History Main / ThreesomeSubtext

* In ''Manga/RosarioPlusVampire'', similar to the ''Negima'' example, Yukari Sendou is a ShipperOnDeck for two people she's attracted to, because if they get together, it'll be easier for her to score a threesome.

* In ''Manga/SchoolRumble'' Eri and Yakumo are both in love with Harima. There has also been quite a bit of LesYay[=/=]FoeYay between the two of them, culminating in a episode where they both end up dancing with each other. Before the original manga [[NoEnding suddenly stopped]], Harima was also apparently engaged to Eri while [[InnocentCohabitation living with Yakumo]], with all three apparently content with the arrangement.

** Ryoko + Tenchi + Ayeka. Ayeka and Ryoko hate each other, but plenty of FoeYay occurs [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDiEsyI5Syw in universe.]] The original OAV continuity maintains that Tenchi will MarryThemAll, but these three are the focus in nearly every version of the story.

** In the second season, Angelus + Spike + Drusilla is all but canon. Both the guys lust after her but also have massive FoeYay with each other. There is an infamous line in later seasons where Spike claims to have not been intimate with Angelus except for "that one time" ([[WordOfGod implications confirmed]] by Creator/JossWhedon himself) which probably happened when Spike was still with Dru. And, of course, when Angelus first shows up (after being de-souled) he kisses Spike passionately on the forehead, prompting Drusilla to gleefully squeal "We're a family again!" Was that even supposed to be subtext?

** Buffy was involved with both Angel and Spike, and the two guys always had massive FoeYay. The Season 8 comic book has Buffy's sexual fantasy, a threesome between her, Angel and Spike. While she wears a nurse uniform, and they're chained to her.

* ''Series/{{Eureka}}'': Allison and Nathan used to be married, Jack and Allison have had {{UST}} since the very first episode and were married in an alternate universe, and Jack and Nathan have epic FoeYay. [[spoiler:[[KilledOffForReal Nathan's death]] seems to have merely spawned a host of resurrection fics, rather than stop the shipping]]. Nathan spent twelve hours in-canon [[WillTheyOrWontThey analyzing Allison and Jack's relationship]], tormenting Jack with his and Allison's romantic past, [[MrFanservice walking around without a shirt on]], and implying the [[DoubleEntendre size of the]]… ''shoes'' that Jack must fill. In turn, Jack had quite a few [[YoureJustJealous jealous]] and StupidSexyFlanders moments, but slipped in there, "Still. It's really great seeing you again", implying that they're not all 'Foe' on the [[HoYay 'Yay']].

* ''VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}}'' has support for both Shiki + Arcueid + Ciel and [[TwinThreesomeFantasy Shiki + Hisui + Kohaku]]. First in Ciel ''Good End'' where Arcueid and Ciel effectively and [[ClingyJealousGirl begrudgingly]] "share" Shiki, and there is much teased at, but unconfirmed [[FoeYay attraction]] [[LesYay between]] [[VitriolicBestBuds them]]. Second is the main theme of Kagetsu Tohya's sidestory ''Flower of Thanatos'' in which Shiki together with humble serving Hisui and Kohaku live in the isolated Tohno Mansion, where Shiki can practically do with both maids whatever he wants, and Kohaku is very [[{{Twincest}} enthusiastic]] when they both [[ThreeWaySex serve him]] at the same time [[spoiler:(including [[SexSlave sexual desires, or periodic rapes]]) although [[GroundhogDayLoop it's not so simple as it seems]] and [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor Shiki begins to have regrets]].]]

* In the manga version of ''Manga/MagicKnightRayearth'', [[PluckyGirl Hikaru]] says she wants to marry both [[TheStoic Lantis]] and [[IllBoy Eagle]]. Then she says she [[LoveYouAndEverybody loves everyone]] and her feelings remain ambiguous... but those two are the only ones she mentions wanting to marry, so there's that.

* A ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' supplementary comic implies this between Nightwing, Zatanna, and Batgirl. It helps that they're both Nightwing's AmicableExes'.

* Gets pretty heavy in the second season of ''Anime/RinneNoLagrange''. When the three leads are re-united after several months the argument between Lan and Muginami is settled when Madoka pushes them together and forces them to kiss. Later on Muginami returns the favour with Madoka and Lan. After that Lan pushes Madoka and Muginami together... and winds up knocking their foreheads together. Though Madoka does confirm several episodes later that she and Muginami did kiss at some point.

* In Creator/IsabelAllende's ''Literature/EvaLuna'', IntrepidReporter Rolf's first romantic/sexual experiences were with [[KissingCousins his two cute cousins]]. The two sisters are very close and have the same taste in boys, so they see nothing wrong with sharing the lover as long as the three agree; then, they pretty much [[TheGlomp glomp-attack]] Rolf as he works up the nerve to decide which one he likes the best, [[ThreeWaySex and one thing leads to another]].

* In Creator/MarkWaid's ''ComicBook/TheKingdom'' miniseries, the ''ComicBook/KingdomCome'' versions of [[Franchise/{{Superman}} Clark]] and [[Franchise/WonderWoman Diana]] have a son with [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Bruce]] as the godfather--and the grown-up kid refers to them as his ''three'' parents. And an AU featured in ''ComicBook/Trinity2008'' just had the three of them get married, basically.

* ''Literature/SwordAtSunset'''s [[KingArthur Artos]] + Bedwyr + Guenhumara are happy as a close trio but screw up their one-on-one relationships: Artos and Guenhumara's marriage is irreparably flawed, Bedwyr and Guenhumara are unhappy in their betrayal of Artos, and Artos and Bedwyr are jealous of Guenhumara but also love each other more than they can acceptably express.

* In ''Manga/RosarioToVampire'', similar to the ''Negima'' example, Yukari Sendou is a ShipperOnDeck for two people she's attracted to, because if they get together, it'll be easier for her to score a threesome.

* ''Manga/SoulEater'' has some degree of romantic subtext in all of the [[EquippableAlly weapon]]/[[PersonOfMassDestruction meister]] partnerships; them having compatible souls is sort of a requirement for getting it to work. [[SuperOCD Death the Kid]], however, has ''two'' partners, [[CloudCuckoolandersMinder Liz]], and [[TheDitz Patty]], and his relationship with either of them seems to complement his relationship with the other. Kid's back story on how the Thompson sisters came to be his weapons [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything looks quite similar to a teenager rejecting an arranged marriage and resolving to]] MarryForLove, and then embracing both sisters. ''Manga/SoulEaterNot'' runs on this with the main trio of Tsugumi/Anya/Meme. Then there's the ship tease with Akane, adding a straight option to the mix.

** When Nodoka is trying to figure out a solution to the LoveTriangle she's in, her subconscious suggests a threeway. [[CovertPervert "Sai-shou-dou-kin!?"]]

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[-[[caption-width-right:300:Sometimes, BettyAndVeronica stop fighting over Archie and simply enjoy him together.]]-]

** In the episode "Heart Hunter", Kagami and Adrien talk about how pretty Marinette is while she's third-wheeling with them. On top of that, EmotionlessGirl Kagami smiles more in this episode than her entire time on the show until now put together - more at Marinette's {{Friendship Moment}}s than anything else, though Adrien is a close second. Even though she is in love with Adrien and knows Mari is her rival, she genuinely doesn't want her to go. She looks especially happy when being princess-carried by Ladybug. At the very least, you get the feeling that Kagami wouldn't mind a three-way relationship.

* Happens in ''Manga/AnatoliaStory'', also overlapping with TwinThreesomeFantasy. Kail's servant Kikkuri can't distinguish between the twins Ryuhi and Shala, Yuri's ladies-in-waiting, and they're both in love with him. He then gets both girls pregnant... and ends up marrying them both. [[spoiler: At the end of the story, the three ''and'' their kids (twin boys mothered by Ryuhi and twin girls mothered by Shala) are seen living happily ever after.]]

* In ''Anime/DanganRonpa3: Despair'', Chisa and [[spoiler:Juzo]] are both motivated by their friendship with each other and their attraction to Kyosuke, so naturally the fans took this to its logical (?) conclusion. [[http://amulet-tanaka.tumblr.com/post/152943842628/from-otomedia Promotional]] [[http://komaesa.tumblr.com/post/153957796548/qwhat-kind-of-present-would-you-like-to-give-to materials]] shows the three having Christmas dinner together, and Chisa considering buying them matching rings.

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblem''

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* ''{{Webcomic/Skins}}'': Jordan + Vinnie + Rabbit. The three of them are shown to be very close. This [[http://lj-phillips.deviantart.com/art/Under-My-Skin-Interlude-3-Stuck-In-The-Middle-377911277 strip]] shows that emotionally, if not sexually, their relationship is like a three-way marriage.

* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}''

* In ''Fanfic/AdviceAndTrust'', Shinji and Asuka are a couple and they're ridiculously devoted to each other… but Rei is very close to them. ''Extremely'' close. They spend most of their free time together, she's confessed that she loves them both, they go berserker if someone hurts her… It's not canon--yet (granted [[spoiler:that's assuming that Rei's romance with Kaworu doesn't last through the end]])--because the author denies it with all his might, but he admitted that the subtext is clear and .

* In ''Fanfic/AdviceAndTrust'', Shinji and Asuka are a couple and they're ridiculously devoted to each other… but Rei is very close to them. ''Extremely'' close. They spend most of their free time together, she's confessed that she loves them both, they go berserker if someone hurts her… It's not canon--yet--because the author denies it with all his might, but he admitted that the subtext is clear and obvious.

ThreeWaySex and {{Polyamory}} are the canonical version of this. TwinThreesomeFantasy is [[JustForPun related]]. Compare OneTrueThreesome, the ShippingGoggles-induced counterpart. For other socially unacceptable romance subtext, see HomoeroticSubtext and IncestSubtext.

* ''Anime/TenchiMuyo''
** Ryoko + Tenchi + Ayeka. Ayeka and Ryoko hate each other, but plenty of FoeYay occurs [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDiEsyI5Syw in universe.]] The original OAV continuity maintains that Tenchi will MarryThemAll, but these three are the focus in nearly every version of the story.
** Emperor Azusa and his wives Funaho (an Earthling, Yosho's mother) and Misaki (a Juraian, Ayeka and Sasami's mom). Neither woman sees each other as a rival for him, instead thinking of themselves as sisters married to the same man, and their respective kids are also fine with the arrangement (i.e., Sasami calls Funaho "aunt").
* Aoba + Mairu + Kururi gets a bunch of this in ''LightNovel/{{Durarara}}''. Mairu and Kururi thank Aoba with a kiss for turning in a group of bullies; Aoba has a [[SheIsNotMyGirlfriend They Are Not My Girlfriends]] moment when his [[spoiler:Blue Square members]] refer to them as such, but turns right around and [[spoiler:explicitly orders them not to involve the twins in the gang wars because he's taken a particular liking to them]]. And ''then'' there's all the Mairu/Kururi {{Twincest}}. Worth noting that they've ''all'' kissed at some point.
** Kida/Mikado/Anri gets this, though to a lesser level. Kida happily hits on Anri, who is Mikado's LoveInterest. Mikado and Kida, though, have so many [[HoYay undertones]] to their friendships, its sometimes gets lampshaded, even by Anri herself. The ending of the first season has a scene of Mikado and Anri [[spoiler:rescuing Kida from the Yellow Scarfs]], in which Kida holds both their hands.
* ''Anime/StarDriver'' is ''made'' of this trope, implying it so freaking hard between the three protagonists (Takuto, Wako, and Sugata) while never actually resolving it.
* In ''Manga/SchoolRumble'' Eri and Yakumo are both in love with Harima. There has also been quite a bit of LesYay[=/=]FoeYay between the two of them, culminating in a episode where they both end up dancing with each other. Before the original manga [[NoEnding suddenly stopped]], Harima was also apparently engaged to Eri while [[InnocentCohabitation living with Yakumo]], with all three apparently content with the arrangement.
* In ''Manga/RosarioToVampire'', similar to the ''Negima'' example, Yukari Sendou is a ShipperOnDeck for two people she's attracted to, because if they get together, it'll be easier for her to score a threesome.
* In ''Manga/Naruto'' there's Team 7: Naruto has a crush on Sakura, who is occasionally teased as reciprocating but officially in love with Sasuke, who shares massive Ho Yay with Naruto...who reciprocates that Ho Yay plenty. It says something that the only configuration of the trio that hasn't locked lips onscreen at some point is the Official Couple of Sasuke/Sakura.
* In ''Manga/DeathNote'' during the first arc: Misa-Light-L, and in the second arc: [[spoiler: Misa-Light-Takada / Light-Takada-Mikami]] and in the prequel novel ''LightNovel/AnotherNote'': Raye Penber-Naomi Misora-Ryuuzaki
* Ranka/Alto/Sheryl in ''Anime/MacrossFrontier''. At the end of the series, Alto says "You are ''both'' my wings" (which, considering his all-consuming love of flying, is pretty much him saying "I love you"). For their part, Ranka and Sheryl are clearly at least as into each other as they are into Alto, and at the end of the series they promise "not to lose to each other" in either their singing careers or love (complete with an ambiguous-but-affectionate shared smile).
* Carrot/Tira/Chocolat in the ''Manga/SorcererHunters'' anime. It's strongly implied the sisters would ''not'' mind sharing the man they love.
* In ''Manga/OtomeYoukaiZakuro'', there is a canon TwinThreesomeFantasy with Ganryuu and twins Bonbori and Hozuki.

* Gets pretty heavy in the second season of ''Anime/RinneNoLagrange''. When the three leads are re-united after several months the argument between Lan and Muginami is settled when Madoka pushes them together and forces them to kiss. Later on Muginami returns the favour with Madoka and Lan. After that Lan pushes Madoka and Muginami together... and winds up knocking their foreheads together. Though Madoka does confirm several episodes later that she and Muginami did kiss at some point.
* ''Manga/PokemonAdventures'': Diamond + Pearl + Platinum is as canon as you can get with a bunch of twelve year olds, with it repeatedly being stated how the three of them together represent the perfect human spirit, them crying when they had to separate for the first time since they had traveled together, and them eventually ending up as parents for two baby Pokemon.
* In the manga version of ''Manga/MagicKnightRayearth'', [[PluckyGirl Hikaru]] says she wants to marry both [[TheStoic Lantis]] and [[IllBoy Eagle]]. Then she says she [[LoveYouAndEverybody loves everyone]] and her feelings remain ambiguous... but those two are the only ones she mentions wanting to marry, so there's that.
* ''Manga/XxxHolic'':
** There's the trio of Doumeki + Watanuki + Himawari, which has plot enforced implications: Watanuki is head-over-heels for Himawari, but Himawari's DoomMagnet status renders her dangerous to be around Watanuki... except when Doumeki's around, because Doumeki is a living ProtectiveCharm. There's also a moment where Doumeki agrees to give Himawari a "date" with Watanuki alone, but insists that they will later "have lunch together, the three of us".
** Much later in the manga, [[spoiler:Doumeki/Kohane/Watanuki]]. [[spoiler:Doumeki]] loves [[spoiler:Kohane]]. [[spoiler:Kohane]] loves [[spoiler:Doumeki]]. But [[spoiler:Kohane]] loves [[spoiler:Watanuki]] the most, and [[spoiler:Doumeki]] has complicated feelings for [[spoiler:Watanuki]] too. By that point [[spoiler:Watanuki]] clearly has strong feelings for both of them as well, but it's not clear if his feelings are platonic or romantic in nature.
* In ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'', although Ed/Winry is the OfficialCouple ([[spoiler:confirmed via BabiesEverAfter]]), a far greater focus is on the relationship between Ed, Winry and Al than any romance. They've been friends since childhood, are constantly concerned and worried about the others' safety and happiness, and it's clear Ed cares for Al just as deeply as he cares for Winry.
* As far as Shino of ''Manga/KiniroMosaic'' is concerned, it would be best if she had both Alice and Karen out of her fetish toward blondes. She even comments that she could have a blonde on each arm. She also likes to daydream about the two together.
* ''Manga/SoulEater'' has some degree of romantic subtext in all of the [[EquippableAlly weapon]]/[[PersonOfMassDestruction meister]] partnerships; them having compatible souls is sort of a requirement for getting it to work. [[SuperOCD Death the Kid]], however, has ''two'' partners, [[CloudCuckoolandersMinder Liz]], and [[TheDitz Patty]], and his relationship with either of them seems to complement his relationship with the other. Kid's back story on how the Thompson sisters came to be his weapons [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything looks quite similar to a teenager rejecting an arranged marriage and resolving to]] MarryForLove, and then embracing both sisters. ''Manga/SoulEaterNot'' runs on this with the main trio of Tsugumi/Anya/Meme. Then there's the ship tease with Akane, adding a straight option to the mix.
* ''Anime/SailorMoon'':
** Usagi fantasizes about Usagi + [[ScrewYourself Tuxedo Kamen + Moonlight Knight]], as well as Usagi + Tuxedo Kamen + Motoki.
** The Outer Senshi Haruka, Michiru, and Setsuna get a lot of this, with Haruka and Michiru being an OfficialCouple and Setsuna moving in with them later on so they can all raise Hotaru together. In the manga, the three of them wear ''promise rings'' after moving in together. Hotaru calls them [[{{Bifauxnen}} Haruka-papa]], Michiru-mama, and Setsuna-mama.
* ''Manga/AkagamiNoShirayukihime'':
** Zen and Shirayuki are an official couple and Zen got Obi to admit outright that he has romantic feelings for Shirayuki, right before Zen sent him to be her bodyguard. Obi has repeatedly complimented Zen's eyes, stared wistfully after him the same way he does Shirayuki, commented that Zen's smile should be immortalized by a painter and admitted to liking Zen without further clarifying the statement. Zen has reacted negatively to Obi receiving marriage proposals and the two of them occasionally sleep in the same room. Zen and Shirayuki are shaken when they see Obi meeting with a woman and Obi assures them that he was turning her down.
** Obi flirts with Kiki and Mitsuhide, and Kiki states that Mitsuhide is the man she plans to ask to marry her. In this case Obi is quite obviously messing with Mitsuhide for amusement at his reactions, and his flirtations with Kiki are used to cause a distraction or change the subject and never last longer than a sentence.

* ''Manga/Beastars'' has Legosi/Haru/Louis. Legosi and Haru are the primary couple that the series focuses on, and the two of them are in an official, of somewhat complicated, relationship. As for Haru and Louis, the two of them used to have a FriendsWithBenefits relationship, and it was implied that they might have had deeper feelings for each other at some point. Finally, in a series where a Carnivore's desire to eat meat and sexual desire are often conflated, it's not at all hard to read a lot of homoerotic subtext into the scene in the manga where Louis allows Legosi to eat his left leg to give him a power boost in his fight against Riz.

* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}''

* In ''LightNovel/HaiyoreNyarkoSan'', after Cuko warms up to Mahiro, she begins campaigning for a three-way relationship: "I bear Nyarko's child, [[MisterSeahorse the boy bears mine]]." Nyarko opposes this because she's straight and doesn't want to share Mahiro; Mahiro opposes it for obvious reasons (not the least of which is his fear that [[EldritchAbomination she could make it happen]]).

* ''Manga/JyuOhSei''

* ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima''
** When Nodoka is trying to figure out a solution to the LoveTriangle she's in, her subconscious suggests a threeway. [[CovertPervert "Sai-shou-dou-kin!?"]]
** Going by what we see of various characters' [[LotusEaterMachine Cosmo Entelechia]], Nodoka and Yue would both be happy with Nodoka + Negi + Yue, Chachamaru's ideal world is one where she is with both Negi and Evangeline, while Shiori's greatest wish is to be with both Fate and Negi.

* ''Webcomic/AxisPowersHetalia'' fanfic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11886910/1/Gankona-Unnachgiebig-Unità Gankona, Unnachgiebig, Unità]]'': Although [[ShipToShipCombat Germany and Japan were fighting over Italy]] for much of the story, there was some [[{{Subtext}} subtext]] for a threesome found in the summary and in the fact Italy said "they" instead of "him" or "her". The subtext eventually evolves into ''[[OneTrueThreesome full-blown text]]'' after Italy asked both Germany ''and'' Japan out and the two [[PairTheSuitors fell for each other too]].

* In ''LightNovel/MaoyuuMaouYuusha'' the Light Novel series decided not to give a set-in-stone romantic conclusion to The Hero, The Demon Queen, and Lady Knight’s ordeal; instead it decided to end with all three of them retiring and traveling to some faraway place, together in full realization that The Demon Queen and Lady Knight both love The Hero.

* ''Manga/Beastars'' has Legosi/Haru/Louis. Legosi and Haru are the primary couple that the series focuses on, and the two of them are in an official, of somewhat complicated, relationship. As for Haru and Louis, the two of them used to have a FriendsWithBenefits relationship, and it was implied that they might have had deeper feelings for each other at some point. Finally, in a series where a Carnivore's desire to eat meat and sexual desire ore often conflated, it's not at all hard to read a lot of homoerotic subtext into the scene in the manga where Louis allows Legosi to eat his left leg to give him a power boost in his fight against Riz.

** FourthWallObserver Kiel ships ''herself'' with Nau ([[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?id=1339 "Remember that I bid on you first when you're a tall handsome prince."]]) his sister Chrys ([[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7718 "Just so you know, in my great generosity I'm letting you have first dibs on her, but afterwards it's open contest!]]) and Naal ([[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?id=845 "Oh and add a princess to the lot just for fun's sake!"]]). Naal doesn't seem to mind, but Nau objects to Kiel describing him as "manly and tiny" and Chrys hasn't expressed an opinion either way.

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* ''Theatre/{{Company}}'': Although Bobby's relationship with his married friends seems entirely platonic, ''Side By Side By Side/What Would We Do Without You?'', where Bobby sings about how he doesn't need anything other than the married couples who are his friends and the couples join in, talking about what a perfect friend he is and how his presence helps them through their marital difficulties, could be seen as this.

* ''Series/BoyMeetsWorld'':
** Happens between Cory + Shawn + Topanga:
--> '''Shawn''': I think the three of us could be very happy together.
** Revisited in [[Series/GirlMeetsWorld the sequel]] when Shawn shows up for the Christmas episode. He greets Topanga as "Mrs Cory" and she greets him as "Mr. Cory".
** Also there is a good deal of this between Farkle + Riley + Maya. At their first dance he dances with both of them simultaneously and in another episode after competing with each other over him they essentially both go out with him.
* In one ''Series/{{Frasier}}'' episode, a case of [[MistakenForIndex misinterpretation]] leads Roz to believe that Niles and Daphne are asking her to have a threesome with them. The ensuing conversation is ''hilarious'', and the fact that Roz doesn't seem too averse to the idea cause Niles and Daphne to mercilessly tease her after the miscommunication is cleared up.