After 8 years and 380 chapters,Rent-A-Girlfriendmay have finally encountered the biggest turning point in both the protagonists’ relationships and for its fans to decide if it’s worth continuing the story or not. Despite the popularity of the manga, withRent-A-Girlfriendbecoming the best-selling title in KMANGA over hit series likeBlue LockandShangri-La Frontierin 2023, fans of the series have criticized the author, Reiji Miyajima, for lengthening the story andstagnating Kazuya and Chizuru’s relationship for more than a hundred chapters.
However, just as the plot seems to be advancing with Chizuru finally reaching a decision after considering her feelings towards Kazuya, the release ofRent-A-Girlfriendchapter 380has sparked controversy afterhaving invalidated all the developments teased so far in the current date arc.
Rent-A-Girlfriend’s Manga Toys With Readers’ Expectations With Chizuru’s Shocking Rejection
Despite the Recent Progress, Rent-A-Girlfriend’s Story May Have Stagnated
Following the Hawaii Trip Arc, after ghosting Kazuya for a couple of months and having a heartfelt talk with Mini in chapter 235, Chizuru reflects on whether she loves Kazuya or if her feelings aren’t romantic at all during a considerable number of the chapters in which they even cohabited in her house. Fans finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel for progress in their relationshipinRent-A-Girlfriendchapter 379, where Chizuru confessed to being in love with Kazuya.
However,fans’ anticipation quickly turned into disbelief withRent-A-Girlfriendchapter 380, where Chizuru rejected Kazuya, arguing that she is not yet ready for a relationship. Chizuru stated that due to the nature of her work and current lifestyle, she isn’t ready for what a relationship represents or worthy of using the ring from Kazuya’s mother. This came as a shock toRent-A-Girlfriend’sfans, who believed that Kazuya’s two-year-long romantic pursuit would finally end. Also,it swapped the focus of the usual criticism in the seriesfrom Kazuya’s clingy personality, towards Chizuru for being indecisive and leading him on when she ultimately would reject him.
There Could Be A Deeper Reason Behind Chizuru’s Rejection
Readers Can’t Help but Think That Rent-A-Girlfriend’s Author Is Purposely Dragging the Story
However,despite the controversy, Chizuru’s intention is not to hurt Kazuya, but her actions may be just her response as someone who has yet to understand her own feelings and what love is. Not only do Chizuru’s words emphasize that it is not that she dislikes him or that she would never want to be with him, but that she feels that she is not ready for it. It is even hinted at the end of chapter 380 that the blister caused by her shoe may suggest that she could be hiding her pain.
This could set up a moment for Kazuya to express what he feels and help Chizuru consider if that is what she really wants. Still, the slow progress of dozens of chapters compared to other rom-coms, where the protagonist has more development and things advance at a quicker pace, is makingmany readers consider dropping the series.Rent-A-Girlfriend’s storyhas been downgraded to just an escalation of a burdensome repeated pattern where a chapter sets up progress with Chizuru but then invalidates it, alongside having relegated other interesting characters to the sidelines.
Additionally, due to theRent-A-Girlfriendauthor’s well-known infatuation with Chizuru, many readers claimthis development is just another way to avoid Chizuru and Kazuya getting together toextend the mangaand keep taking advantage of the series' popularity.
Rent-A-Girlfriend
Cast
Rent-a-Girlfriend follows Kinoshita Kazuya, a 20-year-old college student who, after a breakup, resorts to hiring a girlfriend through a rental service. He meets Mizuhara Chizuru, sparking unexpected developments in their relationship. The series explores themes of love and self-discovery, blending romance with comedic elements.
