Hey, happy valentine’s day! Do you get any chocolate?
Valentine’s Day is known as a day when a person shows their feeling to someone they’re romantically attracted to. On this day, many couples and soon-to-be couples show their affection, whether by giving chocolate, spending their time together, or both. So, valentine’s must be a happy day for them, right?
However, not all couples in this world are happy. Many are trapped in an unhappy relationship that they can’t escape. So, in this special valentine’s day article, we want to show you some couples who are, for whatever reasons, trapped in toxic relationships. Maybe you can notice some red flags in these relationships and learn from them. Maybe this article could help you notice that your current relationship is not that healthy. Anyway, here’s a list of couples from anime/manga with toxic relationships.
Hanabi Yasuraoka × Mugi Awaya (Scum’s Wish)
Let me say this one thing: Entering a relationship just to satisfy each other’s desire for different people is a very huge red flag in your relationship. And to double that, this couple from Scum’s Wish is not just faking their relationship but also two-timing with others. Watching them engulfed in an unhealthy relationship is heartbreaking. It’s hard to watch, leaving our hearts wrenched by the end of the series. Please, don’t enter this kind of relationship. (Keinda D.Adilia – The Indonesian Anime Times)
Katagiri x Sa-chan (Dear Sa-chan)
It’s hard to believe that a sweet, happy relationship between Katagiri and Sa-chan from Dear Sa-chan could turn problematic when one of them moves to Tokyo. But that’s what happened in the series. It started with an affair that leads to heartbreaking moments. Even the readers can feel how hurt the characters are in the story.
Reading Dear Sa-chan reminds me of the afternoon TV drama that broadcasted in Indonesia. It’s so dramatic and full of betrayal. Really, this isn’t a manga for the faint-hearted. (Reza Lamunedo – KAORI Newsline)
Aqua Hoshino x Akane Kurokawa (Oshi no Ko)
There is a clear red flag in this relationship: Aqua started dating Akane because he wants to use Akane to find his mother’s killer. On the other hand, Akane knows that she is only used as a tool but still gets along because she truly loves him. She hopes by helping Aqua get his revenge, She could make Aqua happy. This is a twisted point of view. It’s never okay to enter a relationship that is based on manipulation and willingness to be manipulated. But it suits the theme of Oshi no Ko, which tells a story about how far a person is willing to lie when it’ll lead to happiness for others. (Dany Muhammad – The Indonesian Anime Times)
Sukoreku x Miyokichi (Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu)
The first season of Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu is a tragedy. It’s started when Kikuhiko breaks up with Miyokichi because he wants to focus on rakugo. Miyokichi can’t accept this. She has been in many failed relationships before and she thought Kikuhiko would be the one. In their last meeting, on the day when Kikuhiko was promoted to Shin’uchi, Miyokichi promised Kikuhiko that “The next time we met, it will be in hell.”
What happened next is a sad story where Miyokichi eloped with Sukoreku, a rakugoka (Rakugo practitioner) and Kikuhiko’s best friend. It’s clear that Miyokichi just did this for revenge. When she gets pregnant, Miyokichi and Sukoreku move to the countryside. Their marriage has never been good. Miyokichi prohibited Sukoreku to work as rakugoka because “it’s not a respectable job”. However, Sukoreku can’t do any other job properly, partly because he still wants to perform rakugo. It’s sad to see how the story turns out because the anime successfully makes the characters feel human. (Dany Muhammad – The Indonesian Anime Times)
Sungho x Dohyun (The Warehouse)
Rather than discussing only the couple, the entire story of this webcomic is just gut-wrenching. Started with Dohyun waking up in a random warehouse all tide-up, the story progressed as he was abused by Sungho. Turns out the kidnapping was Sungho’s obsession with Dohyun. Because in the past, Dohyun unintentionally harassed Sungho, tricking Sungho into doing stuff knowing that Sungho never tried to refuse. Little Dohyun knows, Sungho is harbouring his feelings. But it was too late for Dohyun to realize all of that.
Recognizing how the two of them entangled with each other through trauma, unhealthy obsession, dependency and attachment; is just not what a healthy relationship will do. In the end, the comic will give you a bitter aftertaste. It was a guilty pleasure experience but beware of a lot of trigger warnings. The Warehouse was quite similar to Killing Stalking as both of them have a similar theme about kidnapping and Stockholm syndrome. Why I didn’t list Killing Stalking too? It’s because I don’t have the mental capacity to finish the comic (cry). Then, how about 10 Years That I Loved You the Most? It is for when you crave a long and ugly cry in the middle of the night. (Vina Nurziani – The Indonesian Anime Times)
That’s our list of couples with toxic relationships from anime and manga. Do you have another couple to suggest? Let us know in the comment!
The Indonesian Anime Times
