It would be closer to what I'm looking for if both characters also deal with extreme loneliness and depression. No high-school settings or teenage characters please!

Thank you in advance for any suggestions

Mmmm........Bonnouji might fit, 3 Level Combination as well........maybe Aku no Hana, Annarasumanara, Atashi no Banbi, Choku!, Gyon-Woo & Jik-Nyu and Kami-sama ga Uso o Tsuku.

good luck finding something to read

Thank you for your suggestions! But I think you missed the part about no high-school settings or teenage characters

Do you know any similar manga with adult characters?

Oh, sorry, I did read that part and then forgot all about it as I was going down my list and thinking about shy/awkward

Nah, those're all I've got as far as completely scanlated and that I've read to recommend.......lots of other romance with adult characters, but no, no more that really seem like they'd fit with those types of characters.

Well, what about Densha Otoko - Bijo to Junjo Otaku Seinen no Net Hatsu Love Story? Now that I think of that one it seems like at least maybe one character might fit......

Unfortunately, Densha Otoko doesn't seem to be what I'm looking for either. Well, thank you for your help in any case, I really appreciate it. I will keep searching!

Last edited by RainOfColors at 1:06 pm, Apr 22 2016

Ciguatera and Himizu are both about teenagers' depression but they are not your conventional high school types. Though Himizu is not so heartwarming.

Undercurrent is not really about extreme depression but it's so realistic.
Ningen Shikkaku is not a romance but if you want something REALLY depressed then read it.
(otherwise try to avoid it).
Goshoku no Fune is like a fairy tale. Very heartwarming.