History Main / PatientChildhoodLoveInterest

%%* Shirayuki from ''Literature/AriaTheScarletAmmo''.

%%* Manami from ''Literature/CatPlanetCuties''.

%%* Misaki Etou from ''Literature/DragonCrisis''.

* ''Literature/InfiniteStratos'' has, unusually for the HaremGenre, ''two'' Patient Childhood Love Interest characters. The protagonist even classifies them as "First Childhood Friend,"[[note]]Also Rare for a HaremGenre for she is literally the first girl introduced[[/note]]" and "Second Childhood Friend," based on the time they met with him. The first is a {{Tsundere}}, the second a {{Yandere}}.

%%* Manami from ''Literature/{{Oreimo}}''.

* ''Literature/SoICantPlayH'': Mina has nursed an unrequited crush on her neighbor, Ryosuke, since they were kids. But she's so shy, that she was unable to work up the courage to tell him until they were in middle school. In episode 11, he explains that he doesn't reciprocate specifically ''[[UsefulNotes/WestermarckEffect because]]'' she's his friend. [[spoiler: Were it not for that, he would've said "yes" and even married her]].
* Philuffy in ''Literature/UndefeatedBahamutChronicle'' is this to Lux. When they were children, she supported him when his family was thrown out of the palace and his mother died. In the present, she's the least aggressive out of all the girls -- for example, when Lux has to go on a date with her and two other girls on the same day, her date consists of letting Lux sleep and recover from the day's work.

* Asuka is this in one of [[HeroesWantRedheads Shinji's]] dream sequences in the last episode of ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' and the "Angelic Days" manga.

At this point, the {{Harem|Genre}} plot or LoveTriangle starts, and in face of the new rivals she realizes that it's time to [[LetsGetDangerous get serious]]. HilarityEnsues, sometimes involving fights over her earlier "privileges" like feeding the protagonist, or as a trump card, bringing up some sort of ChildhoodMarriagePromise.

In terms of personality, she tends to be either a YamatoNadeshiko in training, as evidenced by their cooking skills, serene patience, and the serving, yet guiding the boy at the same time, or the long friendship turns her into OneOfTheBoys, a {{Tsundere}} who seems to be VitriolicBestBuds with the boy.

Subtrope of ChildhoodFriends. See also ChildhoodFriendRomance for the more generic trope about people who knew each other since childhood falling in love.

* Sohara in ''Manga/HeavensLostProperty''. She's Tomoki's childhood friend, lives next door from him, often goes to his house in the morning to wake him up and despite regularly beating him up for his lecherous behavior, she very obviously loves him and is always looking after him.

** They [[OldFlame used to date]] back in middle-school, but broke up after Rei was forced to repeat her junior year. During that time, Takashi began to ignore her since she wouldn't talk to him about it, causing her to think he had abandoned her. So she began dating Takashi's best friend, Hisashi, because he provided her with the emotional support she needed.

* Fujioka and Kana from ''Manga/MinamiKe'' have been friends for awhile and he has a longstanding crush on her. She's so ObliviousToLove though that one starts to wonder if he should just give up. Given how popular he is with the ladies though, he'll probably catch his break once she hits puberty.

* ''Manga/OmamoriHimari'' starts with Rinko in the role, but it turns out Yuuto had an ArrangedMarriage and ChildhoodMarriagePromise with Kuesu before his memories were sealed and lets not forget Himari herself.

* In ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica,'' [[TomboyWithAGirlyStreak Sayaka]] quietly stood by Kyousuke's side through his CareerEndingInjury-induced depression, but he proved remarkably ObliviousToLove. Eventually, Sayaka [[DealWithTheDevil makes a contract]] to become a MagicalGirl in exchange for Kyousuke getting healed. However, [[CoolBigSis Mami]] specifically asks if this is really a SelflessWish, or if [[DeconstructedTrope Sayaka just wants to feel like Kyousuke "owes" her now]]. Eventually, Kyousuke [[spoiler:hooks up with [[MuggleBestFriend Hitomi]], who unlike Sayaka, actually confessed her feelings]]. This, paired with Sayaka's huge and complex issues, [[DespairEventHorizon goes very badly]].

* Philuffy in ''Literature/UndefeatedBahamutChronicle'' is this to Lux. When they were children, she supported him when his family was thrown out of the palace and hsi mother died. In the present, she's the least aggressive out of all the girls -- for example, when Lux has to go on a date with her and two other girls in the same day, her date consists of letting Lux sleep and recover from the day's work.

* ''Fanfic/OhRhonda'': Rhonda doesn't try to pressure any relationship with Arnold; so far she's happy with them being just friends, and supporting each other whenever's necessary, hoping that, eventually, he'll realize her feelings for him, or fall in love with her by his own, only giving the occasional hint of her feelings, and never being hostile towards any possible love rival, knowing there's always a backfiring risk.

* A variation in ''Literature/HalfPrince''. Since Zhou moved away 8 years before the events of the story he found Lan in an online game and became her husband there, at least until she looses interest and goes on to a new game. When he finds her again in both the real world and the new MMORPG she switches to she's developed to the point of no longer wanting to hide behind a man, and he has to adopt a more aggressive strategy to win her over. [[spoiler:He can't, and ends up losing her to Gui.]]

* ''Literature/EvaLuna'': Eva Luna had strong feelings and slight whiffs of the trope for Huberto Naranjo, the local StreetUrchin and JerkWithAHeartOfGold, ever since they met as kids no older than 10. As a pre-teen, she felt it strongly, and was frustrated because he told her "You're just a kid" many times which was an act since he always held a torch for Eva but didn't want to admit it. When they did get together, they only saw each other counted times yet she patiently waited for him. Unusually for the trope, Eva is critisized for it by her CoolBigSis Mimi, who also knows Huberto from childhood and loudly wonders "WhatDoesSheSeeInHim". In the end, they break up amiably and she gets together with IntrepidReporter Rolf instead.

** Ginny Weasley is this for Harry himself. She has had a huge crush on him ever since she was ten years old, but she was so shy around him she could barely be in the same room as him, while Harry found this rather awkward and didn't know what to do with it. Harry finally starts to notice Ginny romantically in his sixth year, but by this point she's dating other boys. However, it then turns out that Ginny never actually stopped loving Harry and they get together after she breaks up with her boyfriend; she explains to Harry that on Hermione's recommendation she tried to loosen up and be herself more around Harry and also tried dating other people until he noticed her, and she was always very loyal and emotionally supportive to him. [[spoiler: By the end, they're HappilyMarried with [[BabiesEverAfter three kids]]]].

* [[TheSmartGuy Starflight]] from ''Literature/WingsOfFire'' is this to Sunny. According to Glory, Starflight had been in love with Sunny since they were little. However, when he confesses, Sunny is unsure of how she feels. She ultimately decides that they're LikeBrotherAndSister, and that their relationship is too familial, since they were raised together from birth despite [[NotBloodSiblings not being actual siblings.]] It's implied that Starflight is now in love with [[CloudCuckoolander Fatespeaker,]] but it's unknown whether he moved on.

* During the run of the 11th Doctor on ''Series/DoctorWho'' we find out that Rory was essentially like patiently waiting for Amy Pond. They spent their childhood as friends, and as soon as they were old enough Rory fell hard for her and [[SingleTargetSexuality never even showed interest in anyone else]]. It was Amy that always had doubts and occasional longings for others, until they actually get married.
* ''Series/TheFlash2014'': Barry Allen has been in love with his best friend Iris West practically all his life, before he even knew what love was. He waited years for her to notice his feelings, but after she got herself a steady boyfriend, decided that he couldn't keep lying to her and confessed. Unlike most examples, Barry ''did'' try to move on from Iris -- but none of his attempts ever stuck (mostly due to his own hang-ups). It takes a while, but he and Iris finally get together in Season 3.

* Elements of this are played with both Cloud and Tifa from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII''. While the former's interest in Tifa isn't revealed until later into the game, the latter is the more obvious one being Cloud's staple childhood friend who has feelings for him, but it's subverted in that Tifa never really noticed him until he was right about to leave their village to join SOLDIER. Not to mention Tifa makes Cloud [[ThePromise promise]] to rescue her when he become SOLDIER.

* ''VisualNovel/DaCapo'' has Sakura Yoshino, who's actually the protagonist's cousin but often called such by him. His [[NotBloodSiblings adopted sister Nemu]] has more of the stereotypical characteristics of this trope, though - waking him up in the morning, going to school, long standing love, etc.
* Sayaka Maizono from ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'' seems to be headed to this direction, even when she and Naegi knew each other mostly in passing. [[spoiler: Subverted in that Sayaka had decided to frame him for murder in the Hope's Peak murderous atmosphere... but then ''she'' was killed instead.]]

* ''VisualNovel/MuvLuv'': Sumika to Takeru. She's content with their [[TheMasochismTango masochism tango]] until the very aggressive Meiya came into the picture. Meiya herself may also count even though she wasn't with him for most of her life.

->''"I decided to map out a strategy. I decided I'd be best friends with Zaheera and stay friends with her long enough to ask her to the matric dance, what we call senior prom. Mind you, we were in grade nine at this point. The matric dance was three years away. But I decided to play the long game. I was like, 'Yep, I'm just gonna take my time.' Because that's what happens in the movies, right? I'd seen my American high school movies. You hang around long enough as the friendly good guy, and the girl dates a bunch of handsome jerks, and then one day she turns around and goes, 'Oh, it's you. It was always you. You're the guy I was supposed to be with all along.' That was my plan. It was foolproof."''

%%* Manami from ''LightNovel/{{Oreimo}}''.

* ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild Breath of the Wild]]'' has Mipha, with her planning to gift Link hand-crafted Zora Armor as part of a love declaration. She never got the chance to do so before her death, however.

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' has a few characters that fit this trope. Those being Saria (Link's only friend in the Kokiri Forest, with Mido being jealous over their bond), Ruto (who made Link promise to marry her in exchange for the Zora Sapphire and still considers herself his fiancée after the seven-year TimeSkip), and -- to a lesser extent -- Malon (whose romantic interest in Link is only implied via one of the Gossip Stone).
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheMinishCap'' has Zelda as Link's close childhood friend, right down to waking him up at the beginning of the game.
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' has characters treat Link and Ilia's relationship in this manner.
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'' once again has Zelda herself, who, living on a tiny [[FloatingContinent floating island]], naturally has known Link all her life. The game starts with her sending a letter via her [[BondCreature Loftwing]] to [[GoodMorningCrono wake him up]] for his graduation ceremony, and the duo's {{Leitmotif}} when flying is outright called "Romance." Depending on how you go about a sidequest with another female character, your Link will either return Zelda's affections or just see her as your best friend (in which case, your sword companion will advise you to not mention your new girlfriend when reuniting).
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' has Mipha, with her planning to gift Link hand-crafted Zora Armor as part of a love declaration. She never got the chance to do so before her death, however.

* Ami Kurimoto is this to Junta Momonari in ''Manga/{{DNA 2}}'', and it's actually a huge plot point: as his childhood friend, Ami has come to know Junta so well... that she is [[NotDistractedByTheSexy completely]] [[NoSell immune]] to his [[ThePornomancer Mega Playboy]] side and, even more, is ''disgusted'' by him. This means she loves the ''real'' Junta, awkward and childish and all, rather than him as the super suave and seductive Mega Playboy.

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' has both Saria, who grew up as Link's only friend in the Kokiri Forest, and Ruto, who made Link promise to marry her in exchange for the Zora Sapphire and still considers herself his fiancée after the seven-year TimeSkip.
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheMinishCap'' has Zelda as Link's close childhood friend.

* To an extent, at least to the {{shipp|ing}}ers, ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime''[='=]s Saria and ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheMinishCap''[='=]s version of Zelda.
** The former has Ruto, who still considers herself your fiancee after the seven-year TimeSkip.
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' have characters treat Link and Illa's relationship in this manner.

* ''Anime/PokemonTheSeriesXY'': Serena knew Ash back when they were very young and it took a while to even bring up the first time they met (which Ash had forgotten), and is often patient and helpful towards her love interest, all while blushing and waiting for him to acknowledge her. Unfortunately for her, [[ChasteHero Ash]] is one of the most famous characters to ever be ObliviousTolove. [[spoiler:Though at least she gets the chance to give him [[KissingDiscretionShot what looks]] ''[[KissingDiscretionShot suspiciously]]'' [[KissingDiscretionShot like]] [[TheBigDamnKiss a kiss]].]]

* Serena in the ''Anime/PokemonTheSeriesXY''. It took her a while to even bring up the first time they met (which Ash had forgotten), and is often patient and helpful towards her love interest, all while blushing and waiting for him to acknowledge her. Unfortunately for her, her love interest is [[ChasteHero Ash]], one of the most famous characters to ever be oblivious to love. [[spoiler: Though at least she gets the chance to give him [[KissingDiscretionShot what looks]] ''[[KissingDiscretionShot suspiciously]]'' [[KissingDiscretionShot like]] [[TheBigDamnKiss a kiss]].]]

* Serena in the ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' anime. It took her a while to even bring up the first time they met (which Ash had forgotten), and is often patient and helpful towards her love interest, all while blushing and waiting for him to acknowledge her. Unfortunately for her, her love interest is [[ChasteHero Ash]], one of the most famous characters to ever be oblivious to love. [[spoiler: Though at least she gets the chance to give him [[KissingDiscretionShot what looks]] ''[[KissingDiscretionShot suspiciously]]'' [[KissingDiscretionShot like]] [[TheBigDamnKiss a kiss]].]]

-> ''“I decided to map out a strategy. I decided I’d be best friends with Zaheera and stay friends with her long enough to ask her to the matric dance, what we call senior prom. Mind you, we were in grade nine at this point. The matric dance was three years away. But I decided to play the long game. I was like, ‘Yep, I’m just gonna take my time.’ Because that’s what happens in the movies, right? I’d seen my American high school movies. You hang around long enough as the friendly good guy, and the girl dates a bunch of handsome jerks, and then one day she turns around and goes, ‘Oh, it’s you. It was always you. You’re the guy I was supposed to be with all along.’ That was my plan. It was foolproof.”''

%%* Shirayuki from ''LightNovel/AriaTheScarletAmmo''.

%%* Manami from ''LightNovel/CatPlanetCuties''.

%%* Misaki Etou from ''LightNovel/DragonCrisis''.

* ''LightNovel/InfiniteStratos'' has, unusually for the HaremGenre, ''two'' Patient Childhood Love Interest characters. The protagonist even classifies them as "First Childhood Friend,"[[note]]Also Rare for a HaremGenre for she is literally the first girl introduced[[/note]]" and "Second Childhood Friend," based on the time they met with him. The first is a {{Tsundere}}, the second a {{Yandere}}.

* ''LightNovel/SoICantPlayH'': Mina has nursed an unrequited crush on her neighbor, Ryosuke, since they were kids. But she's so shy, that she was unable to work up the courage to tell him until they were in middle school. In episode 11, he explains that he doesn't reciprocate specifically ''[[UsefulNotes/WestermarckEffect because]]'' she's his friend. [[spoiler: Were it not for that, he would've said "yes" and even married her]].
* Philuffy in ''LightNovel/UndefeatedBahamutChronicle'' is this to Lux. When they were children, she supported him when his family was thrown out of the palace and hsi mother died. In the present, she's the least aggressive out of all the girls - for example, when Lux has to go on a date with her and two other girls in the same day, her date consists of letting Lux sleep and recover from the day's work.

* ''Series/TheDevilJudge'': Soo-hyun, Ga-on's childhood friend, has confessed to him five times since kindergarten and even though he rejected her every time, she's still content just staying by his side till the day he reciprocates her feelings. [[Spoiler:They get a RelationshipUpgrade in episode 13.]]

* ''Series/TheFlash2014'': Barry Allen has been in love with his best friend Iris West practically all his life, before he even knew what love was. He waited years for her to notice his feelings, but after she got herself a steady boyfriend, decided that he couldn't keep lying to her and confessed. Unlike most examples, Barry ''did'' try to move on from Iris -- but none of his attempts ever stuck (mostly due to his own hang-ups). It takes a while, but he and Iris finally got together in Season 3.

* In ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'' Sam had been Danny's friend since they were little kids, and despite her obvious attraction to him she CantSpitItOut [[spoiler:until the finale.]]