Toradora!

Ryuji Takasu is gentle and tidy, but his eyes scare people. Taiga Aisaka is small and fierce and lives alone in an apartment next door. He likes Minori Kushieda. She likes Yusaku Kitamura. They find out about the crossed crushes and form a pact to help each other. Daily errands turn into strategy. He cooks for her and keeps her place in order. She barges into his home and guards him from rumors. A transfer student, Ami Kawashima, acts sweet in public and sharp in private and starts prodding both of them. Pool practice, a summer trip, and the culture festival keep pushing secrets into the open as Taiga’s family avoids responsibility and Ryuji’s mother works late and hides her past. Christmas brings a party that breaks when Taiga runs off and Ryuji chases after her. Feelings shift from allies to something they cannot call friendship anymore. They plan to leave town and face life alone, meet grandparents who show another path, and choose to stop running. Taiga transfers to sort out her family and promises to return when she can stand on her own. Graduation arrives. Ryuji finds her again. They say I love you and decide to walk forward together.