Usually it's the girl in shounen or the boy in shoujo that has issues, and the protagonist would help them at the final arc before they live HEA. So I'm looking for romance where both male and female lead has problematic life and they fight it together, or help each other in turns, or found some sort of solace in each other. Not just some external problems, but something that affect them internally too. Probably like Mars, Bambi to Dhole, The Other Side of The Mirror, Kodomo no Omocha, Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan, or lighter version would be Eensy Weensy Monster and M to N no Shouzou. Preferably no love triangle, except if it's 2 girls 1 guy in shoujo/josei. Thank you 🙂

Edit: hmm some people might confuse the topic's title as romance where both sides has issues in having/nurturing relationship, so that can count too. Sadly I know no examples tho

Edit 2: Another examples
Owaru Heart Janee
Taiyou ga Mite iru (Kamo Shirenai Kara)
Oboreru Knife
Samishii Hito
Haru no Noroi
Issho ni Neyou yo
Perhaps it would be easier if it's not slice-of-life (when traumatizing stuffs happen to both characters on daily basis) so I guess stuffs like Baraou no Souretsu and Basara can be counted too.

DONDAKEE!!

I've read this a long time ago so I'm not sure if it fits your description but the drama here is heavy as heck: Eden no Hana

I've read that one but I'm pretty sure the male lead didn't really have any issue in his life beside the female lead haha, thanks for the heads up tho.

DONDAKEE!!

Bitter Virgin, maybe?

I've read it long ago, don't remember the guy has any personal issue though, but maybe I remember wrong? Thanks for the rec anyway.

Bumping this thread shamelessly~

DONDAKEE!!

Ok I know we're probably going shoujo here but if we can have some gay, of course No.6 is a great example.

An interesting version is Oyasumi Punpun, where the girl has issues but its told through the eyes of a guy who for a long time glorifies her.

I tried the first chapters of No. 6 some times ago and I found the characters' behavior to be odd and forced and overall hard to relate to so I dropped it. Did it get better?
As for Oyasumi Punpun I was reading this one but perhaps since I was craving for some romance and it was not the portrayal of my ideal romance I just didn't include it. But regardless of the romance it was a truly awesome manga indeed

DONDAKEE!!

It gets a lot better, I personally say the books give more flow to their behaviour and actions since you get the inner workings to their thoughts.

Also a duh choice but Tokyo Babylon and it's sequel X.

Tokyo Crazy Paradise.
Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne
Can't See Can't Hear But Love
Dokuhime
Double Arts
Emma more struggle on the female's part
Gakuen Alice But I really hated the ending. Read at own discretion.

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