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, Not Quite Lovers: A Collection of Love Songs About Delicate Relationships (21–30)
unrequited lovemiwa
It’s a slightly bittersweet ballad by miwa.
It’s a song that portrays the aching feelings of a girl who wants to confess her feelings to the person she likes but can’t.
Because the lyrics directly express her anxiety, I think every girl in love will be able to relate.
usmilet
A heartrending love song by milet that earnestly sings about cherishing the present moment, even while feeling anxious about possibly losing a relationship by confessing one’s feelings.
She conveys the interplay of courage and fear in taking a step forward through her signature husky voice.
Born from the album “us,” released in August 2019, this track also perfectly captures the world of the NTV Wednesday drama “Fake Affair,” for which it served as the theme song.
It gently accompanies those who struggle to express their feelings honestly to someone, or who hesitate out of a desire not to change a precious relationship.
More Than Friends, Not Quite Lovers: A Collection of Love Songs Depicting Ambiguous Relationships (31–40)
Song of PointillismMrs. GREEN APPLE feat. Inoue Sonoko
“Tenbyou no Uta,” with Sonoko Inoue’s crystal-clear vocals that resonate in the heart.
Released in 2018 by the rock band Mrs.
GREEN APPLE, it was featured as an insert song in the film Aonatsu: Kimi ni Koi Shita 30-Nichi (Blue Summer: The 30 Days I Fell in Love With You).
Inoue sings from a woman’s perspective and Motoki Ohmori from a man’s, expressing a pure, innocent love.
The piano-centered melody, which unfolds dynamically, is also striking.
Even if they can only be together for a short time, the way they cherish their moments warms the heart.
It’s a bittersweet yet beautiful ballad that portrays a love story between two people who feel the same for each other.
ONE WAY LOVENishino Kana
Kana Nishino’s song “ONE WAY LOVE” expresses the thrills of romance with a tender, bittersweet emotion.
Released in 2015, this track realistically portrays the complex, subdued feelings of mutual yet unspoken affection.
With Nishino’s signature, highly relatable storytelling, it conveys the frustration and anxiety of being unable to move beyond friendship, while still wanting to gaze only at that special someone with single-minded devotion.
These bittersweet lyrics gently stir universal longings, small acts of courage, and the hopeful “what if…”.
It’s the perfect song for anyone in the midst of love, holding emotions that are hard to put into words.
maybeYOASOBI
Released in 2020, this song portrays the raw emotions of a couple facing a breakup.
It captures the cool composure of saying goodbye without tears, alongside the lingering attachment buried deep inside.
The protagonist’s attempt to tell themselves “it can’t be helped” without finding anyone to blame resonates with aching poignancy.
Set to a mid-tempo melody, the lyrics trace the complex feelings of trying to accept the separation while still wishing they could go back to the past.
Included on the album THE BOOK, it reached No.
15 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100.
It’s a song that gently accompanies those struggling in a relationship or those who have experienced parting with someone dear.
Dear My FriendEvery Little Thing
A heartwarming pop tune by Every Little Thing that gently portrays the shifting dynamics of a close friendship.
As the two spend more time alone together, their confusion and anticipation are captured through a refreshing melody line and clear, transparent vocals.
Marked by a lively rhythm and catchy sound, this track was released in January 1997 and reached No.
9 on the Oricon weekly chart.
It’s a recommended song for when you want to express your feelings to a dear friend or share the emotions of wavering between friendship and budding romance.
I Want to Be Honest feat. KagechiyoHisame
A duet by Hisame and Kagechiyo that sets the complex emotions of a girl in love to a pop melody.
While hiding her feelings, she can’t help but be preoccupied with the person she likes—her wavering heart is delicately portrayed over a light, buoyant rhythm.
Released in March 2025, the music video has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube.
It’s a must-listen for anyone who’s experienced that frustrating kind of love where you like someone so much you just can’t be honest about it.