Ao Haru Ride
Unlike most girls who crave popularity among boys, Futaba Yoshioka wants the complete opposite – to avoid it altogether. In middle school, her popularity with boys caused her female classmates to shun her, leading her to take the opportunity in high school to reinvent herself by acting indifferent and unfeminine towards boys, allowing her to make some acquaintances along the way. However, things take a dramatic turn when her first love, Kou Mabuchi, suddenly reappears after disappearing years ago. Though she still cherishes the fond memories they shared together, she soon learns that the sweet and gentle boy she knew has disappeared, replaced by a cold and pessimistic version of himself. Although he acknowledges that their past feelings for each other were mutual, he warns her that they can never return to the past, as everything, including himself, has changed. Throughout Ao Haru Ride, Futaba navigates the complexities of searching for true love and friendship while staying true to herself.
