Best Romance Manga of 2012

One morning, Naho Takamiya receives a letter in the mail claiming to be from herself 10 years in the future. The letter reveals a series of events that are supposed to take place that day. At first, Naho thinks it's just a prank; but when the letter mentions a transfer student named Kakeru Naruse, who really ends up transferring into her class later that day, she is forced to believe in its contents. As Naho continues to read the letter, her future self mentions several regrets, urging Naho to take the right decisions now. Somehow these regrets all seem to be connected to Kakeru, and with the burden of the knowledge that the boy wouldn't be with her and her friends in the future, will Naho be able to make the perfect choices that will alter what seems to be fate?Also includes Haru-iro Astronaut (Spring-Colored Astronaut) series.

A junior at Suzaku High, Ryuu Yamada is infamous for being a hardliner and a delinquent. One day, after being reprimanded for his poor performance and attitude toward school, he spots Urara Shiraishi, the grade's top student. As Shiraishi is walking up the stairs, Yamada attempts to provoke her, only to trip and fall, taking her down with him. Eventually, he wakes up in the infirmary. To his surprise, he discovers that he is not in his own body. It turns out that he swapped bodies with Shiraishi, and upon confronting her, he finds out that the catalyst for the swap was an accidental kiss during the fall. With the knowledge of this new ability, Yamada's eventful high school life has just begun!

Fuuta Okeya, a 14-year-old student, can see ghosts and wears a bandage on his left cheek to hide his striking birthmark. One day, a girl with a scar on her forehead named Kouko Ishigami, accompanied by a ghost of a tall and friendly man, transfers into his class. Fuuta quickly takes a liking to Kouko, wondering if it might be love at first sight. After waking up crying from a strange dream involving her, he feels a nostalgic connection to Kouko and becomes determined to befriend her. However, a chain of events forces Fuuta to reveal his birthmark to Kouko, to which she declares him to be the enemy of her life. A furious Kouko explains that the two are bound by reincarnation, and that Fuuta's birthmark is a curse she engraved on him in one of their past lives to recognize and eventually defeat him. Kouko brings out a circular object made of flames known as the "spirit circle" and attacks Fuuta, pushing him off a flight of stairs. As he falls, Fuuta is thrown back into the insight of one of his previous lives. Spirit Circle chronicles Fuuta's journey back and forth his several past lives as he gradually unravels the mysteries behind his apparent bad blood with Kouko.

Shinichi Nagakawa and Yuuki Sanada are both involved in an accident and die together. However, they are given a chance to live again. God lets them live for seven more days, but after their time is up, one of them must die again. Oh, and there's one more catch. God decrees that their lives will be shared, including emotions and physical sensations. They are also unable to leave one another's side. What will happen during those seven days?

The story covers 13 years and begins with a 19-year-old college student named Hana who encounters and falls in "fairy tale-like" love with a "wolf man." After marrying the wolf man, Hana gives birth and raises two wolf children—an older sister named Yuki who was born on a snowy day, and a younger brother named Ame who was born on a rainy day. The four quietly lived in a corner of a city to conceal the existence of the "wolf children," but when the wolf man suddenly dies, Hana decides to move to a rural town far removed from the city.

Shortly before the school term is over, a peeping attempt goes wrong and results in middle school student Yuuichi Kanba reconnecting with his childhood friend Makio Fujiyama, a girl who stands taller than the rest of her classmates at 181 cm. After seeing her undress, feelings of affection begin to blossom within Kanba, despite Fujiyama being considered unattractive by both peers and passersby. Kanba asks her out on an impulse and—to his surprise—she says yes. Through school events, fireworks festivals, and more, Kanba juggles gawking at his new girlfriend and keeping their relationship a secret. This is no easy task for the less-than-popular Kanba, as Fujiyama often draws the eyes of all around her. Fuijyama-san wa Shishunki follows the pair as they stumble hand-in-hand through many lighthearted, comedic situations and gradually learn more about young love and each other.

The Great Continent of Combat Qi is a place where the strong rule over the weak. Xiao Yan, a once up and coming genius of the Xiao Sect, suddenly lost all his talent at the tender age of 11. Now a 15-year-old boy, Xiao Yan is scorned by the very people who previously looked up to him, and is on the verge of being kicked out of his clan. To make matters worse, his fiancee, Na Lan Yan Ran, asks for an annulment of their engagement. Xiao Yan makes a solemn vow to himself, a vow to be "trash" no more and to obtain the strength to become the master of his own fate. An intricate tale of hope and despair, Doupo Cangqiong chronicles the story of a fallen prodigy who sets off on a perilous journey to obtain power, and ascend to the peak of Cultivation.

One month has passed since Akihiko Kayaba's deadly game began, and the body count continues to rise. Two thousand players are already dead. Kirito and Asuna are two very different people, but they both desire to fight alone. Nonetheless, they find themselves drawn together to face challenges from both within and without. Given that the entire virtual world they now live in has been created as a deathtrap, the surviving players of Sword Art Online are starting to get desperate, and desperation makes them dangerous to loners like Kirito and Asuna. As it becomes clear that solitude equals suicide, will the two be able to overcome their differences to find the strength to believe in each other, and in so doing survive?

A girl asks Katsuragi Shouta to take a picture of her with Enoshima in the background. Embarrassed by her cuteness, he takes the picture and runs away. He later finds out that she is an actress by the name of Shinomiya Sana. A TV drama, Koisome Momiji, will be shot in Shouta's town and Sana will be starring in one of the lead roles, as a passionate girl who wholeheartedly chases after the guy she loves. However, Sana has never experienced that kind of love. To practice for this role (and maybe truly fall in love) Sana asks Shouta to be her boyfriend!Included one-shots: Volume 1: Koisome Momiji (pilot) Volume 2: FamiDol!

In stories of people who swap bodies, they always return to their rightful places. But what if that never happens? Unfortunately, this is the exact predicament Yui Ootsuka and Yuuta Kimura find themselves in. One day, after Yuuta comes crashing down on Yui from the treetops, both children find themselves in an unfamiliar body. But no matter how desperately they try, they are unable to revert things to how they originally were. In the end, they settle with going about each other's lives as if nothing had happened, determined to keep the incident a secret. Though merely classmates in the past, this inexplicable accident binds their fates tightly together. For years, Yui and Yuuta struggle through a life that is not their own. In this wearisome situation, the two of them discover what it truly means to walk in someone else's shoes.

Amaguri Senko is a high school girl with a cool personality (as in, kuudere) and a big pervert. She openly reads porn and masturbates, and isn’t perturbed in the slightest at the sight of penises and such. The story is about two adult men that come to live and work for her father, who runs a company that does various oddjobs, which she helps out with. And the various forms of sexual harassment to which she subjects the one which she has taken a liking to.

Little did Nao Kogure realize back in middle school that when she left an umbrella and a box of bandages in the rain for injured delinquent Taiga Onise that she would meet him again in high school. Nao wants nothing to do with the gruff and frightening Taiga, but he suddenly presents her with a huge bouquet of flowers and asks her to date him—with marriage in mind! Is Taiga really so scary, or is he a sweetheart in disguise?Included one-shot: Volume 8: Sugar

Hachiman Hikigaya is a high school boy with twisted character. He prefers to go against the trend and refuses to make friends with anybody. In order to get Hachiman back on the right track, his school teacher Shizuka Hiratsuka forces him to join the "Public Service Club." There he meets other problematic students.

Happiness, joy, and countless other positive emotions are cherished by many; however, in Hachiman Hikigaya's case, those emotions are ludicrous. Due to a traumatic past, his belief in happiness has completely crumbled. Following an essay he wrote criticizing modern social relationships, he is punished by his teacher, forcing him to join the Volunteer Service Club: a club whose sole purpose is to help schoolmates with their requests. Upon reluctantly entering the clubroom, he meets Yukino Yukinoshita—an ace student of unparalleled beauty. As they try to fix their schoolmates' problems, how will Hachiman's wretched view of society influence his solutions? Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru.: Monologue is a comedy-drama that revolves around the nihilistic Hachiman's high school life and his time in the Volunteer Service Club.

Die-hard otaku Tomoya Aki never imagined himself falling for a girl in real life until one of his spring breaks, when he experienced a picturesque encounter with a mysterious beauty. Reminiscing about the brief yet enchanting event, he decides to produce a bishoujo game—a game focused on attractive girls—with the sole purpose of capturing the allure of that idyllic scene. Days fly by, and Tomoya enters his second year of high school having made no progress on his game. On top of that, he is shocked to discover that the girl he met is his unremarkable classmate, Megumi Katou. Determined to make his game a reality, Tomoya ropes Megumi into the project and sets out to convince his childhood friend Eriri Spencer Sawamura and upperclassman Utaha Kasumigaoka to help with its development. Tomoya soon finds out, however, that working with friends on such an ambitious project is much more difficult than he initially thought.

The mixed twins—Kobayashi Mitsuru and Kobayashi Megumu, who haven't seriously fallen in love for someone and other who doesn't know anything more than 2D world. A situation arises were Megumu and Mitsuru are forced to cross dress, and go to school? Mitsuru's encounter with a cute girl in Megumu's school and Megumu's meeting with the guy she met earlier is actually in her brother's school?? Will they find themselves and their first love?? Included one-shot: Volume 15: Megami-sama wa Furimukanai!?

"You're lying." Sixteen-year-old Kanoko Urabe knows that someone is lying if she can hear the strange, echoing sound of clanging metal in their voice. As a young and overly honest child, she would point out the lies of other villagers, and was ostracized as a result. She is eventually forced to leave her hometown and tries to find a place for herself in the city of Tsukumoya in 1920s Japan. In a chance encounter, Kanoko meets Souma Iwai, a gifted but penniless detective. After she is forced to demonstrate her ability, he expresses appreciation for what she can do and agrees to take her in, asking the girl to be his assistant. The Iwai investigation firm soon makes a name for itself helping clients by solving cases with Souma's sharp wits and Kanoko's power. In the process, Kanoko's life is enriched by the various people she encounters in her investigations.

Once again, we join Sentarou, Kaoru and their friends in a short jam session of friendship, music and love. 1. Junichi and Yurika, after Junichi's move to Tokyo 2. A short story about Kouta, Ritsuko and the guy who answered the phone when Kaoru called Ritsuko 3. Tsutomu Murae (Ritsuko's dad) and how he finds his way into Jazz 4. Sentarou Kawabuchi and how he discovers his new resolve 5. After story...

Spin-off of Mondaiji-tachi ga Isekai Kara Kuru Sou desu yo?

The story of three average women, and their not-so-common everyday life.

Most people love red hair. It's so vibrant and striking. But not our protagonist, Nora. Many people in her village hate her because she has red hair because of an old legend in the village. Though some people hate her, she still pulls on. But her not -so-ordinary life might become mysterious and dangerous soon... in more ways than one?!

This is the story of a girl who was forced to become a piano prodigy with the pressure starting from the moment she was born. Her family has had distinguished musicians in their past. She is constantly forced by her father to practice (up to 12 hours a day, 10 if he's being nice), wear gloves whenever she's not playing, no friends, makeup, etc.

The story begins with Blaze — a weapon that is the manifestation of a human's soul. Tooru Kokonoe happens to be qualified for this, but for some reason his Blaze is not a weapon, but a shield. Moreover, he enrolled in a school that teaches combat skills, and thanks to the school's Duo partner system, he ends up living with a beautiful silver-haired girl.

The 35th Test Platoon of Antimagic academy, they're one of squads enrolled at academy specializing in raising the witch hunters, whose job is to find, neutralize any magical threats! Unfortunately they're a group of failures nicknamed "Small Fry Platoon," a platoon formed from bunch of self-centered people who can't cooperate and have personality problems. Will they manage to overcome their weaknesses and shine as the strongest platoon?

The story takes place in the same Meisei Gakuen high school as Touch, only it is set 26 years later. Like Touch, Mix revolves around brothers and baseball as a main theme.

Fujimura Kaoru is the nurse at an all girl's school and, for the third time this year, she has been confessed to by a student. Naturally, she has turned down each offer in the kindest way she could. Isechi Mikoto is a student who has been ostracized by the school because of a rumor that she might be a lesbian. She also happens to remind Kaoru of her former lover.

Makoto Katagiri is 18 and works at a factory. He wants to get back at everyone who laughs at him for not having gone to high school, so he enrolls in a melting pot of a correspondence school with his little sister, Maaya, who failed her high school entrance exams. On the day of the entrance ceremony, he meets Rio Aizawa, a beautiful lady, in a dramatic fashion...

Four short stories about adventures of little sisters: 1. Stray dog ~Leave it to Nana!~ (Nana ni Omakase!) 2. Paper doll ~Changing doll Mikan~ (Kisekae Mikan) 3. Family trouble ~Yui's papa is shamless!?~ (Yui no Papa wa Harenchi!?) 4. Secret feelings ~Momo and angel's flute~ (Momo to Tenshi no Fue)

Amakusa Kaede is a high school boy who has a troublesome supernatural ability called "Zettai Sentakushi (Absolute compulsory either-or choice)." He has to choose and follow one of two orders which pop up in his mind all of a sudden. Due to the perverted orders he has to follow, he has been infamously known for his crazy behavior among the neighbors. One day, another either-or choice pops up. "1. A bishoujo is falling on you. 2. You are falling in drag." When he chooses option 1, a blonde girl named Chocolat falls on him.

A world where humans are invaded by the existence called Yuugenshu. People were able to survive because of the floating continent, Obie Crea, protected by Priestesses’ prayers. Sheltis had once aimed to become a Sen'nenshi - a partner of Yumii, his childhood friend and also a Priestess. However, because he fell from the continent to the Eden <Garden of Corrupted Song>, he harbored Mateki, what only Yuugenshu have, inside his body, and was exiled from Sophia <Tenketsu Palace> where Yumii lives. Meanwhile, Yumii was hoping for Sheltis to become her Sen’nenshi, but because he fell to the Eden <Garden of Corrupted Song>, her wish is still unfulfilled. A multi-layered world fantasy where their feelings intertwine!

Yamai Zenjirou is your everyday office worker in modern Japan. One morning, he suddenly finds himself summoned to a tropical world where dinosaurs roam the land. He is told that this is the kingdom of Capua and the person who summoned him - its monarch, Queen Aura - wants him to marry her and leave his old life behind for a life of carefree extravagance as her prince consort. The reasons for her offer are many and varied, but she needs an heir, and she wants him to be the one to provide it! If he accepts, he'll never have to work again, lazing around in luxury with no worries other than securing the kingdom its next monarch. Certainly, sleeping with the buxom beauty is far from a hardship, but is everything really as it seems? He'll also need to give up everything he knows on Earth. Is he ready to drop it all at a moment's notice for her sake? And how well will he be able to navigate the politics, people and culture of this new world if he does?

The story follows Erina's route in the Dracu-Riot game. Erina is a foreign vampire from Russia and she is very ecchi, her conversations often involve ecchi stuff which makes Azusa really edgy and Yuuto nervous.

Destiny or a beautiful mistake? Tension will spread through the school... In the midst of this tension, an exciting vampire dance will begin...

An adaption of the Sword Girls online game.

In Eastern History, humans and spirits exist in this world. Fox spirits have long acted as matchmakers, holding a prestigious position among spirits. In this story, the lives of a fox spirit and a man who have both rejected the idea of true love become intertwined, and their exciting adventure begins.

Sakuragi Ryo believes there are three different ranks inside the high school hierarchy. The "A" rank consists of the best looking, the smartest, and the most athletic members of the high school. The "B" ranks are the average members, while the "C" ranks tend to be ignored by the rest of the school. Against his own will, Ryo was dragged into the "A" ranks of his middle school, leading a school life he did not choose. Now entering high school, he vows to stay out of the limelight, and cement himself as part of the "B" ranks. He just wants to live a peaceful and uneventful school life. One evening after school, he runs into a scene of three delinquents surrounding a girl. He was hoping he wouldn't have to intervene, but the girl was in desperate need of help. The girl he just saved happened to be the prettiest girl of his high school, and now she wants to repay him for saving her. Ryo now must take all measures to not attract the attention of the rest of the school to stay in the "B" ranks.

The manga centers on Ayame and Tsubaki, who are researchers at a lab in the biology department of T University. Ayame is a "returnee," someone who lived abroad for a while and then returned to Japan. He does things at his own pace and is a "dinosaur otaku," and Tsubaki is his older colleague who is an enthusiast of studying the skeletons of birds and dinosaurs. The manga follows their slightly strange romantic relationship.

Kazuki Suwa is a first-year high school student. Every day after school, he goes home and plays video games. His Mother does not approve and asks him to choose a club in high school. But Kazuki does not really have any skills or talents. But then he meets Nanako Kunii, the club president and only member of Research Dutchoven Club, a club where Nanako focuses its research on the use of Dutchoven. A story in which love and gastronomy will make good bedfellows.

It tells the life story of Hayato Heiwajima ordinary guy occupation is the main successor of his grandfather and Heiwajima industries, the Maid Hatoko Heiwajima and close relative, is responsible to teach you how to deal with female and not so easily fooled. The problem is that her teaching methods go beyond the ordinary.

Jo is your average manga artist slash divorcee, a dime a dozen in Japan. At least that's what he'd like the outside world to believe. But his editor Nichika knows his terrible secret, a secret which she threatens to expose unless he puts a ring on her finger. What is Jo to do when he is still deeply traumatized by a past divorce? Why, marry her of course! After all, don't people say to "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer?"

Manga adaption retelling the events of the anime adding more information and characters backgrounds and past.

Five competitors for the throne of a Kingdom. Three men and two women. Only one can be King. For that competition is held the Festival GLORIOUS. Will Princess Eleanor be able to win? Or will the handsome half-breed Elf named Luca win the throne...and her heart?!

The story is set at the elite Omega High School, where test results decide everything. The high-scorers in the student council, in particular the student council president, have a lot of authority. Yuria Aikawa comes to this school, and though she seems like an ordinary girl who loves fun things and her boyfriend Shuri, she's actually a super-genius who gets the top score on every test. She becomes student council president and tries to make school life more fun in various ways.

Tells the official story of "Kazamidori-hen" that corresponds to the main part of the original game.