Unraveling the Mysterious Age of Ruka from Rent-a-Girlfriend - 33rd Square (2024)

Ruka Sarashina is one of the most polarizing characters in the popular anime/manga rom-com series Rent-a-Girlfriend. With her extreme clinginess towards protagonist Kazuya Kinosh*ta, Ruka shakes up the show‘s central love triangle and brings an added dose of drama. But just how old is this possessive rental girlfriend? Let‘s analyze the clues from the manga to get to the bottom of Ruka‘s age and delve deeper into her role in the story.

Pinning Down Ruka‘s Age

In chapter 28 of the Rent-a-Girlfriend manga, we get a flashback to a childhood scene where Ruka is confirmed to be 9 years old. Simple math tells us that if we can figure out how much time has passed between then and the current story, we can estimate Ruka‘s age now.

The text reveals that this flashback took place 262800000 heartbeats ago from October 31, 2017 in the manga‘s timeline. For context, October 31, 2017 is the last definitive date provided right before the flashback, during a scene where Kazuya visits his grandmother in the hospital.

So let‘s break this down:

• The average human resting heart rate is 70 beats per minute (Source: Cleveland Clinic)
• In a year there are:
  • 365 days
  • 24 hours per day
  • 60 minutes per hour
  • 70 heartbeats per minute
• So 70 beats per minute x 60 minutes x 24 hours x 365 days = 31,536,000 heartbeats per year
• If Ruka was 9 years old 262800000 heartbeats ago:
  • 262800000 total heartbeats
  • Divided by 31,536,000 heartbeats per year
  • Equals approximately 20 years elapsed
• If 9 years + 20 years elapsed = Ruka is approximately 29 years old currently

Therefore, based on this clever bit of detective work by Rent-a-Girlfriend fans, Ruka seems to be around 29 years old in the current manga storyline!

More About Ruka

Now that we‘ve deduced Ruka‘s age, let‘s delve deeper into her role and relationships within the rom-com series:

• Ruka works as a rental girlfriend, a job where she provides platonic companionship and girlfriend-like experiences to male clients.

• She meets protagonist Kazuya Kinosh*ta when he encounters her at a hospital during one of her "rental" appointments.

• Though initially uninterested, Ruka develops feelings for Kazuya after sensing he is genuinely infatuated with the rental girlfriend Chizuru that he regularly sees.

• Ruka frequently pressures and guilts Kazuya into spending time with her, much to his chagrin. Her clingy affection for him seems to border on obsession.

"You‘re gonna forget about her…because you have me now!" – Ruka

• Ruka suffers from a heart condition that makes her resting heartbeat abnormally quicken from a young age. Being around Kazuya exacerbates her symptoms.

• Despite her abrasive attitude, Ruka volunteers at a children‘s daycare, showing her compassionate side at times.

The heart racing condition Ruka suffers from is never named explicitly, but seems similar to inappropriate sinus tachycardia based on the symptoms shown. Her illness provides an additional layer of drama and complexity to Ruka‘s dynamic character arc.

How Ruka Compares to Other "Tsundere" Characters

In anime and manga, the "tsundere" character archetype refers to a person who is initially cold or hostile before gradually becoming loving and gentle. Ruka embodies this trope perfectly, with her blunt, abrasive manner that contrasts against her deeply caring feelings for Kazuya.

Some other iconic tsundere characters Ruka can be compared to include:

• Asuka Langley from Neon Genesis Evangelion
• Taiga Aisaka from Toradora!
• Hitagi Senjougahara from Bakemonogatari
• Kyou Fujibayashi from Clannad
• Kagura from Gintama

Like Ruka, all of these tsunderes hide their sentimental core behind outward attitudes ranging from violent to indifferent to downright mean. But when it comes to their actual love interests, they show their vulnerable sides. Ruka joins their ranks as a classic exemplar of this beloved anime/manga archetype.

Ruka‘s Potential Future Role

As of this writing, Ruka continues to play a prominent supporting role in the Rent-a-Girlfriend story. The manga remains ongoing, so it‘s anyone‘s guess how Ruka‘s arc will develop from here. But here are some possibilities:

• She could grow more mature and move on from her obsession with Kazuya
• Her illness could worsen and pose a serious threat to her health
• She may find love with someone new who reciprocates her feelings
• Ruka could get closure by revealing her true feelings to Kazuya

No matter what happens, Ruka will likely continue stirring up drama in the lives of Kazuya, Chizuru, and the rest of the cast. Love her or hate her, this 29-year old possessive rental girlfriend leaves an indelible mark on the show.

The Bottom Line

Through careful analysis of the Rent-a-Girlfriend manga, we can deduce that Ruka Sarashina is approximately 29 years old as of the current story timeline. She provides a foil to protagonist Kazuya with her clingy, obsessive love. As a classic anime/manga "tsundere," Ruka has earned her place among the most iconic characters of this beloved archetype. No matter where her story goes next, Ruka will continue lighting up the screen with her fiery personality.

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