Manga 110737 Ijiranaide Nagatoro-san Reviews

First off: I want you to ignore every single person who says this manga is about bullying/has bullying. It does not. If you do not think there is any attraction in being submissive to a dominant woman, you will not enjoy this manga. If you do not see Eroticism in humiliation/teasing, this is not for you. And thats fine! Not every piece of media is meant for every person.

Now, this manga is about a D/s relationship. It's not inherently obvious to the fact, because the characters do not look like stereotypes. Or at least, Nagatoro does not. Typically, in anime, most dominant women are ... tall, sexy, bombshells, etc. They usually have whips, or whatever stereotypical thing you can think of.

Likewise, anime has something I like to call "fake dominants". These are women with the outward characteristics of dominant women, yet are actually submissive at heart, and simply need to be "broken in" by the right man. A good example of this is Haruhi Suzumiya. She is demanding, strong willed, and takes charge, but she is still seen as something for Kyon to tame. She is weak in front of the man she loves. This is generally why I dislike the tsundere trope.

Now, why did I preface this review with all these extraneous details?
That is because this character, Nagatoro, is a true S type. A dom character if I have ever seen one. She does not hold her tongue, nor is she ever seen as "in the wrong" for doing what she does. And while it's not inherently clear from chapter one, the main male character does enjoy this.

Now, let's get into the general aspects of the work.

Story: 6
It's nothing much. Serviceable. The setting is simply a school, used as a vehicle for various scenarios between the two main characters. The story is nothing you haven't seen before; various comedy moments with small moments of character development every couple of chapters. Simple, straight forward.

Art: 8
I've had previous experience with this artists work, mainly in the form of doujins. I can say that this work is his best, artistically, yet. The anatomy is more consistent and accurate then usual, which is great to see. Beyond that, his expressions are some of the best i've seen in years. Full of life and character, it's honestly very inspiring to me as an artist. The character design for Nagatoro is fantastic. She's adorable in every way. The MC, who only goes by Senpai, is cute enough to be able to self-insert on.. though I wouldn't call him just that exactly. Anyway, point is, the art is adorable, and it's a great step forward for the mangaka compared to his previous works.

Character: 10
This is where this manga shines for me. Nagatoro is... perfect. It's rare that I ever feel that I relate to a character, but oh my goodness, Nagatoro is pure condensed sadism. She drives the MC to points of crying, and never once is she put down for it, outside of when she /does/ go to far. And when she does, she apologies. Yet even through her apologies, she still /knows/ that the MC wants more, and will continue her teasing in a more appropriate way. A never once does the mangaka pull back on the reigns. Nagatoro is always in control, and is there to be served/to tease her senpai. As it should be.

As for the senpai character, he's not so bad either. He certainly activates my "cute timid boy I would tease" feelings. His expressions are wonderful. But he's not simply a character to be pushed around. He has goals and things he would like to accomplish. It is because he has passions deep inside for his craft, which leads Nagatoro to take interest in him. The MC has a history of bullying/repression in his past, which isn't at all uncommon in many submissives who turn to being dominated. I won't get into psychological reasons, but BDSM in general can be therapeutic. Because he has yet to accept his desire to be dominated/humiliated, he still mentally pushes back against Nagatoro, but we all know he doesn't mean it, and would be extremely lonely without her. That said, it's more common for submissives to throw themselves wholeheartedly into desiring humiliation/teasing.

Nagatoro always knows that what she's doing is extreme. She brings it up various times in the manga, saying to the MC "aren't I doing some pretty mean stuff?". The MC mumbles in response, as he do not truly desire her to stop. Nagatoro knows this, so she gleefully keeps up their dynamic. There is nothing in this relationship between characters that is NOT consensual.

Enjoyment: 10
Well, I certainly enjoy it. Your mileage may vary depending on how willing you are to accept that Nagatoro's teasing of her senpai is erotic and very much wanted by her senpai, even though he "resists" a bit.

Overall: 9
Personally, I love love love this manga. Can I recommend it to most people? Not really. You have to inherently accept some level of BDSM kink. Due to this barrier to entry, It's going to stay a niche series, but as someone firmly in that niche, I would highly recommend it. Do you like to see cute boys crying in embarrassment from merciless teasing? Do you like to see a cute, small character in control and dominating a boy? Then this is the series made for you! I give it a 9 though because some people still get antsy when series have minimal romantic progress, and this series is more about Nagatoro various methods of teasing her Senpai, rather then growing a relationship within a plot.

EDIT 3-16-2021: Now that a lot of time has passed since I wrote this review, I would like to give my two cents on the direction of the manga since those early few chapters. The manga has broken away from a simple sketch routine of every chapter being more or less a one off situation, and has taken to genuinely develop its characters and their relationships. The characters honestly like each other and enjoy the company of one another. Senpai wants to be around Nagatoro, and Nagatoro wants to be around Senpai. That is very refreshing in this genre, as male protags often act very aloof and go out of their way to mean to the main girl in order to get them to 'leave them alone'. Senpai has said at various points that he wants Nagatoro to stay with him and for them to continue to have fun together. I would honestly Senpai and his development have made him my favorite character in this series. This series has a lot to offer and I hope people would give it a chance as the early chapters aren't full representative of where the manga is now.

The bullying has been reigned back a lot now that Nagatoro and Senpai are more or less 'equals' to each other, verses Nagatoro more or less having the upper hand in all interactions. Your mileage may actually vary on this; I won't lie and say I do miss some of the more 'intense' teasing but given the fact the manga has become much more mainstream, it does make sense. If Nagatoro's earlier behavior turned you off, I would say it does get turned down a lot, so give it another try :)

Wow, I did not like this.
I expected something cute and funny where a kouhai would make fun of her senpai because she likes him but shit, this is real bullying. This is like GTO level bullying minus the fun parts and Onizuka-sensei bringing justice for the bullied.

For a romcom whose sole purpose is to make me laugh and swoon over the Nagatoro and Senpai's relationship, it failed. This actually disgusted me. I forced myself to finish the nine chapters that were out just to see if it could get better. Surely, there are romantic feelings between the two of them but love does not pardon ... the attitude. This is one of these mangas that send the wrong message: it's okay to bully if it's to someone you like.
Well, here's one for you: it's never okay to bully. Not your crush, your romantic partner, your friend, your classmate, anyone.

From this, I get the story is meant to evolve and develop a cute romantic relationship but no matter under which angle I take this, I can't see it being healthy in the future. This manga has no humor weight or deep meaning, it feels like it's only a way for abusive comportment in romantic couples to be romanticized. If this manga had as a purpose to expose Nagatoro's journey to redemption like Shouka from A Silent Voice, it would have given more depth to the characters. I'm persuaded the story would have found a better place in the drama category. However, this is not the case. And as a comedy, I did not even smile.

As for now, we're stuck in some kind of episodic trash where Nagatoro makes fun of everything her senpai likes or even humiliates his feelings. What infuriates me most is senpai attitude. It's like babysitting kids; you got to imposes limits or else, the kids will be nightmares with you. But senpai says nothing and lets himself be bullied so the story becomes repetitive overall. They both suck as manga characters and they both suck as human beings. In that case, sorry to say, they deserve each other.

The only redeeming point of this manga is the aesthetics. The faces, the chara design, the overall art is very dynamic. Sadly, it gets quickly redundant since they both always make the same expressions and nothing really happens. I think it's better for the mangaka to go back drawing hentai because this story as a romcom brings me no interest, it has no comedic values nor romantic depth. If that was his shot at becoming a 'serious' mangaka let's say, well it failed.
Do not recommend.
Will not finish.

Will cut right to the point here, this manga is relatively new but I'm getting quite a bit out of it.

Art: 10/10
Ridiculous quality.
The Mangaka is quick to capture the nuances of what makes anime successful: Cute, relatable, yet exaggerated expressions, anatomical consistency, and lowering the detail for funnier moments.
All executed flawlessly, in my opinion.


Characters: 8-10
Both characters are quite cute, and are designed quite well.
... As mentioned with the story, I sincerely hope the Mangaka gives the story a good payoff, it would be a shame to see this end with Senpai legitimately suffering.


Enjoyment: 7-10

Personally, I'm really not enjoying the lack of development.
I somewhat have the ability to look past this and enjoy how Nagatoro expresses her interest in Senpai in the form of bullying.
It;s hinting at tension......we just haven't seen it resolve yet.
Keeping fingers crossed.


Story: 6-10

It offers an initially cruel take on the teasing trope, where you legitimately think Nagatoro wants to make Senpai miserable, but eventually there's..moments.
Moments that make it quite clear that she has care/feelings for Senpai
(The art has her blush only around MC, she blatantly follows him, she only teases Senpai but shows blatant bashfulness at times.
The reason I made this a 6-10 is simply the fact that is doesn't seem to be developing at all, suffering a similar fate Takagi-San has.
With a story like this, you want to show a progression of their relationship that heads SOMEWHERE, so you're at least showing that the story has a direction.
Otherwise, every chapter feels the same....and in this case, it really does.


Overall it's a solid 7-10, cute art and equally flawed characters make a cute but...it's REALLY hard to look past the lack of development this story has.
I feel the Mangaka is really missing the cue here to take their relationship SOMEWHERE other than....well.....whatever it's at now.
Finger's crossed for the next couple of chapters...


EDIT: Development occurs after Ch. 6, bumping this up to an 8 out of 10.

EDIT X2: Wow, all of the characters have been developing.
Without any spoilers, there's themes of boundaries, growth, bringing down walls, maturity, and just general consciousness. The author is so aware of what the audience expects and continuously improves his formula and surprise and delight the reader....this is advanced manga.
Updated score to 9/10, just wish the author committed to developments just a LITTLE more.

How can one read through all these chapters of verbal abuse and not feel sick in their stomach? For those who do - admit that it's a guilty pleasure. I acknowledge that there are people who are into it - being talked down and degraded by an anime 'waifu'. But nobody in their right mind should find it "cute" to see anyone being bullied. Ever.

You do not bully others because you like them. You do not bully people to the point of crying. Takagi-san is a great example of how one can utilize playfulness and proper pranking/teasing. What Nagatoro does is straight up abuse. ... Nobody in their right mind would pinpoint the deepest insecurities of those they care about and use it for humiliation to the point of making their victim cry - and enjoy it. No decent human would approach someone who is earnestly pursuing their dreams and absolutely degrade all the effort they went through becuase 'it was fun'. Why? Why would anybody say that is okay? Why would the author depict this as an idealistic form of romance?

Obviously the story gets a 1. It made me sick to the stomach. Perhaps I am biased or I "just don't get it". But when I see bullying, especially romanticized and excused in this way, this makes me sick. I kept reading and yes, I know that Nagatoro gets less harsh. But what the story needs needs is for what Nagatoro did to be acknowledged as disgusting. A silent voice made an attempt at this and while it was by no means a perfect portrayal of the potential bullying has on a person's psyche, at least they tried.

Art gets an 8. On a surface level the artwork can be said to be cute too, although it's nothing new. More importantly, I have to acknowledge the ability of the author to somewhat depict the smug and absolute heartlessness of Natagoro and the devastation and insecurity of her victim to the point that I found it hard to continue. Well done.

Character gets a 3. I applaud the author for being able to depict a bully and victim decently. However, interactions between people of those sorts of personalities usually result in much more fucked up outcomes. The start was well done, but you missed on the follow up.

Enjoyment gets a 1. Need I explain more?

1/10
This is definitely my opinion and a bias. I can tell that this is a guilty pleasure type of manga and there might've been many people like me who came in expecting something similar to a Tagaki-san dynamic. Others may have just wanted to see some art or eyecandy. I tried to give this a chance, but I'm just appalled.

i've never been so happy in my entire life. When i read this manga i feel like i'm in heaven, i'ts like god comes down to earth and hugs me. I'ts perfect, it has saved my life, and there is nothing that can compare to this

i'ts funny, it's entertaining, i'ts everything that a human being needs to be happy. I'ts great, because for a moment, you can forget you horrible life, and be happy. I am a better person now that i've read this manga, and i recommend it to everyone. Seriously, this manga will make your life better.

So basically I began reading this manga because I heard it from anitubers (The Anime Man) talk about it and there's an anime adaption in the works. I read the 63 chapters (not gonna lie, it is an addictive read) and honestly I think reading 63 chapters were enough for me to say, this ain't for me chief....

All you're getting is a teen girl who constantly downgrades, mocks and pretty much harrasses a guy older than her just because he doesn't stand up for himself. You don't realise how many times I've tried to drop this manga altogether but yeah I just feel it's ... just so controlling and very aggressive. That's not a good thing to start a relationship full stop....

The only good thing about this manga is that it's art is pretty nice but the rest, I might as well want to forget about it.....

End me.

Our story is about the titular Nagatoro and her crush, the unamed MC, who is refereed to as "senpai." Senpai is a weeby adolescent. He's bashful, nerdy, and blatantly attracted to classmate. Nagatoro is said animated classmate that enoys teasing Senpai while pretending she doesn't have feelings for him. Every chapter is some degree of Nagatoro teasing Senpai, with the encounter ending in a mildly awkward moment indicative of their mutual affection to each other. Naga's 2 friends become more involved in the story to provide additional ways to tease the main protagonist and occasionally Hayase herself. Indirect kisses, discussions about boobs, tantalizing ... the MC by directly acknowledging his sexual desire, Ijiranaide, Nagatoro-san has it all. Does the main relationship amount to a captivating high point? No. Is there any strong thematic quality to extract from this? No. A few of the situations warrant a giggle the way they are resolved, but the story is mostly one-note tedium. The characters designs are cute, evident by the popularity of Hayase. Certain pages are paneled well, though for the most part the art itself is generic, standard, unexceptional manga art, though expressions from characters are adorable. The characters themselves are generic, standard, unexceptional tropes who's actions get moderately repetitive. Senpai's interests parallel with the likely viewer's interests (anime, video games, women). Who he is as a person is purposely left ambiguous. The story writes itself, absent of twists, turns, roadbumps, moments of actualization, moments of solace, moments of profoundness, or any commendable literary facet. I'm being harsh. Some of the situations are mildly entertaining, though more comedic than endearing. The characters go somewhere in the chapter20ish range, but several chapters are redundant with each other from both a character and plot perspective until that point, a "how can I tease senpai this week" kind of structure. Even when the couple makes small advancements at one point, it's not overall significant. There is attention drawn to Nagatoro's sexual and emotional immaturity despite making superficial advances on dearest Senpai, which could set a nigh palpable tone the manga, but that's it. There's attention drawn to it. It doesn't go anywhere. I doubt it will until the manga ends. It desponds me because there is potential here. Instead there is a story bereft of impact.

Why do people read this? Rhetorical, I know why people read this. They want to adore Nagatoro. They want to project themselves on generic, unremarkable, bashful Senpai. They want to gush over the thought of being intimate with Nagatoro without actually being intimate, forever in the early, adolescent stages of romance of checking her out, playfully touching, and making euphemistic jests. To have a cute, young girl pampering them as her premiere focus, and all the auxiliary traits that come with this. But why? There are much, much better romance stories out there. Kare Kano, for example, features a high school couple that starts off by teasing each other (admittedly that part of the story is pretty bad), but eventually progresses into a tale of a relationship that feels real. It has cute designs, a central focus on a initially timid romance, but is so much more than just that. Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou has characters that feel like people, with their own unique interests, tastes, goals, problems, and outlooks on life. The characters aren't one-dimensional self-inserts for the audience, but rather draw the audience through their empathetic qualities of feeling like interesting, real people.

This story is mindless fun. Low-brow writing. That's not an excuse for being boring. This could be a great story about the fun, innocent youthful days of better times. Or the story of two teenagers growing up with one another throughout their school years, finding themselves in the process. Something simple but effective. It isn't, nor anything such. I am not trying to spite Ijiranaide, Nagatoro-san. I don't hate this manga. As stated above, I'm saddened by it. It's boring. There are manga that execute the same concept as Ijiranaide, Nagatoro-san with better art, better characters, forming a relationship I cared about, confluencing elements to create stories with powerful themes and emotions. I want people to understand there is much more they can get out of a story like this. Something where the synopsis does not summarize the substance. Something with heart, value, and a desire to evoke qualities and a message for the reader to appreciate, while still being everything Ijiranaide, Nagatoro-san is.

Yep. She looks cute.

Whether it's her trademark grin, her laid-back clothing style or details like how her hairclip and earring match, her visual design comes together really well.

And that's why she gets away with horrible behaviour.

The entire entertainment lies within the interaction of spunky Nagatoro being mean to her upperclassman, a timid boy slighly older than her, without any reason other than her personal enjoyment. And very quickly a single question appears here.

How much is too much?

Where does teasing stop and bullying start? What is a joke and what is an insult? It's as simple as it is complicated: It's up to the one on ... the receiving end of the interaction. Are they having fun with it? Can they give you a smile, or calmly tease you back for it?

The first encounter between Nagatoro and her unnamed senpai results in Nagatoro laughing at him, making fun of his hobbies and hopes to the point that he breaks down in tears in front of her.

"Suck it up.", you might think. "Don't be such a pussy."
Do a little check and reverse the scenario for a moment.

Imagine an agressive boy meeting a timid girl. Shoving her against the wall, laughing at her attempts to draw. How she clumsily writes stories, drawing imagination from reality. How her insecurities are showing. Her wordlessly breaking down in tears, unable to stand the confrontation.

Still cute? Still within "teasing"?

Enjoy your story then. You'll have lots of fun with this one.

1 word: A masterpiece. 10/10 in every way possible.

Art: 10/10
Story: 10/10
Character growth: 10/10
Character writing: 10/10
Pacing: 10/10

Underrated; a peak recommended for any romcom fan.

One of the strengths of "Don't Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro" is its unique and engaging characters. Nagatoro is a playful and mischievous girl who enjoys teasing and tormenting Hachiouji. She is outgoing, confident, and unafraid to speak her mind, which sets her apart from other female characters in similar series. On the other hand, Hachiouji is shy and introverted, struggling to express his feelings towards Nagatoro. He is often overwhelmed by her teasing but secretly enjoys the attention she gives him. The ... dynamic between these two characters is what makes the series so compelling. They are both flawed, complex characters who grow and change over time.

Another strength of the series is its romantic progression. While the early chapters of the series focus mainly on Nagatoro's teasing of Hachiouji, the story gradually shifts towards a more romantic tone. The two characters begin to spend more time together, and Hachiouji starts to develop feelings for Nagatoro. At the same time, Nagatoro becomes more aware of her own feelings towards Hachiouji, leading to some touching and emotional moments. The romance between these two characters is handled in a realistic and relatable way, making it easy for readers to become invested in their relationship.

One of the most interesting aspects of the series is how it explores the power dynamic between Nagatoro and Hachiouji. While Nagatoro is often portrayed as the dominant character in their relationship, it is clear that Hachiouji holds a certain power over her as well. He can influence her actions and decisions in subtle ways, a refreshing change from the typical dynamic found in many manga series. This adds a layer of complexity to their relationship, making it clear that they are both equal partners on their romantic journey.

One of the most striking aspects of Nagatoro's personality is her bold and assertive nature. She is unafraid to speak her mind and is not shy about expressing her opinions, even if they differ from those of her peers. This confidence and self-assurance is evident in the way she approaches Senpai, whom she initially perceives as socially awkward and in need of guidance. Despite Senpai's reservations, Nagatoro persists in trying to engage him in conversation and draw him out of his shell, often using playful teasing and banter as a means of doing so.

Another strength of the series is its art style. Nanashi's art is both expressive and detailed, with a focus on character expressions and body language. This helps convey the emotions and feelings of the characters, which is essential for a series that relies so heavily on character interactions. The art style also helps create a unique atmosphere for the series, which is both playful and romantic.

Nonetheless, this boldness and assertiveness are also accompanied by a certain fragility and vulnerability. Nagatoro's need for connection and affection is evident in the way she becomes attached to Senpai and the lengths she goes to in order to spend time with him. While she may appear tough on the outside, Nagatoro's actions are ultimately driven by a deep-rooted desire for validation, making her vulnerable to rejection and hurt.

In conclusion, "Don't Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro" is a unique and engaging manga series that explores the growing relationship between two complex and flawed characters. The series is filled with heartwarming moments, playful teasing, and realistic romantic progression. With its strong characters, unique power dynamic, and expressive art style, "Don't Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro" is a must-read for fans of romantic comedies. This series made me cry many times, seeing the two main characters grow closer and closer in their relationship never fails to warm my heart. There was never a bad chapter; after vol. 1, it becomes good, slowly but surely as they progress, and the MC grows as a person, gets better in his hobby, and slowly falls in love with a girl who was there for him the whole time, truly something special.

Lastly, "Ijiranaide, Nagatoro-san" is a heartwarming manga that offers a nuanced portrayal of the complex and multifaceted nature of human relationships. Nagatoro's personality, with its blend of confidence and vulnerability, is a testament to the enduring power of connection and the importance of finding the courage to be oneself.

Thank you, 774/Nanashi. This is a masterpiece that I like more than Kaguya-sama. Soon, we will reach the confession, and I will surely cry. I don't think I will ever move my score away from a 10/10; I would give 11 if it were possible.

Who would've thought that 774/Nanashi, the author and the artist of this, would be able to draw and write such a wholesome story when he's known to have drawn quite a number of bestiality and guro hentai. And if you don't know what guro is, it's the worst kind of hentai a person should be enjoying. And funny enough, on chapter 5, there was a reference to his own H doujin called Yupiel Sama, if that's not obvious enough for you that he's a hentai artist. Btw, that's such a meta way to promote his best H work lol. And dont worry, this one is ... just about as wholesome and similar to Nagatoro which may pretty much be a work of his own that inspired Nagatoro as a whole to exist.

There will of course be some people who hated this because of the bullying and how much of a dick the heroine is. Though keep in mind, the smugness and the bullying is the appeal to this series. Additionally, there's such thing as teasing the person that you like by bullying them, so it's technically not that strange. I mean, usually a boy teasing girl that they like is a good example of this. She's just on the extreme side.

If you don't like this, then just dont read it. But if you're the type of person who's open minded, try reading it until the 10th chapter and make up your mind until then. You would be surprise of how likable this series is disregarding the early bad impression that you may had.

She attac, she insult, she bully; but the best one of all: she protecc

And that's the charm of the series; when your bullies only bully you and you only because shes actually is interested in you. It's a unique love story that's for sure.

And the very great twist to all of this, she's actually a very normal girl underneath that layer of "im a bully, or a delinquent" persona. And she really just wanted to be treated normally. Within her, exist an emotional desire to be normal and be treated with honesty than ingenuity that most males in this story are being portrayed: wanting to get close to her for sexual gratification. And the hint of her interior emotions, she seems to be in a state of boredom or depression, and the thing that keeping her entertain in life is him. The writing of the character is actually a lot more intricated than you would think.

All that said, this series is just too cute.

After making such an effort to read this far into the manga, I can safely say that I'm not into this shit.

This review won't really contain any big spoilers, because even after re-reading until chapter 57, the story is so forgettable that I don't remember any of the specifics.

It reads more like a fantasy put into a book, like a fanfiction of a young masochist.

The plot is repetitive, an endless loop of using torment as a way to show "affection", if you want to call it that.

There is no protagonist. Like, I get it, the whole point of this manga is for the protagonist ... to be as bland as possible in order for the reader to put himself into his shoes, but come on! Even rent-a-girlfriend has a greater protagonist than this!

Well, nagatoro and the gang aren't exactly well written... And I don't really want to talk about the club president, I think that everyone who read into this that far knows that there's nothing going on in there except to act as a jealousy inducing character (AT LEAST UP UNTIL CHAPTER 57,I don't know and I don't care if it changes afterwards).

All in all, all I see is a fetish pleaser, sickening and unhealthy "romance" manga. Hats off to the Mangaka, he got himself an anime adaptation of this.

2/10

"Jiranaide, Miss Nagatoro" was a bolt from the blue. I'm relatively grown-up and I'm not usually into this genre but I immediately got an interest in the main characters and the controversial topics of this work.

Well, seems that only after a few pages the author moved on a really lovely teenagers love-story made of flirting and teasing giving me the same vibes of other great works such as VideoGirl Ai.

The characters progression is great and feels natural to the reader, especially "Senpai" which little by little grow up his self-confidence and with Nagatoro.

Nagatoro is...she has basically everything to be a meme queen thanks to ... her explosive personality and her extremely positive attitude towards Naoto. She is extremely annoying but in a funny and cute way only to show her love for her senpai to see, undirectly telling him all the time "Stay with me" .
When Naoto show his guts her weaknesses are greatly exposed to enhance her cuteness, as you should expect from a girl of her age.
In a few words, just go through the first pages of this work and you can find one of the most adorable characters you can ever find on this genre.

The countour of secondary characters is well written with Nagatoro's friends (or "gang") which enjoys teasing her encouraging her love and also accepting Senpai in their "cool" group since the beginning.

So, from a controversial manga which seemed to be about bullying turns out to be the most adorable work of the genre I've read in many years.

Let's wait for the next chapters now, meanwhile: Great great job, Nanashi!

I completely understand why someone would not like this. A lot of parts of the story and the way some scenes are forced is pretty mediocre. After a few chapters, it got kinda lame and the new characters that appeared didn't seem to contribute anything to the whole. But this manga is also really fascinating. Or at least the reason why some people get really attached to this kind of history and relationship is fascinating to me.

Nagatoro is a school girl who likes to bully her Senpai. Simple as that, that's the whole thing. She plots different things to make him suffer and seeing him ... shivering makes Nagatoro thrill, using everything at her hands to do so. Her strongest desire is to be close and to have him caught right between her hands, to make him feel like his life is controled by her. She pressures him to do as she pleases and that brings her joy. He's her little toy and she loves to play game after game.

Senpai, only called that -we don't need to hear anything more, really-, cries, gets insulted and is about to breakdown in almost every scene. To call this an s/m relationship is kinda fishy as he is only tolerating and acepting this because it is easier for him (he even explains it and his general relation with bullying).
He grows to like Nagatoro and their relationship, yes, but what Senpai likes is not being teased or attacked in any way, he doesn't enjoy being put to shame, being uncomfortable or being ridiculed. The pain and suffering are not arousing to him. What he likes is all the attention she gives him. It's very questionable how healthy this relationship is, some people probably don't care about it, they just want to read something they enjoy, but there's a bit more to it.

Suddenly, a younger girl spends a great portion of her time with you and has her eyes fixed on you. She talks to you and touches you. You think about her. She's there, she's real. And you love that, 'cause you never had anything similar to that. It's incredible. You even wished for something like it. It doesn't matter under which condition it is happening. You feel hers.

Nagatoro gives herself to Senpai in a way more honest and, you could say, pure that the one perceived in traditional love. Bullying seems to be more direct and they share pleasure through that, something that seems very resonant with people, specially young men. She wouldn't leave Senpai and wouldn't let him escape either. There's certainty and comfort in it different from the one in common romance. Then, Senpai holds into it and gets himself absorbed. He feels hers. He feels someone cares for him due to all of this. And that's what matters to him.

Through the chapters, something similar to a love relationship normally depicted in manga seems to emerge, but you can't ignore what was the base for that development. After all, it is what I found interesting about this, the illusion behind their relationship.

PS: I don't really care about the art, sorry.

To be honest, I almost didn't make it past chapter 6. The interactions between the MCs were pretty brutal, and other reviews describing this as a story about sadomasochism or co-dependent bullying appeared to be spot on. Not really my thing.

At some point, however, I thought I might be detecting a more subtle theme. The more I read, the FMCs actions seemed less about bullying to inflate a predator's ego and more about (harsh) *teasing* to bridge an awkward gap. She didn’t want to *hurt* the guy – She was just genuinely intrigued by him and, as a 14-15-year-old kid very sensitive to social hierarchy, ... this was what she could come up with.

Likewise, I came to see the MMC not so much as weakling who wanted to be dominated, but as a lonely guy who, experiencing the attention of a cute girl for probably the first time in his life, was willing to endure pretty much anything to keep getting it.

As the story has continued, earlier concerns about character progression should be ignored. Where they are at chapter 47 is miles past where they were at the beginning. The two main characters have both drawn new (better) behaviors and attitudes from each other. They might even be headed toward some version of a “Good Ending”. I doubt this will end with a confession and a kiss before a setting sun, but their own peculiar version of such an ending is possible.

At this point, it’s hard to imagine either MCs walking away from this. And so far, I’m inclined to stick with it, too.

I feel this manga is getting a bad rep from a lot of reviews who read less than 9 chapters and somehow judge the whole thing as terrible just from that. There's honestly so much more to this manga, and I aim to do it justice with this review. To be fair this isn't Attack on Titan, FMAB or Hunter x Hunter type stuff, it's not trying to be. It's just an oddly wholesome manga about young teens who like each other.

Going into this manga, I really didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did but damn, when I got into ... it, I really got into it. Honestly it's a bit of nostalgia trip if you've ever been young and dumb and had a crush, especially when you get to the cute parts. It takes you back to high school; being a dumb kid not knowing they like you back but hanging out and teasing the person you like anyways. The feels. Are. Real. Sometimes when I'm feeling shitty I pick up this manga and it brightens my mood right up, it's so amazingly wonderful and wholesome when you give it a shot.

To address the bullying, it's not great in the first 3 chapters to be honest but it is DEFINITELY a case of "oh I like this Senpai but I don't know how to express my feelings right now so I'll just tease and flirt not that I really know what I'm doing", nothing of malicious intent after the first chapter. And beyond this, theres CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. Nagatoro starts to realise when she goes to far, and her hanging around Senpai allows him to develop a backbone of his own. I think more than anything, Nagatoro starts hanging out with Senpai because she sees that he is alone and has no friends, and you really see how Senpai's world changes and broadens just from Nagatoro and her friend inching their way into his life. The best bits (and there's plenty of them) is when they show when they care for eachother, remember what the other person likes/is scared of, when they stand up for eachother and when they WORK TOGETHER to solve problems. Who knew a manga with "bullying" in the title would end up having one of the most healthy depictions of a relationship I've seen in anime/manga.

Story 8/10 - It's not a plot based manga that blows your mind or anything, it's just well done and neatly highlights the point of this manga: Senpai and Nagatoro's relationship/friendship and their shenanigans. Typical slice-of-life/comedy stuff.

Art 9/10 - Very cute, great expressions and nanashi has a way with comedic visual metaphors.

Character 9/10 - LOVE the character development/dynamic of the main two. I've said my bit on those two above. There's not as much exploration of other characters, though I do love all of them: adorable Yoshi, teasing Gamo (who I really think knows how much Nagatoro likes Senpai and just wants her to be more honest with herself) and lovely but sneaky Sakura.

Enjoyment 10/10 - Great manga/anime to sus when you want your mood lifted. Freaking love this manga it makes my heart melt in the best way possible.

Overall 9/10 - It's much better than people give it credit for. Give it a shot, you might like it if you want something fluffy, indulgent and wholesome. Great stuff.

This is the type of manga you sit and wait for, and when it drops, you smile from ear to ear. For the next 17 pages, you sit grinning at your screen, reading eagerly. Soon realising you finish the chapter you look at the ending page of Nagatoros smug face staring at you and think "I WANT IT TO BE A FORTNIGHT ALREADY" then proceeded to re-read the chapter, crying on the inside.

Basically, to put it into perspective, this manga is more addictive than cocaine to me and if I don't get my fix every fortnight I go into a nervous break down of ... smug faces and dark-skin anime girls.

I'mma keep it real with you Chief: This is the Classy-Trash I love. Not just steam doggin the living shit out of a hot bun, but also not so stale that nothing worthwhile happens. Surprisingly good plot progression for a series which requires an extremely slow build up. Big proud of our boy Senpai for bossing up. Respect King!


Story: 8/10 Good, definitely holds my interest, but has it's "Basic" or predictable moments

Art: 8/10 Great facial expressions and cool scenery at times, nothing too crazy

Characters: 8/10 While definitely falling into expected archetypes, it's done in a proper way and our Simp boy ACCTUALLY MAKES PROGRESS ... over time.


Overall: I give this manga a 9/10. Due to the nature of the story, my enjoyment is easily a 10/10 but am reserving judgment until I see the ending. Looking forward to see the anime adaptation hopefully soon!

I want to start out by saying that I don't endorse bullying of any kind, in the context of which it is typically doled out. I sympathize with people who have been on the receiving end of it irl, and those whom have trouble dealing with stories involving it should stop considering reading this one right now if you were planning to. Now that that's out of the way...

It's always been amazing to me how many people who post reviews at this site don't really grasp what reviewing a series is all about. A review here, with very few exceptions, should never be about the ... subject matter of the material being reviewed: Saying the series is bad because you didn't like what the story was about is very similar to going into a restaurant, ordering food that you specifically don't care for, and then writing a review stating that you didn't like the food. Perhaps a category of "bullying" should be listed as a tag for this series, for the unwary, but the term is in the title, as well. This series is still ongoing at the time of this submission, so I must point out that writing a review after reading a handful of chapters is woefully inadequate for this slow-burn of a story.

Ijiranaide, Nagatoro-san (Please don't bully me, Nagatoro) starts off as a rather straightforward story of a first year girl, Nagatoro, encountering and then viciously verbally abusing her second-year senpai, whose name is not even given in the beginning, in a high school setting. This continues to the point that the poor guy is brought to tears; but it's pretty clear that Nagatoro has found something very interesting about "Senpai", so her daily routine of hanging around and bullying him continues from then on, sometimes to intense and/or comedic levels.

After some time, the dynamic of the story changes up some, in either a positive or negative manner, depending upon one's expectations for progression. We're introduced to each of Nagatoro's friends, all of which have very distinct personalities, and all of whom end up bullying Senpai in their own ways. I must stress here that it takes quite some time for things to look up for our bewildered MC, but despite the continued abuse, he grows and evolves as well. Other than some filler material here and there, the story itself is pretty solid, a 7/10 to me.

The background art is typical, but very nicely drawn, however probably the strongest element of this series is the incredibly diverse and expressive body language each character displays. It's just so easy to gauge what someone is thinking just by observing how they look and move. This category is a strong 9/10; it would be a ten, but the art does at times come off a little too 'cartoony'.The characters are also great; though some of them fall into well established templates, each is nicely fleshed-out, and none of them are particularly similar in mannerisms. Nagatoro, even though she's more like an antagonist, is so interesting that it's easy to overlook her rotten attitude, lol. Her antics are the most noteworthy aspect of this series. Senpai is pretty bland, and more like a self-insert for the reader, but even he has some intriguing facets to his character. I rate the character category as a very good 8/10.

For my own enjoyment, this score fluctuated a bit, starting at a decent 6, and working up to a current 8 out of 10. The treatment of Senpai was a bit painful to watch at times, but once several things became apparent to me, I was able to appreciate it much more. I still think there could be some improvements and clarifications, but I'm really liking it so far.

Overall, this comes in as a nice 8 outta 10 for me. It manages to blend elements of sadism, cruelty, and sorrow along with cuteness, comedy, and pure badass moments. There's certainly romantic parts, but rarely does it seem clichéd. It's a fun read if you can endure the tide, so to speak.

I usually have little tolerance for cliche female characters acting like assholes because some exuse or other, so after reading the reviews i didn't go into it with much optimism.
However I binged all the translated chapters, and I though it was good? This is pretty much the reason i decided to write this review, because i think many others miss the point.
There is teasing, and there is abuse. The line is not crystal clear, however, this is clearly not the latter.
If you look past what's being said, and instead focus what is done, and how the characters react to each other, it's clear that ... Nagatoro is not just a thoughtless bully. Sure, she's not conventionaly kind, but there is a certain kindness to hear, and she know's where too far is. How she acts could be generally considered messed up, but she doesn't act that way to everyone. What she does is specific to her relationship with the MC, and it works.
The story is still pretty short right know, but there is some slow and steady character development, and I'm pretty interested to see where it goes. If you've been put off by the bad reviews, just give it a chance.

TL;DR: Don't read it if you're here for real bullying and humiliating, there's nothing to see here.

There is a particular reason why I should have liked the manga. The only one, the foremost is that what it's known for — mental destruction, humiliation, bullying, abusing, domination.

When I first thought of starting reading it, I had genuinely thought that I am going to enjoy the manga. But what did I get? I got nothing, the manga hasn't managed to evoke any emotions of mine, I felt like I had read some oneshot series with no purpose and meaning — it is sometimes fun, but ... it is always dull and bland.

The only thing this manga is known for is basically not present there. There is no bullying. How's it called, teasing?

Having a spineless MC in a bullying manga is rather mandatory (and the spineless MC really is there), but in this particular manga the bullying part does not even simply exist, the bully is not present at all, all the stunts she pulls rather look like your average friend's pranks who sometimes like to go overboard. No abusing, no bullying, no humiliation, no psychological struggle and tension, no mental devastation. It may sound weird, but it is as simple as that.

And while it's all clear with the MC, then who is Naga? If there was bullying part, she wouldn't have looked like just a generic character with terrible personality who is jerk just because it's a romcom, a genre which is not focused on such deep psychological things, while bullying part would have given her any motivation and reasoning to humiliate him.

It might be a good romcom, but it is not a bullying manga at all, and the community might want to reconsider the atmosphere they are creating about the manga if they don't want to mislead some people. You made me hate it for that exact reason. Though, I liked the art, it looks pleasing to me.