MANGA REVIEW | "Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro" - Vol. 18
There’s a big race going on between Nagatoro and Hachioji. It’s not one of stamina, but rather one of the heart. It’s no secret that Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro is counting down the chapters towards the big love confession. But before those three words can be uttered, both Nagatoro and Hachioji have a hurdle to jump over. Unfortunately, one of them misjudges the height of said hurdle in the eighteenth volume.
For Hachioji, it’s coming out on top on the mock entrance exams. With Nagatoro modeling for the school one day, it allows Hachioji to pour everything into his oil painting. Enough focus and concentration is done to make even his classmate rival Machida admit defeat, even before the scores can be tallied. But it’s what the teachers fully believe is the best that matters in the long run, and when those top scores come down, well…let’s just say it’s not the news our artist has been hoping for.
Thankfully, our favorite naturalist the (former) Class President comes in with the save. She says some words of wisdom that not only Hachioji should take to heart, but also any person who has felt like they’ve lost a battle. It’s true that Senpai hasn’t been able to keep his word, but that doesn’t mean that he should just up and quit. After all, he’s already built something with Nagatoro, and it’d take more than a mere loss to let it come crumbling down.
Meanwhile, Nagatoro has her eyes set on her judo competition. Her team battle gives her the confidence needed for when the singles competition commences, but she needs Hachioji in her corner to push her to the limit. Sure enough, just as Senpai shows up and cheers her on, Nagatoro goes full gear and slams her way into victory. It’s an endearing moment, but it does lead to a situation that Hachioji is dreading.
A heart-to-heart between Hachioji and Nagatoro occurs after her so-called “mini-boss” battle. Although the judo girl is a little upset that she’ll have to wait to hear what Hachioji wants to say, she’s not at all mad. Quite the contrary, it gives her the chance to tease him in ways that’ll make him happy rather than sweat with fear. It also leads to an adorable moment where the two share each other’s food, powered up with all their love, courage, and determination.
The question now is, will Nagatoro be able to keep her promise? What will happen if she cannot defeat Orihara in the competition? Well…this is a rom-com manga, and even the best writers know how to stretch out a confession. However, Nanashi’s a special kind of writer, so if he wanted to, he could give his readers what they truly want. Either that, or Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro will just need to have a visit from Naked Kamen to make things right again!
