Nagatoro “helps” Senpai put in his contact lenses. Senpai practices skiing to keep pace with the athletic Nagatoro.
Episode 7 – “I Figured That’s How You’d Ski, Senpai”
Hmm.
I don’t like how Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro introduces side characters. Shouldn’t we have known their names if these people had extended conversations with the main characters? We should have taken cues from how the anime waited until its second season to inform viewers of the main characters’ names. We heard “Hayacchi” from Nagatoro’s friends, but it wasn’t until later that Senpai learned Nagatoro’s full first name, “Hayase.” The same pattern happens again with Senpai’s name.
At the beginning of the Miss Nagatoro episode, Senpai’s mother calls out, “Nao-kun!” We waited until the 19th episode to find out Senpai’s nickname! Even his buddies called him that on the ski trip. And the introduction of those two guys upends everything we thought we knew about Senpai. We thought “Nao-kun” was an antisocial loner. But that was Nagatoro’s impression of him as a pervy, creepy virgin. If we had looked at how easily Senpai talked to the art club president, we would have suspected that Senpai’s trouble is facing the flashy popular kids.
The scope of Miss Nagatoro has been limited so far. We only see Senpai in the art club room and with Nagatoro’s circle of friends. During school, we’ve only seen Senpai in the art club room during lunch and after school. Does he hang out with the pair of pals we saw on the ski trip? We only know as much as Nagatoro knows. That changed in this episode. Unfortunately, we won’t get those boys’ names through dialog. I appreciate the reality of close friends not always using each other’s names, but that’s impolite to the audience. It’s also not fair! They called Senpai “Nao-kun,” as his mother did, but we didn’t pick up their names. I had to troll through the end credits to thank Takao and Hino for giving Senpai nudges about his relationship with Nagatoro. Keep it up, boys!
Heh.
What is Senpai messing with here? Whoa! Senpai’s name is… Nao-kun! How long until we find out the other parts of his given name? Aha. Senpai tried to figure out contact lenses! And now Nagatoro knows about it. Miss Nagatoro dabbles with eyeball torture. Nagatoro loves the idea of Senpai “glowing up.” It’s too late for him to make a high school debut. I want to see Senpai’s Giga Chad version! Here we go. Nagatoro’s sadism switch flipped on. It’s been a while since Nagatoro made Senpai cry! Senpai doesn’t want his eyes poked out! We’re finding out all sorts of things today. Nagatoro has an older brother too. Anitoro! Nagatoro stuck contact lenses into his eyes when he first got them. She hooked Senpai in.
Oh boy. Nagatoro is so excited to get her hands on Senpai’s face. Hahaha! Senpai is so proud not to jump when Nagatoro’s shoulder brushes his. Progress! She’ll touch something much more sensitive soon! This is not a metaphor for pegging. Next comes the leg lock tag! Senpai will never forget the moment Nagatoro sticks a finger in his eye. That was hot, Miss Nagatoro. I need a moment. Was it good for you? Aw. She made Senpai cry again. All right, round two! Yay. Look at how beautifully clear Nagatoro is with contact lenses. Clearly beautiful, too!
Hey, that’s right! Senpai can’t do his glasses adjusting calming motion anymore! He needs a different pose to look coolly detached. Miss Nagatoro loves its anime fans because it gives us megane-Nagatoro! Senpai likes! Now what, Senpai? Ahahaha!
Suddenly, we’re on a school ski trip. Did Miss Nagatoro show that contact lens interlude (where Senpai’s mother called for him) to take his glasses off and have his friends calling him “Nao-kun?” Because only Senpai’s friends would know his given name, right? That is tight writing. The Nagatoro Friends are good at skiing, as expected. Senpai’s buddies think the “popular-looking” girls are unapproachable. Yet Nao-kun has gone on a date with Sakura, visited Nagatoro’s house, and been stepped on by Gamo and Yosshii in bikinis. Living the best life! But that best life could be better if Senpai could join Nagatoro skiing. The likely scenario is Nagatoro joining Senpai on the bunny slopes.
And that just happened in front of Senpai’s nerdy friends! Will they learn about his double life with flashy gals? Otherwise known as the first season of Miss Nagatoro. Those popular junior girls know Senpai! And one of them invited him to go skiing with her! What’s going on, “Nao-kun?” Har. Senpai adjusts non-existent glasses. They think he’s going out with Nagatoro! Who wouldn’t? Just date already! At least, ski on the bunny slopes together. Ouch. Senpai skis as well as expected.
Ski practice montage! Nagatoro is patient with Senpai if he shows effort. It’s also an excuse to put her hands all over him! Aw. Senpai felt that he held Nagatoro back from having fun with her friends. His buddies want an after-action report. And more friendly nudging. This is the stuff I wanted to see for Senpai in Miss Nagatoro. Dude. A cute girl just asked him out again, and Senpai refused. Get it together! Ack. If his buddies’ peer pressure isn’t enough to push him to chase Nagatoro, the Nagatoro Friends can. Takao and Hino discovered Senpai’s secret life of gal invasion. It worked! Will Senpai ever become a “popular kid?” I doubt it. The eye-catchers recap the episode so far. I still shudder at the contact lens scene because it reminds me of A Clockwork Orange.
Night skiing. Is it safe? Oh. Look at that! Senpai can steer away from the snowbanks now. Watch out for that kid! Manly rescue! Senpai can do things well when he stops being overly critical and hesitant. Miss Nagatoro contrasts that with Nagatoro being too impulsive. And Nagatoro had to rescue Senpai! Two steps forward and one step back for Senpai’s self-esteem. But she saw him save that boy, so it’s all good. Nice. Senpai worked up the courage to ask Nagatoro to ski together. Just like she wanted! Looking at Nagatoro makes Senpai ski better. By himself, there was not much improvement.
Epilogue time for Miss Nagatoro. The art club president got into the art school of her choice. The president noticed Senpai grew in confidence about art. She credits the “cat-eared girl.” Senpai realized he didn’t know as much about Nagatoro as he would like. He has time to change that!
Next time, a mountain of boobs smothers Senpai in judo. Whose?
Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro S2 (Ijiranaide, Nagatoro-san 2nd Attack) streams on Crunchyroll and VRV.
