Friendly Rivalries in Anime and Manga series.
Works with their own pages
- Seen a lot in Ace of the Diamond, and not only among rival players, but also among teammates who compete for the same position:
- Protagonist Eijun Sawamura and Satoru Furuya are both pitchers with radically different styles and personalities whose main goal is to be The Ace of Seidou. They bicker a lot and sometimes even compete over silly things (like a tire for running), but they respect each other's skills and support the other when they're on the mound. It gets to the point that, when Sawamura gets the #1 jersey, Furuya sincerely congratulates him for it.
- The Kominato brothers, Ryousuke and Haruichi, are another example. While Ryousuke acts like an Aloof Big Brother and constantly chides Haruichi for "always following him everywhere" (going to the same school, playing in the same position, and even choosing the same bat), deep down he's proud of his little brother, and it's implied that he puts the act to help him toughen up. Haruichi for his part looks up to Ryousuke, and is determined to surpass him as a player one day.
- Saeki in Asteroid in Love sees the Earth Science Olympiad as this. She is willing to give her all, but doesn't have any hard feelings against those competing with her.
- Exaggerated in Ayakashi Triangle: Soga and Matsuri call themselves "rivals" pretty much entirely because Soga wants a rivalry. Though Soga does see he and Matsuri training together as a competition, Matsuri treats Soga like a Big Brother Mentor and Living Emotional Crutch, which the older ninja readily lives up to.Matsuri: I'm still inexperienced as a person and an exorcist ninja, so even little things fluster me. And when I'm insecure, I always go to you for help. I don't have any other guy friends. The only one I can talk to is my rival, Soga Ninokuru!
Suzu: I'm not so sure about Matsuri's definition of a "rival". - Tomo and Kagura of Azumanga Daioh, both having learned that Sakaki doesn't particularly rival back — she just wins and gets on with her life — seem to settle into this by the end of the third season.
- Most of the cast of Bakuman。 are mangaka competing with one another, but you'd be surprised how well they get along. Toru is basically the only one who is outright antagonistic to anyone else.
- Bartender: The bartenders don't really consider each other to be competitors since their styles are so different, and often send customers that would be better catered to by another bartender's style to each other. That said, they are relentless in their desire to one-up and out-do each other.
- Asta and Yuno from Black Clover. It seems to be the opposite at first given Yuno's somewhat condescending nature, but it's quickly made clear that it's this by the end of the first chapter. Despite their opposite personalities and innate talent, Yuno respects Asta greatly for his determination and has seen him as his savior since they were kids. Through their rivalry, the two push each other to become stronger.
- Touko and Sayaka from Bloom Into You are best friends who regularly compete for the top exam scores. While Touko always wins, she maintains that she's only able to push herself to stay on top because of the competition from Sayaka. It's played with to some extent, since it turns out that Sayaka is in love with Touko, and it's implied that she's not actually interested in the competition, but plays along just to help Touko maintain her high scores.
- Shinichi Kudo and Heiji Hattori from Case Closed, once Heiji figures out that Kudo and Conan are the same person. They're close friends who clearly respect each other (their minds are often completely in-sync whenever they do work together on cases), but Kudo's ego and Hattori's competitiveness occasionally ends up with them competing to see who can solve a case first.
- In Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, it tragically ends up as only one part thinking they had any friendship in-between, Zenitsu admired Kaigaku as his colleague in training despite all the volley of insults the two threw at each other, turns out Kaigaku really hated Zenitsu and betrayed their master to seek more power as a demon, then mocking their master’s suicide by Seppuku in order to atone for Kaigaku’s betrayal, that made Zenitsu lose all of the little respect he had for Kaigaku, fighting and killing him.
- Destroy All Humankind. They Can't Be Regenerated.: After bonding over a game of Magic: The Gathering, Hajime and Emi drop their hostile relations at school and form a secret friendship over their favorite hobby. However, Hajime is still determined to one day best Emi at both academics and Magic while Emi works hard to stay on top.
- Tycho Science and Princess Lal'c in Aim for the Top 2! Diebuster. As the top two ranked pilots, they constantly traded friendly jabs at kill counts.
- Dragon Ball: Goku's love for competition stems from his Saiyan ancestry, so he's always in search of new opponents to test himself against. In the early Dragon Ball series, Yamcha, Krillin, and Tien were his primary sparring partners, but he soon surpassed each of them. It wasn't until the Dragon Ball Z saga that Goku finally found opponents such as Vegeta, Majin Buu, and Beerus, who were strong enough to allow him to truly push himself beyond his limits.
- By the end of the Universal Tournament arc and the 2018 movie, Jiren and Broly join the list of insanely strong rivals Goku is eager to spar against while holding a massive degree of respect and fondness for.
- After the defeat of Majin Buu, Goku and Vegeta’s rivalry becomes friendlier, and now they both consider each other friends.
- Expecting to Fall into Ruin, I Aim to Become a Blacksmith: Eliza and Iris are each this over their academic performance as The Ace. Eliza listening to Iris' survival tips saves her life at one point, even. Since this is in the context of a Next Life as a Fictional Character plot, Eliza was originally supposed to be a high status Alpha Bitch bully to the Penny Among Diamonds Iris, but we never see it escalate to that level, with Eliza's anger channeled into Belligerent Sexual Tension with Kururi instead.
- Eyeshield 21:
- Sena has friendly rivalries with both Shin and Panther; in the case of the latter the two of them are practically friends, despite being on opposite teams. The same can be said of Ootawara and Kurita, and Sakuraba and Monta; one gets the feeling that if they played at the same school they would be the best of friends. Quarterback Youichi Hiruma isn't particularly civil to anyone, but his rivalries with Ojou quarterback Takami and Seibu quarterback Kid is about as close as he gets. He and Hakushuu quarterback/safety Marco verge on Friendly Enemy.
- An interesting case is Hiruma and Kid, who for some reason (considering Hiruma's personality) get along splendidly. They both think the other one is the best quarterback in the region. Even in the final arc, Hiruma still trolls Agon by saying Kid is a better quarterback than him.
- In Fairy Tail, Natsu's rival started out as Gray until their relationship gradually turned into this, while his former Evil Counterpart Gajeel became his new rival and he gained new Evil Counterparts in the short-lived Zancrow and Sting. Though Natsu may end up forming a friendly rivalry with both Gajeel and Sting, too.
- Food Wars!: Protagonist Soma Yukihira seems to actively be this with almost every chef he faces. Despite his boastful and somewhat irreverent nature, he's such a Nice Guy that it's almost impossible to make enemies with him. He can hold a normal conversation with Erina Nakiri in spite of her protests, has Ikumi falling for him, becomes good friends with Takumi, gets orientation from Akira, talks friendly with Alice during their match, compliments Subaru's motorcycle and convinces him to not give up on cooking just for losing one, and later hangs out with both Akira and Ryou after their Autumn Election match. In fact, you can tell he's pissed when Akira pulls a Rival Turned Evil and joins Azami's administration despite having the skills to fight against it like he and the others did.
- The volleyball anime Haikyuu!! has few examples of this:
- The main characters Hinata and Kageyama start as sworn enemies when Kageyama’s team crushes Hinata’s during a junior high tournament. Later, when it is revealed that they will be playing on the same high school team, they are required to get along better. While their petty fights and competition over anything (such as who will enter the gym first) carry on, they also become an essential set and Heterosexual Life-Partners due to their chemistry on the court. They are Vitriolic Best Buds, sharing a strong bond but never stopping the insults, fights, and mockery. They also never stop seeing each other as rivals as they are sworn to beat each other at a volleyball game in the future, be it on national or an international level. Manga later reveals them playing for opposing teams in regular season but still being the freak duo on Japan’s national team after the Time Skip.
- The main team of the series, Karasuno volleyball team, are friendly rivals with Tokyo-based team Nekoma. Two teams are called the “destined rivals” of each other. Since the two teams' animal representatives (cats for Nekoma and crows for Karasuno) are animals that are usually found at the dumpster, the matches between the two teams are often called "Battle at the Garbage Dump". The two teams often have practice matches and training camps together. Few examples of friendly rivalry between members include: Hinata and Kenma, Hinata and Inuoka, Tanaka and Yamamoto, Daichi and Kuroo, and Tsukishima and Kuroo.
- Tokyo-based teams in Fukurodani Academy Group are also friendly rivals as they often have training camps together. Namely, Fukurodani Academy and Nekoma seem close, such as the friendship between team captains Bokuto and Kuroo.
- As the protagonist Hinata Shouyou has a friendly and extroverted personality, he often becomes friendly with his on-court or would-be rivals. He and Date Tech’s big middle blocker Aone have immense respect for each other despite the hard contrast in their demeanour. He is also the first one to befriend Kenma, despite Kenma’s introverted personality. During training camp he also becomes close with Fukurodani’s Bokuto and later in another camp, he becomes friends with Date Tech’s Koganegawa.
- Harlem Beat: Kuwata from Yotsuya Unohara team has no qualms about teaching Naruse or conversing about team management with Kobayashi; both from rival team Johnan.
- Kale from Happy Happy Clover has been friends with Clover ever since they we're little. However Kale would mostly challenge Clover to various games and actives. He does't take losing very well at all, but he really cares for Clover and his friends.
- In the manga incarnation of Higurashi: When They Cry, this is the way Mion thinks of Keiichi. She also has a major crush on him too.
- In the sports anime, Hikaru No Densetsu, even though they're as different as night and day, Hikari and Shiina have no anmosity against one another (even if they're hurt about both having feelings for Takaaki) and support each other whatever way they can.
- Hunter × Hunter: The two main characters Gon and Killua have this relationship although it's usually seen as more than just friendship. Being the only kids in the Hunter Exam they instantly become the best of friendly rivals and in the 2011 anime, they even have a friendly race to the finish line. Although Killua did have his moments of bitterness in the final stage of the Hunter Exam towards Gon that could say otherwise though in the end, he does outright say he just wants to be friends with Gon.
- In JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Battle Tendency, Caesar Zeppeli and title character Joseph Joestar have a rivalry that started off extremely antagonistic, but fighting the Pillar Men together quickly turns them into Fire-Forged Friends. It is tragically cut short when Wammu kills Caesar.
- Kaguya and Shirogane from Kaguya-sama: Love Is War are academic rivals who always compete for the top spot during the end-of-semester exams, but this doesn't keep them from enjoying each other's company or having a rather large mutual crush. In fact, the rivalry exists because of the romance. Kaguya completely ignored Shirogane's Dogged Nice Guy routine in their freshman year, so Momo (who was annoyed by his constant mopping) suggested that he present himself as someone who could stand as her equal in order to get her attention.
- In Kiniro Mosaic, there is Alice to both Karen and Karasuma in regarding to Shinobu (since Shinbou admires Karasuma and Karen really admires Shinbou). Regardless, she maintains a good relationship between the said two characters and any negative feelings are often Played for Laughs.
- In the Lady!! anime, When Saint Patrick's announces the Lady's Crest is up for grabs, Lynn and Cathy acknowledge that while they both want it, it won't dent their friendship if one wins it and the other doesn't. Contrast to the manga where Cathy was flanderized into a Crazy Jealous Girl who declared that she hated Lynn for being Always Someone Better.
- Lyrical Nanoha:
- Fate and Signum started off as Worthy Opponents on opposite sides of Good Versus Good conflict. Once the circumstances forcing them to fight were resolved, they spark up a friendship that is still going strong ten years later (Fate is even noted In-Universe to be the only person who can make Signum openly relaxed outside of the Yagami family).
- All of the major Inter-Middle Championship competitors in Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha ViVid have a shared friendship based on their mutual love of competitive martial arts and their desire to defeat each other in the tournament.
- Sherlock Holmes and William James Moriarty of Moriarty the Patriot are actually friends for all that they're warring with their intelligence for the upper hand in their game of cat and mouse, trying to lead the other into doing what they want.
- Naruto:
- Sakura and Ino become this upon Sakura's discovery that Ino also has a crush on Sasuke. At first they'd actually drifted away from the "friendly" part, specially after Sakura also declares that she feels like she's under Ino's shadow and wants to step out of it, but regain it after their match in the Chunin Exams.
- Guy and Kakashi, as proclaimed (multiple times) by Guy. Kakashi, true to character, is rather apathetic about the whole thing. However, there are several times when Kakashi's shown to be Not So Above It All and actually enjoys their zany challenges. This especially applies later in the series when he becomes more relaxed and open in their friendship.
- Negima! Magister Negi Magi:
- Negi has this relationship with Kotaro. Likewise, his father Nagi has this relationship with Jack Rakan.
- Nodoka and Yue are best friends and, in their own words, "rivals in love". They spend more time encouraging each other to get close to Negi then the do pursuing him on their own.
- Rebuild World:
- Sheryl and Carol have a downplayed one, romantically over Akira. Sheryl is repeatedly envious of Carol's level of familiarity with Akira, while Carol is repeatedly disheartened to be assigned to guard Sheryl by Akira. Carol likes Sheryl's cunning that reminds Carol of her supposed best friend Viola (though she treats Sheryl better than Viola). Sheryl, being a bit warped with Akira as her Living Emotional Crutch, likes that Carol is clearly loyal and admiring of him, while viewing Carol as someone she needs to catch up to by working harder as a Guile Hero.
- Reina eventually outright declares herself Akira's rival, and goal whom she has to catch up to in capability as a hunter. This being motivated by resentment over Akira killing her first love Katsuya. But this takes place right after Reina swears to be his ally to make up for something she did to wrong him. Akira laughs, and this is the moment that cements the two as True Companions.
- Sailor Moon: What Usagi's Sibling Rivalry with Shingo and Chibiusa amounts to. While she does like to mess with them from time to time, it's mostly just good old friendly teasing between them. Her personal feuds with Rei also count.
- Slam Dunk has a borderline example, with Takenori Akagi and Jun Uozumi, who compete on who's the best Center in Kanagawa, but they greatly respect one another, to the point they end up hugging each other after their final match, crying Manly Tears. Even further, Uozumi actually comes to root for Akagi during the match with Kainan, and in the manga he shows up during the nationals to help Akagi out of a tight spot in the match against Sannoh.
- In The Story Between a Dumb Prefect and a High School Girl with an Inappropriate Skirt Length, all of the student council members (except Tsukishima) have this with each other, but it's especially pronounced between Sakuradaimon and Izubuchi and between Student Council President Yamato Nadeshiko and Vice President Kaoru Kogori. When the president enlists them all to collect donations for typhoon relief, they each compete to collect the most.
- In Tiger & Bunny, despite the competitive nature of the hero show and that the heroes themselves acknowledge each other as rivals, they remain friendly with each other, provide support and advice when the need arises and even throw a surprise birthday party for one of their own.
- Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs: Marie's five Reverse Harem members Julius, Jilk, Chris, Brad, and Greg are True Companions in a friendly rivalry to be the one who loves Marie most. This gets Played for Laughs as they care more about this than how much misery their Idiot Hero antics constantly cause Marie.
- Uma Musume runs on this trope, blending Pseudo-Romantic Friendship with a fierce competitive spirit on the track. The girls support each other as friends and cultivate rivalries in order to push each other to become as strong as possible.
- Variable Geo: Yuka and her best friend, Satomi, have known each other since childhood and have been competing against each other in full-contact Kyokushin for just as long. The series even concludes with the opening exchange between them, during the final match.
- The Villainous Daughter's Butler, I'll Crush the Destruction Flags: The Love Triangle dynamics among the main cast members all play out like this. Alicia's rivalry with Sophia over Cyril, Alforth's rivalry with Cyril over Sophia, and Libert's (one-sided) rivalry with Cyril over Alicia.
- Hitomi and Merle have one in The Vision of Escaflowne. One that Merle doesn't exactly win at.
- World Trigger: A large chunk of the agents at Border are intense rivals who compete with each other for high rankings and scores in the Rank Wars while being good friends during training sessions or while off duty. For example, it's not uncommon for Yuuma to spar with the irritable Kage to see who's the stronger ace before hanging out with each other and a few agents at a restaurant afterwards.
- Yu-Gi-Oh! SEVENS: Zigzagged with Luke. For 99% of the series, their rivalry is entirely one-sided. Yuga is hopelessly outclassed by Luke and he knows it. Their rivalry becomes a true one in the final episode when Yuga finally gets a win against Luke, then is presumed dead in the aftermath of the final battle. Luke spends the next two years yearning for a rematch he thinks he'll never get to have.
