Episode 16: “I Won’t Lose Even If I Lose” (Maketemo Makendō)
Summary: Hayate fights with Nonohora the combat butler. But before that, Nonohora beats up Azumamiya first since his young master relies on others before trying himself, saying “if you are a man put up a fight first even if you know you’ll lose.” Hayate wonders if it’s alright for Nonohora to beat up his own master for such a thing. Himura replies that a butler has much responsibility to guide his master towards the right course, and mentions that it’s the same as Hayate accepting the challenge to fight since he wants to teach Nagi the pleasure of sports. After a few beatings have passed, Hinagiku decides to protect Azumamiya saying that while it is Nonohora’s duty to teach his master by employing his strict disciplinary actions, it is Hina’s duty to protect and help students in need as the student council president even if it’s someone who is a weak crybaby like Azumamiya. This earns Hina a vital point hit in Azumamiya’s morale.
Azumamiya then tells Nonohora that he gets now what his butler is trying to teach him. He must fight and open his own path. Therefore, Azumamiya challenges Nagi saying it’s butler vs. butler and master vs. master. Hayate and the other Kendo club members are doubtful that this is what Nonohora meant to teach his master, but to their surprise, Nonohora agrees with Azumamiya’s decision and seems proud that Azu is learning. However, Hina intervenes and fights in Nagi’s place saying that it will be dangerous for Nagi since she’s had no practice whatsoever, more so if 2 people (Nagi and Azumamiya) with lack of kendo skills put up a match it will just injure both of them. Hayate notes that Hina keeps hitting Azumamiya’s vital points with her comments without even trying. Therefore, the fight is now between Hina vs. Azumamiya and Hayate vs. Nonohora.
Hina beats Azu without much effort. Nonohora fights Hayate using his “ultimate move.” Hina asks what that fiery move was that struck Hayate. Himura replies that a professional Butler should posses at least 1 or 2 ultimate moves and that it’s actually quite unlikely that a butler does not have one. Nagi asks if it’s like the special fight moves in from computer games but without the complicated commands. Hayate realizes that this is how a professional butler should be like. He notes that he won’t be able to learn an ultimate move on such short notice and that it takes a full episode to learn one. He wonders what strategy he must do in order to counter Nonohora’s ultimate move.
Himura then says that a butler is not fulfilling his responsibilities when he cannot see trash on the floor. This gives Hayate an idea. He sees Azumamiya lying on the ground (after being beaten by Hina) and takes Himura’s comment literally. As Nonohora attacks with his ultimate move, Hayate uses Azu as a shield resulting in Azu receiving the full blow while Hayate uses the opportunity to strike Nonohora from behind, allowing Hayate to win the match. Nonohora compliments Hayate for the nice strategy. Hayate modestly brushes this off and says he merely took advantage of Nonohora’s moment of shock in seeing Azu and says he only used the ninja move in using a substitute. Nonohora says he’ll be happy to fight Hayate again whenever he has his own ultimate move ready.
Hina and Hayate asks Nagi if she’ll be returning to kendo club. Nagi says she thought they both looked really cool fighting but that she won’t be returning to kendo club because the head protectors stink and she can’t imagine herself wearing it and that it’s more of a hindrance than a protector. Hina gets pissed off with this comment and hits Nagi. Hina later asks Hayate if he’d be joining kendo club as he needs to learn fighting skills and offers to help him with training. Before Hayate can answer, Nagi calls Hayate, Hina assumes he won’t be able to join the club then and tells Hayate to make sure he shows her the ultimate move when he learns it.
Back home, Hayate thanks Maria once more for being able to attend school again. Maria asks how was his day at school. Hayate says he now realizes that school is important in learning how to be a proper butler and that he learned today about what being a professional butler is about. Nagi then calls Hayate and thanks him for fighting for her. As a token of her gratitude, she made Hayate a “Tiger Den” where he could train for his ultimate move. Hayate enters and finds Tama inside, noting that he knew it’d be him waiting in the Tiger Den. Tama says it wasn’t his choice either then starts to attack Hayate for training.
~ end of main episode story.
There are a few short skits/parodies after this main story: There’s Klaus imitating a few people; Izumi riding a train looking outside the window while we see reflections of prominent characters passing by; a parody of something involving a puppy with Hayate and Tama; a “house exploration” with Klaus commenting on pillars, craftsmanship, lighting in the Sanzenin mansion; then lastly, Nagi and her facial expressions while reading manga quietly.
~ end of episode.
My Impression: There’s a bunch of references, as usual, but I only caught a few including something related to the computer game Streetfighter, mentioning Ryu. There’s also some reference with the kendo gear that I wasn’t able to identify from which anime or manga. There’s a mention of Optimus Prime from the Transformers in the Klaus skit. There’s a number of references in the skit, but I am unable to identify much of them. (I apologize for my lack of knowledge in the parody and reference stuff… Gomen!)
There were funny moments in this episode. I particularly liked the comments by Hina hitting vital points in Azu. Episodes with Hina are always fun to watch. However, it’s not exactly one of my favorite episodes. For me, the skits after the main story seemed sort of “fillers” until the whole timeslot was finished. It was nice to see Isumi again, though, but with me being completely clueless with most of the references made in the skit, I really didn’t find it that amusing. The only part I liked with the skits is the one where Nagi is quietly reading the manga. It was cute to see her changing facial expressions as she goes through the pages of what she was reading.
Next episode: Nagi frets about not having enough life experience, so she attempts to gain by being a maid in the mansion.
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