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!

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

Shuuko and Kominato were great.

Hirunaka no Ryuusei

The guy Yuyuka ends up with makes them a pretty good couple. She likes Mamura at first, but then falls for this other guy at some point towards the end.

Yamada-kun to 7-nin no Majo

Nene and Ushio were pretty great.

+1 to Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii

Quote from SangMo

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 endin ...

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 🙂

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.

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

I wasn't really convinced by Ushio and Nene, it felt exactly the way you described in your post. And there was completely zero build-up, it was hammered to the ground that she just couldn't see him that way at all up until the epilogue

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

Quote from train93

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

I wasn't really convinced by Ushio and Nene, it felt exactly the way you described in your post. And there was completely zero build-up, it was hammered to the ground that she just couldn't see him that w ...

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

Nene was in love with Ushio before losing her memories and liking Yamada. If I remember that correctly.

Not really, it turns out

they believed she was in love with Ushio, but she discovers she liked Yamada back then as well. 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:

She liked Yamada as well as in the present, she never liked Ushio during their high school years

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

Quote from train93

Not really, it turns out

they believed she was in love with Ushio, but she discovers she liked Yamada back then as well. Well, it doesn't matter anyway, since the manga itself was hilarious, so I'm glad I picked it up.

So she liked them both. Nothing wrong with that. I liked that she and Ushio ended up together.

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.