Subculture Anime Blog

Hayate is helping Nagi prepare for the morning. However, upon mentioning her bag and school uniform, she tries to avoid the conversation and locks herself in her room. While Maria tries to explain to him why she doesn’t want to go to school, they receive a phone call from Nagi’s acquaintance Sakuya. Nagi finally comes out to answer the phone, but quickly hangs up after pretending to be a phone operator. Annoyed from just being cut off, Sakuya bursts through one of the mansion’s windows. She tries to regain composure by asking Maria to make some tea, while Nagi pours some on her head. When Nagi asks for her reason for coming, Sakuya replies that she wanted to see Nagi’s new butler. However, she is very surprised to find out that it is Hayate, who has been watering flowers outside.

Sakuya gives Hayate a kick in the back, and he passes out. She calls her servants telling them to give him emergency treatment, and Hayate is wakened by a sword almost slashing him. Hayate introduces himself to Sakuyo, and she thinks it is quite a boring name. Then, Nagi gives a few attacks to Sakuya. Sakuya believes that Hayate needs to be changed into a performer. Nagi doesn’t see the point in this, but Hayate believes himself that butlers need all kinds of skills. She tries to suggest things to Hayate, but attacks him again when he talks back to her. Maria confirms to Hayate that Sakuya is just like Nagi, in that she doesn’t like to lose. Hayate decides to make a joke to prove himself, but is quickly attacked by Sakuya again after hearing how lame it is. However, she doesn’t think he is that bad, and accepts him as Nagi’s butler.

Inside, Nagi mentions to Sakuya that Isumi is coming over, while Maria is troubled because they have run out of tea. She tells Hayate to go buy some, but before then, gives him a Cashmere coat. Hayate thinks that it would be bad to get such an expensive looking coat dirty outside, but Maria corrects him by saying that it is an expensive coat. At Isumi’s estate, her servants are troubled because they cannot find her. They find a note from her saying that she is going to play at Nagi’s and she will be back by dinner. They panic because they know she is bad with direction.

As Hayate is walking in town, a lot of ridiculous situations occur that would destroy his coat. However, he is very careful, avoiding all of the situations. He decides to take a safer route, going through the park where he met Nagi. There he finds a girl who is having trouble with the vending machine. Hayate tries to explain to her that she needs to insert money in the machine, but she is troubled because her friend told her not to talk to strangers. Hayate believes that getting involved with the girl would cause trouble so he starts to walk off, but she suddenly mentions that she feels lost. Hayate decides to help her, but she doesn’t even remember where she is going. Then, a large group of men in black appear seeking Isumi. Hayate wonders to himself if they are kidnapers, while they wonder the same about Hayate. They start to go after Hayate, but he grabs Isumi and dashes off.

While jumping across the tree branches, Hayate assures Isumi that he will protect her. However, they find themselves falling into pond. Hayate knows this will be bad for his coat, but he cannot let Isumi get thrown into the pond. Using the coat to catch onto a nearby tree branch he saves Isumi, although ripping his Cashmere coat in the process. Isumi finally gets a troubled Hayate’s attention, telling him that she will compensate for the coat. However, Hayate believes that he must take responsibility, thanking Isumi for her feelings. Isumi cannot keep up with Hayate’s speaking so the misunderstanding about her situation is never cleared up, but Hayate finally decides to take her to Nagi’s mansion. However, under certain circumstances, he cannot go in himself so he asks her to wait at the front of the gates alone.

Preview: Hayate gets into trouble, and must be nursed back to health by Nagi. We also meet Saki and Wataru of the Tachibana family.

Impression:

This had to be one of the funniest episodes yet. I nearly fell out of my chair laughing at some parts. Once again there were tons of references to other animes. The most funny probably being Nagi changing to Shana and Al from FMA when she attacked Sakuya. There was also Hayate saying to himself not to run away, probably a reference to Shinji from Evangelion. Those are just a few of the many that were thrown in there. I find it kind of strange how they displayed Isumi in the Anime. She just looks so different from the manga. I think it will take some getting used to. I do think they got the voice right though, right down to the “Ano~”. Haha. I do like how Sakuya is portrayed too, though if they follow the manga, she will be playing a pretty minor role. It definitely looks like they are trying to introduce all of the major characters starting off, with the preview showing Saki and Wataru. I love the way this is going. Hayate no Gotoku continues to meet my expectations!