History Main / MoeCouplet

* Nagisa has this relationship with Tamao in ''StrawberryPanic'', despite being in an OfficialCouple. Safe to say those not enamored of the OneeSama archetype and the drama they bring often [[FanPreferredCouple prefer]] her to Shizuma.

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* ''HayateTheCombatButler'' has this type of relationship between most of the characters, both of the romantic side sort and the non-romantic. Sakuya almost forces other characters into these with her thinking the world is a {{Boke And Tsukkomi Routine}} and tries to make many of the other characters her other half in them. Nagi with Isumi treads the line [[spoiler: When they were young, Nagi forced Isumi to imprint a 'marriage certificate']] and Isumi understands (and helps to expand on) Nagi's self-made-manga.

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[[quoteright:233:[-[[AzumangaDaioh http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sakaki-chiyo.jpg]]-] ]]

* Sakaki and Chiyo in ''AzumangaDaioh'', who often pair off. Sakaki comes off as [[TallDarkAndBishoujo intimidating]], but really she's just [[ShrinkingViolet shy]] and in love with [[CutenessProximity all adorable things.]] Chiyo is a CheerfulChild who really wants to be an adult. When the team up, they cover each other's weaknesses and the {{Moe}} increases exponentially. Add in their pets, [[BigFriendlyDog Tadakichi-san]] and [[KindheartedCatLover Maya]], and things get even better.

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* BetaCouple Zuko and Mai from ''AvatarTheLastAirbender''. Her EmotionlessGirl crushed his emo {{Wangst}} in the first episode of Season Three in just one sentence, and from that moment on she was the natural antidote to his tendency to gloom, just as he was her natural antidote for her tendency to emotionally distance herself from everything.

* ''{{Thundercats 2011}}'' has Panthro and Ro-Bear Bill!

* [[spoiler:{{Meganekko}}]] Homura Akemi and Madoka Kaname from ''PuellaMagiMadokaMagica''.

* Odo and Kira from ''StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', who tend to soften considerably when they're around each other and generally bring out each other's good sides.

* BioWare's MassEffect (and sequels) feature this, though by nature of being an RPG, it's up to the player to truly fulfill this trope. Regardless, Ken and Gabby in MassEffect2 have this kind of relationship. As for the optional, player-driven ones: Liara, Garrus, and Tali are the most obvious.

* Gus and Cornchip Girl from ''{{Recess}}''

* Lyar Von Ertiana and Kotoko-01 from ''Divergence Eve''.

* Lyar Von Ertiana and Kotoko-01 from [[Divergence Eve]].

* [=RCs=] require writers to be ''good at writing romantic plotlines''. [=MCs=] do not.

* Keiichi and Belldandy's relationship in ''AhMyGoddess'' might qualify, creating the strange irony of essentially being married ''without'' an actual lack of relationship progression. Both get to emote to more-or-less harmless characters who are the least likely to exploit each other's selflessness.

* ''{{Thundercats 2011}}'' has Panthro and Ro-Bear Bill!

* [[KimPossible Kim and Ron]] make up one of the cutest MasculineGirlFeminineBoy pairs in Western animation, helped by the fact they've been like that since preschool. Even before hooking up in the penultimate season, they'd be there for each other, giving support through thick and thin, and one isn't complete without the other.

** As for Japan and Greece, while they may not have as obvious an OppositesAttract dynamic as Japan and America do, their [[BirdsOfAFeather similarities]] ''and'' more subtle differences in personality end up enhancing their {{Moe}} points. Not only are they both {{Kindhearted Cat Lover}}s, which has a [[EverythingsCuterWithKittens built-in cuteness factor]], but Japan can give off the subtle impression that underneath his stoic exterior lies a [[{{Kuudere}} sweet, warm-hearted, and even shy soul]] without it being overwhelmed by louder personalities (and him possibly coming across as a less endearing/moe [[TheStoic Stoic]] instead) when petting Greece's cats or simply being at ease with him, and Greece's laidback, easygoing nature makes him the ideal partner to patiently deal with Japan's emotional reticence and romantic/sexual awkwardness. Ironically, they're the only pair (mostly) confirmed to have had sex in canon, but the fact that most (and arguably, the best) fanworks for them focus much more on the tranquility and harmony of their dynamic than on sex, and that it's difficult to imagine Greece ever forcing himself on Japan or making him truly uncomfortable in spite of his ReallyGetsAround reputation, makes them a true Moe Couplet. (Not to mention that it's quite easy to write them as an [[HappilyMarried established romantic couple]] without compromising their natural dynamic.)

In practice, only one of the characters really needs be designed like this, often a younger one whom the audience finds 'safe' and non-threatening. They are extremely popular in {{yuri}} and {{yaoi}} works, due to the natural maximization of MoeMoe in the audience, but it's also present in other genres (particularly slice of life works that [[NoHuggingNoKissing lacks romance]]). The {{Wholesome Crossdresser}} (who is usually implicitly gay) has this relationship with {{shoujo}} leads. In {{shounen}}, a (usually unattached) female co-lead has this relationship with the male lead if he gets his official girlfriend outside his [[{{Nakama}} circle of friends]]. Couplets are also common gimmicks in designing an EconomyCast. See also TheNotLoveInterest.

'''Examples:'''

* Arguably, [[IllGirl Yutaka]] [[{{Moe}} Kobayakawa]] and [[HugeSchoolgirl Minami]] [[TheQuietOne Iwasaki]] from ''Anime/LuckyStar'' also counts, and it's probably an allusion to Chiyo-chan and Sakaki respectively from Azumanga Daioh as mentioned above. But it doesn't stop [[ShipperOnDeck Hiyori]] [[YuriFan Tamura]] activating her ShippingGoggles.

* Arguably, [[IllGirl Yutaka]] [[{{Moe}} Kobayakawa]] and [[HugeSchoolgirl Minami]] [[TheQuietOne Iwasaki]] from ''Anime/LuckyStar'' also counts, and it's probably an allusion to Chiyo-chan and Sakaki respectfully from Azumanga Daioh as mentioned above. But it doesn't stop [[ShipperOnDeck Hiyori]] [[YuriFan Tamura]] activating her ShippingGoggles.

* [[KimPossible Kim and Ron]] make up one of the cutest PinkBoyBlueGirl pairs in Western animation, helped by the fact they've been like that since preschool. Even before hooking up in the penultimate season, they'd be there for each other, giving support through thick and thin, and one isn't complete without the other.

* [[{{Thundercats 2011}} Panthro and Ro-Bear Bill!]]

* [[KimPossible Kim and Ron]] make up one of the cutest PinkBoyBlueGirl pairs in Western animation, helped by the fact they've been like that since preschool. Even before hooking up in the penultimate season, they'd be there for each other, giving support through thick and thin, and one isn't complete without the other.

* Arguably, [[IllGirl Yutaka]] [[{{Moe}} Kobayakawa]] and [[HugeSchoolgirl Minami]] [[TheQuietOne Iwasaki]] from ''LuckyStar'' also counts, and it's probably an allusion to Chiyo-chan and Sakaki respectfully from Azumanga Daioh as mentioned above. But it doesn't stop [[ShipperOnDeck Hiyori]] [[YuriFan Tamura]] activating her ShippingGoggles.

* [[MagnificentBastard Lelouch]] of ''CodeGeass'' [[{{Understatement}} isn't exactly the most happy or stable person on the planet]], [[DarkAndTroubledPast and for]] [[CrapsackWorld good reason]], but you wouldn't know it from his interactions with either [[GirlNextDoor Shirley]] or [[IllGirl Nunnally]]. Either of the latter two bring out the softer and more light-hearted side out of the former, and are both inspirations behind the world he wants to create. [[BlitheSpirit Euphemia]] has a similar effect on [[spoiler:the [[DeathSeeker suicidal]]]] [[BrokenAce Suzaku]]. [[spoiler:Which makes it all the more tragic when said {{Moe}} counterparts are StuffedIntoTheFridge (with one exception, though the truth doesn't come out until it's too late), amongst other assorted [[TraumaCongaLine mishaps]], pushing both Lelouch and Suzaku [[DespairEventHorizon past the breaking point]]]].

* [[KimPossible Kim and Ron]] also make up one of the cutest PinkBoyBlueGirl pairs in Western animation, helped by the fact they've been like that since preschool. Even before hooking up in the penultimate season, they'd be there for each other, giving support through thick and thin, and one isn't complete without the other.

* [[KimPossible Kim and Ron]] also make up one of the cutest SavvyGuyEnergeticGirl pairs in Western animation, helped by the fact they've been like that since preschool. Even before hooking up in the penultimate season, they'd be there for each other, and one isn't complete without the other.