Side Couple Syndrome

SP- Side Pairing
MP- Main Pairing
List Qualifiers:
>BL that have a main relationship and at least one "side" relationship
>BL with SPs or characters that get a side story/spin off where they are the MP (ie: tasogare outfocus)
List Disqualifiers:
>anthologies- unless the stories take place in the same universe
>spin offs set in the same universe but the MP weren't speaking characters in the og story/plot (ie: Love is an Illusion)
>BL that imply a SP but didn't make them canon (ie: Love in Orbit)
Tags: side couple BL
All(44) / manga(44)

19 Days

 9.8(1364 voted)
Ongoing
Author(s): Old Xian
Genre(s): Comedy / School Life / Shounen Ai / Slice Of Life / Webtoons

Idk if there's any side couple connoisseur that hasn't read 19d. For me I think it began my obsession so I feel the need to note it down.
Is the side couple goated?: Yeah.. It's hard to deny tianshan is very iconic
Is the side couple better than the main?:
NO. I think some of the worst writing in 19d is a consequence of tianshan overtaking Zhanyi screentime and development.

24 03,2025

Player <3 Player

 9.2(463 voted)
Complete
Author(s): RURU
Genre(s): Shounen Ai / Comedy / Romance / School Life / Webtoons

PHP is a biblical text of the BL quartet trope but maybe ~5 ppl have read it. The side couple is a darksided version of the main couple. You can be concerned for their sanity and understand the SP is a harmonious yang to the MP's yin. The SP never overtake the MP yet- the narrative's themes wouldn't be half as strong w/o them. The parallels between the characters is insane. I would die for PHP side story, but the open-ended ending for the SP is good too.

24 03,2025

Between the Stars

 9.6(123 voted)
Complete
Author(s): Artic fox
Genre(s): Webtoons / Shounen Ai / Drama / Romance

Is the side couple better than the main couple: Yes IMO. No offense to the main couple they do not have the tension of mental and physical disability binding them like the side couple does

24 03,2025

Hyung, you're my idol!

 9.6(162 voted)
Complete
Author(s): JzongBomBom, Ari
Genre(s): Romance / Comedy / Shounen Ai / Webtoons

Is the side couple goated?: Probably not but I'm glad they have each other
Are they better than the main couple?: I think they are on about equal footing but they are still a treat for the side couple enthusiasts out there. Oh and there's a yuri side couple but they aren't developed much because this is a BL but I appreciate the novelty of it

24 03,2025

Roommates (Young Seok)

 9.3(510 voted)
Complete
Author(s): Seok Young
Genre(s): Romance / Shounen Ai / Webtoons

Is the side couple goated?: It's aight
Is it better than the main couple: Like a lot of side couples tend to be, it offers an edgy, messy counterpart to the fluff of the main couple. I don't think one is particularly superior to the other

24 03,2025

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