inuyasha

Thrown 500 years into the past, Kagome meets Inuyasha, a half-demon who is searching for power. The two embark on a journey to find the Shikon Jewel and defend feudal Japan from looming evil. As Inuyasha makes sense of his past relationship and what power truly means, Kagome is there every step of the way to put him in his place.

This show wonderfully depicts a complicated love that is interfered with by one's trauma, pride, and desires. After long travels and fantastical battles, fans' satisfaction is long-awaited. However, the pacing wonderfully depicts a story of vulnerability, acceptance, learning, and altruistic destined love spanning across time.

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5 Risa Koizumi & Atsushi Ōtani

Lovely Complex

Ōtani and Koizumi don't have the best luck in romance. She's taller than the average girl, and he's much shorter than most boys. The two clash often, and with a humorous compatibility, they're labeled as their class's comedic duo. As they encourage each other’s love endeavors, this charming slice-of-life depicts a funny friendship that slowly transforms into a mismatched romance.

Facing realistic struggles with self-image and peer expectations, the beginning of Koizumi and Ōtani's relationship is understandably awkward and complicated. But through their shared interests, conflict resolution, and overwhelming for one another, the two overcome their comedic reputation and prove that true friendship sets a strong foundation for dedicated love.

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4 Nanami Momozono & Tomoe

Kamisama Kiss

High schooler Nanami finds herself living in a shrine after an unfortunate chain of events. This chance comes with a few conditions, as she unwittingly takes over the job as a local deity. The teen navigates the yokai world and a bumpy partnership with Tomoe, the local kitsune. Although Tomoe serves as Nanami's shrine servant, their relationship blossoms beyond responsibility into loving devotion.

The duo balances each other out, as Nanami's unwavering determination snuffs out Tomoe's mischievousness and air of disinterest. Slowly falling for her caring nature and tenacity, he begins to open his heart to trust despite reservations. With complicated time travel twists, the two fall in love despite past pacts in this heartwarming fated love story.

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3 Kyouko Hori & Izumi Miyamura

Horimiya

Both Hori and Miyamura have a different side of themselves than what they publicly show. By chance, the two reveal their secrets, and through this endearing coming-of-age series, fans view a comedic and lovable slice-of-life depiction of school romance.

This show depicts a delightful partnership as both characters learn to rely on each other when facing their shortcomings. Hori and Miyamura facilitate a comfortable and safe environment for each other, opening up space for unashamed honesty and expression. Importantly, when balancing the burdens that teen years bring, these two young mains teach each other to break beyond their limits, letting fans share in their t happiness.

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2 Hanako Koyanagi & Tarou Kabakura

Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku

Wotakoi follows four coworkers and their hilarious antics centering on their relationships and otaku hobbies. Although Narumi and Hirotaka are the first couple the anime focuses on, Koyangi and Kabakura steal the show with their quick-tempered yet warm-hearted nature.

Koyanagi and Kabakura are a great example of long-lasting, unfiltered adult relationships. Although their fiery nature comes off as combative, complete understanding, years of shared smiles, and irrefutable tenderness lay beneath their prickly exteriors. Both characters navigate conflict with deep discernment of their partner all while maintaining their fun and rivalrous relationship.

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1 Tohru Honda & Kyo Sohma

Fruits Basket

Tohru’s past is filled with misfortune, but she remains a beacon of light. With a lucky turn of events, she finds herself staying with Kyo, Yuki, and Shigure Sohma. As an outsider, she becomes one of the rare few to learn about their generational hex, thus beginning their journey of healing and redemption.

With a destined meeting, Tohru slowly heals Kyo's broken heart by unraveling years of self-hatred, discrimination, and familial turmoil. Through it all, Kyo's tsundere nature is thawed by her everlasting kindness and adorable innocence. The audience can’t help but fall in love with these main characters as their tear-jerking love becomes the ultimate weapon to break the Sohma curse.

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