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Shoujo (“young girl”) is the Japanese term commonly used to refer to visual novels, anime, and manga whose target demographic is made up of young teenage girls. More than any other genre, shoujo anime series focus on romance as a key plot element and are often set in a school or a fantasy world, where a female protagonist lives her adventures and overcomes obstacles. 

Romantic shoujo anime are often the most satisfying to watch: they’re recognizable for their use of bright colors and emphasis on the characters’ emotional development. A typical example of the genre depicts the main characters meeting and falling in love, experiencing various hurdles throughout their relationship until they finally overcome them, culminating in a lovey-dovey happy ending. With a little bit of comedy, tragedy, drama, and of course love, it’s no wonder that these anime have become so popular.

But you know what they say: the course of true love never did run smoothly. For some characters, being in love means enduring more hardship than most have ever gone through.

If love is in the air and you want to enjoy some good romance anime, our list highlights the best titles from the Japanese animation world. The romance genre has more than enough shows to satisfy every romantic out there!

#1

A Silent Voice

A Silent Voice

2016 | 2h 10m 

A Silent Voice follows a former bully turned outcast who decides to reconnect and befriend the deaf girl he had tormented when he was a kid. The movie covers some heavy themes like suicide, disability, bullying, social alienation, and the pursuit of redemption. A Silent Voice is a little gem that deserves all its recognition.

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Sa Ruuu
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm still mad that the other bullies never learned their lesson or admitted their faults, they just packed it all on Shoya (main former bully)

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#2

Your Name

Your Name

2016 | 1h 47m 
 

If you’re an active member of the anime community, there’s a 100% chance that you’ve heard about this movie. It depicts a high school student in Tokyo and a high school girl in the Japanese countryside who suddenly and inexplicably begin to swap bodies and live each others’ lives. This one has everything you can look for: outstanding graphics, a catchy soundtrack, and a breathtaking plot.

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#3

Kamisama Kiss

Kamisama Kiss

2012 | 25 episodes + 5 special episodes
 

Nanami, a homeless girl, becomes the new Earth Deity at a small temple. As the story progresses, Nanami falls in love with Tomoe, a yokai who also lives at the temple. Despite their requited love, Tomoe rejects her since love between a human and a yokai is forbidden. There’s no reason you should sleep on this romantic anime with such memorable characters!

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#4

Snow White With The Red Hair

Snow White With The Red Hair

2015 | 24 episodes + 1 special episode
 

Shirayuki, always taught to hide her unusual red hair from the world, is noticed by Prince Raji, who orders her to become his concubine. With nowhere to go, she flees to another country, where she meets Prince Zen. It’s the beginning of a new life at the royal palace of Clarines! A refreshing fantasy story between an optimistic heroine and a prince who constantly stays on her watch.

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#5

Maid Sama!

Maid Sama!

2010 | 26 episodes + 1 special episode
 

Ayuzawa Misaki is the student council president at Seika High, a notorious school with a low percentage of female students. Unbeknownst to her classmates, she works part-time at a Maid Cafe. When a student from her school discovers her secret, she does anything she can to make sure he keeps it. A cool romance anime with a perfect story and character development!

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#6

Horimiya

Horimiya

2021 | 13 episodes + 6 special episodes
 

Popular Hori and social outcast Miyamura couldn’t be more different. When they learn each other’s true personalities, they end up becoming close friends. Horimiya creates drama and excitement for two high-school students who realize they have feelings for each other without typical love-story clichés, such as creating conflict between the two protagonists or creating a clear antagonist.

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#7

Kimi Ni Todoke: From Me To You

Kimi Ni Todoke: From Me To You

2009 | 38 episodes

Get ready to fall in love with one of the best romance anime around! Kimi Ni Todoke follows the story of a girl named Sawako. Her appearance and name are eerily similar to Sadako from the movie The Ring, which has caused her classmates to avoid her like the plague. The poor girl just wants to make friends and be like every other student, but everyone thinks of her as an evil spirit. Shota Kazehaya is the first to ignore the rumors and treat her like a normal person.

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#8

Yona Of The Dawn

Yona Of The Dawn

2014 | 24 episodes + 3 special episodes

Yona Of The Dawn is not one of those cliché shoujo anime that only focus on romance. Princess Yona flees the palace with dreams of living a new life when the man she loves kills her father. With her guard Hak by her side, she must piece together the remains of an ancient legend that might be the key to reclaiming her kingdom from those who stole it from her.

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#9

Toradora!

Toradora!

2008 | 25 episodes + 1 special episode

Who would have thought that one of the best romance anime of all time would be a story about a tiger and a dragon? If you’re looking for a love anime that combines humor, romance, and sheer hilarity, then Toradora! is the show for you. Ryuuji may look like a criminal with his sharp eyes and intimidating aura, but he’s actually a nice guy. On the other hand, Taiga is a tiny, doll-like student with a foul temper and an even fouler mouth. When their lives become intertwined, they decide to help each other out in order to pursue their romantic interests.

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#10

Fruits Basket

Fruits Basket

2001 | 26 episodes

The plot of Fruits Basket is definitely a unique one. Tooru, a homeless high school girl, gets taken in by the Souma family when she discovers their terrible secret. The members of this family turn into animals from the Chinese Zodiac whenever they are hugged by anyone of the opposite sex who isn’t possessed by one of the animals of the Zodiac. However, this strange phenomenon is no laughing matter; rather, it is a terrible curse that holds a dark history.

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Kyukyu Chu
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

of you haven't watched this than youre not a real anime lover. This one is DIAMOND

#11

Howl's Moving Castle

Howl's Moving Castle

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Pheebs
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Love love love the anime. For anyone interested/unaware, the book by Diana Wynne Jones is a bit different than the anime, but also wonderful.

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#12

Blue Spring Ride

Blue Spring Ride

2014 | 12 episodes + 2 special episodes
 

Childhood friends Futaba and Kou unexpectedly meet again in high school. Futaba has always been in love with him, but the boy she knew has become a completely different person, as he is now cold and indifferent. Can Futaba make things work? Get ready for a deep, warm, and enjoyable love story!

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#13

Your Lie In April

Your Lie In April

2014 | 22 episodes 

Your Lie In April falls under the sad romance anime category. It follows the story of a young pianist, Kоsei Arima, who loses the ability to hear the piano after his mother’s death. However, upon meeting violinist Kaori Miyazono, he slowly regains his footing. The series director, Kyohei Ishiguro, wanted his adaptation to be appealing to those people who usually do not watch anime. In our eyes, he succeeded at this task with flying colors!

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Kyndal T
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Never again! I cried so much! This whole story broke my brain.

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#14

Ouran High School Host Club

Ouran High School Host Club

2006 | 26 episodes

Ouran High School Host Club is a romantic comedy that parodies all the tropes you see in shoujo anime. The story follows Haruhi, a poor girl at a rich kids’ school whose life changes when she stumbles on the Host Club, an unusual extra-curricular activity for idle rich kids. Haruhi is forced to join the club to pay off debt and thus begins a series of hilarious antics by Haruhi and the boys in the club as they host guests and go on ridiculous adventures. The series is silly and outrageous, but it’s also a beautiful parody of shoujo tropes that both mock and celebrate the genre.

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Kyukyu Chu
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of my fav, i love the chaos & the beauty of the characters. Def recommended

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#15

Fruits Basket (2019)

Fruits Basket (2019)

2019 | 63 episodes
 

After Tooru is taken in by the Souma family, she learns that twelve family members transform involuntarily into animals of the Chinese zodiac and helps them deal with the emotional pain caused by the transformations. The author, who had limited involvement with the 2001 adaptation and disagreed with some of the changes, has been fully involved in the production of the 2019 edition.

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Kyukyu Chu
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope them make season 3 of this. The story is sooo good and squeezing lots of my tears

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#16

My Little Monster

My Little Monster

2012 | 13 episodes + 1 special episode
 

Shizuku, an asocial girl who only cares about her school grades, strikes an unlikely bond with Haru, a troublemaker who turns her life upside down. Despite seeming so different, he’s not much different from her. He also understands little about human nature and does not have any friends. Much to Shizuku’s surprise, he proclaims that she will be his friend and immediately confesses his feelings towards her.

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xiao xiao
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The only thing I remember from this show is him saying "shut up or I'll rape you"

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#17

Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War

Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War

2019 | 24 episodes
 

Miyuki and Kaguya seem to be the perfect match: Kaguya is the daughter of a wealthy conglomerate family, and Miyuki is the school’s top student. Although they like each other, they are too proud to confess their love, coming up with schemes to make the other confess first. You better catch up on this comedy anime because the third season will be out in April 2022!

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#18

Say "I Love You."

Say "I Love You."

2012 | 13 episodes + 1 special episode
 

Mei is a quiet girl who has never had a boyfriend and hasn’t been able to make friends since first grade because of a childhood incident that left her believing that people will betray each other sooner or later. The day Mei injures the most popular boy in school, for some inexplicable reason, he takes an interest in her!

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xiao xiao
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hated this one and never finished it, the guy is basically "I'll kiss this girl, and have sex with this one because they'll be sad if I don't agree, and I'm too nice to reject"

#19

Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai

Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai

2018 | 13 episodes

Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai is a fun and interesting romance anime set in the modern world. The story follows our protagonist Sakuta as he deals with a strange phenomenon known as Puberty Syndrome, which causes random people to spontaneously develop unusual physical changes, mental issues, or social problems. Sakuta’s first encounter with this phenomenon happens when he sees a bunny girl who seems invisible to everyone, except to Sakuta.

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#20

Special A

Special A

2008 | 24 episodes
 

Hikari Hanazono has always been able to do things that ordinary people cannot do. As a child, she assumed everyone else was out of her league until she met Kei Takishima. From that point on, she has sworn to best Kei at everything, ranging from academics to athletics. While Hikari treats Kei as a rival, she is completely oblivious that he harbors hidden feelings for her.

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#21

Golden Time

Golden Time

2013 | 24 episodes

Banri Tada is a newly admitted male student at a private law school in Tokyo. Due to the after-effects of a fall from a bridge shortly after his high school graduation, he suffers from retrograde amnesia. He befriends fellow freshman Mitsuo Yanagisawa, leading to the beautiful yet obsessive Kouko Kaga. The bridge where Banri lost his memory is based on the Hourai Bridge in Shimada and has become a popular place for anime tourism since Golden Time was released.

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#22

Clannad: After Story

Clannad: After Story

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Skara Brae
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This has it all. Comedy, tragedy, and everything between. I think this, along with the sequel, answers the question of the meaning of life: Can you help others you care about be happy? Despite the hardships, will you discover that helping and loving them will make yourself feel stronger, more alive, and happier in the end?

#23

Violet Evergarden

Violet Evergarden

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Skara Brae
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Such a strong story of a victimized, damaged person learning to live, and grow to become truly admirable and to find a place in the world.

#25

My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU

My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU

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#30

DARLING IN THE FRANXX

DARLING IN THE FRANXX

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#31

Chivalry Of A Failed Knight

Chivalry Of A Failed Knight

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#32

The Ancient Magus' Bride

The Ancient Magus' Bride

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#33

The Garden Of Words

The Garden Of Words

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#35

Weathering With You

Weathering With You

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#41

Monthly Girls' Nozaki-Kun Specials

Monthly Girls' Nozaki-Kun Specials

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#46

Tsukigakirei

Tsukigakirei

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Sanjay Singh Thakur
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Definitely one of the best and my most favorite romance anime forever!! Beautiful animation, characters, story & everything is kirei!! ❤❤ I love it so much 😌😌😇😇❤❤

#47

Nana

Nana

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K- THULU
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sad, beautiful exploration of friendship. A true classic. Funny, heartfelt, frustrating,full of great music and fantastic characters. Unfortunately the anime ended long before the manga so the ending left so much unsaid. Has a special place in my heart, one of my all time favorites .

#49

Princess Jellyfish

Princess Jellyfish

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#50

Tsubasa Chronicle

Tsubasa Chronicle

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#51

Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day

Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day

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K- THULU
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Great one if you want a good cry. Not one to binge on unless you want to collapse from emotional overload.

#52

Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions!

Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions!

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#55

Don't Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro

Don't Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro

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#56

Cardcaptor Sakura

Cardcaptor Sakura

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#57

Josee, The Tiger And The Fish

Josee, The Tiger And The Fish

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#59

Engaged To The Unidentified

Engaged To The Unidentified

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#60

Karin: Chibi Vampire

Karin: Chibi Vampire

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#62

Tonikawa: Over The Moon For You

Tonikawa: Over The Moon For You

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#64

Vampire Knight

Vampire Knight

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Kyndal T
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The twist at the end really got me. Super unexpected. Gonna read the manga soon so I'll finally know how it ends.

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#71

Tokyo Mew Mew

Tokyo Mew Mew

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K- THULU
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Depend on which version you watch. The old dub makes it a screwball comedy but the Japanese version is much more of a romance.

#72

Sailor Moon Crystal

Sailor Moon Crystal

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#73

The Melancholy Of Haruhi Suzumiya

The Melancholy Of Haruhi Suzumiya

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#75

The Place Promised In Our Early Days

The Place Promised In Our Early Days

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#76

Yamada-Kun And The Seven Witches

Yamada-Kun And The Seven Witches

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#77

The Pet Girl Of Sakurasou

The Pet Girl Of Sakurasou

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#79

Rent-A-Girlfriend

Rent-A-Girlfriend

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#80

My Next Life As A Villainess

My Next Life As A Villainess

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#81

The Familiar Of Zero

The Familiar Of Zero

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#82

Dance With Devils

Dance With Devils

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#83

Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop

Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop

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#84

Sekai Ichi Hatsukoi: The World's Greatest First Love

Sekai Ichi Hatsukoi: The World's Greatest First Love

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#85

Hitorijime My Hero

Hitorijime My Hero

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#86

Recovery Of An Mmo Junkie

Recovery Of An Mmo Junkie

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#87

The Story Of Saiunkoku

The Story Of Saiunkoku

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#89

The Troubled Life Of Miss Kotoura

The Troubled Life Of Miss Kotoura

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#91

Uta No Prince-Sama

Uta No Prince-Sama

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#94

5 Centimeters Per Second

5 Centimeters Per Second

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#97

My Bride Is A Mermaid

My Bride Is A Mermaid

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#98

The Vision Of Escaflowne

The Vision Of Escaflowne

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#103

Plastic Memories

Plastic Memories

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#105

Wolf Girl And Black Prince

Wolf Girl And Black Prince

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#109

Teasing Master Takagi-San

Teasing Master Takagi-San

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#110

Masamune-Kun's Revenge

Masamune-Kun's Revenge

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#111

One Week Friends

One Week Friends

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#113

Nodame Cantabile

Nodame Cantabile

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#114

Dusk Maiden Of Amnesia

Dusk Maiden Of Amnesia

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#118

His And Her Circumstances

His And Her Circumstances

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#119

Rurouni Kenshin: Trust And Betrayal

Rurouni Kenshin: Trust And Betrayal

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#121

Waiting In The Summer

Waiting In The Summer

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#122

Mermaid Melody: Pichi Pichi Pitch

Mermaid Melody: Pichi Pichi Pitch

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#125

Honey And Clover

Honey And Clover

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#127

Tsuredure Children

Tsuredure Children

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#128

Emma: A Victorian Romance

Emma: A Victorian Romance

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