Will Kanojo, Okarishimasu (Rent-A-Girlfriend) Be Canceled or Axed? Reasons Explained

Will Rent-A-Girlfriend be canceled or axed in the future? Some readers are concerned about the series due to several ongoing issues.

In this article, we break down the main factors that could affect Rent-A-Girlfriend’s future.

Was Rent-A-Girlfriend Canceled or Axed? Reasons Explained

Rent-A-Girlfriend is still running in Weekly Shonen Magazine and has not been canceled.

 

“Rent-A-Girlfriend” has been serialized in *Weekly Shonen Magazine* since Issue 32 of 2017 and, as of April 2024, is a popular series with cumulative sales exceeding 13 million copies.

 

It has also been adapted into an anime series, with Season 1 airing from July 10 to September 25, 2020; Season 2 from July 2 to September 17, 2022; Season 3 from July 8 to September 30, 2023; and Season 4 beginning in July 2025.

The protagonist is not well-liked

It seems some people were worried that the show might be canceled because the main character of *Rent-A-Girlfriend* was poorly received and considered to have a bad personality.

そういえば、彼女、お借りしますのアニメそろそろ開始か。
序盤多少読んでたけど主人公が、今評判のタイパラと比較するのもおこがましいレベルのクズで、それに堪えられなくて読むの止めたんだけど、まさかアニメ化までいくとは。
前作打ち切りからの大ホームランか。

— ぐり (@HI_R) July 8, 2020

Many readers and viewers criticized Kazuya Kinoshita’s indecisive and self-centered behavior, calling him a “jerk,” and expressed that this made it difficult to empathize with the story.

 

This backlash against the protagonist apparently raised concerns about the series’ future, leading to fears that it might be canceled.

 

However, since the anime adaptation is underway and the series has maintained its popularity, it hasn’t necessarily been canceled, though the risk of cancellation has been a hot topic among fans.

Because it feels stretched out

“Rent-A-Girlfriend” has been running for over 30 volumes, but it started to feel repetitive and drawn out, leading many to wonder if it would be canceled.

ファン。最後バタバタと出てきたのは、打ち切りなのか？

彼女お借りします：1からの続きで惰性で。なんかストーリー苦しくなってきてる？

リコリス・リコイル：たまたま1話見たらけっこう面白かったので見たが、世間的には覇権だった？EDは最高によかった。あとやっぱたきな特製パフェですね

— Eikyu Ito (@aq3948) October 8, 2022

かのかり約1年くらいハワイアンズしてやっと終わったと思ったら話振り出しに戻っててもはや草も生えん。
はよ打ち切りにしろよこんな内容のない作品。

— ほるひす (@north_east1204) April 20, 2022

Readers seem to be growing increasingly frustrated with the slow pace of the story and the repetitive plot developments.

 

In particular, the “Hawaiians Arc” dragged on for a long time with almost no progress in the romance, leading readers to ask, “How much longer is this going to go on?”

 

This sense of stagnation has caused the story to lose its freshness, and some people are beginning to wonder, “Isn't it about time it got canceled?”

 

As a result, while extreme opinions such as “I hope it gets canceled” have emerged, the series appears to be continuing thanks to the support of its die-hard fans.

Because there were some intense scenes

Since *Rent-A-Girlfriend* featured a lot of explicit sexy scenes, it seemed as though the creators were trying to revive its popularity by going the sexy route just before the show was canceled.

今週の彼女お借りします。ただのエロ漫画になってて打ち切りが心配になった

— ぱん (@pan60241) January 5, 2022

今週の彼女お借りしますはヤバい。
あれか？打ち切り直前のぶっちゃけエロか？
エデンの檻か？

— trek (@trek1200_) January 5, 2022

In particular, the increase in sexy depictions of Chizuru Mizuhara and other heroines, along with more explicit sexual content, led some to suspect that this was a last-ditch effort to save the series from cancellation.

 

For fans who felt this drastic change strayed from the series’ original concept, it evoked fears that the series was on the brink of cancellation.

 

However, it’s possible that these depictions were intended to revive the series’ popularity and attract attention, and in fact, the serialization is still ongoing.

Because several romance comedy manga series have come to an end in the magazine

Since several romance comedy manga in the same genre had concluded in *Weekly Shonen Magazine*—the magazine where *Rent-A-Girlfriend* is serialized—it seems readers began to wonder if *Rent-A-Girlfriend* might also be coming to an end.

 

At the time, *Weekly Shonen Magazine* had seen a string of romance comedy manga come to an end, led by *The Quintessential Quintuplets* and followed by titles like *Senryu Girl* and *Domestic Girlfriend*.

 

Consequently, rumors began to circulate among readers that “I'll Borrow Your Girlfriend” might follow suit and come to an end.

In particular, the conclusion of a major hit like “The Quintessential Quintuplets” led people to speculate that the magazine was streamlining its romance comedy lineup.

 

However, “I'll Borrow Your Girlfriend” has maintained a strong following and continues to be serialized, so it has not actually been canceled.

An Explanation of the Alleged Reason Behind the Cancellation of “Rent-A-Girlfriend”: “Suspicions of Low Viewership Ratings for the Protagonist”

In *Rent-A-Girlfriend*, the protagonist, Kazuya Kinoshita, has been drawing readers’ ire from the very beginning due to his words and actions.

 

As a result, rumors began to circulate among some fans that the series might be canceled because the protagonist was so unpopular.

Below, we’ve summarized the main reasons why Kazuya has been labeled a jerk.

Chizuru, the “Rental Girlfriend,” Snaps Back & Receives a Negative Review

Kazuya mistook Chizuru’s customer service for “affection toward him,” and flew into a rage when he found out she treated other customers the same way.

Readers were appalled by his behavior—giving her the lowest possible rating in a review and then lecturing Chizuru herself.

 

Early in the story, Kazuya became obsessed with his dates with his “rental girlfriend,” Chizuru Mizuhara, and mistakenly believed, “Maybe she actually likes me.”

 

However, Chizuru’s attitude was strictly part of her professional service, and when he realized she treated other customers the same way, Kazuya flew into a rage. He gave Chizuru the lowest possible rating and began lecturing her in a condescending manner.

 

Readers strongly resented this behavior, and the impression that “Kazuya is a jerk” took hold.

This early controversy is believed to have been the cause of Kazuya’s long-term negative reputation and to have affected the popularity of the series as a whole.

Lies told to save face and his condescending attitude toward Chizuru

Although Kazuya looked down on Chizuru as a “rental girlfriend,” he introduced her to his family and friends as his “real girlfriend.”

Furthermore, his contradictory behavior—such as telling her, “Don’t worry if I get a real girlfriend”—became the target of criticism.

 

Driven solely by a desire to save face, Kazuya introduced Chizuru—who was actually a rental girlfriend—to his family and friends as his “girlfriend.”

 

While this behavior itself is somewhat understandable, the real issue lies in his attitude toward Chizuru.

Readers were put off by his arrogant behavior—such as making thoughtless remarks like “Don’t worry if I get a real girlfriend” while secretly looking down on Chizuru—especially given his limited experience with romance.

 

This despicable behavior drew the readers’ ire and became a factor that cast doubt on the series’ future.

If anything happens, I'll immediately get down on my knees and beg for forgiveness

Because Kazuya would perform a full prostration every time a problem arose, he was criticized for doing it “too casually” and for “making a mockery of it.” His overuse of this gesture led readers to feel that “this protagonist never grows,” which in turn caused the story to become stale.

 

In Japan, prostrating oneself is an act that signifies the utmost apology or plea, but in Kazuya’s case, he does it so frequently that he became the target of criticism, with people saying, “He does it too casually” or “Isn’t he actually mocking us?”

 

Furthermore, his overuse of prostrations leads many readers to feel that “this protagonist never grows at all,” which has also contributed to a decline in the character’s appeal.

Not just the main heroine—everyone’s head over heels

Although he is supposed to be in love with Chizuru, Kazuya’s behavior—flirting with other heroines and blushing—has drawn criticism for being “too indecisive” and “creepy.”

 

While Kazuya is attracted to the main heroine, Chizuru, he tends to flirt with the other heroines as well. Although scenes of him blushing are frequently depicted, his expressions sometimes come across as vulgar, leading to criticism that he is “creepy.”

 

Furthermore, even though he is supposed to have feelings for Chizuru, he makes remarks and gestures that imply he likes other heroines, which caused strong displeasure, particularly among female readers, who called him “flighty” and “too indecisive.”

 

With a “scumbag that readers don’t want to see” like Kazuya as the protagonist, interest in the story waned, raising concerns about declining sales and popularity, and rumors spread that the series “would likely be canceled.”

Explaining the Unbelievable Popularity and Appeal of “Rent-A-Girlfriend” That Led to Its Cancellation

The Perfect Heroine, Boasting Overwhelming Beauty, and the Delights of a Multi-角 Relationship

The biggest reason why *Rent-A-Girlfriend* has completely dispelled rumors of its cancellation and continues to lead the romance comedy genre lies in the visuals and personalities of its incredibly cute heroines, led by Chizuru Mizuhara.

 

In particular, the main heroine Chizuru’s innocent yet flawless beauty has earned her overwhelming popularity, and she has consistently held the undisputed number one spot in official fan polls conducted among readers.

 

The other girls surrounding her are also highly distinctive, offering a splendid diversity of characters: from Asami, the ex-girlfriend with her calculating, little-devil charm, to Ruka’s straightforward and proactive approach, and the endearing sweetness of the younger, earnest Sumi.

 

Thanks to the stunning artistry of Reiji Miyajima, the heroines are depicted with the utmost cuteness and a fresh, vibrant quality—often interspersed with erotic service scenes—making the visuals stand out head and shoulders above the rest of the serialized manga.

 

Fans are constantly buzzing with excitement over which heroine to root for, and this perfect lineup—where there’s absolutely at least one character that hits the mark for every reader’s taste—is a major factor in the series’ continued overwhelming popularity.

 

While following the classic path of a harem-style romantic comedy, the unique charms of each girl and the chaotic, multi-sided relationships surrounding the protagonist make every weekly issue as exciting as it gets.

A series of heart-pounding moments sparked by the innovative concept of a “rental girlfriend”

“Rent-A-Girlfriend” is refreshingly original in that it was one of the first to incorporate the real-world concept of “rental girlfriends,” realistically depicting the thrilling journey of a relationship evolving from a sham into genuine love.

 

Because the relationship begins as a purely transactional arrangement—where one pays for dates—the story is filled with nail-biting moments where their lies about their private lives and to those around them are on the verge of being exposed, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

 

From the aquarium date and the trip to the beach depicted in the story, all the way to the production of an independent film, every event is packed with rollercoaster-like twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat.

 

The meticulously crafted dating scenes provide such a sense of realism that it feels as though you’re spending time with the beautiful girl yourself, boasting an exceptional addictiveness that leaves you desperate to know what happens in the next episode.

 

The story is masterfully crafted to satisfy a wide range of readers—from casual readers to die-hard fans—thanks to its perfect balance of lighthearted comedic chaos and the serious, bittersweet emotions of romance.

A coming-of-age drama about a hopeless guy’s struggles and his journey toward becoming a true man

What gives the story of *Rent-A-Girlfriend* its depth as a profound human drama is the gritty, down-to-earth way of life led by the protagonist, Kazuya Kinoshita, and the process through which he gradually matures into a man.

 

In the early stages of the story, Kazuya is portrayed as indecisive and clingy, with his “loser” persona on full display to the point of sometimes frustrating readers, sparking heated debate online.

 

However, his determination to launch a film production project to fulfill the dreams of his beloved Chizuru—and his relentless, grueling efforts to make it happen with the help of those around him—have deeply moved many readers.

 

The stark contrast between his usual pathetic demeanor and the overwhelming masculinity and drive he displays in crucial moments is what makes this work so compelling, and countless fans find themselves deeply empathizing with him before they even realize it.

 

Precisely because he is a flawed, down-to-earth protagonist, the catharsis of watching him overcome crises and grow closer to the heroines is extraordinary, and his relatable humanity serves as the core of the story, making readers want to root for him.

The reliability of a long-running series that has weathered the competitive world of romantic comedies

“Kanojo Okarishimasu” is a phenomenal hit that has consistently maintained top-tier buzz and overwhelming comic sales even amidst the fierce competition of the romance comedy “Warring States” era in shonen magazines, where countless masterpieces vie for attention.

 

With a shocking cliffhanger in nearly every chapter, the plot’s ingenuity in keeping readers hooked has never waned, even throughout its long-running serialization.

 

Not only has the manga itself enjoyed overwhelming momentum, but its multifaceted media mix—including a TV anime adaptation—has also been a huge success, continuing to garner strong, enduring support from a very broad audience both domestically and internationally.

 

It has established itself as such a solid, popular brand that there is absolutely no room for rumors of cancellation, reigning as a special presence that continues to dominate weekly trends.

 

Supported by passionate fans who wish to remain immersed in this pleasantly addictive experience forever, it stands as the supreme masterpiece of the romance comedy genre, consistently delivering peak excitement as the story builds toward its climax.

How far does the final episode of the *Rent-A-Girlfriend* anime go? Where does the original manga pick up?

The “Rent-A-Girlfriend” anime aired for three seasons and covered up to Chapter 167 in Volume 20.

Therefore, if you want to read the story that follows the events of the anime's third season, you can start with Volume 20.

 

⇒Watch the anime “Rent-A-Girlfriend” on Amazon Prime Video

Final Thoughts on Rent-A-Girlfriend

In conclusion, Rent-A-Girlfriend has not been canceled, and there are currently no strong signs of it ending early.

Overall, the series appears to be continuing without major issues.

 

Some readers may have mistaken the series for being canceled because the protagonist received criticism early on and parts of the story were seen as stretched out.

 

However, Rent-A-Girlfriend has already surpassed 30 volumes and has received multiple anime adaptations, showing that it remains a highly successful series that is likely to be told through to its conclusion.

 

It may still be worth checking out for yourself.

⇒Watch the anime “Rent-A-Girlfriend” on Amazon Prime Video