Series: Kaicho wa Maid Sama
Episodes: 1 to 12
Premise: Misaki Ayuzawa is the student council president at a formerly all-boys high school. She also works at a maid cafe on the side to earn money to support her family. Misaki has problems relating to the male members of her class so she comes off a little more than brusque and overbearing. One of her classmates, Usui Takumi, happens upon her by chance as she’s being intimidated by a group of men. It just so happens that he comes to her rescue as she’s working so he learns her secret. Thus begins the saga of Misaki and Usui, she trying to keep her secret and he trying to get her to open up to him. It’s pretty obvious from the beginning that Usui is in love with Misaki but she’s about the only person in the cast that doesn’t realize it.
Is it worth watching?: Yes. It’s a fun story about maid cafes and hardworking students. Also, with the “she’s in love but doesn’t know it yet” angle, it’s worth keeping up with the series just to see when Misaki will make the connection between herself and Usui’s continued presence and actions.
Breakout character: Usui Takumi. Yes, you could make the case for the cross-dressing Aoi, but he doesn’t exactly inspire the way Usui does as the lead. Besides, Aoi is just a kid who manages to show up and try to grab attention that he doesn’t really need. He’s cute enough already. Usui has that leading man act down by the third episode and never really lets up after that.
Funniest episode: Episode 6 — Man, Ayuzawa School! — Misaki manages to have her photo taken as a maid and Usui finally says something to her after the photo gets out into the open. Not to spoil it, but expect romance in this episode and Usui nearly killing himself trying to be romantic.
Where it’s going: Just who is going to find out — if ever — that Misaki is a maid is the future. And will Misaki and Usui ever get together?
