Fewnarrativesetups in romance animecreate more satisfying emotional payoff than watching a girl who initially rejected the protagonist come to regret her decision. This rejection-regret taps into universal experiences of missed opportunities and the pain ofrealizing someone’s valueonly after pushing them away.
These stories explore themultitude of emotionsbehind both the initial rejection and the subsequent regret, whetherstemming frompride, fear, misunderstanding, or external circumstances.
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Viewers are treated to the delicious tension of watching characters navigate the messy aftermath of rejection, often involvingjealousy, confusion, and the challenge of admitting they were wrong, all while the formerly rejected protagonist has often begun moving forward with their life.
8The Dreaming Boy is a Realist
When Ignoring Him Backfires Spectacularly
Throughoutmiddle school and early high school, Aika Natsukawa consistently rejected Wataru Sajou’s persistent and open advances, never taking his feelings seriously. But, everything changes when Wataru has an epiphany, possibly after getting hit by a soccer ball, andabruptly stops pursuing her, deciding he’s not worthy and shouldfocus on his friendshipsand part-time job instead.
Aika’s reaction to his withdrawal is immediate and bewildering. She becomes confused, assuming he must suddenly hate her, andexhibitsclear jealousywhenever he interacts with other girls. Her attempts to recapture his attention become increasingly desperate, fromfollowing him out of “concern"to showing up at his house demanding explanations for his newfound distance.
The delicious irony of the series is watching Aika struggle with emotions she doesn’t fully understand. Shealternates between possessiveness and embarrassmentwhen her best friend points out the obvious: that perhaps she should be the onepursuing himnow.
Her visible distress when Wataru defines their relationship as “just classmates” tells how thoroughly she took his attentionfor granted until it vanished.
7Just Because!
Racing Against Graduation Deadlines
High school senior Mio Natsume rejectsEita Izumi’s heartfelt confession, still fixated on her middle school crush Haruto Soma. It’s a clear, direct rejection that leaves Eita hurt and distant, creating an immediate rift between them during theircrucial final monthsof high school.
Mio’s regret sets inremarkably quicklyas she realizes her mistake and attempts to apologize, but finds Eita has already begun pulling away. Through thoughtful reflection, she comes tocomprehend her feelings for Haruto were merelylingering childhood attachments, while her genuine feelings have developed for the consistently supportive Eita who reentered her life at just theright moment.
She takes concrete action tocorrect her mistake: she changesher university application to attend the same prestigious school where Eita was accepted, effectively reorganizing her entire future around asecond chance with him.
Just Because!grounds this rejection-regret dynamic in realisticanxieties about graduation and uncertain futures, making their eventual reconnection months later feel genuinely earned.
6My Little Monster
Studies Over Emotions (Until Jealousy Kicks In)
Academic-focused Shizuku Mizutani initially confesses to wild-child Haru Yoshida in a moment of emotional clarity, but immediatelyretracts her confessionout of confusion and embarrassment. Later, prioritizing her studies above all else, she tells Haru she no longer hasfeelings for himand actively pushes him away,creating distancebetween them.
Now, what’s fascinating is that Shizuku’s regretmanifests in multiple waysthrough her internal acknowledgment of her true feelings, visible jealousy when Haru gains popularity with other girls, and growing inner turmoil asshe attempts to maintainher academic focus while watching him drift away.
The depth of her regret becomes clear when she finally admits to her friend Asako, and eventually to Haru himself, thatfear of declining gradeswas her real reason for pushing him away.
5Masamune-kun’s Revenge
Cruel Rejection’s Unexpected Consequences
In a particularly traumatic childhood rejection, Aki Adagaki (or someone disguised as her) cruelly dismissed a young, overweight Masamune Makabe, calling him"Pig’s Foot.“This extremely memorable rejection becomes thecentral motivationfor Masamune’s physical transformation andelaborate revenge plotto make Aki fall for him, only toreject her in return.
Aki’s regret emerges gradually as she develops feelings for thetransformed Masamune without recognizing himfrom the past. Upon learning the truth about their history, including the possible involvement of her maid Yoshino in theoriginal rejection, her regretdeepens into a genuine desireto “fix everything” and address the pain caused by the misunderstanding.
The revelation forcesboth characters to confront uncomfortable truths: Aki must face the consequences of cruelty she may not fully remember.Masamunemust questionwhether revenge is truly what he wants now that he’s grown to care for the girl who once hurt him so deeply.
4Plastic Memories
Time Limits and Tragic Choices
When Tsukasa Mizugaki confesses his feelings to Isla, aGiftia android with a limited lifespan, she initially rejects him despite clearly harboring her own feelings. Her rejection stems not from lack of interest but from herimpending “death.” Knowingher memories will be completely wiped within months, she wants to spare Tsukasa the inevitable heartbreak ofloving someonewith such a definite expiration date.
As Tsukasa persists, her regret overpushing him awaygrows until she finally admits both her true feelings and the fear that motivated her rejection. The external factor of Isla’s predetermined lifespan gives thisrejection-regret narrativeunique emotional weight, tying it directly to theanime’s main themeabout the value of memories and connections even when they’re destined to be temporary.
Her eventual decision to accept his lovedespite knowing their time is limitedtransforms regret intobittersweet affirmationthat some experiences are worth the inevitable pain they bring.
Trauma and Tsundere Tendencies
Suzuka Asahinaexplicitly rejects Yamato Akitsuki’s earnest confessionearly in their relationship, creating a pattern of emotional push-pull that defines much of the series. Her rejection stems from her guarded tsundere nature andunresolved griefover her deceased first love, Kazuki, whom Yamato coincidentally resembles.
ThoughSuzuka rarely acknowledgesher regret directly, it manifests through her actions: displays of jealousy, moments of comfort despite pushing Yamato away, and her characteristic coldness that masks deeper attachment. Her difficulty accepting Yamato stems fromfear of reliving past trauma.
After Yamato brieflydates another girland consistently demonstrates his unwavering dedication, Suzuka finally overcomes her emotional barriers.
2Domestic Girlfriend
Forbidden Love and Forced Separation
When Natsuo Fujii’s relationship with his teacherHina Tachibana is discovered, she is forced to end their romance and transfer schools to prevent scandal. This separation functions as a rejection, albeit one driven byexternal circumstancesrather thanHina’s actual feelings, creating immediate heartbreak for both characters.
Hina’s regret is immediate: despite leaving, she loves Natsuo deeply and dedicates herself to his happiness even from a distance. Herinternal conflictbetween social expectations and personal desires creates palpable regret that drives much of her character arc, with her attempts at self-sacrifice oftenbecoming self-destructive.
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The taboo elements of their relationship (teacher-student dynamicsand later step-siblings) amplify both the rejection and subsequent regret, making it less about simple change of heart and more about societaljudgment and consequences.
1Rent-a-Girlfriend
Post-Breakup Possessiveness
Mami Nanami dumps Kazuya Kinoshita after only a month of dating at thevery beginning of the series, setting off the entire plot when a devastated Kazuya turns to a rental girlfriend service and meets Chizuru. Despite being the one whoended things, Mami’s regret emerges almost immediately after seeing Kazuya with another girl.
Her regret manifests astoxic jealousy and possessiveness; she actively stalks Kazuya, interferes in his developing relationship with Chizuru, and seems determined to make his life miserable if she can’t have him back. Unlikemost characterson this list, Mami’s regret takes on adistinctly antagonisticquality, making her one of anime’s most notorious ex-girlfriends.
While fitting therejection-regret patternperfectly, Mami’s handling of her regret makes her widely disliked among viewers. Her manipulative behavior stemming from her ownpoor decisioncreates a cautionary example of how regret, when paired with possessiveness rather than genuine growth, cantransform a character into an obstaclerather than a sympathetic figuredeserving of second chances.
