Hayate The Combat Butler Chapter 538: Forever Dreamer -- Synopsis and Review

Synopsis: Maria: I gonna call it quitz

So beautiful... although, that dress shouldn't be clinging to her butt so tightly like that unless she wasn't wearing any... (you figure out the rest)

Hayate: Yameru te... ojou-sama no... nande? Nande? Doushite?

Maria: You said it yourself too, didn't you, Hayate?

Maria: Our roles are over.

Hayate: Over...

Maria: I've noticed it since the doujin showdown with Ruka.

Maria: She gave it her all. During that time when her heart was broken.

Maria: She would always come to me to be consoled. I thought that she would never be able to stand on her own.

Flashback
"However... a hero, even when on a broken knee..."

Chiharu: Never gives up! (flashback to Nagi's moment of awesome in Ruka's arc!)

Maria: I was shocku deshita!

Maria: Her growth, I had underestimated it.

Maria: She was always relying on me...

Maria: She had been relying on me like a mother.

Maria: Whatever I thought was bad or whenever I said no.

Maria: I think, that was where my existence was heading.

Maria: I didn't care anymore about her growth.

Maria: Her growth is also thanks to you, Hayate.

Maria: Ever since you appeared, her world has been opened.

Maria: She has been through lots of challenges and experiences... and gained...

Maria: Irreplaceable friends.

Maria: You think she has changed as well, don't you, Hayate? 

Ah yes, this is one of the reasons I fell in love with her. My ideal heroine... and ideal waifu.

Hayate: :'( She... hasn't changed... right now, she can't draw her manga without any choco, right?

Maria: She will draw...

Maria: With or without choco... that girl... with her own power...

Maria: Perhaps if I were with her right now....I would just have cleaning and cooking to do, like a real maid.

Maria: She is steadily growing up. I can't even catch up to her anymore.

Maria: This is unpleasant for me.

Maria: This may just be self-indulgence, but I want to be special to her.

Maria understands... she really does!

Maria: This is why my being a maid ends here.

Hayate: B-but...

Maria: Hayate-kun... do ya remember?

Maria: I'll be turning 18 soon, right?

Maria: It's graduation.

Maria: So won't you please smile?

Shift to Chiharu and Nagi

Chiharu: Here, I've bought enough choco, amirite?

Nagi: Meh, why is it this kind of choco nanoda?

Chiharu: This is probably delicious (blibble blah blah some bleeped out reference)

Nagi: This is not the choco from blah blah blah reference that I do not get

Chiharu: Stop talking and making those baku baku sounds while eating.

Chiharu: Anywayz, howz the drawing going? Lemme have a look.

Chiharu: Ah, it's progressing very well.

Chiharu: Think you can make it in time for the awards?

Nagi: Hmph! Of course nanoda!

Chiharu: Btw, where are Ayasaki and Maria?

Nagi: Saa... they'll be back soon anywayz

Back to Hayate who is alone outside the Violet Mansion now reflecting on Maria's words with a sad look on his pitiful face.

Maria: Keep this thing a secret from Nagi, ok?

Maria: I haven't decided on a specific date yet.

Maria: At the latest, it might be around my birthday.

Hayate: Maria-san is quitting... Maria-san was always with ojou-sama.

Hayate: The ruins of the royal garden.... the last game...I should get the key, right?

Hayate: There's also the matter of mini-athena. And Housen is a maid...and wtf is up with these King's Jewels and the Royal Power?

Hayate: Anywayz, these are the keys to opening the Royal Garden but... I need an explosion of negative emotions to open the road.

Hayate: KUSO! WTF DO I DO?

Machina: Guaaaah!

Housen: Really...

Housen; This snake gatekeeper

Housen: Royal Family servants really give me a hard time.

Review: Well, I'm definitely quite happy with Maria's assessment of Nagi in this chapter.

Hayate thought that Nagi would end up in the poorhouse and die if she didn't have her inheritance but Maria is now putting some doubt in his head as to his mistaken beliefs.

Also, I totally called it in the previous chapter as to Maria's reason for quitting being a maid. At least this proves that there are indeed times wherein Hata-sensei foregoes unpredictability for the logical outcome of the plot structure. Maria even makes a callback to the time in Ruka's arc wherein Nagi first demonstrated independence to her.

Such a feisty little cutie~

It's quite funny that while Maria has maturely accepted that Nagi is growing up, Hayate seems to be the complete opposite and had a very disturbed look on his face when Maria mentioned this. He even goes as far as to deny it for a flimsy reason such as Nagi being Nagi and asking for chocolates. Fortunately, Maria rebuts him quite firmly.

It would seem to me that Hayate has an unhealthy obsession of being "needed" by Nagi and that is why he is total denial mode once Maria mentions Nagi's growth and independence. It would most likely be because he has anchored the worth of his existence to being needed by Nagi -- pretty much like Maria herself, except he's not mature enough to accept that it might not be the case anymore. Really, it's been a long time coming. He should just realize that Nagi does indeed need him, but not to protect her nor perform mundane household chores for her. Calling it now, this will be a future development in the series.

One thing has become certain here: Hata-sensei is intentionally withholding Hayate's reaction to Nagi's manga from us. Hayate reflects on various things in this chapter and mentions in passing just about all of the current unresolved plot threads from mini-Athena to the king's jewels, but he never ever touches upon the meaning of Nagi's manga. So yes, something is up here. As one familiar anon commenter mentions in my previous review, it might not necessarily be a good thing -- but something is definitely up.

Lastly... whoa... ok, so Housen's power level is over 9000 apparently. She easily fought Hayate, Tama and Isumi all at once and now she's defeated Machina and taken his King's Jewel... although she did mention that it wasn't easy. Of course, you can see that she doesn't have a scratch on her while Machina is all beat up.

Anywayz, really awesome chapter and Nagi chomping on chocolates never gets old. SEE YA NEXT CHAPTER!

Fanart Corner: Got some new stuff this week.

Hata-senpai noticed me again~

The original pic. Eyes inspired by Prisma Illya.

Showing a little versatility and contrast of styles here.

Still unfinished. Nagi in Illyasviel's signature outfit.

Hayate The Combat Butler Chapter 537: Last Regrets -- Synopsis and Review

Don't worry guys, we can expect Nagi to steal the show with some awesome lines pretty soon... she does that.

Synopsis: Hayate: This isn't going too well.

Hayate: At this rate, I won't be able to get Maria to confess to me.

Hayate: How can I get Maria to notice me just a little...

Maria: (turns and smiles)

Hayate: Damn, that's cute... but anyway, it's not like this is the first time.

Hayate: When we first met, it was definitely...

This person is the most beautiful person in the world... Chapter 537: Last

Regrets

Maria: In the end, we didn't find any chocolates for Nagi, didn't we?

Hayate: So, Sou desu ne?

Hayate: I can't let myself fall for her.

Hayate: I have to think of my next move to make Maria confess to me.

Hayate: Should I try suddenly holding her hand? Ah, but taking her hand so

suddenly would be strange. Also, it could be mistaken for sexual harrassment.

Maria suddenly grabs Hayate's hand.

Maria: By the way, Hayate, let's go to that new candy seller.

Maria: C'mon. Let's take a look.

Hayate: Curses! Maria-san is making my heart beat.

Maria: Fuwaa~ these are some stylish chocolates, aren't they?

Hayate: This is not good, I can't think of a good way to approach her.

Maria: Hayate-kun, Hayate-kun, they gotz some free samplez here! Wanna try?

Maria: Ah---~n

Hayate: I can eat it by myself...

Maria: Izzat so~~~

Hayate: This is bad! As expected, Maria's cuteness is overwhelming.

Hayate: When I first met her, I thought to myself, "this person is really

beautiful."

Hayate: Being together with this person over the last 10 months... truly, many

things have happened.

Hayate: Yes, of course! I remember now! I can use this memory.

Hayate: It's nostalgic. I can use these.

Hayate: Ok, then it's settled... on the way home.

Maria: It's totally dark now.

Hayate: Maria-san, Maria-san, do you remember this place?

Hayate: At that time, I was a bit fuzzy in the head and I got ran over.

Maria: It brings back memories, doesn't it? It's been 10 months since then.

Hayate: KUKUKU! GOOOD GOOOD~! This is a nice mood! The nostalgia is floating

all around~

You so ebil, Hayate-kyun~

Hayate: From here, Maria-san will surely take notice of me... and then there will be a poetic confession.

Maria: Various things have happened since then, eh?

Hayate: Yes, really~

Maria: That Christmas Eve... when you entered while I was taking a bath, I really wanted to have you arrested~

Hayate: I-izzat so?

Maria: Yes.

Maria: After that, the mansion was almost destroyed by sexual harrassment. I thought Nagi had picked up a really troublesome kid.

Hayate: I'm SORRY! I'm SORRY FOR THAT TIME!

Maria: Ahaha... it's too late for an apology, however... ever since then, being wtih you has really been a lot of fun everyday.

Hayate: eh...? Wait... could this be? The flow of this conversation is...


Maria: Hayate-kun...

Hayate: y-yearh?

Maria: There's something I've always wanted to tell you~

Hayate: Could this really be...?

Hayate: Something you wanted to tell me?

Maria: Yes, I've really always wanted to tell you.

Hayate: WAIT A SECOND WAIT A SECOND.

Hayate: what ees eet? What ar you hesitating for...?

Hayate: My heart still isn't ready.

Maria: THis is something very important.... some very important words.

Maria: I... I...

Maria: I'm thinking of quitting being a maid.

Time... seemed to stand still for a second.

Review: WOW! WHAT A LOADED CHAPTER! Seriously, going into this chapter seeing nothing but conversations between Maria and Hayate and Hayate's inner monolgue, I kinda thought... meh, wtf is this? Where's mai waifu?

And then Maria just suddenly stole the show with that big reveal at the end.

Anywayz, let's talk about the implications of her decision. WHY is she thinking of quitting. I can think of a number of reasons. First of all, it's an acknowledgement of Nagi's growth. Perhaps Maria has realized that the time when Nagi would no longer need anyone to serve her is arriving pretty fast. In fact, even though Nagi can't seem to do housework, I don't think she'd die of left to her own devices now. She does have friends who can help her out and she has been shown to learn quickly.

Even without anyone teaching her, it might be awkward for Nagi to do housework on her own for a while, but it sure won't kill her. She's not the same incompetent kid from hundreds of chapters ago after all -- not with all her character development all throughout this manga.


Secondly, it's also Maria acknowledging that she can't anchor the worth of her existence to Nagi. Maria is young and talented and has her whole life ahead of her. She shouldn't be wasting it away in servitude to Nagi her whole life -- even if she does love Nagi.

Thirdly, and this one is really in the realm of supporting my ship, Maria is giving way for Hayate and Nagi to be together since she has recognized that Nagi may in fact be ready for a relationship now... even though I can't say the same for Hayate.

Fourth, let's hand a bone to the Maria shippers. What if she's doing it so she can be together with Hayate-kun? Well, my problem with this is that she hasn't shown any kind of "love" for Hayate even if she has found him sort of attractive from time to time. There might be a "romantic spark" between them which could develop into love if they were real persons, but it just doesn't work for this manga's story... so nope.

Anywayz, this was a really nicely written chapter over-all. Once again, Hata starts off with a red herring by making us think that this would be all about Hayate's bumbling attempts at wooing Maria, which was also funny when Maria just keeps pre-empting him, but then it slowly starts to develop into something else and the end result is that even though it's a cliffhanger again, we're left with something really serious to consider -- again, a mark that the end is very, very near for this manga.

Still, if Hata can pull off chapters like these, I have high hopes that this manga will have a very satisfying ending. Also, like I said in the last two chapters -- there's this one ship that's just so sunk right now. This chapter made my heart go doki doki as much as Hayate's.

By the way, a certain blondie just won da Nisekoi~ this tangentially related news is significant for us Nagi supporters!



No break next week, so see ya on  7/27!

Fanart Corner: This is a request from Bill again. Grovel before the princess of heroes, you mongrels! Na-Gil has arrived!

I wonder if she'd use the Gate of Babylon to store her manga/anime collection?

Hayate The Combat Butler Chapter 536: Mischievous Maria But I Like Her -- Synopsis and Review

I kinda want to draw Nagi in this pose with just her beautiful face all over the canvas... I think I will. Also, yes. I realize that this is a reference to dat one Chuunibyou animuh.

Synopsis: Hayate: I remember the day we met even now

Hayate: That day, my life was being targeted by the Yakuza because my parents betrayed me.

Hayate: It's really painful to remember... it was sad.

Hayate: That's why that muffler felt doubly warm. I felt truly saved.

10/24

Nagi: I can't draw anymore if there's no delicious chocolate.

Mai waifu is all chibi in this chapter and she looks super-cute!

Hayate: -_- What are you saying now?

Nagi: The manga! The manga! I can't draw it without chocolate!

Hayate: Are you channeling Osamu-san? Didn't he draw his manga for himself?

Nagi: That's right! Exactly!

Nagi: Without chocolate, I can't think! I have no motivation!

Nagi: In order to draw an awesome manga... in order to draw a historical masterpiece.

Nagi: Right now... I need delicious chocolate!

Hayate: Hands her some chocolate

Nagi: DON't YOU MESS WITH ME! At least gimme some choco mint! 

Only the highest quality chocolates for ojou-sama, you!

Nagi: Since this is also delicious, I'll eat it just this once.

Nagi: This chocolate is necessary but it's the lowest. Gimme some higher quality ones later!

Maria: The ultimate chocolate?

Hayate: Yearh, ojou-tama needs it for her manga!

Maria: I have no idea wtf yer talkin about, son.

Hayate: Well, let me start from the top...

Maria: Hmm... I see... Well then shall the two of us look for this chocolate together?

At that moment, Ayasaki Hayate was thinking.

Hayate: I can only open the door to the Royal Garden if there is love!

If someone were madly in love and had a stone... it would be earth-shattering.

That way, there would be an explosion of negative emotions that would open the gate to the Castle!

Then I can get the loto key and secure ojou-tama's inheritance!

After that, the relationship doesn't matter! It's all for ojou-sama's sake, that's why!

FOr this reason, Maria-san is the best target! Maria-san should understand that it was all for ojou-sama's sake.

However... Maria-san falling for me... I can't even imagine it.

Maria: WTF is wrong with ya, son?

Hayate: No-nothing!

Maria: But it has been a long time since the two of us went shopping together, right?

Hayate: Sou desu ne

Hayate: I'd like to get the ultimate chocolate... but where do we begin?

Maria: Right... usually I'd buy at Aoyama district but...

Hayate: That would be fun but...

Maria: Ah...

Maria: Hayate-kun, how about this?

ULTIMATE Candy Shop

Cheap sweets huh...

Maria: Oh there are lots of cute chocolates here, aren't there?

Maria: Oh, and these are cute too, aren't they?

Hayate:......

Hayate: Anywayz, it's not my imagination. This is a dokidoki situation. Taimu to confession to Maria-san wo!

Hayate: For this reason, I must do this...

Maria: Hayate-kun! Hayate-kun!

Hayate: Hai?

Maria: This character looks like Doraemon, right?

Hayate: Uwaaaaa!

Hayate: WTF are ya sayin, Maria-san! It doesn't look similar at all! Not in the least?

Maria: Eh... rly?

Maria: But this shape is definitely...

Hayate: NOOO! Absolutely not! It's a coincidence!

Maria: Eh... Eh... but...

Hayate: This is bad. My heart is throbbing but this throbbing is totally wrong.

Hayate: Was this choco expedition a failure... no, it's too soon to give up.

Hayate: Maria-san has never even had cup noodles so it's understandable that she wouldn't know anything about cheap chocolates...

Hayate: Yes, of course!

Hayate: Maria-san Maria-san!

Hayate: Ta-dah! (shows her a candy ring)

Maria: Wow! What is that!

Hayate: This was once a hugely popular piece of candy with women. The jewel ring!

Maria: Jewel Ring... huh?

Hayate: What do you think, Maria-san? Women loved this sparkle. You shouldn't be an exception.

Hayate: Wid da powah of this jewel ring! Maria shall fall for me!

Hayate imagination: Maria: Hayate-kun! It's beyootifel!

Maria: Candy ring... huh?

Hayate: ..... eh?

Maria: It's a jewel ring but it's not made of precious metal, is it?

Maria: So if it's a meat bun on top, it's a meat bun ring, huh?

Maria: In that case, where would the meat bun element go?

Hayate: Did she just nearly refute 30 years of candy ring sales?

Hayate: That's not important! What is important is its potential as candy!

Maria: (licks candy) I see...

Maria: It's definitely a delicious candy, isn't it?

Narration: His heart would not stop beating.

Review: Yah... well, remember what I said about a certain ship getting sunk in the previous chapter? You may now narrow down your guesses... but anyway, that's just me!

Funny stuff from Nagi here. I like the way she's rage-eating that chocolate bar.

So... not much to say about this chapter. Once again, it advances the plot -- with gags. Classic Hata style. Anyway, Hayate has now chosen his "target" and he has finally revealed his Evil-ebil plan. Yup, it's exactly what I said it was. He plans to make Maria fall for him and then break up with her causing the necessary explosion of negative emotions.

Still won't believe that Hayate's an evil bastard?

It's wrong in so many levels and we all know it's not going to work out as planned -- we just dunno exactly how it will backfire. Of course, there's a strong inclination towards Nagi being on the receiving end of some of the backlash -- which I don't like, but it's a necessary thing and I hope Hayate gets his just desserts at the end of all this.

Also, let me take this time to address people who are going to complain about Nagi reverting to her brattish ways in this chapter -- get it through your skulls, people. Nagi IS a brat. That's who she is -- take it or leave it. It's done for comedic purposes in this chapter and it works It DOES NOT do away with her character developments so far and if you say otherwise, Hata will just prove you wrong sooner or later anyway. Gawd, why did I even bother to write this?

Ok, so that aside... I guess that's it for this review. See ya next week coz no break!

Fanart Corner: Traditional media time again. I've also got one work-in-progress that I won't bother to post here until it's done, so see ya next week when it's done.

She was a skater girl, he said "you're a little girl." She wasn't good enough for him. HE had a pretty face, but his head was up in space, he needed to come back down to earth~

A loli with her lolly... so META!

(Hata gave me a "thank you" for this one) Their special place~. Pic inspired by the BG for 40mP's Sampo Michi/Avenue

Not an actual fanart except for the chibi Nagi at the bottom. This is from my 365 Nagi photo project. VN style because I used to be an EVN dev... back when I was young and foolish. Now I'm young and jaded.

Hayate The Combat Butler Chapter 535: Even piled on and on, it won't become the truth -- Review and Synopsis

 

A Maria cover is fine every once in a while

Synopsis: If the Sanzenin inheritance is lost, Ojou-sama will become poor

If it's lost. Ojou-sama will die.

I need the loto key to win her dat inheritance. Which by the way, Yukariko has hidden inside the RG and blah blah... (look... I'm just gonna skim this part coz he's just explaining the royal garden stuff)

Oh and 12 King's Jewels confirmed.

Ok... now let's skip to him meeting Ayumu.

Hayate: (let's use Dkthias' version) Should I fall in love with someone for ojou-sama's sake?

Ayumu:Ah, Hayate-kun! (sweet smile)

Hayate: Nishizawa san

Ayumu: Why so serious, bro?

Hayate:......

Hayate: Yo, Ayumu... you in love with someone?

Wall slams!

Ayumu: Ya know, Hayate-kun! I keep telling you that I'm in love with you!

Hayate: 0_0 Ah...

Ayumu: My feelings for you have never changed and I want to date you, got it!?

Hayate: (Somehow... wasn't that an amazing thing to say?)

Athena: -_- Wtf is up wid dis melodrama in mah house?

Hayate: Uwaaaa!

Ayumu: It's not like that!

Hayate: Sorry bout asking something strange like that, Nishizawa san.

Ayumu: S'fine... now s'cuse meh!

Athena: So wtf was up with that crude question?

Hayate: S-sorry!

Hayate:(b-but... I see. Nishizawa san loves me.)

Hayate: If so, I can use this... for the path...

Ayumu x Hayate montage

Even this chibi Nagi has a sexy butt... I'm going too far, aren't I? Well, just look up there and marvel at her beautiful smile... yeah.

Hayate: No... that's difficult. Such true love cannot be shaken by misunderstanding. There's no way that can be cruel enough.


Hayate: But, without opening the road, I can't get ojou-sama's inheritance.

Also, right now, I'm not sure about the key's wherabouts.

Hayate reflection: (bottom line is, I can't let Hisui get the inheritance)

Maria: Yo, welcome back Hayate kyun! How wuz teh violet mansion?

The last line made Hayate reach a conclusion

Somehow, even if it's a cruel outcome, I will be forgiven if it's for ojou-sama's sake.

Maria!

Maria: ?

Hayate: However... how can I enter a relationship with this person?

Hayate: Does she have a boyfriend or a lover? No, of course not, right?
However, living together under one roof for 10 months isn't enough, is it?

Hayate: In the first place, is Maria attracted to the opposite sex at all?

Maria: Wazzup? Why do you have such a weird face on?

Hayate: I was born this way.

Maria: Ara ara... that's not true. When I first met you, you were so cool.

Hayate: R-really? Izzat so?

Hayate: Could it be? Is this a sign?

(gonna skip stuff)

Hayate: For ojou-sama's sake, Maria-san... I will make advances on Maria san! (evil face)

Maria: ...

Maria: Sorry but... forget I said that.

Maria: Hayate-kun has a strange face after all.

Review: First of all, thank you very much for confirming what I've been saying all along, Mr. Ayasaki! NOW... you have truly sunk to a new low!

Well, naysayers!? What say you now? You thought he was thinking of doing it to himself? Hah! What do you think about that?

Now then... let me also just take this time to say that I believe this chapter just sunk a dormant ship. Which one? Well, I'll leave that up to your imaginations. Just take note of the conversations here and Hayate's own reactions (even after it's been properly translated) and you'll see. I'm just gonna be as vague as Hayate here and not say it directly.

Ok so... first half of this chapter is just Hayate summarizing the Royal Garden business so far. He also said some things halfway through related to Hisui that I did not read properly, but it's OK! Believe in the veteran translators! They'll clarify things for you... or I will as soon as I sit down to give it a second reading... maybe.

So yeah, Hayate has now become the "piece of ass" that we've all thought he was trying to be in the previous chapter. Time for his reality check soon-ish

Also, ya know what this looks like? This looks like the spiritual adaptation of the final two episodes of Cuties! Hayate's going around trying to find the right girl to fall in love with in all the wrong places. Anywayz, we all know how that ended, but the implications of his "falling in love" are quite different here. The stakes are much higher with the misunderstanding bomb looming just beyond the horizon. Gotta thank Bill again for reminding me of this. I was actually thinking about it all last week and then forgot about it.

Also, hasn't Hayate learned his lesson from observing Nagi? She won't end up in that poorhouse scenario in his head. Heck, if she needed money, she could just use her luck to become a millionaire through gambling... or just use her financial genius to make a killing in the stock market. Remember, she has luck as her superpower and she is at least mature enough to use it effectively nowadays.

Anyway, interesting stuff and no break next week, so see ya then!

Fanart Corner: Traditional media is awesome! Here are a few more stuff I've completed. Also, Hayate is totally looking at dat ass... I know I would.

Dayuuum Nagi! Drop this silly butler and choose me instead! New ship! Me x Nagi! I will serve and love you foreeeever!

Colored pencils on canvas. People warned me not to do it because it would look blurry... I don't listen to people! This one is pretty big, actually.