In anime, things can sometimes get a bit strange, and relationships emerge that would be way too “spicy” for real life. These are the animes we present to you today.

In the world of anime, things can sometimes get a bit wacky. Not only crazy, supernatural fights, but also on an emotional level, there are sometimes relationships that make you raise an eyebrow in surprise while developing a desire to see how it all unfolds. For this reason, we have created a list of 5 animes where interpersonal relationships, considered a bit “questionable”, are an important aspect of the story.

By “questionable”, we refer to relationships that would be socially frowned upon in reality or come with emotional baggage that is not necessarily beneficial.

As almost always, we have put together a colorful mix of anime series – from very serious, dramatic themes to comedy, there is everything. Have fun!

Higehiro: After Being Rejected, I Shaved and Took in a High School Runaway

Alternative names: Higehiro
Genres: Drama, Romance
Stream available on: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 13 (Completed)

The office worker Yoshida finally gathers the courage to confess his love to his supervisor – and gets coldly rejected. In his frustration, he gets drunk and returns home late at night. On his way home, he meets a young woman seeking a place for the night and offers him sex in exchange. He takes her in but refrains from anything further.

The next day, back to his normal self, he chats with the woman and it turns out that “Sayu” is still a minor, has run away from home, and is currently jumping from one guy to another to have a roof over her head. Yoshida decides to break this cycle and wants to provide Sayu with a home – fully aware that he is already halfway in prison should it ever come out that he is offering shelter to a minor in his apartment.

As Yoshida increasingly slips into the role of a father, Sayu develops very different feelings that both need to navigate.

What to expect from Higehiro? While you might still raise an eyebrow in surprise during the first episode, by the second episode, you will be captivated by the characters and the story. Both Sayu and Yoshida are strong figures that many can relate to. Even though humor occasionally shines through in the series, the story is ultimately quite emotional and profound.

Higehiro is an unequivocal recommendation for everyone. It is likely one of the most emotional and best animes of recent years that will draw forth some tears.

Why some animes have absurdly long names, we explain here.

Scum’s Wish

Alternative names: Kuzu no Honkai
Genres: Drama, Romance
Stream available on: Amazon Prime Video
Episodes: 12 (Completed)

Hanabi and Mugi seem perfect as a couple at first glance – but they share a secret. Both are in love with someone who is unattainable for them. Hanabi is in love with her significantly older childhood friend, who now works as a teacher at her school. Mugi, on the other hand, is also in love with a teacher who, when he was still her student, tutored him and seduced him. As if that weren’t enough, it now seems that these two beloved teachers themselves might be entering into a relationship – which Hanabi and Mugi try to prevent.

Until they can muster the courage to confess their love, they support each other and maintain a fake relationship, whose seriousness fluctuates and which others also want to exploit.

What to expect from Scum’s Wish? Scum’s Wish is one of those animes that delves deeply into the multilayered characters, revealing their personalities and showcasing their thought processes in detail. It often happens that half an episode consists solely of the thoughts and internal monologues of one of the protagonists – yet it never gets boring. The story illustrates how multifaceted relationships can be and that even the noblest person sometimes exploits others to gain validation.

More anime with “questionable” relationships can be found on the next page.