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.
Playlist
| More Than Friends, Not Quite Lovers: A Collection of Love Songs About That Delicate In-Between | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| show_chart | Title | Playlist | Review |
| 1east | Just a FriendMrs. GREEN APPLE |  play_arrow | A song of conflict that captures the heart through music |
| 2east | playing loversmakaroni enpitsu |  play_arrow | Expressing the feelings of a bittersweet love that cannot be confessed |
| 3east | More than friends, less than loversAsa |  play_arrow | A masterpiece that sings of ASA’s bittersweet romantic feelings |
| 4east | to fall in loveSHISHAMO |  play_arrow | Bittersweet feelings from a friend to a lover |
| 5east | More than friends, less than loversmatsumura kanau |  play_arrow | Depicting the struggle of an unfulfilled love and the aching feelings it brings |
| 6east | You know what,are-kun &『yuika’} |  play_arrow | Spring love song: youth portrayed as a duet |
| 7east | Not quite loversTENSONG |  play_arrow | A song that sings of a wistful love and a frustrating longing |
| 8east | I…atarayo |  play_arrow | A classic song that poignantly sings about mutual unrequited love |
| 9east | I hope I can be your lover.Kaneyori Masaru |  play_arrow | Kaneyori Masaru’s Love Song |
| 10east | cold; curt; blunt; unfriendlyRADWIMPS |  play_arrow | A delicate relationship that's more than friends but not quite lovers |
| 11east | sense of distanceHakoniiwa Ririi |  play_arrow | Depicting the pre-romance sense of distance and closeness of the heart |
| 12east | Stay by my side.Yuika |  play_arrow | A heartwarming coming-of-age song about friendship turning into love |
| 13east | Feeling in loveNishino Kana |  play_arrow | Kana Nishino’s unrequited love song |
| 14east | L and RME:I |  play_arrow | A love song that delicately depicts feelings of love through earphones |
| 15east | Leading someone on is a serious offense!arekunn |  play_arrow | A song depicting unrequited love for a teasing/flirtatious person |
| 16east | Winter Giftmosao. |  play_arrow | A heartbreaking winter love song popular on TikTok |
| 17east | mutual unrequited loveDXTEEN |  play_arrow | A love song that captures the bittersweet sense of distance in youth. |
| 18east | Being a little short is just right.YUTORI-SEDAI |  play_arrow | A relatable love song that portrays the feelings of unrequited love |
| 19east | loveback number |  play_arrow | A heartwarming classic that sings of feelings for someone you love |
| 20east | Try loving—it’s not like you’ll lose anything.neguse. |  play_arrow | Neguse’s song that portrays the bittersweet feelings of love. |
| 21east | Me too,YUTORI-SEDAI |  play_arrow | A ballad about an unattainable love |
| 22east | Trancybiz×ZERA feat suiso |  play_arrow | A heartrending song that portrays the pain of unrequited love |
| 23east | Again (with Ai Otsuka)HIROBA |  play_arrow | A theme song co-written by Yoshiki Mizuno and Ai Otsuka |
| 24east | sign; mark; symbol; omenMr.Children |  play_arrow | Mr.Children has released numerous love songs… |
| 25east | ironySUPER BEAVER |  play_arrow | A psychological drama song depicting the contradictions of human relationships |
| 26east | Having someone you likeChi-Young |  play_arrow | A song about subtle romantic feelings, expressing inner emotions. |
| 27east | I’m really sorry.≠ME |  play_arrow | Depicting a bittersweet love that is more than friends but not quite lovers |
| 28east | Ms. Hanako on a high pedestalback number |  play_arrow | A song that portrays the heartache of unrequited love |
| 29east | unrequited lovemiwa |  play_arrow | miwa’s poignant ballad portrays the feelings of love |
| 30east | usmilet |  play_arrow | The conflict between the courage to express one’s feelings and the anxiety that holds one back |
| 31east | Song of PointillismMrs. GREEN APPLE feat. Inoue Sonoko |  play_arrow | Insert song from the film “Tenbyō no Uta”: a poignant ballad of pure love |
| 32east | ONE WAY LOVENishino Kana |  play_arrow | Kana Nishino's famous song that sings about the bittersweet feelings of unrequited love |
| 33east | maybeYOASOBI |  play_arrow | A poignant song that depicts the pain of parting and lingering attachments. |
| 34east | Dear My FriendEvery Little Thing |  play_arrow | A song that portrays the delicate shift from friendship to love |
| 35east | I Want to Be Honest feat. KagechiyoHisame |  play_arrow | A poignant duet song that sings of a heart wavering in love |
| 36east | two peopleaiko |  play_arrow | aiko’s love songs express complex emotions |
| 37east | That’s not fair.Ochiai Wataru |  play_arrow | A song that delicately weaves words to express a bittersweet love. Repor... |
| 38east | aloeFunatsu Mahiro |  play_arrow | A song that gently embraces the feelings of an ambiguous love |
| 39east | Just friends.TETORA |  play_arrow | A song that portrays the boundary between friendship and love |
| 40east | FriendKetsumeishi |  play_arrow | A heartwarming song that celebrates the importance of friendship. |
| 41east | I want to be your lover.Chōkyūmei |  play_arrow | A poignant song that expresses feelings of love in its lyrics |
| 42east | I want to be your boyfriend.Cody Rī (Ri) |  play_arrow | Cody Lee’s sweet love pop song |
| 43east | Confession Songyuka |  play_arrow | I can relate to this youthful song about confessing feelings of love! |
| 44east | A Little Love SongMONGOL800 |  play_arrow | A classic love song that sings of feelings for a woman |
| 45east | ex-darlingkuriipuhaipe |  play_arrow | The unstoppable feelings of love and the inner conflict, even after a breakup |
| 46east | Age is just a number.HoneyWorks feat. Ayase Koyuki (CV: Horie Shun) |  play_arrow | HoneyWorks' poignant age-gap love song |
| 47east | Unfit to be a loverKoresawa |  play_arrow | A heart-stirring song that sings of the difficulties and strength of love |
| 48east | Love songMarushii |  play_arrow | Depicting the warmth of love in everyday life |
| 49east | But you have a boyfriend, right?Kasamura Tōta |  play_arrow | A poignant song that portrays unrequited love for a same-gender friend |
| 50east | The End of Summeraibii karaa |  play_arrow | The bittersweet ache of mutual unrequited love at summer’s end. |
| 51east | boyfriendaiko |  play_arrow | The greatest of aiko, who sings many love songs, … |
| 52east | I’ve been in love with you for a long time.kepura |  play_arrow | A love song that portrays the space between bittersweet love and friendship. |
| 53east | First lovematsumura kanau |  play_arrow | Sing(s) of the sweet-and-sour taste of first love and its wistful, aching feelings. |
| 54east | Senpai, I’m in love.Inoue Yuu | Inoue Yuu’s heart-throbbing junior-year love song | |
| 55east | More than lovers, less than love (TV Size)＝LOVE |  play_arrow | =LOVE's new song is being adapted into an anime |
| 56east | Thunder Sakura feat. 9Lana, SAKURAmotiMAISONdes |  play_arrow | Raizakura portrays the poignant feelings of unrequited love. |
| 57east | Friend’s PoemNakamura Ataru |  play_arrow | A song that contemplates the difficulty of male-female friendship and the boundary between love and friendship. |
| 58east | Friend/lovermoumoon |  play_arrow | A song depicting the delicate relationship between friends and lovers |
| 59east | parallel linesEve × suis from Yorushika |  play_arrow | A poignant love song about feelings for someone special |
| 60east | seesawtuki. |  play_arrow | A bittersweet love song expressed with a seesaw |
| 61east | I miss youAdo |  play_arrow | An insert song from a film, a track by Ado that sings of a bittersweet love. |
| 62east | Ah, geez.Saucy Dog |  play_arrow | The classic song that sings about the feelings of unrequited love, “Ah, Enough Already.” |
| 63east | Let’s hold hands.makomina |  play_arrow | MakominA’s love song, a bittersweet youth |
| 64east | In loveHY |  play_arrow | A bittersweet love song that embraces heartbreak as a cherished memory |
| 65east | GarnetOku Hanako |  play_arrow | The heartwarming theme song of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time |
| 66east | If only I could say I love youKERENMI & atarayo |  play_arrow | A collaborative song that expresses a heart that can't be honest |
| 67east | CHE.R.RYYUI |  play_arrow | A heartwarming classic by YUI that portrays a springtime love |
| 68east | A Song for a FriendSonar Pocket |  play_arrow | A coming-of-age pop tune that sings about the bonds of friendship |
| 69east | Love Songmosao. |  play_arrow | A song that gently conveys feelings of love through music |
| 70east | My dearest personMatsuri, Takumi |  play_arrow | A beautiful collaboration about an unattainable love |
| 71east | I stillmilet |  play_arrow | A tale of two people enchanted by a magical love |
| 72east | youHY |  play_arrow | A song that portrays the anxieties of love and a bittersweet longing. |
| 73east | Less than friends, less than lovers703goushitsu |  play_arrow | Some people have even used a breakup as an opportunity to stop using same-sex pronouns… |
| 74east | Love’s Melody and Rainy SkiesAAA |  play_arrow | A song portraying a bittersweet love on a rainy day |
| 75east | Love at First SparkCHiCO with HoneyWorks meets mafumafu |  play_arrow | A song by CHiCO and Mafumafu that depicts the romantic feelings of men and women |
| 76east | Song for…HY |  play_arrow | HY 'Song for…' is a love story. |
| 77east | Senpai.HONEY WORKS |  play_arrow | The fresh, translucent singing voice of a younger woman |
| 78east | Stay by my side.JUJU |  play_arrow | JUJU's captivating love songs |
| 79east | Lovely♡FriendshipSPEED |  play_arrow | SPEED’s love cheer song that sings about the anxieties of unrequited love |
| 80east | Your favorite songUVERworld |  play_arrow | A chance to deepen a relationship that’s more than friends but not yet lovers… |
| 81east | KissHugaiko |  play_arrow | A bittersweet love song about thinking of a friend, a classic by aiko |
| 82east | Because I like you.Yuika |  play_arrow | Yuika’s “Because I Love You” expresses a wistful, aching love. |
| 83east | Blue Springakane (Otoniae) |  play_arrow | Onriame’s “Aoharu,” depicting the emotions of first love |
| 84east | One-sided lovemafumafu |  play_arrow | A classic song that sings of the bittersweet feelings of love at a graduation ceremony |
| 85east | someone I likeUeno Yūka |  play_arrow | A confession of the anguish of falling for the same person your friend likes |
| 86east | The distance between you and meInoue Sonoko |  play_arrow | A song about two people in love drawing closer to each other |
| 87east | I want to be your lover.Abe Mao |  play_arrow | A renowned song by Mao Abe about unrequited love for someone older |
| 88east | My friend’s lover is the person I used to date.Ren |  play_arrow | REN's poignant unrequited love song |
| 89east | Only for you, clear skiesYorushika |  play_arrow | The bittersweetness and complexity of young love |
| 90east | Banzai ~ So glad I loved you ~Urufuruzu |  play_arrow | The lyrics are depicted very straightforwardly, and it’s impres… |
| 91east | Pure Love SongShonan no Kaze |  play_arrow | In story-like lyrics, it conveys an awkward man's heart... |
| 92east | Confession SongKyarameru Peppāzu |  play_arrow | Expressing the anguish of unrequited love and heartfelt longing |
| 93east | The Day You and I MetFunatsu Mahiro |  play_arrow | A love song that portrays the deepening bond of lovers from a fateful encounter |
| 94east | Love LetterGReeeeN |  play_arrow | An inexpressible love and pure feelings |
| 95east | knot; tie; bind; concludeSaucy Dog |  play_arrow | A heartwarming song that sings of the anxiety and bittersweetness of mutual love |
| 96east | Hold me tight.YUTORI-SEDAI |  play_arrow | A love song by YUTORI-SEDAI that’s trending on social media |
| 97east | We’re officially a couple!HoneyWorks feat. Hattori Juri (CV: Sakura Ayane)／ |  play_arrow | A story about mustering courage and beginning a romance |
| 98east | To all of youSpontania feat. JUJU |  play_arrow | Spontania’s heartrending melody that weaves feelings of love |
| 99east | Emotionwacci |  play_arrow | Depict the shifts of emotions in a wacci love song |
| 100east | I can’t get used to itYOAKE |  play_arrow | YOAKE’s diverse music, and from friendship to love |