Golden Time (Light Novel) - Recommendations

• Vol: 2+
• 2021 - ?

At the end of a summer when Hayato was a child, he made a promise to his precious (male) friend. 7 years later, Hayato transferred to a high school in the city and met his childhood friend again, who had become a... neat and pretty girl! Haruki, known as The Takamine Flower of her class, smiles innocently at Hayato with the face of a brat when they are alone, trades lunches in empty classrooms, plays games together at home… But she turns red when he makes fun of her and treats her like a girl. It’s cute. The country and the city, the boy and the girl, the grown-up mind and body. If there are things that have changed while they were apart, there are also feelings and promises that have yet to be changed.

• Vol: 13+
• 2016 - ?

Amatsuyu Kirasagi is invited out alone by the cool beauty upperclassman Cosmos and his childhood friend Himawari. Expecting to hear their confessions, he triumphantly goes to meet each of them in turn. But Cosmos and Himawari both instead confess to Amatsuyu that they like his friend. Amatsuyu fights this lonely battle, but there is another girl who is looking at him. She is a gloomy girl with glasses and braids. Amatsuyu finds that he hates her, because she's always turning her sharp tongue only on him and finding enjoyment in his troubles. But it turns out that she's the only one who actually does like him.

• Vol: 18; Ch: 104
• 2013 - 2019

Nino Arisugawa, a girl who loves to sing, experiences her first heart-wrenching goodbye when her beloved childhood friend, Momo, moves away. And after Nino befriends Yuzu, a music composer, she experiences another sad parting! Both boys promised Nino that they would find her one day through her singing, so she holds on to that hope and continues to reach out with her voice. Now in high school, Nino serendipitously reunites with Yuzu, but she yearns to see Momo again…

• Vol: 30; Ch: 123
• 2005 - 2017

Sawako Kuronuma is just like any other high school girl who wants to make friends and be useful. The only problem is she bears a worrying resemblance to Sadako from 'The Ring!' Because of her reputation, people are not only terrified of her, but small dogs even bark in fear at her presence; in fact, the only person in school who will talk to her is the lively class hottie, Kazehaya. As the pair spends more time together, Kazehaya slowly begins to bring Sawako out of her shell and soon their feelings for each other develop further. Though with her crippling insecurities, lack of social skills, and a series of cruel rumors and misunderstandings, it seems that Sawako's dream of a normal life won’t be quite so easy to obtain.

• Vol: 1; Ch: 6
• 2015

Youtarou Misaki finds himself lying on the beach one day. He is picked up by Arashi, who manages a restaurant called Kurage no Shokudou. When asked who he is, the protagonist tells a lie that he lost his memory — but he remembers everything, including the fact that his twin brother died.

• Vol: 10; Ch: 60
• 2006 - 2009

Ryuuji Takasu has an eventful life: his classmates think he's a delinquent due to his 'killer' eyes; his crush Minori seems ever out of reach; and he’s just had an unfortunate encounter with 'palm-sized Taiga' – a feisty and dainty wench in his class. With different cleaning habits and tempers, the two clash like night and day; that is, except for the fact that Taiga and Ryuuji have crushes on the other's good friend! With school rumors abounding, the duo must now work together to play matchmaker for each other. Who will end up with their true love?

• Vol: 4+; Ch: 25+
• 2021 - ?

At the end of a summer when Hayato was a child, he made a promise to his precious (male) friend. 7 years later, Hayato transferred to a high school in the city and met his childhood friend again, who had become a... neat and pretty girl! Haruki, known as The Takamine Flower of her class, smiles innocently at Hayato with the face of a brat when they are alone, trades lunches in empty classrooms, plays games together at home… But she turns red when he makes fun of her and treats her like a girl. It’s cute. The country and the city, the boy and the girl, the grown-up mind and body. If there are things that have changed while they were apart, there are also feelings and promises that have yet to be changed.

• Vol: 1
• 2023

• Vol: 13; Ch: 49
• 2011 - 2015

Futaba Yoshioka thought all boys were loud and obnoxious until she met Kou Tanaka in junior high. But as soon as she realized she really liked him, he had already moved away because of family issues. Now, in high school, Kou has reappeared, but is he still the same boy she fell in love with?

• Vol: 36; Ch: 241
• 1992 - 2003

Tsukushi Makino is an average girl who attends a not-so-average school. Populated by an elite and high-classed society of students, the school is also home to the F4 - the richest boys in school who dictate the lives of both the students and the teachers. One day, Tsukushi's friend accidentally falls and knocks over the F4's mighty leader, Domyouji Tsukasa - a boy famous not only for his money, but also for striking fear into any student who looks at him the wrong way. Domyouji doesn't take being knocked over lightly, and when Tsukushi sticks up for her friend the F4 declares war. With the whole school now against her, Tsukushi works hard to show everyone that she is a ‘weed' that will no longer be trodden upon!