ハヤテのごとく！/Hayate no Gotoku Manga Volume 21
Hayate the Combat Butler Tankoubon Volume 21

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*SPOILERS!*

Well, some highlights of the events of this volume.  Athena and Machina are in the wings and apparently are going to do something to get back to the castle. Wataru obtains a King’s Jewel pendent from his mother in Las Vegas. Hayate reveals to Nagi and Maria that he has a King’s Jewel pendent. Nagi’s grandfather provides details about Hayate having to protect the stone to save Nagi’s inheritance. Gilbert arrives to take the pendent, but since Hayate keeps beating him up, he proposes a beach volleyball game between himself and Hayate, with Gilbert having the large robot Volley-Pro 2000 GT-san and Hayate getting the “weak” Hina.  Upon winning the match and setting up a date with Hina as thanks, with Nagi’s blessing, Sister Sonia attempts to steal his jewel, even stripping to do so. Ayumu helps Hayate find her, where after learning of Sonia’s unrequited love (for Wataru), causes Sonia to give up the jewel peacefully.  Finally, Hayate talks Nagi into showing him around the island, where a pelican from Nagi’s childhood still lives.

The funniest story is the beach volleyball tournament, hands down. Gilbert’s latest harebrained scheme aside, it is always fun seeing Hina try to be something she’s not, in this case a weak girl because she thinks that’s what Hayate likes.  Of course in typical fashion, Hina gets goaded into her fighting spirit and kicks butt.  Hata-sensei also uses the moment to provide fanservice by getting Hina into a bikini.  I laughed at how frantically Miki demanded she get into that bikini.  The aftermath, with Hina running away (and reminding me of Naru from Love Hina) and finally being caught by Hayate, only to be seen in a compromising position by Aika made me laugh as well.

Although we only got the first chapter of it, the Penta the Penguin stuff is comedy gold. It was laugh out loud funny to see the pelican being scolded by Nagi, then having a flashback to Nagi’s mother deciding that this pelican was actually a penguin named Penta. *lol*  I suspect that Hata-sensei had no idea of how popular Yukariko would be, but took advantage of the opportunity to have her come back in the flashback.  She’s a very funny ditz for sure. ^_^

Being a harem title, Hayate has to have stuff with his girls. Ayumu gets some time on the beach with Hayate, which was OK.  Hina gets a dinner, which I’m looking forward to.  Nagi gets talked into showing Hayate around the island, which was a nice moment.

Hata-sensei is clearly preparing the ground to advance the main plot regarding whatever it is that Nagi’s grandfather is scheming. Wataru has one of the King’s Jewels as does Aika. So what does that mean?  It will be interesting to see what happens when Athena and Hayate meet again (and explain how she apparently becomes a child again).

I noticed that the character designs are slipping closer to the present day ones, which I’m not that much of a fan of.  As I’ve said before, I really hope Hata-sensei shifts back to the more attractive character designs.

Anyway, catching up on these older volumes has taken more time than I thought, mainly because of how I’m having to read them. :-/  Oh well.  Considering how many things in the current story have resulted from events I’ve not read, I really need to catch up.