I need to read some manga that makes my heart go all skjhfshfshfsjfhsf. >.>; It doesn't need to be emotionally cry-every-5-seconds but just something that makes me feel for the characters... if that makes sense. That does NOT mean depressing.

Something that was a good amount of tug-at-heastrings is Stroke Material. Not too much, but still a fair amount.

Characters that'll make me want to bash their heads in are not acceptable.

Any genre is acceptable, except no BL and/or H, please and thanks. _

Operation Liberate Men

Maybe I'm a bit seneitive, but it's a real heartache around volume 6 and 7 when they explain the past of the previous emperor. The way the family break up and the social hearchy toward male is heartbreaking. but then again, thats no suprised, since we're talking about 6 year old being bullied and unable to call his own mother "mother"

Fruits Basket
you can't leave out this one, the family full of child abuse and every character has some sort of sob story behind them. It steel feel so real though, you know the reason why the series are good.

Full Metal Alchemist
a good blend of humor and sadness. the story is deep, and the brother's aim is more noble if anything else.

Ehhh... Furuba & FMA weren't really all tug-at-heartstrings for me. >__>;

Pom the Panda
Hotel <---had me intensely sobbing at the end (though that could have been caused by the fact something related to me personally at the end, causing such an extreme reaction)
Kon no Ki Konoha
Lament of the Lamb
Flower of Evil
Kono Koi wo Wasurenai. - 3rd story

Forever Honey---short brilliant oneshot
Men's Kou---at the beginning i thought that it would just be about guys trying to hook up with girls and get girlfriends but it turned out to be much more than that truly. The character Maki is just so awesome. I believe this is what you are looking for. Its not thoroughly depressing or anything actually quite comedic but some moments in there really does have that effect that you are looking for.
Hoshi no Koe--Sahara Mizu is an awesome mangaka and this manga is truly awesome.
My Girl (SAHARA Mizu)
Aishiteruze Baby--one of my favourites and it definetly had that effect on me.
Snow Queen--maybe, it wasn't anything great for me but maybe it might work for you
Bitter Virgin--hell yess, this one is depressing at some parts though so avoid if you can't handle the thought of rape!!
Kingyo Sou--didn't work out for me but perhaps you might like this.

Angel Beats--best anime of the 2010 spring season

Quote from drolemil

Pom the Panda
Hotel <---had me intensely sobbing at the end (though that could have been caused by the fact something related to me personally at the end, causing such an extreme reaction)
Kon no Ki Konoha
Lament of the Lamb
Flower of Evil
Kono Koi wo Wasurenai. - 3rd story A lot of these are either tagged as tragedies, just give off a depressing vibe... Not to say sadness can't achieve the effect I want, but I want it through other methods than just that. XD; Kinda not looking for just "oh my god your life sucks so much sob sob" if you get what I'm saying.

THAT SAID, Flower is Evil is orgasmic & that 3rd story actually had KIND OF achieved the effect. It was a cute read, nonetheless. xD

@John: ;O You seem to know exactly what I want.

Bitter Virgin did make me sob hysterically. XD Face was all blotchy when I read it. LOL. But besides a few chaps, nothing really affected me that much (but I still loved the series).

Men's Kou sounds interesting, and you've got covered exactly what I want. Will check out. (:

Aishiteruze Baby didn't really achieve that effect for me, but eh. >_>

Hoshi no Koe sounds like my cup of tea - WHOOO PSYCHOLOGICAL SEINENS!!!

Thanks much. (:

Maybe Eien no With? Okay it's a bit depressing but damn heart-warming too. 🙂

I just recently read Otomegokoro and it really tugged at my heartstrings lol
made me wanna punch someone hahah 😀

Something like Natsume Yuujinchou? Or, flails, Olimpos? Sket Dance? Tell me which kind you prefer and I might have more suggestions.

Quote from Dubby

Quote from drolemil

Pom the Panda
Hotel <---had me intensely sobbing at the end (though that could have been caused by the fact something related to me personally at the end, causing such an extreme reaction)
Kon no Ki Konoha
Lament of the Lamb
Flower of Evil
Kono Koi wo Wasurenai. - 3rd story A lot of these are either tagged as tragedies, just give off a depressing vibe... Not to say sadness can't achieve the effect I want, but I want it through other methods than just that. XD; Kinda not looking for just "oh my god your life sucks so much sob sob" if you get what I'm saying.

THAT SAID, Flower is Evil is orgasmic & that 3rd story actually had KIND OF achieved the effect. It was a cute read, nonetheless. xD

Sorry... I'm sensitive to characters, so tragedies usually tug my heartstrings the most out of any genre. All of my recs have a happy ending I think besides FoE and Pom.

Natsume Yuujinchou: I sobbed a little every arc.
Chrno Crusade: Sweet and somewhat confusing to some.
Houshin Engi: Mainly plot and character driven but they have good moments (thanks to great characters) that did that for me.
Cat Street: Very nicely done with great moments too.
I Am a Piano: A somewhat bizarre one-shot, nice ending that made me smile.
Tongari Root: Collection of one-shots
Aozora Yell: Sweet and warm.
Real: Hmm. It's heart-string tugging alright, not sure how you take towards this kinda though.

I would like to suggest Kare Kano but it's about 20-something volumes long.

[img]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d25/khmershinobi/b750d351697e8dd4b2600bce2a15e1e9-2-2.jpg[/img]

__ I'll have what she's having... please~♥

Flower Shop Boys. Genuinely heart warming. Read. This. Now.

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/riney25/Ginkosig-1.jpg[/img]

Mademoiselle Butterfly. This is a beautiful one that will tug at your heartstrings without being depressing.

agree with John21 read hoshi no koe it is supremely awesome and heart touching