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 Depicting Subtle Relationships (51–60)
Friend’s PoemNakamura Ataru
Friendship between men and women is tricky, isn’t it? If love is something that might eventually fade, it’s understandable to want to stay just friends—maybe that’s more common than we think.
And where exactly is the line between being “male and female” and being “the opposite sex”? Once I start thinking about things like that, I can’t stop—that’s the kind of song this is.
Friend/lovermoumoon
“Tomodachi/Koibito” is a track included on moumoon’s 2012 album “No Night Land.” That more-than-friends, not-quite-lovers relationship is kind of vague and a little painful, isn’t it? It’s a song overflowing with the desire to make things clear: Am I a friend? A lover?
parallel linesEve × suis from Yorushika
When it comes to songs that overflow with feelings for someone special with whom you shared joyful times, “Heikōsen” comes to mind.
Released in 2021 by Eve—active as a Vocaloid producer and singer-songwriter—and suis, the vocalist of Yorushika, it pairs a warm, everyday-tinged band sound with a story-like progression of bittersweet lyrics.
It portrays the moment you realize the importance of the person who was always by your side as if it were natural, capturing the stirrings of love.
The duet, which beautifully reflects the emotions of two people who feel the same way about each other, makes it a track that truly tugs at the heart.
seesawtuki.
A bittersweet love song by tuki.
that overlays the delicate distance between two people in romance with the image of a seesaw.
It’s a track we hope those in relationships that aren’t progressing—and who feel that frustrating stagnation—will listen to.
When you’re struggling with the distance or mismatch in feelings between you and your partner, you’re sure to find moments that resonate.
The album “15,” releasing in January 2025 and featuring this song, is a collection of tracks she created up to the age of 15—be sure to check it out along with this track.
More Than Friends, Not Quite Lovers: A Collection of Love Songs Depicting Delicate Relationships (61–70)
I miss youAdo
“Aitakute,” which was used as an insert song in the film Kaguya-sama: Love Is War – Final, was released by Ado in 2021, a singer known for masterfully performing music across genres.
The song portrays someone trying to convey their honest feelings—overcoming a love where both sides care for each other but struggle to be straightforward.
Set to a warm band sound featuring acoustic guitar, her emotional vocals resonate throughout.
Listen to the pure passion of wanting to stay by a loved one’s side, in both joyful and difficult times.
Ah, geez.Saucy Dog
Saucy Dog’s song “Aa, Mou,” which captures the sentimental feeling of falling in love, grips the hearts of many people with unrequited crushes and doesn’t let go.
Shinya Ishihara’s gentle yet powerful vocals and the mid-tempo melody color the worries and joys of everyone in love.
Also beloved as the theme song for the drama “Dekinai Futari,” this track expresses small exchanges and emotional tremors in a way that resonates with listeners.
To everyone quietly harboring feelings for an upperclassman or senior at school or work, why not listen to this song and tune in to the whispers of your heart?
Let’s hold hands.makomina
The duo unit MakoMina, who also became popular for their “Twin Dance,” released the love song “Let’s Hold Hands” in 2016, which portrays feelings for an older schoolmate and the ups and downs of romance.
You can really picture a girl in love: boldly shouting her love to the person she likes, getting excited as she and her girlfriends share updates about how things are going—it’s all so vivid.
It’s an adorable song, perfect for women who have a crush on an upperclassman.
Since it’s also a dance track, you can have fun with your friends too!
