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1[[quoteright:250:[[Franchise/SuperMarioBros https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/shyguy_big_date.png]]]]
2[[caption-width-right:250:''[[https://www.deviantart.com/tricksywizard/art/Shy-Guy-Adventures-The-Big-Date-327262110 The Big Date, by TricksyWizard]]'']]
3
4->''"Okay! What is wrong with the two of you?! Seriously! He likes you, and you like him, and just be together! Jeez, Louise! Happiness is not ''that'' difficult!"''
5-->-- '''Lily Aldrin''', ''Series/HowIMetYourMother''
6
7When a stoppable force meets a moveable object.
8
9Two characters are attracted to one another but are both so [[ShrinkingViolet incredibly shy and awkward]] that neither one of them [[CannotSpitItOut has the guts to do anything about it]]. In the end, all it usually takes is [[TheMatchmaker for]] [[ShipperOnDeck someone]] (or ''[[InVinoVeritas something]]'') else to give them a gentle nudge in the right direction and they'll get together.
10
11The pair usually comprises a regular character and a TemporaryLoveInterest, but it can also be a BetaCouple with a WillTheyOrWontThey plot of their own. It may also involve some DramaticIrony if the audience is made aware of the pair's mutual crush before they are. See also EveryoneCanSeeIt.
12
13Subtrope of BirdsOfAFeather. Compare with BelligerentSexualTension which also has trouble getting together, but for different reasons. If the "shyness" extends as far as the characters being thoroughly convinced a relationship is impossible, it becomes MutualPining. May be a driving force behind WillTheyOrWontThey, JustForFun/NotToBeConfusedWith TheFirstCutIsTheDeepest, a trope also described as "once bitten, twice shy."
14
15----
16!!Examples:
17
18[[foldercontrol]]
19
20[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
21* ''Anime/{{Aggretsuko}}'': [[spoiler: In the Season 4 Retsuko eventually realizes that she has feelings for Haida, but is unable to move forward with him, largely because she and Haida are too shy and insecure to try. They needed the help of Fenneko and Tsunoda to finally start something.]]
22%%* Amata and Mikono in ''Anime/AquarionEvol''.
23* ''Manga/AyakashiTriangle'': Suzu and Matsuri have all the potential for a ChildhoodFriendRomance, but Suzu is hesitant to make the first move (especially after years of Matsuri being distant and overprotective), and Matsuri [[LovingAShadow idolizes her too much]] to even consider he could be in love. Romantic reluctance doesn't keep them apart as friends, though; Suzu just tries to get close in a more subtle way, while Matsuri tells himself Suzu [[LikeBrotherAndSister is like family]]. [[spoiler:Matsuri has a LoveEpiphany at the end of the first formal StoryArc, but both remain silent to each other.]]
24* Firo and Ennis in ''Literature/{{Baccano}}'' platonically live together for [[spoiler:''upwards of seventy years'']], despite Firo falling in love with her pretty much [[LoveAtFirstSight as soon as he met her]]. Ennis [[WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove has a hard time figuring out what love, marriage, and sex even mean]].
25* In ''Manga/{{Bakuman}}'', Mashiro's uncle and the woman of his dreams, who turns out to be Azuki's mom, were completely crippled by this. It's likely that Mashiro and Azuki would have fared even worse if Takagi hadn't dragged Mashiro bodily into speaking with her and agreeing to draw manga.
26* ''Manga/CaptainTsubasa'':
27** The captain of the Furano team, Matsuyama, has this going with his assistant Yoshiko, At first, it seems that he's ObliviousToLove regarding Yoshiko's feelings for him, but some ShipTease-laden flashbacks state that he likes her too. The fact that [[spoiler: she has to leave for the USA due to her father's work]] doesn't help.
28** To a degree, Sanae and Tsubasa fell into this trope during their RelationshipUpgrade manga chapter. She's been ''very'' smitten with him since childhood, but he seems to have only very recently caught up [[spoiler: thanks to Kumi's AnguishedDeclarationOfLove to him]] and since he's going to live abroad, he isn't sure of how to tell her.
29* Ran and Shinichi of ''Manga/CaseClosed''. Every single time Shinichi turns back, they just keep beating around the bush instead of telling each other how they feel. [[spoiler:Shinichi did end up giving Ran an indirect confession in the London Arc, though.]]
30* Kiri and Elraine from ''Manga/DoubleArts''. She's too shy and thinks he's clueless about her feelings, and he's convinced that the boost in sexual tension caused by confessing to her would make life trapped together too awkward.
31* Alzack and Bisca in ''Manga/FairyTail'', [[spoiler:until the timeskip]].
32* In ''Literature/FullMetalPanic'', Sōsuke and Kaname fit this trope to the "T" -- ''especially'' later on. Kaname has problems taking on the aggressive role of romantically pursuing Sōsuke (as she's shown to constantly be waiting for Sōsuke to take the initiative and is constantly disappointed when she finds out she misunderstood his actions as being romantic advances). And Sōsuke... has ''huge'' [[ChasteHero issues with romantic intimacy]]. He's shown to become very nervous when confronted with anything "inappropriate" and too sexual and has a tendency to clam up or run away. The most he appears to be able to muster with Kaname is to shyly hold her hand, which results in some highly frustrating WillTheyOrWontThey.
33** Examine the freak-out he had in the beautician shop (he didn't at ''all'' like the idea of someone holding blades near him.) Then examine how, with Kaname holding a pair of scissors near his head, he is somehow relaxed enough that he falls asleep while she's trimming his hair. He's not even that relaxed around Tessa or Kalinin. They Will. [[spoiler: And They Did.]]
34* ''Literature/Gamers2015'' has the main protagonist Keita Amano and the first introduced potential love interest Karen Tendō as an example of this. The tension between them is exacerbated by them having different degrees of ObliviousToLove and the fact that this story runs on [[PoorCommunicationKills comedic misunderstandings]]. On Keita’s side, he is definitely aware of his own crush on Karen, but somehow ignorant of the fact that she’s a StalkerWithACrush on him. At best, he thinks she’s only getting close to him because her real target is his friend Uehara, and at worst, he thinks she hates him for humiliating her by publicly [[NotGoodWithRejection rejecting her offer]] to join the Game Club. On Karen’s side, she doesn’t even realize that her obsession with him is far from platonic, or that Amano’s awkwardness around her is because he likes her back. At best, she worries he’s more romantically interested in other girls (despite not knowing why this prospect bothers her) and at worst thinks he hates her for bothering him about gaming, which they have similar passion for but different opinions on. This awkward tension continues to persist even after he accidentally [[spoiler:asks her out and she immediately accepts, leading to their RelationshipUpgrade]].
35* Feldt and Setsuna in ''Anime/Gundam00AWakeningOfTheTrailblazer'' show signs of this. Feldt's feelings for him are so obvious EveryoneCanSeeIt but Setsuna has his own [[TheStoic intimacy]] [[HatesBeingTouched issues]], not to mention [[spoiler:his recent transformation into an [[PsychicPowers Innovator]]]]. The farthest they get is a hug when Setsuna [[spoiler:wakes up from his ELS MindRape-induced coma]]... at least that's what we see; exactly what happened between the hug and Setsuna calling the bridge that he's taking the 00 Quan[T] (with a teary Feldt following closely) is left up for interpretation. However, Setsuna does directly address her and only her when he's about to sortie. After this, Setsuna ends up [[spoiler:leaving to the ELS homeworld]], and the end of the movie fast forwards to many years later, leaving a giant gap in which the only details we know of being another war involving an "old human faction". Whatever may have happened between him, (who is [[spoiler:now likely immortal due to fusing with the ELS]]), and Feldt (who is probably ancient unless she ended up assimilating like other humans are shown to have done in the future) will likely never be known.
36* Ippo Makunouchi and Kumi Mashiba from ''Manga/HajimeNoIppo''. For reference, Kumi was first introduced in chapter 36, the manga is already past its 900th chapter.
37* Suiren and Kawasumi from ''Manga/HibiChouchou''. She's shy and with bad social skills due to years of isolation, he's extremely awkward around girls.
38* The main source of comedy and tension in ''Manga/HitomiChanIsShyWithStrangers'' is Hitomi and Yuu's inability to admit they like each other, even though EveryoneCanSeeIt. Nearly everyone they know, including their siblings, friends, and even at least one teacher, is a ShipperOnDeck.
39* ''Manga/{{Is}}'' would probably be about half the length if it weren't for this trope.
40* Inverted in ''Manga/KaguyaSamaLoveIsWar''. Both Kaguya and Shirogane are aware of each other's love and want nothing more than to provoke a LoveConfession to be the dominant one in the relationship (in a non-sexual way). However, they are entirely unaware of -- [[{{Tsundere}} and can't admit]] -- ''their own'' feelings.
41* In ''Manga/KaseSan'', both girls get plenty of hints from the other that they're interested, but both are way too awkward and nervous to do anything about it for a full year in-universe time.
42* ''Manga/KenichiTheMightiestDisciple'':
43** Kind of exists between Kenichi and Miu. It's slightly subverted in that they're very good friends, but Kenichi is too nervous to take it to a romantic level, and Miu is [[ClingyJealousGirl incredibly jealous]] of any other girls who hang around with Kenichi, but she doesn't take the initiative either. Also a case of EveryoneCanSeeIt, as all of the masters are totally aware of it, and are watching to see what will happen.
44** Later on in the series, this trope is subverted in a unique way. Both Kenichi and Miu acknowledge their feelings for each other (well before the end of the series at this point by a 100+ chapters mind you) but they decide not to date until Kenichi has enough power/skill to protect Miu. [[spoiler: In the last page of the entire series, a small picture is shown on the side of the page that depicts a small girl is shown between two unknown figures, implying that not only Miu and Kenichi started dating, but eventually married.]]
45* Sawako and Kazehaya of ''Manga/KimiNiTodoke''. She's shy, innocent and unassuming to a fault, he's a truly genuine NiceGuy who doesn't want to push it. Without Yano, Chizu ''and'' Ryu nudging them, they would probably both graduate before they got around to doing so much as ''hold hands''.
46* In ''Literature/ListenToMeGirlsIAmYourFather'', both Yuuta and Raike are interested in each other, but neither one seems able to admit their feelings to the other.
47* ''Manga/LovelyComplex'' has Chiharu and Suzuki who are both so freaked out by talking to the opposite sex that they can do nothing but stand quietly and stare at each other until their friends push them into admitting their feelings for each other.
48* Subverted in ''Manga/LoveMeForWhoIAm''. [[spoiler:Tetsu]] and [[spoiler:Mogumo]] have an odd and adorable LoveConfession scene where [[spoiler:Mogumo loudly interrupts Tetsu's attempted confession with a confession of their own. They then begin to argue about who likes whom more.]]
49* In ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'', protagonist Izuku Midoriya ends up in this sort of situation with Ochaco Uraraka, who has a ''very'' blatant crush on him. She's his closest female friend and it's strongly implied he does like her back, but they tend to get extremely flustered when too close and/or alone with each other.
50* ''Manga/MyMonsterSecret'': For the first half of the manga, Youko and Asahi are mutually interested in each other ([[EveryoneCanSeeIt a fact blindingly obvious to everyone]]) but it takes a good amount of encouragement from [[ShipperOnDeck the rest of the cast]] for them to actually get together. Although to be fair, both of them did have reasons to drag their feet a little: Asahi decided to hold off because he's [[SecretKeeper keeping a major secret on her behalf]] and feels like asking her out on a date right after finding out would feel a little too much like blackmail, and Youko believes, not entirely erroneously, that Asahi has a crush on someone else (he ''did'' at one point, but got shot down and moved on).
51* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' has been unable to comprehend both Hinata's feelings and his own as romantic, even after she spat it out to him and then [[HoldingHands they held hands]] in the WarArc. In ''Anime/TheLastNarutoTheMovie'', when [[spoiler:[[LoveEpiphany he finally realizes both her feelings and the true nature of his own for her]], he is [[EveryoneCanSeeIt incredibly unsubtle with his feelings]], effectively acting no differently than Hinata, ''[[ObliviousToLove who is completely unaware that he's in love with her]]'' -- the {{irony}} of which is not lost on ''anyone'']].
52* ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' has Shinji and Asuka. Though the precise nature of their feelings is up to debate, they both tend to hide from showing their feelings. Thanks also to similar pasts and trauma, they have both developed defense mechanisms to avoid getting close to other people for fear of rejection. While Shinji runs away from people and hides in a bubble of self-pity, Asuka pushes people away with hostility and arrogance.
53* Raku Ichijo and Kosaki Onodera of ''Manga/{{Nisekoi}}'' quite blatantly have feelings for each other, however, they are unable to admit their feelings for each other. Of course, the fact that Raku has to pretend to be in a relationship with another girl due to family issues doesn't help. It takes over two hundred chapters for their relationship to change at all [[spoiler:when Onodera finally confesses and gets turned down. She was simply too late by that point because the entire manga had been spent developing Chitoge and Raku's relationship until he finally cared more for Chitoge instead of her.]]
54* In ''Manga/NyanKoi'', both Junpei and Kaede like each other, but neither one seems willing to make the first move. Other girls expressing interest in him also serves to confuse Kaede as to whether he's dating them, or may not really be interested in her.
55%%* Haru and Elie in ''Manga/RaveMaster''.
56* ''Literature/OthersidePicnic'', in vol. 4 Kozakura gives a ticket for a hot springs to Sorawo and Toriko, saying she didn't want to go. When Toriko, who was raised in Canada, learns that bathing in a hot springs in Japan involves being naked in front of others, she becomes very flustered, and can't look at Sorawo in the eye. Sorawo (who recently learned that Toriko has two moms and has been saying "I love you" to her alot lately) suddenly has a [[AmbiguouslyGay realization about why Toriko is shy to be naked around her]], and that realization makes her shy to be in the baths with Toriko. The two of them '' '''insist''' '' that Kozakura join them so that, as Kozakura puts it, she can "chaperone the lovebirds".
57* Kaizaki, main character of ''Manga/{{ReLIFE}}'', is the subject of an experiment which turns people into teenagers and sends them to high school again. Because of this, he won't admit his growing feelings for Hishiro since she's 10 years younger than him and an actual high schooler. [[spoiler:Turns out she's also in the [=Re=]LIFE program and is having the same problems after realizing she might have fallen for ''him''.]]
58* ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'' went through this so long, it almost got annoying. Kaoru was too shy to tell Kenshin how she felt, and Kenshin wasn't sure if he deserved someone like her, especially since [[spoiler:he accidentally killed his first wife Tomoe]].
59* ''Anime/SailorMoon'' has ShyBlueHairedGirl Mizuno Ami meet a similarly shy genius named Ryo Urawa (who also had PsychicPowers). Only the intervention of her friends (and her saving him from his [[EnemyWithin inner great monster]]) gets them on a date in one episode.
60* ''Manga/ShesMyKnight'': Ichinose is a {{Tsundere}} who can't admit to Mogami that he likes her, while she seems to be ObliviousToLove even while (possibly unconsciously) being a shameless flirt. However, in Chapter 9 Mogami runs away just as Ichinose is about to confess, implying she's shy about it as well.
61* Junpei Manaka and Aya Toujo in ''Manga/StrawberryOneHundredPercent''. Actually, [[spoiler:this trope is even the main reason why this series DOESN'T end with a FirstGirlWins scenario]].
62* Julia and Ran from ''Manga/StrawberryShakeSweet'': they're both girls and each assumes that the other is straight, so they spend a good chunk of the manga orbiting each other in an increasing spiral of UnresolvedSexualTension.
63* Rito and Haruna in ''Manga/ToLoveRu'' are the very definition of this. Rito tries confessing a few times but is always interrupted. [[spoiler:She takes so long that while Rito still loves her, he also falls in love with Lala, making the situation even more complicated.]]
64* This is one of the main draws of ''Manga/TonariNoKashiwagiSan''. Yuuto and Kotone share several traits that make most of their problems and mistakes come from assumptions based on their insecurities. In something of a twist, Yuuto actually confessed his feelings very early on (literally the same day as his LoveEpiphany), though he's still far too nervous to actually ask her out.
65* ''Manga/TsubasaReservoirChronicle'' plays with this. In the beginning, Syaoran and Sakura already too close but have yet to tell each other their feelings. However, Sakura's amnesia causes the relationship to reboot with Syaoran also distancing himself due to the fact that in order to help to her memories, he pays with all of her memories that include him. However, across the series, the two start feeling attracted once again [[spoiler:until the two nearly die and confess their feelings.]]
66* In ''Manga/YonaOfTheDawn'', Yona and Hak eventually become this once their feelings are mutual. For her, it's a simple case of them [[ChildhoodFriends being long-time friends]] and she's worried he doesn't feel the same and might even be ''creeped out'' by her feelings. It's a lot more complicated on his side of things, as he has ''always'' liked her, while she always liked their mutual friend Su-won. After Yona and Su-won's romantic future is destroyed by [[spoiler:[[LoveInterestTraitor Su-won killing her father]]]], he does try to pursue her for a while before Yona [[ObliviousToLove unknowingly rejected him]]. After a few more instances of misinterpreting her affections for him, he eventually seems to give up completely and absolutely refuses to admit how he feels for a long time. [[spoiler: Ironically, it's him who grows so irritated with the misunderstandings between them that he blurts out a sudden LoveConfession.]]
67* ''[[Manga/YoureUnderArrest You're Under Arrest!]]'': Miyuki and Nakajima are in love with each other. [[EveryoneCanSeeIt Everyone at Bokutou Precinct knows it.]] It's even implied that they're both aware of how the other feels, but they can barely look at each other without blushing, or getting cold feet. Their friends have even [[TheMatchmaker set them up on dates, to give 'em a push]], [[StatusQuoIsGod but without success.]] Making the situation as frustrating for them, as it is for the audience.
68[[/folder]]
69
70[[folder:Comic Books]]
71* ''ComicBook/CloakAndDagger'': Ty's too shy to ever think a girl like Tandy would be interested in him. Tandy thinks Ty only loves her as a friend. Cue the UST...
72* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'': In the early stories, Peter Parker tended to assume that his love interests simply couldn't be interested in a dweeby little science nerd. Once he hit off with Gwen Stacy, though, the rest was history.
73** As an example, many years later Liz Allen, the LovableAlphaBitch of his teenage years, had to outright tell him that she developed a crush on him after getting to know him, but he never seemed to notice or respond to her flirtation.
74** Probably the most notable example though was Peter and [[Characters/MarvelComicsMaryJaneWatson Mary Jane Watson]], his eventual wife, who spent ''years'' harbouring feelings for him while he assumed she wasn't seriously interested in anything more than a casual thing, which made him go back and forth between being seriously interested himself to deciding to move on with Gwen Stacy, to falling back in love when MJ stayed by him to grieve for Gwen. ''Parallel Lives'' illustrated how deep this went, as MJ was crushing on Peter since before they even met.
75* ''ComicBook/XMen'': In the early stories (i.e. the original team of Cyclops, Iceman, Beast, Angel and Marvel Girl), Scott and Jean were this. As [[SmurfettePrinciple the only girl on the team]], Jean was also the object of Angel and Iceman's romantic interests (though Iceman's feeling were closer to a PrecociousCrush), but she was most interested in the quiet and stoic Scott. Her problem was not knowing how to actually approach him, since he was generally aloof. Scott for his part had major emotional issues (among other things he had self-esteem problems, and later stories showed he had major issue with abandonment due to the loss of his parents and younger brother as a child), leading to the aloof attitude that made it so hard for Jean to approach him. He also didn't think he had a shot, since he was aware that Angel (aka Warren Worthington the 3rd, a rich, good-looking, friendly, out-going guy) also had feelings for her.
76[[/folder]]
77
78[[folder:Comic Strips]]
79* In a ''ComicStrip/FoxTrot'' arc, Paige and a boy in her class were in this situation, but overcame it and went to a school dance together. After this arc, [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome the boy disappeared]] and Paige went back to her usual state of being unable to get a date.
80[[/folder]]
81
82[[folder:Fan Works]]
83* Naruto and Hinata in ''Fanfic/EscapeFromTheHokagesHat''. Hinata's a ShrinkingViolet with low self-esteem who still thinks he holds a torch for Sakura. Naruto doesn't want to jeopardize one of the only healthy female relationships he has and is afraid to be rejected. It takes a FreudianSlip to actually help them.
84-->'''Naruto:''' If I was to ever date a girl, I hope she's as cute as you are. ''[beat; OhCrap face then {{facepalm}}]''\
85'''Hinata:''' W-w-w-well. I..I..I wouldn't mind.\
86'''Naruto:''' R-R-Really?\
87'''Hinata:''' Y-y-yes.
88* In ''Fanfic/AGrowingAffection'', this is the reason Yahiko's OperationJealousy fails; Nagato and Konan are both afraid to alienate him, due to their respective pasts.
89* In ''Fanfic/TomorrowsDoom'', it's quite obvious that Amaya and Tadao like each other, but neither wants to admit their feelings to the other. Aiko finally decides that enough is enough and nudges the pair toward each other during the festival.
90* ''Fanfic/TheStalkingZukoSeries'', it becomes obvious to [[EveryoneCanSeeIt everyone]] that Katara and Zuko both like each other due to their history and self-esteem issues, they think they are not good enough for each other or are in love with someone else.
91* Lance and Gwen's relationship in ''Fanfic/TheStudentPrince''. Neither can work up the courage to ask the other out for a long time, both of them thinking the other is out of their league.
92* Hachiman and Yukino have a slight variation of this from ''Fanfic/TheEndOfTheAffair''. While neither is really shy in the conventional sense, they both refused to ever admit their feelings for each other due to their [[SillyRabbitRomanceIsForKids similar philosophies]] towards life.
93* ''Fanfic/WeissReacts'': Ruby and Weiss. It takes Ruby making the first move, caught up in the surge of victory after winning the music festival, for her to confess to Weiss, and for Weiss to [[TheBigDamnKiss respond in kind]].
94* ''Fanfic/LucinaReacts'': Lucina and Robin. It's immediately clear both have massive crushes on the other, but are too shy to express it. [[spoiler: It takes, of all people, [[NiceGirl Cordelia]], ''Chrom'', [[{{Tsundere}} Maribelle]] and Robin's sort-of sister [[{{Troll}} Reflet]] working together in tandem to get them to confess to each other, and even then Cordelia is forced to fall back on her second plan when her first plan backfires.]]
95* Cullen and Victoria, in ''[[Fanfic/TwiceUponAnAge All This Sh*t is Twice as Weird]]'', are the only people in Haven who don't realize that their attraction is mutual. It provides a continual source of amusement to the rest of the [[VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition Inquisition]], particularly [[BigBrotherInstinct Mahanon]] and [[TheMatchmaker Varric]]. They do get better about it after the move to Skyhold.
96* A platonic/familiar variation occurs in ''[[https://www.tthfanfic.org/Story-32155/bakenandeggs+Influenced+Out+of+Normality.htm Influenced Out of Normality]]'' when [[Comicbook/IronMan Tony Stark]] learns that [[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Xander Harris]] is his son. Both want to spend more time with each other but for weeks are worried the other doesn't want him in his life. A month after learning the truth about his father, Xander finally calls Tony and after that, they spend as much time as possible together.
97* {{Recurring Character}}s A.J and Jeanette Fisher in ''Fanfic/PokemonResetBloodlines'' quickly develop an attraction to each other, however, they keep it to themselves, deciding to take things slow. [[spoiler: With a little help from [[ShipperOnDeck their parents and their Pokémon]], they get a RelationshipUpgrade during the second [[ChristmasEpisode Holiday Special]].]]
98* ''Fanfic/TheFlowerPrincessAndTheAlchemist'': Some of [[UnresolvedSexualTension Edward and Orihime's]] [[WillTheyOrWontThey romantic interactions come off as this]]. Ed's dorkiness and Orihime's ShrinkingViolet tendencies could be downright cutesy and endearing at times. Unfortunately, it prevents them from establishing a relationship when they constantly dance around each other. That, [[InsecureLoveInterest and]] [[HopelessSuitor other]] [[LoveTriangle factors]]...
99* Mion from ''Fanfic/SurprisingButterflies'' is fine with being touchy around Rena, but she gets easily embarrassed about Keiichi. Keiichi is the same way towards her.
100* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12143328/1/Starry-Night-Love Starry Night Love]]'', VideoGame/{{Shantae}} and Bolo are both crushing on each other, but both are keeping it to themselves [[IDontWantToRuinOurFriendship out of fear of ruining their friendship]], as well as believing they aren't good enough for the other. It takes an accidental confession on Bolo's part for both to realize the truth.
101* In ''Fanfic/VoyagesOfTheWildSeahorse'', Harumi the WholesomeCrossdresser swordsman has a very blatant crush on Miriam the [[SharkMan tiger shark]] [[NonHumanHumanoidHybrid wotan]] since his introduction, but is too shy to be very aggressive in flirting with her. In chapter 18, Ranma, who picked up on the crush on the previous chapter, finally reveals it to Miriam that Harumi is interested in her, which catches her completely off-guard, as [[ICantBelieveAGuyLikeYouWouldNoticeMe she had presumed that Harumi was out of her league]]. During the BlackTieInfiltration, Harumi finally works up the courage to ask Miriam to a dance, and whilst he nearly walks away heartbroken after mistaking her surprise for rejection, they end up having a lovely time and deciding they want to give dating a shot. Harumi even notes to himself in the next chapter that part of the reason he's so insecure about asking Miriam out is because the ''last'' time he expressed interest in a girl, her sisters beat him senseless.
102[[/folder]]
103
104[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
105* {{Implied}} in ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1989'' during [[WickedWitch Ursula]]'s VillainSong. She describes (complete with magical illusions) a mermaid/merman pair who hooked up after [[IJustWantToBeBeautiful she made each one more attractive]]. ("''This one longing to be thinner/That one wants to get the girl...''") It's possible to read this as the pair already liking each other, but each assuming they needed a DealWithTheDevil before the other would reciprocate.
106[[/folder]]
107
108[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
109* ''Film/TheDish'': Glenn and Janine have this in spades. Drives others mental.
110-->'''Cliff:''' He asked her out yet?\
111'''Mitch:''' No. ''[{{beat}}]'' Oh, this is painful.
112* In ''Film/WhereIsTheNophelet'', Pavel constantly sees the same beautiful girl on the bus he takes regularly but is too shy to talk to her. In the end, when he does muster the courage to do it, the girl confesses she was also waiting for him to make the move, since she was too shy to talk to him first.
113[[/folder]]
114
115[[folder:Literature]]
116* Magrat Garlick and [[spoiler:King Verence II]] in ''Literature/{{Discworld}}''. Not only did he stick around, they got married.
117* ''Literature/TheRemainsOfTheDay'' deconstructs this painfully.
118* In ''Invisible Stanley'', one of the sequels to ''Flat Stanley'', Stanley helps a shy couple get married by creeping up invisibly behind the man, imitating his voice, and proposing to his girlfriend.
119* ''Literature/OldKingdom'': Nick and Lirael had the subtlest of hints towards a mutual infatuation in ''Abhorsen'', which were complicated by his death. [[spoiler:Luckily he got better, or else Creator/GarthNix wouldn't have been able to ''confirm'' their infatuation in the short story "Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case".]]
120* Piro and Ibronka in ''Literature/TheViscountOfAdrilankha''.
121-->'''Ibronka:''' My dear Viscount, come over here and kiss me before I die of embarrassment.
122* Creator/JaneAusten sometimes likes this trope.
123** Edward Ferrars and Elinor Dashwood in ''Literature/SenseAndSensibility''. Both are calm people who do not crush easily and hide their feelings. ProperLady Elinor is aware that she must not appear too eager, especially when his family strongly disapproves of the match. Moreover, Edward is the MasterOfTheMixedMessage and involved with somebody else.
124** BetaCouple Jane Bennet and Mr. Bingley in ''Literature/PrideAndPrejudice''. Jane is usually sweet but composed, so it's obvious only to her family and close friends that she likes Mr. Bingley. Mr. Bingley (correctly) thinks she likes him but is easily persuaded by his friends that she's indifferent, due to her AllLovingHero personality. Had there been no meddling, those two would have gotten engaged after the Netherfield ball in the first third of the book.
125* ''Literature/ToLive'' has Fengxia and Erxi...and they are both absolutely adorable, [[RedChina especially considering the setting of the novel]].
126* ''Literature/ThePrincessDiaries'': Michael and Mia have to resort to sending anonymous love letters and replying via a computer program in order to get their feelings out in the open.
127* In ''Literature/TheCourtsOfTheMorning'', Barbara admits to a friend that she loves Sandy but believes she doesn't have a chance with him, and Sandy admits to another friend that he loves Barbara but believes he doesn't have a chance with her. The novel ends just as the latter friend nudges the two of them together. In the sequel, they're married.
128* ''Literature/EleanorAndPark'' begin like this, developing their romance just by sitting next to each other on the bus, not even speaking.
129* The ''Literature/ApprenticeAdept'' book, "Robot Adept": Agape ([[FreakyFridayFlip in the body of Fleta the Unicorn]]) is approached separately by Trool, the Red Adept and the vampiress Suchevane. Trool (a literal troll) confesses he's head over heels in love with Suchevane but fears Suchevane would never come to him, except out of fear or pity, and doesn't want to press the issue himself, not wanting Suchevane to think he's leaning on her. Suchevane, on the other hand, fell in love with Trool, the first man who's ever treated her as a person, rather than [[SoBeautifulItsACurse unapproachably beautiful or a concubine]]. Agape suggests Suchevane tell Trool her feelings, then offer her companionship to ease their mutual loneliness, until such time as he finds a more suitable mate. Agape assures her he won't look any further. (He doesn't.)
130* Subverted in the ''Literature/DoctorWhoNovelisations'' adaptation of "The Day of the Doctor". In her narration, Osgood keeps making {{Suspiciously Specific Denial}}s that she sees [=McGillop=] as anything other than a work colleague, while at the same time assuming that his complimenting her intelligence is probably sarcastic in some way she hasn't worked out. Then she's given a snippet of his memory and learns that he thinks of her as a princess (and keeps looking at her bottom). Her reaction to this is to get over her crush because he hasn't seen her for who she really is at all.
131* In ''Literature/{{Twilight}},'' Angela and Ben are supposed to be like this, made apparent in ''Midnight Sun.'' Both were nervous about approaching the other because of [[TinyGuyHugeGirl their height difference]], which Edward finds ridiculous. To repay Angela for being nice to Bella, Edward pretends like he's going to ask Angela to prom, forcing Ben to do so first.
132* In ''Literature/TheWitchlands'', Vivia and Stix are both attracted to each other and even share a small kiss at the end of the second book. Afterwards, however, Vivia's duties force her to act queenly, which makes Stix think Viv doesn't want to pursue a relationship, so she starts acting professional as well. This, in turn, makes Vivia think Stix would rather not continue what the kiss started, leading to a situation where they both want to be a couple while thinking the other one doesn't.
133* [[ActionGirl Vin]] and [[TheFace Elend]] have this relationship in ''Well of Ascension'', the second ''Literature/{{Mistborn}}'' book. Vin is a street urchin turned assassin who loves Elend for his earnestness and willingness to do the right thing in the face of terrible consequences, and worries that she's not good enough for him because she's stronger than him, not traditionally feminine, and killed lots of people. Elend is a nobleman NonActionGuy who loves Vin for her dedication and willingness to see the best in him, and worries that he's not good enough for her because he can't fight when she killed his god. There's a funny scene where Vin vents her worries to her friend Sazed, who gives her advice, and almost immediately after she leaves, Elend comes in asking the same questions.
134* Literally the title of ''Literature/TwiceShy'', in which two people with social anxiety are forced to live with each other as roommates, falling for each other.
135[[/folder]]
136
137[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
138* Mavis Riley and Derek Wilton from ''Series/CoronationStreet'' were both incredibly shy and dithering, and this made their repeated attempts at a relationship very difficult.
139* In ''Series/{{Smallville}}'', Clark and Lana, and Chloe usually does the prodding when she is not head-over-heels for Clark herself. Lana on the other hand is not so happy about Clark and Chloe getting together.
140* Cliff and a costume party guest in ''Series/{{Cheers}}''. He's terrified at the thought of meeting her out of his costume, but he gathers up his courage and gets dressed up to see her again at the bar...and she doesn't show. She doesn't show because she was terrified to meet him without her costume. At the end, after she makes it back to the bar, they have to be literally pushed together to overcome their fear.
141* Manny and Roweena in ''Series/BlackBooks''. It takes Bernard bellowing "Offer her something, you fool!" at him to get Manny to make any headway with her.
142* Jeff and Julia in ''Series/{{Coupling}}''. (A rare example where the new character actually stuck around, as opposed to mysteriously vanishing by the next episode.)
143* Kaylee and Simon in ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' have this. In Kaylee's case, it's less that she's shy (she isn't - hell, she got her job on the ship thanks to a one-night stand with the previous mechanic), and more that she feels inferior around [[CityMouse Simon]].
144* In the third season of ''Series/TheOfficeUS'', Jim and Pam struggle with their feelings for each other, made more complicated by Jim's confession of love to her at the end of season two. In the ChristmasEpisode, both are saddened when they each see the other exchanging gifts with their respective significant others. Their attraction to each other eventually causes Jim's relationship with Karen to fall apart, and in the season finale he finally asks out Pam, who accepts.
145%%* Alice and Hugo on ''Series/TheVicarOfDibley''.
146* ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'':
147** The page quote is from season 1, where Robin was pining over Ted who had been pining over Robin, [[UnrequitedLoveSwitcheroo but had just gotten over it]] and moved on.
148** Barney and Robin in the fourth season. Funny when you consider how much of a HandsomeLech Barney is. It seems like that old stuff: quick flings are one thing, but getting into a steady relationship is something completely different.
149* One episode of ''Series/SabrinaTheTeenageWitch'' had Valerie be too shy to ask out a guy. Sabrina decides to intervene by calling Cupid and asking him to make the guy in love with Valerie, but Cupid responds it would be a waste of an arrow because it's already clear that they both like each other.
150%%* [[CombatMedic Julian Bashir]] and [[TheNthDoctor Ezri Dax]] certainly give off this vibe in [[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS07E24TheDogsOfWar the penultimate episode]] of ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine''.
151* ''Series/OneThousandWaysToDie'': In the segment "Ichi-boned", a Japanese couple are married for several years, but are so repressed that they still haven't consummated their marriage. Eventually, the husband brings home a bottle of plum wine, and after they split it, they finally make love... but their bodies are completely unprepared for [[OutWithABang the strain an orgasm puts on them]], and they [[TogetherInDeath die together of heart failure]]. The narrator resolutely refuses to make fun of them, and in fact ranks the death as #1 on the list of the titular ways to die.
152[[/folder]]
153
154[[folder:Music]]
155%%* "Girl Afraid" by Music/TheSmiths.
156* "[[IHaveThisFriend I've Got This Friend]]" by Music/TheCivilWars, with the obvious implication that the "friend" each singer is talking about is actually themselves, while the other suggests that their "friend" sounds perfect for them.
157* Music/HoneyWorks' "[[Music/ConfessionExecutiveCommitteeLoveSeries Friday's "Good morning"]] and [[PerspectiveFlip Friday's "Good morning -another story-]] tells the story of two students who see each other at the train car on their way to school everyday, and have spent weeks after weeks practicing saying "good morning" for each other, but neither ever worked up the courage to approach the other to say the simple greeting.
158* Music/{{Sugarland}}'s "Want To" has shades of this, with a JustFriends couple teetering on the edge of either a RelationshipUpgrade or IDontWantToRuinOurFriendship, but neither willing to make the next move. The singer assures her friend that either is fine, but she doesn't want to unless he wants to. The song leaves the WillTheyOrWontThey unresolved.
159-->''We could sit on the shore\
160We could just be friends\
161Or we could jump in\
162Whole world could change in a minute\
163Just one kiss could stop this spinning\
164We could think it through\
165But I don't want to, if you don't want to\
166We could keep things just the same\
167Leave here the way we came, with nothing to lose\
168But I don't want to, if you don't want to''
169[[/folder]]
170
171[[folder:Theater]]
172* Creator/AntonChekhov's play ''Theatre/TheCherryOrchard''. SelfMadeMan Yermolai Alekseevich Lopakhin, the buyer of the titular orchard, has a troubled relationship with Varvara aka Varya, the {{Tsundere}} adopted daughter of [[ImpoverishedPatrician its former owner]], Liubov Andreevna Ranyeshkaya. In one of the last scenes, he works up the courage to ask Varya to marry him but ultimately feels too shy and guilty to do so. This scene fits in well with the overall tone of the play --which has all of its characters suffering because of their [[CannotSpitItOut inability to act decisively]].
173* In the musical ''Double Digits'', the duet "Oh, no!" is sung by a popular jock-boy and a quieter girl who is tutoring him in maths. To wit:
174-->'''Boy:''' She's so smart, I'm so dumb.\
175'''Girl:''' He's so cool, I'm so glum.\
176'''Boy:''' Why would ''she''...\
177'''Girl:''' Why would ''he''...\
178'''Together:''' ... have any interest in ''me''?
179* In ''Theatre/HowToDanceInOhio'' Drew and Merideth have feelings for each other but partially due to their both being on the autism spectrum, have difficulty expressing their feelings. Their therapist Dr. Amigo set up the dance at the core of the musical's plot in order to help his clients develop their social skills in order to better cope with this.
180%%* Rose Maybud and Robin Oakapple in Creator/GilbertAndSullivan's ''Theatre/{{Ruddigore}}''.
181* OlderThanSteam: In ''Theatre/MuchAdoAboutNothing'', careful attention to Beatrice's dialogue reveals that, at least on her end, the BelligerentSexualTension between her and Benedick has something to do with this.
182* Seymour and Audrey in ''Theatre/LittleShopOfHorrors''. He is a poor grunt at a failing flower store who is constantly told he is an incompetent loser and thinks Audrey is just the prettiest girl ever, and she is an equally poor girl dating an abusive jerk and is also told constantly that she is dumb and worthless, and just thinks Seymour is the sweetest guy.
183[[/folder]]
184
185[[folder:Video Games]]
186%%* Sora and Kairi from the ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' series. At least in [[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsI the first game]].
187* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'':
188** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'': In a subquest in Windfall Island, you can photograph two people who have this problem. (They share a look.) The quest-giver will then use this photograph to help them along.
189** In ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword Skyward Sword]]'', this is the situation between Pipit and Karane, Link's fellow students at the Knight Academy. When Karane receives a love letter from another student, Cawlin, her public rejection of Cawlin's affections leads to her and Pipit revealing their feelings for each other.
190* A cut ending to ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic 2'' would have a female Exile's relationship with Atton resolved to look like this was going on for almost the entire game.
191* Used as a running joke in ''VideoGame/Mother3'' between a woman and man, both with almost identical dialogue. Their relationship progresses through the game.
192* ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles1'': It's apparent, from the start, that [[ChildhoodFriends Shulk and Fiora]] are in love with each other, yet both are too shy [[RelationshipUpgrade to take the next step.]] It takes [[spoiler:Fiora seemingly dying during the Mechon's attack on Colony 9 and eventually being [[NotQuiteDead revealed to have survived]]]] to give Shulk the push he needed to finally convey his feelings to her.
193-->'''Shulk:''' ''[resolutely]'' [[DeclarationOfProtection I won't let you go, Fiora.]]
194* A running theme in ''VideoGame/ImmortalSouls'' for John, who's too worried about others finding out about his secret life to seriously flirt, and Allison, who worries about whether or not he's doing OK too much to ever get a chance to get beyond that. Though Allison finally eventually perks up enough courage to ask him out for coffee by the end of the first game.
195* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'' has three cases:
196** [[ShrinkingViolet Olivia]] can potentially have this going with [[MasterSwordsman Lon'qu.]] Specially bad because Lon'qu CannotTalkToWomen in general [[spoiler: for his DarkAndTroubledPast, in which his FirstLove Ke'ri was murdered before his eyes]] (though it seems [[LockedOutOfTheLoop Olivia never learns this little detail]]). Whether they properly develop a romantic relationship or not, it depends on the player.
197** Olivia and [[LonelyRichKid Prince Chrom]] as well if the player manages to get their supports. ([[GuideDangIt Easier said than done]]). This is played differently: Olivia starts out scared of Chrom [[UptownGirl due to his status as the Prince of Ylisse]], Chrom tries to approach her but only manages to scare her off due to his NoSocialSkills, and their support chain is laced with awkwardness until the end. Again, whether they fall in love or not depends on the player.
198** [[spoiler: Lucina]] and a male Avatar have this going on in their S rank support. Their circumstances are just so weird that, through their supports as a whole, the Avatar actively tries ''not'' to fall in love with her, but if the supports are completed he does anyway. And who could blame him considering she's [[spoiler: his best friend Chrom's daughter from the {{bad future}}?]] If the Avatar comes clean to her in the S-Support, she's able to admit her own feelings as well.
199* In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'', it turns out that [[spoiler: Ryoma and Elise]] can fall into this if they reach S-Support, since during said support [[spoiler: Ryoma]] is under the mistaken impression that [[spoiler: Elise]] likes another guy rather than him...
200** [[spoiler: Prince Forrest]] and [[spoiler: Nina]] can also have this going on, especially since she's a {{Socially Awkward Hero}}ine who puts her foot in her mouth once in a while regarding him in their supports.
201* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'', if neither are romanced, it is all but outright stated that Blackwall and Josephine are secretly attracted to one another but both are too insecure and shy respectively to openly make any move. The differences in their social standings (he's a Grey Warden and she's a member of the Antivan nobility) only make it more impossible, and they content themselves with gestures of CourtlyLove.
202* In ''VideoGame/UntilDawn'', Chris and Ashley.
203* In the ''VideoGame/ShovelKnight'' DLC story, ''Plague of Shadows'', Plague Knight's ultimate goal is to brew the Ultimate Potion, which everyone assumes is for some evil purpose. This is shown to be wrong, as Plague Knight's true goal is to use the potion in order to become strong enough so that Mona will like him. However, as it turned out, Mona liked him the whole time but never confessed until Plague Knight had already finished. After defeating the monster that spawned from it, he decides he doesn't need the potion anymore and leaves with Mona.
204* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'': Cloud has always had a crush on Tifa since childhood, but he was too shy to even get close with her. When the two reunite in Midgar years later, it is made apparent that his feelings are reciprocated, but Tifa, seeing Cloud now being a wreck of a man who sprouts some nonsense memories of being a SOLDIER, is scared off from confessing it, fearing it will send him over the edge. As a result, the two spend most of the game refraining from acting on their feelings for each other, and it takes Cloud being sent to an AngstComa for Tifa to finally make the move.
205[[/folder]]
206
207[[folder:Visual Novels]]
208* Bram and Henrietta in ''VisualNovel/ShikkokuNoSharnoth''. After a conversation with Mary, Henrietta decides to make her feelings clear. [[spoiler:Too bad Bram dies pretty much immediately after she calls to meet up with him.]]
209* ''VideoGame/GalaxyAngel'': Throughout Moonlit Lovers and Eternal Lovers, this is how Tact's relationship with [[SixthRanger Chitose]] develops. [[EveryoneCanSeeIt Pretty much everyone in the Elsior can tell their obvious attraction]], but the two of them are too nervous to take the step, until almost the end of Eternal Lovers when they're finally able to confess to each other.
210[[/folder]]
211
212[[folder:Webcomics]]
213* Varied because were they already together, but fell apart then in [[https://web.archive.org/web/20160522113427/http://the-qlc.com/loserz/go/433 this strip]] of ''Webcomic/{{Loserz}}''.
214* Emily and Matt in ''Webcomic/TheSenkari''.
215* Elan and Haley from ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' are this for a while, which can be best seen in their WillTheyOrWontThey plot near the beginning of the Azure City arc. Due to character personalities, it's played out as Elan being ObliviousToLove and Haley deliberately refusing to ask Elan out because she is taught to mistrust people. But as seen in [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0223.html this strip]] they are both attracted to each other for a very long time.
216* Elliot and [[spoiler: Susan]] from ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'' have gradually developed into this situation. The former [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-12-13 fails at perversion]] and needs to work on his introspection and guilt issues. The latter is a BrokenBird with a DarkAndTroubledPast and wants to avoid causing a YokoOhNo situation. They're [[ObliviousToLove completely unaware]] that the other is attracted to them. Meanwhile, ''everyone else'' [[EveryoneCanSeeIt has either figured it out]] or at least [[ShipperOnDeck has some inkling of it.]]
217* Mark and Sarah in ''Webcomic/{{Weregeek}}'' have had a silent mutual attraction since the early days of the strip, but Mark being in a committed relationship kept them apart. Even after [[spoiler:Jess dumps Mark]], the situation is still awkward [[spoiler:because Jess blames Sarah for the breakup, due to a misunderstanding, and Sarah still feels guilty about it.]] They both eventually find themselves in new relationships, but there have still been several longing glances from both of them behind each other's backs...
218* There seem to be quite a few cases of this in ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'', most notably in Paris, which - in keeping with its title as the City of Love - has more romantic subplots than most of the series. Zeetha eventually [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20160111 gets a bit fed up with it.]]
219-->'''Zeetha:''' ''Everybody'' in Paris can't be like this. I mean, I've seen ''kids.''
220* Jordan Noel and Susan Summers from ''Webcomic/{{Forestdale}}'' have a mutual crush on each other but neither of them have the courage to spit it out despite the attraction being obvious to everyone other than themselves.
221[[/folder]]
222
223[[folder:Western Animation]]
224* The ''Toys/EverAfterHigh'' characters Alistair and Bunny both believe that the other is friendzoning them. How they came to this conclusion is never explained.
225* On ''WesternAnimation/GoofTroop'', PJ developed a crush on a girl in his class, Rose Deckenbloom, after she recited a poem ''about'' being a ShrinkingViolet, to which he could relate and thought was beautiful while everyone else in the class hated it. Then he spends much of the episode following everybody's ''bad'' advice about how to get her to like him. He tries to give her a present, but is too shy, so he asks Max to do it for him, which he does. Rose mistakenly thinks Max likes her and is delighted, but once they are at the dance she and PJ start to hit it off at the punch bowl... until Pete comes in and "helps" [[PetTheDog (he was trying this time, honest!)]] which causes Rose to run away in tears, thinking PJ doesn't like her. He then recites the opening lines of her poem and confesses to all the things he tried, she says she likes his true self more, and then this happens:
226-->'''PJ:''' I don't suppose you wanna... sorta dance?\
227'''Rose:''' Umm... okay...
228* This pops up in ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'' on the few occasions that [[Characters/MiraculousLadybugAdrienAgreste Adrien Agreste]] and [[Characters/MiraculousLadybugMarinetteDupainCheng Ladybug]] are shown to interact. Since the series' [[TwoPersonLoveTriangle Love Square]] consists of Marinette (aka Ladybug) crushing on the oblivious Adrien while Chat Noir (aka Adrien) carries a torch for Ladybug, this particular combination of personas leaves both a blushing mess.
229* In ''WesternAnimation/MyAdventuresWithSuperman'', Lois and Clark quickly develop feelings for each other after they first meet, but neither one of them has the courage to make the first move, leading to a lot of blushing and awkward stammering between the two.
230* ''Franchise/MyLittlePony'':
231** Bright Eyes and Lancer in ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyTales'' until their friends' failed makeover attempts forced them to come clean and admit their feelings for each other in a BeYourself moment.
232** ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': In "Hearthbreakers", Pinkie Pie introduces Marble Pie (her younger sister) to the Apple Family. It's obvious by the painfully little dialogue and subtle gestures of affection between Marble and Big Macintosh that the two have feelings for each other. [[ShipperOnDeck Pinkie Pie]] ends up speaking for both of them at the party at the end of the episode. Unfortunately, fast forward a few seasons, and Big Mac gets an official fillyfriend named Sugar Belle, and even brings her with the group to the farm for "The Best Gift Ever", and a shot features Big Mac and Sugar Belle nuzzling each other quite happily, with Marble in the background cringing at the sight of it.
233* In ''WesternAnimation/OverTheGardenWall,'' [[SociallyAwkwardHero Wirt]] alludes to some kind of romantic trouble with a girl named Sara, complicated by another guy who is [[TheAce far too perfect]] for him to compete against. However, in the WholeEpisodeFlashback when we see these events, it's pretty clear to the viewer that Sara also likes Wirt, even if she isn't as [[SociallyAwkwardHero ridiculously awkward]] about it, and that she doesn't return Jason Funderberker's interest in her.
234* In the episode "Escaping Expulsion" of ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'', while [[Characters/TheOwlHouseAmityBlight Amity Blight]] had developed a crush on her much earlier on in the series, [[Characters/TheOwlHouseLuzNoceda Luz Noceda]] had only just discovered her own feelings for Amity, and the two share a very telling moment with this trope during their BackToBackBadasses pose and in a few follow up episodes. However, since neither are capable of doing more than [[CrushBlush blushing]] and [[GibberishOfLove stammering incoherently]] around each other, it takes quite awhile for any momentum to occur on a potential RelationshipUpgrade. [[spoiler: It takes [[ShipperOnDeck Hooty's intervention]] in "Knock, Knock, Knockin' on Hooty's Door" for them to finally have a mutual LoveConfession (hilariously, Amity impulsively interrupts Luz's attempt to ask her out to ask first), and they remain a couple for the rest of the series.]]
235* {{Fanon}} in ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' uses this to explain why Phineas and Isabella aren't together yet. While Isabella has very clear attractions to him, she has yet to actually confess her feelings to him. Phineas, on the other hand, [[ObliviousToLove is so ambiguous towards her it rivals sadism.]]
236** The movie adds fuel to this fire. [[spoiler:She kisses him just before they're going to have their memories wiped. He is surprised but does not seem displeased, and tries to say or do ''something'' before the procedure kicks in.]]
237*** Again in "Act Your Age". [[spoiler: Phineas developed feelings for Isabella in high school but was convinced he was in the "friend zone" and Isabella had given up on him ever recognizing her feelings so neither of them said or did anything. After a [[TearJerker soul-crushing]] duet about [[WhatIf what might have been]], Phineas ends up [[RaceForYourLove chasing after her car]] and they share TheBigDamnKiss.]]
238** [[Characters/PhineasAndFerbCandaceFlynn Candace Flynn]] and Jeremy seem to be a canon example, though for a long time it was hard to tell if Jeremy even liked her back. Season two made it a bit more obvious that he was nervous around her, with the episode "Nerdy Dancing" specifically switching their usual dynamic (''he'' was trying to impress ''her'' rather than the other way around).
239* On ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice,'' ComicBook/{{Superboy}} and [[NaiveNewcomer M'Gann]] can be interpreted as one example of this. WordOfGod suggests that [[FragileSpeedster Wally]] and Artemis are even more so, despite both always acting tough or flirtatious (toward other people) to cover it.
240[[/folder]]
241
242[[folder:Real Life]]
243* The Yaghan language, spoken in Tierra del Fuego, is able to express this in one word. [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamihlapinatapai Mamihlapinatapai.]] "Two people are both at a loss as to what to do about the other."
244* Creator/ErrolFlynn and Creator/OliviaDeHavilland, [[ThoseTwoActors who were often cast together]], both had crushes on each other but sadly didn't act on them before his death.
245* Creator/IanMcKellen and Creator/DerekJacobi were classmates in their youth and each had a crush on the other. They would not admit this until many years later.
246* Creator/RobinWright and Creator/CaryElwes were smitten with each other while filming ''Film/ThePrincessBride''. Both have wondered wistfully about what might have been if they'd actually entered into a relationship.
247* Trevor Noah, the South African comedian and show host, tells in his autobiography how he was best friends with his crush for 3 years and how he wanted to ask her out for matric dance (South Africa's equivalent to prom), only to find out that she a) had moved away during summer break, b) to America, and c) had reciprocated his crush the whole time.
248[[/folder]]

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