NO ECCHI!
NO YAOI!
NO MANHWA!

I don't like Cinderella. At all. There's also other ways of saying it, such as the Chinese sayings: "chicken became phoenix", "climbing the high branch", etc. Both of them are used as insults most of the time, and that's how it should be in my opinion.

Anyways, I'm looking for something that both the male and female make an effort to fit into their respective roles. That can be that they are fitted to each other status wise (such as prince x princess), or they make an effort to do so (Akagami no Shirayukihime). Those aren't the only examples, but basically, no "the hottest guy at school fell in love with the ugliest girl". Or more simply, don't leech off the guy.

Now, that doesn't mean I need them to be of high status. Slave x slave (such as a tiny bit of Vinland Saga) works just fine. I mean, they are low enough to fit each other, no?

It's kinda hard to think of a perfect example, but... these should fit more or less.
Otoyomegatari
Wedding
Gu Fang Bu Zi Shang
Shinigamihime no Saikon
Tokage Ouji
Vahlia no Hanamuko

The perfect example of what I DON'T want would be Emma. They love each other? I don't care. He is better fitted for the other girl who's-name-I can't-remember, even though I don't like her at all.

Excluding the ending, Hadashi de Bara o Fume would be something I don't want too. Ending reveals that she actually has a good family background, which in that case would fit. But really... it's a bit too late.

I'll take shounen-ai too, but generally, I'm looking for a regular romance story. And yes, my requirement is that it's centered around romance, or at least play a large enough role. They don't nessecarily have to be all lovey-dovy though. Cantarella would be what I meant by that. Cesare doesn't love anyone he marries, but he chose them politically. That's just fine by me.

[img]http://www.nodiatis.com/pub/19.jpg[/img]

gokusen even though she is a teacher she goes to him for advise a lot and they act like equals. It isn't centered on romance but is really good and he falls in love with her early on.
hana to akuma
hana kimi
Kanata kara
kingyo sou
mars
the kidnapping of minja jo's boyfriend
w juliet
Koori no Mamono no Monogatari
seven days
Keishichou Tokuhanka 007

"You cannot understand that which you do not know and that misunderstanding breeds hatred."
-a night of a thousand dreams

Present wa Shinju
Teru Teru x Shounen the ninja... yeah
Sugar Family in a way... since the brother is trying to be a good brother...
Soredemo Sekai wa Utsukushii
Shitsuji-sama no Okiniiri it fits.. but for some reason I get this feeling that you might not like it... well... it fits..

Kimi ni Todoke is it out of it?
also Monogatari (Novel) have the kind of love i like

Uh, I feel like I replied to a similar post of yours, but whatever.

Zettai Heiwa Daisakusen both royalty.
maybe Akatsuki no Yona since Hak is an (ex-)general. But it's ongoing so.
Inoribana the oneshot "Souai Metaphysica"

because she ends up with the prince in the end.

14-sai no Koi both popular, good-looking, similar in personality etc.
My Hero! normal girl x normal boy.
Oboreru Knife both incredibly beautiful and charismatic people. It's kind of agreed amongst their peers that they match perfectly. *ongoing.
Hibi Chouchou Both attractive people, though Suiren is perhaps more idol-like as seen by their classmates. Similarly quiet and shy.

I had more recommendations but they're all Korean haha ^^;;