15 Anime Where the Straight Couple Breaks Up for a Gay One

Anime relationships can be complicated and sometimes the designated prince or princess isn’t the right match after all. While many series stick to traditional romance tropes, a growing number of titles feature characters who step away from established or potential straight relationships to find happiness with a same-sex partner. Whether it involves breaking off an arranged marriage or realizing that a best friend is actually a soulmate, these stories explore the courage it takes to pursue authentic love.

‘Netsuzou Trap -NTR-‘ (2017)

This series takes the concept of breaking up a straight couple quite literally since the two female protagonists start the story with boyfriends. Yuma and Hotaru are childhood friends who double date but their dynamic quickly shifts behind the scenes. As Hotaru aggressively pursues Yuma, the girls find themselves entangled in a secret relationship that completely undermines their bonds with their respective boyfriends. The narrative focuses heavily on the confusion and betrayal involved as they navigate their feelings for one another while technically still in heterosexual partnerships.

‘Destiny of the Shrine Maiden’ (2004)

In this mecha drama, the story initially sets up a standard romance between the shy Himeko and her male childhood friend Souma who is deeply in love with her. The arrival of Chikane, a wealthy and popular girl who shares a destiny with Himeko as a priestess, changes everything about their dynamic. Despite Souma’s genuine devotion and heroic efforts to protect Himeko, the emotional core of the series pivots entirely to the bond between the two priestesses. By the conclusion, Himeko realizes that her feelings for Chikane far outweigh her connection to Souma and leads to a poignant rejection of the straight path.

‘Citrus’ (2018)

Yuzu Aihara’s life turns upside down when she transfers to a strict all-girls school and clashes with the student council president Mei. While the show is famous for its step-sister romance, a major plot point involves Mei being engaged to a male teacher as part of a family arrangement. Yuzu refuses to accept this loveless fate for Mei and fights hard to break up the engagement. The story underscores the struggle between fulfilling societal or familial expectations and pursuing a genuine same-sex connection.

‘Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury’ (2022–2023)

This Gundam entry made headlines for centering on the relationship between Suletta Mercury and Miorine Rembran. At the start, Miorine is the prize in a dueling system where the winner becomes her fiancé, a role initially held by the arrogant Guel Jeturk. Suletta defeats him to end his claim but the series continues to tease potential straight suitors like Elan Ceres throughout the run. Ultimately the bond between Suletta and Miorine survives political intrigue and arranged marriage attempts to cement them as the show’s true pairing.

‘Sekai Ichi Hatsukoi: The World’s Greatest First Love’ (2011)

Ritsu Onodera works as a shojo manga editor and tries to avoid love at all costs after a high school heartbreak but his new boss turns out to be that very same ex-crush. A significant obstacle in their rekindled romance is Ritsu’s parents because they have set him up with a polite and pretty fiancée named An Kohinata. Ritsu and An have a friendly childhood history and she genuinely loves him which makes the situation difficult. Ritsu eventually has to summon the courage to formally break off the engagement and admit that his heart belongs to his male boss.

‘No. 6’ (2011)

Shion is a bright student living in a utopian city who seems destined for a perfect life with his childhood friend Safu. Safu is straightforward about her romantic interest in Shion and even asks him for a future together. Shion’s life changes when he meets the mysterious outcast Nezumi and abandons his privileged status to flee the city with him. The story frames this as Shion choosing a dangerous and liberating love with Nezumi over the comfortable heterosexual future Safu offered.

‘The Stranger by the Shore’ (2020)

This animated film focuses on the blossoming romance between an aspiring novelist named Shun and a grieving high school student named Mio. Shun’s backstory is crucial to the plot because he was previously engaged to a woman before realizing he could not go through with the marriage. He broke off the engagement and was subsequently disowned by his family for being gay. The narrative deals with the aftermath of that decision and Shun’s journey toward accepting that he deserves love with Mio despite his past traumas.

‘Bloom Into You’ (2018)

Yuu Koito is a high schooler who loves shoujo manga but feels numb when a boy from middle school finally confesses his love to her. She expects sparkles and butterflies but feels nothing and eventually rejects him because she cannot reciprocate his feelings. She finds a kindred spirit in Touko Nanami who is the student council president that also turns down male suitors. The series is a masterclass in exploring demisexuality and the realization that the standard high school romance isn’t the only path to happiness.

‘Cardcaptor Sakura’ (1998–2000)

While Sakura is the main character, her older brother Touya has one of the most interesting romantic arcs in the series. He was previously in a relationship with his student teacher Kaho Mizuki who eventually broke up with him and told him that they would both find their number one person later in life. That prediction comes true when Touya develops a deep and self-sacrificing bond with Yukito. The series portrays the breakup with Mizuki not as a failure but as a necessary step for Touya to find his true soulmate.

‘Love Stage!!’ (2014)

Izumi Sena is an otaku born into a family of celebrities who is mistakenly cast in a commercial as a girl to reprise a role from his childhood. The popular actor Ryoma Ichijo has held a crush on this girl for ten years only to be crushed when he discovers Izumi is actually a guy. Instead of abandoning his feelings, Ryoma realizes he is in love with Izumi regardless of his gender. The story deconstructs Ryoma’s heteronormative dreams and replaces them with a chaotic but genuine relationship with Izumi.

‘Junjo Romantica’ (2008)

Misaki Takahashi initially harbors a crush on his older brother’s friend and eventual fiancée which causes him a great deal of internal conflict. He believes his feelings are unrequited and that he is destined to watch from the sidelines as his brother marries a woman. This changes when he meets the eccentric author Akihiko Usagi who actually loved Misaki’s brother first but decides to pursue Misaki instead. Misaki eventually lets go of his admiration for his brother’s straight relationship to embrace the intense and possessive love Usagi offers.

‘Antique Bakery’ (2008)

Yusuke Ono is a talented pastry chef with a complicated past involving the bakery’s owner named Tachibana. In high school, Ono confessed his love to Tachibana but was harshly rejected in an event that spurred him to reinvent himself. He becomes a demonic pâtissier whose charm is irresistible to men and leaves his straight identity behind entirely. While the two don’t end up together in the anime, the backstory of a failed attempt at a traditional confession shaping Ono’s gay identity is central to the show’s dynamic.

‘Sasaki and Miyano’ (2022)

Miyano is a high school boy who loves reading Boys’ Love manga but staunchly insists he is just a fan and has a crush on a girl. He spends a significant amount of time convinced of his own heterosexuality even as he grows closer to his senior Sasaki. The series is a slow-burn romance where Miyano slowly unpacks his feelings and eventually realizes that his admiration for the girl was not love. It is a sweet exploration of moving from a straight self-image to accepting a queer reality.

‘Revolutionary Girl Utena’ (1997)

Utena Tenjou wants to be a prince but she finds herself engaged in a dueling game where the prize is Anthy Himemiya. Throughout the series, Utena is entangled with Akio Ohtori who represents the corrupt adult world and attempts to seduce her into a traditional and submissive role. Utena ultimately rejects Akio and the illusion of the handsome prince to save Anthy. The finale is a powerful metaphorical breakup with heteronormativity as Utena chooses her bond with Anthy over the world Akio offers.

‘Hitorijime My Hero’ (2017)

Masahiro Setagawa believes he is just a normal albeit bullied delinquent who will likely grow up to live a standard life. He views his teacher Kousuke as a hero and a mentor and never expects their relationship to cross a romantic line. Kousuke sees through Masahiro’s defenses and pursues him which forces Masahiro to question his own assumptions about who he is and who he can love. The story involves Masahiro breaking away from his gang lifestyle and his perceived straight identity to accept a domestic life with Kousuke.

Which of these couples do you think had the most dramatic transformation? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!