Every relationship requires someone to make the first move — which is only possible when one person confesses their feelings for the other and asking them out. A confession of love can take a lot of courage to work up, in part due to the overwhelming fear of being rejected. While a few instances end triumphantly, with a new relationship blooming, others do not.
With every anime couple that gets together after a heartfelt confession, there are just as many that aren't so lucky. Someone is always left to cry bitter tears of rejection as their feelings are practically trampled on in some of the most savage ways possible.
10 Subaru Responds To Rem's Confession With "I Love Emilia" (Re:Zero)
Re:Zero is popular for a lot of different things — one of which is the blue-haired Oni maid, Rem. This explains how a scene in one of the anime's most pivotal episodes became one of the most famous rejections of all time. When Subaru is at his lowest point, ready to give up, Rem gives him heartwarming speech, confessing her feelings while inspiring him to keep going.
Unfortunately for Rem, Subaru responds with "I love Emilia." Admittedly, she takes the rejection pretty well, despite how much it hurts — fans, however, did not. This scene ended up sparking plenty of online debates over whether Rem was better for Subaru than Emilia and a cavalcade of memes to go along with it.
9 Minori Turns Ryuuji Down By Saying She Doesn't Want To See Anymore UFOs Or Ghosts — Toradora!
At the start of Toradora!, both Ryuuji and Taiga have feelings for the other's best friend, working together to try and set each other up with their crushes. As the series goes on, however, bitter rejection fill both sides of the effort — one of the saddest heartbreaks to watch is how Minori Kushieda turns down Ryuuji.
After seeing Taiga break down — and after she comes to terms with her feelings for Ryuuji — Minori meets up with the latter. Before Ryuuji can even say a word, she tells him how she no longer wants to see "UFOs and ghosts" and leaves. Despite dancing around the point, the rejection is brutal without having to be direct.
8 Yoshiko Is Consistently Rejected By Akuru — Aho-Girl
A running gag in the comedic anime Aho-Girl is how the titular Yoshiko has feelings for her childhood friend Akuru, but who can't stand her and rejects her for pretty much the entire series. One-sided is the best way to describe the relationship between these two characters.
Akuru has zero affection for Yoshiko & her idiotic tendencies end up enraging him no matter how endearing she tries (and fails) to be. This almost always ends with Akuru laying the brutal smackdown on Yoshiko, in an over-the-top fashion. Yoshiko just doesn't understand that no means no.
7 "I Just Don't Like Men Who Are Shorter Than Me." — Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Everyone has a type, and sometimes that can lead to some brutal letdowns. In Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, it's revealed that the Elric brothers once had a fight about who would marry Winry back in the day, in which Al ends up being rejected. In the present, Winry states that her reasoning was that she doesn't like men shorter than her.
Despite the fact that Al is the only brother to be officially rejected, Ed is the one who takes this the hardest since he's easily ticked off by the topic of height. Fortunately for him, Ed successfully confesses to Winry by the end of the series and they become a couple.
6 Chiyo Ends Up Getting Nozaki's Autograph When She Confesses Her Feelings — Monthly Girls', Nozaki-Kun
Surprisingly, Monthly Girls', Nozaki-Kun actually starts with Chiyo confessing her feelings for Nozaki, but of course, it can't be that easy. Chiyo isn't clear enough with her expressions and the ever-oblivious Nozaki interprets her words as she wanting his autograph — which he does give her.
Despite being the creator of a shojo manga, Nozaki is completely naïve about anything to do with real-life romance, which is why Chiyo's very obvious crush on him doesn't register in his mind. She confesses at the end of the season as well, only for it to be misconstrued once again.
5 Nino Thinks Kou's Attempt To Woo Her Is A Skit — Arakawa Under the Bridge
Why do a normal confession when you can ask someone out in style? This is probably Kou's thought process when he tries to ask Nino out in Arakawa Under the Bridge. Dressing up all fancy and driving up to her in a flashy car with a bouquet of roses, Kou's attempt might have wooed most others, but not Nino.
Not really understanding the concept of love or dating, Nino's response to such a stunning entrance is to applaud Kou and tell him that she "can't wait for the next skit." The two eventually do become a couple, but the initial rejection is almost too savage for words.
4 Nagisa Bombards Asahi With A Detailed Explanation About How He Has No Chance With Her — Actually, I Am
There is an art to being turned down gently, which involves softening the impending rejection for the confessor. Unfortunately, that's not what happens when Asahi tried to ask Nagisa out in Actually, I Am. After meeting with him, Nagisa decides to get to the point and tells him how she has absolutely no interest in him at all.
She bombards Asahi with a detailed explanation about how he has no chance with her, with her verbal assaults literally stabbing him like a barrage of daggers — eventually knocking him to the ground. Asahi's friends are stunned as they try to bring their buddy back from the brink of despair.
3 Meowth Fought For Meowzie But She Just Saw Him As A Freak — Pokémon
Some people do bizarre things for love — Team Rocket's Meowth knows that better than anyone. He actually learns to talk to impress Meowzie, another Meowth, but is unfortunately rejected after showing off his new skills. Years later, Meowth meets up with Meowzie again, but this time she has been abandoned by her rich owner and has joined a stray Persian's gang.
Meowth actually fights and wins against the gang for her, but Meowzie chooses the Persian over him anyway. She tells Meowth that she'd never want to be with him since he's a freak of nature in her eyes. It turns out that Pokémon can make some scathing rejections too — Meowth definitely could have done with some Burn Heal after that one.
2 Naruto Tells Sakura That He Hates People Who Lie To Themselves — Naruto: Shippuden
This actually isn't the first time Sakura has been rejected, but it was the first and only time she is rejected by Naruto of all people. After years of Sakura's one-sided crush on Sasuke, it seems like she's ready to give up on him and meet Naruto halfway. However, the latter isn't having any of it.
Despite his own one-sided crush on Sakura, Naruto flat-out rejects her advances. Seeing right through her true intentions, he tells her hates "people who lie to themselves". It is an emotional blow-up years in the making, which is what makes this one hit so hard.
1 Aki Adagaki Publicly Executes Shigeo's Social Life (Masamune-kun's Revenge)
Leave it to the "Brutal Princess", Aki Adagaki, to deliver one of the cruelest and most savage rejections in anime history. Shigeo Yamada — a one-0ff character in Masamune-kun's Revenge — confesses his feelings for Adagaki in front of the school with everyone watching. She, however, is prepared for such a scenario.
With a microphone in hand, Adagaki tells Shigeo that she had her servants do an extensive background check on him and begins listing all of his most embarrassing traits and tendencies for the entire school to hear. She goes in for the kill by letting her servant unfurl a banner with Shigeo's new nickname, "Moleo", after the mole on his chest. This isn't just a rejection, but a public execution of Shigeo's social life.