Volumes 1-6, Chizuru Mizuhara's Love Story Chapter 1
This review, "Chizuru Mizuhara's Love Story," looks back at " Kanojo, Okarishimasu" from Chizuru Mizuhara's point of view.
Here I will introduce how Chizuru viewed Kazuya in volumes 1-6, the first season of the anime. This article contains spoilers for volumes 1-6 (the first anime season). Return if you haven't read them yet! Please read them and come back.
In the introduction, "Chizuru Mizuhara's Love Story: Does Chizuru love Kazuya? When did it start?", I said that the relationship between Chizuru and Kazuya cannot be described only as "exciting," but as a "love that exists together with partnership". Therefore, in describing Kazuya from Chizuru's point of view, I will consider "trust" in him in addition to "attraction (how much she's in love with him)". Now, let's start the love story of Chizuru Mizuhara.
Volumes 1-6, How Chizuru viewed Kazuya
❤ Trust, 50%: From annoying customer to someone she wants to support.
Kazuya comes across as a very annoying customer, but as Chizuru spends time with him, she recognizes his good qualities and comes to support him as a rental girlfriend. When she first met him, she thought he was scum and pathetic, but she comes to see the good in him: in reality, he is kind to grandma, courageous, single-minded in love, serious about his friends, and that kind of person. The reason Chizuru cooperates with Kazuya and continues the false lover relationship is not simply because she is kind to everyone or because it is her job, but because she herself wishes to do so. And in the end, she was committed to fulfilling her promise to Kazuya (to help him get a real girlfriend).
❤ Attraction, 20%: She has no intention to be his real girlfriend, but she wants to be connected to him.
In Chizuru's mind at this time, she and Kazuya are in the relationship between the rental girlfriend and the client, and she has no intention of becoming his real girlfriend. She reminds Kazuya that their relationship is a cooperative relationship without romance (Chapter 32). In reality, however, it's not that she didn't have feelings for him at all. I would say that he is a boy who she is interested in. After he rescued her from drowning in the sea, she gradually developed an unconscious romantic interest in him. In the period between Volumes 1 and 6, "something that seems to be love but is not (nascent or hidden love)," depending on the situation at the time, is visible and hidden.
Chizuru Mizuhara's Love Story
■ [Introduction] Chizuru Mizuhara's Love Story
Volumes 1-6, Highlights and Commentary
They Begin a Relationship Between a Rental Girlfriend and a Client
◆I'M JUST YOUR RENTAL GIRLFRIEND! (1)
For Chizuru, Kazuya was an extremely annoying customer. He gave her a satisfaction rating of 1 (the lowest rating), was verbally abusive, and introduced her to his family as his real girlfriend without her permission.
GRANDMA... THIS IS THE THIRD TIME SHE'S BEEN HOSPITALIZED.
AND GOD (NAGOMI) HAS ONE DREAM... FOR ME TO FIND A NICE GIRL BEFORE SHE PASSES...
But when she finds out that he is a Grandma's boy, she sympathizes with him. Chizuru had a precious grandma (Sayuri) as well. For Chizuru, Grandma Sayuri is the most trusted and the only person in the world she can rely on. As such, Chizuru was not willing to disrespect Kazuya's desire to fulfill his own grandma's dream. She knows that Kazuya was deeply hurt by his broken heart and accepts the trouble he causes her because it is her job as a rental girlfriend.
EVERYBODY DEALS WITH LONELINESS.
MOST PEOPLE JUST HIDE IT.
EVERYONE'S GOT A HOLE INSIDE OF THEM. THEY'RE TRYING TO FILL.
SOME PEOPLE FILL IT WITH A RELATIONSHIP, OTHERS WITH WORK.
When Chizuru learns that Kazuya is depressed after being dumped by his girlfriend, she encourages him as a rental girlfriend. Then he says,
◆AFTER ALL, A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT... IS THE ONE THING YOU CAN'T RENT! (1)
I ENDED UP SPENDING ALL DAY TODAY THINKING ABOUT MY EX.
I GUESS I GOT SOMETHING OUT OF THIS,
NOW I UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH I LIKED HER.
I DOUBT I'LL FORGET ABOUT HER SOON.
BUT AT LEAST I CAN PICK MYSELF UP AND FORCE MYSELF FORWARD.
I'LL APOLOGIZE TO GRANDMA, TOO...
AND SOMEDAY, I'LL BRING HOME A REAL GIRLFRIEND.
I WANT TO DO THINGS MYSELF FROM NOW ON, WITH MY OWN EFFORT.
AFTER ALL, A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT... IS THE ONE THING YOU CAN'T RENT!
Kazuya tells her that he is satisfied to have rented Chizuru.
◆IF YOU THINK YOU'RE LIKE A RABBIT (FEEL LONELY), CALL ME AGAIN. (1)
BUT LOOK... I'M NOT GOING SAY I DON'T GET WANTING TO PLEASE YOUR FAMILY.
IF YOU'RE STILL FEELING A LONELY RABBIT IN A CAGE... JUST CALL ME.
NOTE: Japanese people have an image of "rabbits" as being very lonely, and Kazuya uses this as a metaphor when he tells Chizuru that he was so lonely that he almost died after being dumped by Mami.
In the end, Kazuya gives her a satisfaction rating of 5 (the highest rating), and Chizuru can't help but let out a smile. A rental girlfriend, that is, a temporary lover. It is an adhesive plaster who heal customer's broken heart and a love consultant who helps them move on to real love. Chizuru loves this job, and was happy that Kazuya looked forward, even if just a little.
◆THAT'S A FUNNY COINCIDENCE! MAYBE IT'S FATE! (2)
On the third rental date with Kazuya, she runs into Grandma Sayuri. In front of their grandmas, she and Kazuya decide to pretend to be really dating. Chizuru did not want Grandma Sayuri to know that she was working as a rental girlfriend.
Neither Chizuru nor Kazuya could easily tell the grandmas that they were "breaking up," and the false lover relationship continues.
◆Terms of Service. (3)
Thus began the relationship between a rental girlfriend and a client. However, she warned Kazuya not to get involved with her in private at all. Even if they are neighbors, it is against the terms of service.
Of Course, I'm Your Girlfriend, After All
On this day, Chizuru was in Shimoda with her college friends. There she met Kazuya by chance. He is still an annoying guy. Suddenly, she has to play his girlfriend. But
CHIZURU AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT BREAKING UP...
◆IT WAS FUN, IT REALLY WAS, (12)
Kazuya says this to evryone and tries to face his love for Mami once again. Seeing him like this, Chizuru tells him,
THE BREAK-UP DECLARATION ALONE... WAS CLEARLY A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I DON'T CARE WHAT EVERYONE ELSE THOUGHT.
TO ME, THAT WAS A BRAVE STEP FOR YOU TO TAKE.
SEEMS LIKE YOU DO... HAVE A BIT OF MANLINESS IN YOU.
When she says, "IT WAS FUN, IT REALLY WAS," she really means it. But Kazuya misunderstood it and her frustration leaks out, "Baka".
Chizuru had planned to tell everyone that she and Kazuya had broken up and end their false relationship, but she can't ignore Kibe's feelings and decides to ride the ferry with him.
◆I TOLD YOU, I'M A RENTAL GIRLFRIEND! (15)
Chizuru was not feeling well that day and accidentally fell off the ferry into the sea. At that time, it was Kazuya who risked his life to save her.
I TOLD YOU, I'M A RENTAL GIRLFRIEND!
Kazuya is just a customer. At first, he was even a helplessly annoying guy. But it's not true. Kazuya is surely a wonderful person, just because Chizuru didn't know it.
HE'S NOT A BAD PERSON, Y'KNOW.
I'M SURE HE'LL MAKE YOU HAPPY IN THE END.
HOW CAN I BE ANGRY, AT A GIRL WHO LIKES MY GRANDSON?
What Kibe-kun said, and what Grandma Nagomi said, sticks in her heart. Until this incident, Chizuru had wanted to end the false lover relationship as soon as possible. However
◆OF COURSE, I'M YOUR GIRLFRIEND, AFTER ALL. (15)
OF COURSE I'M YOUR GIRLFRIEND, AFTER ALL.
In front of Kazuya's friends, she declares to everyone that she is his girlfriend.
As a rental girlfriend, I want to help Kazuya.
I want to help Kazuya. I want to repay him for saving my life. I don't want to make Grandma Nagomi sad. These feelings make Chizuru want to continue her false lover relationship with him.
◆Chizuru's life is saved by Kazuya, and they even kissed (?). (20)
Chizuru's life is saved by Kazuya, and they even kiss. At that time, "something" may have been born in Chizuru, as a feeling like "I can't leave this person alone".
Don't Worry. As Long as I'm Still Your "Girlfriend". I Won't Just Leave You
◆I WANT TO RENT YOU! (19)
Chizuru has decided to continue their relationship for a little while longer. From this point on, the way she treats Kazuya will change drastically.
Due to the grandmothers' scheme, Chizuru ends up spending the night with Kazuya in a room at an inn. Chizuru could not leave Kazuya alone, who says, "I can change when I'm with you". When Kazuya tells Chizuru that he wants to rent her, she replies, "SURE".
As a rental girlfriend, I want to help Kazuya.
So far, Chizuru had told him that she wanted to tell the grandmas that she had broken up with him and end their false lover relationship as soon as possible. But here is a change of direction.
◆DON'T WORRY. AS LONG AS I'M STILL YOUR "GIRLFRIEND". I WON'T JUST LEAVE YOU. (20)
DON'T WORRY.
AS LONG AS I'M STILL YOUR "GIRLFRIEND".
I WON'T JUST LEAVE YOU.
She promises Kazuya that she will let him continue their false lover relationship until he finds a real girlfriend. Chizuru tries to connect with Kazuya as a rental girlfriend, a position that supports his love.
◆Well, I GUESS IT'S FINE... (20)
On the way home that day, Kazuya's friend (Kuribayashi) seems to have got a girlfriend and asks him out on a double date.
Well, I GUESS IT'S FINE...
Chizuru accepts the offer of a rental from Kazuya with a single response, even though she initially hated to accept it. It means that she started to trust Kazuya. Kanokari shows us the relationship (the distance between the two of them) through these changes in the way they respond to each other. The relationship between the rental girlfriend and the customer turns into a fun time.
NOTE: In the manga "Kanojo, Okarishimasu," rental girlfriends are never depicted as potential girlfriends. Her role is to help customers move on to real love. She is an adhesive plaster and a love consultant until the customer can face a new love. As a rental girlfriend, Chizuru is there to fill Kazuya's loneliness until he can face love, and to support him in his love life if necessary. Chizuru herself finds it rewarding not only to play the "perfect girlfriend," but also to help her clients find love. At the same time, however, this means that Chizuru and Kazuya will never be able to be together as long as they remain in the rental girlfriend/client relationship.
His Trial Girlfriend, Ruka Sarashina!
◆...NOTHING. (21)
Today is a double date with Kazuya's friend, Kuribayashi. A beautiful girl, Ruka Sarashina, showed up there. Chizuru is somehow annoyed when she sees Kazuya admiring Ruka. Chizuru glares at him (with jito eyes).
...NOTHING.
I wonder if she thinks she is better than this girl as a "girlfriend" lol. She is a little jealous of Ruka.
NOTE: In Japanese subcultures such as anime and manga, characters often give a ジト目 "jito-eye" look. This is a glare at the other person with contempt or reproach. Of course, this can also come out of a feeling of "I like you" or "I want you to like me more" and want to take out their frustration on the other person (i.e., out of jealousy).
◆Ruka Sarashina! (25)
During their double date, Ruka finds out that Chizuru is a rental! In fact, Ruka was also a rental girlfriend. And what a surprise!
I SWEAR I WON'T TELL ANYONE ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH MIZUHARA.
I WON'T TELL ANYONE SHE'S A RENTAL.
I PROMISE NOT TO TELL...
IF YOU GO OUT WITH ME.
I LIKE YOU... KAZUYA-KUN, I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU!
Ruka's unexpected confession, "Kazuya-kun, I'm in love with you". She declares that she wants to be Kazuya's girlfriend in return for keeping quiet about the fact that Chizuru is his rental girlfriend. Chizuru, who does not want people to know that she is working as a rental girlfriend, tells Kazuya that he should not go out with her without liking her, but eventually decides to make him go out with her to settle the situation. This is indeed Chizuru's fault.
If Kazuya really falls in love with Ruka, that would be one of the good outcomes. On the other hand, she has a bomb that will expose her false lover relationship with Kazuya.
◆EH-SORRY. WHAT? (29)
If Ruka exposes that she is a rental girlfriend, or if Kazuya really falls in love with Ruka, Chizuru will no longer need to have him rent her. Chizuru checks on Ruka and Kazuya on campus. She is concerned about the future of their relationship.
IT'S JUST AN APOLOGY
◆Chizuru chooses a Christmas present for Kazuya. (30)
Chizuru goes shopping for gifts for customers for Christmas. She knows that Kazuya broke his phone case when he jumped into the sea in Shimoda. She seems to be happy when she chooses a gift for Kazuya. She cannot hide her desire to make Kazuya happy.
◆IT'S JUST AN APOLOGY. (31)
Then, to her surprise, Kazuya appears! He seems to have followed her here since noon. He doesn't seem to have minded the terms of service. Chizuru is surprised at Kazuya's stalker-like behavior, but
I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE GETTING DECEIVED BY A BAD GUY,
SO I COULDN'T JUST LEAVE YOU ALONE.
When Chizuru hears this, she is embarrassed or something. Knowing that he did it out of concern for her, she can't blame him.
IT'S JUST AN APOLOGY.
With that, she hands him a Christmas gift. She said it was an apology, but she really wants him to be happy. She snuggles up to Kazuya, who cries with joy. She can't leave him alone after all.
Are You in Love with Me?: The "Agreement" between the rental girlfriend and the client
◆Are you in love with me?: The "Agreement" between the rental girlfriend and the client. (32)
After Kazuya does something that is almost a violation of the terms of service at Christmas, Chizuru decides to clarify her relationship with him.
ARE YOU IN LOVE WITH ME?
When Kazuya says "NO...," she immediately replies "I KNEW IT!" as if she had been waiting for that word. When she finds out that Kazuya doesn't have feelings for her, she says, "Let's keep our standards in mind and act like adults," and reminds Kazuya that their relationship is just an "agreement" without romantic feelings. Chizuru likes Kazuya as a client, but has no intention of falling in love (really going out) with him.
To Chizuru, Kazuya is a boy she can't leave alone and is interested in. However, this "something" like a small love for Kazuya has led her to want to spend time with him as a rental girlfriend, rather than toward a real relationship with him. Chizuru thinks that, "Kazuya is someone I want to support, and I enjoy spending time with him as a rental girlfriend. But the false girlfriend relationship is what I am doing for the sake of our grandmas, and I am helping him as my job". But if you ask her where that motivation comes from, she could not explain it only by her rewarding work as a rental girlfriend or for the sake of grandmas.
Tell Me, You Like Kazuya, Don't You?
◆JUST LET ME BECOME THE "GIRLFRIEND"AND YOU CAN GRADUALLY FADE OUT OF THEIR LIVES. (34)
On New Year's Day, Chizuru was playing Kazuya's girlfriend when his trial girlfriend, Ruka Sarashina, showed up. She was supposed to have promised to keep quiet about Chizuru being a false girlfriend in exchange for Kazuya's approval of her relationship with him. Yet, she simply declares herself to be his girlfriend.
Chizuru complains to Ruka that this is not what she promised, but...
JUST LET ME BECOME THE "GIRLFRIEND"AND YOU CAN GRADUALLY FADE OUT OF THEIR LIVES.
DON'T YOU THINK THAT'S THE BEST SOLUTION?
Chizuru cannot properly refute these words. She says without foundation, "It won't work that way."
◆ISN'T IT YOU WHO WANTS TO BE KAZUYA-SAN'S GIRLFRIEDN? (34)
ISN'T IT YOU WHO WANTS TO BE KAZUYA-SAN'S GIRLFRIEDN?
IF YOU AREN'T SERIOUS ABOUT HIM, I SUGGEST YOU BACK OUT NOW.
LIKE THE RENTAL GIRLFRIEND YOU ARE.
Ruka warns her that if she has no feelings for Kazuya, she should step aside, and she can't argue with that at all.
◆WHAT THE HELL... (34)
Ruka is right. It is really wrong to lie and pretend to be his girlfriend. In order not to make Grandma Nagomi sad and to make Kazuya have a real girlfriend, she should support the development of love between him and Ruka. That will solve everything. And yet, for some reason, Chizuru is not convinced. She wishes she could be Kazuya's "girlfriend". Ruka hit the bull's-eye.
BUT BACK THEN I PROMISED TO MYSELF THAT I'D MAKE HER HAPPY
Kazuya was worried that Kuribayashi might have become a misogynist after the Ruka incident. He asks Chizuru to go on a date with Kuribayashi. At first she almost refuses, saying, "Why should I do that?" However.
ANYONE WOULD WANT A GIRLFRIEND AFTER GOING ON A DATE WITH YOU...
Chizuru must have been happy to receive praise for her work as a rental girlfriend. She says, "WHEN PEOPLE FIND OUT ABOUT ME... YOU'LL BE THE ONE LOSING FACE" and she worries about Kazuya. Still,
◆IT WOULDN'T BE FAIR IF I'M THE ONLY ONE WITH AN S-TIER GIRLFRIEND! (39)
IT WOULDN'T BE FAIR IF
I'M THE ONLY ONE WITH AN S-TIER GIRLFRIEND!
Kazuya is more worried about the depressed Kuribayashi than being made fun of. The words are still dramatic, but Chizuru finds another nice thing about Kazuya. That's why she decides to accept the rental offer.
◆HMMMM, FALLING IN LOVE, HUH? WELL... WHO KNOWS? (39)
When parting from the rental date with Kuribayashi, he says, "IT DOESN'T HAPPEN... DOES IT? FALLING LOVE WITH A CUSTOMER, FOR REAL...", Chizuru thinks of Kazuya.
HMMMM, FALLING IN LOVE, HUH? WELL... WHO KNOWS?
It seems that Chizuru is not quite sure what the future holds for her relationship with Kazuya, or what she wants to do about it. But she did not deny that she and Kazuya would one day become true lovers.
NOTE: Considering that after Christmas (chapter 32), Chizuru immediately responded to Kazuya's words "No..."with "I KNEW IT" (expecting him to say he's not in love with her), it would be contradictory to interpret her answer as saying she didn't know if she will become his girlfriend right now. In other words, it is clear that she has no intention of becoming his real girlfriend at this time. She meant that it might or might not be the case, looking at the future of Kazuya and her.
◆IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT, THEN IT'S ALREADY... (40)
Through the relationship between a rental girlfriend and a client, Chizuru came to know Kazuya as a person. She must have found out that Kazuya is a decent person who is kind to her grandma, courageous, gentle at heart, single-minded in love, and serious about his friends.
Not so good if you look at the terms of service, but look at it from a different perspective, he is just a neighbor. Chizuru has taken the position that she would never get involved with him in private, but she tries to treat him as a neighbor (but fails to tell Kazuya about it due to the incident with Ruka's underwear).
At this time, Chizuru was going to ask Kazuya for a date with her junior rental girlfriend, Sumi Sakurazawa. But I think she really wanted to get along with him as a neighbor as well, for what it's worth. In Kazuya's perception, the "fair neighbor" is carried over until volume 7. I feel a little sorry for him, you know.
◆BUT BACK THEN I PROMISED TO MYSELF THAT I'D MAKE HER HAPPY. (41)
Chizuru had a dream: "I want to become an actress and show Grandma Sayuri how I look in movies". She really wanted to make it come true. That is why she has been working as a rental girlfriend and taking acting lessons. And then came the chance to capture her dream. If her next stage performance goes well and catches the attention of the director, she will be cast in a movie.
But if that happens, Chizuru will have to quit her job as a rental girlfriend. She feels responsible to fulfill her promise to Kazuya to get a real girlfriend first.
That night, after asking Kazuya for a practice date with Sumi, Chizuru asks him how he feels about Mami now.
IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD AT ALL...
WE HAVEN'T TALKED SINCE THEN.
SHE PROBABLY FORGOT ABOUT ME AGES AGO...
TO BE HONEST, I DON'T UNDERSTAND ANY MORE, YOU KNOW...
IF I LIKE HER... OR WHAT...
BUT BACK THEN I PROMISED TO MYSELF THAT I'D MAKE HER HAPPY.
AND I FELL LIKE TO THROW THAT FEELING AWAY LIGHTLY WOULD JUST BE SHALLOW...
Kazuya cannot easily forget Mami, and he still has feelings for her. To him, Mami is "the person he swore to make happy". A rental girlfriend, she is a consultant for a customer's love. Chizuru, who has been watching Kazuya as a rental girlfriend for a long time, sees his love for her as something very precious.
◆I'M THINKING OF QUITTING MY JOB AS A RENTAL GIRLFRIEND. (45)
The night Sumi reports that Kazuya saved her from the delinquents, Chizuru confides in Kazuya that she is thinking of quitting her job as a rental girlfriend. It is something she has no choice but to do in order to make her dream come true.
I'M THINKING OF QUITTING MY JOB AS A RENTAL GIRLFRIEND.
NOW WOULD PROBABALY BE A GOOD TIME TO MOVE ON...
Kazuya says, "YOU'RE ONLY STUCK IN THIS BECAUSE OF ME BEING SELFISH !" and asks her not to worry about it. But Chizuru was in no mood to do so.
I'LL BE DOING EVERYTHING I CAN
BOTH AS YOUR GIRLFRIEND AND TO HELP YOU FINDE A GIRLFRIEND.
I DID PROMISE YOU.
Even if she quits her job as a rental girlfriend, she still wants to make good on her promise to him. Not because he pays her, but because Chizuru herself wants to help him, and that is what she has continued to do.
IT'S YOU... I WANT YOU!
◆THIS IS FINE...! THIS IS HOW IT WILL END... (45)
The day after she promised Kazuya again that she would help him find a real girlfriend. For his sake, she wants to continue working as a rental girlfriend if she can. She will play a false girlfriend if necessary, and she also wants to consult with him about his needs. But she cannot continue in order to fulfill her own dream.
THIS IS FINE...! THIS IS HOW IT WILL END...
Chizuru tells herself that she made the right choice. She still feels unfulfilled about losing her relationship with Kazuya. If she does nothing, she will not be able to fulfill her promise to Kazuya that she will help him get a real girlfriend.
◆THIS MAKEBELIEVE GAME OF PRETEND LOVERS... COULD YOU STOP IT ALREADY? (47)
Then, Mami, Kazuya's ex-girlfriend, shows up as "Maya," a customer at the rental that day!
THIS MAKEBELIEVE GAME OF PRETEND LOVERS... COULD YOU STOP IT ALREADY?
YOU SEE, EVERYONE AT UNI ACTUALLY BELIEVES THAT LIE.
I DON'T THINK I CAN JUST STAND TO WATCH YOU KEEP FOOLING EVERYONE...
BESIDES, I FEEL SORRY FOR KAZU-KUN!
AS LONG AS HE HAS A "RENTAL GIRLFRIEND," HE WON'T EVER BE ABLE TO GET A REAL GIRLFRIEND!
She warns her to end her rental relationship with Kazuya. Mami complains that she and Kazuya had continued their false lover relationship. Hearing her words, Chizuru may have thought that Mami may still have feelings for Kazuya.
BUT BACK THEN I PROMISED TO MYSELF THAT I'D MAKE HER HAPPY.
Chizuru remembers Kazuya's words and tries to convince Mami to face him properly!
...SAY. HOW DO YOU FEEL? ABOUT KAZUYA-SAN?
KAZUYA-SAN TOLD ME THAT HE PROMISED YOU HE'D MAKE YOU HAPPY.
THAT YOU AREN'T SOMEONE HE COULD FORGET SO EASILY.
I THINK THAT KAZUYA-SAN STILL THINKS ABOUT YOU A LOT.
◆KAZUYA-SAN IS MY "BOYFRIEND"! (48)
KAZUYA-SAN IS MY "BOYFRIEND"!
When asked by Mami how she feels about Kazuya, Chizuru asserts that he is her "boyfriend". A rental girlfriend is a job that supports the "boyfriend's (customer's)" love. Chizuru gets to know Kazuya through a false relationship, and even though everyone says he is a bum, pathetic, screwed-up, and stupid, she knows that he is, in fact, a wonderful person. He is a Grandma's boy, he protects his "girlfriend" with his life, he is kind at heart, he is single-minded in love, he takes his friends seriously, and she knows these good things about him. He's someone who can serve as a proper boyfriend. That is why she wanted to help him as a rental girlfriend. She wanted to protect Kazuya's precious love that he promised to make her happy. She wanted Mami to understand his serious love for her. She wanted Kazuya to have a real girlfriend.
So when Chizuru saw Mami about to leave without answering, she grabbed her arm and stopped her.
WAIT! WAIT, PLEASE...!
THERE'S STILL SOMETHING I HAVE TO SAY!
PLEASE, THINK IT OVER! FOR KAZUYA-SAN!
◆FINDING SOMEONE TO FALL IN LOVE WITH IS ACTUALLY REALLY HARD TO DO! (49)
IF THERE'S ONE THING I'VE LEARNED FROM BEING A RENTAL GIRLFRIEND,
IT'S THAT FEELINGS OF LOVE ARE INVALUABLE!
FINDING SOMEONE TO FALL IN LOVE WITH IS ACTUALLY REALLY HARD TO DO!
KAZUYA-SAN IS SERIOUS! ARE YOU?
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN SERIOUS ABOUT HIM?
DID YOU EVER ACTUALLY LET HIM LOVE YOU?
◆DID IT EVER CROSS YOUR MIND, THAT THIS MAY BE THE PERSON WHO CAN MAKE YOU TRULY HAPPY? (49)
DID IT EVER CROSS YOUR MIND, THAT THIS MAY BE THE PERSON WHO CAN MAKE YOU TRULY HAPPY?
Chizuru pleads with Mami to know how Kazuya feels, that he may be the one who will make her truly happy.
BUTT OUT.
YOU MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESSS. AND WE WILL MIND OURS.
However, her wishes were not fulfilled. Mami told her so and left.
◆BUTT OUT. YOU MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESSS. AND WE WILL MIND OURS. (49)
Not being able to help Kazuya leaves her frustrated. Kazuya-san is a kind, decent person who can take care of the ones he loves, so why won't Mami-san face him? She must have been filled with such frustration.
On the way home, she bumped into Kazuya. She learns that Kazuya had seen her arguing with Mami earlier.
◆IN THAT CASE... I'M SORRY. I COULDN'T GET YOU A GIRLFRIEND. (49)
Chizuru, still frustrated, apologizes to Kazuya. She then tells him that it might be a good idea to confess his feelings to her again. Chizuru wants to help him so that he and Mami can be together.
IN THAT CASE... I'M SORRY.
I COULDN'T GET YOU A GIRLFRIEND.
IF YOU'RE STILL IN LOVE WITH HER,
I THINK YOU SHOULD TELL HER HOW YOU FEEL.
Then!
IT'S YOU...
I WANT YOU!
◆IT'S YOU... I WANT YOU! (49)
Kazuya says he wants her, not Mami.
◆...HUH?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU WANT ME? (50)
...HUH?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU WANT ME?
From Chizuru's point of view, he is a person who can serve as a boyfriend, a person who can swear to make a woman happy. His confession leaves Chizuru perplexed.
(To be continued in Volumes 7-12 Part I, Chapter 2)
Volumes 1-6, Impressions
Thank you for your patience with my long commentary thus far. Chizuru is a heroine who starts to fall in love with Kazuya not by suddenly changing her impression or attitude toward him, but by building up and building up little changes. It takes a lot of explanation to explain a relationship that only gets closer by centimeters like that, it makes me cry. Please forgive me, because that's how carefully the relationship between the two is depicted in this manga.
I have rewritten this article substantially because my perception has changed. It is a story about how "something" that seems to be love but is not love (nascent or hidden love) has moved toward supporting Kazuya's love as a rental girlfriend, rather than toward establishing a relationship with him. Behind Chizuru's desire of helping him, she has a nascent love for him.
In doing so, I carefully read the story again and changed the way I wrote it to be more conscious of the flow of Chizuru's feelings. Especially in chapters 48 and 49 of volume 6, I wrote clearly what Chizuru was thinking at that time. I hope you can feel how important Kazuya had become to Chizuru and how much his words "I want you" stung her lol.
In the next article, I will explain volumes 7 through 12. For those of you who are anime fans (as of March 2022), this is where I say goodbye. Will Chizuru's love finally start running after this?
(To be continued in Volumes 7-12 Part I, Chapter 2)