MANGA REVIEW | "Hayate the Combat Butler" - Volume Forty-Five
Having to wait for a new Hayate the Combat Butler volume is painful to me. After all, Kenjiro Hata completed it back in 2017, so there’s no excuse for it not to be translated by now! Nevertheless, whenever the next book does emerge, I know that I will be dropped in the middle of something truly hilarious. However, in its forty-fifth volume, it has also plopped me into what could be Hayate and Nagi’s biggest adventure yet.
But first, let’s deal with some heart-related matters. Both Nishizawa and Hinagiku are doing all that they can to throw themselves at Hayate. Despite him realizing in the last volume that he’s hot stuff, the butler can’t help but think that no one can genuinely fall in love with him. It puts a lot of pressure on just about everyone who has a crush on Hayate (and man, that list is long), as the race to win his heart continues onward.
However, besides his self-doubt, there’s one other thing holding back Hayate from accepting any woman’s heart: his ¥150 million debt. Fortunately, the school trip season has arrived, with the students given five options to choose from. And wouldn’t you know it, one of them involves a contest with a prize worth exactly ¥150 million! Naturally, Hayate, Nagi, Hinagiku, and nearly 50 others choose this trip option, with each of them having their own reasons for the cash.
Once again, the time for adventure comes around Hayate the Combat Butler. Whenever a big arc starts, I can’t help but look forward to seeing what sort of craziness everyone will get into. With the prize money being the exact amount Hayate needs to pay back Nagi, it also can serve as a lead-in towards the end game for the series. (Alas, there are seven more volumes after this, meaning it’ll be a while for English-language fans to see how it all ends!)
It’s in this contest where a familiar face enters the series: Ruri Tsugumi. For those who watched the anime, this is the girl who claimed to be Nagi’s sister in the 3rd season (AKA Can’t Take My Eyes Off You). Her involvement with the games is an interesting situation, as her previous appearances have been considered non-canon. So what sort of role will she play here, and will it be similar to that of the anime?
That’s not revealed here, but other things are! (**wink wink**) Hayate is a man who seems to be the victim of “lucky accidents”, meaning he gets an eyeful of things a teen his age can only dream of. Of course, since he’s a butler, being a gentleman comes second nature, with his situations wrapping up with him acting coy and kind. With that being said, that doesn’t mean he avoids seeing certain foreign objects, much to the ladies’ embarrassment.
Even with the fan service, it doesn’t take away from the main focus of this new arc. Nagi, who often goes the lazy route, has an extra kick to her step, as she fears Hayate winning the contest will make him a lazy loser forever. Hinagiku, on the other hand, wants to win so she can free Hayate and openly date him. But Hayate himself? While Maria hints that the cash could wipe his debt, he never exactly says what it is that pushes him to go for the contest. (Knowing him, it’ll mainly be because Nagi wants to.)
There’s a bountiful amount of fun and funny stuff to be found in the forty-fifth volume of Hayate the Combat Butler. A new arc, new characters, and even new openings towards a romantic end all come in for this volume. You won’t need an iPad mini to figure out what may entail in this new story, but it wouldn’t hurt to ask Siri from time to time for subtle hints. Just don’t bombard it with questions of love; even AI still has its limits in that field!
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.
