Recently I had been reading Ciel - The Last Autumn Story and I found it really refreshing how the female lead clearly knows what the intentions are of the various hot guys that come out of the woodwork are as the story progresses. She knows when she's being courted and doesn't do that cliche "oh he's not into me, he's just a friend, he said so himself!" crap. It's nice that she's able to have a love interest and still be beautiful/popular without being pushed against a wall and shocked by sudden confessions. This was a nice contrast whereas she was almost largely oblivious to the feelings of her established love interest.

Another one I can think of off the top of my head may be Mokuren's character from Please Save My Earth. She had a certain innocence to the feelings of her established love interest, while she could clearly understand the way her charms naturally affected the men around her (much to her avail).

Anyways, does anyone know of any other series that fit this description? I guess to sum it up it'd be like a female lead who is self-conscious/not naive or disillusioned by the prospects of "male friendship". A lead who knows that the hot dude that shows up and starts following her around he doesn't want to be "just friends".

Enjoy Takane to Hana: https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=117728

Um.. Cheese in the Trap ? And maybe Seigi no Mikata

Off the top of my head, I thought of this one for some reason. They, Too, Love Don't hate just because it's a manhwa (not by HYR/HMR)
Also Seol Hui is great. Supernatural but a great read. (unfortunately unfinished)

Agree with CITT and Seigi no Mikata (hilarious)

Try Hannune Banhada! Season 1. Main character is somewhat like the mc in Ciel
there's a sequel of it Hannune Banhada! Season 2 (the continuation of the first one)

Just that she gets into these relationships but knows what actually she's doing somehow.. lol It's not something I can explain without spoiling the story but it's also a refreshing read

[img]http://www.nodiatis.com/pub/7.jpg[/img]

I don't know too many.....that's kinda uncommon in shoujo after all 😀

Try Atashi no Banbi, Basara and Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun 🙂

Basara got me really mad because of how easily Agaha got off simply because he was a hot guy. Tatara remained really oblivious and let that murderous war criminal/serial killer/double-agent/boyfriend murderer get to second base occasionally. Meanwhile Shiuri literally punched a girl in the face when she tried to make a pass at him.

I've got a few to contribute! Hopefully, some of these will fit what you are looking for.

1. Dengeki Daisy

2. Lovely Complex

3. Taiyou no Ie

4. Cat Street

5. Can't Lose You

6. Sora Log

7. Kirai

8. Tomodachi no Hanashi

9. Red River

Quote from Rozzak

Basara got me really mad because of how easily Agaha got off simply because he was a hot guy. Tatara remained really oblivious and let that murderous war criminal/serial killer/double-agent/boyfriend murderer get to second base occasionally. Meanwhile Shiuri literally punched a girl in the face when ...

Wh-what?! Ageha was a great character in my opinion! True, he did a lot of bad things, but in reality, people that have suffered like he did tend to do awful things as well. And in the end he was the most selfless character in the whole story. He was awesome, for me he feels like some sort of prelude of Aramaki from the other mangaka's well known work, 7 Seeds. And Aramaki is just the best, he's like Ageha but better.
Oh, you could try 7 Seeds by the way. It's not completed and I think it's josei, but one of the main characters is indeed strong and independent.