Hayate the Combat Butler, Vol. 23 Format: Paperback

Poor Hayate Ayasaki is responsible for repaying his parents’ 150 million yen debt. One Christmas, he meets a girl named Nagi, and after a series of misunderstandings, he somehow ends up working as her butler. Nagi covers for Hayate’s debt, but has Hayate dug himself deeper into a different kind of hole? A hilarious tale of butlers, love and battles (?!). Out of his ever-expanding harem of love interests, Hayate has finally confessed his feelings for one special girl. But if you think it’s time to cue up the happy ending, you haven’t read the previous 22 volumes. Instead, our hero faces heartbreak, emotional turmoil, and a battle with a skeleton hand. This is why most protagonists of romantic-comedy manga keep their feelings to themselves. Reads R to L (Japanese Style) for teen plus audiences.