AnimeSuki Forums

Seiryuu · 2013-09-22, 21:20

There's plenty of childhood-friend stories out there, but there's one that I've seen several times as a substory or something similar. In these stories, the childhood friends are suddenly separated at a young age, not because of a parent's work or some other situation, though that may play a part in the separation or guarantee the separation lasts; the major force though is some major event involving the pair, one which ends very badly and results ultimately in the two being driven apart.
One of the most common setups has the girl in very bad health (something that happens frequently in anime), and the boy tries to cheer her up or play or something but ends up hurting her. Due to the girl's already fragile condition, the injury caused by the boy drives the girl's parents to panic and forbid him from ever seeing her again.
In these stories, naturally the two meet up again years later, by coincidence or deliberate action, but the events of the past are a heavy burden, often with a good bit of guilt in one or both characters' hearts, making it all the more difficult to try and start again.
As I said, I've seen this a few times in anime and manga, generally as a sub-story or something like a "lost route" that happens after the main character has already made up his mind about things. In cases where the girl was sick, the reunion is often triggered either by the girl's recovery, or by the girl's option to take a risky route that could grant her full recovery.
While I've seen this a few times as side stories, I was wondering if there were any where this is actually the MAIN story, dealing with old and new feelings, quilt, maybe even anger, as the pair is brought back together once more. My only wish is to avoid stories where someone is terminal; there's enough depression out here in RL so I try to steer clear of stories where you know it's going to end with an early death.
Also, while the most common story setup I can think of has injury of a sick person or severe enough injury to have major lasting effects, this is not necessarily the only setup. There are plenty of other ways that a something major could happen to drive a wedge in. I don't care what sort of event happened or how it drove the two apart, so long as the children were involved enough to carry some feelings of guilt or responsibility and the story actually sees the characters' relationship through to a proper conclusion.

Sackett · 2013-09-22, 21:31

Ai Yori Aoshi is the one that leaps to mind.

I guess Martian Successor Nadesico would also count... and uh... Elfin Lied... yeah.

jedinat · 2013-09-23, 00:01

Honeymoon Salad comes to mind... though it's not really about childhood friends, but a high school friendship/romance that was sort of mysteriously and harshly cut off (by the girl)... The story takes place 10 years later when the girl suddenly shows up again.

Nothing closer to your request is coming to mind...

Pepito · 2013-09-23, 01:58

While it doesn't involve exactly a childhood friendship, I think Kimi ga Nozomu Eien have a feeling like the one you're looking for.

Also, I second Ai Yori Aoshi

erneiz_hyde · 2013-09-23, 02:59

Ai Yori Aoshi definitely should be on top of the list.

Love Hina also counts (though it's a lot more lighthearted in nature), though I would highly suggest the manga instead of the anime.

Someone suggested Elfen Lied but I would advise against it if you have a weak stomach

Also, I have another superb title popping out of my head right now. Sadly it's a VN and very unlikely to get any translations done so I'll leave that one out.

Sackett · 2013-09-23, 08:40

Well.. yeah.. Elfin Lied is probably not what he wants but it certainly matches the requirement.

Seiryuu · 2013-09-25, 05:56

Yeah, a girl who chops people in two and rips their organs out with a glance is a little extreme for a romance heroine, but she does certainly fit. The same may be said of AYA (and I've seen both btw). KGNE may fit, but it's hard to want to watch it with the stuff I've heard the guy does; I suspect if I watch it I'll be hoping he DOESN'T get the girl.

Pepito · 2013-09-25, 14:04

KGNE is a long shot, but the guy isn't that bad in my eyes (maybe you're confusing it with School Days, which have one of the most repulsive protagonists I've ever seen...).

Now, another one you can try is Kimikiss Pure Rouge it literally starts with the long gone childhood friend returning to home.

And, I think Sora no Manimani fits your request too, with the guy coming back to his hometown after 7 years of absence, it's not that romantic centered, but the romance is in there nonetheless.

jedinat · 2013-09-25, 14:35

I watched KGNE back in a time when I was under the impression I had to finish every anime I started. It's probably one of the most masochistic things I've ever done.

Sackett · 2013-09-25, 20:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seiryuu

Yeah, a girl who chops people in two and rips their organs out with a glance is a little extreme for a romance heroine, but she does certainly fit. The same may be said of AYA (and I've seen both btw). KGNE may fit, but it's hard to want to watch it with the stuff I've heard the guy does; I suspect if I watch it I'll be hoping he DOESN'T get the girl.

Oh yeah Sora no Manimani would fit the request I forgot about that one.

Maybe even Ano Hana could count if you stretch things a little bit.

Still, if you've seen Aoi Yori Aoshi then the next best I can suggest would be Martian Successor Nadesico.

Dawnstorm · 2013-09-25, 22:44

I wonder if Myself;Yoursef counts? Nothing happens that separates them, but something happens to the heroine after they separate, and when they re-unite the hero is utterly baffled why she's so cold to him (but still jealous).

2013-09-22, 21:20	Link #1
Seiryuu Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003	A certain type of childhood-friend story There's plenty of childhood-friend stories out there, but there's one that I've seen several times as a substory or something similar. In these stories, the childhood friends are suddenly separated at a young age, not because of a parent's work or some other situation, though that may play a part in the separation or guarantee the separation lasts; the major force though is some major event involving the pair, one which ends very badly and results ultimately in the two being driven apart. One of the most common setups has the girl in very bad health (something that happens frequently in anime), and the boy tries to cheer her up or play or something but ends up hurting her. Due to the girl's already fragile condition, the injury caused by the boy drives the girl's parents to panic and forbid him from ever seeing her again. In these stories, naturally the two meet up again years later, by coincidence or deliberate action, but the events of the past are a heavy burden, often with a good bit of guilt in one or both characters' hearts, making it all the more difficult to try and start again. As I said, I've seen this a few times in anime and manga, generally as a sub-story or something like a "lost route" that happens after the main character has already made up his mind about things. In cases where the girl was sick, the reunion is often triggered either by the girl's recovery, or by the girl's option to take a risky route that could grant her full recovery. While I've seen this a few times as side stories, I was wondering if there were any where this is actually the MAIN story, dealing with old and new feelings, quilt, maybe even anger, as the pair is brought back together once more. My only wish is to avoid stories where someone is terminal; there's enough depression out here in RL so I try to steer clear of stories where you know it's going to end with an early death. Also, while the most common story setup I can think of has injury of a sick person or severe enough injury to have major lasting effects, this is not necessarily the only setup. There are plenty of other ways that a something major could happen to drive a wedge in. I don't care what sort of event happened or how it drove the two apart, so long as the children were involved enough to carry some feelings of guilt or responsibility and the story actually sees the characters' relationship through to a proper conclusion.

2013-09-22, 21:31	Link #2
Sackett Cross Game - I need more Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: I've moved around the American West. I've lived in Oregon, Washington, Utah, and Oklahoma Age: 44	*Ai Yori Aoshi* is the one that leaps to mind. I guess *Martian Successor Nadesico* would also count... and uh... *Elfin Lied... yeah. __________________ Cross Game* - A Story of Love, Life, Death - and Baseball. What more could you want?

2013-09-23, 02:59	Link #5
erneiz_hyde 18782+18782=37564 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: InterWebs	Ai Yori Aoshi definitely should be on top of the list. Love Hina also counts (though it's a lot more lighthearted in nature), though I would highly suggest the manga instead of the anime. Someone suggested Elfen Lied but I would advise against it if you have a weak stomach Also, I have another superb title popping out of my head right now. Sadly it's a VN and very unlikely to get any translations done so I'll leave that one out. __________________

2013-09-23, 08:40	Link #6
Sackett Cross Game - I need more Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: I've moved around the American West. I've lived in Oregon, Washington, Utah, and Oklahoma Age: 44	Well.. yeah.. *Elfin Lied* is probably not what he wants but it certainly matches the requirement. __________________ Cross Game - A Story of Love, Life, Death - and Baseball. What more could you want?

2013-09-23, 00:01	Link #3
jedinat Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Age: 38	Honeymoon Salad comes to mind... though it's not really about childhood friends, but a high school friendship/romance that was sort of mysteriously and harshly cut off (by the girl)... The story takes place 10 years later when the girl suddenly shows up again. Nothing closer to your request is coming to mind...

2013-09-23, 01:58	Link #4
Pepito Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Age: 39	While it doesn't involve exactly a childhood friendship, I think Kimi ga Nozomu Eien have a feeling like the one you're looking for. Also, I second Ai Yori Aoshi

2013-09-25, 05:56	Link #7
Seiryuu Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003	Yeah, a girl who chops people in two and rips their organs out with a glance is a little extreme for a romance heroine, but she does certainly fit. The same may be said of AYA (and I've seen both btw). KGNE may fit, but it's hard to want to watch it with the stuff I've heard the guy does; I suspect if I watch it I'll be hoping he DOESN'T get the girl.

2013-09-25, 14:04	Link #8
Pepito Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Age: 39	KGNE is a long shot, but the guy isn't that bad in my eyes (maybe you're confusing it with School Days, which have one of the most repulsive protagonists I've ever seen...). Now, another one you can try is Kimikiss Pure Rouge it literally starts with the long gone childhood friend returning to home. And, I think Sora no Manimani fits your request too, with the guy coming back to his hometown after 7 years of absence, it's not that romantic centered, but the romance is in there nonetheless.

2013-09-25, 14:35	Link #9
jedinat Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Age: 38	I watched KGNE back in a time when I was under the impression I had to finish every anime I started. It's probably one of the most masochistic things I've ever done.

2013-09-25, 22:44	Link #11
Dawnstorm Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Austria	I wonder if Myself;Yoursef counts? Nothing happens that separates them, but something happens to the heroine after they separate, and when they re-unite the hero is utterly baffled why she's so cold to him (but still jealous).