Teasing Master Takagi-san (2017)

[からかい上手の高木さん]

Volume 7

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

Synopsis:
A look back at how Takagi and Nishikata first met.

Story/Characters:
We turn back the clock to the first day of the school year, where Nishikata encounters Takagi for the first time and she learns the joy of teasing him. Next we have the sports test, where Takagi challenges Nishikata to a contest that would appear to be tilted in Nishikata's favor, but little does he realize that it's as much psychological as it is physical. We then go back (or forward) to summer where the two are reunited after Nishikata was away on a trip and he delivers a souvenir to Takagi. After that, we have Nishikata attempt to hypnotize Takagi. Has he discovered a new powerful talent to use against his lovely tormentor? Next up, Nishikata has been saving a daifuku to ward off hunger, but he just can't resist when Takagi proposes a contest for it. We then have the two of them meeting on a hot day when Nishikata remembers that he's wearing a lame T-shirt his mom bought him and is unwilling to take off his hoodie in spite of the heat, but then a challenge comes. Next, Kitamura winning the lottery prompts Nishikata and Takagi to discuss what they would do if they won the lottery (with Takagi's plans laden with ship tease). After that, we have Nishikata forgetting his textbook and having to share with Takagi, getting all embarrassed over being so close to her. Lastly we close on a summer episode where our boy steps up like a boss. He may not realize how many points he ended up earning, but the look on Takagi's face tells you everything you need to know.

Art:
You can understand why Takagi does what she does just from the reaction shots. I particularly like some of the visual comedy from the sports test. The chapter covers warrant particular notice as well.

Conclusion:
This is another solid entry in a thoroughly pleasant series. I feel like these conclusions start to get redundant, but I recommend this for the collection just as the ones before and the ones after, I'm sure.

Rating:
Own It