I'm searching for a manga in which the MC has a clear rival who at the same time is also a good friend. It must be a healthy friendship, which is never significantly hindered by the two being rivals. For example, Naruto and Sasuke from Naruto don't fit for me, while Eiji Niizuma from Bakuman does, even though I'd like the two characters to be closer friends.

-The two rivals can be of the same gender or not, it doesn't matter, as long as there is no romance between them;

-The rivalry can be over anything: sport, love, studies, other types of competition;

-They can start as pure rivals, as long as they become friends later on and are shown to clearly acknowledge their friendship (not the Vegeta "I'm saving you because I'm gonna defeat you" style)

-I'd like a manga that's completely or actively scanalated

-No Yaoi, Yuri, Hentai, Harem, Shounen-ai/Shoujo-ai, and no Shoujo. Shoujo is fine if you think it's a really good one. Maybe even Shounen-ai/Shoujo-ai, but it's gotta be reaaally good (also remember, no romance between the rivals)

Thank you even just for reading this rant, and have a nice day!

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My current top 3:
Fullmetal Alchemist
Pandora Hearts
3-gatsu no Lion

Captain Tsubasa

between Tsubasa and Genzo, and also Tsubasa and Misaki in Captain Tsubasa Golden-23

Haikyuu!! about volleyball, great sports manga
yowamushi pedal cycling, three of the MC are best friend and rival. also great senpai-kouhai relationship
H2 this is exactly what you're looking for, two best friends rivalry in the field and love, also great manga. my fav of all time

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Daiya no Ace

I just finished the series today. The ending is a bit open ended and it's beautifully done. It's pure sports though, so don't expect out of sports related love troubles, school drama etc. Everything revolves around baseball and the team. I won't say they are "good friends" like happy and smiley. But there is definitely a lot of respect, support and rivalry between them.

I'm really glad I picked up the series after watching a match in Koshien this year (it was one of the featured series in the museum in Koshien).

Thank you for the replies! I'll be sure to check all these manga

Since they are all rivals in various sports up until now, how about a different type of rivalry? Like, I don't know, a fantasy or sci-fi setting, or anything other than sport


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My current top 3:
Fullmetal Alchemist
Pandora Hearts
3-gatsu no Lion

This is more along the lines of enemies becoming friends rather than rivals becoming friends, but Rain might have some of what you're looking for. It's fantasy and ongoing.

I've read neither of these, but according to the tags they fit. Both are completely scanlated, slice of life, school life:
Sket Dance
Joshikousei


And two more from the sports genre if you want them, completely scanlated:
RRR Boxing
Tetsuwan Girl Girls baseball (very brief though, the rivalry doesn't last throughout the series)

there is no such thing in Sket Dance...

I also disagree about Sket Dance. There is really no rivalry and just pure friendship.

Black Clover is a perfect example. The two grew up as best friends and want to compete to be the Magic Emperor, but remain best friends and help each other.

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Nulla in mundo pax sincera
"Always go too far, because that's where you'll find the truth." - Albert Camus

Glad you clarified for the OP Was just going off of the tag ('rivals become friends', had 13+ votes) since I haven't actually read it.

No one mentioned Hikaru no go yet?

Thank you for all the suggestions!

Black Clover seems particularly interesting
Also I'll get around to read Sket Dance regardless

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My current top 3:
Fullmetal Alchemist
Pandora Hearts
3-gatsu no Lion

Try
Glass no Kamen
it has a friendly rivalry

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There's only one truth, but hundred versions of one single thing

I see H2 has already been posted! I logged in just to recommend that one.

Generally speaking all of Mitsuru sports manga sort of have that feel, and they are pretty good, so you should check them out.

Ping Pong -- I know the genre field says sports, but the mangaka's Matsumoto Taiyou, so in the end, this manga is really about life. Excellent, and highly recommended provided you like reading between the lines and stories with more depth than usual.

Shuuten Unknown, Game x Rush. But they're shoujo, so idk whether you'll like them or not, nor can I tell what you mean by "good" shoujo. (Unless good=non-cliche, in which case these two titles do fit, very much). They're are perfect for your request in every other way, though.

Junjou Karen na Oretachi da!, Bushidou Sixteen -- Sports shounen, but good representations of both friendship and rivalry that isn't solely game-centric, but stem from major differences in personalities and values.

Last edited by calstine at 6:01 am, Sep 15 2015