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** [[spoiler: Shirley]] died shortly after her AnguishedDeclarationOfLove so she and [[spoiler:Lelouch]] didn't end up together.
** Season 2 also spent a lot of episodes teasing the [[UnresolvedSexualTension sexual tension]] between Lelouch and Kallen. That also came to a halt when Lelouch willingly pushed her away so she wouldn't get involved in his final plan.
** Finally, Lelouch ''also'' didn't end up with C.C. because of his own death. Suzaku also did not get Euphemia; although they were in a relationship briefly, Euphie gets shot by Zero/Lelouch after the SAZ Japan massacre. Given the [[IncestSubtext subtext]], Lelouch did not get Euphie either.
** This also still happens in the movie series. [[spoiler: Shirley doesn't end up with Lelouch under different circumstances, such as living to see ''him'' die as part of his ThanatosGambit, and even after playing a part in bringing him BackFromTheDead, he ultimately goes with C.C. It is implied he's just as sad as she probably is that things didn't turn out as she thought.]]
** Season 2 also spent a lot of episodes teasing the [[UnresolvedSexualTension sexual tension]] between Lelouch and Kallen. That also came to a halt when Lelouch willingly pushed her away so she wouldn't get involved in his final plan.
** Finally, Lelouch ''also'' didn't end up with C.C. because of his own death. Suzaku also did not get Euphemia; although they were in a relationship briefly, Euphie gets shot by Zero/Lelouch after the SAZ Japan massacre. Given the [[IncestSubtext subtext]], Lelouch did not get Euphie either.
** This also still happens in the movie series. [[spoiler: Shirley doesn't end up with Lelouch under different circumstances, such as living to see ''him'' die as part of his ThanatosGambit, and even after playing a part in bringing him BackFromTheDead, he ultimately goes with C.C. It is implied he's just as sad as she probably is that things didn't turn out as she thought.]]
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** [[Characters/CodeGeassLelouchLamperouge Lelouch Lamperouge]]
*** [[spoiler: Shirley]] died shortly after her AnguishedDeclarationOfLove so she and [[spoiler:Lelouch]] didn't end up together.
** *** Season 2 also spent a lot of episodes teasing the [[UnresolvedSexualTension sexual tension]] between Lelouch and Kallen. That also came to a halt when Lelouch willingly pushed her away so she wouldn't get involved in his final plan.
** *** Finally, Lelouch ''also'' didn't end up with C.C. because of his own death. Suzaku also did not get Euphemia; although they were in a relationship briefly, Euphie gets shot by Zero/Lelouch after the SAZ Japan massacre. Given the [[IncestSubtext subtext]], Lelouch did not get Euphie either.
** *** This also still happens in the movie series. [[spoiler: Shirley doesn't end up with Lelouch under different circumstances, such as living to see ''him'' die as part of his ThanatosGambit, and even after playing a part in bringing him BackFromTheDead, he ultimately goes with C.C. It is implied he's just as sad as she probably is that things didn't turn out as she thought.]]
*** [[spoiler: Shirley]] died shortly after her AnguishedDeclarationOfLove so she and [[spoiler:Lelouch]] didn't end up together.
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* ''Manga/BladeOfTheImmortal'': Rin develops feelings for her bodyguard Manji, but he mostly sees her as a little sister, and the fact that he's immortal makes him reluctant to have a committed relationship with someone he'd inevitably outlive. The two part ways after Rin fulfills her quest for revenge, and the epilogue has Manji meeting Rin's great-granddaughter.
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* ''Manga/BladeOfTheImmortal'': Rin develops feelings for her bodyguard Manji, but he mostly sees her as a little sister, and the fact that he's immortal makes him reluctant to have a committed relationship with someone he'd inevitably outlive. The two part ways after Rin fulfills her quest for revenge, and the epilogue has Manji meeting Rin's great-granddaughter.great-granddaughter after the UsefulNotes/MeijiRestoration.
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* "Manga/MuraiKunWantsToFuckMizunoKun": GenderInverted. In the end Mizuno goes to the restaurant again hoping to see Murai, but sees him the morning after his rendezvous with call girl Urara and assumes they're dating. The WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue mentions that Mizuno ultimately married a female coworker and has a child with her, while Murai is in a polyamorous relationship with Urara and a bisexual male coworker.
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*''Manga/{{Lady}}'': Happy example - Lynn [[PrecociousCrush fell in love]] with Arthur Brighton because he was a PrincelyYoungMan who comforted her when her mother died and her immediate family was...[[FishOutOfWater slow]] to accept her. [[spoiler: Arthur, while finding Lynn a cute kid, never loved her back, and instead confessed his love to Lynn's older sister Sarah. Sarah and Arthur eventually get married, and while Lynn always knew it was going to happen (Arthur doesn't do a good job of hiding his feelings, despite his aristocratic demeanor, and Sarah/Arthur of similar ages while Arthur is five years her senior), she does cry a bit on their wedding day. However, Lynn finds herself enamoured with Arthur's younger brother Edward and falls for him when she's older. In the anime, this was changed to Lynn (as a child, not an adult like her manga counterpart) noticing that Sarah had already captured his heart and willingly switching to Edward.]]
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* ''Anime/FullmetalAlchemist2003'' ends this way (''twice''): in the TV ending, [[spoiler: Ed is [[TrappedInAnotherWorld trapped in our world]] searching for a way to get back while Winry and Rose are left behind]], and in TheMovie ''Anime/FullmetalAlchemistTheConquerorOfShamballa'' [[spoiler:after finding a way back to Amestris and reuniting with Winry, he realizes that our world needs him more than Amestris and seizes his last chance to return and seals off the portal connecting the two worlds for good, leaving Winry behind yet again]]. The [[TruerToTheText second anime]] unambiguously ends with Ed and Winry together.
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* ''Anime/FullmetalAlchemist2003'' ends this way (''twice''): in the TV ending, [[spoiler: Ed is [[TrappedInAnotherWorld trapped in our world]] searching for a way to get back while Winry and Rose are left behind]], and in TheMovie ''Anime/FullmetalAlchemistTheConquerorOfShamballa'' [[spoiler:after finding a way back to Amestris and reuniting with Winry, he realizes that our world needs him more than Amestris and seizes his last chance to return and seals off the portal connecting the two worlds for good, leaving Winry behind yet again]]. The [[Manga/FullmetalAlchemist original manga]] and [[TruerToTheText second anime]] unambiguously ends end with Ed and Winry together.
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* ''Manga/MakenKi'': By the final chapter (124), Kai is no closer to hooking up with the [[AmazonianBeauty Amazonian]] [[HeroesWantRedheads redhead]], Azuki. Usui doesn't fare any better in his romantic pursuit of [[ElegantGothicLolita Himegami]], who still only regards him as one of her friends.
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* ''Manga/MakenKi'': By the final chapter (124), Kai is no closer to hooking up with the [[AmazonianBeauty Amazonian]] [[HeroesWantRedheads redhead]], redhead, Azuki. Usui doesn't fare any better in his romantic pursuit of [[ElegantGothicLolita Himegami]], who still only regards him as one of her friends.
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insufficient context. ship sinking must refer to a specific scene intended to disprove a pairing, and the show must mention the idea of the pairing previously. per TRS https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1640420480098263500
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* ''Anime/NowAndThenHereAndThere'': According to most anime conventions, Shu should [[HappilyEverAfter deserve to live happily with Lala Ru after all the suffering both have been through together.]] Nope. Lala Ru dies, and any chances of Shu getting together with her Earth {{Expy}} Sarah are [[ShipSinking effectively dashed]] when he returns to his world without her. However, the audience knows from watching [[HotBlooded his character]] [[{{Determinator}} throughout the story that]] [[EarnYourHappyEnding he'll be able to live happily anyway.]]
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* ''Anime/NowAndThenHereAndThere'': According to most anime conventions, Shu should [[HappilyEverAfter deserve to live happily with Lala Ru after all the suffering both have been through together.]] Nope. Lala Ru dies, and any chances of Shu getting together with her Earth {{Expy}} Sarah are [[ShipSinking effectively dashed]] dashed when he returns to his world without her. However, the audience knows from watching [[HotBlooded his character]] [[{{Determinator}} throughout the story that]] [[EarnYourHappyEnding he'll be able to live happily anyway.]]
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* At the end of ''Manga/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess2016'', Midna leaves to resume ruling the Twilight Realm. Link leaves Ordon Village soon thereafter, meaning that he doesn't get together with Ilia either.
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*''Anime/IsabelleOfParis'' features a LoveDodecahedron, ending tragically for everyone involved.
**[[spoiler: Jean loves Isabelle, who rejects him every time he asks her to wed him. That is, until he's shot in front of her. A frenzied Isabelle begs him not to die and tells him she loves him, but Jean assures her that she doesn't have to lie, before succumbing to it.]]
**[[spoiler: Geneviève abandons her ArrangedMarriage with Victor for Jules. Victor spends the rest of the series unable to get over her. In the GrandFinale, he is shot by the French army while defending Paris from siege. While dying, he [[StrongFamilyResemblance mistakes Isabelle for Geneviève]] and spends his last moments thinking he's in her arms.]]
**[[spoiler: Isabelle held feelings for Victor even though he was engaged to her sister. Victor never reciprocates her feelings (likely due to the fact that Isabelle is fifteen), and when he does find out Isabelle loves him, he doesn't care because he's fixated on Geneviève and bitter that she chose Jules over him.]]
**[[spoiler: Jean loves Isabelle, who rejects him every time he asks her to wed him. That is, until he's shot in front of her. A frenzied Isabelle begs him not to die and tells him she loves him, but Jean assures her that she doesn't have to lie, before succumbing to it.]]
**[[spoiler: Geneviève abandons her ArrangedMarriage with Victor for Jules. Victor spends the rest of the series unable to get over her. In the GrandFinale, he is shot by the French army while defending Paris from siege. While dying, he [[StrongFamilyResemblance mistakes Isabelle for Geneviève]] and spends his last moments thinking he's in her arms.]]
**[[spoiler: Isabelle held feelings for Victor even though he was engaged to her sister. Victor never reciprocates her feelings (likely due to the fact that Isabelle is fifteen), and when he does find out Isabelle loves him, he doesn't care because he's fixated on Geneviève and bitter that she chose Jules over him.]]
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** Zoro and deceased friend Kuina are a possible example. Life was unkind to the guy.
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** Zoro and his deceased friend Kuina are a possible example. Life was unkind to the guy.
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* ''Anime/AndroidKikaiderTheAnimation'' is more a case of [[spoiler:someone [[BreakThemByTalking talking]] him into walking out on the girl]].
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* ''Series/{{Kikaider}}'', is more a case of [[spoiler:someone [[BreakThemByTalking breaking speeching]] him into walking out on the girl]].
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* The [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist 2003 anime version]] of ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' ends this way (''twice''): in the TV ending, [[spoiler: Ed is [[TrappedInAnotherWorld trapped in our world]] searching for a way to get back while Winry and Rose are left behind]], and in TheMovie ''Anime/FullmetalAlchemistTheConquerorOfShamballa'' [[spoiler:after finding a way back to Amestris and reuniting with Winry, he realizes that our world needs him more than Amestris and seizes his last chance to return and seals off the portal connecting the two worlds for good, leaving Winry behind yet again]]. The [[TruerToTheText second anime]] unambiguously ends with Ed and Winry together.
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* The [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist 2003 anime version]] of ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' ''Anime/FullmetalAlchemist2003'' ends this way (''twice''): in the TV ending, [[spoiler: Ed is [[TrappedInAnotherWorld trapped in our world]] searching for a way to get back while Winry and Rose are left behind]], and in TheMovie ''Anime/FullmetalAlchemistTheConquerorOfShamballa'' [[spoiler:after finding a way back to Amestris and reuniting with Winry, he realizes that our world needs him more than Amestris and seizes his last chance to return and seals off the portal connecting the two worlds for good, leaving Winry behind yet again]]. The [[TruerToTheText second anime]] unambiguously ends with Ed and Winry together.
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* Played with ''Manga/OnaniMasterKurosawa''. [[spoiler: Kurosawa starts an unholy alliance with Kitahara, who later starts blackmailing him. It's the perfect set-up for an eventual love story, right? Guess again; Neither Kitahara nor Kurosawa seem particularly interested in each other, aside from their common goals. In fact, Kurosawa is in love with cute, bookish Takagawa during most of the manga. At first she seems to have an interest in him, but eventually she starts dating Nagaoka, afro-otaku extraordinaire. That can't last, right? She's the princess of the High School and he's a clown. Wrong. Kurosawa [[ADateWithRosiePalms gets over]] Takagawa, who seems quite happy with Nagaoka, and ends up dating Sugawa, the yankee that beat his ass because [[ItMakesSenseInContext he came over her uniform to avenge Kitahara]].]]
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* Played with ''Manga/OnaniMasterKurosawa''. [[spoiler: Kurosawa starts an unholy alliance with Kitahara, who later starts blackmailing him. It's the perfect set-up for an eventual love story, right? Guess again; Neither Kitahara nor Kurosawa seem particularly interested in each other, aside from their common goals. In fact, Kurosawa is in love with cute, bookish Takagawa during most of the manga. At first she seems to have an interest in him, but eventually she starts dating Nagaoka, afro-otaku extraordinaire. That can't last, right? She's the princess of the High School and he's a clown. Wrong. Kurosawa [[ADateWithRosiePalms gets over]] over Takagawa, who seems quite happy with Nagaoka, and ends up dating Sugawa, the yankee that beat his ass because [[ItMakesSenseInContext he came over her uniform to avenge Kitahara]].]]
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* ''Anime/WelcomeToTheNHK'': though they [[BetterAsFriends stay friends]]. At least in most versions. The anime and novel both end fairly ambiguously, but the manga [[spoiler:has Satou promise to rekindle their relationship after he cleans up.]]
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* ''Anime/WelcomeToTheNHK'': though ''Literature/WelcomeToTheNHK'': Though they [[BetterAsFriends stay friends]]. At least in most versions. The anime and novel both end fairly ambiguously, but the manga [[spoiler:has Satou promise to rekindle their relationship after he cleans up.]]up]].
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* Played straight in the ending of ''Anime/GuiltyCrown'' for [[spoiler:Shu. To add insult to the injury of losing his lover Inori, he also lost his right arm, two of his close friends, and his eyesight.]] The only thing motivating him to keep living is [[spoiler:Inori's soul ended up transfering into him to indirectly live on through him and providing him mental comfort]].
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* ''LightNovel/{{No 6}}'': Shion [[spoiler: did not get the guy or girl: Not only does Nezumi leave him behind when they're done, but Safu, his [[GayOption Het Option]], would AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence. However, there might be hope because Shion promises that he'll meet Nezumi again at the end of the anime and novels]].
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* ''LightNovel/{{No 6}}'': ''Literature/No6'': Shion [[spoiler: did [[spoiler:did not get the guy or girl: girl. Not only does Nezumi leave him behind when they're done, but Safu, his [[GayOption Het Option]], would AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence. However, there might be hope because Shion promises that he'll meet Nezumi again at the end of the anime and novels]].
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* ''Anime/{{Patlabor}}'': No matter the continuity, Gotoh never ends up with his fellow captain, Shinobu. Throughout the OVA continuity, she maintains [[StrictlyProfessionalRelationship a strictly working-class relationship]] between them. In the end, not only does he ''not'' get the girl, [[spoiler: he finds out she once [[TeacherStudentRomance had an affair with her instructor]], while she was a cadet at the Tsuge Institute. Worse, the second Movie concludes with her turning herself in with Tsuge, [[MayDecemberRomance because she still had feelings for him]]]]. Gotoh doesn't end up with her in ''The Mobile Police/New Files'' continuity either, but they at least [[ThrowTheDogABone soften the blow a bit]] with the [[Franchise/UltraSeries Ingram-Man]] [[AffectionateParody episode]], which ends with Shinobu [[RelationshipUpgrade confessing her feelings for him.]] Except it was AllJustADream.
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* ''Anime/{{Patlabor}}'': ''Franchise/{{Patlabor}}'': No matter the continuity, Gotoh never ends up with his fellow captain, Shinobu. Throughout the OVA continuity, she maintains [[StrictlyProfessionalRelationship a strictly working-class relationship]] between them. In the end, not only does he ''not'' get the girl, [[spoiler: he finds out she once [[TeacherStudentRomance had an affair with her instructor]], while she was a cadet at the Tsuge Institute. Worse, the second Movie concludes with her turning herself in with Tsuge, [[MayDecemberRomance because she still had feelings for him]]]]. Gotoh doesn't end up with her in ''The Mobile Police/New Files'' continuity either, but they at least [[ThrowTheDogABone soften the blow a bit]] with the [[Franchise/UltraSeries Ingram-Man]] [[AffectionateParody episode]], which ends with Shinobu [[RelationshipUpgrade confessing her feelings for him.]] Except it was AllJustADream.
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* In the ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}'' {{Light Novel|s}} series, the bounty hunter [[HotBlooded Luke]] constantly tries to win the affections of his [[DeadpanSnarker perpetually grumpy]] partner Millina, all to no avail. This ultimately comes to a climax in the fourteenth novel when [[spoiler:Millina is stabbed with a poisoned knife and denied any medical care]]. She more or less tells him off, telling him to keep on living and don't bother worrying about her.
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* In the ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}'' ''Literature/{{Slayers}}'' {{Light Novel|s}} series, the bounty hunter [[HotBlooded Luke]] constantly tries to win the affections of his [[DeadpanSnarker perpetually grumpy]] partner Millina, all to no avail. This ultimately comes to a climax in the fourteenth novel when [[spoiler:Millina is stabbed with a poisoned knife and denied any medical care]]. She more or less tells him off, telling him to keep on living and don't bother worrying about her.
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* Played straight in the ending of ''Anime/GuiltyCrown'' for [[spoiler:Shu. To add insult to the injury of losing his lover Inori, he also lost his right arm, two of his close friends, and his eyesight.]] The only thing motivating him to keep living is [[spoiler:Inori's soul ended up transfering into him to indirectly live on through him and providing him mental comfort]].
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* Played straight in the ending of ''Anime/GuiltyCrown'' for [[spoiler:Shu. To add insult to the injury of losing his lover Inori, he also lost his right arm, two of his close friends, and his eyesight.]] The only thing motivating him to keep living is [[spoiler:Inori's soul ended up transfering into him to provide him mental comfort]].
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* Played straight in the ending of ''Anime/GuiltyCrown'' for [[spoiler:Shu. To add insult to the injury of losing his lover Inori, he also lost his right arm, two of his close friends, and his eyesight.]] The only thing motivating him to keep living is [[spoiler:Inori's soul ended up transfering into him to provide indirectly live on through him and providing him mental comfort]].
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* Played straight in the ending of ''Anime/GuiltyCrown'' for [[spoiler:Shu. To add insult to the injury of losing his lover Inori, he also lost his right arm, two of his close friends, and his eyesight.]]
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* Played straight in the ending of ''Anime/GuiltyCrown'' for [[spoiler:Shu. To add insult to the injury of losing his lover Inori, he also lost his right arm, two of his close friends, and his eyesight.]]
]] The only thing motivating him to keep living is [[spoiler:Inori's soul ended up transfering into him to provide him mental comfort]].
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* Played straight in the ending of ''Anime/GuiltyCrown'' for [[spoiler:Shu. To add insult to the injury of losing his lover Inori, he also lost his right arm, two of his close friends, and his eyesight.]]
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* ''Webcomic/MobPsycho100'': At the end of the series, Mob confesses his love to [[spoiler:his ChildhoodFriend Tsubomi]] before she moves, but she admits that she never really thought to see him in that way. They do have a healthy platonic relationship in the epilogue though, with them chatting over the phone regularly.
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* In ''Anime/PrincessTutu'', Ahiru does not get together with Mytho, but [[spoiler: gets to stay with Fakir as a duck]].
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* In ''Anime/PrincessTutu'', Ahiru does not get together with Mytho, but [[spoiler: gets [[spoiler:gets to stay with Fakir as a duck]].
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** ''[[Anime/LupinIIIThePursuitOfHarimaosTreasure The Pursuit of Harimao's Treasure]]'': From the moment he first sees her, Lupin does his damnedest to woo [[CoolOldGuy Sir Archer's]] granddaughter, Diana. She repeatedly blows off his advances throughout the film; including [[ArmorPiercingSlap belting him]] several times for emphasis. By the end, she agrees to have dinner with him but makes it clear that '''THAT's''' as far as it goes.
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** ''[[Anime/LupinIIIThePursuitOfHarimaosTreasure The Pursuit of Harimao's Treasure]]'': From the moment he first sees her, Lupin does his damnedest to woo [[CoolOldGuy Sir Archer's]] granddaughter, Diana. She repeatedly blows off his advances throughout the film; including [[ArmorPiercingSlap belting him]] him several times for emphasis. By the end, she agrees to have dinner with him but makes it clear that '''THAT's''' as far as it goes.
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* ''Anime/CrossAnge'' implies this with [[LovableAlphaBitch Hilda]]. She originally starts off as part of a harem with her captain, [[TheCaptain Zola]], and her childhood friends, [[ShrinkingViolet Chris]] and [[SergeantRock Rosalie]]. Then Zola is killed, and Hilda later tries to escape Arzenal to find her mom. After discovering her mom [[IHaveNoSon hates her]] [[FantasticRacism for being a Norma]] and [[PoliceBrutality having the cops called on her]], Chris and Rosalie hate her for abandoning them ([[ShooTheDog and Hilda even drives them away by stating she saw them as nothing more than pleasure outlets]]) and they buy her stuff away from her. As the story goes on, she starts to bear a begrudging crush for [[FallenPrincess Ange]], and eventually admits it to her in Episode 23. While Ange does kiss her and says she's not weird for feeling the way she does about another girl, Ange is already in a romantic relationship with [[BadassNormal Tusk]], [[TheirFirstTime who took her virginity the previous episode]]. So while Tusk and Ange marry after the final battle (and open that cafe Tusk wanted), and Chris and Rosalie are seen back together after some altercations, it is ambiguous where Hilda is, whether she joined a polyamorous relationship with Ange, or she's still single after everything.
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!!As this is an EndingTrope, unmarked spoilers abound. Beware.
Times where the protagonist [[DidNotGetTheGirl doesn't get together with whomever they've been pursuing]] in {{Anime}} and {{Manga}}.
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* This is played straight in the third act of ''Anime/FiveCentimetersPerSecond'', despite a good taunting/glimmer of hope thrown in for good measure at the end - which doesn't pan out.
* ''Manga/BladeOfTheImmortal'': Rin develops feelings for her bodyguard Manji, but he mostly sees her as a little sister, and the fact that he's immortal makes him reluctant to have a committed relationship with someone he'd inevitably outlive. The two part ways after Rin fulfills her quest for revenge, and the epilogue has Manji meeting Rin's great-granddaughter.
* ''Manga/BlueFlag'': [[spoiler:The penultimate chapter reveals that the main couple of the manga, Kuze and Taichi, broke up two years after they got together and finished high school, in a mutual agreement. They have grown distant due to the awkwardness, though they still share a circle of friends, and Taichi is invited to Kuze's wedding to another man. Taichi himself eventually figures out he's attracted to both men and women, and starts a relationship with his male friend Touma, to whom he has since married]].
* Despite all their UnresolvedSexualTension, the titular character of ''Anime/{{Canaan}}'' and her [[HideYourLesbians friend]] Maria never make the RelationshipUpgrade. Their lives are too different and they go their separate ways.
* The final chapter of ''Ciguatera'' reveals that [[ButtMonkey protagonist Ogino]] eventually broke up with [[UglyGuyHotWife his hot girlfriend Nagumo]], after realizing he has become dependent on her and lacks the maturity to give her a happy life. Nagumo is last shown 9 months pregnant and married to someone else, while Ogino got his act together and found a new love. It's probably for the best and [[HappilyEverAfter they're both shown to be happy]].
* ''Anime/CodeGeass'' had a field day with this trope:
** [[spoiler: Shirley]] died shortly after her AnguishedDeclarationOfLove so she and [[spoiler:Lelouch]] didn't end up together.
** Season 2 also spent a lot of episodes teasing the [[UnresolvedSexualTension sexual tension]] between Lelouch and Kallen. That also came to a halt when Lelouch willingly pushed her away so she wouldn't get involved in his final plan.
** Finally, Lelouch ''also'' didn't end up with C.C. because of his own death. Suzaku also did not get Euphemia; although they were in a relationship briefly, Euphie gets shot by Zero/Lelouch after the SAZ Japan massacre. Given the [[IncestSubtext subtext]], Lelouch did not get Euphie either.
** This also still happens in the movie series. [[spoiler: Shirley doesn't end up with Lelouch under different circumstances, such as living to see ''him'' die as part of his ThanatosGambit, and even after playing a part in bringing him BackFromTheDead, he ultimately goes with C.C. It is implied he's just as sad as she probably is that things didn't turn out as she thought.]]
* In ''Anime/DigimonAdventure'' the kids are really too young to be concerned with dating, but when ''Anime/DigimonAdventure02'' rolls around, [[TheHero Taichi/Tai]] does not end up with childhood friend [[TeamMom Sora]], as she instead hooks up with [[TheLancer Yamato/Matt]].
* ''Anime/FantasticChildren'' fits this perfectly and it's even a large part of the plot. He seems to eventually accept to live with it. The guy she picks is a good guy and all, but it is still a bit of a downer.
* Despite having three potential LoveInterests, the main character of ''Anime/{{FLCL}}'' ends up with no one. It implies that he will end up with [[spoiler:Ninamori]] but only after they're [[spoiler:not kids anymore and are more mature]]. This is averted in the manga, where he ends up with [[spoiler:Haruko]] but he [[spoiler:has to chase after her]].
* The [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist 2003 anime version]] of ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' ends this way (''twice''): in the TV ending, [[spoiler: Ed is [[TrappedInAnotherWorld trapped in our world]] searching for a way to get back while Winry and Rose are left behind]], and in TheMovie ''Anime/FullmetalAlchemistTheConquerorOfShamballa'' [[spoiler:after finding a way back to Amestris and reuniting with Winry, he realizes that our world needs him more than Amestris and seizes his last chance to return and seals off the portal connecting the two worlds for good, leaving Winry behind yet again]]. The [[TruerToTheText second anime]] unambiguously ends with Ed and Winry together.
* In ''Anime/TheGirlWhoLeaptThroughTime'', [[spoiler:Makoto doesn't get together with Chiaki]], which is especially egregious considering he asked her first and through how much trouble and grief she went through to make it happen. Although it is indicated that they plan to meet again in his time:
-->'''[[spoiler:Chiaki]]:''' I'll be waiting in the future.\\
'''[[spoiler:Makoto]]:''' I'll be right there. I'll run there.
* Punpun spends the entirety of ''Manga/GoodnightPunpun'' pining after his first love, Aiko. They eventually meet again and begin dating in his twenties, however their relationship is unhealthy and the circumstances aren't perfect. [[spoiler:For one, they're on the run from the police for killing Aiko's mother.]] It ultimately ends very poorly as [[spoiler:Aiko ends up [[DrivenToSuicide killing herself]]. Punpun tries to too but [[BungledSuicide survives]], though he loses an eye]].
* The infamous ending to ''Anime/TheGreatMissionToSavePrincessPeach'' has the revelation that [[spoiler:Princess Peach was already engaged to a prince named Haru, which upsets Mario but he [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy wishes her good luck regardless]]. Needless to say, said prince was never featured in any ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' media again]].
* In ''Anime/JewelpetSunshine'', the protagonist Kanon dates her crush Mikage for several episodes. Then comes TheReveal that [[spoiler:they're siblings]], and Kanon has to forcibly give him up, without a consolation prize.
* ''Series/{{Kikaider}}'', is more a case of [[spoiler:someone [[BreakThemByTalking breaking speeching]] him into walking out on the girl]].
* Inevitable in nearly all installments of ''Anime/KnightHunters'' due to the protagonists being {{Doom Magnet}}s - the few potential love interests who don't end up dead get the ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies treatment. The only exception here is ''Farfarello'', who leaves with his love interest at the end of the Schwarz audio drama to lead a happy, kill-free life.
* ''Franchise/LupinIII'': Lupin's success with the ladies tends to be hit-or-miss. Such as:
** In ''[[Anime/LupinIIIIslandOfAssassins Island of Assassins]]'', he tried hitting on [[BrokenBird Ellen]], though it was mainly just fun 'n games for him, until he learned how she became part of [[MurderInc the Tarantulas.]] She was initially put off by his attempts to flirt with her because she didn't trust him. By the end of the film, her opinion of him had changed, but only so far as thanking him for giving her a brief moment of freedom. [[spoiler: Said with her dying breath]].
** ''[[Anime/LupinIIIThePursuitOfHarimaosTreasure The Pursuit of Harimao's Treasure]]'': From the moment he first sees her, Lupin does his damnedest to woo [[CoolOldGuy Sir Archer's]] granddaughter, Diana. She repeatedly blows off his advances throughout the film; including [[ArmorPiercingSlap belting him]] several times for emphasis. By the end, she agrees to have dinner with him but makes it clear that '''THAT's''' as far as it goes.
* Gender-inverted examples are common in the ''Anime/{{Macross}}'' series:
** ''Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross'': At the end of the series, [[TheHero Hikaru Ichijo]] picks Misa Hayase instead of Lynn Minmay. However, Minmay becomes the couple's friend and joins them in the SDF-2 Megaroad-01.
** A similar fate happens to Ranka Lee in the second [[TheMovie Movie]] of ''Anime/MacrossFrontier'', where Alto Saotome declares that he loves Sheryl Nome, but Ranka believes that one day Alto will come back and Sheryl will be awake from the coma. Since the movie is an AlternateContinuity, this is averted in the TV series.
* ''Manga/MakenKi'': By the final chapter (124), Kai is no closer to hooking up with the [[AmazonianBeauty Amazonian]] [[HeroesWantRedheads redhead]], Azuki. Usui doesn't fare any better in his romantic pursuit of [[ElegantGothicLolita Himegami]], who still only regards him as one of her friends.
* ''LightNovel/{{No 6}}'': Shion [[spoiler: did not get the guy or girl: Not only does Nezumi leave him behind when they're done, but Safu, his [[GayOption Het Option]], would AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence. However, there might be hope because Shion promises that he'll meet Nezumi again at the end of the anime and novels]].
* ''Anime/NowAndThenHereAndThere'': According to most anime conventions, Shu should [[HappilyEverAfter deserve to live happily with Lala Ru after all the suffering both have been through together.]] Nope. Lala Ru dies, and any chances of Shu getting together with her Earth {{Expy}} Sarah are [[ShipSinking effectively dashed]] when he returns to his world without her. However, the audience knows from watching [[HotBlooded his character]] [[{{Determinator}} throughout the story that]] [[EarnYourHappyEnding he'll be able to live happily anyway.]]
* Played with ''Manga/OnaniMasterKurosawa''. [[spoiler: Kurosawa starts an unholy alliance with Kitahara, who later starts blackmailing him. It's the perfect set-up for an eventual love story, right? Guess again; Neither Kitahara nor Kurosawa seem particularly interested in each other, aside from their common goals. In fact, Kurosawa is in love with cute, bookish Takagawa during most of the manga. At first she seems to have an interest in him, but eventually she starts dating Nagaoka, afro-otaku extraordinaire. That can't last, right? She's the princess of the High School and he's a clown. Wrong. Kurosawa [[ADateWithRosiePalms gets over]] Takagawa, who seems quite happy with Nagaoka, and ends up dating Sugawa, the yankee that beat his ass because [[ItMakesSenseInContext he came over her uniform to avenge Kitahara]].]]
* A running gag for Sanji in ''Manga/OnePiece''. For a womanizer, no single woman is ever seen falling for him.
** Sanji does eventually get a requited love in Charlotte Pudding, but circumstances and conflicting loyalties drive them apart.
** Zoro and deceased friend Kuina are a possible example. Life was unkind to the guy.
* ''Anime/{{Patlabor}}'': No matter the continuity, Gotoh never ends up with his fellow captain, Shinobu. Throughout the OVA continuity, she maintains [[StrictlyProfessionalRelationship a strictly working-class relationship]] between them. In the end, not only does he ''not'' get the girl, [[spoiler: he finds out she once [[TeacherStudentRomance had an affair with her instructor]], while she was a cadet at the Tsuge Institute. Worse, the second Movie concludes with her turning herself in with Tsuge, [[MayDecemberRomance because she still had feelings for him]]]]. Gotoh doesn't end up with her in ''The Mobile Police/New Files'' continuity either, but they at least [[ThrowTheDogABone soften the blow a bit]] with the [[Franchise/UltraSeries Ingram-Man]] [[AffectionateParody episode]], which ends with Shinobu [[RelationshipUpgrade confessing her feelings for him.]] Except it was AllJustADream.
* In ''Manga/PokemonAdventures'', Steven teases Wallace, knowing that the real reason that the Water-type trainer stepped down from being the Champion to become a Gym Leader was for an excuse to spend more time with Winona. Too bad that is one of the reasons that is implied why they broke up. (The main reason was that Winona felt uncomfortable having someone stronger than her for a boyfriend.)
* Meowth in the ''Anime/PokemonTheOriginalSeries'' episode "Go West, Young Meowth", who tries to help his love interest who spurned him in the past. He defeats his long-hated rival Persian but the girl Meowth chooses the Persian over him anyway.
* In ''Anime/PrincessTutu'', Ahiru does not get together with Mytho, but [[spoiler: gets to stay with Fakir as a duck]].
* ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'': Sayaka ends up losing Kyousuke to [[spoiler:Hitomi]]. [[spoiler: This does not end well.]] Later, [[spoiler: Homura does not get Madoka. [[Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagicaTheMovieRebellion This does not end well either]]]].
* The anime version of ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena'': [[TheCasanova Touga]] tries to win over [[PluckyGirl Utena]] because [[ILoveYouBecauseICantControlYou she's the only girl at their school who doesn't immediately fall for him]] - in fact, she rebuffs him many times, and they ultimately don't end up together, [[spoiler:with Utena being lost in another dimension and all]]. There's also the movie, ''Adolescence of Utena'', where [[spoiler:Touga is ''[[DeadAllAlong already dead]]'']] from the beginning.
* ''Manga/SchoolRumble''. Tenma is the lead female. Kenji is the lead male. Tenma never returns Kenji's feelings; she doesn't even know about them. Not that it would really make a difference since she's too much in love with the second male lead. [[spoiler:Tenma ends up with the amnesiac, brain-damaged Karasuma. It's strongly suggested Harima ended up with Eri. The one who did not get the girl actually didn't get the guy: Yakumo. She's the only main character who definitely didn't get anyone.]]
* In the ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}'' {{Light Novel|s}} series, the bounty hunter [[HotBlooded Luke]] constantly tries to win the affections of his [[DeadpanSnarker perpetually grumpy]] partner Millina, all to no avail. This ultimately comes to a climax in the fourteenth novel when [[spoiler:Millina is stabbed with a poisoned knife and denied any medical care]]. She more or less tells him off, telling him to keep on living and don't bother worrying about her.
* In ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'':
** [[spoiler:Kamina dies shortly after he and Yoko admit their feelings towards each other]].
** Kittan [[spoiler:goes into a suicide mission after kissing Yoko (which cemented her status as the person with "the kiss of death" in the fandom) and it seems she reciprocated his feelings, as in her personal LotusEaterMachine one of her alternate/happier lives has her marrying him]].
** Simon and Nia [[spoiler:get married, but immediately afterward, she fades away due to an earlier HeroicSacrifice]].
* ''Anime/TheVisionOfEscaflowne'':
** The heroine, Hitomi, chooses to go back to Earth while Van stays behind in Gaia to help his world heal from the war it just endured. Despite the show being [[ExecutiveMeddling dramatically cut down]] from its planned run, that was the intended ending all along. That said, she does still have to ability to teleport instantly to his realm.
** No member of the show's LoveDodecahedron ends up with his/her {{love interest|s}} - Merle resigns to being an UnluckyChildhoodFriend, [[BelligerentSexualTension Millerna and Dryden's]] ArrangedMarriage is called off (although he still hopes to be worthy of her someday ), and Allen, who already lost the girl in the past to an ArrangedMarriage and death, loses Hitomi to Van (but does find his sister, which is probably what he wanted more than romance at that point).
* ''Anime/WelcomeToTheNHK'': though they [[BetterAsFriends stay friends]]. At least in most versions. The anime and novel both end fairly ambiguously, but the manga [[spoiler:has Satou promise to rekindle their relationship after he cleans up.]]
* The manga ending for ''Manga/XxxHolic'' follows much in the same vein. [[spoiler: Set in a DistantFinale 100 years in the future where Watanuki has lost both Himawari ''and'' [[GayOption Doumeki]] to them dying of old age. Made even sadder by the fact that after ''Tsubasa'' ended Watanuki couldn't leave his InnBetweenTheWorlds and that its very nature was harmful to Himawari making her only able to see him once a year, and she eventually moved on with her life. He comes to accept it though, congratulating her on her marriage.]]
* Hazuki from ''VisualNovel/YamiToBoushiToHonNoTabibito'' never gets her girl Hatsumi, at least in the anime, despite her valiant efforts of chasing her through several alternate dimensions. It is heavily implied that Hatsumi grants Hazuki one night with her but then erases her memory afterward, which caused quite a bit of outrage among {{yuri fan}}s.
* ''Manga/YourLieInApril'' ends with Kousei and Kaori not ending up together. [[spoiler:Kaori ''did'' love him but he didn't learn this until he read her [[DeadManWriting posthumous letter]].]]
* Played with in ''Anime/YuriOnIce'': Yuko seems this way when Yuri first meets her again, after going back to his hometown in Kyushu. He reminisces on their time growing up and learning to skate together, and comments "she's still cute," only for the viewer to learn, moments later, that she's now married with triplets ...to a guy who used to bully Yuri, no less. But of course, Yuri's [[spoiler:not exactly straight]], and we haven't met a certain manic pixie Russian figure skater just yet...
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!!As this is an EndingTrope, unmarked spoilers abound. Beware.
Times where the protagonist [[DidNotGetTheGirl doesn't get together with whomever they've been pursuing]] in {{Anime}} and {{Manga}}.
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* This is played straight in the third act of ''Anime/FiveCentimetersPerSecond'', despite a good taunting/glimmer of hope thrown in for good measure at the end - which doesn't pan out.
* ''Manga/BladeOfTheImmortal'': Rin develops feelings for her bodyguard Manji, but he mostly sees her as a little sister, and the fact that he's immortal makes him reluctant to have a committed relationship with someone he'd inevitably outlive. The two part ways after Rin fulfills her quest for revenge, and the epilogue has Manji meeting Rin's great-granddaughter.
* ''Manga/BlueFlag'': [[spoiler:The penultimate chapter reveals that the main couple of the manga, Kuze and Taichi, broke up two years after they got together and finished high school, in a mutual agreement. They have grown distant due to the awkwardness, though they still share a circle of friends, and Taichi is invited to Kuze's wedding to another man. Taichi himself eventually figures out he's attracted to both men and women, and starts a relationship with his male friend Touma, to whom he has since married]].
* Despite all their UnresolvedSexualTension, the titular character of ''Anime/{{Canaan}}'' and her [[HideYourLesbians friend]] Maria never make the RelationshipUpgrade. Their lives are too different and they go their separate ways.
* The final chapter of ''Ciguatera'' reveals that [[ButtMonkey protagonist Ogino]] eventually broke up with [[UglyGuyHotWife his hot girlfriend Nagumo]], after realizing he has become dependent on her and lacks the maturity to give her a happy life. Nagumo is last shown 9 months pregnant and married to someone else, while Ogino got his act together and found a new love. It's probably for the best and [[HappilyEverAfter they're both shown to be happy]].
* ''Anime/CodeGeass'' had a field day with this trope:
** [[spoiler: Shirley]] died shortly after her AnguishedDeclarationOfLove so she and [[spoiler:Lelouch]] didn't end up together.
** Season 2 also spent a lot of episodes teasing the [[UnresolvedSexualTension sexual tension]] between Lelouch and Kallen. That also came to a halt when Lelouch willingly pushed her away so she wouldn't get involved in his final plan.
** Finally, Lelouch ''also'' didn't end up with C.C. because of his own death. Suzaku also did not get Euphemia; although they were in a relationship briefly, Euphie gets shot by Zero/Lelouch after the SAZ Japan massacre. Given the [[IncestSubtext subtext]], Lelouch did not get Euphie either.
** This also still happens in the movie series. [[spoiler: Shirley doesn't end up with Lelouch under different circumstances, such as living to see ''him'' die as part of his ThanatosGambit, and even after playing a part in bringing him BackFromTheDead, he ultimately goes with C.C. It is implied he's just as sad as she probably is that things didn't turn out as she thought.]]
* In ''Anime/DigimonAdventure'' the kids are really too young to be concerned with dating, but when ''Anime/DigimonAdventure02'' rolls around, [[TheHero Taichi/Tai]] does not end up with childhood friend [[TeamMom Sora]], as she instead hooks up with [[TheLancer Yamato/Matt]].
* ''Anime/FantasticChildren'' fits this perfectly and it's even a large part of the plot. He seems to eventually accept to live with it. The guy she picks is a good guy and all, but it is still a bit of a downer.
* Despite having three potential LoveInterests, the main character of ''Anime/{{FLCL}}'' ends up with no one. It implies that he will end up with [[spoiler:Ninamori]] but only after they're [[spoiler:not kids anymore and are more mature]]. This is averted in the manga, where he ends up with [[spoiler:Haruko]] but he [[spoiler:has to chase after her]].
* The [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist 2003 anime version]] of ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' ends this way (''twice''): in the TV ending, [[spoiler: Ed is [[TrappedInAnotherWorld trapped in our world]] searching for a way to get back while Winry and Rose are left behind]], and in TheMovie ''Anime/FullmetalAlchemistTheConquerorOfShamballa'' [[spoiler:after finding a way back to Amestris and reuniting with Winry, he realizes that our world needs him more than Amestris and seizes his last chance to return and seals off the portal connecting the two worlds for good, leaving Winry behind yet again]]. The [[TruerToTheText second anime]] unambiguously ends with Ed and Winry together.
* In ''Anime/TheGirlWhoLeaptThroughTime'', [[spoiler:Makoto doesn't get together with Chiaki]], which is especially egregious considering he asked her first and through how much trouble and grief she went through to make it happen. Although it is indicated that they plan to meet again in his time:
-->'''[[spoiler:Chiaki]]:''' I'll be waiting in the future.\\
'''[[spoiler:Makoto]]:''' I'll be right there. I'll run there.
* Punpun spends the entirety of ''Manga/GoodnightPunpun'' pining after his first love, Aiko. They eventually meet again and begin dating in his twenties, however their relationship is unhealthy and the circumstances aren't perfect. [[spoiler:For one, they're on the run from the police for killing Aiko's mother.]] It ultimately ends very poorly as [[spoiler:Aiko ends up [[DrivenToSuicide killing herself]]. Punpun tries to too but [[BungledSuicide survives]], though he loses an eye]].
* The infamous ending to ''Anime/TheGreatMissionToSavePrincessPeach'' has the revelation that [[spoiler:Princess Peach was already engaged to a prince named Haru, which upsets Mario but he [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy wishes her good luck regardless]]. Needless to say, said prince was never featured in any ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' media again]].
* In ''Anime/JewelpetSunshine'', the protagonist Kanon dates her crush Mikage for several episodes. Then comes TheReveal that [[spoiler:they're siblings]], and Kanon has to forcibly give him up, without a consolation prize.
* ''Series/{{Kikaider}}'', is more a case of [[spoiler:someone [[BreakThemByTalking breaking speeching]] him into walking out on the girl]].
* Inevitable in nearly all installments of ''Anime/KnightHunters'' due to the protagonists being {{Doom Magnet}}s - the few potential love interests who don't end up dead get the ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies treatment. The only exception here is ''Farfarello'', who leaves with his love interest at the end of the Schwarz audio drama to lead a happy, kill-free life.
* ''Franchise/LupinIII'': Lupin's success with the ladies tends to be hit-or-miss. Such as:
** In ''[[Anime/LupinIIIIslandOfAssassins Island of Assassins]]'', he tried hitting on [[BrokenBird Ellen]], though it was mainly just fun 'n games for him, until he learned how she became part of [[MurderInc the Tarantulas.]] She was initially put off by his attempts to flirt with her because she didn't trust him. By the end of the film, her opinion of him had changed, but only so far as thanking him for giving her a brief moment of freedom. [[spoiler: Said with her dying breath]].
** ''[[Anime/LupinIIIThePursuitOfHarimaosTreasure The Pursuit of Harimao's Treasure]]'': From the moment he first sees her, Lupin does his damnedest to woo [[CoolOldGuy Sir Archer's]] granddaughter, Diana. She repeatedly blows off his advances throughout the film; including [[ArmorPiercingSlap belting him]] several times for emphasis. By the end, she agrees to have dinner with him but makes it clear that '''THAT's''' as far as it goes.
* Gender-inverted examples are common in the ''Anime/{{Macross}}'' series:
** ''Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross'': At the end of the series, [[TheHero Hikaru Ichijo]] picks Misa Hayase instead of Lynn Minmay. However, Minmay becomes the couple's friend and joins them in the SDF-2 Megaroad-01.
** A similar fate happens to Ranka Lee in the second [[TheMovie Movie]] of ''Anime/MacrossFrontier'', where Alto Saotome declares that he loves Sheryl Nome, but Ranka believes that one day Alto will come back and Sheryl will be awake from the coma. Since the movie is an AlternateContinuity, this is averted in the TV series.
* ''Manga/MakenKi'': By the final chapter (124), Kai is no closer to hooking up with the [[AmazonianBeauty Amazonian]] [[HeroesWantRedheads redhead]], Azuki. Usui doesn't fare any better in his romantic pursuit of [[ElegantGothicLolita Himegami]], who still only regards him as one of her friends.
* ''LightNovel/{{No 6}}'': Shion [[spoiler: did not get the guy or girl: Not only does Nezumi leave him behind when they're done, but Safu, his [[GayOption Het Option]], would AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence. However, there might be hope because Shion promises that he'll meet Nezumi again at the end of the anime and novels]].
* ''Anime/NowAndThenHereAndThere'': According to most anime conventions, Shu should [[HappilyEverAfter deserve to live happily with Lala Ru after all the suffering both have been through together.]] Nope. Lala Ru dies, and any chances of Shu getting together with her Earth {{Expy}} Sarah are [[ShipSinking effectively dashed]] when he returns to his world without her. However, the audience knows from watching [[HotBlooded his character]] [[{{Determinator}} throughout the story that]] [[EarnYourHappyEnding he'll be able to live happily anyway.]]
* Played with ''Manga/OnaniMasterKurosawa''. [[spoiler: Kurosawa starts an unholy alliance with Kitahara, who later starts blackmailing him. It's the perfect set-up for an eventual love story, right? Guess again; Neither Kitahara nor Kurosawa seem particularly interested in each other, aside from their common goals. In fact, Kurosawa is in love with cute, bookish Takagawa during most of the manga. At first she seems to have an interest in him, but eventually she starts dating Nagaoka, afro-otaku extraordinaire. That can't last, right? She's the princess of the High School and he's a clown. Wrong. Kurosawa [[ADateWithRosiePalms gets over]] Takagawa, who seems quite happy with Nagaoka, and ends up dating Sugawa, the yankee that beat his ass because [[ItMakesSenseInContext he came over her uniform to avenge Kitahara]].]]
* A running gag for Sanji in ''Manga/OnePiece''. For a womanizer, no single woman is ever seen falling for him.
** Sanji does eventually get a requited love in Charlotte Pudding, but circumstances and conflicting loyalties drive them apart.
** Zoro and deceased friend Kuina are a possible example. Life was unkind to the guy.
* ''Anime/{{Patlabor}}'': No matter the continuity, Gotoh never ends up with his fellow captain, Shinobu. Throughout the OVA continuity, she maintains [[StrictlyProfessionalRelationship a strictly working-class relationship]] between them. In the end, not only does he ''not'' get the girl, [[spoiler: he finds out she once [[TeacherStudentRomance had an affair with her instructor]], while she was a cadet at the Tsuge Institute. Worse, the second Movie concludes with her turning herself in with Tsuge, [[MayDecemberRomance because she still had feelings for him]]]]. Gotoh doesn't end up with her in ''The Mobile Police/New Files'' continuity either, but they at least [[ThrowTheDogABone soften the blow a bit]] with the [[Franchise/UltraSeries Ingram-Man]] [[AffectionateParody episode]], which ends with Shinobu [[RelationshipUpgrade confessing her feelings for him.]] Except it was AllJustADream.
* In ''Manga/PokemonAdventures'', Steven teases Wallace, knowing that the real reason that the Water-type trainer stepped down from being the Champion to become a Gym Leader was for an excuse to spend more time with Winona. Too bad that is one of the reasons that is implied why they broke up. (The main reason was that Winona felt uncomfortable having someone stronger than her for a boyfriend.)
* Meowth in the ''Anime/PokemonTheOriginalSeries'' episode "Go West, Young Meowth", who tries to help his love interest who spurned him in the past. He defeats his long-hated rival Persian but the girl Meowth chooses the Persian over him anyway.
* In ''Anime/PrincessTutu'', Ahiru does not get together with Mytho, but [[spoiler: gets to stay with Fakir as a duck]].
* ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'': Sayaka ends up losing Kyousuke to [[spoiler:Hitomi]]. [[spoiler: This does not end well.]] Later, [[spoiler: Homura does not get Madoka. [[Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagicaTheMovieRebellion This does not end well either]]]].
* The anime version of ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena'': [[TheCasanova Touga]] tries to win over [[PluckyGirl Utena]] because [[ILoveYouBecauseICantControlYou she's the only girl at their school who doesn't immediately fall for him]] - in fact, she rebuffs him many times, and they ultimately don't end up together, [[spoiler:with Utena being lost in another dimension and all]]. There's also the movie, ''Adolescence of Utena'', where [[spoiler:Touga is ''[[DeadAllAlong already dead]]'']] from the beginning.
* ''Manga/SchoolRumble''. Tenma is the lead female. Kenji is the lead male. Tenma never returns Kenji's feelings; she doesn't even know about them. Not that it would really make a difference since she's too much in love with the second male lead. [[spoiler:Tenma ends up with the amnesiac, brain-damaged Karasuma. It's strongly suggested Harima ended up with Eri. The one who did not get the girl actually didn't get the guy: Yakumo. She's the only main character who definitely didn't get anyone.]]
* In the ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}'' {{Light Novel|s}} series, the bounty hunter [[HotBlooded Luke]] constantly tries to win the affections of his [[DeadpanSnarker perpetually grumpy]] partner Millina, all to no avail. This ultimately comes to a climax in the fourteenth novel when [[spoiler:Millina is stabbed with a poisoned knife and denied any medical care]]. She more or less tells him off, telling him to keep on living and don't bother worrying about her.
* In ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'':
** [[spoiler:Kamina dies shortly after he and Yoko admit their feelings towards each other]].
** Kittan [[spoiler:goes into a suicide mission after kissing Yoko (which cemented her status as the person with "the kiss of death" in the fandom) and it seems she reciprocated his feelings, as in her personal LotusEaterMachine one of her alternate/happier lives has her marrying him]].
** Simon and Nia [[spoiler:get married, but immediately afterward, she fades away due to an earlier HeroicSacrifice]].
* ''Anime/TheVisionOfEscaflowne'':
** The heroine, Hitomi, chooses to go back to Earth while Van stays behind in Gaia to help his world heal from the war it just endured. Despite the show being [[ExecutiveMeddling dramatically cut down]] from its planned run, that was the intended ending all along. That said, she does still have to ability to teleport instantly to his realm.
** No member of the show's LoveDodecahedron ends up with his/her {{love interest|s}} - Merle resigns to being an UnluckyChildhoodFriend, [[BelligerentSexualTension Millerna and Dryden's]] ArrangedMarriage is called off (although he still hopes to be worthy of her someday ), and Allen, who already lost the girl in the past to an ArrangedMarriage and death, loses Hitomi to Van (but does find his sister, which is probably what he wanted more than romance at that point).
* ''Anime/WelcomeToTheNHK'': though they [[BetterAsFriends stay friends]]. At least in most versions. The anime and novel both end fairly ambiguously, but the manga [[spoiler:has Satou promise to rekindle their relationship after he cleans up.]]
* The manga ending for ''Manga/XxxHolic'' follows much in the same vein. [[spoiler: Set in a DistantFinale 100 years in the future where Watanuki has lost both Himawari ''and'' [[GayOption Doumeki]] to them dying of old age. Made even sadder by the fact that after ''Tsubasa'' ended Watanuki couldn't leave his InnBetweenTheWorlds and that its very nature was harmful to Himawari making her only able to see him once a year, and she eventually moved on with her life. He comes to accept it though, congratulating her on her marriage.]]
* Hazuki from ''VisualNovel/YamiToBoushiToHonNoTabibito'' never gets her girl Hatsumi, at least in the anime, despite her valiant efforts of chasing her through several alternate dimensions. It is heavily implied that Hatsumi grants Hazuki one night with her but then erases her memory afterward, which caused quite a bit of outrage among {{yuri fan}}s.
* ''Manga/YourLieInApril'' ends with Kousei and Kaori not ending up together. [[spoiler:Kaori ''did'' love him but he didn't learn this until he read her [[DeadManWriting posthumous letter]].]]
* Played with in ''Anime/YuriOnIce'': Yuko seems this way when Yuri first meets her again, after going back to his hometown in Kyushu. He reminisces on their time growing up and learning to skate together, and comments "she's still cute," only for the viewer to learn, moments later, that she's now married with triplets ...to a guy who used to bully Yuri, no less. But of course, Yuri's [[spoiler:not exactly straight]], and we haven't met a certain manic pixie Russian figure skater just yet...
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