the best shojo series of all time, dominating the romance anime genre with ease. With a compelling, heartwarming story about relationships, loss, and love in spite of it all, the franchise is so relatable and enjoyable on many different levels. The story line encomes all types of bonds; romantic, platonic, familial, and everything in between. But, one Fruits Basket relationship stands above the rest, enrapturing fans and keeping them coming back to the series years later to see how it all began.

Fruits Basket truly struck gold with its portrayal of Kyo Sohma and Tohru Honda and their unbreakable and heartwarming bond. When the pair first met, they seemed an unlikely pairing. Kyo was hardened to the world due to his traumatic past and unwilling to consider opening up to anyone, much less an unfamiliar girl who appeared in his life so suddenly after the Sohma family took her in.

Tohru, made homeless after her mother's death, was an optimistic individual to her core, but her bottled up grief and trauma often affected her more than she let on for fear of inconveniencing others.

Kyo Sohma and Tohru Honda Are Anime’s Best Couple, Exemplifying Selfless Love

Their Love Persists Through Life’s Difficulties, and They Care for Each Other Genuinely No Matter What

Despite both of their baggage, it became evident over time that Kyo and Tohru were perfect for one another. They quickly grew attached to the other, perhaps without even realizing it themselves. Kyo fell for Tohru's genuine, unwavering kindness, her tendency to show love through thoughtful acts like cooking a meal for someone, and the Cat Zodiac animal, which she always held a soft spot in her heart for.

Tohru and Kyo are not just any average couple, though, they are one of anime's best. Few people care for one another as gently and authentically as Tohru and Kyo do. Tohru is exceptionally patient with Kyo, taking into his past trauma, while he does the same for her, revealing a gentle side of himself that no one else sees. Their love story is not perfect as they are both flawed people with their own difficulties to work through, such as Tohru grieving her mom and Kyo being an outcast in the Sohma family. However, they never give up on one another.

Their Love Story Is Not Just Adorable, It Is the Very Foundation of Fruits Basket’s Story

Their Powerful Bond Even Broke the Sohma Curse, Freeing the Entire Family

Kyo and Tohru's love gradually blossomed throughout the series, never feeling rushed and receiving plenty of time to properly develop realistically. In some other animes, the romance feels like an afterthought, but their love never feels shoehorned into Fruits Basket. When they finally do get together officially, it feels incredibly predestined, since every moment in the story was woven together to lead to that conclusion. Tohru’s love for Kyo and his acceptance of it even led to the Sohma family curse breaking, freeing everyone in the family from the largest conflict in the series that kept each of them miserable.

Tohru loving Kyo so strongly and Kyo accepting that love, was what caused the Sohma Curse to break for good. By helping save Kyo, Tohru saved his entire family from the curse. Their love is the definition of selfless, improving not just their own lives, but everyone else’s. Tohru was fearless like never before in her quest to eliminate the Sohma Curse, even standing up to Akito, the cruel, abusive family head, all for Kyo's sake. Kyo also defended Tohru, threatening anyone who dared to lay a finger on her. The lengths they went to for one another are truly touching.

Kyo and Tohru Prove Opposites Attract, Bringing Out the Best in Each Other

They Are Dedicated To Helping One Another Improve and Become Their Best Selves

Finally, Tohru and Kyo both make each other better people. Since they are such opposites, they gradually adopt each other’s positive qualities. Kyo becomes much softer and kinder to those around him in Tohru's presence. He learns to apologize honestly and take blame for the ways his outbursts negatively affect others. He also patched up his relationship with Yuki thanks to Tohru's help. Tohru acknowledges his feelings and never attempts to invalidate the pain and resentment he feels towards the Sohmas for excluding him, the Cat Zodiac, but she also helps him find ways to improve the situation and, eventually, break the curse.

Meanwhile, Kyo encourages Tohru to advocate for herself. She is a character who freely places everyone else's needs and desires above her own in every situation, but Kyo helps her realize this is not healthy or fair to herself. Kyo is not the kind of person to let others take advantage of him or filter his true thoughts, so he helps Tohru become more outspoken and honest too. Both Kyo and Tohru have their own flaws to work on, and the fact that they are dissimilar in a multitude of ways helps them learn from and encourage each other.

Tohru and Kyo Are Not Just a Cute Couple, They’re a Lesson on Loving Another Properly

Because of Their Love, Fruits Basket Is Full of Meaningful Life Lessons

When looking at Kyo and Tohru's bond, the saying "opposites attract" is suddenly proven to hold some truth. Watching their relationship grow and mature is fulfilling because of how realistic it feels. Neither of them pretends to be perfect, yet their love perseveres despite the others' flaws. They are no average anime couple and their love is unforgettable, providing a blueprint for how to properly love another. In many ways, Kyo Sohma and Tohru Honda's relationship transcends mere entertainment, offering beautiful lessons on love and forgiveness to all those who witness the thoughtful Fruits Basket pair interacting with one another.