Slow-burn anime romances are not only featured in romance books but in Japanese entertainment as well. From anime, manga, and light novels, the concept of a romance that takes either the whole season or more to progress may not sound as appealing to certain fans.

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However, for some, this is just the treat that they have been waiting for—along with either waiting for the characters to confess their feelings or finally kiss. After watching the characters for so long, the sense of achievement is one of the perks of slow-burn romances.

Updated on February 10th, 2023 by Sarah Martin: While they might not be for everyone, slow-burn romances are some of the most beloved in anime. Thanks to being built up over the course of an entire series, the romance not only feels organic and earned, but the catharsis fans feel when the two characters finally become a couple is second to none. We've added a few more of anime's greatest slow-burn romances to this list.

15 Tomoe Waited For Nanami For 500 Years

Kamisama Kiss

A perplexed Nanami grabs Tomoe's chin in Kamisama Kiss

In Kamisama Kiss, Nanami misunderstood that Tomoe would never be able to fall in love with her since he'd previously been in a relationship with Yukiji. However, it turns out that Tomoe was actually in love with Nanami because she time-traveled 500 years in the past to save his life. She had to disguise herself as Yukiji, leading to a misunderstanding. Tomoe waited for Nanami for 500 years, but didn't realize it until the series' latter half.

Nanami caught feelings for him early on in the series, but he stubbornly rejected her affections. Nanami never stopped trying to win him over, and eventually, their inexplicable revealed itself.

14 Kaguya & Miyuki Were Too Prideful To Confess

Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War!

Kaguya and Miyuki from kaguya-sama love is war

Kaguya and Miyuki's relationship is defined by their pridefulness in Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War!. Throughout the series, their feelings for each other were obvious to everybody. However, neither of them wanted to confess, lest they damage their egos by spilling their guts.

Instead of just taking the "L" and confessing, Kaguya and Miyuki decided to put each other and everyone around them through hell via a series of nonsensical mind games that are best described as overthinking gone too far. Though they confessed after the school culture festival, it wasn't without an extremely orchestrated plan on Miyuki's part.

13 Gojo & Marin Were Afraid To Admit Their Feelings

My Dress-Up Darling

How My Dress-Up Darling's Marin and Gojo Built Anime's Healthiest Friendship

In My Dress-Up Darling, Gojo and Marin hit it off as soon as they met. Though Gojo's constantly been ridiculed for his passion for hina dolls, Marin was excited about it and saw his potential as a costume maker. Gojo helps Marin with every aspect of cosplaying, from building the garments to doing her makeup to taking photos of her looks.

However, their feelings for each other are obvious. They're both too afraid to admit their feelings, however. They both get embarrassed at the thought of a romance between them. However, they're bound to end up together by the end.

12 Komi & Tadano Always Had Chemistry

Komi Can't Communicate

Komi and Tadano At The Festival - Komi Can't Communicate

In Komi Can't Communicate, Tadano was Komi's first friend in high school since he offered to help her make ninety-nine more and was the first who understood that writing is an effective medium of talking to her. Their feelings for each other are obvious, but neither of them confessed for a long time. In Komi's case, it's hard enough for her to make basic conversation with her peers – even over text.

Making such a bold confession is out of the question for her. Meanwhile, Tadano lacks self-esteem and is a bit dense, considering he prides himself on his ability to read a room when he does everything but that. However, it all worked out for them in the end.

11 Sasaki Waited For Miyano

Sasaki & Miyano

Sasaki and Miyano's Penultimate Episode Deals With the Importance of Acceptance

In Sasaki & Miyano, Sasaki knew about his feelings for Miyano from the first time they met. However, Miyano was still struggling to accept and understand his sexuality since he'd previously had a girlfriend. He also didn't believe that reading boys' love manga meant he was gay.

However, as things progress in the series, Miyano realizes that he feels something more than platonic for Sasaki. Sasaki waited for Miyano to put the pieces together. They eventually got together, making one of the healthiest relationship in boys' love anime and manga.

10 Yuta & Rikka Fall In Love Amidst Delusions Of Grandeur

Love, Chuunibyo & Other Delusions

Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! Rikka and Yuuta

Yuta Togashi has an embarrassing past he doesn't wish to talk about—one where he thought he was the Dark Flame Lord in middle school. In short, he had chuunibyou — otherwise known in Japan as someone in their early teens who had many delusions.

Although he overcame it when he entered high school, Rikka Takanashi still has chuunibyou and starts following Yuta around despite being bothered by her. As the series progress, they slowly grow feelings for one another and figure out how to deal with overcoming chuunibyou — and the true reasons why she's stuck in this cycle — together.

9 Takeo & Rinko Begin A Romance Full Of Sweetness

My Love Story!!

Rinko Yamamoto Takeo Gouda My Love Story

Takeo Gouda and Rinko Yamato are perhaps the most unlikely couple in the anime My Love Story!! After he saves Rinko from a pervert on a train, she decides to well up some courage and asks him to become her boyfriend.

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Of course, with how everything progresses, their relationship proceeds at a snail's pace — but has various moments that have made fans fall in love with the purity of both of the characters and their love for one another.

8 Victorique & Kazuya Fall For Each Other Slowly But Surely

Gosick

Victorique de Blois & Kazuya Kujou (Gosick).

In the mystery anime Gosick, the romance proceeds so slowly that it's also almost barely there. Victorique de Blois is a young woman who acts as a detective and lives on the Saint Marguerite Academy's top floor in France, while Kazuya Kujo is a Japanese foreign exchange student.

To alleviate her boredom, he spends time with her. He ends up becoming somewhat of his assistant as they solve mysteries together — and they slowly begin to have feelings for each other.

7 Risa & Atsushi Go From A Comedy Duo To Boyfriend And Girlfriend

Lovely★Complex

Risa Koizumi and Atsushi Otani from Lovely-Complex.

Sometimes frustrating and sometimes rewarding — Lovely★Complex has one of the slowest romances in anime and manga, but the payoff is big. Risa Koizumi and Atsushi Otani are both the opposite of each other. While Risa is taller than the average Japanese girl, Atsushi is smaller than the average Japanese boy.

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They are called a comedy duo because of their difference in height. However, after becoming friends, Risa begins to fall for Atsushi, though it takes about the whole anime for Atsushi to seemingly take notice of her, making for a long ride of them confessing that they truly care for each other.

6 Tohru & Kyo Experience A Romance On The Road To Pain

Fruits Basket

Tohru Honda And Kyo Sohma Smiling Together

In the original Fruits Basket anime, the romance was barely a plot point. However, in the 2019 anime adaption that is a full remake, fans have finally received what they've been waiting for — the romances between the supporting characters and Tohru Honda and Kyo Sohma shown in more detail.

What's unique about the anime is how it shows the process of Tohru and Kyo coming to care for each other, as well as how they treasure each other. Although their lives both are slightly heavier than the average teenager's, seeing how happy they are when they interact is definitely one of the best points of the story — and how much they're willing to sacrifice to make the other happy.

5 Sakura & Syaoran Go From Enemies To Lovers In An Innocent Romance

Cardcaptor Sakura

Sakura and Syaoran staring at eachother from Cardcaptor Sakura.

Cardcaptor Sakura is not only a magical girl series that explores coming-of-age plot points and action but romance. In the original series, Sakura Kinomoto had a crush on her brother's best friend, Yukito Tsukishiro. However, after Syaoran Li appears and they get off to a rocky start — with him trying to steal Clow Cards from her — they eventually become friends.

Syaoran thinks he likes Yukito but realizes he likes Sakura after spending more time with her. It takes the entire original series for Sakura to like Syaoran after discovering Yukito likes Toya, and they begin to date in the sequel, Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card.

4 Shinichi & Megumi Slowly Build Their Relationship

Nodame Cantabile

Nodame Cantabile main characters Megumi and Shinichi.

Nodame Cantabile focuses on music and romance — with Shinichi Chiaki wanting nothing to do with Megumi Noda, otherwise known as Nodame. She quickly falls in love with him, but he doesn't pay her any mind — not until much later when he learns to appreciate her oddities and how they somehow manage to push him forward in both music and life.

Luckily, the anime adapts all of the manga and shows how their relationship progresses throughout college and, eventually, France.

3 Shirayuki & Zen Begin As Friends And End As Lovers

Snow White With The Red Hair

There are no dwarves in Snow White with the Red Hair

Shirayuki is a young woman who is told to become the concubine of Prince Raj because of her red hair, so she instead escapes and declines his offer so she can live the life she wants. Along the way, she meets Prince Zen, a young man who is kind and righteous, and they become friends after this incident.

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They both slowly begin to have feelings for each other as Shirayuki works to become a herbalist and Zen as he learns how to communicate better with others.

2 Holo & Lawrence Travel Across The World And Banter Into Love

Spice & Wolf

Lawrence and Holo (Spice & Wolf).

Spice & Wolf has perhaps one of the most satisfying romances between adults, despite the anime being on the older side. After Lawrence, a traveling merchant, finds a naked Holo in the back of his wagon, she proposes a deal — he will take her to her homeland, and she will help him with his business by bestowing wisdom upon him.

After all, she is the coveted Goddess of Wisdom. As they travel and see different scenery, and buy many apples, they have witty banter and discover that they like each other more than they thought. Eventually, they develop one of the best relationships in anime.

1 Yukino & Souichirou Take Their Time Getting To Know Their True Selves

His & Her Circumstances

Yukino and Arima (His & Her Circumstances).

Yukino Miyazawa is the perfect student and most popular girl in school — at least, on the outside, she is. She has trouble besting the person who gets the highest score on the midterms, Souichirou Arima, and is actually completely different at home. After she finally beats him, she is over the moon and wants nothing more than to rub it in his face — to which he congratulates her and instead confesses his love.

Although she rejects him, he discovers her true self at home and begins to blackmail her into doing his school duties, at which throughout she notices she's not the only one hiding behind a mask. The anime focuses on each other, their personalities, and their true feelings for one another.

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