#Mod note: I think this is the longest submission we've had to date! The dedication... And for the first characters here who don't have tags

[couldpolyamorysavethem]

NAGISA KASHIWAGI, MAKI SHIJO, and TSUBASA TANUMA from KAGUYA-SAMA: LOVE IS WAR

Justification:

"man. MAN. MANNNNNNNN. those three idiots (affectionate)! they're perhaps one of the most unbelievably frustrating side-plot love triangles I know about, for one singular reason: literally so many of their repetitive problems would easily be resolved if they could just realize that polyamory is an option!!

and don't get me wrong, I could honestly say about the same about a lot of love triangles in media in general to varying extents, but these three in particular are especially ATROCIOUS at this, because for hundreds of chapters they are just stuck in this perpetually stagnant state of "Maki being the jealous sad tragic angry third wheel to the sickening sweet little love-dovey couple Nagisa and Tsubasa, her best friend and the boy she likes respectively", except the moment you look at some of the things between them, you realize that polyam is the only thing that makes sense for them!! if only it would occur to them this is something they can do!!

for context, just look at their freaking relationship:

Tsubasa and Nagisa: As a sickeningly sweet side-character couple, they are always very lovey-dovey, clingy and handsy with each other. Tsubasa is the one who first confessed to Nagisa, with a kabedon to express the crush he has had on her. Nagisa agreed to go out, but wasn't sure that she actually felt any romantic feelings for him except through her possessiveness/jealousy of him when it comes to the idea of Tsubasa being with anyone else. Their relationship continued to develop, with Tsubasa altering himself to suit Nagisa's liking, and they gradually become a very physical couple who can't keep their hands off each other. Maki always watches them in great pain and jealousy, because she is in love with Tsubasa, but her affection and loyalty for her best friend ultimately always prevents her from trying to destroy their relationship.

Nagisa and Maki: Childhood best friends who really care about each other to this day. Ever since they first met, Nagisa has been really admiring of Maki's everything, her intelligence, strength and kindness. Nagisa strongly desires to be like Maki, causing her to imitate her every move and develop interest in things Maki likes. (Maki says it's actually kind of cute in a way, when mentioning it, Nagisa's always going "Maki, Maki, Maki") In fact, it is specifically because Maki likes Tsubasa and Nagisa saw them getting along and Tsubasa being so nice and kind to her beloved friend Maki despite Maki's sometimes difficult personality, that Nagisa even started to become interested in Tsubasa at all to begin with. During the Hearts festival at their school (a festival themed after hearts and everlasting romantic love), Maki is sulking as usual at all the happy dancing couples when Nagisa approaches her, inviting her to dance, saying she wants to dance with her because "you're supposed to dance with the person you like most" in response to Maki telling her to go dance with her boyfriend, and further affirming her love for Maki by giving a clear "of course" to Maki's question as to if Nagisa likes her more than she likes her boyfriend. Internally Maki remarks that Nagisa is the one person she just can't bring herself to hate.

(As a side note, Nagisa is actually generally implied to be attracted to girls as well in some other chapters. Also, Nagisa says that until she finds out Maki likes Tsubasa, she had actually never imagined that Maki had the capacity to fall for anyone. All things considered, it's incredibly easy to interpret her as being in love with Maki all along on top of liking her sweet boyfriend as well, and just never thought she had a chance with her and thus never made any attempt to pursue Maki.)

When Nagisa finally finds out near the end that Maki has been in love with Tsubasa all this time Nagisa was dating him, she is horrified to realize that her "devout admiration" to Maki has ironically ended up hurting "the one she loved so much" (canon narration; referring to Maki), and dumps Tsubasa that day despite being very sad and crying a lot over it; she does love Tsubasa after all. When Maki goes to confront Nagisa about it (as Maki has a good guess as to why she did that), Nagisa explains it's a choice for her between Maki and Tsubasa, and between them she chooses Maki. Maki vehemently goes against Nagisa's decision and yells at her that she would never let Nagisa suffer in her place like that, and swears with her hand cupping Nagisa's cheeks that she wants Nagisa to stay by her side and watch her get over Tsubasa and move and, and Nagisa will be there to see her pull through it all. Nagisa tears up and blushes, thinking that the girl she has admired for so long is still just as smart, strong, and kind as the girl she first looked up to all those years ago (exact words from the narrator; combined with her expression and the glowing background, this panel is very romantic). She concedes and says "in the end, you are still the one I love the most".

TL;DR: Nagisa has always loved Maki more than anyone, and she also clearly loves Tsubasa; and for her, both affections are intertwined very deeply. Maki is hopelessly in love with Tsubasa and also deeply loves Nagisa, and is burdened by these conflicting emotions (she can't bring herself to hate Nagisa and she wants to love her friend without jealousy over the crush getting in her way). Tsubasa is just head over heels for Nagisa as before, even after dating her passionately for a year, and he also loves Maki at least as a good friend. Polyamory won't solve all their problems immediately and some issues with jealousy might remain, but it'd be a wonderful start and an immense improvement from all the stagnation and pain!! ahh save them polyamory save them" - Anonymous