It’s not unusual for an author to say their protagonist is almost a double of themselves. Saying it about the protagonist of Rent-a-Girlfriend, a series that starts with a boy paying for a temporary girlfriend, adds more weight. In a recent interview, the creator spoke about how much he sees himself in Kazuya Kinoshita, describing him as someone who thinks very similarly to himself.

The author explained that he chose Kazuya as the protagonist because he represents something he considers brave in today’s context: the desire for a genuine and deep connection with one person, in a world where social media often turns relationships into something superficial and disposable. According to him, that kind of determination stands out precisely because it has become so rare.

He also spoke about urban loneliness as a thematic driver of the story. In big cities like Tokyo, he noted, people can live side by side and still feel completely disconnected, with weak bonds both among neighbors and in romantic situations. The premise of the rental girlfriend serves as a mirror to that search for quick connection that characterizes much of modern life, but the series is more interested in exploring the difference between those superficial interactions and something more real and lasting.

About his own relationship with the character, the author was direct: Kazuya is, he said, the character closest to him personally, almost like a double where what he thinks, Kazuya thinks similarly. He expresses his own ideas and experiences through the character, and hearing from readers that the story is funny and relatable affects him emotionally.

He also reflected on how difficult it is to truly know what another person feels, even when two people get close. The “rental” structure in the story works as a way to think about that uncertainty. Despite the painful and complicated sides of falling in love, his overall message is encouraging: it’s worth trying to love and connect, even when things get tough. He hopes readers find some courage by following Kazuya’s experience.

About Rent-a-Girlfriend

Rent-a-Girlfriend (Kanojo, Okarishimasu) is a manga that began publication in 2017 and recently reached its forty-sixth compiled volume in June 2026. The story follows Kazuya Kinoshita, a university student who, after being dumped by his girlfriend, turns to a dating service where one can pay for the company of a temporary girlfriend. His encounter with Chizuru through that service kicks off a relationship that, though starting as a fake arrangement, becomes complicated as real feelings emerge. The series combines comedy with more serious moments about love, trust, and personal growth, and its anime adaptation remains active with new episodes of its fifth season airing in 2026.

Do you identify more with Kazuya’s search for genuine connection, or do you feel the rental girlfriend premise has worn thin after so many volumes?