Every story may revolve around one or two protagonists, but there will always be another character that becomes a crowd favorite. Shojo manga is the best genre known to treat the supporting role as overlooked and underrated in comparison to the main leads, especially when adapted to the big screen.
The deuteragonist, also known as the second lead, adds flavor to the romantic story, whether as a potential love interest, an unrequited crush, or a platonic friend. Some of these second leads live in every fan's heart because of their ability to keep everyone guessing who ends up with whom, outshining the main characters.
10 The Heroine Fell For Mizuki First (After School Starlight)
The live-action adaptation of After School Starlight revolves around the relationships between the members of the astronomy club, best friends Taiyo and Mizuki, and their latest recruit, Sei. Mizuki loves astronomy. His calm and collected composure attracts the socially awkward female lead, Sei, who joins the astronomy club to spend more time with him.
There are many typical storylines like this, and the viewers would automatically assume that they will end up together. Unfortunately, first love in a shojo manga can often mean first heartbreaks. In the end, Mizuki gave more importance to his friendship with Taiyo and decided to let Sei go.
9 Yusuke Loves Beyond Looks (Kiss Him, Not Me)
Kiss Him, Not Me is about Kae, a high school girl who suddenly gets the attention of several boys after drastic weight loss. Kae is a closeted fan of boy's love manga, or BL, and she is more interested in fantasizing about her male classmates getting together.
Yusuke is Kae's boy-next-door classmate, and he's been friendly to Kae even before her so-called transformation. He ended up truly falling for her when once he got to know her as a person, even if they didn't end up together. While this shojo manga aged poorly for its blatant fat-shaming, the live-action shows the character development of the multiple male leads from boys to decent young adults.
8 Arata Should Be Chihaya's End-Game (Chihayafuru)
With one volume left to publish, Chihayafuru managed to release three live-action films with high audience ratings. The story revolves around Chihaya, her friends, and her love for karuta, a card game requiring memory, agility, and endurance.
While the manga's ending is uncertain, most of the plot suggests Chihaya will end up with the other male lead, Taichi. Romance isn't necessarily the main point of the story, but the audience prefers the genius childhood best friend who kindled the protagonist's love for the sport over the former bully and enemy.
7 Kagura Deserves Someone Who Truly Loves Her (God's Favor)
God's Favor revolves around four high school students in complex relationships of unrequited love. Yashiro, the protagonist, is secretly in love with his best friend Kenta, who doesn't return his feelings because he prefers girls. Rin, who is Kenta's ex-girlfriend and Yashiro's former crush, is also secretly pining for her best friend Kagura.
Due to a wish granted by a shrine god, Yashiro wakes up in Kagura's body and uses the opportunity to make Kenta fall in love with him. Since the story mostly focused on the boy's love genre, the viewers knew little about the real Kagura, who was also in love with Kenta because her consciousness was in a coma most of the time. When all about her was revealed, they would realize that she also deserves her own happy ending.
6 Sosuke May Not Be Aoi's First Love, But He Was Her Last (Love & Lies)
In a future where the Japanese government assigns partners to every 16-year-old based on compatibility formulas, it can be difficult to know what true love is. Love & Lies tells the story of three teenagers, Aoi, Yuto, and Sosuke, and their experiences in first love. Unlike the manga, the live-action features a love triangle between one girl and two boys, instead of the original story with one boy and two girls.
Sosuke was Aoi's assigned partner, but Yuto was her first love who was willing to defy the law. Sosuke sacrificed his happiness for Aoi. Aoi and Yuto's love was short-lived after the latter passed away, but it was Sosuke who helped her learn to love again.
5 Toji Loves Momo, Even If She Didn't Know It (Peach Girl)
The Peach Girl manga aimed to break beauty standards in the form of Momo Adachi, a girl with bleached hair and tan skin, who is stereotyped as a playgirl for her looks. Toji has been friends with Momo since junior high, while she has been pining for his affection ever since.
The two dated for a while, but due to a heavy secret, they broke up. Unbeknownst to Momo, her best friend Sae has been sabotaging her reputation with Toji and the school. If only he had been more honest and braver in protecting Momo, she would have known the depths of his love.
4 Ichi Shows That Letting Go Is Still A Form Of Love (Parfait Tic)
Parfait Tic revolves around Fuuko, a high school girl juggling her feelings between cousins Daiya and Ichi. Fuuko wastes no time in confessing her feelings to both of the boys, despite getting her heart broken a few times. Ultimately, she ends up with Daiya, but only after the sacrifices Ichi made to let her go.
Ichi broke up with her for the first time to sort out his feelings for his ex-girlfriend, who recently came back into his life. He even took over the family business so that his cousin could be with Fuuko and wouldn't be obligated to work. This may have been a sad development, but it was a responsible course of action nonetheless.
3 Sakagami Helped Naruse Heal From Social Anxiety (The Anthem of the Heart)
The Anthem of the Heart narrates the story of four teenagers with social and romantic problems who were assembled to perform at a school musical. Originally, the anime film came first before the manga was published, until it was adapted into a live-action feature.
Naruse, the main protagonist, has difficulty interacting with others due to trauma from her past, even getting stomach pains when trying to talk. She falls in love with Sakagami, her classmate who helped her overcome her fears by singing out her feelings. Despite a bittersweet ending, Sakagami outshines Tasaki, the guy that Naruse eventually ends up with.
2 Yuna Gets The Fairytale Ending She Deserves (Love Me, Love Me Not)
Teenagers have different perspectives on romance, whether it's based on fantasy or the environment they grew up in. With this central theme, Love Me, Love Me Not is one of Japan's best-selling shojo manga that has been adapted into a star-studded live-action film in 2020.
Yuna is close friends with the protagonist Akari. Yuna confesses her love for Rio, Akari's step-brother, knowing that she will be rejected, as he had lingering feelings for his step-sister. Yuna took this opportunity to focus on herself, and she even became Rio's confidant. He eventually falls for Yuna, and the two become a happy couple.
1 Ichi Is Yoshika's Key To Adulthood (Tremble All You Want)
Technically a novel that was adapted into a screenplay, Tremble All You Want is a romantic comedy that perfectly fits the bill of a second lead outshining the protagonist. The story follows Yoshika, a 24-year-old accountant who struggles with a one-sided love of over 10 years with Ichi, her middle-school classmate.
Yoshika's co-worker, Ni, actively pursues her, but she constantly daydreams of being with Ichi. While Yoshika eventually ends up with Ni, Ichi was the symbol of her youth and innocence. After letting go of Ichi, Yoshika can truly grow into a mature adult.