More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers

Name: More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers
Rating: 3.9 (89 reviews)
Author: Yūki Kanamaru

3.9

Author: Yūki Kanamaru

Publisher: Kadokawa

Magazine: Young Ace

Volumes: 13

Release Date: 2019-03-04

Age Rating: 12+

More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers Synopsis

More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers is a romantic comedy manga about the growth and romance of a boy and girl forced to live as a “married couple” through a high school class called Marriage Practical Training. Jirō Yakuin, an introverted high school student, is paired with Akari Watanabe, a flashy, extroverted gyaru, for their school’s long-standing tradition of “Marriage Practical Training” at Seishun Academy. Jirō had hoped to be paired with his first crush, Shiori Sakurazaka, while Akari has feelings for the handsome Minami Tenjin. Both of them aim to swap partners using the school’s rule that allows top-performing pairs to switch. To achieve this, they decide to put on a convincing act as a married couple. At first, their relationship is purely cooperative, based on mutual benefit. But as they complete tasks and share daily life, they begin to see each other’s true selves and slowly open up. Akari is bright and assertive, while Jirō is reserved and introverted—their personalities and interests couldn’t be more different. Yet, despite still wanting to be with their original crushes, the time they spend acting as a married couple leads to personal growth, complex emotions, friendship, and eventually mutual trust. Through school assignments, events, part-time jobs during summer break, and special occasions like Christmas, the two gradually come to realize their true feelings for each other. It’s a story full of the bittersweetness and tension of youth, where love blossoms in the most unexpected circumstances.

More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers Rating Metrics

Story

3.8

Characters

3.8

Artwork

4.1

World Building

4.1

Themes

3.7

Pacing

3.8

More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers Editorial Reviews

Living Together… But Not Lovers!?

Today’s recommendation is More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers, a romantic comedy that has even been greenlit for a TV anime adaptation. Set during the third year of high school, the story’s premise revolves around a unique (and enviable) class called “Marriage Practical Training,” where male and female students are paired up and required to live together in the school dorms as part of their coursework—in other words, a mock married life. The main plot centers around a love triangle between the otaku protagonist, Jirō Yakuin, the flashy gyaru heroine Akari Watanabe, and Jirō’s childhood friend Shiori Sakurazaka. Jirō and Shiori have secretly liked each other for years, but neither has been able to confess. Instead, the school pairing system assigns Jirō to live with Akari—a type of girl he’s never been comfortable around. As Jirō and Akari’s “married life” begins, subtle changes in their feelings start to emerge. The distance between them gradually closes, while Shiori’s feelings for Jirō also intensify. Despite being set in high school, the series develops into a surprisingly tangled and emotionally charged romance. One of the biggest charms of More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers is the way its unusual setting drives the romance forward. Living with a cute classmate in high school would almost certainly be forbidden in real life anywhere in the world—but let’s be honest, many of us probably dreamed at least once about living with our crush during our teenage years. This manga brings that fantasy to life. Because of the premise, readers get to enjoy scenarios you wouldn’t normally see in standard romance manga—like eating your crush’s home-cooked meals every day or waking up to find them by your side in the morning. The manga does feature a fair number of slightly suggestive scenes, so it’s generally recommended for readers aged 13 and up. With its upcoming anime adaptation, More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers is a hot title worth checking out.

August 14, 2025