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The romance genre in anime is infamously known for having stories in which the childhood friend chooses a different romantic partner. While some fans root for the mysterious newcomer or the tsundere rival, many of them like to see the loyal, longtime companion who has quietly loved the protagonist for years get a chance. This list highlights eight standout anime where the childhood friend isn't just an afterthought but becomes the central love interest.
8 Anime series in which the childhood friend becomes the main love interest
1. Tamako Market
Episodes: 12 episodes (TV series) + 1 movie (Tamako Love Story)
Manga: No Manga has been released
Tamako Market is an anime about Tamako and her childhood friend, Mochizou Ooji. He has a crush on her, but Tamako is oblivious to his feelings for most of the time. Watching this series will give a sense of warmth, and the romance is subtle yet feels very authentic.
These two friends live across from each other and have been connected via cup-and-string telephones. The series celebrates understated emotions over flashy drama, and the payoff is all the sweeter for it. Without giving any major spoilers, when Tamako realizes her feelings, it is a very cute moment.
2. Blue Spring Ride
Episodes: 12 episodes + 2 OVAs
Manga: 13 volumes, 49 chapters
Blue Spring Ride is the perfect anime for those who enjoy the melancholy and sweetness of teenage love. The story follows two childhood friends, Kou and Futaba. During their middle school, it was impossible to keep them apart. Their bond was incredibly strong, but with a twist of fate, one day Kou suddenly disappeared, and Futaba was incredibly confused and heartbroken.
Finally, they reunite once again during high school. Although the Kou that Futaba once knew was no more, he was more aloof. It is one of the most satisfying anime to watch because the way they navigate their current life while salvaging what they once had is wholesome.
3. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Episodes: 64 episodes
Manga: 27 volumes, 116 chapters
Edward Elric and Winry Rockbell’s relationship is forged in tragedy, loyalty, and shared growth. Even if the anime is not inherently of the romance genre, it shows how their relationships evolved from being childhood friends to lovers. Their on-screen chemistry shines not in overt romantic gestures but in the way they care for each other.
Furthermore, Winry is not just his love interest, she is the voice of reason in his life. Their eventual confession is modest and sweet; Ed’s equivalent exchange proposal is both humorous and deeply sincere.
4. Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku
Episodes: 11 episodes (TV series) + 3 OVA episodes
Manga: 11 volumes, 86 chapters (completed)
In Wotakoi, Hirotaka and Narumi’s romance is rooted in the kind of deep familiarity only childhood friends can offer. They are otaku but have separate interests. Narumi is a fujoshi, meaning she loves the BL genre, whereas Hirotaka is a gamer. After reconnecting as adults at the same workplace, Hirotaka quietly proposes they start dating, offering stability and comfort rather than dramatic passion.
Both of them are polar opposites because she is bubbly and full of energy, and he is more introverted. Wotakoi portrays a low-drama, feel-good romance where being best friends first becomes the foundation of a healthy, enduring love story.
5. Osamake: Romcom Where The Childhood Friend Won’t Lose
Episodes: 12 episodes
Manga: Ongoing; 12 volumes, approx. 68+ chapters (as of 2025)
Osamake is a series made specifically for those who want more of the childhood friends-to-lovers trope. This anime is about a high school boy who is not over the first girl he has a crush on and his childhood friend, Kuroha. In this anime, Kuroha refuses to be sidelined and wants her feelings to be acknowledged and reciprocated.
The premise of Osamake was that the childhood friend proposes a plan to start a fake relationship with the boy she likes to make his crush jealous, but emotions quickly get real. It’s a fun watch for fans of romantic chaos, with a strong nod to those rooting for the underdog in love triangles.
6. Chihayafuru
Episodes: 75 episodes (3 seasons: 25 + 25 + 25)
Manga: 50 volumes, 247 chapters (completed)
Chihayafuru blends competitive karuta with romantic tension between Chihaya and her childhood friend Taichi Mashima. He loves her from the start but keeps his feelings to himself. But he ensured to devote himself to Chihaya; unfortunately, she did not even realize it because of her single goal to become the best female Karuta player.
In this story, there is a second childhood friend, Arata, who introduced this sport to Chihaya. He confessed his feelings to her but was rejected. Even if romance isn’t the series’ primary focus, the story resonates deeply, reminding viewers of the courage it takes to confess, even when the outcome is uncertain.
7. Anohana
Episodes: 11 episodes + 1 movie (recap with added scenes)
Manga: 3 volumes, 11 chapters
Anohana is a story about Jinta and Menma, and it is not like a usual romance story. Both of them were part of a friend group, but Menma dies, and the group is shattered. She comes back years later as a ghost, and Jinta’s feelings for her take over his grief and guilt.
Their relationship is described with “what could have been,” and the show powerfully explores how deep affection can linger even after death. Though they can never be together in a traditional romantic sense, their connection is undeniable. This series is one of the most haunting childhood-friend romances in anime.
8. A Silent Voice
Episodes: 1 movie (2 hours, no TV series)
Manga: 7 volumes, 62 chapters (completed)
A Silent Voice, also known as Koe no Katachi, is an anime movie that beautifully depicts childhood guilt, redemption, and a fragile, blooming love. The story is about Shoya Ishida and Shoko Nishimiya. They knew each other during childhood, but it was more of Shoya and other classmates making fun of Nishimiya and her disability.
Shoya bullied Shoko for her deafness in elementary school, leading to traumatic consequences that isolated them both. Years later, Shoya is still haunted by guilt and wants to truly apologize for his actions and make amends. As they spend more time together, they begin to understand one another beyond their pasts.
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In conclusion, the childhood friend to lover trope might be underexplored, but what little exists often becomes beloved because it taps into something timeless: the idea that the strongest relationships are forged through years of shared laughter, hardship, and understanding.
Also, fans get to relive a story in which they can experience a feeling one gets with their first love. By watching these eight anime, viewers can also enjoy the lasting belief that love rooted in genuine friendship can grow into something wonderful, something worth waiting for, even across the years.
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