Romance (1792)

Falling in love and struggling to progress towards—or maintain—a romantic relationship take priority, while other subplots either take backseat or are designed to develop the main love story. The narrative focuses on the thoughts and emotions of the characters, illustrating the connections between them and explaining their reactions to events or conflict. Almost always, the story ends happily and the couple is rewarded for their efforts with lasting love. Romance stories require significant romantic development leading to some kind of conclusion: either to begin the relationship, continue it, or end it. Open-ended romantic endings are only acceptable when the work is an incomplete adaptation of a Romance source. "Teasing" stories which do not narrate significant romantic development but have a conclusion should be tagged Romantic Subplot. A story can be simply Romance. Since they are plot-driven stories showing humans experiencing romantic struggle, most Romance has some Drama inherently. For both tags, the drama should be focused not only on the relationship but also on the side storylines; for example, one character overcoming the death of a loved one or a drug addiction. Comedy requires Romance narratives to be focused on eliciting laughter, not only using comedy for lightheartedness. Slice of Life and Romance are incompatible by definition.

Sentimental
Sentimental
Shimokitazawa, Mitsuo 2024
1. Sentimental
2. Kimi shika Mienai
3. Black x Black
4. Tokenai Yuki
5. Black x Black Bangaihen
Jan 25, 2008 | 5 chp | Publishing
Comedy Fantasy Romance Supernatural

Lost Seven
Lost Seven
Ko, Ya SeongNakashima, Kazuki 2024
Tanlou is one of the roaming Blair tribe: a stubborn lot who keep to themselves and frown upon interaction with "outsiders". He, along with six of his friends find a young princess from a nearby castle, wandering in the forest. She begs them to help her, but their help comes with a price. Tanlou is cursed by the head of his clan, and the seven men are banished. Still, they feel compelled to help her. The princess' name? Snow White. After a vicious battle to regain Snow White's kingdom that leaves the princess gravely injured, the evil queen unleashes her wrath, and the unthinkable comes to pass when two of the seven mysteriously disappear, leaving behind five bereft buddies who have no idea what has become of their comrades.
And thus begins the plight of Tanlou and his friends...
(Source: Circeus-Scanlations)
Feb 29, 2008 to Dec 28, 2009 | 21 chp | Publishing
Action Adventure Comedy Drama Fantasy Romance

Hishoka DropSecretarial section Drop
Hishoka DropSecretarial section Drop
Haruki 2024
Protagonist gets a job at an important company—purely by mistake. Unqualified, but unwilling to admit they made a mistake, they tell him instead to go help out the women...

(Source: MU)
Sep 14, 2005 to Nov 14, 2007 | 25 chp | Publishing
Drama Romance

Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora
Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora
Hashimoto, Tsumugu 2024
During the winter, Yuichi was hospitalized due to hepatitis. Randomly he would try to escape from the hospital but would get beat up by the nurse. One day, he happened to meet Rika, a girl of his age, in the next building. He was fascinated by her beauty, but she was very selfish girl. Although she led him by the nose, he began to be attracted by her. However, when Rika told him about her illness, he knew why she acted so selfish; she didn't have long to live.
Aug 27, 2005 to Nov 27, 2006 | 14 chp | Publishing
Drama Romance

Tight-rope
Tight-rope
Natsume, Isaku 2024
Tightrope tells the tale of the reluctant heir of a yakuza family and his childhood friend, and follows their love relationship that started budding in their school days and keeps developing slowly but surely.

(Source: Simona's BL Research Lab)
Included one-shot: Doushiyoumo Nai Keredo Returns (continuation/side story)
Dec 14, 2007 to Sep 13, 2008 | 6 chp | Publishing
Boys Love Romance

No Color
No Color
Natsume, Isaku 2024
In Natsume Isaku's first work, No Colour, we follow the developing relationship between an energetic young photographer and a supergeek uni student which starts as a mere neighbourhood acquaintance and gradually turns into friendship and more.

(Source: Simona's BL Research Lab)
Nov 2003 to Jun 2005 | 6 chp | Publishing
Boys Love Comedy Romance

Purimu no Nikki
Purimu no Nikki
Nico Pun Nise 2024
A guy dreams that he's a having sex with what appears to be a beautiful cosplayer. He reads the name on her choker, "Purimu", and she calls him her master. He wakes up and finds out the dream was real. He runs away from her, thinking that she's a prostitute trying to find a new customer and will have him killed later. After that, he has sex with her on a rooftop and discovers she's not human- she's a succubus (pleasure demon).

(Source: MU)
Oct 15, 2006 to Sep 13, 2007 | 17 chp | Publishing
Fantasy Romance Supernatural

Hannune Banhada! Season 1
Hannune Banhada! Season 1
Lee, Shi Young 2024
Kang Han-Se and Ban Ha-Da have known each other ever since their childhood. They are close enough to sleep in the same room still at their current age.
"Three men for you," Kang Han-Se's mother tells Ban, Ha-Da on the day of graduation. As soon as Ban, Ha-Da starts her life as a high school student, her love life starts.
(Source: JanimeS)
2006 | 34 chp | Publishing
Comedy Drama Romance Supernatural

Rules dj - Double Trouble
Rules dj - Double Trouble
Miyamoto, Kano 2024
Yuki sees Hikaru with a woman, and is upset thinking that Hikaru might have cheated on him, especially now that they've been together for two years. To make things worse, the woman in question seems to be stalking Hikaru. Meanwhile, Atori and Tohru are concerned about their friends, but at the same time wonder how involved they should get.
(MAL)

* See Rules Synopsis for Series Timeline (under More Info tab).
Dec 2008 | 1 chp | Publishing
Boys Love Drama Romance

Gekiga Hyouryuu (A Drifting Life)
Gekiga Hyouryuu (A Drifting Life)
Tatsumi, Yoshihiro 2024
Over four decades ago, Yoshihiro Tatsumi expanded the horizons of comics storytelling by using the visual language of manga to tell gritty, literary stories about the private lives of everyday people. He has been called "the grandfather of Japanese alternative comics" and has influenced generations of cartoonists around the world. Now the visionary creator of "The Push Man and Other Stories" and "Good-bye" has turned his incisive, unflinching gaze upon himself. Over ten years in the making, "A Drifting Life" is Tatsumis' most ambitious, personal, and heart felt work: an autobiographical bildungsroman in comics form. Using his life long obsession with comics as a frame work, Tatsumi weaves a complex story that encompasses family dynamics, Japanese culture and history, first love, the intricacies of the manga industry, and most importantly, what it means to be an artist. Alternately humorous, enlightening, and haunting, this is the masterful summartion of a fascinating life and a historic career.

(Source: Drawn & Quarterly)
Nov 20, 2008 to Dec 1, 2008 | 48 chp | Publishing
Award Winning Comedy Drama Romance Slice of Life

Kimi ga Suki Plus
Kimi ga Suki Plus
Watanabe, Ayu 2024
1. Kimi ga Suki Plus: St.Xmas Version
2. Kimi ga Suki Plus: Passion Pink Version
3. Koibana: Kokuhaku; [Story: Yoshi]
2008 to 2009 | 3 chp | Publishing
Drama Romance

Psycho Staff
Psycho Staff
Mizukami, Satoshi 2024
"To Hiiragi Kouichi-kun. I'll be waiting for you after school behind the school gym. Sakuragi Umeko." These were the words written in the first love letter Hiiragi ever received. But when he meets Sakuragi, she tells him that she wants to take him to the planet R'lyeh!?! Disappointed that the love letter from the cute girl came from a nutcase, Hiiragi returns home, only to find that Sakuragai won't give up so easily. Not only that, she may have been telling the truth afterall! But then again, Hiiragi isn't such a normal guy, either...

(Source: OneManga)
Nov 24, 2006 to May 24, 2007 | 7 chp | Publishing
Action Fantasy Romance Sci-Fi

Fudanshism
Fudanshism
Morishige 2024
Miyano Amata, known as the "Perfect Prince" for his intelligence, looks, and cool personality, is asked to substitute for his sister as an attendant at a doujinshi convention disguised as a loligothic girl. There he meets a girl from his class and they become friends, but he must crossdress in order to be with the girl while learning about the fujoshi fandom.

(Source: MU)
Jul 20, 2007 to Oct 15, 2010 | 61 chp | Publishing
Romance

Watashi ni xx Shinasai!Missions of Love
Watashi ni xx Shinasai!Missions of Love
Tooyama, Ema 2024
Unknown to her classmates, Yukina Himuro is secretly the popular cell phone novelist Yupina. What they do know, however, is her cold demeanor and icy glare—earning her the nickname "Absolute Zero Snow Woman"—so they tend to avoid her.

But as of late, Yukina has run into a bit of a snag with her writing: her ratings have gone down, so she wants to incorporate romance to bring them back up. And since Yukina has no experience with love, she cannot properly convey it in her writing. While seeking to change this, she runs into popular and charming student council president Shigure Kitami. During said encounter, he drops his notebook, and, to Yukina's surprise, she finds the names of the girls who have confessed to Shigure inside. She discovers that he uses his charm to manipulate girls into confessing their love for him just so he can reject them, and that his real personality is nothing like the one he shows to the world. Confronting Shigure with this information, she develops a plan: to blackmail him into teaching her about love. But when Yukina's cousin and only friend, Akira Shimotsuki, becomes jealous and confesses his love to her, Yukina may find herself with more help for these "missions of love" than she asked for.

[Written by Animeranku Rewrite]
May 2, 2009 to Sep 3, 2015 | 82 chp | Publishing
Award Winning Comedy Romance

Mako
Mako
Fuuga 2024
This volume contains 2 stories about teacher-student relationships and overcoming the past trauma, and eerily familiar second chances from where one would least expect.

1-3. Tomatta Jikan (The Frozen Time)
4-9. Okujou no Fuukei (Rooftop Scenery)
Jul 7, 2001 to Jun 7, 2002 | 9 chp | Publishing
Romance

Nagato Yuki-chan no ShoushitsuThe Disappearance of Nagato Yu...
Nagato Yuki-chan no ShoushitsuThe Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan
Puyo 2024
Yuki Nagato, the shy president of the literature club, has never been very sure of herself around other people. But around Kyon, the only boy in the tiny, three-person club, Yuki finds herself faltering even more than usual. For Kyon, and for her precious club, Yuki must find her confidence and let her true personality shine! Enjoy taking a fresh look at your favorite characters in this brand-new story set in the world of The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya!

(Source: Yen Press)
Jul 4, 2009 to Aug 4, 2016 | 79 chp | Publishing
Comedy Romance

Kyoukai no RinneRin-ne
Kyoukai no RinneRin-ne
Takahashi, Rumiko 2024
As a child, Sakura Mamiya mysteriously disappeared in the woods behind her grandma's home. She returned whole and healthy, but since then, she has had the power to see ghosts. Now a teenager, she just wishes the ghosts would leave her alone! At school, the desk next to Sakura's has been empty since the start of the school year. Then one day, her always-absent classmate shows up, and he's far more than what he seems!

(Source: MU, edited)
Apr 22, 2009 to Dec 13, 2017 | 398 chp | Publishing
Comedy Romance Supernatural

Sukima-Shiki
Sukima-Shiki
Yumeka, Sumomo 2024
A series of romantic short stories drawn by Sahara Mizu and inspired by the music of the Japanese band Sukima Switch. Each chapter is inspired by a different song.
(Source: Storm in Heaven)
Oct 28, 2008 to ? | 6 chp | Publishing
Drama Romance

Himitsu no Sono Ato
Himitsu no Sono Ato
Ootani, Hanayo 2024
Ryouko is a borderline flunky who has to break into school because she forgot homework that will decide if she has to repeat or not. While breaking in, she is caught by the guard, but he happens to be the guy who shares the same last name as her but always gets top scores, Naruse!?
(Source: Intercross)
Jan 5, 2009 | 1 chp | Publishing
Romance

Sasagu Omoi wa Hana Meguri
Sasagu Omoi wa Hana Meguri
Kagami, Eri 2024
Riko's dream is to write picture books for children. However, she has no confidence in her drawings, so she never shows them to anyone, especially because then children said they suck in her dreams. One day, she happens to meet Akane, a spirit from a sakura tree. With the help of him, Riko remembers her first intentions of wanting to write picture books and starts to have more confidence in her drawings.
(Source: Intercross)
Apr 18, 2007 | 1 chp | Publishing
Romance Supernatural

Saiunkoku MonogatariThe Story of Saiunkoku
Saiunkoku MonogatariThe Story of Saiunkoku
Yura, KairiYukino, Sai 2024
The story, which takes place in the fictional medieval empire of Saiunkoku, follows the adventures of Shuurei Kou, a descendant of a noble family that has fallen on hard times.

Her father works as a librarian in the Imperial palace, a post which offers prestige and respect, but little compensation. Shuurei teaches in the temple school and works odd jobs to make ends meet, but her dream is to pass the imperial examinations and take a post in government, a path forbidden to women.

Shuurei's plans come to an abrupt halt when the Emperor's Grand Advisor makes a startling offer, which is joining the imperial household for six months as the young Emperor's consort, and teach the Emperor to be a responsible ruler. If she succeeds, the financial reward will be great.

The story details Shuurei's growing relationships with the Emperor and other members of the court, the intrigues that surround imperial politics, and her commitment to better herself and her country.

(Source: Wikipedia)
2003 to Jun 30, 2011 | chp | Publishing
Drama Romance

Furue Tsumore Shiawase no Hana
Furue Tsumore Shiawase no Hana
Kousaka, Akiho 2024
1-4. Furue Tsumore Shiawase no Hana
Yuuri has always been attached to his childhood friend and neighborhood Onii-san; Aki. With a certain fondness for his friend, he enrolls in the same college where Aki is working as a lecturer. Yuuri immediately falls into the position of Aki's personal caretaker and not before long, he comes to realize that there is more to their relationship than he understands. Furue Tsumore Shiawase no Hana is a story of the delicate balance between friendship and love. (Source: Blissful Sin)
5, 8. The Trembling Flower of Happiness
Aki and Yuuri is trying to come to terms with their relationship and where to draw their lines.
6. Shake
Continuation of chapter 5 of Koi no Shizuku.
7. Extra
The academics go on an onsen trip.
2008 to 2009 | 7 chp | Publishing
Boys Love Drama Romance

Cousin
Cousin
Ikuemi, Ryou 2024
Tsubomi Shirakawa, 18 years old, has graduated from high school, but while her circle of friends have already found jobs or started college, she has decided to become a "Freeter," and begins part-timing at a local rental video store. Meanwhile, she finds out that her cousin Noni, whom she has not met from as long as she can remember, has debuted in show business.
Tsubomi may have a chubby figure but was uninterested in beauty of figure or form. However that is about to change when, a coworker, Shiro, brings her to visit a bar where she falls in love with the owner, Nasukawa.
(Source: An Endless Story)
2004 to 2007 | 30 chp | Publishing
Comedy Drama Romance Slice of Life

Asura Cryin'
Asura Cryin'
Mikumo, GakutoWatanuki, Nao 2024
Natsume Tomoharu is a normal high-school student in every way with one exception: he's being followed by the ghost of his best friend, Misao.

After moving into his brother's old house, Tomoharu expects to continue living his normal life but is one day left with a mysterious and locked briefcase without any instruction. At first he plans to leave it in storage, however his house is soon invaded by multiple groups of people after the briefcase. Although still not knowing the purpose of the briefcase, Tomoharu and Misao attempt to escape with it.

From there on, Tomoharu tries to learn the secrets behind the briefcase, the connections between it and Misao and why it has the power to change the world.

[Written by Animeranku Rewrite]
Jul 9, 2005 to Feb 10, 2010 | chp | Publishing
Comedy Romance Supernatural