Breaking News: Rent-a-Girlfriend Makes a Surprising Comeback!

Highlights

The recent developments in Kazuya and Chizuru's relationship have been promising, with Kazuya finally breaking through Chizuru's facade and allowing her to show vulnerability.

Despite the progress made, it is evident that the author's intention is to conclude Season 3 with a cliffhanger, indicating that significant advancements in their relationship are unlikely to happen anytime soon. Despite a few genuine moments between Kazuya and Chizuru, the overall storyline of Rent-a-Girlfriend has been characterized by a sluggish pace, with limited growth in their relationship and the possibility of them ending up together appearing improbable.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Rent-a-Girlfriend Season 3, Episode 12, "Ideal Girlfriend and Girlfriend," currently available on Crunchyroll.

As the season finale draws near, Rent-a-Girlfriend continues to introduce twists to its storyline, although it appears to be progressing slowly. The previous episode’s heartfelt ending has brought Kazuya and Chizuru closer, but it seems unlikely that their relationship will undergo significant advancements in the near future.

Kazuya eventually manages to see through Chizuru's facade and demonstrates that women cannot exist in isolation, leading her to develop a fondness for Kazuya. Despite this breakthrough, author Reiji Miyajima seems to be intentionally leaving Season 3 on a cliffhanger, leaving the story unresolved once again.

A Breakthrough With Chizuru

Chizuru's emotions were stirred when she lit a sparkler and memories of her grandparents flooded back, causing her distress. However, she managed to hide her true feelings from Kazuya, putting on a brave face and pretending that nothing was wrong. Seeing this, Kazuya couldn't help but feel worthless, realizing that even his meticulously planned extravagant date failed to bring them closer together.

When it seemed like all hope was gone, Kazuya unleashed a monologue about his ideal girlfriend, implying Chizuru's current lack of vulnerability. His words resonated with Chizuru, triggering a memory of her grandmother's wisdom. In the flashback, Sayuri advised Chizuru that a simple hug can alleviate loneliness and sadness.

Channeling these words, Chizuru rushed towards Kazuya, burying her face in his chest, letting out all her pent-up emotions through sobs. This was the exact moment Kazuya had wished for during their date, as Chizuru finally dropped her guard and allowed him to share in her sorrow. Even Kazuya was left speechless as Chizuru poured out her feelings all at once. For the first time, it seemed that Kazuya had the opportunity to truly be a part of Chizuru's life.

Return to Normalcy

Kazuya had longed for the heartfelt conclusion to their rental date, but when it finally came to fruition, it felt surreal to him. However, while Kazuya was unable to forget about the memories from that night, Chizuru seemed to have easily moved on. Whenever he tried to bring up what had transpired, Chizuru brushed it off as if it had never happened, diverting the conversation towards her upcoming movie screening.

For Kazuya, Chizuru's lack of acknowledgment was like a death sentence to his hopes of dating her. He berated himself for even entertaining the thought of something romantic between them, berating himself and calling himself worthless. At times, he even considered the possibility that Chizuru's actions were all just an act to fulfill his fantasy of an ideal girlfriend.

While appearances may suggest everything is normal, both parties have their own feelings about that specific evening. Chizuru recognizes that she felt considerably better about her grandmother's departure after expressing her emotions in front of Kazuya, although she remains unwilling to let her feelings deepen any further. Clearly, their relationship has progressed beyond the initial pretense of a rental arrangement, yet neither side is prepared to take the next leap towards a genuine romantic connection.

A Stale Narrative

Following the screening of the movie, Chizuru locates Kazuya outside the screening hall, leading to a heartfelt conversation between the two about the film and their future aspirations. Chizuru expresses her desire to continue acting, as it allows her late grandmother to witness her performances from heaven. Moreover, she candidly admits that she thoroughly enjoyed being a part of this particular movie. An overwhelming sense of relief washes over Kazuya, as he realizes that his efforts to uplift Chizuru's spirits were not in vain.

Kazuya, fueled by a glimmer of hope, decides to persist in his pursuit of Chizuru, who allows him to move forward in life. However, it is disappointing that despite an entire season of Rent-a-Girlfriend, there appears to be minimal progress in Kazuya's relationships. He continues to follow in Chizuru's footsteps, and the likelihood of them ending up together anytime soon seems unlikely.

Although there is progress in Kazuya and Chizuru's relationship, there is no apparent resolution in sight, leaving the potential for the story to take any direction. The episode briefly acknowledges the other characters in Kazuya's Harem who were neglected in this season, with Mami finally making an appearance for the first time in Season 3. While a Season 4 of Rent-a-Girlfriend has not been confirmed, it seems that fans will have to endure another season of the series to finally reach a satisfying conclusion.