WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Teasing Master Takagi-san Season 3, Episode 7 segments "Side Trip" and "Renting DVDs," now streaming on HIDIVE.
When Season 3 of Teasing Master Takagi-san started up earlier this year, the episodes throughout hinted that something big was going to happen in the relationship between its two protagonists. Yet despite some truly heart-pounding revelations, and a number of firsts for Nishikata and Takagi, their status as a would-be couple has remained largely at a standstill.
Up until now, it seemed like the main reason for this was Nishikata's reluctance to be honest with himself. However, the season's latest events seem to point out that Nishikata is not the only one hesitating to move things forward.
Season 3, Episode 8 starts off with a simple look at one of Takagi and Nishikata's usual side trips, this time to a local landmark atop a large staircase. When Nishikata challenges Takagi's knowledge of the spot, she catches him off guard by informing him that it's actually well known for a legend stating that any pair who goes there together will become a couple. This is followed by Takagi claiming her prize in the form of a promise from Nishikata to take her back there someday.
This is just the latest instance in Takagi's trend of dangling her own crush in front of Nishikata without actually admitting anything. Previously, both Nishikata and the audience had been led to believe that Takagi's primary goal in coaxing a confession out of him had been for the sake of embarrassing him, as he was not yet ready to profess his affections. Despite this, the last segment of the episode shows a more relatable side of Takagi herself.
When Nishikata and Takagi go to a video rental store, the two decide to pick out movies for the other to watch. Nishikata ends up getting so engrossed in his recommendation that he accidentally spoils the ending for her. Deeply apologetic, he tries to find a way to make it up to her, which Takagi says he can do by expanding their recommendation set to two movies each. Although this request seems mostly inconsequential, the way she hesitates and turns away while asking shows that she has something else in mind. This is corroborated when the two head home and Takagi mutters her frustration at "not having enough courage" when the perfect moment presents itself.
This casts the duo's dynamic in a whole new light. Up to this point, Takagi had presented herself as confident and unflappable. However, this side comment implies that she is just as shy and flustered toward Nishikata as he is toward her. Such a stagnation could become problematic for the progress of their romance, as the two may find themselves -- to the frustration of their classmates and viewers alike -- continually stuck in the same habits of beating around the bush.
Still, the episode ends on a hopeful note for a chance to take things up a notch. Observant as always, Takagi notices Nishikata's interest in an advertisement for the upcoming 100% Unrequited Love movie, a reoccurring franchise within the show. Following up on this, Takagi chooses a film titled Let's Go See It Together for her second rental choice, subtly coding in a message to ask him on a date. This is made all the more significant by the "special prize for couples" being given out at the screening.
On top of being another flag in the ongoing saga of their romantic comedy, the movie date may be a bit of a meta-teaser itself. Faithful fans of the series will remember that the announcement for Season 3 also included news of an upcoming Teasing Master Takagi-san movie. While few details have been revealed since then, a release for Summer 2022 has been confirmed, following not too long after Season 3's conclusion.
