I think this might be hard to find because of the way Japanese culture expects people to talk about love? But I have the same problem with Western fiction really.

I want to read a romance story in which the characters consistently attempt to talk about what they want of the relationship in question. It's fine if those attempts are achingly awkward or they get misinterpreted. I just don't care for the trope of spending an arbitrarily large number of chapters watching someone build up the courage to make a love confession, especially when that confession marks the end of the story and the whole rest of the relationship is just assumed to work out.

Bonus points if the characters "settle down" together and discover that this situation they thought was stable is not. Relationships are often high maintenance, even when the partner is not, and it's weird that this doesn't show up in romance stories much.

Ciguatera is the closest I can think of (especially for this: ), but that story is really an harsh reality slap on your face, you're advised.

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What I like in Trivial Pursuit style. Pick your category:

I suppose A song for you has a bit of that...though it descends into arguing at times...

and Bara no tame ni also has a lot of talking about feelings...

I think Paradise Kiss might work. It's not continuous but they do talk about their feelings.

[m]Love blog![/m]

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Help! I'm looking for... manga with dangerous guys http://www.mangaupdates.com/showtopic.php?tid=39874&pa ge=1#post594033

Color (MIMORI Ao)
I recently discovered this series where the couple does exactly what you described in the last paragraph of your post - settling down, trying to adapt to the new situation, coming to understand each other as lovers etc. I was quite surprised to find such a manga where they talk about their expectations (and disappointment) from the very beginning.

Love Roma by TOYODA Minoru
The main couple is honest with each other to the point of absurdity. Sweet and amusing.


Last edited by Tripitaka at 6:55 am, Jul 11 2013

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"Stories are what death thinks he puts an end to.
He can't understand that they end in him, but they don't end with him."
- Ursula K. Le Guin, Gifts

To be savoured:
- Blood Alone by TAKANO Masayuki
- Otoyomegatari by MORI Kaoru
- Gangsta. by Kohske
- Seishun Kouryakuhon by AKIZUKI Sorata

Try these:
Hatsukare
Nocturne (PARK Eun-Ah)
Sand Chronicles
Kare First Love

I personally find the relationships portrayed here quite realistic. Hope they meet your expectations

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"But if I see your eyes once more... I'll be able to feel that it is you..."

Bonnouji

Very refreshing manga, at least for me, the romance feels real, without cliches. Unlike many others that end after the "confession part", this one deals about the living together part of relationships. In a humorous way, but I still found it fairly realistic. And the characters always talk about their relationship (even their 1st time having sex, which was quite amusing).
Don't expect too much drama/conflicts tho, it's a comedy/slice of life after all.

Last edited by oneeyed at 11:36 am, May 2 2013