At first impression, Chizuru Ichinose presents herself as a kind, considerate, and accommodating young woman traits that consistently earn her high ratings as a rental girlfriend. While her kindness is sincere, she also takes great pride in her professional reputation and can become irritable or sharp-tongued when her ratings are threatened. This more assertive and brash side of her is typically reserved for individuals she finds frustrating or difficult to deal with, such as Kazuya Kinoshita.

Chizuru is often described as an “iron lady”, a woman who has constructed an emotional wall that makes her difficult to read. Although she appears outgoing and cheerful on the surface, she maintains a strong boundary between her personal life and those around her. This guarded nature leads many to misinterpret her as cold or aloof. Her emotional restraint is so deeply ingrained that she sometimes struggles to fully understand her own feelings.

Beneath her pragmatic and professional façade, Chizuru is a deeply compassionate person. She frequently puts herself at risk to support others, notably Kazuya, despite the complications it brings to her work. Her kindness is also seen in her mentorship of Sumi Sakurasawa, whom she helps improve as a fellow rental girlfriend. Although she is confident in her looks and proud of her professionalism, Mini Yaemori observes that Chizuru is far from an attention-seeker, distinguishing her from many people admired for their beauty.

Despite partially enabling the continuation of her and Kazuya’s false relationship, Chizuru often becomes frustrated when he expects her to act as his girlfriend for his own convenience. Even as Kazuya attempts to confess and sever their rental relationship, emotional ties particularly those involving their grandmothers complicate matters and prevent a clear separation.

During her junior high school years, Chizuru was described as a clingy crybaby with a tendency to act out, often clashing with boys who teased her for being parentless. Her interest in acting was inspired by watching her grandmother’s favorite films and through encouragement from her grandfather. These influences motivated her to pursue a career in performance.

According to her grandmother, Sayuri Ichinose, Chizuru has grown significantly from the clingy child she once was, although it is implied that she may still hide aspects of her vulnerability behind a carefully maintained image. Her emotional restraint begins to break down when Sayuri’s health declines. Confronted with the possibility of losing another loved one, Chizuru reveals a more vulnerable side, particularly when Kazuya contemplates ending their charade out of guilt. Her emotional reaction is tied to the regret and sorrow she felt when her grandfather passed away before she could fulfill her dream of becoming an actress.

Chizuru Ichinose is a young woman with waist-length chestnut-brown hair and light brown eyes. A distinctive feature of her hairstyle is a small braid tied into a ponytail at the back, though its positioning may vary in different illustrations. Her appearance is often described as exceptionally attractive—she possesses long, slender legs, a well-proportioned figure, and a large bust, making her stand out in nearly any setting.

She is athletic and takes pride in maintaining her physical fitness, which complements her striking looks. Chizuru also has a refined sense of fashion, a trait she reportedly inherited from her mother, Kasumi Ichinose.

When portraying herself as a quiet and studious college student, Chizuru adopts a modest appearance. She wears glasses, a butterfly-shaped accessory, and her hair in double braids. In contrast to her glamorous presentation as a rental girlfriend, this subdued style allows her to blend in and avoid recognition on campus. It is later revealed that she has some difficulty with her vision and uses contact lenses when she is not with friends or on a date.

Sayuri Ichinose
Chizuru shares a deep and loving bond with her grandmother, Sayuri Ichinose, having been raised by her after losing contact with her parents at a young age. As a child, Chizuru lacked clear aspirations until she came across clips of Sayuri’s past performances as an actress. Inspired by her grandmother’s talent, Chizuru decided to pursue acting. Sayuri, recognizing her granddaughter’s potential, encouraged her dream alongside her husband, Katsuhito.

Their first date went smoothly, but after reading online reviews and realizing Chizuru maintained the same affectionate demeanor with other clients, Kazuya felt deceived. Frustrated, he left a one-star review and rented her again, intending to confront her. During their second meeting, he accused her of being fake, to which Chizuru sharply responded, defending her profession and scolding him for misunderstanding the purpose of the service.

Following Katsuhito’s untimely death, Sayuri and Chizuru supported each other, growing even closer. Despite occasional doubts about her late grandfather’s optimistic words, Sayuri continued to guide Chizuru with encouragement. When Sayuri’s illness worsened, Chizuru momentarily lost her resolve, but with the help of Kazuya Kinoshita, she regained her determination and succeeded in producing a short film.

Sayuri ultimately passed away just as the film was completed. In her final moments, she embraced Chizuru, reaffirming her love and pride. Chizuru was devastated by the loss, but Sayuri’s support remained a lasting influence.

Katsuhito Ichinose
Katsuhito was Chizuru’s grandfather and played a pivotal role in shaping her dream of becoming an actress. Although Chizuru initially found little value in his words, she later came to appreciate them after discovering Sayuri’s old films. His death in a traffic accident left a deep emotional impact on her. In honor of his memory, she vowed to pursue acting, continuing to live by the ideals and encouragement he once shared.

Kazuya Kinoshita
Chizuru first meets Kazuya when he hires her for a rental date. Initially, she treats him no differently than any other client, using her usual professional charm and careful scenario planning. However, after Kazuya has an emotional outburst during their first meeting, Chizuru sternly reminds him that their relationship is entirely transactional and gives him the option to end it.

Their situation becomes complicated when they discover both their grandmothers are hospitalized in the same facility. Caught in a misunderstanding, they lie about being in a relationship to avoid upsetting their grandmothers. Though both repeatedly state that they will end the charade, circumstances continuously force them to maintain the illusion of dating.

Chizuru often grows frustrated with Kazuya’s indecisiveness and reluctance to reveal the truth. She attempts to distance herself from him, asking him to avoid any contact outside of their scheduled rental dates. Despite this, the two frequently cross paths, deepening their involvement in each other’s lives.

Ruka Sarashina
Chizuru’s relationship with Ruka begins on neutral terms, but tensions rise when Ruka publicly exposes Chizuru’s status as a rental girlfriend. Although Chizuru initially considers reporting her to the agency, Kazuya intervenes and convinces her that Ruka meant no harm.

During a family trip organized by Nagomi, Kazuya informed Chizuru that he wouldn’t be able to visit Sayuri. Coincidentally, Sayuri was staying at the same hotel, and Chizuru was accompanying her. To their surprise, Kazuya and Chizuru were assigned to the same room, resulting in an awkward situation particularly when Kazuya accidentally walked in on Chizuru post-shower.

Ruka later confesses her feelings for Kazuya and declares herself his real girlfriend, shocking Chizuru. From that point, Ruka views Chizuru as a romantic rival and openly challenges her for Kazuya’s affection. Chizuru, irritated by Ruka’s assertiveness, remains composed but firm. Despite their rivalry, Chizuru had once shown kindness by giving Ruka a chance to explain her condition related to her irregular heartbeat.

Sumi Sakurasawa
Sumi is a fellow rental girlfriend and a close friend of Chizuru. The two work under the same agency, and Chizuru acts as a mentor figure, offering Sumi advice to improve her skills. In an effort to help Sumi gain experience, Chizuru arranges a practice date for her with Kazuya. She follows up afterward to check in on Sumi’s progress, demonstrating her genuine support and care.

The given name Chizuru can be written in various ways, but in kanji, it is often rendered as 千鶴, where chi (千) means “thousand” and tsuru (鶴) means “crane” or “stork.” This name may carry symbolic meaning, as it evokes the ancient Japanese legend that folding one thousand origami cranes grants a wish from the gods often associated with health, recovery, or long life. This reference is especially poignant in connection to her grandmother Sayuri Ichinose’s illness. It is implied that Chizuru’s parents chose her name in the hope that she would accomplish something meaningful in life.

Her surname, Ichinose (一ノ瀬), combines ichi (一), meaning “one,” and se (瀬), which refers to “a swift current” or “rapids.”

The given name Chizuru (千鶴) translates to “thousand” (chi, 千) and “crane” or “stork” (tsuru, 鶴). In Japanese folklore, the crane is a symbol of longevity and good fortune, and the name may allude to the legend that folding one thousand origami cranes grants a wish.

Her alias surname, Mizuhara (水原), combines mizu (水), meaning “water,” and hara (原), meaning “field” or “plain.”