History Main / ICantBelieveAGuyLikeYouWouldNoticeMe

* ''Manga/Evangelion303'': By the chapter 12 [[FieryRedhead Asuka]] regards herself like [[BrokenAce a worthless failure and a nutcase]]. So that when [[HeroesWantRedheads Shinji]] [[spoiler:proposes]] her, [[http://eva303.smackjeeves.com/comics/1795225/061/ she says]]:

** In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'', Blackwall reacts this way if the female Inquisitor starts flirting with him. He admits he's not used to female praise or attention but appreciates your company. [[spoiler:Given his massive SurvivorGuilt due to his DarkAndTroubledPast that lead him to [[DeadPersonImpersonation impersonate someone]] to avoid dealing with his guilt in addition to running away from his crimes, this trope is justified in the most heartbreaking way possible.]]

* In ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob,'' Bob has told Jean that he's "amazed" that she loves him, too, and he doesn't want to do anything to mess it up. He says he's also shocked that Voluptua showed any interest in him, but he makes plain that he doesn't want to betray Jean by pursuing anything with Volly.

* In ''Webcomic/PhD'', Cecilia recalls how, back in her high school days, she used to harbour a crush on Scott, one of the most popular guys in her class. However, being the shy and nerdy bookworm, she never had the courage to even speak to him. In their high school reunion, Scott reveals that he actually likes Cecilia for being the hardworking overachiever, and the two hook-up shortly afterwards.

* Ako and Natsumi, two self-proclaimed "Average middle school students" hit this trope ''hard'' in ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'', regarding Negi's "[[OvernightAgeUp cousin Nagi]]" and Kotaro, respectively.

The [[StockPhrases Stock Phrase]] is most frequently spoken by a gal, but there have been occasions where a guy has said it as well.

* Ako and Natsumi, two self-proclaimed "Average middle school students" hit this trope ''hard'' in ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'', regarding Negi's "[[OvernightAgeUp cousin Nagi]]" and Kotaro, respectively.

* ''Manga/BattleRoyale''

-->'''Shuya''': ... me. You watch... me?
-->'''Noriko''': [[LuminescentBlush * Blush* ]] Uh-huh.
-->'''Shuya''': Me. ''You'' watch me. One of the prettiest girls in school...

* ''Manga/{{Evangelion 303}}'': By the chapter 12 [[FieryRedhead Asuka]] regards herself like [[BrokenAce a worthless failure and a nutcase]]. So that when [[HeroesWantRedheads Shinji]] [[spoiler:proposes]] her, [[http://eva303.smackjeeves.com/comics/1795225/061/ she says]]:

* ''Film/{{Sleepover}}''

* ''Manga/TheQuintessentialQuintuplets'': Fuutarou Uesugi seems to have this for the Nakano quintuplets. Since he actively cultivated the image of a serious and anti-social student, he's surprised when they start growing increasingly fond of and even outright fall in love with him. Quite jarring for him considering that he started off on wrong foot with them, [[spoiler: save one from the quintuplets.]]

* The ''Film/BattleRoyale'' movie subverts this horribly. Sugimura spends all of his screentime looking for a girl he never had the courage to confess his love to. When he finally finds her, she panics and sends several bullets in his chest, something she wouldn't have done if he had confessed his feelings earlier... He still has the time to express his feelings in his agony, however. To quote Kotohiki's reaction, "what the hell am I supposed to do now?"

* PlayedForLaughs in an episode of ''Series/ThirdRockFromTheSun''. Sally goes through a period thinking she's ugly and believes her far-less-attractive boyfriend is a saint for even noticing her.

A real life fantasy"

** In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'', Blackwall reacts this way if the female Inquisitor starts flirting with him. He admits he's not used to female praise or attention but appreciates your company. [[spoiler: Given his massive SurvivorGuilt due to his DarkAndTroubledPast that lead him to impersonate someone to avoid dealing with his guilt in addition to running away from his crimes, this trope is justified in most heartbreaking way possible.]]

* In ''Manga/KannazukiNoMiko'', Himeko is positively puzzled about what Chikane sees in an "[[OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent ordinary girl]]" like her. The answer Chikane eventually gives is "If I am the moon, then you are my sun: I may be beautiful and mysterious but I can only shine with your reflected light." Bonus points for this explanation being entirely consistent with the metaphysical laws of their universe. The reader can also see that Himeko is far less...obsessive than most of Chikane's admirers, and her presence helps Chikane not to brood so much.

** In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'', Blackwall reacts this way if the female Inquisitor starts flirting with him. He admits he's not used to female praise or attention but appreciates your company.

* ''Manga/TheQuintessentialQuintuplets'': Fuutarou Uesugi seems to have this for the Nakano quintuplets. Since he actively cultivated the image of a serious and anti-social student, he's surprised when they start growing increasingly fond of and even outright fall in love with him. Quite jarring for him considering that he started on wrong foot with them, [[spoiler: save one from the quintuplets.]]

* ''Manga/TheQuintessentialQuintuplets'': Fuutarou Uesugi seems to have this for the Nakano quintuplets. Since he actively cultivated the image of a serious and anti-social student, he's surprised when they start growing increasingly fond of and even outright fall in love with him.

* Dusa of ''VideoGame/{{Hades}}'' has a crush on Zagreus that can be seen from space. But he's the Prince of the Underworld, and she's not just the household maid but a severed gorgon head, and thus Dusa resigns herself to distant admiration. So she's absolutely baffled when Zagreus starts going out of his way to court ''her''. [[spoiler:Ironically, it's after getting close to him that she realizes she's probably {{Asexual||ity}}, and they both agree they're BetterAsFriends.]]

** Extremely justified in that he's just a common cheesemaker's-apprentice-turned-actor, and she turns out to be a noble who's also the daughter of one of the most famous heroes on the entire continent.

* In ''Fanfic/MyHuntsmanAcademia'', Izuku self-esteem was so thoroughly powdered by his bullied childhood that he firmly believed that he'll never get a girlfriend because of how high-maintenance he believes himself to be. So when he spills all of his concerns to [[spoiler:Yang]], he's utterly taken aback when she refutes all of his points and asks if he'd like to start dating him, to which he happily agrees.

* The ''Film/BattleRoyale'' movie subverts this horribly. Sugimura spends all of his screentime looking for a girl he never had the courage to confess his love to. When he finally finds her, she panicks and sends several bullets in his chest, something she wouldn't have done if he had confessed his feelings earlier... He still has the time to express his feelings in his agony, however. To quote Kotohiki's reaction, "what the hell am I supposed to do now ?"

* [[ShrinkingViolet Lee Fiora]] in the novel ''Literature/{{Prep}}'' admires Cross Sugarman for two years before they start dating, and naturally she believes he is well out of her league due to being popular, rich and experienced while she isn't.
* Since [[Literature/MichaelVey Michael Vey]] is more or less TheEveryman and his crush is a cheerleader, he thinks Taylor would barely give him the time of day. However, it turns out that she actually enjoys his company, and they end up as an OfficialCouple by the end of the first book.

* In ''Webcomic/PhD'', Cecilia recalls how, back in her high school days, she used to harbour a crush on Scott, one of the most popular guy in her class. However, being the shy and nerdy bookworm, she never had the courage to even speak to him. In their high school reunion, Scott reveals that he actually likes Cecilia for being the hardworking overachiever, and the two hook-up shortly afterwards.

* ''Webcomic/{{Megatokyo}}'': A major stumbling block in [[{{Adorkable}} Piro]] and [[WideEyedIdealist Kimiko's]] relationship, for both of them. Piro can't believe that a pretty girl like Kimiko would ever notice him, while Kimiko is bewildered that Piro isn't turned off by her quirks and hectic work life. To top it off, both of them are ''majorly'' ObliviousToLove. It takes the combined force of nearly the entire cast to get them together.

* OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent Makoto Naegi from ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'' is understandably stunned when his classmate Sayaka Maizono, a successful IdolSinger and generally glamorous person, remembers and adores him. [[spoiler:And the disbelief is justified, as she was faking it in order to frame him for a murder, though Kirigiri suggests that she DID care about Naegi and felt guilty about betraying him. Maizono's DyingMessage can be interpreted in two ways. Either she wanted to take revenge on her killer or she wanted to prove Naegi's innocence.]]

Inverted: WhatDoesSheSeeInHim

Compare and contrast TheSchlubPubSeductionDeduction, when a guy is so unattractive that the beautiful woman who's coming on to him must be interested in him for [[HoneyTrap ulterior motives]] rather than for his sex appeal.

* ''[[Franchise/ShinMegamiTenseiPersona Persona]]'':

* ''Manga/KaijuGirlCaramelise'': Kuroe Akaishi is such a longtime loner and an outcast at her school that when popular ChickMagnet Arata Minami becomes the first person in years to strike up a proper conversation with her, she assumes that he's just a manipulative [[TheCasanova Casanova]] so eager to expand his harem that he's willing to add even a "freak" like her to it. It takes a subsequent "date" for her to realize that his kindness and attraction to her are sincere.

->'''Sith Warrior:''' You're beautiful, charming, sometimes crazy, and always exciting. What man wouldn't choose you?

* ''Disney/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'' has this line from ''Ma Belle Evangeline'' as sung by Raymond the Firefly.

I can't believe that you're in love with me.\\

** In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', Fenris, Merrill, and Anders all have this reaction if [[TheHero Hawke]] expresses interest in them. All three of them are quite attractive in various ways but have severe self-image issues thanks to being, respectively, an amnesiac ex-slave, an outcast [[BloodMagic blood mage]], and a rebellious HumanoidAbomination (that [[EnslavedElves elves]] and mages are both [[FantasticRacism oppressed minorities]] in the setting doesn't help anything either). Isabela is a variation; [[TheCasanova she's]] [[MsFanservice not surprised]] if you romance her, but she is surprised that you would want to be friends with her, especially [[spoiler:once it comes to light that she's responsible for the Qunari Crisis and you become the Champion of Kirkwall by ending it]]. In general, [[TheHero Hawke]] seems to have a gift for making the people around him/her feel completely inadequate; [[MiddleChildSyndrome just]][[TheResenter ask]][[OvershadowedByAwesome Carver]].

Essentially it's a declaration of delighted astonishment that one's object of romantic desire seems to feel the same way, when the person saying it believed they never had a chance with their target partner. Often this occurs when the jock discovers NerdsAreSexy.

* Despite them being practically married, Keiichi from ''Manga/AhMyGoddess'' has this reaction whenever Belldandy shows him affection. Early on, this showed how thoroughly his self-esteem and confidence has been trashed. Later on, he develops strong self-esteem and confidence, but still cannot get over this. After all he and Belldandy [[YouAreWorthHell have gone through]], this mental block comes off as PingPongNaivete.

* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'': This is the biggest reason why Naruto was unable to notice [[EveryoneCanSeeIt Hinata's feelings]] for him, in a {{Gender Inverted|Trope}} example. Naruto's depressing childhood instilled in him a [[HeroicSelfDeprecation lack of self-worth]] that he hid behind bravado and arrogance when he was younger. It didn't help that almost all of the girls in his class--including [[{{Tsundere}} Sakura]], the object of his [[LovingAShadow one-sided shallow crush]] until [[ShipSinking Chapter 469]]--treated him horribly and turned their attention to [[TheRival Sasuke]], which made Naruto think that all girls are only interested in [[AllGirlsWantBadBoys guys like Sasuke]]. After Hinata confessed her love to him in the Invasion of Pain arc, Naruto was completely stunned, and even for a while afterwards he thought she meant [[LoveYouAndEverybody she loved him as a friend]]. [[spoiler:It also prevented him from understanding his own feelings for her--and judging by the dialogue from the other characters in the [[WarArc Fourth Shinobi World War Arc]] and ''Anime/TheLastNarutoTheMovie'', it's heavily implied that Naruto ''has'' been in love with Hinata for a while. When he finally does understand in the movie, is when this trope is exemplified full force. This was confirmed with his HeroicVow: he never thought someone [[NiceGirl as kind]] [[YamatoNadeshiko and beautiful]] as Hinata would genuinely [[WartsAndAll love him for him]]]].

* In ''Manga/MyMonsterSecret'', part of the reason it takes so long for Youko to confess her feelings for Asahi is because she's convinced herself that he doesn't reciprocate and thinks she's a pain in the neck (due to being her SecretKeeper) but is [[NiceGuy far too nice]] to openly admit it. She actually gets [[LampshadeHanging called out on this]] in the chapter ''after'' [[RelationshipUpgrade they become a couple]]:

--> ''That someone as beautiful as she / could love someone like me''
* ''WesternAnimation/ThePeanutsMovie'': [[spoiler: Charlie Brown spends the entire movie trying to reinvent himself in order to get the attention of the Little Red-Haired Girl, but all his efforts are derailed repeatedly by either [[HonorBeforeReason his own sense of morality]] or [[CosmicPlaything his perpetual streak of bad luck]]. When she volunteers to be his summer pen-pal, he is convinced that it's only out of pity that she would do so, and that she sees him as a "wishy-washy, insecure failure". When he finally gets the courage to talk to her and ask why she volunteered, her response is basically what Linus told him minutes before: that he's a good person and she genuinely likes him.]]

** Future high school freshman Julie is madly in love with Steve Phillips, a super popular high school guy, but is certain he is unaware of her existence. When she and her friends infiltrate the high school dance, Steve is crowned King of the dance, and has to chose a dance partner. You can only imagine how Julie feels when Steve singles her out to slow dance with him, then helps her win the scavenger hunt.

* Referred to as "Jerk Syndrome" in the Literature/{{Discworld}} novel ''Literature/{{Thud}}''. Nobby's new girlfriend Tawneee is so incredibly attractive that most men don't even consider asking her out, because there's no way a girl like that would go for ''him''. So the only guys who ask her out are either jerks who aren't afraid of rejection, or losers (like Nobby) who are so used to rejection it doesn't scare them.

* ''Mindstar Rising'' by Creator/PeterFHamilton. Heiress Julia Evans is convinced she's unattractive because she spent most of her teenage years in the company of her absolutely gorgeous best friend Kat. When she finally suceeds in getting the handsome doctor (Kat's former boyfriend) that she'd been pining over, ''he'' says the line -- an indication that a [[HollywoodHomely not-unattractive]] teenager ''who's just inherited a multi-billion dollar MegaCorp'' is a lot more desirable than she thinks.

* In early ''Series/{{Smallville}}'', Clark Kent was usually baffled whenever a girl expressed interest in him, because his self-esteem was so low that he was oblivious to the fact that even without superpowers, he's still very attractive and buff.

* ''Series/{{Friends}}'': It's hinted [[InsecureLoveInterest Chandler]] feels this way about Monica. He struggles with women and relationships, his friends joke she's a lot hotter than him, he's very insecure about her ex-boyfriend [[{{AlwaysSomeoneBetter}} Richard]], and on several occasions in the beginning of their relationship he thinks she's going to break up with him. Luckily she's very good at building up his confidence, so this fades as their relationship develops.

* Another "written all over his face" example from ''Series/{{Farscape}}'': John Crichton, as played by Ben Browder, has an absolutely astonishing talent for looking at Aeryn Sun like she's his Earth, moon and stars all at once. Cue swooning fangirls - and swooning Aeryn.
* PlayedForLaughs in an episode of ''Series/ThirdRockFromTheSun''. Sally goes through a period thinking she's ugly, and believes her far-less-attractive boyfriend is a saint for even noticing her.
* Despite his incredible arrogance, Rodney [=McKay=] of ''Series/StargateAtlantis'' gets a little of this with Keller. When he discovers that [[EvenTheGuysWantHim Ronon]] [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Dex]] is also interested in Jennifer, he continues pursuing her, but seems quite surprised when she reciprocates.

* ''Theatre/CyranoDeBergerac'': Deconstructed (and [[GenderFlip gender-flipped]]) : Cyrano is a self-loathing JerkassWoobie who fails to notice any of his own redeeming qualities. He cannot believe smart and beautiful Roxane will ever love him, [[CannotSpitItOut so he distrust her and never speaks clear to her, he only implies his feeling to Roxane…]] [[LikeBrotherAndSister who only sees Cyrano as a brother]]. At Act II Scene VI, Cyrano says this StockPhrase and is clear it’s implication… to everyone except [[MasterOfDelusion Roxane]], who only wants to thank [[SpannerInTheWorks Cyrano for defeating De Valvert]] and ask a favor from him [[SelectiveObliviousness to really put any attention Cyrano says]].

** ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' has this with returning squadmate Tali'Zorah vas Neema/[[spoiler:vas Normandy]], mostly because she and Commander Shepard are of entirely different species, and Tali's species cannot survive outside of their environmental suits for long due to a weakened immune system. Garrus also has elements of this, being notably surprised that Shepard would be attracted to a man with scars, especially one who's a different species than her. Thane has elements of this due to his thinking that Shepard deserves better than a [[TheAtoner repentant assassin]] who's busy dying of an incurable disease. Jack is genuinely shocked that Shepard has romantic, rather than sexual intentions and flatly refuses to believe it for a long time.
** In ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', Kaidan has this attitude towards [[GayOption male Shepard]] or a female Shepard who didn't romanced him during the first game, neatly explaining why he wasn't a romance option in the first game; it didn't even occur to him to think of the possibility until Shepard [[spoiler:let Ashley die to save Kaidan's life]], but circumstances such as Kaidan's SurvivorsGuilt, Shepard's MarriedToTheJob and their [[WeUsedToBeFriends divide in regards to Shepard working with Cerberus after seemingly faking his death during the events of the second game]] prevented them from discussing the matter until the third game.

** In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', Fenris, Merrill, and Anders all have this reaction if [[TheHero Hawke]] expresses interest in them. All three of them are quite attractive in various ways, but have severe self-image issues thanks to being, respectively, an amnesiac ex-slave, an outcast [[BloodMagic blood mage]], and a rebellious HumanoidAbomination (that [[EnslavedElves elves]] and mages are both [[FantasticRacism oppressed minorities]] in the setting doesn't help anything either). Isabela is a variation; [[TheCasanova she's]] [[MsFanservice not surprised]] if you romance her, but she is surprised that you would want to be friends with her, especially [[spoiler:once it comes to light that she's responsible for the Qunari Crisis and you become the Champion of Kirkwall by ending it]]. In general, [[TheHero Hawke]] seems to have a gift for making the people around him/her feel completely inadequate; just ask [[MiddleChildSyndrome Ca]][[TheResenter rv]][[OvershadowedByAwesome er]].
* In ''VideoGame/RuneFactory4'', both Xiao Pai and Dylas are a bit surprised if the player asks them out. The former because she's [[CuteClumsyGirl incredibly clumsy]] and there are [[OvershadowedByAwesome so many other pretty girls in town]], and the later because he's [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold bad at communicating]] and [[HotBlooded tends to act like an idiot without thinking]].

** In ''VideoGame/Persona5'', hard-drinking Ichiko Ohya will express amazement if the protagonist confesses to her, and tells him that she'd understand if he ends up dumping her eventually anyways, since she worries that she'll end up holding him back. Nonetheless, she's happy to just make the best of their time together while it lasts. Chihaya Mifune and Sadayo Kawakami will also be shocked if the protagonist chooses to romance them, since Chihaya is a self-described "country bumpkin" and Kawakami is his homeroom teacher.

* Referred to as "Jerk Syndrome" in the Literature/{{Discworld}} novel ''Discworld/{{Thud}}''. Nobby's new girlfriend Tawneee is so incredibly attractive that most men don't even consider asking her out, because there's no way a girl like that would go for ''him''. So the only guys who ask her out are either jerks who aren't afraid of rejection, or losers (like Nobby) who are so used to rejection it doesn't scare them.

* "Shut Up and Dance" by Walk the Moon is a rather heartwarming song about a guy who meets the girl of his dreams in a dance club when ''she'' approaches ''him'' and asks him to dance. She's out of his league. He '''''knows''''' she's out of his league, and he is absolutely confused as to why someone as wonderful as she would even look at a scrub like him. When he asks, she's irritated at the question, responding, "Shut up and dance with me." The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JCLY0Rlx6Q video]] makes this even more obvious than the lyrics do.