The Five Biggest Shockwaves From Rent-a-Girlfriend Chapter 380: Did Chizuru Really Say No?

The long-awaited climax of Kazuya Kinoshita and Chizuru Mizuhara's relationship took a dramatically controversial turn in Rent-a-Girlfriend Chapter 380, leaving the manga community in a state of shock and disbelief. Released on June 10, 2025, this chapter, titled "My Girlfriend and Love (Part 29)," was the moment fans had been waiting for—a definitive answer to Kazuya’s persistent, years-long pursuit of the titular "Rental Girlfriend." Instead of the satisfying resolution many anticipated, author Reiji Miyajima delivered a plot twist that has been widely condemned as a massive step backward, effectively reigniting the series’ most frustrating narrative loops and leading to a firestorm of online debate. The fallout has been so severe that many believe it has irreparably damaged the manga's reputation.

The core of the controversy stems from Chizuru’s response to Kazuya’s emotional confession and the subsequent discussion about the status of their relationship. After nearly 400 chapters of development, sacrifices, and shared emotional trauma, Chizuru bowed her head, apologized for her uncertainty, and ultimately stated that she was "not yet ready" to move forward into a real relationship. This decision, which felt like a complete rejection to many readers, has been interpreted as a clear attempt by the creator to indefinitely stretch the storyline, prioritizing the continuation of the series over character progression and a satisfying payoff.

The Complete Biography of the Main Characters in Kanojo, Okarishimasu

To fully grasp the magnitude of the events in Chapter 380, it is essential to understand the journey of the central figures: Kazuya Kinoshita and Chizuru Mizuhara.

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Kazuya Kinoshita

• Full Name: Kazuya Kinoshita (木ノ下 和也)
• Role: Main Protagonist, College Student
• Age: Early 20s
• Family: Harumi Kinoshita (Mother), Kazuo Kinoshita (Father), Nagomi Kinoshita (Grandmother)
• Defining Trait: Initially depicted as a weak-willed, easily flustered, and desperate young man following a breakup. His character arc is defined by his growing selflessness, courage, and unwavering devotion to Chizuru, often going to extreme lengths to support her, including funding the movie project.
• Status in Chapter 380: He is at the peak of his emotional vulnerability, having laid his heart bare in a definitive confession, only to be met with an ambiguous rejection.

Chizuru Mizuhara / Chizuru Ichinose

• Full Name: Chizuru Ichinose (一ノ瀬 ちづる) / Mizuhara Chizuru (水原 千鶴) (Rental Persona)
• Role: Main Heroine, Aspiring Actress, Professional Rental Girlfriend
• Age: Early 20s
• Family: Sayuri Ichinose (Deceased Grandmother), Katsuhito Ichinose (Deceased Grandfather)
• Defining Trait: Highly professional, disciplined, and emotionally guarded. She maintains a strict separation between her "Mizuhara" rental persona and her true self, "Ichinose." Her ambition is to become a successful actress to honor her late grandparents. Her relationship with Kazuya is the central conflict of the series, blurring the lines between professional duty and genuine romantic feeling.
• Status in Chapter 380: She is grappling with the distinction between her rental role and her real feelings, contemplating quitting her rental job, and expressing profound uncertainty about her readiness for a committed relationship with Kazuya.

The Five Major Shockwaves That Rocked the Fandom

Chapter 380, released as part of the ongoing "My Girlfriend and Love" arc, was not just a simple rejection; it was a narrative earthquake that sent several shockwaves through the dedicated Kanojo, Okarishimasu fandom.

1. The Ambiguous Rejection and "Not Ready" Excuse

The single most polarizing moment was Chizuru’s response. After 379 chapters of build-up, her reasoning that she is "not yet ready" felt like a devastating cop-out to the audience. Fans argued that Chizuru and Kazuya have already been through life-or-death situations, a joint movie production, and countless moments of genuine intimacy and support. This level of shared experience, they contend, should have been more than enough to establish readiness. The rejection was seen as a deliberate narrative roadblock, frustrating the payoff of years of character investment.

2. The Contemplation of Quitting the Rental Girlfriend Job

A significant subplot in Chapter 380 involves Chizuru contemplating whether to quit her job as a rental girlfriend. This entity—the Rental Girlfriend profession—is the very foundation of the series' premise. Her internal monologue suggests she feels the job is now detrimental to her relationship with Kazuya, creating an artificial barrier. While this shows a degree of self-awareness and a move towards honesty, the timing—immediately following the rejection—made it feel like a transactional excuse rather than a genuine step forward. The community debated whether this was a sign of future progression or just another delay tactic by the author, Reiji Miyajima.

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3. The Ruining of Chizuru's Character Development

For many readers, Chizuru’s character, which had been slowly developing from a stoic professional to an emotionally vulnerable woman, regressed in this chapter. Her decision to apologize for her uncertainty and retreat into her shell was viewed as a regression to her earlier, more guarded self. The rejection undermined the emotional growth she had displayed during the Movie Arc and the subsequent arcs, leading to accusations that the author was sacrificing character integrity for the sake of extending the manga. This sentiment fueled the massive online backlash.

4. The "One Step Forward, Two Steps Back" Narrative

The fan community has long criticized Rent-a-Girlfriend for its repetitive narrative structure, often summarized as "one step forward, two steps back." Chapter 380 is considered the most egregious example of this pattern. Kazuya makes a huge, definitive move—a full confession and a clear desire for a real relationship—which is the "one step forward." Chizuru's ambiguous rejection and return to a state of indecision is the "two steps back." This creative choice is seen as a betrayal of the audience's patience, confirming fears that the series is being deliberately stretched by Kodansha and the editorial team to maximize profit, regardless of the story's quality.

5. The Comparison to Other Heroines: Ruka, Sumi, and Mami

The prolonged uncertainty surrounding Chizuru has inevitably drawn attention back to the other main heroines: Ruka Sarashina, Sumi Sakurasawa, and Mami Nanami. Fans argued that both Ruka and Sumi have demonstrated a clearer, more genuine emotional connection and readiness for a relationship than Chizuru has, despite her being the main love interest. This chapter intensified the debate on whether Kazuya should have moved on to one of the other girls, whose feelings were more direct and less complicated by the Rental Girlfriend contract. The reappearance of Mami Nanami's shadow in the background of the plot further complicates the narrative, suggesting that the love triangle—or quadrangle—is far from over, much to the dismay of readers seeking closure.

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The Future of the Kazuya and Chizuru Relationship

Following the tumultuous events of Chapter 380, the manga's immediate future is shrouded in uncertainty. The chapter, titled Koigokoro to Kanojo 29 in its original Japanese release, set the stage for a new phase of emotional turmoil.

The key questions moving forward revolve around Chizuru's decision to potentially quit her rental job. If she removes the professional barrier, her interactions with Kazuya will be forced to exist solely in the realm of genuine personal connection. This could be the catalyst for the real, honest relationship development that fans have been craving. However, the fear remains that the story will simply pivot to a new obstacle, perhaps focusing on her acting career or the interference of other characters like Mami Nanami, to continue the status quo.

The massive fan backlash, evident across platforms like Reddit and YouTube, serves as a powerful signal to the author and publisher. The demand for meaningful progression is at an all-time high. Whether Chapter 380 is the final, frustrating hurdle before an honest confession or merely the start of another prolonged arc of indecision will determine the ultimate legacy of Rent-a-Girlfriend and the final fate of Kazuya Kinoshita and Chizuru Mizuhara's deeply complex relationship.