WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Episode 11 of Don't Toy With Me, Ms. Nagatoro!, now streaming on Crunchyroll.
First-year high school student Hayase Nagatoro has been teasing Naoto Hachioji nonstop for one reason: she is intrigued by his artistic side. Naoto is true to himself, and Hayase wants him to appreciate her own authentic side with his art. But it's slow going.
Miss Nagatoro!'s school festival is coming up, and the art club has a little situation. The third-year club president frowns upon Naoto's antics with the Nagatoro squad, and if he can't make an art piece better than hers, the club will be shut down entirely. Hayase is firmly on Naoto's side, but Naoto himself doesn't fully appreciate that.
Hayase Gets Rejected As Naoto's Sketch Subject
There's no time to lose. The festival is drawing near and Naoto is feeling the pressure. He's up against a rising star of an artist, and as he explains to the Nagatoro gang, the art club president can compete with college-level art students. In particular, she recently made a nude self-portrait that really drew in the crowds, thanks to her rather mature physique and excellent art technique alike. Naoto is unsure he can handle this, and not even Hayase's encouraging words are changing his mind. She volunteers to be his subject as a token of friendship, but after a few sketch sessions, Naoto isn't feeling it. Hayase won't be the key to victory against the club president.
Hayase was kind to volunteer her help but by now, Naoto is feeling guilty about getting her involved in his feud, and he doesn't want her to get hurt by losing. So with Sakura, Gamo and Yoshi all watching, Naoto gently but firmly dismisses Hayase as his subject, announcing he will face the club president alone. Hayase storms off, clearly hurt, and her three friends make their disapproval toward Naoto clear before leaving the art room a few seconds later. Naoto got what he asked for, but this may not be what he needed.
Naoto Hachioji Puts More Heart Into His Art
The next day, Naoto is making a "still life" painting in the art room when the club president shows up. She points out that he is just making tidy art, with no real passion or personal flair to it. Hayase watches this scene unfold, jealous that Naoto is spending time with the president, and runs off. Naoto notices her, and the president demands that he go after Hayase and talk things out. He does as told, but Hayase isn't in the mood for it and runs off again. Clearly she is quite upset and even feels betrayed. Naoto must persist if he wants to fix all this.
He catches up with Hayase at the school pool and makes a heartfelt confession: her daily life is what inspires him the most, and he really does want her as his main art subject. Hayase doesn't quite believe it at first, but Naoto insists, and she realizes her artistic senpai is telling the truth. They both fall into the pool, emerging in good spirits. They're a team after all, and Hayase gleefully toys around with some ideas on what she should wear while serving as Naoto's subject.
Later, as they're walking home in the evening light, Naoto blurts out that he finds Hayase very cute, and they're both flustered once they realize what he just said. Hayase teases him all the way home, insisting that he repeat it again. The Miss Nagatoro! dream team is back together, teasing and all. Will Naoto find the right inspiration to beat the art club president at her own game?
