The friendshp and found family stories really come out ahead, don't they? :P

I really like Run with the Wind as one where the characters are adults (college age) and only two of them are in love with the sport (running) and therefore each other... while the rest are forming their own relationships with it. You still get the sports feelings but it has a more "realistic" and "relatable" vibe. I loved the novel version too, it broke me out of my reading slump!

Meanwhile I have Mushishi on my list :D