Haite Kudasai, Takamine-san

UPDATE: I've now read up to chapter 11, and even though this story is still ridiculous, I've gotten used to it and it's gotten better. The chance for the author to save itself in writing a romance is slim, but it's there and it's working towards that. So my hopes are high.

Right off the bat, if you're looking for a comedic ecchi that has you laughing and getting turned on at the same time, this isn't it. You're going to be rolling your eyes more than anything. The first chapter essentially sets up the entire plot. When you read it you're going to absolutely die from wondering how in the hell does someone come up with this shit. So you're probably asking yourself "Then why did you keep reading it".. Well I have to give everything a shot. Listen, Darling in the Franxx had some of the most cringey 6 starting episodes but guess who stuck through it and cried like a bitch at the end of the season? My point is I hoped it got better, and I would say it did. You begin to see a sort of interesting dynamic between the two main characters. I'm going to keep reading to see where the author wants to lead this whole story, but I will remain firm (and I'm sure many others will too) that the plot itself is just ridiculous.

As you can see, I was interested due to the fact there was actually a character development. Thank you, finally. But you get to the ettchi and nude scenes that create an unpleasant experience. Yes, it may be male dominant as we like female body parts to satisfy us. However, it wasn’t why I liked it. This is why there is certain misconceptions to my manga reading. I read it to understand the perspective on different manga and not to be close minded to hyped and jump on the bandwagon because those who appeal to those will be viewed as ‘normal’. However, I came to read this to understand what type of synopsis can be created to make manga actually interesting. I guess I got into the manga and came out with a wrong perspective because of my sucked in mentality to female protagonists. But a clear mind I can say this is a good/bad manga.

I can say it’s good because of the unique art style it has, with the way they draw the female characters make them actually beautiful. I can say that it’s sort of a way for males to appeal to their erotic fantasies, but the fact still stands that they conveyed a very realistic drawing of characters. This author knew the anatomy of females and created a fantastic artwork. The second point to why this is a good manga is the character development. I guess I like manga/anime when there is not always an ongoing trend but a twist to each part which keeps the manga engaging. Although it is more towards a very erotic view, well I guess cause the synopsis wouldn’t continue if that doesn’t happen. I can stand firm and say this character development is better than most of the etcci manga/anime which are out there so good on them for doing that.

Now on to the bad things about this manga. There are a few but I’ll break down into different reasons which are obvious.
1) Too much erotic scenes
I get that it’s etcci but come-on, it is hard to concentrate with the plot continuing this trend of nudity but in some cases they do it for comedy sake, but this is for the plot. Let me be clear, the plot. I can say that it is alright to have a few shots here and there but almost each part has the MC having fantasies over the female protagonist which is hard to view it at the end.
2) Lack of creativity
As this is kind of linking to the first point, but it’s still valid. There is no doubt that the creativity in this is too much. I mean there is no denying that there are worst ones out there, I mean there is a weird adaptation of a manga which I will disclose for now. I mean it is kind of new, but the fact is people are going to be looking and seeing that this is just a plot to let those who want a bit of peak into the erotic fantasies of women. Man, that is low, I mean it sort of made others lurk into the manga.

I mean I am showing this because I want to explain to those who are in situations where they are being judged for, for reading there type of manga’s, but I am clearing the air to show that as a manga/anime reviewer, I want to break the stereotype of those who read these are perverts. I have reasons and I do read and watch to learn and develop different perspectives on manga and anime. It helps me grow and develop more anime/manga knowledge. I think I want to make it clear to all that it is alright to see these once in a while, I guess it is not to hide into a shadow because of reading these.

So with only 8 Chapters out I have to give this a 6/10 overall but I don't see its potential going above an 8/10 and this is best case scenario.

The set up is ludicrous mostly because for some unexplained reason everyone remains oblivious to the MC dressing the female lead in her underwear even when it is the middle of class. For the rest it's kind of funny and interesting but you have to get past the first two chapters. However, past that the plot has a lot more to do with the character dynamics and the development of the MC from the lowest of the lowest in academic and physical ability to someone who will probably reach the top. How the plot will develop seems to be pretty obvious. The MC will gain confidence and ability thanks to the help of the female lead and in the end they will end up dating. No big surprise. Maybe her future fixing abilities will come into play as in Mirai Niki like this isn't the first time she has co-opted the MC into spending time with her.

The art is the best thing so far. It is not exceptional but a strong 8/10.

Character 7/10.
MC is bland so far but will gain a lot of development as that seems to be the central plot line. The Female lead is interesting but kind of cliché.

I'd give this a read as it is kind of entertaining but it is far from a masterpiece.

I wrote this review 8 chapters in; the series is still ongoing at this point and there are no further chapters.

I will say the first chapter is absolutely the worst of all and the setup is ridiculous; I can see how many would be turned off by the events in the first chapter which portray Takamine as extremely unlikable — later characterization is far more favorable and he seems to have a definite soft-spot for Sirota whom he treats with a lot of tough love, but definitely with love and guides him into improving himself. His warped actions in the first chapter can be wished away by that he was never serious about it and felt he needed to push Sirota over the edge for both his own -, and the latter's best interest.

Sirota starts out and largely remains your typical faceless, spineless, male perspective character. Though in this case a couple of things deviate from the norm: he is not "perfectly average"; he is "dismal at everything"; he is so much worse than average. He is also not "oblivious to love"; he is very much aware of Takamine's flirtatious behavior, but is doubtful and sceptical of them after the latter's actions in the first chapter; this, I feel, interestingly justifies them from a storytelling device, because all too often we have a perspective character that is obnoxiously oblivious to romantic signals that the audience is completely unaware of — in this case he is completely aware; he simply does not trust Takamine and reasonably so.

Takamine as a foil to this as character is supposedly "perfect" and admired, excellent in all things. The dynamic he has with Sirota is somewhat in between that of a tough-love parent and a romantic interest. It is clear that Takamine has had romantic feelings for Sirota for a long time, and an explanation therefore is given; Takamine acts in a sexually provocative — albeit often quite sadistic way — exploiting Sirota's nice-guy personality, reads him like a book, and plays him like a violin — nevertheless along the way giving him greater confidence in himself and having him achieve things.

The art is very good; there's no denying that. Though I personally find none of the characters particularly æsthetic, that is but a personal taste.

I started reading this series thinking that it was terrible but it got progressively better; the first chapter as said is very off-putting and portrays it as brainless fan-service, but the further one goes into the story the more complexity to both characters is revealed. Judge it not on the first chapter alone.

Story: 2

It boils down to a confusing mess of manipulation, infatuation, arrogance, and fetishes. This plot is held together by the bare minimum. If the beginning was removed, I would have enjoyed this more. The plot moves forward somewhat, but it's still tainted by what the girl did to the guy in the beginning.

Art: 7

The art is the best part of this. Great ecchi, and the rest looks good.

Character: 3

There's some character development that makes the characters both more and less likeable. My respect for the MC keeps going up and down, but I like the FMC less and less every chapter. Their "relationship" is painful to see.

Enjoyment: 2

If I'd read the reviews first, I would have avoided this. If there was some retribution, I would have gotten some enjoyment out of this, but there's none in sight. I read the 11 chapters and ended up feeling burned out.

Overall: 3.5

Unless you like emotionally abusive femdom, don't read this. Skim through it for the ecchi shots and forget the rest.

Before reading further, wash yourself the soylent and saltiness of many other reviewers giving an score lower than 5. They're upset because the artist gave a free NTR innuendo on later chapters (around 14-16) but those people can't understand that was a joke.

Please put these on, Takamine-san is one of the recent manga created by Yuuichi Hiiragi, the hype it takes on the firsts chapters is because it's a story about a high schooler boy (Shirota Takashi) that has the worse grades, not popular and in the end your useless main character, now for some reason he likes the best girl at school, Takamine Takane, and for some reason he discovers she has a secret that can rewind the time so she can become the godly student she is.
Story at all is pretty much inexistent, because for some circumstances our boy Shirota becomes "her closet" and everytime she asks he had to put on her some underwear that is part of her secret time rewind power. On the latest chapters you can see there's a reason they're together and not only because he discovered her, but if there wasn't a reason a all the story would go around on them anyways.

Art for most of the chapters is about how perfect Hiiragi can draw her heroine, so most of the time is hard to find an appeal on the surroundings because the focus is about Takamine on a sexy pose, taking off her underwear or wearing some sexy and kinky lingerie stuff. Background characters are some rare to appear on chapters (until the 17th, you can see there's some new character), you'll see most of the time interactions on Takamine and her closet in some ecchi situations, and that's great.

Characters personality are simple about themselves, the classic main character that is useless and spineless at life and for some reason Takamine is helping to grow as person and learning that life is not about having it easy but more about working hard. And Takamine being more of a bossy and perfect character that give us some interesting pace and secret reasons and feelings for Shirota-kun. Interactions are only between both of them, and because of that you'll feel the chapters are stale and repetitive, and thinking the only thing salvaging the manga is the sexy stuff Takamine pulls each chapter as fap material, after some chapters the author is trying to give more than just fan service so if you're still reading then keep it up you won't be displeased.

Enjoyment is subjective and for a monthly release of this story is a nice dessert after a hard day at work or study. I find it a nice short story and by the looks of it is short enough so people can read it later if they miss it.

Overall if you're looking for a manga about some slice of life with some ecchi interactions then Haite Kudasai Takamine san is your pick for a while, and I'd suggest you to get in twitter and follow the authors for some clean Takamine san drawings.
If you're looking for some serious slice of life, some battle manga and / or somewhat stuff like a very romantic story then I'd ask you to find something else.