March 6th, 2014 
AstroNerdBoy ハヤテのごとく！/Hayate no Gotoku Manga
Hayate the Combat Butler Chapter 422 Review
SPOILER Summary/Synopsis:
Despite Ikusa’s warning, Eight has no intention of ceasing his octopus gathering operation as Makimura said that if Eight wanted her to marry him, he’d need to give her ¥600-million won with Toto. Despite his computing resources, Eight was unable to win the money requested by Shiori. At his wit’s end, Eight decides to enlist the help of the descendants of “Paul-kun”, whom Hayate doesn’t know. Nagi explains that Paul-kun was an octopus that correctly predicted all of the German matches during the World Cup.
Ikusa says that he understands, but cannot forgive. As such, Eight unleashes a barrage of missile at Ikusa. When Hayate goes to see if his brother is OK, he finds a battered Kotetsu instead. Ikusa unleashes a “Certain Death” attack, destroying Eight’s body. Nagi says she feels sorry for Eight because he did love Makimura, but Isuka says that he protects all life, revealing that Eight’s AI is still functioning in his head.
Makimura arrives, and she’s not concerned that Eight couldn’t win the money. She tells him that since he’s not a citizen, Eight cannot marry her. She takes Eight’s head with her, promising to always be by his side, fixing him. She also promises to build him a new body with the ¥600-million she won betting in Toto.
With that over, Hayate asks the man (presumed to be Isuka) if he’s Hayate’s brother. After a pause, Ikusa says he has no brother.
Thoughts/Review:
This chapter was basically designed to show how much more powerful Ikusa is over Hayate. While Hayate has overcome Eight, he’s never done so in such an overwhelming fashion as Ikusa did. One drop kick from Ikusa, Eight was destroyed, but without destroying Eight’s processors, nor damaging his AI or other programs.
I get the feeling that Ikusa may indeed know Hayate. If so, why say he has no brother. I can’t help but wonder what happened in the Royal Garden so that Ikusa was able to rescue Ah-tan. Hopefully, we’ll get that information one way or the other.
As to Makimura and Eight, their relationship is so absurd, it always makes me laugh. By the way, you can learn more about Toto (providing you can read Japanese) by clicking the link. ^_^
Returning to chapter 439, I still think that the silhouetted image of the woman being proposed to is Yukariko. Here’s why. During Eight’s flashback, Makimura is not wearing a blouse with a high neckline. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Yukariko often wore outfits with higher necklines. From a side profile perspective, Makimura and Yukariko have some similarities, but the silhouette image seems much more like Yukariko to me than Makimura.
Further, Hata-sensei is notorious for putting a nugget of canon information in places unexpected. I suspected this is the case here. After all, Yukariko is the one that likely caused the pathway to the Royal Garden to be closed after Ah-tan was freed from that place, taking that coffin and placing it in Yuraki-chan House. I have this feeling that Yukariko had Shin do something related to all of this. After all, he did get involved with the Kurotsubaki sword, which is the mate to the Shirozakura sword that Hina currently has.
Finally, Kotetsu’s unexpected appearance did cause me to chuckle.
Still, that’s just speculation on my part. But, I have been on a roll lately for making predictions, so we’ll see if this is another score for me. ^_~
Otherwise, nothing else to say that I can think of. The chapter was mildly amusing for what it was. I’m looking forward to seeing where things go with Ikusa.
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Obviously, Ikusa tore down the royal garden with his bare hands and now it’s nothing more than a pile of rubble. Of course, neither Athena nor Hisui are aware of this.
Btw, think that Houkou sword that Athena mentioned alongside the Kurotsubaki will have some significance in this current arc?
Anywayz, not convinced about the “silhouette girl is Yukariko” angle, but we’ll find out eventually, I suppose. I wouldn’t put it past Hata to actually go with your theory after all.
*lol* I can see that happening.
I need to reread things to remind myself of the context. What chapter was that in (if you remember)?
I could easily be wrong. ^_^ Still, whenever I reread the manga as Viz has put out new volumes, I notice more and more things that seemed unimportant when they were first mentioned (and often seemed to be part of the then current story) are in fact foreshadowing of future elements.
As to the Houkou and Kurotsubaki being mentioned, it’s in Chapter 182 page 6 in the scanlations. It’s part of the End Of The World arc. I think there’s a good chance it could be related to the current plot as Hata likes to drop these little foreshadowing events in the most innocuous places, as you mentioned.
I don’t see “Houkou” being mentioned in the scan version I saw (and I have to remember to check Viz’s release as well). I do know that is the only time the Kurotsubaki is mentioned in the manga (that I’m aware of) before it was featured in CTMEOY. And of course, the Shirozakura was mentioned, which is the other sword Hina currently has.
So I still need help on “Houkou” if you’d be so kind. ^_^;;;
“As to Makimura and Eight, their relationship is so absurd, it always makes me laugh.”
This is so true!
I really have nothing else to comment on the chapter, other than that I enjoyed it a lot. (I’m bad at commenting on comedies)
Also, this is very much unrelated, but as you’ve blogged the Nanoha animes before and seemed to like them, are you aware of the two on-going sequel mangas, Nanoha Vivid and Nanoha Force?
If you are, I’m definitely interested in your opinion on them ^^
It is hard to comment on certain kinds of comedies, depending on the series and such.
I am aware of them. I have not read them…yet. ^_^; Much like the Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya manga series (which I still need to read), those manga are on my list. I’d also like to read the entire bridge manga between Nanhoha A’s and StrikerS. ^_^;