Teasing Master Takagi-san (2014)

[からかい上手の高木さん]

Volume 1

Author/Artist: Soichiro Yamamoto
Publisher: Gessan Shounen Sunday Comics Special

Synopsis:
A boy constantly teased by a classmate seeks to find a way to get back at her.

Story/Characters:
I really enjoyed the anime adaptation of this series, so I was more than happy to go to the original. The formula is pretty simple. Either Nishikata is trying to get one over on Takagi and his plans blow up in his face or Takagi proposes some sort of game and Nishikata's convoluted efforts to gain the advantage... blow up in his face. In a different series, this pattern would likely get old quick, but it works here because Takagi is never malicious and she never takes her pranks too far. The gentle touch makes for easy reading. I know some people might want a little more edge to their humor, but if you enjoy simple carefree slice of life, this is pitch-perfect.

The focus is primarily on Nishikata and Takagi, naturally, but we get introduced to a trio of girls who are occasionally brought in to provide an outside perspective. As you'd imagine, just about everyone else just figures our duo is going out, no matter how many flustered denials Nishikata makes.

Art:
The art style is simple yet appealing. The no-frills approach to the visuals works well with the casual, slice-of-life atmosphere of the series. Don't expect any big wild takes for the gags, just nice little low-key beats to deliver the humor. It's all really cute.

Conclusion:
When it comes to charming slice-of-life, this is a fine example. This is also one of the best examples of the teasing girl subgenre of romcoms. While there are few big laugh-out-loud moments, you can expect to be consistently amused and "d'awww" in the sweet moments. I strongly recommend adding this to your collection.

Rating:
Own It