History HoldingHands / AnimeAndManga

** The second movie has several scenes that focused on Nanoha and Fate holding hands that reflected Fate's confidence [[CloningBlues as a person]]. At first, Fate was only able to offer her hand to Nanoha, but in the end she's able to reach out and take Nanoha's hand on her own.

* In ''Manga/AhAndMmAreAllSheSays'', Tanaka holds Toda's hand when they're on a rollercoaster both are afraid of, breaking Toda out of her flashback.

* Guts and Casca from ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'' joke about holding hands and actually ''do'' hold hands once their relationship is affirmed.
* Happens a lot in ''Literature/BeyondTheBoundary'' with [[OfficialCouple Akihito and Mirai]]. In fact, their interactions as a couple generally consist of either holding hands...or [[CryIntoChest Mirai crying into Akihito's chest]]. Surprisingly it still works given their [[DarkAndTroubledPast backstories]] and how their relationship evolves. And by the time the finale movie rolls around, holding hands is more significant and symbolic for these two that [[spoiler:they opt to do this rather than kiss during the moment they finally get together]].
* The very last image in ''Manga/BitterVirgin'' has Daisuke and Hinako doing this, immediately after both had silently admitted to themselves that they didn't expect their relationship to last and wanted the other to find someone who'd be a "''better fit''" for them. The scene enhances the final question of whether their relationship really is doomed as everyone thinks or not.
* In a ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' cover page, Rukia and Orihime are shown doing this. [[LesYay NAKED]].
* Pazu and Sheeta in ''Anime/CastleInTheSky'' hold hands frequently.
* A TearJerker example happens in ''Manga/DGrayMan'' where For arranges Bak's deceased parents [[spoiler:after they were killed by Alma]] so that they were leaning against each other and holding hands.
* Renton and Eureka do this in ''Anime/EurekaSeven''. Literally. A LOT.
** You can say that it starts when [[spoiler:Renton saves Eureka from falling while they were in the sea of rainbow clouds after he leaves Ray and Charles and Eureka starts looking for him]], though that may count as a TakeMyHand moment as well.
* In ''Manga/FlyMeToTheMoon'', the two leads start their marriage with "all-you-can-grab" handholding.
* About a third of the way through ''Manga/FruitsBasket'', on the way back from an errand, Kagura wants Kyo to hold hands with her. After causing a scene when refusing, he agrees just to get her to be quiet.
* Subverted in ''Manga/FullMetalAlchemist'''s anime. Mustang and Hawkeye are standing side by side at Hughes's grave, and the camera is placed behind them suggestively, but the hand-hold never happens.
* HoldingHands is part of the ShipTease between Hana and Chikahito in ''Manga/{{Gate 7}}''. Every character ([[BigBrotherInstinct aside from Tachibana]]) that look at them holding hands comment how cute and close they are and Chikahito responds with HighPressureEmotion.
* In ''Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya'', at the end of ''The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya'', Kyon holds [[spoiler:Nagato]]'s hand when promising to defend her against the Data Integration Thought Entity.
* In the anime/manga version of ''Literature/TheHeroicLegendOfArslan'':

* Chapter 16 of ''Manga/IThinkOurSonIsGay'' is about this. Hiroki notices some of his classmates doing this as he's shopping with Tomoko. Tomoko asks if he would do that with his crush, and Hiroki, who is gay and closeted, sounds extremely relucant, only considering that if it can be done when in private. Tomoko tells Hiroki that the latter was how she and Akiyoshi did when they were dating since he was easily embarassed, and makes a mental note of [[OpenMindedParent making him more comfortable with his sexuality]].
* In ''Manga/JunjouRomantica'' the couples are shown holding hands along with IntertwinedFingers in the opening sequence. It's rarer in the manga or anime, highlighting the seeming reluctance of some of the characters to pair up.
* This is the central event of an important scene in the first chapter of ''Manga/KaijuGirlCaramelise''. Kuroe Akaishi is a high school girl who undergoes InvoluntaryShapeshifting of parts of her body as a result of strong emotions, so she becomes an antisocial loner to avoid any incidents. When her popular and handsome classmate Arata Minami ropes her into going on a kinda-sorta date with him, a GirlPosse from their school catches sight of them walking together and audibly protest such an "ugly chick" being with the school heartthrob. Arata defiantly holds Kuroe's hand in response; Kuroe is so overwhelmed by this gesture that her emotions get the better of her and she fully transforms into a {{Kaiju}} for the first time.
* In ''Literature/{{Katanagatari}}'', Togame and Shichika finally do this in Episode 11 against the sunset to the {{Squee}} of many. [[spoiler:It makes what happens right afterwards more heartwrenching]].
* Aoki and Rin from ''Kodomo no Jikan'' occasionally do this. Most likely a romantic version.
* Used twice as a plot point in ''Manga/DrugAndDrop''. In the first instance, Rikuo has to hold Kazahaya's hand while they watch a movie together, because Kazahaya is too sick to get the information they need from it unless [[TheEmpath he channels Rikuo's vision]]. Kazahaya isn't exactly thrilled about all the HoYay implications.
** Later, the two of them have to search for a vase in a pitch-dark shrine. When they discover that it's BiggerOnTheInside, they decide to hold hands to keep from getting separated. It isn't until they realize that not only does [[spoiler:the other apparently smell like flowers, but that the hand they're holding is too small to belong to a teenage boy, that they discover that the spirit of the vase has been leading them around in the darkness all this time, just for giggles]].

* In the climax of ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'' this was one of the first steps taken by Nanoha and Fate to show their then budding relationship, with Nanoha holding Fate by her hand and Fate responding by grasping Nanoha's between both of hers. It's also worth pointing out that Fate normally has [[HatesBeingTouched an aversion to physical contact]] due to her [[AbusiveParents experience with Precia]], making this an extreme act of trust on her part.

** The second movie had several scenes that focused on Nanoha and Fate holding hands that reflected Fate's confidence [[CloningBlues as a person]]. At first, Fate was only able to offer her hand to Nanoha, but in the end she's able to reach out and take Nanoha's hand on her own.
* Miharu and Yoite from ''Manga/NabariNoOu'' do this when running away from Kairoushuu. Yoite later thanks Miharu for "never letting go" of his hand [[spoiler:right before he dies]].

* Haru and Tsurezure from ''Manga/{{Ojojojo}}'' hold hands for the first time in Chapter 20. It should be noted that [[spoiler:they had already been a couple for several weeks at that point]].
* In ''Manga/OnePiece'', Robin meets her mother for the first time and was just so happy to hold her mother's hand despite the entire island of Ohara going up in flames.
--> '''Robin''': I've wanted to do this for a long time.

* Happens from time to time platonically in ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'', but a significant one is in XYZ, where Serena's weakened Eevee holds her hand...not with her paw, but with a Sylveon feeler, signifying her evolution.
* In the RS arc of ''Manga/PokemonAdventures'', Winona allows herself and Wallace to briefly hold hands before they go off for battle, hinting that she might be interested in rekindling their past (failed) relationship.
* Crops up frequently in ''Anime/PrettyCure'', especially between Cures that have dual transformations, and even more so between the original duo, Nagisa and Honoka, who power up their finisher by squeezing each other's hands harder.
* In a memorable ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'' story epilogue, [[BelligerentSexualTension Ranma and Akane]] are walking home together after a dangerous (and relationship-defining) adventure in the forest of Ryugenzawa. [[CannotSpitItOut Desperately trying to convey his affection for her]], but [[NoSocialSkills completely at a loss]] as to ''how'', he reaches back awkwardly and hesitantly. Akane notices, and takes his hand -- in the animated version, this disarms him completely, whereas in the manga this makes him even ''more'' nervous than ever before.

* The group variation is done towards the end of ''Anime/{{Simoun}}'' where the survivors of [[TheSquad Chor Tempest]] hold hands as they walk together into [[spoiler:the Spring for their final gender assignment]]. This is in particular contrast to [[spoiler:the original Chor Tempest members' visit to the Spring at the beginning of the series: they go in separately and alone, and the whole ordeal is a ''lot'' more traumatic for each of them]].
* Haku and Chihiro from ''Anime/SpiritedAway'' first held hands after Chihiro helped Haku remember his name. Also justified since they were free falling from the sky and Haku was able to fly. After this they continue to hold hands whenever they're in touching distance of each other.
* In ''Anime/SummerWars'', Kenji holds Natsuki's hand to comfort her [[spoiler:after her great-grandmother's death]], complete with IntertwinedFingers.
* In ''Literature/SwordArtOnline'', when trapped inside the nest of an ice dragon, Lisbeth ask Kirito to hold her hand before falling asleep. She then comments how warm it is, even though they're nothing but data inside a virtual world. After their adventure, Lisbeth confides to Kirito that she has been looking for something real in that world, and she found it in the warmth of his hands.
* In ''Anime/{{Tamagotchi}}! Yume Kira Dream'' episode 3, Himespetchi sees Mametchi holding Yumemitchi when she almost trips, notices they're holding hands, mistakenly assumes they're doing so because they're in love with each other, and faints from seeing it. After she wakes up from fainting, she realizes the two weren't holding hands because they love each other and sighs in relief.

* {{Defied|Trope}} [[PlayedForLaughs For Laughs]] in ''Manga/YuGiOh'' when a magic ritual requires the gang to form a circle and hold hands. Joey and Tristan don't look too comfortable with this and end up just touching fingertips.

* Happens a lot in ''LightNovel/BeyondTheBoundary'' with [[OfficialCouple Akihito and Mirai]]. In fact, their interactions as a couple generally consist of either holding hands...or [[CryIntoChest Mirai crying into Akihito's chest]]. Surprisingly it still works given their [[DarkAndTroubledPast backstories]] and how their relationship evolves. And by the time the finale movie rolls around, holding hands is more significant and symbolic for these two that [[spoiler:they opt to do this rather than kiss during the moment they finally get together]].

* In ''LightNovel/{{Katanagatari}}'', Togame and Shichika finally do this in Episode 11 against the sunset to the {{Squee}} of many. [[spoiler:It makes what happens right afterwards more heartwrenching]].

* ''LightNovel/No6'': Shion and Nezumi hold hands while sitting on the same bed, no less.

* In ''LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya'', at the end of ''The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya'', Kyon holds [[spoiler:Nagato's]] hand when promising to defend her against the Data Integration Thought Entity.

* ''LightNovel/{{No 6}}'': Shion and Nezumi hold hands while sitting on the same bed, no less.

* ''LightNovel/RollOverAndDie'': Happens frequently between Flum and Milkit. It gets to the point they’ll always be holding each other’s hand when they walk next to each other whether it is on a shopping date or entering hostile territory. The first promotional artwork of the manga has Flum and Milkit holding hands as Flum prepares to face against an Spiral Ogre monster.

* In ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'', when trapped inside the nest of an ice dragon, Lisbeth ask Kirito to hold her hand before falling asleep. She then comments how warm it is, even though they're nothing but data inside a virtual world. After their adventure, Lisbeth confides to Kirito that she has been looking for something real in that world, and she found it in the warmth of his hands.

* ''LightNovel/WashioSumiIsAHero'': Washio and Sonoko hold hands while watching fireworks during a summer festival.
* {{Defied}} [[PlayedForLaughs For Laughs]] in ''Manga/YuGiOh'' when a magic ritual requires the gang to form a circle and hold hands. Joey and Tristan don't look too comfortable with this and end up just touching fingertips.

* In episode 7 of ''LightNovel/SpiceAndWolf'', Holo offers Lawrence her hand to hold, but he gets distracted by his trading endeavors and fails to notice. He catches on the third time.
** Even {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d, that it takes him that long to catch on that she wanted to hold his hand. Usually she is quite content to walk about on her own, and so the romantic effect is brought into focus.

** Arslan frequently greets his companions like this, since as when they were all reunited after being separated on the journey to Peshwar and again [[spoiler: he was exiled by his father]], indicating that he sees them as friends rather than servants.

* Crops up frequently in ''Franchise/PrettyCure'', especially between Cures that have dual transformations, and even more so between the original duo, Nagisa and Honoka, who power up their finisher by squeezing each other's hands harder.

* Happens from time to time platonically in ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'', but a significant one is in XYZ, where Serena's weakened Eevee holds her hand...not with her paw, but with a Sylveon feeler, signifying her evolution.

* ''Webcomic/AxisPowersHetalia'' has a moment where a young America and England hold hands, which is a FlashbackWithinAFlashback.

* ''Manga/KatekyoHitmanReborn'': [[HoYay Gokudera and Tsuna]] in one {{Filler}} episode.
* ''Manga/KareKano''. When the girl didn't know how to show her love for the boy, she held his hand during the student council meeting.

* Happens from time to time platonically in ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'', but a significant one is in XYZ, where Sylveon's weakened Eevee holds her hand...not with her paw, but with a Sylveon feeler, signifying her evolution.

* Crops up Frequently in ''Franchise/PrettyCure'', especially between Cures that have dual transformations, and even more so between the original duo, Nagisa and Honoka who power up their finisher by squeezing each other's hands harder.
* In the RS arc of ''Anime/PokemonAdventures'', Winona allows herself and Wallace to briefly hold hands before they go off for battle, hinting that she might be interested in rekindling their past (failed) relationship.