Summer is upon us and that brings to mind images of summer love. Couples at the park taking a romantic stroll, couples at the movies sharing a bucket of popcorn while cuddling, couples at a nice restaurant holding hands over a glass of wine. But what about anime fans? What do they think of when they think of couples? Well, a good portion of anime watchers like couples with a nice slow burn. This is the list for them. We’re looking at those anime couples who want fans to wait on it. Here are the anime pairings for those who love yearning.
Haruhi Tamaki — Ouran High School Host Club
Tamaki and Haruhi have a bizarre meeting. Tamaki thought Haruhi was a boy at first and Haruhi thought Tamaki was a bit dense. But, after Tamaki finds out that Haruhi is a girl and welcomes her into the Host Club, the real fun begins. Tamaki and Haruhi are simultaneously two of the smartest people but with a net zero of self awareness. Haruhi doesn’t see herself for the awe-inspiring person she is. Tamaki, for all of his empathetic care towards others, can pinpoint every other person’s wants and desires but can’t pick out his feelings, even if they were laminated and hung up on the wall.
For most of the series, Haruhi and Tamaki tip toe and tap dance around their romantic affection for each other and call it everything but that. Everybody else can see it, including the other Host Club members, but the two of them are oblivious. If you like the trope of two people with the worst case of crush blindness, this is the pairing for you.
Tenma and Harima — School Rumble
It’s an entire anime based on misunderstandings, with one of the most upbeat and catchy themes in all of anime. Let’s break down this tangled web of romance. Tenma is in love with Karasuma, Harima is in love with Tenma, and Karasuma is incredibly hard to read. But he seems fond of Tenma. That has to count for something, right? Harima is the real kicker here, though. He falls in love with Tenma after saving her from being attacked by a group of thugs in an alley and watches over her after the fact.
But she mistakenly thought he was a creep and runs away from him. So Harima grows out his hair and wears a pair of dark shades to conceal his identity from his Tenma. He watches her from afar as he tries to get his life in order so he’ll be worthy of her love. Meanwhile, Tenma not only has no idea that Harima is the guy who watched over her after her attack, but she thinks Harima has a crush on her best friend Eri. Over the course of the two seasons, we watch Harima work on himself and even start his own manga, all to try and make himself more worthy of asking out Tenma. It’s a heartwarming character arc, and one worth watching.
Panty and Brief — Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt
Make sure the kids are out the room for this one. Panty & Stocking is an anime full of foul language, sex, and violence. So it’s understandable that a relationship packed with yearning and even a rather cute payoff is hard to imagine. But it’s there, it is. Brief is smitten with Panty from the second he lays eyes on her and even begins helping with her and Stocking’s demon extermination. Panty swings between annoyance at Brief’s presence and being impressed at his quick thinking and resourcefulness. It isn’t until things go absolutely wrong for Panty that she and Brief’s relationship shifts from unrequited to mutual. But when it happens, it’s hard not to be happy for Brief that all his dorky dreams have come true. Hopefully in Season 2 we’ll see a continuation of these two and their romance.
Sousake and Kaname — Full Metal Panic!
If you’re a fan of The Bodyguard, this pairing is right up your alley. Sousuke is a soldier who’s tasked with protecting Kaname as she’s a Whispered. This is a special person who has an intuitive knowledge of math, science, and engineering, among other things. Because of this, Sergeant Sousuke Sagara enrolls in Jindai High to be by Kaname’s side 24 hours a day, literally. This annoys Kaname because she’s used to being independent, and having a boy around her who is overzealous in his job of bodyguard can be tiring. At one point, Sousuke is described as being Kaname’s rabid guard dog. An apt title indeed.
This leads to numerous funny moments, but it also leads to some heartwarming and even romantic moments. The two become so close that when it’s revealed that they in fact have feelings for one another, it doesn’t come off forced or cliche. We the audience get four seasons to watch their relationship bloom. It’s so gradual that those moments when their affections shine through feel like a reward for everything they’ve been through.
What's Your Reaction?
