Zoe Alvarez
The Rent-a-Girlfriend manga series has sparked controversy among fans, with some speculating about its continuation due to the author's cryptic tweet regarding the manga's conclusion. After eight years and 380 chapters, the latest chapter, featuring a long-awaited confession by the protagonist Kazuya, ended in rejection by Chizuru, leaving fans disappointed and frustrated with the slow progression of the plot. Despite the manga's popularity, some readers consider dropping the series due to its stagnant character development and repetitive narrative patterns. However, others defend the manga's unique portrayal of an established industry in Japan and its intriguing exploration of relationships. With over 13.5 million copies in circulation as of April 2025, the manga has inspired a spin-off series, a live-action TV drama, and various adaptations, indicating its significant impact on the industry.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current status | Ongoing |
| Author | Reiji Miyajima |
| Number of chapters | 380 |
| Number of tankōbon volumes | 41 |
| Number of anime seasons | 4 |
| Circulation | 13.5 million copies |
| Spin-off manga series | Rent-A-(Really Shy!)-Girlfriend |
| Visual novel | Rent-A-Girlfriend: The Horizon and the Girl in the Swimsuit |
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What You'll Learn
- The manga has been criticised for stagnating the main couple's relationship
- The latest chapter sparked controversy with an unexpected rejection
- The series has been adapted into an anime with four seasons
- A spin-off manga series titled Rent-A-(Really Shy!)-Girlfriend was serialised in 2020
- A smartphone game featuring the female characters was released in 2021
The manga has been criticised for stagnating the main couple's relationship
The manga series "Rent-a-Girlfriend" has received criticism for its handling of the relationship between the main characters, Kazuya and Chizuru. Despite the manga's popularity, some readers have expressed frustration with the slow progression of the relationship over the course of many chapters. The story has been criticised for relying on a repetitive pattern where progress is teased but then invalidated, leading to a sense of stagnation in the plot.
In particular, Chapter 380 has been a point of contention, as it features a controversial development in which Chizuru, after reflecting on her feelings during a trip with Kazuya, confesses her love for him but then quickly rejects him, claiming she is not ready for a relationship. This twist has been seen as a way to artificially extend the manga's length and take advantage of its popularity, rather than allowing the story to progress naturally. The author's reported infatuation with the character of Chizuru has also been cited as a reason for this narrative choice.
The relationship between Kazuya and Chizuru has been a central focus of "Rent-a-Girlfriend," and their dynamic has evolved from a rental girlfriend arrangement to something more complex and emotional. However, the criticism suggests that the manga has struggled to balance genuine relationship development with the need to maintain narrative tension and longevity.
While some readers have defended the manga's pacing and narrative choices, arguing that they are common tropes in Japanese media and that relationship complexities are intriguing, others have expressed disappointment and considered dropping the series due to the perceived lack of progress. This controversy has sparked debates about the role of fan expectations, author intentions, and the challenges of sustaining a popular manga series over an extended period.
It is worth noting that the criticism of "Rent-a-Girlfriend" is not unanimous, and the series has also received praise for its intriguing storyline and action-packed moments. However, the criticism highlights the challenges of managing fan expectations and maintaining a satisfying narrative pace in a long-running manga series, especially when it comes to the delicate handling of complex relationships.
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The latest chapter sparked controversy with an unexpected rejection
The manga series "Rent-A-Girlfriend" by Reiji Miyajima has sparked controversy with its latest chapter, seeing an unexpected rejection of the protagonist's romantic pursuit. After 8 years and 380 chapters, the story has built up a following of invested fans, becoming the best-selling title in KMANGA in 2023. However, the latest chapter has left fans in disbelief as the female lead, Chizuru, rejects the male protagonist, Kazuya, stating she is not ready for a relationship. This is a surprising turn of events as the previous chapter ended with Chizuru confessing her love for Kazuya, and fans believed that their two-year-long romance would finally culminate.
Chizuru's rejection has sparked a range of reactions from fans, with some interpreting it as a subversive move or a feminist parable about how affection and support don't entitle men to a relationship. However, others have criticised the author for stagnating the relationship between the leads to extend the manga and take advantage of its popularity. This chapter has also shifted the focus of criticism onto Chizuru, who is now being accused of leading Kazuya on and being indecisive.
The controversy has also brought attention to the broader themes of the manga, including the trope of falling in love with a sex worker, which is a common occurrence in Japanese storytelling. Additionally, the manga's portrayal of the rental girlfriend industry in Japan has sparked discussions about transactional intimacy and entitlement surrounding men and women.
Despite the criticism, some fans remain hopeful for a romantic resolution, with hints in chapter 382 suggesting that their romance may not be over. However, others have expressed frustration with the slow progress of the story and the lack of development, considering dropping the series altogether.
With its latest unexpected twist, "Rent-A-Girlfriend" has certainly sparked intense discussions among its fans, leaving many to decide whether to continue investing time in the story or move on.
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The series has been adapted into an anime with four seasons
The Rent-A-Girlfriend manga series has been adapted into an anime series with four seasons. The anime adaptation was produced by TMS Entertainment and aired on MBS's Super Animeism block. The first season was released in July 2020, with the second and third seasons following in July 2022 and July 2023, respectively. The fourth season premiered in July 2025.
The anime series has received mixed reviews from critics. Joe Ballard of Comic Book Resources (CBR) described the adaptation as a "hot mess" with sluggish pacing. However, he also acknowledged that it had intriguing elements, including an "action-packed rom-com" storyline and a semi-developing love story. Similarly, Alex Henderson of Anime Feminist characterised the series premiere as a "comedy of errors with a horny streak" but acknowledged that it hinted at deeper themes.
The fourth season of the anime was announced in 2025, exciting dedicated fans of the romantic comedy series. The season is set to adapt one of the manga's longest story arcs. A teaser and visual for the new season were also released, offering a glimpse into the upcoming events and showcase the lead characters, Kazuya Kinoshita and Chizuru Mizuhara.
In addition to the anime adaptation, Rent-A-Girlfriend has expanded into various other formats. A live-action television drama adaptation aired in Japan from July to September 2022, and a streaming version was released internationally in January 2023 under the title Rental A Girlfriend. A spin-off manga series, Rent-A-(Really Shy!)-Girlfriend, has been serialised since June 2020 and focuses on the character Sumi Sakurasawa. The franchise has also ventured into gaming with a crossover smartphone game and a visual novel, both released in 2024.
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A spin-off manga series titled Rent-A-(Really Shy!)-Girlfriend was serialised in 2020
The original manga series "Rent-A-Girlfriend" is still ongoing, with a fourth anime television season premiering in July 2025. The manga has been serialised in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine since July 2017 and has been compiled into forty-one tankōbon volumes as of July 2025.
Now, let's focus on the spin-off manga series, "Rent-A-(Really Shy!)-Girlfriend", which is closely related to the original manga. This spin-off series began serialisation in Kodansha's Magazine Pocket app on June 21, 2020, and stars the breakout character Sumi Sakurasawa. As of May 2022, the spin-off has been compiled into three volumes.
The story of "Rent-A-(Really Shy!)-Girlfriend" centres on the character Sumi Sakurasawa, who was also featured in a crossover smartphone game titled "Kanojo, Okarishimasu Heroine All-Stars". This game was released in September 2021 and included female characters from other Weekly Shōnen Magazine manga series.
The spin-off manga series has also been adapted into an anime television series. The adaptation was announced on December 15, 2019, and aired from July to September 2020. A second season of the anime adaptation was broadcast from July to September 2022, followed by a third season from July to September 2023.
The anime adaptation of "Rent-A-(Really Shy!)-Girlfriend" was produced by TMS Entertainment, with Kazuomi Koga directing and Mitsutaka Hirota handling series composition. Kanna Hirayama designed the characters, while the music was composed by Hyadain. The opening theme song was "Centimeter" by The Peggies, and the ending themes were performed by Halca and Sora Amamiya.
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A smartphone game featuring the female characters was released in 2021
The immense popularity of the manga series "Rent-A-Girlfriend" led to the creation of a smartphone game in 2021, titled "Kanojo, Okarishimasu Heroine All-Stars" (or "彼女、お借りしますヒロインオールスターズ" in Japanese). This game was a crossover event, featuring female characters not only from "Rent-A-Girlfriend" but also from other popular manga series that had appeared in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine. These included "Fairy Tail", "The Seven Deadly Sins", "Domestic Girlfriend", "Fire Force", and "The Quintessential Quintuplets". Developed by the Japanese mobile game company Enish, it was described as a "love comedy puzzle".
The game was released in September 2021 for Android and iOS mobile devices in Japan. Prior to its launch, the game's official Twitter account revealed crossover visuals and details of the event. The collaboration event ran from 1st to 14th November 2021 and featured an original story with full voice acting.
The game starred Chizuru Mizuhara, the female lead of "Rent-A-Girlfriend", along with other heroines from the manga series, including Mami Nanami, Ruka Sarashina, and Sumi Sakurasawa. The game's service ended on 25th January 2023.
The manga series "Rent-A-Girlfriend" has been ongoing since July 2017 and has been compiled into forty-one tankōbon volumes as of July 2025. The story's slow progress and controversial relationship developments have been criticised by some readers, yet it remains popular, with over 13.5 million copies in circulation as of April 2025.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Rent-a-Girlfriend manga is still ongoing. As of June 2025, it has been serialised for 8 years with over 380 chapters.
In chapter 380, Chizuru, the female lead, confessed her love for Kazuya, the male lead, but rejected his romantic pursuit, stating that she is not ready for a relationship. This sparked controversy among fans who believed that their relationship would finally progress.
Rent-a-Girlfriend has gained popularity since its release, with over 13.5 million copies in circulation as of April 2025. However, some readers have criticised the manga for its slow progress and stagnation of the main characters' relationship, leading to a decline in sales.
Yes, there is a spin-off manga series titled Rent-A-(Really Shy!)-Girlfriend, which focuses on the character Sumi Sakurasawa. Additionally, a live-action television drama adaptation aired in Japan in 2022, and an anime television series adaptation was announced in 2019.
