apoc9

How spineless guy got lucky … or not. This series has issues on so many levels. The first question is what genre the series is supposed to be. It’s mildly romantic, funny not really, dramatic questionably. It’s more like a weird harem series with royal flush in terms of unlikable characters. This review is going to talk about events in the series. I’m going to go full spoilers ahead.

Dude grow a spine
I’ve seen my fair share of spineless protagonists (mostly in harem), but Kazuya is whole different level. Not only he doesn’t defend himself against abuse, but has some … ehm … inclinations. In the very first episode, there is scene where Kazuya masturbates, after having in his mind image of his ex-girlfriend having intercourse with another man. He then proceeds to buy a prostitute. Special kind of prostitute, which prostitutes emotionally by playing dream girlfriend for hard cash. In the whole series there is so far only one small redeeming moment for the Kazuya. It’s when he jumps from a ship to save Chizuru.

All men’s wiafu for hard cash
Main female protagonist, Chizuru, is probably the character I hate the most among the female characters. At best she has pity for Kazuya, but then how pathetic you have to be, that female, who sells her affection for money takes pity on you. It’s like if beggar would throw you some money. Once she reveals her reasons, why she prostitutes herself my disrespect even grown more. If you thought it would be to pay medical care for her dying parent or sibling or any pretence of some desperation to pursue something important, you were wrong. It was for noble goal of paying tuition for acting school and as a form of training. It makes as much sense as becoming hitman to qualify for Olympics in biathlon. I’ve seen people hating Kazuya for complaining about the fact of her job, because he himself did pay for the services at the time, but then who else than drug addict would have more rights to complain about immoralities of drug dealers. From my stand point it was one of the few moments, where Kazuya shown at least small glimpse of standing up for some solid values and calling her out.
Interestingly enough the series never shows Chizuru going with bunch of other “clients”. Only such instance would be, when Kazuya pays her to cheer up his friend. Mami doesn’t count, because she did it to trample on her. I think it’s done on purpose otherwise nobody would like her. Her character would be exposed more and people would notice more easily what she is doing is wrong. This makes an illusion of purity. It allows her to be perceived as waifu material by viewers.
However I can see her character is pretty rotten and her sole appeal is her looks. She is not adhesive plaster for men’s emotional wounds. She is leech. The only possible redemption for her would be to recognize the whole rental thing as a mistake.

Psychotic ex
Mami is hated character for good reasons. But then I can help to put her in second place on hate list, because while she is self-absorbed psycho. She might be just not right in her head unlike Chizuru, which should know better. She is made so everybody would hate her. The only pity is Kazuya didn’t stand up to her, when she was trash talking him. There is not so much to talk about this character until she suddenly comes back at the end. This time to torment Chizuru.

Girl with childish crush on Kazuya
While annoying for Kazuya Ruka is so far least bad of the three, but still problematic. She is very childish to have any serious relationship. Heck, she likes Kazuya just because he makes her heartbeat over 90. Maybe she should stick to exercise. Her pursuit of Kazuya is fulfilment of some teenage girl’s dream of how romance and relationships should be. It’s obvious from list of absurd requirements she sends to Kazuya. Instead setting clear boundaries as man should do, Kazuya is all stressed out and even begs her into things going even for dogeza. Her immaturity is something that makes me more lenient towards her in regards to her participation in the whole rent a girlfriend scheme.

Family expecting failure
Nothing brings family closer, than parents and grandparents, which consider you incapable of achieving relationship with opposite sex. Especially, when it’s thrown in your face. No wonder Kazuya is afraid to tell the truth.

Bad friends worse than enemy
When your friends put you down, instead pushing you in good direction, you should start looking for new friends. Only one guy is supportive of Kazuya, when he talks him in a good faith to stay with Chizuru, when they try to pretend break up.

Random shy rental-girl kouhai
Why are you Sumi even here? The fourth girl shoehorned into the mix. She is utterly pointless character.

This series was unique experience for me. It took a great deal of willpower to finish. It isn’t just that I hate almost every single character in the show. It’s borderline propagation of prostitution or something else distinct in form, but not in the substance. If there was need to establish reason, why the two characters are forced together one could find better excuse than something akin to prostitution. I can already remember Korean drama “Lie to me”, which had similar lie of being in relationship to save face plot, but it was better. It was actually funny and characters were mostly likeable.

In the last episode there was a short moment, a glimpse of hope, when I thought “No, could it move in interesting direction? Could it be good at least in the end?!” Nope, as most of anime series it returned back to its original equilibrium. Do not be deceived by the scene at the end. It means nothing. It’s just a bait for next season. If there was any redeeming quality of the series It would be portrayal of Kazuya’s inability to decide, what he actually wants. However, when he realizes it, he doesn’t act upon it in the end.

Animation and art are fine for what is the series aiming for. Soundtrack I don’t even remember and don’t care about OP nor ED.