Rent-a-Girlfriend [Season 4 Episodes 1-12]

Rent-a-Girlfriend Season 4: When Drama Becomes a Rollercoaster You Can’t Get Off

Let’s cut to the chase: if you went into Rent-a-Girlfriend Season 4 expecting Kazuya Kinoshita to finally stop overthinking and Chizuru Mizuhara to stop running away, you’re probably slamming your fist on the couch right now. And honestly? Same. But here’s the thing about this season—it’s messy, frustrating, and weirdly addictive, like that TikTok trend you hate but keep watching anyway.

First, let’s get the basics straight. Season 4, announced in July 2024, brings back director Kazuomi Koga (who sat out Season 3) and the original crew, so the vibe’s familiar: that mix of cringe comedy, secondhand embarrassment, and tiny glimmers of hope that make you yell, “Just kiss already!” But this time, the setting shifts from school hallways to a sun-soaked trip, which sounds fun—until Mami Nanami shows up. Oh, Mami. If you thought she was a petty ex before, Season 4 turns her into a chaos gremlin with a mission: ruin Kazuya and Chizuru’s fake-but-not-really relationship.

Let’s talk about the big moments (or lack thereof). Fans were hyped for progress—maybe a confession? A real date? Instead, we got Kazuya almost growing a spine (shoutout to that scene where he chases Chizuru, phone case in hand, like a lost puppy with purpose) only for Chizuru to hit pause. “I need more time,” she says, and you can practically hear the fandom groan. Chizuru’s constant running away is starting to feel less like shyness and more like a plot device to drag things out. As one MyAnimeList user ranted, “Chizuru always running away is starting to get annoying. At this point I don’t even know what she wants.”

And then there’s Mami. Oh, Mami. She’s the villain we love to hate, and Season 4 gives her all the spotlight. From gaslighting Chizuru about their “fake” relationship to leaving us on a cliffhanger where she’s clearly plotting something evil, she’s the reason this season has any tension. Half the fandom is screaming, “Mami is a b*tch!” (yes, that’s a direct quote from a comment) while the other half is low-key obsessed with her drama queen energy. “Mami creates great tension,” one fan admitted. “I love how viewers are split into Mami enjoyers and haters—probably because we have nothing else to talk about.” Fair.

But let’s not forget the side characters who got the short end of the stick. Remember Ruka Sarashina and Kuri? Yeah, they’re basically MIA this season. Fans were confused (and annoyed) that their potential subplot got skipped over. “Kuri x Ruka??? Are you deadass right now???” one user wrote. “That ship makes no sense—they haven’t even talked in forever.” It’s like the writers forgot they existed, which is a bummer because Ruka’s over-the-top crush on Kazuya was always a fun contrast to Chizuru’s reservedness.

Now, the ending. Oh, the ending. Season 4 wraps up with a cliffhanger so brutal, you’ll want to throw your remote. Mami’s scheming, Chizuru’s panicking, and Kazuya’s standing there like a deer in headlights. Fans are split: some are furious (“This shit isn’t going anywhere”), while others are already counting down to Part 2 (“I’ll definitely be there for the next season”). As one user put it, “It’s my own fault for thinking something will happen, but damn does Mami create great tension.”

So, is Season 4 worth watching? If you’re a die-hard fan who lives for the slow burn and loves yelling at your screen, yes. If you want a romance with actual progress? Maybe skip this and rewatch Season 3 (where Kazuya at least helped Chizuru with her movie dream). But here’s the tea: even with all its flaws, Rent-a-Girlfriend Season 4 is a masterclass in keeping viewers hooked. It’s like a train wreck—you can’t look away, even when you know it’s going to crash.

At the end of the day, this season is a reminder that love (and fake dating) isn’t always pretty. It’s messy, it’s awkward, and sometimes the person you like runs away when you finally summon the courage to speak up. But hey, at least we got Mami’s chaos. And let’s be real—we’re all going to tune in for Part 2. Because once you’re invested in Kazuya and Chizuru’s hot mess of a relationship, you can’t just quit.

Final verdict? Season 4 is a 6/10. It’s frustrating, it’s slow, but it’s Rent-a-Girlfriend—and sometimes, that’s enough. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go rewatch that scene where Kazuya chases Chizuru and pretend it’s progress.

P.S. Where’s the kissing scene? We deserve answers.