Rent-a-Girlfriend: Unveiling the Surprising World of Companion Services
Kazuya's struggle to navigate his complicated love life intensifies as Ruka's jealousy clashes with Chizuru's own emotional turmoil, while a new neighbor adds fuel to the fire
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Warning: Spoilers ahead for Rent-a-Girlfriend Season 3, Episode 2, "Girlfriend Next Door," currently available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
As Kazuya and Chizuru establish their new professional dynamic as a producer and actress, tensions between them have calmed. However, their situation takes a different turn as
The beguiled beauties of Kazuya continue their fight for his attention. Ruka, in particular, is determined to keep Kazuya away from Chizuru, as she sees herself as his true girlfriend.
In the ever-expanding harem of Rent-a-Girlfriend, it is only a matter of time before things become chaotic for Kazuya. While Ruka has always been a threat to his secret, a nosy neighbor has now added to his list of never-ending problems. Now, Kazuya must find a way to satisfy them all in order to protect his secret.
Ruka’s Contention With Chizuru
Ruka had been accepting of Kazuya and Chizuru's rental relationship despite its complexities. However, seeing Chizuru leaving Kazuya's apartment overwhelmed her. Being Kazuya's actual girlfriend, Ruka has the most invested in the love triangle. This explains her aggression towards Chizuru and her strong emotional response to Kazuya growing closer to her.
Although Ruka may come across as rude and direct, her unease and discomfort are understandable. After all, Kazuya agreed to be her boyfriend. She also reveals that she left her rental agency more than six months ago to legitimize their relationship and avoid any potential issues. Given the dedication and effort Ruka has invested, her extreme reaction to the unwelcome sight was completely reasonable.
Kazuya had no choice but to reveal his plans of collaborating with Chizuru in making a movie in order to persuade Ruka. Moreover, they had to reluctantly accept Ruka as a third partner in the filmmaking process. While reaching this three-way agreement may have slightly calmed her hostile feelings, she continues to pose a potential threat to Kazuya and his hidden secret.
Chizuru’s Inner-turmoil Over Kazuya
Throughout the series, Chizuru has consistently maintained her stance on her relationship with Kazuya, viewing it as merely a fake, rental arrangement. However, deep down, Chizuru appears to be gradually embracing the idea of having genuine romantic feelings for Kazuya. While she was once able to dismiss such peculiar thoughts, the recent chain of events intertwining their lives has caused Chizuru's emotions to reach a boiling point.
Kazuya's altruistic actions have played a significant role in influencing Chizuru's affection, but there is an additional underlying factor at play: Grandma Sayuri. Witnessing her grandmother's contentment and happiness with Kazuya may have caused Chizuru to perceive him in a completely different light. While she had already started seeing Kazuya as a changed person, Sayuri's biased perspective has completely swayed Chizuru, evident from her preparing a home-cooked meal for Kazuya and her lack of hesitation when entering his apartment.
However, the complications in Chizuru's relationship with Kazuya and the constant presence of other attractive individuals pose a major obstacle for a legitimate romance between them. Chizuru would have to disregard her agency's policy of maintaining professional boundaries with clients. Additionally, dealing with Ruka would be another pressing issue, as it could potentially expose her secret. With various complexities complicating her connection with Kazuya, it appears that Chizuru is far from being ready to acknowledge her feelings for him.
Trouble With the New Neighbor
The addition of a new character to an already crowded harem was sure to create its fair share of predicaments. Mini Yaemori's chaotic personality was a clear indication of the ensuing chaos. As it turns out, Mini had recorded Ruka's meltdown on the balcony, thereby exposing her to Kazuya's complicated relationships and Chizuru's role as a rental girlfriend.
However, the situation might not be as dire for Kazuya since Mini does not seem to have any romantic interest in him. After coercing Kazuya into divulging the secret, she starts to admire and respect him, even going as far as addressing him as 'Master.' According to Mini, it's apparent that Chizuru has developed feelings for Kazuya, given her willingness to tolerate his problematic behavior and constant troubles throughout the entire year.
Instead of obsessing over him like the other members of the harem, Mini genuinely hopes for Kazuya to choose Chizuru. With an additional character vouching for their union, Kazuya's chances of being with Chizuru are improving. Their heartfelt feelings for each other are bound to be revealed soon, although a future together remains uncertain.
