Rent-a-Girlfriend (Kanojo, Okarishimasu) has been one of the most controversial rom-com series in recent years. Starting with an intriguing look at the girlfriend rental service industry, the story quickly fell into a repetitive cycle: it has taken years for the couples to even get close.
With the latest chapter released in Japan, the manga has now surpassed the entire run of Dragon Ball in Shonen Jump magazine (42 volumes), sparking online uproar over the lack of romantic progress. Many fans pointed out that while Goku saved the world and married Chi-Chi long ago, Kazuya still can’t get past the early stages of confessing his feelings.
Creator’s surprising response: “Characters don’t follow my plan”
Facing harsh criticism over the manga’s “endless” length (nearly 400 chapters) and the characters constantly circling around each other, creator Reiji Miyajima expressed his surprise at reaching this milestone.
Responding to a fan’s comment on social media about Rent-a-Girlfriend surpassing 42 volumes (the same length as the entire Dragon Ball series), Miyajima said: “The characters don’t move the way I want them to, and before I realized it, the story had stretched this far.”
This makes sense since Miyajima seems to let his characters guide the story naturally instead of forcing them into situations to speed up the plot. As a result, events unfold organically.
However, this explanation can also be seen as a justification for Rent-a-Girlfriend’s length. The story has dragged on because the characters basically keep going in circles, which is why it has sparked so much debate over nearly 400 chapters. There’s no sign of a genuine romantic relationship developing, which only frustrates fans after investing so much time.
Uncertain promise of an ending
As early as 2023, Miyajima openly expressed his desire to end the series somehow, but there’s still no clear direction on where the story is heading.
Loving his characters enough to let that shape the plot is one thing, but causing fan frustration due to the lack of real progress after so long is another.
Commercial success despite controversy
Despite the controversy, Rent-a-Girlfriend remains extremely popular among loyal fans. The manga continues to sell well with each volume, even reaching volume 42. The anime adaptation will continue with Season 5 next year despite fan complaints.
At this point, Miyajima has no reason to slow down and can keep the series going as long as he wants to tell his story. No matter how long it takes, fans will be there to support and see how it all ends.
The absence of a truly developing romance only fuels fan frustration, but it also makes Rent-a-Girlfriend a unique cultural phenomenon where audience impatience becomes part of its success formula.