Not every romance anime starts with the shy guy confessing first. Sometimes, the story becomes even more interesting when the girl is the one who falls in love first. That dynamic often creates fun teasing, bold confessions, and emotional moments that feel different from the usual romance tropes.
If you enjoy watching an romance anime where girl falls in love first, you already know how entertaining it can be. The girl might openly tease the guy, secretly support him, or slowly reveal her feelings while the male lead remains completely clueless. Many modern romance series are now exploring this trope more often, which is great for fans who want something fresh. From school romances to gaming love stories, there are plenty of anime where girl falls in love first that deliver wholesome, funny, and emotional moments.
In this list, I’ll share 10 popular anime where the girl clearly develops feelings first, creating some of the most memorable romance dynamics in recent anime.
1. Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian
Genre: Romantic Comedy, School
Alisa “Alya” Mikhailovna Kujou is a beautiful and smart transfer student who often speaks Russian during conversations. What most people don’t realize is that she secretly uses Russian to whisper affectionate things about her classmate Masachika Kuze. The twist? Kuze actually understands Russian perfectly but pretends he doesn’t. This leads to hilarious and wholesome moments where Alya unknowingly reveals her true feelings.
2. The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You
Genre: Romantic Comedy, Harem
Rentaro Aijo has been rejected 100 times in middle school. When he finally visits a shrine, a god reveals that he actually has 100 destined soulmates. However, if he fails to return their love, those girls will face terrible misfortune. As a result, Rentaro ends up forming relationships with multiple girls who instantly fall for him. Several girls openly fall in love with Rentaro first, making it one of the most chaotic yet hilarious romance anime where girl falls in love first.
3. My Dress-Up Darling
Genre: Romance, Slice of Life
Wakana Gojo is a shy high school boy who dreams of becoming a traditional hina doll craftsman. His quiet life changes when Marin Kitagawa, a popular and energetic classmate, discovers his sewing talent. Marin asks Gojo to help her create cosplay outfits, and during these moments together she slowly develops strong feelings for him. Marin clearly falls for Gojo first and is very open about her admiration, making this a fan-favorite anime.
4. Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs
Genre: Fantasy, Isekai, Romance
Leon, an office worker, reincarnates inside an otome game world where women hold most of the power. While he originally plans to live quietly as a background character, his actions eventually attract the attention of powerful noble girls. His unexpected bravery and sarcasm slowly make the female leads develop feelings for him. Several female characters begin showing interest in Leon early, creating a fun romance anime.
5. More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers
Genre: Romance, School, Drama
High school students Jiro Yakuin and Akari Watanabe are paired together for a school project where they must act like a married couple. Although they initially clash due to their different personalities, they slowly start understanding each other. As they spend more time together pretending to be married, real feelings begin to develop. Akari often teases and flirts with Jiro, showing emotional interest before he fully understands his own feelings.
6. Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro
Genre: Romantic Comedy, School
Naoto Hachioji is a quiet art student who becomes the target of teasing by his underclassman, Hayase Nagatoro. While her teasing initially feels harsh, it gradually becomes clear that she actually enjoys spending time with him. Over time, their interactions evolve into a sweet and supportive relationship. Nagatoro clearly likes Senpai from early on, making it one of the most iconic teasing-style romance anime where girl falls in love first.
7. My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999
Genre: Romance, Gaming, Slice of Life
Akane Kinoshita gets dumped by her boyfriend and meets a quiet gamer named Yamada through an online game. At first, Yamada seems completely uninterested in romance. But as Akane spends more time with him both in-game and in real life, her feelings gradually grow stronger. Akane clearly develops feelings first, making this a relatable anime where girl falls in love first story with a modern gaming setting.
8. Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie
Genre: Romance, School, Slice of Life
Yuu Izumi is an unlucky but kind boy who is always getting into accidents. Thankfully, his girlfriend Shikimori is always there to protect him with her cool and confident personality. While they are already dating, Shikimori is clearly the more assertive and affectionate one in the relationship. Shikimori’s bold personality and obvious love for Izumi give the story a refreshing female-led romance dynamic.
9. Pseudo Harem
Genre: Romantic Comedy, School
Eiji Kitahama dreams of experiencing a harem-like romantic life. His junior Rin Nanakura decides to play along by acting like different character “types” to entertain him. Through these playful roleplays, Rin spends more time with Eiji and gradually reveals her true feelings. Rin clearly develops feelings first and uses her acting to create fun romantic situations.
10. Can a Boy-Girl Friendship Survive?
Genre: Romance, School
This story follows two childhood friends who strongly believe that boys and girls can remain just friends forever. However, as they grow older, their feelings slowly begin to change. Moments of jealousy, closeness, and emotional tension make them question their original belief. The female lead begins to realize her feelings first, creating a classic romance anime where girl falls in love first setup.
FAQs
Is there a romance anime where the girl openly flirts with the guy?
Yes. Anime like Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro and More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers feature female characters who tease and flirt with the male lead.
Do these anime focus on comedy or serious romance?
Most combine romantic comedy with wholesome relationship development, making them fun and easy to watch.
Are there school romance anime where the girl likes the boy first?
Yes. Many school romance anime follow this trope, including Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie and Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro.
Where can I watch these romance anime?
Many of these shows are available on popular streaming platforms like Crunchyroll, Netflix, and HIDIVE, depending on your region.
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Ren Akira is an anime news writer at AnimeBooth.com, reporting on anime release dates, movie announcements, official updates, and top anime recommendations. Specializing in isekai, fantasy, and seasonal anime, Ren delivers accurate, timely, and engaging news for anime fans around the world.