English Dub Review: Teasing Master Takagi-san 3: “February 14th”

Overview: Nishikata (Bryson Baugus) struggles to hide his Valentine’s Day chocolates from Takagi (Sarah Wiedenheft), who is shockingly reserved throughout their day. 

Our Take: The best part of Nishikata getting mysterious chocolates from girls other than Takagi shows just how much of a couple mindset both of them are undoubtedly in. Nishikata doing his best to get Takagi distracted about legitimately anything other than Valentine’s Day candy is cute, especially when he contemplates his pubescent feelings. It is a nice testament to how much Nishikata cares about her along with how much of a glutton for punishment he is in, ironically, trying to cheer her up and get her back to her old teasing self when she is in low spirits, even winning competitions when he tries to lose. Hilariously, it goes to show how fate will never be kind to the boy. 

Hamaguchi struggles with his own dilemma in Houjou giving him store bought candy, as opposed to the homemade variety, giving him the impression that she has already given it to a lover. A few moments of thought would have dictated it goes back to her poor baking ability rather than any feelings towards anyone else, but it is, nonetheless, fun to watch in him coming to that realization himself in their playfulness after. 

Nishikata and Takagi’s heart-to-heart does not disappoint in him explaining the misunderstanding with the chocolate. It is nice to see how naturally fleshed out Takagi continues to be this season with her insecure, childish tendencies getting a spotlight in admitting she did not want to talk to Nishikata about the chocolates he got from other girls, thinking her coldness would get the best of her, which left her feeling down in the dumps and in no mood to tease him. It also, conversely, goes to show how more emotionally mature she is than Nishikata, ironically enough. Their quintessential light-hearted banter in Takagi giving him sardines as a joke calling back to him celebrating that February 14th holiday, is a sweet makeup scene that also shows how adorably similar they are in their cleverness. With Hamaguchi wanting to reveal his true feelings to Houjou, he pushes Nishikata to do it with him and confess his own feelings to Takagi, which is a very exciting revelation that feels long overdue and will hopefully get us some traction in the relationship status department.