History Main / MoeCouplet

* Sakaki and Chiyo in ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh'', who often pair off. Sakaki comes off as [[FaceOfAThug 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.

* The genesis of the [[Literature/HarryPotter Harry/Hermione]] {{shipp|ing}}ers may be this. Hermione is a magical genius, except when it comes to dealing with actual dark wizards, which is Harry's specialty (his life is basically a long series of fighting dark wizards). When it comes to personality, Harry is selfless to an annoying degree even when personal friends are not involved, while Hermione focuses on immediate gain and loss to her close friends (especially when it comes to grades!). While these traits alone would get kind of annoying, together they play off each other quite well, even without going into {{Shipping}} territory.
** Similarly, Harry and Luna seem to be a more canon MoeCouplet. Luna is a CloudCuckoolander who hardly seems troubled by anything and helps her father run the magical equivalent of a tabloid magazine, while Harry becomes more [[HurtingHero traumatized as increasing numbers of his friends and loved ones die. Some of them right in front of him.]] Yet Luna understands what losing a loved one feels like, enabling her to empathise with his grief over Sirius--and Harry knows what being picked on feels like, so he naturally wants to help her out when people hide Luna's things and mock her behind her back.

* Mimi and Elle in ''[[FanFic/{{Bird}} Bird]]'' are a somewhat tragic take on the concept. Mimi [[PowerIncontinence has little control]] of [[PlayingWithFire her powers]] and is ostracized as a result. [[TheOphelia Elle]] has similar difficulties, but the worlds she creates are soothing or beautiful, but can't engage her peers easily because if her fugues. Mimi is the only one who engages Elle, and Elle is the only one that sticks with Mimi.

* Roommates Tennyo and Generator in the WhateleyUniverse. Separately, they're a PersonOfMassDestruction and a ManicPixieDreamGirl. Together, they're like an older sister - younger sister pair.

* So your job is to exterminate a bunch of little demon brainsuckers, and you've killed all but one egg, but then the egg hatches and thinks you are its mommy. Do you a) kill it anyway or b) become its adoptive parent (at least temporarily)? [[{{Metroid}} Samus]] chose option b.

* In {{Pokemon}}'s [[Anime/PokemonHeroes 5th Movie]], Ash and Legendary-of-the-film Latias have this trait in abundance. Despite the obvious InterspeciesRomance, their interactions are so sweet and cute that [[PortmanteauCoupleName [=AltoShipping=]]] is still a rather popular couple in the fanbase despite the movie having come out back in 2002.

** Also, in ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'', there's Samus and Pikachu. In the adventure mode, Samus is trying to find her PoweredArmor, and she finds poor little [[{{Pokemon}} Pikachu]] being used to power a generator, so she breaks the cage. Later, after Samus gets her PoweredArmor back, [[spoiler: Ridley nearly kills her, but Pikachu saves her]].

* [[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1111.jpg Demonstrated]] in ''OuranHighSchoolHostClub''.

* [[CloudCuckoolander Haru]] and [[CuteMute Kisa]] from ''FruitsBasket''. Also PlayedWith between [[BrokenBird Rin]] and [[MouthyKid Hiro]], who are both pretty cynical and aloof, but are evidently concerned for one another.

* This is why pairing ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} up with one of many younger female superhero compatriots, whether it's ComicBook/KittyPryde, ComicBook/{{Rogue}}, ComicBook/{{Jubilee}}, Armor, [[ComicBook/PowerPack Katie Power]], or [[ComicBook/MsMarvel Kamala Khan]] works so well. They soften Wolverine's image and bring out one of his few positive qualities: being an incredibly loyal PapaWolf. He in turn helps them gain several {{Badass}} points.

* Homura Akemi, with her experience and power, protecting the sweetly innocent Madoka Kaname in ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'', gains this quality as the series progresses. [[spoiler:Even more pronounced in the original timeline where the roles are reversed and the gentle, but plucky and selfless Madoka is the one who protects the once-mousy and shy Homura]].

* BioWare's ''Franchise/MassEffect'' games 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 ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' have this kind of relationship. As for the optional, player-driven ones: Liara, Garrus, and Tali are the most obvious.

* Sasami and [[HeadPet Ryo-Ohki]] from ''TenchiMuyo''.
* [[MagnificentBastard Lelouch]] of ''CodeGeass'' 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]]]].

* ''Fanfic/TheSecondTry'': Rei Ayanami of all girls and Aki, a lost child she finds wandering the streets of Tokyo-3 and [[ImTakingHerHomeWithMe ends up taking home with her]]. That kid's CutenessProximity Field is practically a superpower! Rei carries on with this trope in sequel web-manga ''Fanfic/AkiChansLife... [[spoiler: In addition to being Aki's CoolAunt, seeing as she's Shinji and Asuka's KidFromTheFuture.]]

** Also, in ''SuperSmashBros Brawl'', there's Samus and Pikachu. In the adventure mode, Samus is trying to find her PoweredArmor, and she finds poor little [[{{Pokemon}} Pikachu]] being used to power a generator, so she breaks the cage. Later, after Samus gets her PoweredArmor back, [[spoiler: Ridley nearly kills her, but Pikachu saves her]].

* ''[[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Rei Ayanami]]'' of all girls and Aki, a lost child she finds wandering the streets of Tokyo-3 and [[ImTakingHerHomeWithMe ends up taking home with her]], in ''Fanfic/TheSecondTry''. That kid's CutenessProximity Field is practically a superpower! Rei carries on with this trope in sequel web-manga ''Fanfic/AkiChansLife... [[spoiler: In addition to being Aki's CoolAunt, seeing as she's Shinji and Asuka's KidFromTheFuture.]]

* [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Rei Ayanami]] of all girls and Aki, a lost child she finds wandering the streets of Tokyo-3 and [[TakingHerHomeWithMe ends up taking home with her]], in ''Fanfic/TheSecondTry''. That kid's CutenessProximity Field is practically a superpower! Rei carries on with this trope in sequel web-manga ''[[Fanfic/AkiChansLife]]... [[spoiler: In addition to being Aki's CoolAunt, seeing as she's Shinji and Asuka's KidFromTheFuture.]]

* Setsuna from ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'' emotes much in the same way Motoko from ''LoveHina'' does. Both are popular characters in their series, but Setsuna's affection towards a ([[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation controversially]]) oblivious character seem more tolerated by the fandom.

* Well-expressed in ''TheSacredBlacksmith'', especially the ending theme. Lisa paired with any of the other characters increases her own moe and significantly brings out at least one trait of the other characters.

* For comparison, the ''ProjectAKo'' series may have been an early invoker of this trope, and the only thing keeping C-ko's otherwise annoying personality barely in check.
* In ''[[TheSlayers Slayers]]'', Gourry does this for Lina. The show has more subtle romantic undertones, but Lina tends to react in surprisingly cute ways if she thinks Gourry is being particularly affectionate towards her. This happens with enough rarity it never affects her strong qualities as a shounen lead to any real degree and also doesn't {{squick}} the non-romantically inclined audience.
* Setsuna from ''MahouSenseiNegima'' emotes much in the same way Motoko from ''LoveHina'' does. Both are popular characters in their series, but Setsuna's affection towards a ([[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation controversially]]) oblivious character seem more tolerated by the fandom.

* While [[BloodKnight Kenpachi Zaraki]] is the farthest thing you're gonna get from moe in ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'', pair him and [[KillerRabbit Yachiru]] up, and their interactions are either funny or totally adorable.
** Meanwhile, pair the already {{moe}} Orihime with either Ichigo, Uryu, or [[CoolBigSis Rangiku]], and watch the {{Moe}} factor rocket [[UpToEleven into the stratosphere]]. Additionally, pair her with [[TsunDere the far moodier]] Riruka and watch her progressivelyt drawing out [[HiddenHeartOfGold her softer emotions.]]

* Lyar Von Ertiana and Kotoko-01 from ''DivergenceEve''.

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 lack romance]]). The WholesomeCrossdresser (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 circle of friends. Couplets are also common gimmicks in designing an EconomyCast. See also TheNotLoveInterest.