Ah, the beauty of youth. High school memories filled with images of fun times with friends, the journey of self-identity, and, of course, first love. Romance is one of the most popular genres in anime, and stories about first love remain one of the most loved by the community.
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PostsFirst love is filled with complicated emotions: giddiness, confusion, happiness, and more. Some anime showcase this complicated journey beautifully, and deserve a spot on your must-watch list.
10 The Dangers In My Heart
A Tale Of Two Opposites
The Dangers In My Heart tells the story of how opposites attract. Kyotaro Ichikawa is a middle school student and a loner who loves reading books about true crime and learning about human anatomy. His mind is a dark place, and he often fantasizes about murdering his popular classmates, especially Anna Yamada, the beautiful class idol.
However, as he observes Anna more and more, he discovers that she might be just as weird as him. As the two form an unlikely friendship, Kyotaro starts warming up to her. As their feelings deepen, will their friendship turn into something more?
9 Toradora!
The Complicated First Love Of High School Students
Toradora! is one of the most popular slice-of-life rom-coms in anime, and it's no surprise why. It's a tale regarding self-identity, first love, and friendship. Taiga Aisaka is a fierce girl with a short temper and a cute face, while Ryuji Takasu is a kind-hearted boy with a tiger-like face. Despite their differences, they agree to work together after discovering they like the other person's best friend.
As they start hanging out more and become closer, their feelings shift to liking each other. As they navigate these new feelings, their relationship begins to bloom. Will they be able to handle their budding romance or will their love and friendship falter?
8 Your Lie In April
A Symphony Of Love
If you're going to watch Your Lie In April, you better get your tissues ready. As a child, Kosei Arima was regarded as a piano prodigy. However, he quit at the age of 14 years old following the death of his mother, as he was no longer able to bear the sound of a piano. However, this changes two years later when he meets talented violinist Kaori Miyazono.
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PostsKaori convinces him to become her accompanist, allowing Kosei another chance at the piano. Soon, circumstances change and the pair are parted. Will they be able to continue playing together?
7 My Love Story!!
A Wholesome Love Story
Romance anime usually tell love stories about two good-looking leads. My Love Story!!, however, shows that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. All his life, Takeo Goda has faced rejection since he doesn't fit the typical Japanese standard of beauty. In fact, he's never experienced a girl liking him, with all of them preferring his handsome best friend instead. This changes when he meets Rinko Yamato.
The two meet after Takeo saves Rinko from harassment on a train. After this, she instantly falls in love with him and does everything in her power to see him again. Thus begins their unique love story, with the two falling deeply for each other despite the judgment they receive from others.
6 Fruits Basket
A Selfless Love Story
Fruits Basket is a beautiful supernatural rom-com anime. Tohru Honda, an orphaned high-school girl, finds herself moving in with Yuki, Shigura, and Kyo Sohma. Soon, she discovers that 13 members of the Sohma family are afflicted with the Chinese zodiac curse, which forces them to turn into their animal form whenever they are embraced by someone of the opposite gender or if they are in a mentally unwell condition.
As she becomes closer to the members of the Sohma family, she learns about the hardships they struggle with due to the curse. With her uncanny knack of healing their generational wounds, Tohru resolves to break the curse. Will she be able to save the Sohma family or will her relationship with Kyo and Yuki crumble due to the protective nature of head-of-the-family, Akito?
5 Maid-Sama!
A Relationship From A Secret
Maid-Sama! was definitely an anime of its time. It may have some tropes that aren't considered "current" these days, but it provides a wave of nostalgia for those who watched it in 2010.
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PostsMisaki Ayuzawa gained a reputation for being a boy-hating dictator who excels in both sports and academics. As the student council president of Seika High, a previously all-boys school that shifted to a co-ed system, this has earned her love from female students but annoyance from the male students. However, she is harboring a secret; Misaki actually works part-time at a maid café to support her family. When her secret is discovered by Takumi Usui, a popular student at Seika, she fears she might be exposed. However, Usui decides to keep her secret.
4 Blue Spring Ride
An Anime About Working Through Trauma
Blue Spring Ride is a beautiful coming-of-age romance. In middle school, Futaba Yoshioka is outcasted by her peers due to her popularity with the boys. The only friend she had was Kou Mabuchi. However, their friendship was shortlived, with Kou moving to Nagasaki. Now in high school, Futaba decided to fit in with her classmates by making herself appear small and unattractive.
One day, Kou moves back to their hometown and enrolls in the same school as Futaba. However, he is different; he is colder and indifferent, even going by a new surname. The two reconnect, and they fall in love with each other, but outside forces make their relationship difficult. Will they be able to have a happily ever after?
3 Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War
Turning Falling In Love Into A Game
Kaguya-sama: Love Is War shows how young love can be silly and foolish, yet also extremely heart-fluttering. From the outside, Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya, the student council president and vice-president of Shuchiin Academy, seem like a match made in heaven. And they are; they have mutual feelings for one another, but are too proud to say anything.
Instead of plucking up the courage and confessing, the two conjure up different games and schemes to get the other to confess or show signs of affection. Since they believe that whoever confesses first will be the "loser" in their relationship, their pride consistently gets in the way of a budding romance. Will they ever get to make it official?
2 Kimi Ni Todoke: From Me To You
A Touching Friends-To-Lovers Story
Kimi ni Todoke is a slow-burn romance featuring the friends-to-lovers trope. All her life, Sawako Kuronuma has been ostracized for her eerie appearance, earning herself the nickname Sadako from the character from The Ring. Despite her sweet personality, Sawako is left with no friends, with people believing she can interact with the supernatural.
However, this changes when she is approached by kind and popular boy Shoto Kazehaya. As she gets closer to Kazehaya, Sawako begins making new friends and enjoying her high school life. Slowly, a romance between the two blossoms.
1 Horimiya
A Realistic Look At High School Love
Horimiya paints a realistic look at a healthy high school relationship. At school, Kyouko Hori is a bright and popular student, while Izumi Miyamura is a gloomy loner. However, at home, Hori is a homebody who prioritizes looking after her brother, Souta. On the other hand, Miyamura has a more intense look, with long hair, piercings, and tattoos.
One day, Souta comes home with a nosebleed accompanied by Miyamura. He instantly recognizes her, while she does not recognize him. When they acknowledge each other's identities, they agree to keep their out-of-school personas a secret and become close. As they learn more about each other, their feelings deepen, causing their relationship to develop past friendship.
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