Shoujo manga recommendations - childhood friends
1. Last Game
Nothing is beyond Naoto Yanagi, heir to the Yanagi business conglomerate. Idolized for his athletic and intellectual competence, looks and wealth, Naoto lived like a king during his elementary school days—then entered Mikoto Kujou, a plain, gloomy-looking transfer student.
Due to her low financial status, Naoto was initially apathetic towards Mikoto. But despite having just arrived at his school, she completely eclipsed him in everything by consistently scoring top marks in exams and placing first in athletic events. After a brief confrontation with her that left him shocked, Naoto vowed to outdo her no matter the cost.
Ten years later, they are now students attending the same college. Having failed to defeat Mikoto throughout middle and high school, Naoto decides they will have one last game: if he can make Mikoto fall in love with him and then break her heart, it will be his victory. However, he finds himself falling in love with her instead…
2. Special A
Have you ever known someone who was better than you at everything you did? Hikari does. She’s known Kei since they were both six years old and he’s surpassed her at everything. Now they are the top two students in an extremely prestigious high school, with Kei holding firmly to that number one position, and Hikari is still determined to beat him, no matter what it takes.
3. Mainichi Kiss Shite Ii Desu ka?
Kurumi met her childhood friend Nagio again. He was a very good boy before, but now he has become a wicked cheerful boy…!?
4. Milky Way (Kaede Sato)
Sayo and Nao are childhood friends and neighbours, but Sayo has been in love with Nao for years. With Nao being a year older than her, Sayo finds it difficult to confess her love for him because she believes he only sees her as a little sister. But when Nao tells her he’s moving away, it’s now or never…!
5. Melting Summer
A kiss in the summer changes the relationship between two childhood friends.
6. Taiyou no Ie/House of the Sun
After her mother abandoned her and her father remarried, high schooler Mao Motomiya is left feeling like she doesn’t have a place where she belongs. One night, her childhood friend Hiro Nakamura finds her in a shrine eating cheap convenience store food and offers to take her to a restaurant. Their subsequent heart to heart leads to Hiro suggesting that Mao move in with him. To Hiro who has lived apart from his younger siblings all these years after their parents passed away, bringing his family back together in the once-lively Nakamura home begins with the first step of giving Mao a loving place to belong. When Mao reluctantly accepts his invitation, she is surprised at how easy it is to settle in with her longtime friend. Now she must deal not only with mending her relationship with her father and helping the oldest Nakamura brother attain his goal, but also her growing feelings for Hiro.
7. Kimi ga Inakya
Nayu and Oumi are childhood friends. Without realizing it, Nayu finds out she has fallen for Oumi over the years. However, just as she comes to terms with her feelings, Oumi reveals himself to be in love with the pretty Tsuzuki in his class. How will Nayu deal with such heartbreak?
8. Ai Kara Hajimaru
Sakura Ai has always loved sunflowers, as they appear like the sun, which incidentally also was the name of her first crush, Taiyou, in the 3rd grade. Since then, Ai has never had another love becoming quite introverted, but after meeting a guy with the same name, things begin to change… Her 15th summer, finally love will begin…
9. Iyada Nante Iwasenai
Anzu currently works part-time at a beach house however when it comes to serving male customers, she can’t help but be cold and shy. When she accidentally spills a drink on one of them, a male co-worker saves her who ends up being her childhood friend Rei. Anzu is happy to reconnect with Rei, however, Rei might be after a bit more…?
10. Lip ni Shadow
Childhood friends Nagi and Chikage live in the same company-owned housing. Just what is the “love magic” that Chikage uses to cure Nagi’s sadness!?
11. Mikami-sensei no Aishikata
Sixteen-year-old Natsume Aihara has never been on a date, let alone been in a relationship. She blames her lack of experience on one person: her next-door neighbor and handsome older brother figure, Sousuke Mikami. Despite their nine-year age difference, the two are seldom apart. Sousuke helped raise Natsume since childhood, but even now remains completely overbearing. He personally wakes Natsume up every morning and takes a lower-paying job at her high school to keep a close eye on her.
Natsume used to adore Sousuke, but realizes that his doting has become excessive. Having seen his true perverted nature and suffering as the object of his obsession for too long, she finally decides that enough is enough, and tries to find a boyfriend her own age. However, can she ignore the strange beating of her heart whenever she is near the person who already knows her better than anyone else?
12. Stardust Wink
I’m Anna. I’m 14 years old and I’ve just entered the ninth grade. Sou and Hinata, who live in the same apartment complex as me, are my childhood friends and we’re all the same age. I thought that from now on we’d become even closer friends, but then Sou suddenly did that to me…!!
