Romance anime can be one of the best genres to watch, but it can also become frustrating if it takes the couple forever to get together. Sometimes circumstances prevent them from doing so, and it’s understandable why, but it’s still aggravating to know the couple is so close to entering a relationship.

Most relationships in anime usually have a good and steady buildup that blossoms beautifully, and it’s satisfying to see them become a couple. Then, there are some that are frustrating to watch. While it’s obvious the two characters love each other, they either refuse to acknowledge their feelings.

10 Takumi Usui & Misaki Ayuzawa (Maid-Sama!)

Takumi has been in love with Misaki since they first met, but he usually tells her how he feels by teasing her. Misaki usually thinks he’s joking or harassing her. It also doesn’t help that he does make some perverted comments, which usually lead to Misaki calling him nicknames.

Despite all of this fun drama between them, Takumi keeps Misaki’s secret of working at a maid café, and even forces others to keep it secret if they catch her. Little does he know, Misaki actually loves him but tends to hide this from everyone and herself.

9 Kraft Lawrence & Holo (Spice And Wolf)

It’s a little tough for these two to be together, since Holo is a wolf deity while Lawrence is a human. Though she takes the form of a 15-year-old human girl, Holo is actually over 600 years old. Because humanity seems to be moving away from worshipping as a harvest deity, Holo wants to return home, and travels with Lawrence to see how the world has changed.

Their relationship is a slow buildup that it feels like it moves at a snail’s pace. Lawrence is more focused on achieving his dream of opening a shop, and Holo is more than willing to help him bring this dream to fruition.

8 Tamahome & Miaka Yuki (Fushigi Yuugi)

It wasn’t that these two didn’t want to be together at the beginning, but circumstances prevented them. Miaka had to fulfill her duties as a Priestess of Suzaku, while Tamahome served as one of her warriors. After the first series, it seemed like they would get their happy ending, but the OVA proved that wrong, forcing Tamahome back into the book. Though Tamahome was reborn in the new world as Taka Sukunami and would be with Miaka again, he lost his memories of his past life.

RELATED: Naruto: Reasons Sakura Is Over-Hated

By the time of Fushigi Yuugi Eikoden, they’re married, but Miaka falls into a coma and Taka/Tamahome must go back into the book to figure out why. When the whole series finally ended, it left some wondering if all of this drama was necessary.

7 Atsushi Otani & Risa Koizumi (Lovely Complex)

She stands tall at 5'8", taller than the average female, and he stands at 5'2", shorter than the average male. Their respective crushes also happen to fall for each other, which brings Otani and Koizumi together. It doesn’t help that others in their school label them as a comedy duo because of their personalities and height difference.

The two of them start as friends and Otani gets feelings for Koizumi, which she confesses to him. However, Koizumi tells her he doesn’t see her as a girlfriend. It takes him some time to come to terms with his feelings and reveals his own feelings for her.

6 Ryuji Takasu & Taiga Aisaka (Toradora!)

Considering that they were interested in each other’s best friends at the beginning, it’s not surprising that it took these two a long time to get together. Plus, it didn’t help that Taiga disliked Ryuji at first. They focus more on trying to help each other get with the other’s best friends with plans that hilariously backfire.

Everyone even believes they’re a couple because of how much time they spend together, but both try to dispel the rumors. It’s aggravating to see that the twe are perfect for each other, but are too dense to notice.

5 Shōta Kazehaya & Sawako Kuronuma (Kimi Ni Todoke)

Considering that Shōta befriended Sawako before anyone else, it’s almost frustrating that they didn’t get together sooner. He saw something special in her and helped her gain confidence. It was a little frustrating to see their relationship not move a little faster, but it did give Sawako some time to grow as a character.

RELATED: Anime: Most Divisive Characters Ever

Their romance should have come to fruition a lot sooner, because it was obvious they felt more than friendship. It took Shōta some time to realize his feelings for Sawako, but thankfully not too long.

4 Hayate & Himeno Awayuki (Pretear)

This show is only 13 episodes long, but Hayate and Himeno took their sweet time getting together. The two of them had a rocky start, usually yelling at each other. Hayate believed Himeno was weak and useless, while she thought he was a jerk. As the show went on, it was clear the two of them were falling in love, but neither one said or did anything about it. Hayate was afraid of what the Princess of Disaster would do to Himeno if she learned how he truly felt.

During the final battle against Sasame, Hayate left Himeno behind to fight him. While not confessing their feelings directly, both of them hint at it. When the show ended, it seems like Hayate is still fighting his feelings, even though it’s implied he and Himeno are together.

3 Hatsuharu "Haru" Sohma & Isuzu “Rin” Sohma (Fruits Basket)

One of the main couples in the series, these two were together before the show, but it ended after Akito pushed Rin out a window. Fearing what Akito would do to Haru, Rin thought it was best to break up with him and find a way to break the curse. It was clear Haru wasn’t happy with this and even told her he still loved her, but he gave Rin space.

It was more sad than frustrating seeing them not together, but it was good to see Haru not pushing or forcing Rin into the relationship. He knew she had her reasons and gave her space to sort them out. Rin escaped the hospital after being locked up and Haru found her on the sidewalk, where he told her she’s not a burden like she believes. It was a relief to see them finally be together after being separated for so long.

2 Kenshin Himura & Kaoru Kamiya (Rurouni Kenshin)

It’s understandable why these two didn’t get together sooner, but it doesn’t the wait any less frustrating. Kenshin didn’t believe he deserved happiness after his bloody past, but Kaoru accepted him because she saw he was trying to atone. It was obvious that Kaoru had a positive effect on Kenshin, keeping his darker nature in check as well as giving him a home to feel safe in.

RELATED: Shows To Watch If You Enjoyed Skate The Infinity

However, this made Kaoru a target for Kenshin’s enemies, old and new. Knowing that she meant a lot to him, some would kidnap her to draw Kenshin’s Battosai side out. It was a long (some might argue a little too long) and tough journey, but eventually Kenshin and Kaoru would become a couple.

1 Inuyasha & Kagome Higurashi (Inuyasha)

nuyasha and Kagome tend to be one of the top ones anime couples that are frustrating to watch. Each knew how the other felt, and refused to act on their feelings. However, Inuyasha didn’t want other men like Koga near Kagome even though Koga openly admitted his love for her. Inuyasha would ditch everything and everyone whenever Kikyo was nearby, and didn’t understand why Kagome would get upset. Any time it seemed like Kagome was ready to move on, she would always go back to Inuyasha.

The longer the show went on, the more irritating it got to watch Inuyasha and Kagome dance around each other’s feelings. It was fun to root for them at the beginning and middle of the show. However, by the time they officially got together at the end of the show, it was a little tough to be happy for them because it felt like it should have happened a lot earlier.

MORE: Great Anime Like Sword Art Online