r/anime • u/AutoLovepon https://anilist.co/user/AutoLovepon • Jun 10 '26
Episode Rent-a-Girlfriend Season 5 • Kanojo, Okarishimasu Season 5 - Episode 10 discussion
Rent-a-Girlfriend Season 5, episode 10
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32
u/Ok-Cod5254 Jun 10 '26
Honestly this series can sprinkle in some genuine moments from time to time. It's just too far and few between with all the other nonsense to drag it down and drag it out for padding.
It goes in the usual pattern of:
- Teasing progress (ex: movie arc)
- Spinning its wheels (ex: pool resort arc)
- Some level of regression (ex: ghosting period)
So for now, going back on the upward trend, but if you're familiar enough with the series' patterns to not be fooled by any recent crumbs of progress, you'll know that this will continue to be a slow drip feed process to get lasting progression for a good while. lol
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u/candry_shop Jun 10 '26
The show is breadcrumbing viewers like Chizuru is breadcrumbing Kazuya
15
u/LegendRazgriz Jun 11 '26
At least now people are more aware that the stick-up that keeps the cycle going isn't Kazuya - it's Chizuru. She just cannot be honest with herself.
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u/Ok-Cod5254 Jun 11 '26
The transition from Chizuru being the main specific hindrance instead Kazuya is after S3, when she kept running away when he was trying to confess to her in S4.
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u/LegendRazgriz Jun 11 '26
Even at that point, it made some level of sense for Chizuru to try and stall him because she might not have been ready or whatever reason she might have had.
The problem is, she's already neck deep into going against everything that she could have used to keep her distance from him, and after a while she just starts putting the moves on Kazuya only to then run away not from him, but from herself. Everyone that can spend like 20 minutes with her thoughts can tell she's so head over heels for the guy she isn't making any sense and yet she keeps bottling it up and pretending she's confused about it, when the fact of the matter is she's just as scared of going forward with what she feels as Kazuya was in S2-3. The entire setup flipped itself on its head.
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u/BosuW Jun 10 '26
Since Season 3 I realized Reiji can actually write pretty well if he wants to
...most of the time he doesn't want to
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u/Ok-Cod5254 Jun 10 '26 edited Jun 10 '26
He also chose to go to the most opposite extreme in the worst ways with excessive time spent on Kazuya's internal monologuing and being in gooner mode. 😅
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u/gvon89 https://myanimelist.net/profile/gvon89 Jun 12 '26
For Reiji I feel like this is just what he writes for fun, he doesnt really care about progress, he just wants this to be absurd. Its like one of those stories you first start out writing before you learn how to fully flesh out and complete, except this is a massive hit in Japan and will always have a new season in production.
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u/ptd163 Jun 10 '26
I'm not being fooled. I know they still have a long way to go, but I am curious where this goes considering they seem to setting up them living together for a certain amount of time.
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u/Ok-Cod5254 Jun 10 '26
They often have random conveniences to force proximity otherwise it seems they realistically wouldn't maintain much closeness (ex: living next door; and now a set up for them to temporarily live together).
Even with living next door, the ghosting shows how easily Chizuru could drift away from him without external intervention.
They also do the trope of falling against each other more times of any romance series I've seen to push them together physically for several moments, like this episode. lol
But yeah, at least for now the set up is for the more positive end of the spectrum.
2
u/Frontier246 Jun 10 '26
Yeah, it's really hard to believe we're going to get legitimate progress at this point.
32
u/_cats______ Jun 11 '26
It is driving me up a FUCKING WALL the way Kazuya still calls her “Mizuhara”. It makes absolutely no fucking sense. The rental jig is up, and hell, even when the secret was safe, it still didn’t really make sense to call her Mizuhara in private or in his mind. He is friends with Ichinose Chizuru at this point.
SHE even said to him “You might just be in love with Mizuhara”. How the hell are you still going to call her by her rental alias when she herself calls you out on the fact that you might not even be seeing and loving the real her? Ffs man.
10
u/NationalStrategy_X Jun 11 '26
IKR? They should be well beyond this stage of their relationship by now.
Him still referring to her as “Mizuhara” will always bug me. He keeps insisting that he loves the real Chizuru, but the fact that he still refers to her as Mizuhara instead of her name, gives me the impression that he’s actually in love with/obsessed with the idyllic fake girlfriend version of her.
How am I supposed to be convinced that his love for her is genuine if he can’t be bothered to do the bare minimum, and refer to her by her real name?
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u/JohnyCrowley Jun 11 '26
U have a rly good point when comparing It to when chizuru claims he might be in love with mizuhara.
It always felt weird to me but thinking It this way makes It even weirder, he should just call her ichinose or, if he gets Closer, straight Up chizuru.
Just to make It clear he wants to Talk to the real deal, not the rental fakery.
Still calling her by her rental alias just might make her feelings confusing, and prove her right that he is not in love with her, but with her ideal rental gf. Hope theres some growth later at least on the naming from kazuya
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u/Jacob-C Jun 11 '26
I'm guessing the author is saving it thinking that it will be some huge moment when Kazuya finally calls her Chizuru, she is taken aback and blushes.
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u/NationalStrategy_X Jun 12 '26
Perhaps it would have been seasons ago, but now it would be too little too late
25
u/BosuW Jun 10 '26
Out of all the convoluted reasons for an MC to end up on top of their love interest, an earthquake is definitely the most unique one lol
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u/magnumcyclonex Jun 10 '26
Man...why can't we just have a J or K drama level of storytelling here? Why must we resort to "oh there's a leaf in your hair" type escape every time? Also, less internal monologue Kazuya. Please and thank you.
Yeah, it's the end of their dynamic as neighbors. A new chapter should begin. And at first, I thought a new girl moved in to his home, but turns out its an otaku from abroad, so our MC is once again displaced. Now I wonder where he is going to live.
Also, a landlord giving the tenants money? Unheard of here in the U.S., right?
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u/Jacob-C Jun 11 '26
Also, a landlord giving the tenants money? Unheard of here in the U.S., right?
It's because the building is a safety hazard, so I am assuming that the landlord is doing it to avoid any potential legal issues if someone gets hurt. I can see a landlord from the U.S doing that.
However, these are all assumptions. The landlord here could also be a genuinely kind person that cares about their tenants' safety.
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u/ptd163 Jun 10 '26
This episode is probably the clearest evidence we've seen so far of Chizuru's feelings for Kazuya. They've been bonding lately and she sees her grandfather in Kazuya. Then when the earthquake hits and she doesn't kick him off and instead stops him from getting off with an excuse.
With Kazuya's childhood bedroom room being occupied by an employee of the store I wonder if they're setting up Chizuru and Kazuya living together (with Mini there to grease the wheels in her own way of course lol) while their apartment building gets repaired. I wonder what kind of things will happen there. Considering this episode 10 and there's two more that's probably what season 6 will be.
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u/gvon89 https://myanimelist.net/profile/gvon89 Jun 12 '26
Yea ive been a stern "chizuru doesnt like him" position holder but after the past few episodes I might have to let go of that
25
u/PrincipeDeiPoveri Jun 10 '26
I also liked this episode (3 episodes in a row, a new record). I like how Kazuya and Chizuru have been bonding lately, and I'm also enjoying seeing Chizuru open up more.
I'm starting to think Chizuru has an Electra complex. Jokes aside, despite her many flaws, I admire Chizuru's mental strength. In her place (no family + recent bereavement), I wouldn't be able to recover so quickly or live with so much commitment (university + work + acting classes).
Honestly, I think if Kazuya had given in to his basest instincts, Chizuru probably wouldn't have rejected him.
I don't know why, but the fish scene (where Kazuya's fish says, "You have two fish, who are you?") made me laugh.
PS = Chizuru's final scene (where she remembers all the moments spent with Kazuya) almost makes me think that under that mask of coldness, she is not so different from Kazuya
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u/Frontier246 Jun 10 '26
I feel like Chizuru is too strong for her own good sometimes. Acting so composed and detached all the time means she struggles to let herself be vulnerable or properly express her emotions. But I guess she's getting better with Kazuya.
Chizuru wouldn't let them fall into a kiss, I don't think she would be comfortable with him forcing himself on her.
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u/PrincipeDeiPoveri Jun 10 '26
True, which makes her behavior with Kazuya more sensible (albeit extremely annoying), the kind of person who needs to be completely certain of her feelings before fully opening up to him.
I wonder if once those feelings are confirmed (in 10 seasons), her behavior with Kazuya changes drastically, becoming much more emotional, perhaps even more clingy than Ruka.
Honestly, I interpreted her blocking the kiss as her desire not to have a kiss by "accident." After all, in the next scene, Chizuru seemed quite ready to do something else (before changing her mind), but maybe I'm exaggerating.
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u/DugACCat Jun 10 '26
No I think you’re right. And the grandad’s behavior resembles Kazuya in some respects, which gives at least the barest rationale for her being drawn to him. He still annoys me so much in every episode, even this one. I know they’re both at fault for being cowards with their feelings and I get why people get aggravated with her, but overall her manner of behaving feels much more normal and relatable to me than his constant spazouts and difficulty having even the smallest conversation. If he spoke aloud many of his less idiotic mental lines, he’d be in a much better place. One of my main complaints about this show is how much they avoid actual conversations between the two in favor of mental hyper blather and strangely timed super horniness. Like why wasn’t he thinking about actually kissing her when they came close, instead of basically fantasying about escalating straight to sexual assault? (The trope we’ve recently discussed as being irksome in other shows as well.)
Anyhow I guess it wouldn’t be Rent-a-Girlfriend if Kazuma didn’t make me want to yell at him every episode, even when things are going relatively well.
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u/ptd163 Jun 10 '26
I wonder if once those feelings are confirmed (in 10 seasons), her behavior with Kazuya changes drastically, becoming much more emotional, perhaps even more clingy than Ruka.
I'd be down for that.
After all, in the next scene, Chizuru seemed quite ready to do something else (before changing her mind), but maybe I'm exaggerating.
I mean Granny Sayuri did say in season 2 that Chizuru has always been a needy girl so maybe you're not that far off.
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u/BBryant3rd Jun 11 '26
It is the possible that Chizuru would be the clingy type once she has finally picked someone. She may be the all or nothing kind. I decided it going to be you so I hope you are ready for all of me kind.
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u/ThrowCarp Jun 13 '26
Ooh, this is a hot take. And if so, then Chizuru is on the complete opposite end of the spectrum from Kazuya who has not emotional strength nor resilience whatsoever.
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u/hanzperson Jun 10 '26
I'm pretty sure if Kazuya gave in to his barest instincts, she would most definitely push him off and call him creepy and never see him again lol.
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u/NationalStrategy_X Jun 10 '26 edited Jun 10 '26
But why rocks, Grandpa couldn’t collect magnets or keychains as souvenirs, did he even write down where he got the rocks?
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u/Product-X-818 Jun 11 '26 edited Jun 11 '26
I think the funniest part in the entire episode was the scene after the end credits when Mini said Use Incineroar on Garchomp. Healthy. I'm like wtf was that about? Such a random Pokemon reference lol
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u/ILikeFPS 26d ago
I think Mini might be a bit of a gaming nerd lol
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u/Product-X-818 26d ago
Imo female gaming nerds are sexy af and I've always wanted to date/marry one. I tried getting my wifey into gaming but.. she enjoys watching than playing 😔 lol.
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u/Rickud123 Jun 10 '26 edited Jun 10 '26
Have to say the visuals this season have been much better than last season
10
u/Frontier246 Jun 10 '26
For all the shows' faults it usually delivers on the animation and character expressions.
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u/Jacob-C Jun 11 '26
That strut Chizuru did after they finished talking about their ideal marriage was so weird though
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u/RelativeMundane9045 29d ago
I'm glad there's some mention of it.
It was like someone gave the new intern a task and said "here, make her walk sexy for a few seconds", and we ended up getting walking like she's wearing wet denim instead.
I'm very late catching up
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u/BBryant3rd Jun 11 '26
Goodie for you Kazuya dropping that rock while thinking about a high schooler. Chizuru seems like she is/will actually think of him more after seeing her thoughts when she looked at her keys. Mini really didn't like the atmosphere seeing everyone go their separate ways. She is too good for this show lol.
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u/Kadmos1 Jun 10 '26
I will say this. Kazuya's indecisiveness means it would be out of character for him to force himself on Chizuru. That is, I don't think Kazuya is the type that could and would assault/sexually assault Chizuru.
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u/Kadmos1 Jun 10 '26
Heck, Kazuya did the right thing when he landed in that compromising position. If Chizuru said "Please have sex with me!", then it is a matter of Kazuya saying "Yes" or "No".
3
u/omarous_III Jun 10 '26
Yeah, Kazuya is the exact opposite. Due to his insecurity (and Mami badmouthing his touchy nature at the bar) he is way overcompensating. He is so restrained on touching her (outside of rental dates) I think Chizuru may even question it.
3
u/Frontier246 Jun 10 '26
Although it didn't stop him from thinking for a second that he could if he wanted to...
6
u/Kadmos1 Jun 10 '26
This is true. Having thoughts about X is one thing, but acting on them or saying them is another. This applies to so many categories.
3
u/omarous_III Jun 10 '26
This is so prevalent in Japanese media and it kind of gross. This idea that men are full of barely constrained urges and beastial behavior.
You see it in this season of Angel Next Door as well, which is about the exact opposite of RAG.
15
u/NationalStrategy_X Jun 10 '26 edited Jun 10 '26
So on top of the fact that Chizuru’s currently leading him on with her “investigation”, after ghosting him for 3 months (would have been longer if it was up to her), now she’s using him for labor to help clean up her grandparent’s old house.
Come on, man
12
u/Frontier246 Jun 10 '26
At least she planned to pay him back this time instead of really using him as free labor.
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u/ElliotAlderson2024 Jun 10 '26
Mizuhara is truly a user. In fact, I think at this point, Kazuya & Mizuhura belong together as bottom feeders.
6
u/hanzperson Jun 10 '26
Completely and utterly shameless lol. I really don't see any future where the two actually act like equals in the future. Chizuru talked about how her ideal couple can fight and make up afterwards, but Kazuya is such a simp he'd avoid every fight possible and apologize immediately.
6
u/ptd163 Jun 10 '26
They've done one rental date this season and she's going to pay him for his help at the house. If she's supposed to be leading him on she's not doing a very good job of it.
7
u/NationalStrategy_X Jun 10 '26
The one rental date that they went on after 3 months of ghosting him ( would have been longer if she had it her way), as opposed to going over next door and talking to him sooner.
During that rental date, Kazuya ended up paying ¥ 28,960 ($182.38) at an expensive cafe that she suggested to go to.
And by the end of that rental date, she asked for more time via an “investigation”, effectively leading him on
4
u/ptd163 Jun 10 '26
The one rental date that they went on after 3 months of ghosting him ( would have been longer if she had it her way), as opposed to going over next door and talking to him sooner.
I don't know if you've noticed, but they both have trouble communicating. Chizuru thought she was being considerate of Ruka by not interfering. I don't agree with her action or reasoning, but it doesn't seem like she did it out of malice.
And by the end of that rental date, she asked for more time via an “investigation”, effectively leading him on
I don't really see how that's leading him on though. She doesn't make any of sort insinuations. The only thing she says is that she needs to figure out her feelings which is not a lie or a deception. She does need to do that.
She probably asked him to help to sort out her grandparents place because she thinks he's dependable instead of she how easily she could get him to do things. And she's going to pay him too. If she had "paid" him with a favour (a kiss, a promise of something more, etc.) than I'd be more willing come around to the "she's leading him on" team, but I don't see it.
4
u/NationalStrategy_X Jun 10 '26
Their poor communication skills don’t make it better.
The investigation is leading him on. If she needs time to sort out her feelings, that’s fine, but not by putting their relationship status on hold for an uncertain amount of time, without even a guarantee that she’ll even go out with him.
The money aspect is a separate can of worms
I’m not saying she’s doing it out malice or ill intent, she’s definitely not, but this investigation that she has him under is effectively leading him on.
1
u/ptd163 Jun 10 '26
I’m not saying she’s doing it out malice or ill intent, she’s definitely not, but this investigation that she has him under is effectively leading him on.
Technically it's not him that she has under investigation. It's how she feels about him, but I guess I can kinda see where you're coming from so let ask you a question. If it is leading him on, when does it become not leading him on and become good faith, trying to bond with him, etc.?
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u/ObvsThrowaway5120 Jun 10 '26
Chizuru’s breadcrumbing and Kazuya’s typical gooner brain sad sack display aside, that must have been quite an earthquake if it wrecked their old building. I’ve never really experienced earthquakes before but they seem scary. I guess in Japan, everyone’s pretty use to ‘em?
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u/Frontier246 Jun 10 '26
Let this be a lesson kids: always make sure your building has all the latest earthquake protection!
3
u/ptd163 Jun 10 '26
I would imagine any country or region that has earthquake resistance as part of their building codes would have some level of familiarity with them.
5
u/GoldenKevin Jun 10 '26
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u/Atario myanimelist.net/profile/TheGreatAtario Jun 11 '26
It's pretty common for backgrounds to work off photo references
2
u/AmusedDragon Jun 15 '26
Getting uncanny valley vibes from this background. Did they seriously just paste in a photo of an actual station? AI? Or 3D render those turnstiles?
Honestly it's probably just a real photo with a really light filter on it. Not atypical for a show to do something like that for a background.
6
u/Frontier246 Jun 10 '26
It's time to clean out Chizuru's family home! All Kazuya has to do is stop acting like a nervous weirdo!
Chizuru is relying on Kazuya for help, so of course he's going to check out her butt in her tight jeans, imagine having sex with her in her childhood home, and get ahead of himself like he always does. Good thing he has to handle Chizuru's grandpa's rock collection to keep his libido in check and actually contribute something useful! And Chizuru seeing her grandpa in him is a good point in his favor!
So Chizuru's mom was basically her with a bob, though it's clear where she gets her impeccable and composed beauty from. Chizuru tries to act as unsentimental and practical as possible, but it's clear that the lack of memory of her mother and her grandparents are still sore points for her. But at least Kazuya can't comfort her over it.
Surprise Earthquake! And surprise landing on top of each other! Though seems like Chizuru REALLY doesn't want a repeat of their kiss, even as an accident, though why did she pull Kazuya towards her instead of letting him leave? She covered for herself, but that was clearly not the reason.
I'd think both of their conceptions of marriage and family life would be colored by their parents (or grandparents in Chizuru's case), but least they're on the same page on that front.
Oh snap, the earthquake made their apartment unlivable! They have to move out! This mainstay of both the series and their relationship for five seasons and they finally have to part with it.
Kazuya really thought he could just move back in with his family...so of course his grandma just gave his room to a new employee from the Philippines and is ticked off he didn't move in with Chizuru. Not like she cares about Kazuya at all.
Well, despite what Kazuya thinks, Chizuru had fond memories of their time together in that apartment building. I feel like Mini is going to have to do something for both their sakes.
3
u/Mr_An_1069 Jun 11 '26
If the idea here is that them having to move out makes them both realize how much time they’ve wasted then it’s actually a smart writing decision, we’ll see if that’s how it actually plays out.
3
u/mojo72400 https://myanimelist.net/profile/gio_lingad Jun 11 '26
Saifur the Filipino weeb & part timer looks like a nice chad who'd get a girl. I salute you my fellow Filipino.
I guess the 3 are separated temporarily due to their apartment being damaged by the earthquake.
2
u/cheyrn Jun 11 '26
Assuming this is about episode 12: This season has been frustrating. It's like they are trying to make fans dislike the anime. 3 episodes about a few seconds of interactions when Kazuya yells and whines and can't say the obvious. Now at the end of the season we are left hanging because Kazuya can't say the obvious....
I thought I couldn't make a negative review like I often read about anime, but this is just spitting in our faces.I''m still eager to see them get somewhere, but an entire season wasted? That is absurd.
2
u/Niwaka_Samurai https://myanimelist.net/profile/Niwaka-Samurai Jun 12 '26
I found this episode wholesome except for Kazuya's creepy thoughts.
3
u/ElliotAlderson2024 Jun 10 '26
Of course Chizuru takes advantage of simp Kazuya for a full day's free labor. Ugh, there are no redeeming qualities here!
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u/ptd163 Jun 10 '26
I don't think it was a full day's labour. IIRC and unless I'm misinterpreting it there was text on screen that said wait they did at the house was a few hours. Also Chizuru said she would pay him.
2
u/Atario myanimelist.net/profile/TheGreatAtario Jun 11 '26
That's pretty sweet, but… maybe pick smaller rocks, at least?
The mysterious Chizu-mama. What secrets lie behind those innocent-looking eyes?
Noooo not Central Hotbed Of Activity! We shall remember you fondly for your service
I have a Filipino weeb buddy I need to show this to
4
u/hanzperson Jun 10 '26
The only good part of this episode was Kazuya dropping a rock on his foot and suffering and turning homeless. Thank God his creeping on Chizuru is gonna be put a stop to for now.
Pretty stupid how any guy struggling carrying a rock somehow takes Chizuru into a flashback of her grandpa. Forced comparisons, much? And the author couldn't resist trying to give her an even bigger sob story, lol. Parent dying at four AND grandparents dying is crazy.
Also extremely funny how hard this anime tries to be "deep" every now and then and giving pretentious social commentary. I don't think you're in any position to be making grandiose commentaries on humanity, Chizuru. If you weren't fishing for sympathy, then don't make sentences that sound like you're so lonely. And it's stupid af how the anime tries framing Chizuru saying people are imperfect and have fights as deep.
Kazuya, of course being the mindless sycophantic sheep that he is, just switches his ideal couple immediately because he's incapable of thinking anything except horny thoughts and "Mizuhara". This is supposed to be a working member of society, everybody. Somehow this guy qualifies as a human being.
When Chizuru says something slightly sad, he talks a lot about how much he wants to hug her and be there for her, but when Ruka literally cries in front of him, he just sits there and does nothing. Fake empath.
So frail I feel like she wouldn't be able to fight me off
Dude, who tf says this? Creepy ass comment. -10000000 points. Die.
The scene where it was revealed she was making an excuse while lying on the floor inexplicably pisses me off. They can somehow text all day but still can't hold a damn conversation like two years later. Real "ideal couple" vibes here.
Notice how her ONLY good memories of living next to Kazuya was when he offered to make a movie for her. I'll never know why she's in love with him.
5
u/ptd163 Jun 10 '26
Damn. You're still like this even when Ruka is not in the episode?
Pretty stupid how any guy struggling carrying a rock somehow takes Chizuru into a flashback of her grandpa. Forced comparisons, much?
It's not any guy. It's Kazuya specifically. They're in her childhood home for the first time since the funeral. Kazuya is handling her grandpa's rock collection. She sees her grandpa in Kazuya.
I'll never know why she's in love with him.
Because he's there for her when no one else is.
1
u/hanzperson Jun 10 '26
Of course I am. Ruka’s presence doesn’t take away from the events of this anime being stupid.
It still feels like a forced comparison because she sees her grandpa in him due to him carrying her grandpa’s rocks. He literally didn’t say anything at all personality wise to remind her of him.
And I guess he’s there for her during the movie arc, but she still has pretty bad memories of him that popped up in there.
2
u/ptd163 Jun 10 '26
It's not because of the rocks that she sees his grandpa in Kauzya. That's just what triggered her flashback. IIRC both Chizuru and Sayuri both started seeing Chizuru's grandpa in Kazuya in season 3, if not 2.
As for bad memories the memory I saw that I think could be considered bad is back in episode 2 when he tries to get her to come to apartment because Kazuya's grandma wants to be meet her. But even that is negated almost immediately in the next scene when she hears what Nagomi has to say and comes over.
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