I searched for good side characters, now let's look for good side couples, which are often more endearing than the main ones. By side couple I mean any pairing that doesn't involve the main character: so for example the deuteragonist is fair game, and it still counts if there is not a "main couple" to begin with, if let's say the MC is not involved in romance at all.

Thanks in advance!

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

The only one I can think of off the top of my head is the pair from Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii

Side couples depend for me. I like when it's an entirely separate romance from the main one. Usually you have people in side couples who like one of the main 2 and then fall for someone else because they can't be with one of the leads. There have been times where it came off as a shallow happy ending for those character when they don't do it right.

As for some good ones:

Ao Haru Ride


Hirunaka no Ryuusei


Yamada-kun to 7-nin no Majo


+1 to Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii

Yeah, I mostly agree. Mainly because it's often done poorly just to get a rival out of the way. Like every trope it can be used in a satisfying way, for example as a way to show a character's growth, but that only happens when the side characters aren't bidimensional.

Thanks for the suggestions, if someone has other titles in mind, feel free to share


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

3D Kanojo has two great side couples, and there are chapters dedicated to them.


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

I just finished Yamada-kun and remembered that it was recommended here. While I loved the manga

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

Well I think it was down played a bit because...

Not really, it turns out Well, it doesn't matter anyway, since the manga itself was hilarious, so I'm glad I picked it up.

Edit: I phrased it badly:

Last edited by train93 at 12:10 pm, Jun 28 2017

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

Some shoujo with side character romance:
Kimi ni Todoke
Love So Life
Special A
B.O.D.Y. has a few although I can't remember it that clearly and it does include more than one love triangle
Koudaike no Hitobito
Nijiiro Days (MIZUNO Minami)
Suki tte Ii na yo.
Fruits Basket

Horimiya but the story really focus on the main couple
Sugars (YAMAMORI Mika) but I don't think it really counts since it's more like a collection of stories
14-sai no Koi

I second (or third in some cases) Horimiya, 14-sai no Koi, Ao Haru Ride, and Yamada-kun to 7-nin no Majo.

I'd also throw out Nisekoi as by the end I was actually just as invested if not more in how Shuu and Ruri worked out than all the harem nonsense with the MC.

Also Sket Dance isn't heavily romance focused, but there is a romance in the background between Switch and Momoka that I really enjoyed.