Hayate The Combat Butler Chapter 560: Final Chapter 12: Broken Mirror -- Synopsis and Review

I like how desperate Hayate is to search for Nagi in this chapter. Also, broken mirror seems to be an allusion to the sinking of S.S. Hamster.

We're at December 23, apparently. One day to go in the story before the big finale... and I'm not sure if Shun kidnapped Nagi or if she ran away on her own. I'd like to believe it was her choice to disappear. We'll see...

The final chapter of THEIR STORY, fools!

Synopsis: Final Chapter 12: Broken Mirror

At Hakuo Academy and Hisui's Final Battle

SOmehow, it's finally finished

Isumi: With this, we can stalk whoever opens the path to the Royal Garden from here.

A-tan: YESSSS

Sakuya: Ah yeah, we can definitely get some detailed info with this but... is this ok?

Isumi: Why, wazzup?

Isumi: It's fine. There's nothing we can't see using this right now. We'll definitely see when the path opens.

Sakuya: It's not about that. This is the finale so let's not carried away, k?

Sakuya: But, you can see inside, but what about communication?

Isumi:S'wright, We got that too. We'll be using that.

Sakuya: ....

Hayate's so happy to see dad again~

Sakuya: Is this thing safe?

Isumi: S'awright. using this, you can speak directly through your consciousness.

Sakuya: I see but... sorry for complaining but I dun get it.

Isumi: Anywayz, just try the earphones on.

Sakuya: oh, sugoi! The words are echoed directly from your head.

Isumi: and with this helmet on, the output is increased.

Sakuya: Oh, I'm getting an image. This is some great VR stuff.

Isumi: Anywayz, Hayate should have one of these earphones too.

Sakuya: yearh

A-tan: We can even find our enemy's location.

Ayumu: Ha... tomorrow is Christmas Eve huh?

Ayumu: Hakuo Academy's Christmas Party is coming up huh?

A few days ago...

Ayumu: Eh, a Christmas Party to lift Nagi-chan's spirits?

Hina: Well, it's not just that but...

Chiharu: It turned into something big.

Hina: Will you come, Ayumu? YOu're more than welcome.

Ayumu: Eh?

Chiharu: Ruka's coming too.

This is a normal greeting in the Ayasaki Household.

Ayumu: Th-thank you but I... have prior engagements.

Ayumu: What should I do... I wonder.

Ayumu: No... there's nothing that I can do.

Hayate: Nishizawa-san!

Hayate: Sorry, but about Christmas Eve...

Ayumu: There's Nagi-chan's party at Hakuo, right?

Hayate: Eh? Ah, yeah, that's it.

Hayate: And I don't think I can go with you guys.

Hayate: Sorry...

Ayumu: Eventually... things fall into place.

Many things have happened over the past year. On that day that I went looking for Hayate-kun, that was the day that Hayate-kun met Nagi-chan for the fisrt time.

Eventually, the future came closer.

Athena's flashback: When I looked into his eyes, I understood. I was no longer reflected in his eyes.

Ayumu: It's ok. Do your best to cheer up Nagi-chan. Have fun!

Ayumu: Anyway, I'll be going back to my Parents' home for Christmas Vaction. Bye Bye, Hayate-kun!

Ayumu: I wonder what it was... I wonder what it was about this past year for me...

Ruka: Now everyone! Lez get excited!

Fumi: Uwaaa! Sharna-chan Sharna Chan! Somehow, this is really exciting!

Fumi: I gotta take a pic of me with this bamboo sword or somethin (dunno what she's talkin about but it's some nonsense)

Sharna: Stahp it... just stahp!

Hina: WAIT! WTF IS UP WITH THIS COSTUME!

Miki: Someone had to be santa, right?

Izumi: Hina-chan kawaii!

Chiharu: Dude, we even got fireworks now?

Kayura: Dat overflowing wealth!

Hayate: Excuse me! BUT HAS ANYONE SEEN MAI OJOU-SAMA!?

Hayate: She said she'd go to the bathroom but she suddenly disappeared!

Hina: Eh? How about her phone!?

Hayate: I can't get through to it.

Kayura: Maybe she went home?

Chiharu: I guess it's possible.

Chiharu: It can't be helped. I'll check the apartment. Ayasaki, you go to the mansion.

Hayate: HAI!

Hayate: Ojou-sama...

Klaus: This is bad! I know where Hisui is!

Athena: Eh?

Mikado: Well, spill it! Where?

Klaus: RIGHT ABOVE US!

Himegami: Once, that old man used that unlucky guy's misfortune to open the road.

Hisui: In this party, there's bound to be such a person, right?

Isumi: A friggin airship?

Mikado: Not only that... that is...

Hisui: Well then are you comin?

Hisui: Oh hai guyz? Didja miss me?

Himegami: I suppose

Inside of that thing is the king's jewel

It can collect an innumerable amount of negative emotions therefore...

Butler guy: Sakuya-sama! That king's jewel above is opening the path!

Sakuya in virgin-killing sweater: WHAT!?

Isumi: They're forcing it open---


Peoples: Uwaaa...

Peoples 2: wtf is that?

Saki: Projection mapping?

Wataru: Awesome...

Hisui: Well then, sorry to barge in~

Isumi: I shall exterminate thee!

Hayate: Ojou-sama!

Hayate: ..... she's not here...

Hayate: Chiharu-san... how about there?

Chiharu: Well over here... 

Shun: Well, well... isn't it the party today?

Chiharu: Ah...

Chiharu: Well, Nagi disappeared...

Shun: Eh? Well, that's not good.

Shun: If that's the case, then I'll help look too.

Hayate's dad totally deserved it...maybe?

Chiharu: Thanks, sorry for the bother.

Hayate: Chiharu-san, where's ojou-tama~?

Chiharu: Ayasaki-kun... this is-

Hayate: Chiharu-san: OUTTA THE WAY!

Chiharu: Eh?

Chiharu: Wait...

Chiharu: What are you doing, Ayasaki kun?

Hayate: What am I doing?

Chiharu: Hah?

Hayate: What are you... what are you doing here...

Hayate: What have you done, dad!

Chiharu: ...... eh....?

Shun: Ah... I've been found out.

Text: Together with Chiharu is... Hayate's dad? Next issue: SHOCK!

Review: All right... kid's gloves off. The other ships have no qualms about criticizing our ship left and right, so I'm gonna speak my mind without reservations as well in this review -- not that I plan to criticize other ships though. We're better than that -- we've always been.

Well, we're certainly moving at a fast pace. From December 10 in the previous chapter, it would seem we're already at December 23 if we go by Ayumu's declarations.

Anyway, several important things were revealed in this chapter. First of all...

Called It On Redevelopment/Real Estate Guy = Shun Ayasaki

Like I predicted in chapter 555, The real estate guy trying to buy the Violet Mansion for his company really was Shun Ayasaki AKA Hayate's dad... as Hayate has so accurately PUNCHED the statement home in this chapter.

Ahem... I love it when I'm right~

Now it's pretty easy to take a wild guess and say that Nagi's disappearance was because Shun kidnapped her, but I don't really think so. I'd like to believe that Nagi willed herself to "disappear" from Hayate's sight for a while. For what reasons? Well, there are a number of possible reasons, but let's wait for the manga to clarify this point.

The reason I want to believe this is partly because I want Shun Ayasaki to be a reformed man... or at least one who is trying in this manga. I mean, if an assassin who killed hundreds of people in the Tokugawa Era could reform himself as a mild-mannered defender of justice in the Meiji Era... why can't Hayate's parents -- or at least his dad do the same?

The other reason is because of a theory put out first by meandanime in the comments section: Hayate might learn about forgiveness from Nagi's love for him. Recall Nagi's closing statements in CTMEOY: 

"When you're together, there will always be misunderstandings, but real love doesn't succumb to misunderstandings. Forgiving someone and being forgiven. That's what binds people together... and that's what the story is all about."

In other words, I want Nagi to have one last moment of awesome before this manga ends... and I'm sure Hata-sensei won't disappoint in this regard.

To Forgive And Be Better For It

Also, even if Hayate's dad hasn't reformed, I still want Hayate to learn to forgive him... from Nagi. After all, that's one way of moving on -- a concept that many people have a hard time coming to terms with. Forgiveness isn't about the other person, it's about Hayate himself accepting that what has happened (some things when broken can never be repaired) is the past and that he is better than his past self. This would also prove that his dad -- his parents, can no longer affect him, no matter what they do, they have no more power over him: this is what forgiveness is all about.

On "Hata-Sensei" Is Rushing It
Based on the pacing of the last few chapters, there is definitely that rushed feel to the story -- but let's not condemn Hata for something he hasn't done yet -- and that is: write an unsatisfactory ending. Just because the story seems rushed right now doesn't mean that at least the core plot (core story IMO being what happens to Hayate and Nagi and not your King's Jewel's intricacies, sorry) won't be resolved satisfactorily.

I believe based on ma-- errr... some anonymous commenter's response that there is still time to set off the "bomb between them" and go into a final "within the Royal Garden" mini-arc to end things with a bang.

Truth be told, there are lots of ways that Hata can botch this up, but right now, he still hasn't -- so let's not condemn him for it. If you truly support this manga, let's stop the hate. (especially the hate against OUR ship)

On Kanzaki = Yukariko With Amnesia
There is some faint possibility to this theory -- but I would call this sort of development quite cheap. It would also destroy all the developments so far with Nagi's independence and Maria's acknowledgment of said independence with her act of departure... which brings me to my next point.

On Maria's "Irresponsible" Departure

On one hand, based on Nagi's current depression, we could call Maria's sudden unannounced departure quite irresponsible. On the other hand, another way of seeing it is that she is the one who has been closest to Nagi -- arguably even more than Hayate. She has witnessed Nagi's incredible growth and transformation over the past year. So definitely, she probably knows Nagi a lot more than we give her credit for. It might seem like her decision was irresponsible right now, but it can also be seen as her final act of trust and acknowledgment of Nagi's growth. She trusts that Nagi will be fine even if she does this. Yes, she might have to cope with the pain of loss for a while, but Nagi has already proven her strength of character  -- and perhaps this is what spurred Maria's decision to leave; because she had faith that her ward is much better than most people give her credit for -- much better than most readers of this manga give her credit for.

Just because Nagi looks depressed right now doesn't mean she's totally regressed to the way she was in the past. People don't work that way. I trust Hata-sensei at least knows this much. If you've been reading this manga for years, shouldn't you at least put a little faith in the author when he hasn't even finished it yet?

I am presenting another side of the coin -- another way of interpreting her actions. How you view it is up to you -- I choose to be positive. You may blame Hata for being a horrible, horrible writer all you like if it helps you sleep better at night.

Something I Didn't Notice Before

Credits to Roop Banerjee for finding this. This is great stuff and is based on things actually in the manga as opposed to interpretations of stuff in the manga -- which a lot of people seem to have a habit of doing.

" I just realized that for every romantic moment that hayate has spent with the girls, there has been a parallel moment that he spent with nagi. The rooftop scene with hinagiku at the clocktower is similar to the rooftop scene with nagi at sakuya's house. After the conclusion of ruka arc, the moment hayate spent with ruka was similar to the one he spent with nagi. Even the titles of the chapters were the same." - Roop Banerjee January 26, 2017 at 6:24 AM

Chapters 58,145,146 (Distance)
Chapters 430 and 432 (Shining Brightly)
Chapters 218 and 459 (Stone of Bonds)
There are many more examples like this as well as chapters with almost same titles.
Chapter 427 (No Regrets) and Chapter 537 (Last Regrets)
Chapter 2 (In English, Unmei means destiny) and Chapter 280 (Destiny)
Chapter 211 (Radical Dreamers) and Chapter 538 (Forever Dreamer)

Bye, Hamster! You were a nice Hamster till the end.

Sinking Ayumu's Ship

Ayumu's ship was sunk rather unceremoniously. Also, she gave the nod to Nagi by thinking about Athena's words and making the connection that Hayate met Nagi on the day that Ayumu went searching for him. By the way, Christmas Eve is the most romantic day in Japan. I think we have more than enough of these "random moments" which seem to be meant to develop the groundwork for Hayate x Nagi --- to at least speculate that these are actually NOT SO RANDOM MOMENTS intentionally written in by Hata-sensei and intentionally littered throughout key moments in the manga.

Yes, Hayate never saw Nagi as a romantic prospect in any of these moments -- AGAIN, must I repeat myself over 9000 times that this is an intentional plot design intended to distinguish Nagi from everyone else? The ROMANTIC GROUNDWORK or SCAFFOLDING or SUPPORT PILLARS or FOUNDATION or whatever the fudge you want to call it, doesn't necessarily have to consist of lovey dovey moments of Hayate going all gaga for Nagi (this is me, btw). They just have to logically lay out the FRAMEWORK for an ending that supports the assumption that Oh... I dunno... maybe...perhaps...somewhat...by some twist of fate... Hayate might see Nagi as a girl sometime? Yeah, that's all we Nagi shippers need. Not the lovey dovey ideal moments of smoochie woochies that you have in your head as the ideal "ONE TRUE LOVE" scenario.

Hayate Doesn't Know How He Feels About Nagi

Again, this has been going on since the level 5 arc. Hayate felt that something was off about their relationship. The narration explicitly said that "they lack love." More accurately, they lacked reciprocal romantic love because Hayate never reciprocated Nagi's romantic love for him.

So right now, again, I present another side of the same coin. You say that Hayate only sees Nagi as a sister? I say Hayate doesn't know how he feels about Nagi because he's never reflected on her initial "confession" through her manga and even after knowing about the misunderstanding through Chiharu. Hayate is being evasive about Nagi's feelings and that is why we see all these moments of confusion from him. You say it's only because he feels guilty? My friend, what a wonderful story you have in your head... I'm being sarcastic, just in case you don't get it.

On Hisui's Attack

One thing that surprised me about Hisui's attack is that we all thought that the final battle already happened -- but it seems she really didn't do anything until now.

Also, it's very surprising that Hisui hasn't considered the possibility that Nagi could open the path. She's had Yozora stalking Nagi and company since forever, so one would think she might know about the misunderstanding -- but this doesn't look to be the case. Either that or she doesn't want to hurt Nagi in the process of acquiring everything for herself.

In any case, it looks like she's almost succeeding in opening the path to the Royal Garden -- now... there does not seem to be an "explosion of negative emotions" just yet, so Nagi and Hayate's own bomb is still set to go off. Nagi still has that King's Jewel that Wataru gave her after all.

Conclusions

To end things on a positive note, I'd like to believe that Hayate no Gotoku! Is actually a formulaic love story -- something that people coming in with all kinds of unrealistic expectations can't seem to accept. IMO it's a lot closer to stuff like Urusei Yatsura and Inu Yasha from Rumiko Takahashi. There can be ships, but the author makes it clear who the one true pair should be from the start. Reading back on Hayate no Gotoku! The key moments of awesome are always reserved for Nagi and Hayate always treats Nagi special (YES I know you'll hit me with your plates of platonic again) and I mean very special when compared to all the other ROMANTIC PROSPECTS in his life. This HAS to be intentional somehow if it's been happening since the start of the manga, right?

Anyway, I'd like to believe that amidst the fan pandering of the Prisma Illya's and the Yuri on Ice's, the full-blown harem antics of the To Love Ru's and the Nisekoi's, there is still a place for the simple boy meets girl love story with a little twist that is Hayate no Gotoku!

Fanart Corner: Yeah, I've got quite a few today including another one drawn for me for Valentine's day by Denzil.

Thanks again, Denzil! I can only dream that she'd even look my way~

I'm buying this figure when it's available. PREORDER OF COURSE!

Nagi makin this virgin-killing sweater look cute~

AMV Corner: I'm adding in this AMV made by a friend of mine here. It's so rare to see a Hayate x Nagi AMV after all.