More Than Friends, Not Quite Lovers: A Collection of Love Songs About That Delicate In-Between
“We’re closer than just ordinary friends, but we’re not lovers either…” Have you ever experienced that in-between relationship—more than friends, less than lovers?
If you both care for each other but just haven’t expressed your feelings yet, it might be a happy relationship.
But sometimes it can also be an unhealthy situation that just drags on without direction.
In this article, we’ll introduce a collection of songs that capture the complexity of that more-than-friends, not-quite-lovers dynamic.
You’re sure to find stories that mirror your own experiences and songs that resonate and move your heart.
Be sure to read the lyrics and listen while taking in each song’s story.
- [Mutual Crush Song] Stuck before confession, not quite lovers!? A love song capturing wavering emotions
- A song about friendship between men and women. A collection of friendship songs celebrating irreplaceable bonds.
- Songs that depict a teasing, suggestive attitude | Love songs to listen to when you're in unrequited love or a painful relationship
- [Love Songs] Say Goodbye to Uncertain Feelings! Love Songs to Listen to When You’re Not Sure If You Like Someone
- [Unattainable Love] A love song about two people who feel the same way but can’t be together
- [To Those in Love] Relatable Love Songs to Listen to When You’re Crushing Hard
- Bittersweet love songs to listen to when the person you like already has a girlfriend or boyfriend
- [Unrequited Love] Heart-wrenching Love Songs | A Roundup of Tear-Inducing Crush and Breakup Tracks
- Songs About Age-Gap Love: A Curated Selection of Exquisite Love Songs
- [Empathetic & Tear-Jerking] A love song about an unrequited romance
- A love song that sings about messy, muddled feelings
- [For You in Love] A Love Song Perfect for Unrequited Feelings
- An empathy song to listen to when you’re hurting and feel like a 'convenient woman'
[More Than Friends, Less Than Lovers] A Collection of Love Songs Depicting Delicately Ambiguous Relationships (91–100)
Confession SongKyarameru Peppāzu
It portrays the feelings of a man with a one-sided crush, whose heart races or becomes anxious over small things in everyday life.
I think many people can relate to not wanting to stay just friends and wanting to confess their feelings soon.
The Day You and I MetFunatsu Mahiro
A gemlike love song that vividly captures, with fresh sensitivity, the deepening bond between two people after a fateful encounter interrupts an ordinary day.
Released in December 2020, the song gently sings of lovers who cherish every casual moment and etch it into precious memories.
Many listeners were moved by the way even the smallest moments feel dear, and by the overflowing affection that persists even after quarrels.
It has garnered over five million reactions on TikTok, spreading a wave of empathy among young people through social media.
It’s a song we hope those with unrequited feelings—or those who are longing for a beloved partner—will listen to.
It will remind you of the irreplaceable value of time spent with the one you love.
Love LetterGReeeeN
It’s a love song that conveys, just as it is, the bittersweet dilemma of having your feelings for someone overflow and not being able to put them into words.
It lets you feel the earnestness of a clumsy man—something like pure love.
I think many people will empathize with that clumsiness and find encouragement in it.
knot; tie; bind; concludeSaucy Dog
Just because your feelings are mutual doesn’t mean you’ll only feel happy.
I’m sure many people actually feel more pained or anxious after becoming a couple.
The song “Yui” captures those feelings in a way that makes you say, “I get it!”—it’s a track that sings about real, honest love.
Sung from the perspective of a slightly shy, somewhat negative boy, it’s a number that men in similar situations will relate to painfully well, and one that will make women’s hearts flutter too.
It’s fresh and innocent, yet in the end it leaves you with a sense of relief—a mutual-love song you can feel at ease with.
Hold me tight.YUTORI-SEDAI
YUTORI-SEDAI’s “Suki,” which became a viral hit and a hot topic mainly on social media, is a song many people say they’ve heard everywhere.
Its sequel is this track, “Gyutto Shite,” which follows “Suki.” While “Suki” captures feelings that resonate whether it’s unrequited or mutual love, this song vividly portrays the emotions after you start dating.
It cutely depicts the way you can become suspicious because you love someone too much, and feel anxious even while you’re happy.
If you find it hard to tell your partner about your anxieties, why not let this song speak for you?
We’re officially a couple!HoneyWorks feat. Hattori Juri (CV: Sakura Ayane)／
“We’re Officially Dating!” is a song by the character Juri Hattori—voiced by Ayane Sakura—and produced by HoneyWorks, known for its comfortable rhythm and refreshing melody.
The song tells a love story that might begin with just a little bit of courage.
The lyrics carry messages full of pent-up feelings and hopeful anticipation, and listening naturally brings a smile to your face.
For those holding onto romantic feelings but hesitating to take the next step, it’s an especially relatable track—one that offers a positive burst of energy.
To all of youSpontania feat. JUJU
Spontania feat.
JUJU’s “Kimi no Subete ni” delivers a hidden, aching love from the depths of the heart, carried on a fresh, vivid melody.
Released in 2008, it quickly captured the hearts of many, surpassing 1.8 million downloads right after its release.
The song masterfully portrays that delicate distance of “mutual feelings, but not yet together,” drawing empathy from listeners.
The emotions of that moment feel so real it’s as if you’re experiencing them side by side.
This track resounds with a sweet, heartrending wish to stay by someone’s side forever.
That quiet longing you feel when you’re in love—“I want to be closer”—gently seeps into the heart.