Romance Manga where they get together early (+ relationship start)

Romance Manga where they get together early

The whole point of a Romance Manga is seeing them being together – am I right? So it can be quite frustrating when the couple gets together and the Manga ends with that. Or we only get to see a kiss that is censored with a leaf or something…In this list, I have collected some Romance Manga where they get together early. In some of them, the relationship is the only focus of the Manga. I hope you like it! Let’s dive in:

Romance Manga where they get together early – Part I

1. Will you marry me again if you are reborn

(c) Morinaga, Miku/Gene pixiv
  • Together since the beginning

Summary: Kaoru got adopted after she was abused by her previous employer. That is why Toranosuke basically grew up together. They became a couple after Toranuske confessed his love for her. The Manga is about the two of them reminiscing their story while Toranosuke is terminally ill and in a hospital room. So it’s not a story where they get together early and see cute moments but rather a story where they are together from the start and you see their story in reverse.

You should read if you:

  • love reading a story with heavy themes and unique storytelling
  • like it when the female lead is very strong and the couple has a great dynamic
  • don’t mind crying your heart out

2. Tonikaku Kawaii

(c) Hata, Kenjirou/Shounen Sunday
  • Relationship starts in Chapter 2

Summary: Nasa Yuzaki had to live with his bizarre name and got ridiculed because of it. In the first chapter he got hit by a truck, but a girl saves his life. Nasa falls for her and immediately confesses his feelings. Her condition to go out with him: He has to marry him. This story revolves around their peculiar relationship

You should check it out if you:

  • like it when the male lead is the shyer one in the relationship
  • love seeing the relationship growing slowly and gradually – but there is little progress in almost every chapter
  • don’t mind getting diabetes

3. Horimiya

(c) HERO,
Daisuke Hagiwara
  •  Relationship starts in Chapter 23 (the Manga is completed and even has an anime adaptation now)

Summary: Kyouko Hori is pretty popular at school and takes pride in having a certain reputation. At home, she shows another side of her: She has to do all the housework and look after her younger brother because her parents are always working. Izumi Miyamura, on the other hand, is known as the brooding otaku in class but outside of school, he shows his tattoos and his piercings. One day they both see their “real” personalities after school and their relationship begins.

You should read if you:

  • don’t mind when the story contains many filler episodes – at least some chapters feel like fillers but this Romance Manga is Slice of Life, so I guess it is to be expected
  • love reading a story with many well fleshed out side characters
  • like it when the female lead can be pretty aggressive and overbearing

4. Futarijime Romantic

(c) Kodansha Ltd. / Kanisawa Chihiro
  • The official confession is at chapter nine but they start exploring their relationship from chapter 1 so I think that counts as “early”.

Summary: “Futarijime Romantic” follows high school student Kumamori, who reunites with Tajima, her – supposedly – first kiss from kindergarten. But: Tajima is now stoic and unemotional about romance. This manga is a heartwarming and realistic depiction of an opposites-attract love story that is both cute and romantic.

Check it out if you:

  • like reading a short an cute Shoujo, because this is completed with 12 chapters (I wish it would have been longer)
  • don’t mind when there is a second ML who confesses and – of course – gets turned down
  • love when the main couple has a great dynamic and the confession and first kiss is on point

5. You got me Sempai (Shoujo where they get together early)

(c) Mase, Azusa/Dessert

  • Relationship starts in Chapter 1

Summary: One day Serina sees that her desk at school has been vandalized. Someone wrote the lyrics of a love song on it. It was none other than Mizukawa-Senpai, a boy who is one year older than her. Serina writes back on the desk and she starts to fall for him. Soon after she confesses her feelings for him and they start going out. If you are searching for a refreshing Shoujo where they are great at communicating this is for you. Want to read some more refreshing Shoujo Mangas? Check out this list: Best new Shoujo Manga – Top 5.

You should read if you:

  • like a story where they both work for the relationship
  • love reading a Shoujo with a sweet relationship that feels mature and realistic (They don’t pass out holding hands – far from it)
  • don’t mind when they doubt the relationship and go through hard times

6. Kishuku Gakkou No Juliet

(c) Kaneda, Yousuke/Shounen Magazine
  • Relationship starts in chapter 1

Summary: „Boarding School Juliet“ takes the story of Romeo and Juliet and spins it Japanese style. Romio and Juliet go to the same school and are the leaders of their respective houses. But both houses are at war, so the members constantly fight with each other. The twist: Romio loves Juliet and she loves him too. They get together after Romio confesses but have to hide their relationship. And so rather hilarious situations come to pass. Do you want to get Romance Manga recommendations with a badass female lead? Check out this list: Romance Manga/Manhwa with a strong female lead.

You should check it out if you:

  • don’t mind when their relationship progresses slowly
  • like it when the MCs both are pretty strong and can fight
  • love having many awesome sidecharacters

7. Wotaku Ni Koi Wa Muzukashii

Romance Manga where they get together early (c) Fujita
(c) Fujita/Comic POOL
  • Early couple: Relationship starts in Chapter 1

Summary: Narumi Momose is an otaku but she hides this side of herself mostly. After a break up because her boyfriend didn’t like her interests she quits her job and starts in a new company. It just so happens that her childhood friend Hirotaka Nifuji also works in that company. He is an otaku himself but doesn’t care at all what people think. They both start dating to try out how it would be with a partner that has the same interests.

You should check it out if you:

  • don’t mind basically zero progress in the relationship between the main couple
  • like reading a story with two main couples who are almost equally explored
  • love reading a story with nerds as MCs who bicker quite often

8. Ima, Koi wo Shiteimasu (Shoujo where they get together early)

Romance Manga where they get together early (c) Hatta

  • They get together in chapter 4.

Summary: The story starts pretty chliché: Satomi gets harassed by a pervert on the train and Yugyuu-kun helps her. Despite his flashy appearance, he is a mature guy. After Satomi confesses her feelings they get together and spend much time together. There are some tropes – like the jealous sister – but it is still well done and a nice read.

Check it out if you:

  • want to read a Shoujo with a mature feel to it
  • like when the main couple communicates
  • love it when the male lead is pretty smooth and not overbearing

Romance Manga with early couple – Part II

9. Museru Kurai no Ai o Ageru

  • “Relationship” is official a bit later but in chapter 4 we get a “our feelings are mutual” from the FL – and the ML is pushy and touchy from the start

Summary: “Futarijime Romantic” follows high school student Kumamori, who reunites with Tajima, her first kiss from kindergarten. Tajima is now stoic and unemotional about romance. The story explores their evolving relationship in a heartwarming, opposites-attract love story filled with comedy and romance.

Check it out if you:

  • loved the popular Shoujo Living-Room Matsunaga-san because it’s from the same author Keiko Iwashita
  • art is important to your enjoyment of the story because this is top-tier
  • don’t mind a completely unnecessary second male lead – although he kind of serves so the readers like Gaku more, because he isn’t obnoxious about it
  • Early couple: Relationship starts in chapter 1

10. Hayaku Shitai Futari

Romance Manga with early couple (c) Kusaka
(c) Kusaka, Aki/Margaret
  • They confess in chapter 1

Summary: This story is about Yuri and Keiichiro. They fell in love because they commute in the same train almost every day. Although they both feel the same and get into an established relationship very early they are not allowed to do anything, because Keiichiro comes from a prestigious family with strict rules. So he isn’t allowed to do anything until he turns 18. Yuri is pretty persistent though.

You should read if you:

  • like reading a story where they desperately want to touch each other but can’t
  • love it when both characters are pretty invested into the relationship
  • like reading a story with almost no misunderstandings

11. Shikimori’s Not Just A Cutie

(c) Maki, Keigo/Magazine pocket
  • Together from the beginning (although it’s complicated…that’s all I’m saying)

Summary: Izumi is in high school and because he is unlucky finds himself in many unfortunate situations since he was a child. After meeting Shikimori they start dating and she kind of becomes his guardian angel. Shikimori seems ruthless when it comes to Izumi but has many insecurities that she has to deal with herself.

You should check it out if you:

  • love to read a story with an unconventional relationship dynamic
  • want to go on an emotional roller coaster ride
  • like reading a Manga with a strong female lead

12. Kyou no Yuiko san

(c) Hidekawa, Kenshin/Afternoon
  • Together from the beginning

Summary: This story revolves around the relationship of Tomoya Tadano and Yuiko Kuroki. They are two high school students that got together before the events in the Manga. So if you are searching for a Romance Manga where the focus is for to young people to develop their relationship this could be your cup of tea. The thing is: Yuiko is a very strict person and doesn’t like to be lovey doves in public. She conveys her feelings in a roundabout way.

You should read if you:

  • like reading a Manga with short chapters
  • want to see a clumsy couple which blushes often
  • like to have a strict female lead that does everything by the book

13. Tsun-Ama Na Kareshi

(c) Hoshimi SK
  • Together from the beginning

Summary: The translation of the title means tsun-sweet boyfriend. So the ML seems pretty cold and often only shows the FML his cold side, he finds her extremely cute and blushes often. So despite being cold he still pampers her nonstop. This is a story of a couple that lives together but is still shy with each other and will give you diabetes.

You should read if you:

  • like to read your heart after a depressing read
  • love having a male lead who is very bad at communicating his feelings
  • don’t mind when a couple who lives together is unrealistically shy with each other

14. Namaikizakari

(c) Miyuki, Mitsubachi/Hana to Yume
  • Relationship starts in Chapter 27

Summary: As the eldest child of a large family, Yuki Machida was forced to suck it up and be complacent to not trouble her family and be a role model for her younger siblings. That is why she got accustomed to not speak about her feelings. Thankfully she meets Shou Naruse after becoming after becoming the manager of the basketball club. He falls for Yuki pretty quickly and constantly invades her space to tell her about it. Thanks to his persistency they get together pretty quickly and as the reader we can see their relationship develop.

You should read if you:

  • don’t mind reading a story with a VERY persistent second male lead
  • don’t mind when the ML is basically managing the whole relationship cause female lead doesn’t communicate well
  • like reading a Shoujo where they have a mature physical relationship (wink wink)

15. Akagami no Shirayukihime

(c) Sorata Akiduki
  • chapter 17 and 48 are pivotal for their relationship

Summary: Shirayuki has red hair and is a botanist and the local pharmacist. After Prince Raj wants to take her as a concubine she escapes and meets Prince Zen in the forest. They quickly take a liking to each other and Shirayuki takes on an apprenticeship in the court pharmacy. Although they get together pretty early and also kiss if you want to read a story about a relationship this isn’t for you. In order for Shirayuki to get closes to him she goes north to form some meaningful relationships herself. As a result, she almost never sees Zen anymore and the Manga goes from a sweet Romance to a Manga about plants and politics.

You should check it out if you:

  • like reading a Manga with gorgeous art
  • don’t mind shipping Shirayuki with the second male lead (Obi), because she spends WAY more time with him
  • don’t mind an emotional and spatial difference between the main characters that sometimes feels too forced
Picture of Elly
I have read more than 1000 Romance Manhwa, Webtoons and Manga - TV-Series and books not included. So I hope to bring a deep and nuanced understanding of the genre to every review and recommendation. As a journalist with seven years of experience, I've dedicated my free time to exploring and writing about the intricacies of romance in various forms.

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One Response

  1. Nice Article. I would like to recommend a manga to you. It’s called “Sweat and Soap”. The first couple of chapters may feel quirky but it’s filled with pure wholesomeness.

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