Most romance anime tend to go with viewers' expectations and have the main couple end up together. But this isn't always the case. So, here are some of the most heartbreaking anime rejections to cry over.
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Tohru Only Sees Momiji as a Friend in Fruits Basket
In Fruits Basket, Tohru doesn't directly reject Momiji, but it's clear that she sees him as a friend or younger sibling as her feelings for Kyo become more and more apparent.
Knowing that Tohru doesn't reciprocate his feelings hurts, but Momiji is such a wholesome character so he isn't bitter.
Throughout the shoujo anime, Momiji hardly ever gets what he wants, but seeing him grow and accept rejection with grace will make you cry.
Maria's Rejection of Saki Ends Shinsekai Yori's Queer Hopes
Shinsekai Yori is one of the most interesting dystopian anime, and it has some queer representation, which, unfortunately, seems to treat same-sex attraction as something most kids outgrow.
The main character Saki dates Maria, a girl from her friend group when they're both in their teens.
However, Maria eventually runs off with a boy from their friend group, and one of her reasons is that she and Saki wouldn't be able to have biological children together.
While it's perfectly normal for a bi person to end up with a partner of the opposite gender, it seems that the society of Shinsekai Yori encourages same-sex relationships in teens and discourages them in adults, which can feel disappointing if you're rooting for Saki and Maria.
What Lelouch Does to Shirley Is Sadder Than a Rejection
Whether Lelouch reciprocates Shirley's feelings in Code Geass is up for interpretation, but what he does to her to protect her is more heartbreaking than a rejection.
Seeing the traumatic situation in which she's been involved, Lelouch erases Shirley's memories of him.
Even more tragically, she falls for him all over again, and his fears about her safety prove founded.
Kagura Sohma Must Learn to Be Happy on Her Own
Fruits Basket is all about the difficult emotional growth that comes from indirect rejections.
Kyo makes it very clear that he wants nothing to do with Kagura, but for years, she refuses to see it, acting in obsessive and even violent ways.
Ultimately, Kagura realizes that Kyo is never going to be in love with her, and while this is a heartbreaking rejection for her, she finally lets him go and focuses on her development.
Subaru from Re:Zero Doesn't Like Rem That Way
Re:Zero Subaru's rejection of Rem is infamous in the anime world with his words "I love Emilia" being endlessly quoted.
After Rem's heartfelt confession, many fans deemed her a better match for the main character, causing ongoing online debates.
At least, Rem took the rejection better than the viewers. The sheer number of reactions makes it one of the most heartbreaking anime rejections of all time.
There Are Sad Reasons Behind Plastic Memories' Isla's Rejection
Plastic Memories is a heartwarming sci-fi anime that features one of the most heartbreaking anime rejections.
The anime follows Tsukasa Mizugaki, a human working for SAI Corp, an organization that handles Giftia.
These androids live on synthetic souls that have a very limited lifespan, and they will disintegrate if they are kept alive for longer.
Tsukasa meets a Giftia girl and the two slowly fall in love. However, she rejects him in shock, for reasons that are heartbreaking in hindsight.
Hori Rejected Ishikawa in Horimiya
Teenage heartbreak isn't the end of the world, but it can feel extremely painful when you're young, and Horimiya knows that.
This is exactly what happens with Ishikawa. When he confesses to Hori only to be rejected, he finds himself unable to talk to her for some time.
When she tries to ask Miyamura's first name, Ishikawa bursts into tears, as he is heartbroken at the idea of her dating someone else.
Eventually, however, he accepts it and moves on.
Tsubaki's Love Isn't Reciprocated in Your Lie in April
Your Lie in April is well-known for featuring one of the most tragic anime couples, but its heartbreaking anime rejection sometimes gets overlooked.
Tsubaki is main character Kousei's childhood friend, who has developed feelings for him.
Kousei is in love with Kaori, so when Tsubaki works up the courage to confess her feelings, she is rejected.
Winry's Rejection of Edward Taps on His Biggest Insecurity
At some point in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Winry indirectly rejects Edward, saying that she wouldn't want to be with a man who is shorter than her.
Edward's height is a particularly painful topic for him as he feels very insecure about his childlike stature.
In any case, this rejection isn't forever, as Winry and Edward end up together.
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Minori's Indirect Rejection of Ryuuji Hurts
In Toradora!, Minori turns down Ryuuji in an indirect but heartbreaking way. When asked about her romantic life, Minori compares her interest in ghosts to her nonexistent experience of love.
Saying that she no longer wants to see ghosts is taken to be a metaphor for her unwillingness to settle for "ghostly" love that isn't there.
This one is about Minori accepting that her love is unreciprocated and letting go of it so that she can heal.
Sayaka's Fear of Rejection Leads to Even Worse Consequences
In Puella Magi Madoka Magika, Sayaka makes a big sacrifice to help her love interest, unbeknownst to him.
Saving Kyousuke's dream didn't have the desired result. The boy she likes never rejects her verbally, as she never expresses her feelings, but seeing him with another girl is as bad as a rejection for her.
While Sayaka might have been rejected anyway, making decisions about Kyousuke's fate without ever telling him how she feels ends up hurting her more than a rejection ever could.
Miyo from A Whisker Away Gets Bullied for Her Feelings
Not only does Miyo from A Whisker Away get rejected, but she's also bullied for her feelings.
Miyo has feelings for her classmate, Hinode, but she misinterprets his signals as he isn't ready to start a relationship.
To make matters worse, Miyo decides to confess, but her classmates find out and mock her. To avoid getting bullied too, Hinode declares that he hates her, breaking her heart.
At least, the Netflix anime movie has a more positive conclusion than this prologue would have you expect.
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