The romantic comedy anime Rent-a-Girlfriend is gearing up for its fifth season, with the release of a main promotional trailer and a confirmed premiere date of April 10, 2026.
The new season picks up right where the previous one left off, continuing the Hawaiians Arc as its second cour. This storyline has kept viewers invested with its mix of tropical settings, escalating romantic tension, and the ongoing push-pull dynamic between Kazuya Kinoshita and Chizuru Mizuhara. The trailer showcases moments of heightened intimacy between the leads, including scenes that hint at emotional breakthroughs amid the series' trademark awkward misunderstandings and heartfelt confessions. It builds excitement by teasing how the facade of their rental relationship might finally give way to something more authentic.
A highlight of the trailer is a preview of the opening theme song Non Scenario Etude, performed by Sora Amamiya, the voice actress behind Chizuru Mizuhara. Amamiya not only sings the track but also contributed to its writing and composition, adding a personal touch that aligns with her character's central role. The ending theme is 204-gōshitsu (Room 204), performed by the rock band NAKIGOTO, promising a fitting emotional close to each episode.
The returning staff includes director Kazuomi Koga, who helmed the first two seasons and returned for the fourth, along with animation production by TMS Entertainment (with Studio 6 involvement). Series composition is handled by Mitsutaka Hirota, character designs by Kanna Hirayama, and music by Hyadain—ensuring continuity in visual style and tone. The core voice cast reprises their roles, led by Shun Horie as Kazuya Kinoshita and Sora Amamiya as Chizuru Mizuhara, with supporting performances from Aoi Yuki as Mami Nanami and others rounding out the ensemble.
Accompanying the trailer is a striking new key visual featuring Chizuru extending her arm in an elegant, inviting pose that captures her poised demeanor and the underlying romantic allure of the series. This imagery underscores the progression in Kazuya's journey from a college student entangled in pretense to someone grappling with genuine feelings.
Adapted from Reiji Miyajima's long-running manga in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine, Rent-a-Girlfriend has thrived by blending rom-com hijinks with deeper explorations of vulnerability, self-worth, and the blurred lines between performance and reality in modern dating. The fifth season positions itself as a pivotal chapter, where the "life of lies and deception" referenced in promotions could reach a critical turning point for the protagonists.
For Japanese viewers, the season will stream first on DMM TV starting April 8, 2026, at 10:00 p.m., two days ahead of the television broadcast. It will then air on the Animeism block on MBS, TBS, and CBC beginning April 10 at 2:23 a.m. (technically early April 11 for late-night slots), with the first episode adjusted to start slightly later at that time.
Crunchyroll describes Rent-a-Girlfriend as follows:
Kinoshita Kazuya is a 20-year-old failure of a college student. He managed to kiss his girlfriend once, but was dumped after a month. "Ugh... Damn it. I never want to go through that again." Completely spiteful, Kazuya uses a certain method to date a girl. He goes to their meeting place and suddenly hears, 'You're Kazuya-kun, right?' A beautiful girl brushing her long, black hair behind her ear was there, smiling at him. Her name was Mizuhara Chizuru. Something real is born after just a single rental! A reckless rom-com filled with love and excitement is about to begin!
The first four seasons of the Rent-a-Girlfriend anime are currently available for streaming on Crunchyroll, allowing both longtime viewers and newcomers to catch up on Kazuya and Chizuru's evolving story ahead of the fifth season's arrival. With its mix of humor, drama, and romantic progression, the upcoming season is poised to deliver more of the excitement that has kept audiences engaged through multiple cours.
Sources: Comic Natalie, official X account of Rent-a-Girlfriend
