Reiji Miyajima's hit manga "Rent-A-Girlfriend" has been a fan favorite for its unique characters and plot, giving many a peek into Japan's "rental girlfriend" culture.
Now, a 34-year-old socially awkward virgin on Japanese X (formerly Twitter) has gone viral after sharing his ¥32,000 "rental girlfriend" experience. The kicker? The next day, he posted a brutally honest self-reflection about feeling stuck while his peers moved on, sparking a wave of supportive comments.
He first shared his immediate thoughts on the "rental girlfriend" experience, posting:
Your 34-year-old virgin here just had a successful date with a 32-year-old rental girlfriend! ¥17,000 for 2 hours + ¥15,000 for dinner, totaling ¥32,000.
She wasn't the type to force a romantic vibe, but she was a great conversationalist and super capable, which was a huge help for someone as socially awkward as me. She even helped me take some photos for dating apps, so now I'm gonna hustle for my "needs" after the Obon holidays!
Sounds like a pretty successful outing, and he seemed genuinely optimistic about his future dating prospects.
But plot twist! The very next day, he posted again, revealing that reality had hit him like a ton of bricks, plunging him into a full-blown existential crisis.
His follow-up post read:
Everyone my age has already hit major life milestones like having kids, and here I am at 34, still practicing how to date. When you really think about it, that's seriously messed up. It's not just being a lap behind; it's like the race is already over, and I'm still on the field, bawling my eyes out and refusing to leave. That's how massive the gap is.
Ouch. Those harsh realities definitely overshadowed any good vibes from his "rental girlfriend" experience.
His raw honesty quickly garnered attention, with many netizens flooding the comments section. They praised him for taking the initiative, saying that for someone socially awkward, simply starting to act is a huge step, and that "running" at all is commendable, regardless of any "race."
One user chimed in, saying there's nothing shameful about it, and it's "a hundred times better than just fantasizing about finding a partner without any effort." They encouraged him to "build confidence and become a better version of himself."
The comment section became a heartwarming flood of encouragement, with users reminding him that "there are no absolutes in life" and that "anyone willing to improve themselves deserves support."
Another netizen offered a more pragmatic take: "If you have comparable or higher assets and income than your peers, and at least maintain basic personal hygiene (not overweight, not bald), you can absolutely get married. If you can't even manage that, then there's nothing wrong with being single for life."
The original poster responded, confirming that his income and assets were actually decent. His biggest hurdle, he admitted, was "being able to easily open up to women over 30," stating that "social interaction is my biggest problem."
What started as a personal attempt to overcome social awkwardness through a "rental girlfriend" blossomed into a heartwarming community exchange, with netizens rallying to encourage anyone of marriageable age to strive for self-improvement.