ハヤテのごとく！/Hayate no Gotoku Manga
Hayate the Combat Butler Chapter 446 Review

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis:

Hayate and Hina fall into a pit, causing Ah-tan to make a remark about restraint to someone. Neither are injured in the fall. Hayate recons that the pit they fall in was a trap set by the murderer on the island. Hina discovers a human skull and freaks out as a result. Instead of the twenty people having died, the pair discover that there are hundreds of skeletons on the ground of the caverns.

Hayate falls into another pit as Hina sees and hears evidence of the supernatural. She finds someone sitting in the cavern who speaks to her, but it is a skeleton. Hina freaks out as Hayate emerges from the pit. Hina collapses into Hayate’s arms from fright.

Hayate carries Hina as Hayate remarks on how he was surprised at her fear, considering her normal bravado. She’s initially irritated by this until Hayate says the look on her is cute. Hina realizes that Chiharu’s remarks about going on the offensive mean romance, so she decides that maybe she should take a chance.

Up on the beach, Ah-tan hears laughter behind her and addresses the person as the murderer.

Thoughts/Review:

My initial thoughts on Ah-tan taking Hayate and Hina to the murder island was to possibly cause a massive burst of negative emotions from Hina. Well, Hina’s fear certainly is a lot of negative emotion.

That said, I’m now starting to wonder about Ah-tan’s motives. I still think she wants Shirozakura, or at least the power from it, to return herself to normal. But, I now think that Ah-tan wanted to meet this murderer on the island. Is she an ally of said person, or is she there to expunge it?

I still think Isumi will show up before all is said and done. ^_~

As to Hina’s and Hayate’s journey in the dark (how can they see where they are going anyway?), I know a lot of folks think this is where Hina gets removed from the harem.  I’m not so sure about that, but they could be right. While there’s no doubt that the manga is on the downward slope, I’m thinking that Hina isn’t ready to check out of the romantic mix. I don’t remember the Heaven is a Place on Earth move nor Can’t Take My Eyes Off You having Hina in position where she wasn’t still in the running for romancing Hayate.

Granted, those two anime titles tried not to spoil too much for the future of the manga (we did get to see Nagi’s manga briefly), and it could be that if I rewatched these titles, I’d see something different about them that would change my mind.

For now, I don’t think that Hina will end up dropping her feelings for Hayate.  Besides, how many other times have we seen Hina and Hayate alone where it seems like Hina will make progress, only to have the status quo set again? ^_~

I’m rather curious to see where this island part of the story goes.  Can’t wait for the next chapter. ^_^