If you’re weak to handsome characters with glasses together, ReiSaru at the first glance would be a straight hit to your heart. They’re the pairing that is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also extremely probable, considering Saruhiko is one of Reishi’s clansmen. If you don’t look closely, you might think that their relationship is a simple King and clansman especially because Reishi is an enigma and Saruhiko is a brat to his superiors, but there’s more to it. This was especially proven in Return of Kings, when Reishi trusted Saruhiko to carry the mission to infiltrate the Green Clan. Later, while fleeing from Sukuna’s attacks with Misaki, it was confirmed that to Saruhiko, Reishi is his True King, the one he’d accepted whole-heartedly, and therefore he’d go to the ends of earth for. Saruhiko might be a brat to his coworkers and superiors, but to Reishi, he’s always had this special respect and patience. On the other hand, Saruhiko is clearly Reishi’s favorite—this is evident from how Reishi would keep an eye on him, speak casually and even tease him at times. While Seri is Reishi’s right hand in Scepter 4, Saruhiko is clearly his left. Reishi trusts Saruhiko to get the work done, and Saruhiko does his best to meet his expectations even with all his grumblings. In one of the audio dramas, Saruhiko also worried at the possibility of Reishi’s losing control over his Sword of Damocles. One heartwarming moment for the ship is at the end of Return of Kings, where Reishi welcomed Saruhiko back, relieved that Saruhiko finished his mission safely.

For those who are weak to angsty, tragic BL pairings, there is no doubt you would probably tumble head-first into this ship. It’s an absolute truth that the two closest people to the King of Red, Suoh Mikoto, are Totsuka Tatara and Kusanagi Izumo. Among the three of them, though, Totsuka was the glue—he was the one who stubbornly made his way into Mikoto’s life and made the three of them the core of HOMRA. To Mikoto, Totsuka is special because his power is the one that keeps Mikoto’s in line. Totsuka is the one who convinced Mikoto that his power was not only good for destruction, but to protect people instead What kicked off all the events in the first season of [K] anime was Totsuka’s death. It was also to avenge Totsuka that Mikoto aimed to kill the Colorless King, choosing death as he does so because without Totsuka there, he’s been worried of accidentally killing people with his power. Even though it was stated in the series that no one understands the loneliness of being a King, Totsuka clearly came close to understand Mikoto’s loneliness, and was able to stay as someone who supports him and HOMRA. Mikoto might come off as a bit cold or off-handed to Totsuka sometimes, but there are times when he showed worry and anger over Totsuka’s injuries such as in episode 6 in the first season, where MikoTara shippers could enjoy ample interactions between the two of them! The best scenes of MikoTara did not happen in the anime though, they happened in the Memory of Red manga instead, where we could see the stories of HOMRA days before Totsuka’s death. Not that it means there are only happy MikoTara in the manga though, since the manga showed you the aftermath of Totsuka’s death, where Mikoto took Totsuka’s earring, filled it with Totsuka’s blood, and wore it himself. This ship is made of pain, pain, and more pain, but at last in [K] Missing Kings, it was shown that they met in the afterlife and are spending it together!

Here comes the domestic couple of [K] series! Despite their somewhat rocky beginnings where Kuroh intended to kill Shiro, Kuroh and Shiro are pretty much the one ship that is almost taken-for-granted by the fandom. Especially with Kuroh’s loyalty as one of his defining characterization; his dedication for Shiro is pretty much only rivaled by Neko’s. Let’s not lie, one of the reasons why a lot of female audience were pulled in by [K] was thanks to the one scene in the first episode where Shiro blushed after Kuroh inadvertently saved him from HOMRA and gathered him into his arms before they both made their escape. KurohShiro is also probably the pairing that received the most blatant fanservices in the anime. From their domestic daily life where Kuroh would don an apron to cook for Shiro, Shiro joking over lunch about how Kuroh is his “wife”, to the more heartwarming, if also tearjerking scene of Kuroh dropping on one knee to vow his loyalty to Shiro as a Silver Clansman. In Kuroh and Neko, Shiro found a family he hadn’t had for tens of years. All throughout Missing Kings, Kuroh believed that Shiro would come back to them, never giving up on searching even in the beginning of Return of Kings. One of the great things going on for KurohShiro shippers is that there is no shortage of Kuroh and Shiro’s official illustrations or merchandise together. From Shiro draping himself over Kuroh’s shoulders as they share earphones or asleep against Kuroh’s arm in yukata, Kuroh scrubbing a blushing Shiro’s back at the onsen, or the extremely teasing blanket merchandise with Shiro on top of Kuroh, pulling at Kuroh’s tie as if about to undress him. The production team does know how to give fanservice.

Out of all the pairings listed here, MikoRei is perhaps the one with the sexiest, most mature appeal. The elegant, extremely proper and beautiful Blue King, paired with the dangerous, brash, and unbelievably sexy Red King? Half of the dynamic is already almost a BL standard. Not to mention that every single encounter they had is charged with such tension, a result of their interest in one another. After all, if none could understand the loneliness of a King, but another King would understand the same loneliness they bear, right? It’s difficult to accurately describe how Reishi and Mikoto feels towards one another. While they’re not exactly enemies, they’ve clashed more than several times, though Totsuka once mentioned that they looked as if they were dancing, indicating that both Reishi and Mikoto were enjoying their fight. They definitely weren’t friends, but Reishi showed his concern in his own way in episode 10, and pinned Mikoto to the ground in anger when Mikoto wouldn’t listen to him. After Totsuka’s death, when Mikoto feels that his presence threatens everyone as he might lose control of his powers, he’d purposefully surrendered himself to Scepter 4, a subtle display of trust that Reishi would not let him go berserk. It was Reishi’s hands that Mikoto trusted his life and death in. He died in Reishi’s arms, stabbed by Reishi’s sword, effectively canceling his Damocles Fall. And even until Return of Kings, we could see that Reishi was still shaken at having to kill a fellow King—a burden that cracked his own Sword of Damocles—and how Reishi remembered Mikoto when Anna reminded him that he was different from Mikoto, even hearing Mikoto’s voice echo telling him that Reishi isn’t acting like himself. Whether they’re friends or enemies, there’s no denying that MikoRei is a ship where they both hold strong feelings towards each other.

The one ship that frustrates all of its shippers, but also the one with the most shippers. Does that mean everyone likes to be frustrated? Well, despite the long period of frustration, SaruMi is also the one ship with delicious pull and push between the two characters. The first season of anime revealed that Saruhiko was a traitor to HOMRA, and that he was close to Misaki before defecting to the Blues, a fact that made Misaki hate him, which in turn also excited Saruhiko. The side manga, stories and novels such as Lost Small World, however, elaborated on how close they actually were, how much Saruhiko wanted Misaki’s attention when they were both still in HOMRA, and how much Misaki is hurt over Saruhiko’s betrayal. SaruMi is a bittersweet ship. It gives you the frustrating love-hate relationship in the anime and movie, but every flashback to Saruhiko and Misaki’s time together before HOMRA also drowns you in cuteness and feels. Think about how Misaki once promised a sick Saruhiko that he’d come if Saruhiko called for him, or how Saruhiko rushes out in panic when his dad teased him that he’d wreck Misaki too. Comparing the happy memories of middle school SaruMi to their relationship in the anime where it’s made of betrayal, hatred, and explosive fights, and yet there were still moments such as one in the movie where Misaki called out to Saruhiko, reaching out for help, and Saruhiko, despite his initial tauntings, still helped him. In the end of Missing Kings movie, we even got to see Misaki stumbled over saying thank you to Saruhiko, which was adorable! The promise of angst in this ship has enticed so many of shippers. Thankfully, by the end of Return of Kings, Saruhiko and Misaki’s long-standing conflict is somehow resolved—after Reishi telling Misaki that Saruhiko “betrayed’ Scepter 4 under his orders and might be in danger if he were ever found out, Misaki rushed in to save Saruhiko and get him out, putting Saruhiko before HOMRA’s objective for once. In the middle of fighting Sukuna, both Saruhiko and Misaki traded anger and hurtful words, but they were finally able to communicate their feelings and accepted each other. In the end credits, as well as the After Stories released recently, it was shown that Misaki and Saruhiko met up outside of work to visit Misaki’s house, which indicated that they are finally starting to pave their way on making up. After four years of frustration on the shippers’ behalf, SaruMi is finally getting their happy ending.

In the year 320, the Kingdom of Pars enjoys times of prosperity under the rule of King Andragoras III. At the same time, the Kingdom is at war with the neighbouring empire of Lusitania. Ready for his first true taste of battle, the Parsian Prince, Arslan, sets out onto the battlefield, but unbeknownst to him, his father and the Kingdom is to be betrayed by one of its most trusted officials, and the army wholly defeated. In the midst of the chaos, Arslan is forced to flee the country together with the general, Daryun and a few other companions, in pursuit of allies who will help him take back the capital, Ecbatana. Betrayal in politics is by no extension of the imagination a new concept. Betrayed by his most trusted advisor, King Andragoras III lost control of his capital city and his army was defeated. In addition to that, his son, Arslan, successor to the throne was forced to flee the country, effectively leaving Pars without its rightful rulers. The Heroic Legend of Arslan is a classic tale of betrayal in a capture-the-flag context. The betrayal of the kingdom by its own officials is the catalyst which sets the story in motion, proving it to be an integral theme in the anime. All’s fair in love and war, no?

In an era similar to the medieval times in Europe, in the aftermath of a great holy war, a group of knights has been accused of plotting to overthrow the Kingdom of Liones. Many years later, Princess Elizabeth sets out on her own on a journey to find these seven knights in order to enlist them to help her fight against the growing evil within the kingdom. These knights are the strongest individuals in the kingdom and despite being labelled a band of outlaws, Elizabeth is certain that they can help. They are the Seven Deadly Sins. From the get-go in Nanatsu no Taizai, we are presented with the theme of betrayal, the vehicle through which the anime’s story is set off. The Seven Deadly Sins (the knights themselves) being accused of treason was in itself a betrayal, as they were framed. Another significant betrayal in the series is that of the former Great Holy Knight, Hendrickson, the man responsible for the Reactor Class Holy Knights, who obtained their power through the consumption of the blood of a demon and subsequently threatened peace in the kingdom. Perhaps if there were eight deadly sins, Betrayal would be one of them.

When a routine business trip goes awry as they are attacked by pirates from the Lagoon Trading Company, who sought the data disk he carried, Japanese Salaryman Okajima Rokuro is abandoned by his superiors and orders are sent out by his department chief, Kageyama, to kill him and destroy the disk. Now faced with a common enemy, Rokuro helps the Lagoon Company pirates defeat the mercenaries sent to take his life. In the aftermath of the battle, having been told that he has already been declared legally dead, Rokuro, now dubbed “Rock”, decides to join the Lagoon Company and the Black Lagoon crew, who had initially kidnapped him. Again, we are presented with a betrayal which sets the rest of the story in motion, this time, in the workplace. Realising that his superiors left him for dead, Rock decided to abandon that life altogether and set sail with the Lagoon Company. Ironically, Rock set his sights on the cutthroat world of crime and piracy, a world where betrayal is commonplace. What sets Black Lagoon apart; however, is how the betrayal doesn’t fuel the protagonist’s need for vengeance, instead, it introduces him to a world more colourful than the world he left. Betrayal is what allowed him to, dare we say, live his best life.

Deadman Wonderland is a prison unlike other prisons. It doubles as a theme park, where prisoners are forced to participate in sadistic death games for the entertainment of the general public. 14-year-old Igarashi Ganta’s class was meant to go on a class excursion to Deadman Wonderland, but hours before departure, every student in his class was murdered by a mysterious red entity with devastating powers. As the only survivor, Ganta was left to shoulder the blame and sentenced to death – a sentence which would be served in Deadman Wonderland, the very subject of his class excursion. Now shouldering the deaths of all his friends, can Ganta survive in the suffocating violence that is Deadman Wonderland and clear his name in the process? The betrayal in this anime isn’t immediately explained or expressed. It is an underlying tone, despite not being in your face, it is one of the biggest factors which allows the plot to progress. The individual who massacred Ganta’s classmates, known as the Wretched Egg, happens to be Shiro, his childhood friend and guardian angel-like entity when he is in Deadman Wonderland. She suffers from having a split personality which came about as a self-preservation mechanism while she endured torturous experiments at the hands of scientists, one of them being Ganta’s very own mother. Shiro knowingly murdered Ganta’s friends and gave him the Branches of Sin – essentially being the source of all his pain and suffering. Worse than a stab in the back.

Takigawa Yoshino is hiding a major secret from his best friend, Fuwa Mahiro. He is dating Mahiro’s little sister, Aika. When Aika dies under mysterious circumstances, Mahiro disappears, leaving Yoshino to live a fairly normal life without his best friend and girlfriend. Just one month later, Yoshino’s life changes as he is held at gunpoint by a strange girl and surprisingly, Mahiro arrives just in time to save his friend. It turns out that Mahiro managed to enlist the help of Kusaribe Hakaze, a witch of the Kusaribe-clan, to help him find an entity known as the Tree of Exodus in order to prevent Hakaze’s brother from using its power and plunging the world into chaos as well as to find Aika’s killer. The only problem is, Hakaze is trapped on a deserted island, so Yoshino and Mahiro can only save the world and find Aika’s killer through their own strength and wits. In what could be seen as one of the most unexpected plot twists, it turns out that Aika’s killer is none other than Aika herself. Aika is actually the Magician of Exodus, meaning that in order to ensure that fate be linear, she committed suicide, therefore creating a world where the Tree of Genesis does not decide everything. Her first betrayal was keeping her relationship with Yoshino a secret from her brother. Her second was allowing Yoshino and Mahiro to suffer intense grief due to her death, a death she brought upon herself, albeit selflessly. Everything happens for a reason.

Amano Yukiteru is a loner who spends most of his time recording the events that unfold around him on a day-to-day basis on a diary he keeps on his cell phone, while in “the company” of his imaginary friend, Deus Ex Machina, the God of Time. It turns out that Deus is an actual god and in need of a successor as his time is running out. He then gifts Yukiteru the power of the “Random Diary”, a diary which, like the one on his cell phone, documents events unfolding around him – except that this one reports on events which haven’t happened yet. Yukiteru is then thrown into an 11-way battle with other diary-wielders, the winner of which then becomes the new God of Time. With his highly obsessive girlfriend, Gasai Yuno, by his side, Yukiteru manages to survive some very precarious situations, but unbeknownst to him, this Yuno, in addition to being an unstable, sadistic stalker, is the winner of the Survival in another timeline. Essentially, Yuno’s plan to betray and later revive Yukiteru is what set the entire story in motion, as it is what caused her to create a new timeline in which the events of the series take place. A fittingly roundabout way to seal a happy ever after with your beloved, we might add.

Sakamoto Ryouta is a 22-year-old unemployed man who lives with his mother and spends most of his days playing the popular online game, BTOOOM!, where he is Japan’s top player. After a routine trip to the convenience store, Ryouta suddenly finds himself stranded on a deserted island, with his memories in a haze and a strange crystal embedded in his left hand. Given very little time to take in his surroundings, he is very quickly forced to realise that a certain entity has recreated his favourite online game, turning it into a real-life explosive deathmatch where participants use a variety of bombs to kill each other and collect each other’s crystals in order to have a chance to leave the island. BTOOOM! is a fairly dark anime with various themes addressing the negative aspects of humanity, human society, and relationships. Naturally, the subject of trust is brought up and it becomes apparent that characters who end up on the island are sent there by people close to them, such as parents, friends and lovers. These characters are cast aside by the very people with whom they are meant to have deep connections. Betrayal is a central theme as it is the very reason that all the characters end up on the island and much like a noxious cloud, it sticks around to become the very reason why many characters end up becoming really messy fireworks.

Princess Yona of the Kingdom of Kouka has lived a relatively sheltered life away from the harsh realities of the state of the kingdom. Her life is thrown into chaos when her father is murdered and her cousin Su-Won puts her life in danger. Now forced to flee the country, Yona and her bodyguard Son Hak see for themselves the truth about the country she once saw through rose-coloured glasses. Yona must now find a way to save her country, all while escaping attempts on her life ordered by the new king of the Kingdom of Kouka. Akatsuki no Yona features a betrayal which rocks the world of the protagonist. In this specific case, spurred on by feelings of love and fealty to her kingdom, Yona seeks to return the country to its former glory. She also spends most of the series trying to come to grips with Su-Won’s betrayal, often asking herself why. The betrayal is the main plot device and the reason why the protagonist escapes from her life of shelter, forced to see reality and grow at the same time.

Avilio Bruno is an enigmatic young man who received a letter from an unknown sender. The letter expresses the writer’s intention to help Avilio get revenge for the brutal murder of his family at the hands of four individuals of the Vanetti Family seven years prior. Knowing that he has support, Avilio returns to his hometown of Lawless in order to infiltrate the Vanetti Family and punish the individuals responsible for the deaths of his mother, father and little brother all those years ago… The quest for revenge is Avilio’s response to the initial betrayal expressed by his father, Testa Lagusa, courtesy of the Vanetti Family, people with which he had supposedly had a long working relationship. This betrayal left Avilio without a family and fuelled his rage. Cold and calculating as an adult, Avilio does not even flinch at the prospect of betraying others in order to achieve his goals, and even executes simulated betrayals with frightening conviction and finesse. The gangster life chose him.

In the year A.D. 2010, the Holy Empire of Britannia wished to flex its military might and establish itself as a global power. Armed with the devastating power of their mechs, the Knightmare Frames, Britannia quickly claimed sovereignty over most of the world. One day, high school student and exiled prince of the empire, Lelouch Lamperouge vi Britannia was caught in the middle of a skirmish between armed Britannian forces and Japanese rebels. It is during the skirmish that he meets C.C, a woman who gives him the Power of Kings known as Geass, which grants him the power of absolute obedience. With this new power and a settle to score with the empire, Lelouch sets out to exact his revenge, using the Japanese rebellion as a catalyst. The Empire incurred Lelouch’s wrath when his mother was brutally murdered and his little sister, Nunnally, left blinded and crippled. Lelouch then harboured an intense hatred for the royal family, as his mother’s death was a politically-motivated decision. He saw the attack on his family as the ultimate betrayal and therefore set out to destroy the empire, using means many would label “treason”. Betrayal can then be seen as one of the main themes of the entire series, as well as the main driving force of Lelouch’s character. Betrayal is also apparent in various sub-plots throughout the series, such as Japanese-born Suzaku’s Britannian citizenship influencing his alignment in Britannia-Japan conflicts.

We are speechless. Kicking off this wonderful list of Top 10 Anime Tickle Scenes is of course, Kyou no Go no Ni, also known as Today in Class 5-2, the OVA. Revolving around the everyday life of Sato Ryota, this fifth grader just can’t seem to stay out of trouble thanks to the likes of his mischief-seeking female classmates. Speaking of misadventures, pillow fights seem to be becoming a bit old school, because if you really want to get your way with someone you better put those ten fingers of yours where they fit best; right underneath the armpits. Which is well executed by Kazumi Aihara and Chika Koizumi when the latter thinks she knows how to one-up her little blonde headed friend in order to make her laugh. This innocent tickle battle just rejuvenates your spirit as you watch these two little ladies try to get one over on the other. As a result, we’re left with a gorgeous scene, during episode 2, of tender schoolgirl malarkey. Boy can those fingers really move. Even better, these gals don’t seem to be calling it quits anytime soon.

Obsessing over pop idols is as common of an exercise nowadays as eating popcorn at a movie theater. Similarly, much like that supersized bowl of buttery saltiness, becoming too attached to any celebrity isn’t always the healthiest route to head down in life. So when Kousaku Hata finds out his favorite idol Yuka Kusakabe is turning away from the limelight, he falls into a deep depression that looks to consume his already pitiful life. Forced by his friends back into the real world, Kousaku is hit with an unlikely surprise. Yuka; introducing herself as Ringo Kinoshita, has enrolled into the same class as Kousaku, and presented Kousaku with the opportunity of a lifetime. Lift her spirits up, and let the heavens rain down. Minori’s tickling torture in episode 4 is likened to watching a beautiful vengeance rippling through her skin. She pastes on the face of an individual overwhelmed with joy, all the while dying for a solitary moment of peace as Yuka returns the favor of Minori’s failed attempt to make her smile. Needless to say, we won’t be letting that happen as we drop our jaws to this mind edging sight of sensual satisfaction. A guilty pleasure indeed, but with a moment like this, we will take our time to thank the gods of technology for crafting a replay button. Much like a spritz of cold water on a hot summer day, watching this apple cinnamon pie delicacy melt away from laughter is too refreshing to only experience once. We urge you all to tune in to this anime right away, and watch this scene again, and again, and again.

This next scene from Amagami SS won’t stop short of sending tingles up your spine. Watching these lovely ladies take a dip into a pool of delightful relief, it would only sound right for you to scream out that life is bliss. When Junichi Tachibana has his heart torn apart after being stood up on Christmas eve, things seem bleak for the future of his small world. That is, until six lovely heroines come pouring into his life. With the lights over his lonely stage back on and brighter than ever, Junichi prepares to put on a performance like never before. Bear in mind It only takes two to tango, so you ladies are going to have to wait in line. Just like that, seduction has been born. As these beauties twirl their way into episode 13, Rihoko Sakurai seems to have discovered a whole new world of fulfillment. She just can’t seem to get enough of those tiny critters gnawing at her toes as she plunges in full body to see to it that there’s no limits on where these naughty little sea devils can work their magic. Hearing her giggle will fill the air around you with rose petals and open the gates to nirvana. Rihoko is definitely on to something here my friends. Let this unforgettable scene just soak right on in and take you places you couldn’t even imagine.

When life throws you lemons, you churn out a damn good jug of lemonade; but when an angel falls from the sky, you get the makings of a very interesting anime. Tomoki Sakurai; after experiencing dreams of the floating mystery known as the “New World”, has his life turned upside down once an angel falls to Earth and begins referring to him as master. You would think that being an angel would make the world around you magical, but life is certainly grim when you can’t crack a smile and show off those pearly whites. A grim nightmare that the fallen angel Icarus is more acquainted with than she would ever want to be. So in a fit to set things right in episode 12, her friends look to help stretch her grin in a scene that’ll give all of you a good laugh. However, it isn’t until Tomoki jumps into the picture and gets grubby with Sohara when things really heat up. Less of an actual interest in brightening up Icarus’ day, and more of a slick jump at an opportunity to get his hands a little wet. It may be short lived, but this tickle fest is worth the watch every time. Now smile for some great anime.

Haha! This scene will help set the record straight. While some of the best moments mainly involve some sort of sexual innuendo, episode 1 of Hello! KINMOZA! teaches us that there’s still a lot of fun in the good ol’ school prank. After five years have passed since Shinobu Oomiya last saw her friend Alice Cartelet during her homestay in England, the two girls finally reunite as Alice makes her way over to Japan to experience what life is like on the other side of the globe. Now in season 2, Alice and Shinobu are back at it again. With the day in and day out mischief these two; alongside Shinobu’s other comrades, have to offer, it was only a matter of time before a priceless tickling scene worked its way into the mix. Watching as Shino takes advantage of Karen during her already nervous wreck sends a whiff of nostalgia surging through you as you think back to how many times you; or one of your friends, would have died for a perfect moment just like this one. There’s a time and place for everything, and when all eyes are on you, expect your tickle sensitivity to be put to the test. Only one person gets to catch the tickles, but everyone is going to get a good laugh out of it for sure.

Look out behind you! These ladies have done it right! In Isla; the island in the sky, Kal-el Albus hopes to find truth of the ancient mythological story of the “end of the sky”. However, his happy-go-lucky days of jerking around with his schoolmates come to an abrupt end when the sirens of war sound their horns. But what we’re here to talk about is not how to wrap your mind around floating islands and the politics of warfare, but how to focus that mind on our next Honey’s Anime top anime tickle scene. Making its presence known at episode 5, the term ‘body to body’ is visualized in all its fruitfulness when these two bathingsuit babes; Claire and Ariel, find themselves being a bit naughty. With those fingertips itching for something just right, Honey’s Anime urges everyone to sit back and let these girls get down to business. Water splashing through the air, skin tight suits, and body grinding will have all you boys and girls feeling the tickles where it counts! Jump on top of this lip licking moment right away and watch Ariel make this girl dance! It’s all about the body language, people... all about the body language.

Oh what a tease. Just like playing footsies with your elementary school crush, the classic under the table fun just never gets old. Thanks to season 2 of Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai, we get to see just what that fun is all about. Back for another season, Yuuta Togashi and his one and only love, Rikka Takanashi; who are now living together, tangle with setting straight the strings of life as the comedy packed, romance school life of Chuunibyou sets up for a world of ups and downs. Especially when Satone Shichimiya steps into the picture. Gripping and prickling at someone’s innocence and watching as they fight to remain composure is all you need to satisfy that devilish yearning for something a little naughty. Sanae Dekomori is certainly looking for that gratification in episode 4 as she turns Shinka Nibutani’s knobs one by one, slowly lighting the fire underneath her kettle. Not to mention that Shinka’s reaction is nothing short of priceless. Fidgeting and a knee to the chin. Classic! What great pleasure indeed.

Got ya! Now that was a pleasant surprise. Out of all the ways to get to know someone, this might be one of the most pleasing ones to watch. Little Busters; following the school life of Riki Naoe; Kyousuke, Rin Natsume and the rest of the Little Busters team, is a show dedicated to bonds, friendship and answering life’s questions. All the while tickling that sweet spot for something pleasant right when you need it. Especially when, well, the tickling starts of course. Luckily enough, you won’t have to wait long before witnessing this greatness as Komari Kamikita puts her naughty fingers to work all over Rin bright and early in the series at episode 2. Bet you didn’t see that one coming. Let’s be honest, perhaps rubbing your hands all over someone you’ve just met might be one hell of a way to barge in on their privacy, but you can’t forget to acknowledge her initiative. Kudos!

Oh me oh my, does it get any better than this? Being a non-believer of Souma’s capabilities in the kitchen can have its perks in the world of Food Wars! For the viewer that is. When a school only graduates 10 percent of its student roster, a battle for a winning seat embroils and sets the tone for one of the most interesting anime in a long time. That school is Tootsuki Culinary Academy, and the student who won’t stop until he reaches the top goes by the name Souma Yukihira. Caught up within the school’s famous “food wars”, Souma whips up a few dishes that know how to turn a person inside out, especially when Erina Nakiri is the one tasting the meal. If the beauty of a face wrought with unbearable laughter from the hands of tickling madness can’t hoot your horn, then perhaps a moment topped with the hills and canyons of a voluptuous goddess may help turn your page in episode 2 of Food Wars! This to-die-for lollipop of a beauty, Erina, just couldn’t see the end of her arousal when Souma’s cooked delicacy perked her chest and rained heaven in between her thighs. Instead, her rollercoaster ride had just begun as feather-packing Soma angels came to add the spice to the sauce with their scheming tickling mayhem! A life changing moment that can’t help but make you fantasize about how engaged your mind would be had the white cloth somehow managed to slip off.

Now what do we have here? Half naked beauty – check! Dimmed lights – check! Sensual aura – check! Ticklish – sold! Welcome to Dragonar Academy (Seikoku no Ryuukishi, also known as Seikoku no Dragonar). A world in which dragon riding, simply put, is an actual thing, and beautiful women are not rare. As for Ash Blake, he gets a double scoop when his personal dragon shows up in the form of a young female beauty named Eco; and she’s certainly looking to be one tough cookie to crack. Now, let’s get down to the funny business. Dragonar Academy may have one of the hottest scenes we’ve come across thus far. No uncanny visual interpretations, no high school pranks gone ecchi, and no slapstick character simply catching the butt end of a joke. Just a calm romantic setting with a little fun thrown into the mix. Stepping in at episode 4, the presentation will have you salivating from the start, and when Cosette Shelley gets her hands working on Silvia’s flawless frame, this scene will leap over the edge of greatness and into the pool of perfection. Just imagine how those tiny hands must feel dancing around on your skin. Being ticklish isn’t always a bad thing after all. Dragonar Academy nailed it!

Once a prince of the Arcadia empire, now a Drag-Ride user with a penchant for peeking on half naked girls, Lux is Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut's lucky harem lead. After a particularly troublesome incident in the Royal Knight Academy's women's baths, Lux is challenged by the princess of the new kingdom, Lisesharte Atismata, to a duel, with the promise of a place at the academy on the line and basically no other choice. So with a new school life looking likely, as well as a harem of cute girls forming around him, things are about to change for Lux, "The Weakest Undefeated". Just like Infinite Stratos, Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut features a distressed male protagonist placed into a girls only school, with Bahamut's Drag-Ride users being almost entirely female. The Drag-Rides themselves are pretty much IS Units, so the action in Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut feels very similar as well. One of the standout differences between the two is the setting, with Bahamut taking place in an old looking fantasy world, as opposed to the futuristic world of Infinite Stratos, however, the feeling of both shows remains very much the same. If you want the same ecchi, action, and cute girls that Infinite Stratos provided, then Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut should be right up your alley.

With the planet under attack by aliens named Savage, it was necessary for humanity to create a weapon capable of fighting them. Introducing the Hundred, a technology that provides its user with weaponry suited to their own combat style, and enabling them to fight against the invaders. Hayato Kisaragi is one of the newest recruits at Little Garden, an academy where Hundred users, known as Slayers, are trained. Managing to start off his new high school life by dueling the school's Queen, Hayato proves that his Hundred packs quite a punch, and as you expect can look forward to many more exhilarating fights and beautiful girls in the near future. Much like Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut, Hundred is another show that starts off in a fashion disturbingly similar to Infinite Stratos, with the story becoming its own as time goes on. Hundred features the IS Units we're all familiar with, though now called "Hundred" and with a wider variety of abilities and weaponry. So as you can imagine the action also remains very similar, with aerial combat, big guns, laser swords, and just about everything exploding. You'll be happy to know the fan service is quite abundant as well, with a harem of cute girls always about, including the strict student council president, adorable idol, and a childhood friend of questionable gender. So if you liked Infinite Stratos, then Hundred is definitely one you'll want to add to your watch list.

For the past thirty years, the world has been ravaged by a new kind of natural disaster: explosions known as Spacequakes that occur randomly and kill millions almost instantly. These Spacequakes signal the arrival of beings known as Spirits, powerful and beautiful girls from another world. Despite the best efforts of the anti-Spirit squad, and the defensive measures being put in place, it seems that nothing can be done to put a stop to the continued arrivals of said Spirits. Caught in the latest such arrival is Shidou Itsuka, who is lucky enough to meet the adorable, if destructive, Spirit code named "Princess". Shidou, however, decides to take a different approach to the gun-toting anti-Spirit Squad, realising that the Spirits can also be subdued by falling in love. Date A Live is the only series you'll see on this list that doesn't actually feature a battle school or academy, which seems to have become a commonplace theme in recent years. So what makes it similar to Infinite Stratos? Well, it does have power suits similar to the IS Units, aerial battles, cute girls, and ample fan service, so the two certainly share a lot of the same themes. On the other hand with the plot centered around saving Spirits, mixed with slice-of-life date episodes, the overall feel of the series is a bit different, with it being more centered on the girls themselves than anything else. If you want a series that steps away from school and is frankly pretty whacky, then we'd recommend Date A Live.

Heart Hybrid Gear: an ability which allows the user to fight against invaders from another world, and Hida Kizuna is one of the few capable of wielding it. Though not exactly powerful by himself, Kizuna has a special ability that has made training him at the Tactical Defense Academy Ataraxia worthwhile. Yes, he can power up other Heart Hybrid Gear users through perverse and erotic acts, something which only he can do. Fortunately, the top three girls at Ataraxia are not only real beauties but have already taken a liking to Kizuna. Cut to skin tight flight suits and borderline hentai. Masou Gakuen HxH is like Infinite Stratos cranked up to ten, requiring separate uncensored episodes to fully divulge its lewd contents. So if it was ecchi and fanservice that brought you to Infinite Stratos then look no further, because HxH has it by the bucketful. The power suit battles are there as well, so you can expect similar content as far as action goes, although we'd say that Infinite Stratos focuses more on the fighting aspect, and HxH more on...powering up the suits. If you can imagine a hentai artist deciding to make his own Infinite Stratos spin-off where everyone has even bigger chests, then that's Masou Gakuen HxH in a nutshell.

Kamito Kazehaya is the most unusual new student at Areishia Spirit Academy, an academy intended for shrine princesses. As the first man in 1000 years to be capable of contracting a spirit, he finds himself attending the prestigious girls academy, designed to train its students in how to fight using their contracted spirits. Not only that, but he's being forced to participate in the upcoming Blade Dance tournament, which for various reasons he's not exactly looking forward to. Managing to spend his first day pissing off fiery tsundere Claire Rouge by seeing her naked, as well as "stealing" her spirit, Kamito is not off to a good start by any means. Once again we come across the "only guy at a girls school" scenario which means you can expect constant fan service and a cast made up almost entirely of cute girls. Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance is another series that does pretty much what it says on the tin, with some romance, ecchi, magic battles, and a good enough plot to hold everything together. But although the themes in Blade Dance and Infinite Stratos are very similar, the settings are very different, with Blade Dance set in a fantasy world of spirits and magic. So if you liked Infinite Stratos but fancied a change of scenery, why not give Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance a try.

After an incredible disaster shook the planet, the emergence of special humans with remarkable abilities known as Genestella began. Ayato Amagiri has just started his high school life at the Seidoukan Academy, one of the top six schools in the world that trains Genestella students to use and control their powers. Peeking on princesses, meeting old friends, and saving damsels all appear to be talents of his, with Ayato and his new friends going as far as to compete in the next Pheonix Festival, a battle between schools. But ignoring all of that, Ayato actually has a different and darker reason for joining Seidoukan Academy in the first place. Primarily an action series, Gakusen Toshi Asterisk focuses heavily on battles between students using a combination of futuristic weaponry and modernised magic. Although certainly fanservice heavy, Asterisk's ecchi moments are more few and far between than in Infinite Stratos, with the cute girls serving more as eye candy between fights. With a pretty awesome soundtrack and great visuals during action scenes, Gakusen Toshi Asterisk gets pretty hype and is the kind of show that you can easily marathon. So if you want something action-packed and fan service heavy but perhaps with a little less mecha, then definitely give Gakusen Toshi Asterisk a shot.

The story of All You Need Is Kill was written by Sakurazaka Hiroshi, and Takeuchi Ryousuke and was illustrated by Obata Takeshi. Much of the premise pertaining to the story is that an alien race known as mimics have taken over a majority of the world, and plot to exterminate the entire human existence. We follow Keiji as he enrolls in the UDF (United Defense Force) so that he and other recruits can put an end to all the terror that's ensuing. On his first day out on the battlefield, Keiji and his team are killed by the mimics but somehow Keiji wakes up to realize he's still alive. He considers everything to be a dream but then realizes he has a unique ability. Whenever he dies in battle, he is resurrected and begins his life the day before the war takes place. Not entirely intrigued by this ability, Keiji goes on a journey to discover why he has this strange power and how he can put an end to the vicious cycle that he must endure every time. This sounds a lot like Subaru from Re:ZERO where he also has to come face to face with his cruel reality, knowing that after he's killed he is resurrected and must start over again. Both of these character suffer the same fate, but in this case much of All You Need Is Kill takes place in a distant future where aliens show no remorse for anyone other than their own kind. Keiji is given many chances to change the events of the future due to this mysterious power, and as you read through the manga you'll come to discover the truth behind why it's all happening. You're always left scratching your head as to what will happen next, but that is exactly why All You Need Is Kill is a remarkable piece of work, and you shouldn't hesitate to pick it up.

Platinum End is one of the manga that Ohba Tsugumi and Obata Takeshi had a chance to work on together, and it's a fantastic story to check out. Obata's illustration skills are of top quality and you can clearly see that in much of his work. Ohba has a great presence of mind and when his stories come to life in manga form, they really help to absorb the reader deep into the plot. The story focuses around main protagonist Mirai Kakehashi, who doesn't rely on hope in order to remain alive. He has other means of survival and thinks that hope is just an empty vessel created by man to give the illusion of freedom. The world Mirai lives in divided by humans and angels, and after the sudden death of his parents his entire perspective on everything changed dramatically. This leads Mirai to contemplate taking his own life but is then convinced by guardian angel Nasse to reconsider his decision, and to take on a new role in life as the new god. In order for him to obtain this supernatural ability he must overcome and defeat 12 other combatants within a time period, but Mirai is about to discover that he bit off more than he can chew in this psychological, supernatural series. While we've definitely come across characters who share similar abilities to that of a god, what really makes Platinum End fascinating is in the depth behind the plot. Mirai's actions make you really think deeply about what's actually happening in real society, with many students contemplating suicide to escape their pain. The wonderful side is that Mirai is given an opportunity that many don't have, and that's to embrace the power of a powerful god. It's bittersweet simply because Mirai’s parents’ death affected him in such a big way, but fate had a different tale for him to live by and now his entire fate lies in these battles.

Hikaru no Go is the work that took Obata from the bottom to the top, as the story focused on a young boy named Hikaru who stumbles across a game that would change his life forever. He discovers a game called GO while rummaging through his uncle's storage room, in hopes that something in there would be create some monetary value. Unfortunately nothing popped up, but when he opened the GO box, an old spirit named Sai greeted him. Sai had dedicated his entire life to the game, and so now he convinces Hikaru to join him on this wild adventure in a game of uncertainty, in order to search for the god hand. Now a new road has been paved and so the two embark together to see where this path will take them. The story itself was created by Hotta Yumi and the manga became a best selling hit all across Japan, as it helped to reinvigorate interest in the game of GO, which is a strategy board game in which the aim is to obtain more territory than your opponent. Due to the incredible popularity of the book and the game, this made both Obata and Yumi global sensations and took home the Shogakukan Award back in 2000. While the game currently has somewhat died down in terms of popularity in recent years, it still receives a lot of attention and has a reputable community behind it. This is certainly a manga that will not only stimulate your mind with strategy, but it will also give you a history lesson to a game that is deeply ingrained in Asian culture, and just why it still continues to have a strong presence.

Many of you who regularly visit Honey's Anime may already be well acquainted with our next choice, because it's still considered to be one of the best manga ever created. We'd still like to explain the story a little bit to those who are new to the series, but we're talking about Death Note, the story about a young man who has a strong desire to see justice be served in the world, but takes things into his own hands to see it through. Light was a pretty conservative student and really had no interest in building a network of friends. In fact, his dream was just to see that the world he lived in serve justice more appropriately, and that dream came when he stumbled across a notebook on the way home. Dropped by Ryuk, a shinigami who finds the real world to be a bore, notices Light pick up the book and from there the two come together to create a sinister fate for humanity. Any person's name that is written in the book is subject to death, and so Light is surprised when he writes down the name of a local criminal in his area and the unexpected happened. From that day a light bulb went off in Light’s head, and so began the manipulative and systematic tale of a young man and his passion to bring true justice to the world and become the god that everyone bows to. Once you dive into the manga you'll see that both Obata and Ohba really clicked in terms of their approach to how the story should look and feel while reading. Every page that you turn you'll always be greeted with splendid artwork depicting every detail of Light's sadistic plans, and see him get away with it without any trace of evidence. It's truly an exciting roller coaster ride for those who haven't had a chance to read it, so we highly recommend if you love crazy, psychological thrill rides then line up for this one because it'll take you in all different directions.

Bakuman is truly an inspirational treat for those who wish to become a mangaka themselves. This is probably why it is so highly praised not only for it's artwork, but the story is very riveting and truly gives you the motivation to pick up your pencil to draw something. Mashiro forgets his book in class and his classmate Takagi notices all of his drawings, to which he is clearly impressed by. Takagi insists that Mashiro take his work more seriously and perhaps work his way up to become a mangaka. Initially Mashiro declines, stating that his uncle had died from overworking and it wasn't a path he wished to follow. Still determined to change his mind Takagi tells Miho, Mashiro's crush, that the two of them are embarking on a journey to become world famous mangaka. In response Miho surprisingly tells them that her dream is become a Seiyuu (voice actress/actor), and Mashiro proposes that the two marry once their manga turns into an anime adaptation. From there, both Mashiro and Takagi work endlessly to ensure their dream to become the world's best and to have their manga serialized in the Weekly Shounen Jump. We all have been inspired by someone in one way or another, and we should always give thanks to those people. They're like the mentors we have dreamed about because they teach us so much about ourselves that we never knew existed, and they somehow bring it out of you into the spotlight. Mashiro’s willingness to shine and Takagi's persistence to overcome obstacles make a great team, as they both have aspirations to be successful in their careers. What's really great too is just how much energy and passion this story has that you're compelled to jump out of bed, pick up a pencil and just draw to your heart's content. Of course you don't have to draw like these two, but none the less their drive to achieve their dream is what we all should learn from, because it is when you've truly discovered your life purpose that life starts to unravel into something breathtaking.

Tsubasa really loves playing the trumpet, and one day she comes across an exceptionally talented trumpet player performing at the summer baseball championships. She convinces herself that she must join that brass band once she enters high school, so that she could learn more about how to master her craft. Destiny was on her side the entire time and she manages to enroll, but she also meets a baseball player that catches not only her attention but her heart as well. The story looks at the two young individuals who share similar goals to support their favorite baseball team, and strive to achieve them together. Aozora Yell isn't just focused primarily on baseball, but it touches on various other areas such as romance, music, and devotion to something you love. Tsubasa really loves playing the trumpet but also enjoys watching baseball, so she essentially takes out two birds with one stone. Her dream of playing on her favorite brass band alongside Daisuke, the catcher of the baseball team, comes true and her life changes forever. We truly found the story to be quite touching because it reminds us of the importance of companionship, and that sometimes in order to get somewhere you can't do it alone. For the two of them, baseball means everything and in order to succeed they must pour their entire heart into it.

So what do you get when you mix a lot of gags, crazy girls, and one big amusing moron to the mix? Well you get Mr. Fullswing, a manga that's full of laughter and enjoyment that revolves around the life of baseball. Saruno just can't seem to snag a girlfriend in school, and he feels like he's falling behind the rest of his classmates. Saruno typically finds himself in the most random situations, often stirring up trouble especially when he peeks into the girl’s washroom. Saruno finally decides that perhaps the best way to attract a woman is to join a sports club, so that he did and eventually decided on joining the baseball club. Despite joining the club, Saruno has no experience at all with the game, and his only true goal is to win over his manager Nagi's heart. While the premise of the manga focuses on Saruno's whimsical ways, there's still plenty of baseball to be entertained by. It just happens to be a lot more funnier because Saruno is just a complete airhead, and just can't seem to wrap his head around the game. He tries hard but fails miserably, only creating more irritation among his peers but somehow we still laughed hysterically at it all. His shortcomings are just a reminder to us that nobody's perfect and we all have to start from somewhere in order to get somewhere. Will Saruno finally manage to hit a homerun and run straight home to Nagi's heart, or will he strike out and take the walk of shame? Pick up this great manga and go find out!

Last Inning comes swinging in at number 9 and follows the life of Hatogaya, who ends up leaving the one sport he loved and ends up in a much bigger hole. Hatogaya truly loves baseball, he eats, sleeps, and plays the game with a passion. However due to finding a new position in a company he sacrificed what he loved most to make ends meet. Things turned ugly when his company took a huge blow and in order to cover for this, Hatogaya was sent to prison. Fortunately, his former coach and high school principal bails him out, informing him that the current baseball program is about to go under. In order to keep the program alive and Hatogaya out of jail, his coach insists that he coach the baseball team, which currently is in need of some serious coaching. Last Inning is an inspiring story of a man who made a lot of sacrifices in order to live an orderly life, but ended up paying for it heavily in the long run. Things eventually turn around and Hatogaya returns to the baseball field not as a player, but as an inspiration to the younger generation he must lead. The story is great because it shows us just how unpredictable life can be at times, but if you truly love something it will always somehow come to save the day because your passion carries you forward.

The life of Minori is no easy one, as she's the manager of her school's baseball club. The club had been out of service up until five years prior, but even now with things starting to roll back in, it proves challenging for her. One reason is that there are no senior members in the club which is bad because, the team needs older players in order to coordinate efficiently. None of the second year players are unsure of why the club had become defunct, and so now they're going to discover just why. Over Fence has a lot of interesting bits that teach the reader a bit about baseball's history, which is a nice addition to the slice of life manga. Minori has a long road ahead of her but that doesn't stop her from working hard to bring the club she devoted herself to, back to life. All of the players insist that they get back onto the field, but to do so they need to recruit more senior players which is never simple considering they're prepping for exams. This story is wonderful because it shows us just how important teamwork is, and that if you truly want something to take off you need the right support system behind you, and players that are passionate to play the game.

Before the live action movie became a hit here in Japan, the manga made a name for itself as well. Koichi just enrolled at Futakotamagawa high school as a teacher, which is well known for having a large handful of delinquents on the baseball team. These very same troublemakers were suspended for a year from school after engaging in a brawl during an official match. What Koichi comes to discover is that the remaining members are just as bad, and have no willingness to listen to Koichi's advice to better themselves. However, things start to change once Koichi tells these students of a dream called the Koshien, the upper tier baseball league. This very dream is what inspires the members to start cleaning up their act, but little do they know that there are bigger challenges that await them. Rookies reminded us of GTO in a way where Onizuka was thrown into a room full of troublemakers, and he needed to find solutions to solve the growing problems in front of him. Once he became more aware of his student's behavior patterns, he not only taught them a lesson in the classroom, but more so in life. The same can be said for Koichi Kawato as he thrown into the pool of sharks, and must use the right judgment to set himself free. He motivates his classmates to take part in the Koshien which is a baseball event, and while doing so he helps to raise their level of self respect and lower their bad attitudes. Rookies takes you beyond the game of baseball, and into the realm of reality to make sure that it truly hits home in more ways than one.

One Outs dives deeper into the realm of mind games and follows pro pitcher Tokuchi, as he plays more than just baseball, he plays the game of deception to win. He signs a contract with Lycaons which places him in a high stakes gamble between him and the owner. The owner is hungry to win due to his greedy ways, and will seek out any course of action to ensure victory and destroy Tokuchi. In this psychological sports manga, Tokuchi must sacrifice a lot to win knowing that if he doesn't, there's more at stake than just his career. We really loved this series because it dived into a different realm that never really paired well with sports manga. Tokuchi has a passion for baseball, but that very same passion turns into a gamble as he now must decide what's more important, his life or his career. His manipulation tactics are incredible, undermining his opponents in whatever way possible, knowing that if he were to strike out he'd have a heavy burden awaiting him. He used every trick in the book to get his way, making sure that his owner never got ahead of him and that his plans were two steps ahead each time. This manga is truly a game of back and forth, and will keep you on the edge of your seat to see how things turn out.

Gurazeni follows relief pitcher Natsunosuke Bonda, who makes 18 million at the very ripe age of 26. This doesn't seem to impress him much because from his perspective, he is surrounded by other higher income earning players. His passion goes into all of his pitches to ensure that he too can make a higher salary much like the other players, and become a top ranked earner like he feels he rightfully deserves. Much of the story is focused heavily on how Bonda really loves the game of baseball but just doesn't seem to feel that he's making enough, despite his extraordinary talents. This pushes him beyond his limits and this is where the manga starts to really pump up. You're right there with Bonda as you can truly get a sense of his burning desire to overcome his burdens, with every pitch that he throws earning him another extra million yen in the bank. While his desire is just money, you can still respect the fact that he is working very hard for it, and that he wants to cement his name in the history books as one of the greats.

Hiro was a baseball prodigy alongside his good friend Hideo, until one unfortunate day he discovers that his arm is permanently damaged, and can never pitch a ball again. Totally defeated by the news, he made it a mission to avoid any high schools with baseball clubs to avoid any further pain. Fortunately for Hiro, the doctor who provided the examination ended being a total scam and his arm was in perfect form from the beginning. With the light now shining brightly in the tunnel once again, Hiro immediately draws attention to his dream which is to create his own team to face off against this friend Hideo in the Koshien, the number one premier league for high school baseball. Being told that your arm is severely damaged and can't participate in your passion is excruciatingly painful, perhaps even more so than the arm itself. We totally felt for Hiro when his heart just plummeted to the ground after the grim news, but then we jumped for joy after hearing it was all a lie. This triumphant story of going from the bottom back to the top is why H2 is revered as one of the better baseball manga to be released. It has story, amazing character development, and it truly inspires you to keep striving towards your dream until it becomes a beautiful reality.

Kou Kitamura knows nothing else about baseball outside of just hitting the ball exceptionally well. His ingenuity with the bat is unmatched, but he lacks in every other area. One of the four daughters of the Tsukishima family, Aoba, is a gifted pitcher and hitter, while Wakaba is in love with him and plans to marry Kou once they grow older. However tragedy strikes and dreams as broken, as now Kou must deal with what's happening around him. 4 years after the unfortunate events Kou is still playing baseball but has never participated in a game since. Now with the fuel burning inside him again, will he live up to the expectations of his peers? Or perhaps he has other surprises in store. Cross Game is nothing short of impressive because Kou has this inner passion that no one else has seen, but due to his tragic past and reluctance to play baseball again, no one has ever truly seen his potential. It's a story of tragedy and triumph and how one boy dedicates himself to the love of the game in order to not only heal the wounds of his past, but to show everyone, especially Aoba, just how much he's learned over the years. There's an intensity that brews each chapter you read, with the emotional breakdown that occurs when tragedy strikes, but it's that tenacity that pushes Kou forward to become one of the best baseball players to ever walk into the batter’s box.

Eijun really wants to take his team past the qualifying rounds, and make their way to the famous Koushien Championships. His journey to fame begins in a small rural town, pitching for his middle school and is then paired up with a skilled catcher who rose from a very elite baseball team. After much consideration he decides to pack his belongings, move out of the countryside and attend the school that this very same catcher came from to improve his game. Together these two work hard to achieve more than just team chemistry, but to bring home the title where it belongs. Diamond no Ace truly deserves the top spot because for one it's definitely one of the more popular baseball manga out, but also because it tells the story of a young man with a desire to win, and to see that his team bring home the championship title. Eijun makes such an incredible life changing decision to move out of his comfort zone, into a world full of uncertainty but is confident that his choice will garner him the rewards he's been praying for. It's truly moving because Eijun demonstrates to us that if we truly want to see any significant change in our lives, we need to take action because the world will not just give it to you, it's something you must work hard for.