History Manga / MutekiKanbanMusume

[[quoteright:332:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/MutekiKanbanMusume_cast.jpg]]
''Onimaru Style... Burial Technique!''

Hanami Town Shopping District is a small but busy marketplace with three not-so-ordinary establishments: the Onimaru Chinese Restaurant, next-door Yaoguro Grocery Store, and Huet Bakery across the street. Having a day in this little shopping district that could be described as "normal" is unlikely.

Miki Onimaru, twenty-year-old poster girl of Onimaru, is an easily distracted, overly violent girl with only her mother Makiko to rein her in (usually with a beatdown). Megumi Kannazuki, also aged twenty, owner and poster girl of Huet, [[BitchInSheepsClothing puts on a sweet face while hiding a cruel personality]]. Kankuro Nishiyama, aged 24, comes home after finishing college to finally get back at Miki for bullying him in their younger years. A few blocks down lives Wakana Endou, a sweet kid with a rough dog named "Toshiyuki". And last but not least is Akihiko Ohta, owner of Yaoguro, [[OnlySaneMan the only paragon of sanity in the block]] ([[NotSoAboveItAll and even then he has his wild side]]). These are their stories.

Being a DeconstructiveParody of the FightingSeries, ''Muteki Kanban Musume'' ("Invincible Poster Girl") is a 17-volume manga series written by Jun Sadogawa between 2002 and 2006, and published by Akita Shoten, with a North American release under ADV Manga as ''Ramen Fighter Miki''. A 2006 12-episode anime adaptation also aired as part of the Summer 2006 Anime lineup. Following the end of the manga, a 5-volume sequel was released between 2006 and 2008, called ''Muteki Kanban Musume Napalm'', in which the cast is extended by the employees of the Tekkotsudo Megastore, which threatens the shopping district.

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!!Tropes in ''Muteki Kanban Musume'' include:
* TwelveEpisodeAnime
* AbusiveParents: PlayedForLaughs. Makiko would frequently give Miki, her [[ManChild Woman Child]] of a daughter, outright violent [[CurbStompBattle curb-stompings]]. The fact that her daughter is a [[TheSlacker lazy]] [[TheBully bully]] also gives her a plausible reason. [[spoiler: It's also deconstructed when you realize that Miki being a bully is partly because of the AbusiveParents]].
* ActorRoleConfusion: Happens when a little girl confuses Megumi with Hell Bunny, the villain from Star Rangers. Unusually for this trope, to fool a little girl with that lie is treated InUniverse as a MoralEventHorizon.
* AdultFear: Kankuro gives one to Miki (a great feat given she is a [[ManChild Woman Child]]: being fired and thrown out to the street by his mother and replaced by TheReliableOne Kankuro, while TheRival mocks her.
* AmusingInjuries: Played straight with everyone except Megumi: When Miki hits her, she is draw realistically and the audience is not amused.
* AngryGuardDog: Toshiyuki, the Endou family dog.
* ArmorPiercingQuestion: This works to sustain the misunderstanding at the OneDialogueTwoConversations: Wakana talks about how 10 years is too much a time for BelligerentSexualTension. Kankuro believes Wakana chastises him because he CantCatchUp with Miki:
-->'''Wakana:''' ''You're just frustrated because of Onimaru-san, aren't you?... Have you felt that way for a long time?''\\
'''Kankuro:''' ''Ever since I met her at elementary school... so I guess it has been 10 years now...''\\
'''Wakana:''' ''Huh?! It's been ten years and you still haven't made any progress?! I can't believe it! And you call yourself a man?''\\
'''Kankuro:''' (Thinking) ''On some levels that hurt more than any of Miki's punches, nya...''
* ArrogantKungFuGuy: Miki, Megumi and Kankuro, themselves {{Man Child}}ren in their own right.
* AttackHello: Invoked by Megumi after Miki blocks Megumi’s attack with her container:
-->'''Megumi:''' ''As you'd expect, this is simply my daily greeting.''\\
'''Akihiko:''' ''That's your 'greeting'?''\\
'''Megumi:''' With a beautiful smile: ''"[[HaveANiceDaySmile Have a nice day!]]" – then puts on a FaceOfAThug and closes her door.
* AttentionDeficitOohShiny:
** Miki literally cannot focus in making deliveries without being distracted by helping stray dogs, beating BitPartBadguys or chasing insects.
** Kayahara-sensei seems to take her responsibilities as a teacher and a BullyHunter seriously, until she gets her TrademarkFavoriteFood and then forgets everything else.
* AwesomenessByAnalysis: Deconstructed when Kankuro becomes a StalkerWithoutACrush to analyze Miki’s weakness. Being the resident IdiotHero, Kankuro uses InsaneTrollLogic to ruin this trope:
--> '''Kankuro:''' ''That Onimaru Miki didn’t knock that train out of her way, she dodged it, [[VerbalTic nya!]] I understand at last! That body of Onimaru Miki that’s as strong as a rock still can’t beat a train! I finally got it [[VerbalTic nya!]]''
* BaitAndSwitchCredits: The opening of the show looks several times more serious than the actual content it precedes, complete with a HotBlooded theme song from Masami Okui (future member of Music/JAMProject).
** It’s debatable: The music is superb, but the images only ''seem'' serious, those are: The main cast ChewingTheScenery while they adopt {{Ass Kicking Pose}}s, Miki {{DeathRay}}ing Megumi’s house, Makiko {{MegaTonPunch}}ing the world, Miki SkySurfing her ramen container… all of them showing a WorldOfHam.
* BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind: Akihiko gets one between his justice loving Star Rangers Side and his EnemyWithin Hell's Bunny Minion, lampshaded by Miki:
-->''I think this is what [[InternalConflictTropes they call an internal struggle]]. The only difference is that this guy is saying everything out loud.''
* BecomingTheMask: Just after his TomatoInTheMirror moment, Akihiko decides that even if he is not a Star Ranger, he will be a hero.
-->'''Kankuro:''' ''[[YouCanBarelyStand Hey Akihiko, your body can't…]]''\\
'''Akihiko:''' *Signals Kankuro to shut up* ''[[DamselInDistress Wakana-chan is waiting for Toshiyuki – Kun's safe return]]''. – ThemeMusicPowerUp begins - ''[[HeroicResolve I’ve still got willpower]]. [[IGaveMyWord Since I was asked, I have to help her!]] [[HeroicSpirit A man… is forged from willpower and perserverance!]]'' – Cue ImagineSpotting.
* BelligerentSexualTension: Episode 6B, ''The Rift That Looked Like [[RedStringOfFate Red String]]'', deconstructs the FightingSeries, showing us this trope is averted when the protagonist of this series [[AdultChild obviously lacks the maturity to fall in love with someone else]]
* BestServedCold: Kankuro's entire purpose for returning to Hanami is to finally take revenge against Miki for all the abuse she heaped on him since way back to their childhood.
* BitPartBadguys / VeryPunchableMan:
** Miki encounters an unfortunate thief, LowlyCriminal {{Yakuza}}, and JapaneseDelinquents, all of them only there to [[MuggingTheMonster Mug The Monster]] Miki and give her an excuse to CurbStompBattle them, and then be forgotten.
--->"Hey Missy, [[BumpIntoConfrontation are you going to pretend that you didn’t bump into me?]] You shouldn't distress us [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial ordinary citizens]]. Maybe you should pay me as an apology."
** This trope also explains why Miki treats Kankuro as the UnknownRival. Miki [[ButForMeItWasTuesday has forgotten why Kankuro wants to defeat her]], but she considers him a [[BitPartBadguys Bit-Part Badguy]] / VeryPunchableMan that keeps meeting her.
* BitchInSheepsClothing: Megumi, whose dark side Miki frequently tries to expose.
* TheBlindLeadingTheBlind:
** Miki always wants to help the VictimOfTheWeek. Unfortunately, the two teens from episode 1 A and Suzuki, the would-be delinquent from episode 4 A, immediately recognize Miki as a WomanChild ComedicSociopath that is a KnowNothingKnowItAll:
--->'''Suzuki:''' ''What'' exactly ''can I learn from someone like her? ''
** This is the CentralTheme of episode 4's TwoShorts: As a teacher, Kayahara-sensei feels it's her obligation to be a BullyHunter and help her students to reach success. However, her constant depression makes her look like a StringyHairedGhostGirl, and that prevents her helping anyone.
* BreakThemByTalking: Megumi can easily talk down at Miki and shatter her confidence with a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech, but it only works because Miki is flawed and Megumi is just another SchoolyardBullyAllGrownUp.
* BreakingTheFourthWall
-->"It's the first episode and the heroine is puking."
* TheBully[=/=]SchoolyardBullyAllGrownUp: Deconstructed by Miki and Megumi’s relationship.
** Miki fits the traditional bully archetype: powerful but not too bright, making her a DumbMuscle. She also has a lithe body, which forces her to fight using WaifFu, but is certainly not a DirtyCoward.
** Megumi is a realistic take on bullies: a {{Hypocrite}} and a BitchInSheepsClothing who [[VandalismBackfire sabotages Miki’s work]] [[ThrewMyBikeOnTheRoof and destroys her property]], loves using MaliciousSlander, stages {{Wounded Gazelle Gambit}}s, and is adept in [[BreakThemByTalking verbal beatdowns]] and [[LetsYouAndHimFight making "friends" so she can sic them against Miki]]. But as only Toshiyuki and Makiko could beat Miki, so [[FridgeLogic logically Megumi believes]] [[InformedLoner she has no friends]]. Oh, and she [[LastNameBasis always refers to Miki as "Onimaru"]].
** Kankuro [[BrokenAesop deconstructs the "standing up for oneself" attitude]] in dealing with Miki. After four years in college, [[BestServedCold he returns to Hanami to defeat Miki]] and thus purge all memories of his HilariouslyAbusiveChildhood -- by [[DefeatMeansFriendship winning her respect]]. Yet Miki, unable to empathize with anyone weaker than her, [[UnknownRival doesn't acknowledge the rivalry]], let alone [[ButForMeItWasTuesday remember his name]]. Thus Kankuro is trapped in a CycleOfRevenge, unable to leave Hanami and start anew because he simply CantCatchUp.
* BullyHunter: Deconstructed; our protagonists are all Bully Hunters, but for the wrong reasons, or making thing worse for everyone.
** Miki always hunts delinquents and Yakuza underlings… but not ForGreatJustice, just because she loves violence and to slack at her job.
** Makiko stops Miki’s bullying only because she needs Miki to work for her, or when Miki is being a true JerkAss.
** Megumi has been bullied practically all her life by Miki, and as a result becomes a bully right back, evolving into the SchoolyardBullyAllGrownUp.
** Kankuro was bullied by Miki in the past, and he has come back to his old town trying [[DefeatMeansRespect to stand up for himself]]. Unfortunately, he is trapped in a CycleOfRevenge that doesn’t let him get his desired CharacterDevelopment.
** Kayahara-sensei is a teacher who is actively seeking to stop any bullying and the CycleOfRevenge... only because she wants to avoid her own self esteem issues. [[AttentionDeficitOohShiny She is easily distracted from her quest by her]] TrademarkFavoriteFood.
* BurgerFool: Miki and Megumi, poster girls of their stalls, subvert this trope and its monotonous nature by being [[ManChild Women Children]] and {{Arrogant Kung Fu G|uy}}irls who [[SitcomArchnemesis constantly fight each other]], [[TheSlacker slack on their job]], and [[MundaneMadeAwesome blow any issue/matter out of proportion]].
-->'''Miki:''' ''Oh, the children seem to understand the heated excitement of my job as a poster girl!''
* ButForMeItWasTuesday: Miki doesn't remember Kankuro, the guy she bullied as a kid. Deconstructed because Miki is not a villain, she is a SchoolyardBullyAllGrownUp and TheBully cannot care for those weaker that him.
-->'''Miki:''' ''So, who is this guy?''\\
'''Akihiko:''' ''You really don’t remember? You used to pick on him all the time.''\\
'''Miki:''' ''I don’t know this guy at all.''\\
'''Akihiko:''' ''It’s only been four years!''\\
'''Kankuro:''' ''How awful, [[VerbalTic Nya!]]''
* ButtMonkey: Deconstructed, because in a FightingSeries, the {{Nice Guy}}s Akihiko and Kankuro become this.
* CallingYourAttacks: Spoofed in Episode 1. Miki calls the name of an attack she ''isn't'' using to defeat a criminal.
* CannotTellFictionFromReality: [[LoonyFan Akihiko Ohta]] watchs the last episode of the [[ShowWithinAShow Star Rangers show]], where a crying girl asks the Red Ranger for help, and he manages to make her smile at the end of the episode. When a crying Wakana asks for help to find Toshiyuki, Akihiko [[JumpedAtTheCall jumps at the call]], envisioning himself as the Red Ranger, her bicycle as a [[CoolBike Ranger Motorcycle]], and assigning [[ColourCodedForYourConvenience Rangers code names to the rest of the core cast]], recruiting them into the search… and acting like a true LordErrorProne.
* CardCarryingVillain: Megumi averts this trope -- she is willing to do anything, [[CombatPragmatist no matter how low]], [[TheRival to beat Miki]], but she has a GuiltComplex about this so big she sees herself as evil due to her self-hatred.
* CarryingACake: Miki is a bicycle ramen delivery girl... who gets into [[ChronicHeroSyndrome fights during every delivery]], [[{{Slapstick}} with predictable results]].
* ChronicHeroSyndrome: Miki is easily distracted by wanting to help someone, beat someone, or even both. Also deconstructed because this is the perfect excuse to [[TheSlacker slack at her job]].
* ChuckingChalk: The page image.
* CityWithNoName: Averted, as a deconstruction. TheCity is named Hanami, a very normal town with a very abnormal shopping district, and in no way a CityOfAdventure.
* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: When Akihiko assigns the color to each of the core cast, he exploits the GoodColoursEvilColours trope in a subtle TakeThat to Miki: Akihiko (TheHero) assigns himself Red (RedIsHeroic), IdiotHero Kankuro is assigned Blue (TheLancer), TokenMiniMoe Wakana is assigned Yellow (KidAppealCharacter), BitchInSheepsClothing Megumi is assigned Pink (TheChick), and DesignatedHero Miki is assigned Black (badass AntiHero).
* CombatPragmatist: Deconstructed by Megumi, who since childhood realized that she could never beat Miki in a fair fight, so she’s willing to do anything to defeat her that doesn’t involve direct combat, no matter how cowardly or wrong. Even so, she hates herself for this, so much so she believes herself naturally evil to cope with this, and has developed a GuiltComplex so enormous she is convinced Kayahara-sensei is an avenging ghost out to punish her.
* ComedicSociopathy
* ComplexityAddiction: Miki, as TheBully and a JerkWithAHeartOfGold, displays this in episode 3A when she insists on fighting the WorthyOpponent when she could easily avoid it. And in episode 5B, she insists on beating Ohta to use him as a stepping stone to escape a well, when Ohta had a rope and Miki could’ve just let him rescue her, which she simply handwaves.
-->''It's too late to worry about that right now.''
** Kankuro's plans to defeat Miki always have to involve some kind of duel.
* CookingDuel: Frequently, usually between Miki and Megumi, though sometimes it can escalate to MeleeATrois when Kankuro joins in, and then a ''[[SerialEscalation four-way]]'' with Toshiyuki.
%%* CreditsRunningSequence
* CrocodileTears: Megumi fakes tears when Miki acusses her of changing the sugar of her coffee for salt on purpose.
* CuteAndPsycho: Invoked by Miki when her mother advances towards her wearing a big smile, with the intention to punish her for slacking in her job:
-->'''Miki:''' (Talking about TheRival): ''Man, that fake smile really pissses me off!''\\
'''Makiko:''' ''So, you skipped work all day. What exactly you were doing?''\\
'''Miki:''' ''Mom, there is a good reason for this''\\
'''Makiko:''' ''No excuses!''\\
'''Miki:''' ''That smile... is fake! Stay away from me!''
* CutLexLuthorACheck: Happens on a smaller scale with Kankuro. After spending several episodes putting all his energy into trying to beat Miki, the one day he worked honestly yielded him a better salary.
* DangerousForbiddenTechnique: Parodied when Kankuro tries to decide what thing he would imitate to beat Miki.
--> '''Kankuro:''' ''[[PowerCopying As long as I imagine myself as something before training, I’ll gain both confidence and strength,]] [[VerbalTic nya]]. What should I imagine myself as next, [[VerbalTic nya]]?''\\
'''Akihiko:''' ''Shouldn’t you have already decided on that?''\\
Flashback of Miki being [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomped]] by her mother, a fat restaurant hostess.\\
'''Kankuro:''' ''That’s impossible, [[VerbalTic nya]].''
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Akihiko was bullied at his High School, but he managed to grow up a NiceGuy. That explains why he is such a LoonyFan in regards to the [[{{Sentai}} Red Ranger]]
-->'''Akihiko:''' ''Are you being bullied? My high school life was rather dark too. [[ThrewMyBikeOnTheRoof My shoes got hidden...]] I was bossed around...''\\
'''Miki:''' ''[[PrankDate And being forced to confess to a girl you didn't like.]]''\\
'''Akihiko:''' ;;[[HarmfulToMinors Ahh! That really was the worst!]] Wait, how did you know about that?''
* DarkHorseVictory: Miki and Megumi are having a life-and-death battle over a stuffed pig, and Kayahara-sensei wins it (plus a big screen TV) over both of them. In another instance, Wakana ends up snatching a win from Miki, Megumi ''and'' Kayahara.
* DatingCatwoman: Kankuro and Miki. Sort of. See "OneDialogueTwoConversations" below.
* DebutQueue: Akihiko, Miki, and Makiko are all introduced in Episode 1. The cast slowly builds with each succeeding half-episode until Megumi, Wakana, Toshiyuki, Kankurou, and Kayahara-sensei have all been introduced.
* {{Deconstruction}}: Very much so for the FightingSeries genre.
* {{Determinator}}: Deconstructed with Kankuro, whose hope of defeating Miki in a fair fight is only in his head, and his refusal to give up is fairly foolish.
* DisproportionateRetribution: Miki will beat you if you are a {{delinquent}} and are ''there'', Makiko will MegatonPunch Miki if she is late, Megumi tries to curse Miki for bullying her, Kankuro would do anything to defeat Miki, and Toshiyuki will beat you if you invade his house.
* DisproportionateReward: Miki is willing to be a substitute pitcher for a junior baseball league after a player helped her find an address. Kankuro does the same for the opposing team, and he's willing to help Megumi beat Miki up as a show of gratitude for sheltering him in Huet after another beatdown from Miki. Ultimately deconstructed, because they have ulterior motives -- Miki wants to slack (again), while Kankuro still persists in trying to beat up Miki.
* DoNotDoThisCoolThing: InUniverse: Averted in the first short -- after seeing two teens fighting, Makiko asks them to stop...[[ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption with violence]]. Miki prefers to challenge them to an EatingContest. [[RunningGag Things degenerate in a violent fight between Miki and her mother...]] and after seeing two {{Man Child}}ren fighting, [[AnAesop the boys feel ashamed of themselves and leave as friends]].
* CuteClumsyGirl: Miki stages a EngineeredPublicConfession denouncing that Megumi served Miki her coffe with salt instead of sugar, so Megumi’s clients can realize she is really a BitchInSheepsClothing. Megumi apologizes and invokes being a {{Dojikko}}. Megumi’s clients forgive her and think she is even more adorable.
* DoubleStandardAbuseFemaleOnMale: Females Miki and Megumi routinely beat males Kankuro and Akihiko. Akihiko, as an adult, WouldntHitAGirl, but Kankuro as an AdultChild definitely WouldHitAGirl… if only he could, but he CantCatchUp with Miki.
* TheDreaded: Parodied: To hear Kayahara sensei’s name is enough for the students of her school to scream and run in panic.
* DumbMuscle: Miki -- has the strength of a Navy SEAL, but the intelligence of a preschooler.
* EconomyCast: The anime excludes three other recurring characters in the manga — a police offer, the poster guy for a fish store and a TokenMiniMoe [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot sushi cook who fights like a kunoichi]]. {{Hand Wave}}d in the Episode 1's "OnTheNext" dialogue: Ohta needs someone to look after his shop whenever he hangs around with Miki, and Megumi needs someone to sell bread while she is attracting customers, but showing more people will alter the LimitedSocialCircle.
-->'''Miki:''' "Hey, Ohta-san, do you manage your shop alone?"\\
'''Ohta:''' "Eh? What about Megumi-chan?"\\
'''Megumi:''' "That is a profesional secret, of course!"\\
'''Miki:''' "You are alone, isn't it?"
* TheEeyore: Kayahara-sensei, who exudes a regular aura of depression with very few exceptions.
* EngineeredPublicConfession: Miki tries this in episode 7 A, ''Peel Off the Fake Smile'', when she becomes a client of Megumi’s bakery and acts like TheThingThatWouldNotLeave to make Megumi drop his façade of TheFakeCutie in front of her clients denouncing her as the BitchInSheepsClothing.
* EntitledBastard: Miki and Megumi never doubt asking for help from the very people they constantly bully and abuse.
* EvilCannotComprehendGood: Deconstructed with Megumi: Given her self hatred, she considers herself as a CardCarryingVillain, but she is only a SchoolyardBullyAllGrownUp who cannot understand why she has to help anyone or why anyone would want to be her friend… because her definition of friend is ''Someone who I can manipulate to defeat TheRival Miki''. She cannot understand why Kayahara-sensei would want to be her friend, nor that IdiotHero Kankuro would want to help her in her quest.
* EvilLaugh: Megumi’s NoblewomansLaugh, if not evil, is very annoying! Hell's Bunny achieves the same effect!
* EvilVersusEvil: Miki vs. Megumi.
* ExactlyWhatIAimedAt:
-->'''Miki:''' ''An attack of that level? Did you think I couldn’t dodge that?''\\
'''Megumi:''' ''That’s not it… his target isn’t Onimaru-san. It’s the ramen.''\\
Toshiyuki eats the ramen Miki is trying to delivery while a surprised Miki falls ignominously.\\
'''Miki:''' ''You bastard!''
%%* FaceFault
* FaceOfAThug: Kayahara-sensei is a female version -- unless she's eating a good meal, her normal face frightens children, small animals and Megumi. She gets mistaken for a [[Literature/TheRing certain]] StringyHairedGhostGirl ''onryo'' when Miki, and later Megumi, first meet her.
* TheFakeCutie: Megumi is a full-grown woman that insists on dressing, speaking and acting like a cute child, sometimes to a sickening degree, [[FanserviceWithASmile as a ploy to get clients into her bakery]].
* FamilyBusiness: Onimaru Chinese Restaurant is owned by Makiko and her only employee is her daughter Miki.
* {{Fandumb}}: InUniverse. Yakihiko’s moral dilemma in Episode 8A, ''"That guy sure looks like he is the strongest"'', shows him as a [[{{Sentai}} Star Rangers]] LoonyFan who has doubts about his fandom when the evil "Hell's Bunny" appears and he becomes a Mad Groom for an Evil Character. When some little kids want to roleplay with him and forget the name of a character, he exploits it:
-->'''Little Kid''': ''What was it?''\\
'''Miki''': ''Oh yeah, it's Dark Star!''\\
'''Akihiko''': ''(Yelling furiously) Wrong! It's Pink Star! [[StopHavingFunGuys If you don't even know such basic information, you shouldn't be role-playing Star Rangers!]]''
* {{Fanservice}}: Surprisingly averted -- even when the two main characters are poster girls and are at least in their twenties, they dress very conservatively. Megumi has a FuroScene and she also invokes FanServiceWithASmile, but those scenes are integral to the plot.
* FanserviceWithASmile: Played with -- Miki is the poster girl for her mother's ramen restaurant but wears a little red MagicSkirt; Megumi is the poster girl for a bakery, but wears a long blue skirt.
** In Episode 1, both girls challenge each other on a "best poster girl" duel: Megumi wears a sexy mini-dress, while Miki wears a NonIronicClown costume. While Megumi [[ShowSomeLeg shows some leg]] to attract young adults to her bakery, Miki attracts a lot of children. After some children realize that Megumi looks like Hell Bunny, antagonist of the ShowWithinAShow "Star Rangers", the latter changea into a Hell Bunny costume to attract children. And when some of Miki's clients threaten to leave unless she drinks with them, Miki complies when she's called "beautiful".
* FightingSeries: Very deconstructed. And parodied.
* ForTheEvulz: Miki wanted to buy the store's last plushie for the NostalgiaFilter, but when she knows TheRival also wants it...
-->''Well, there is a reason, but before that... Now that I know you want it, I definitely have to take it.''
* FreudianExcuse
** When she was a small child, Miki read this report for her class:
--->"My family has a ramen restaurant. While I was growing up, I used to see my mother’s back while she was working all day. [[BreadEggsMilkSquick To think one day I will grow up to be like my mom gives me the shivers]]. [[GrowingUpSucks To have to work since morning to night will be terrible]]." ([[MoodDissonance Smiles]])
** Back when she was a kid, Megumi decieved her teacher into [[TrainingFromHell teaching her how to throw a chalk]].
** Kankuro used to be bullied by Miki, four years his junior. To truly move on, [[BestServedCold he has to defeat Miki]]. [[ButForMeItWasTuesday But for Miki, he was but a nobody]].
** VictimOfTheWeek Suzuki:
--->'''Suzuki:''' ''All right, I'll tell you. What I said before about school being boring… It was all lies. To tell the truth, after that time, I lost my way in the cemetery, I’ve always been scared of [[TheSevenMysteries ghost stories, scary pictures, haunted staircases and the likes]]… I worked had to overcome my fears, and could finally bear listening to [[GhostStory ghost stories]], But this spring… every time I went to school, I'd get scared even by just looking at my teacher's [[FaceOfAThug face]], so [[InvokedTrope I became a]] {{delinquent}}.''\\
'''Miki:''' ''In other words, you're scared of ghosts.''\\
'''Suzuki:''' ''It's really lame, I know.''
* FunnyBackgroundEvent: In episode 2B, while Ohta is cleaning the street, Kankuro, disguised as a trashcan, is beaten by a car. Later, while Kankuro is spying on Miki, some aliens refuse to take revenge on Miki, who previously destroyed their spaceship.
** InUniverse example: Wakana and Chiemi are chatting while Toshiyuki and Kankuro fight in the background and only Chiemi realizes it. They stop when Wakana checks them. After Kankuro menaces Chiemi with his looks, she flees.
* GagSeries: It's the closest anime equivalent to ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry'' yet.
* GhostInTheMachine: Akihiko endures a "GoodAngelBadAngel" fight so intense only plastic figures of ''Star Ranger'''s two predecessors can snap him out of it.
* GratuitousEnglish: How Naive! Emo Girl! Smile! Thank you!
* GreenEyedMonster: Miki hates all the [[MaleGaze male attention]] Megumi gets when she does FanServiceWithASmile. FridgeBrilliance: This is a clue about Miki and Megumi's relationship as each other's ShadowArchetype.
* GuiltComplex: Megumi claims she is content being a CombatPragmatist. [[YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre She lies]]. She is painfully aware that she's a {{Hypocrite}} and it's so hard for her and pervades every aspect of her life [[ItMakesSenseInContext she believes]] that Kayahara-sensei is an ''[[StringyHairedGhostGirl onryo]]'' avenging spirit trying to torment her.
* HamToHamCombat: Literally speaking, any combat you see is between two or more hams.
* HeroicComedicSociopath: And it's a marketplace full of them!
* HilariouslyAbusiveChildhood: Deconstructed with Kankuro, who has become a BullyHunter, literally stopping his life until he stands up for himself against Miki. Here he explains what happened while we see a PhotoMontage of those scenes:
--> ''She tied me up and forced me to eat crayfish, She threw a beehive into my back. She rolled me up in a carpet and tossed me into a river.''
* HopeSpot: Just when Miki believes she's exposed Megumi as a BitchInSheepsClothing to her bakery clients, Megumi invokes being a {{Dojikko}}, frustrating Miki's plan.
* HotBlooded: Miki and Kankurou, especially the latter, considering [[Creator/NobuyukiHiyama his voice actor]]. Unfortunately, it usually involves him becoming more involved in trying to defeat Miki (only to end up having his ass served to him) than doing something productive.
* HotForStudent: Averted. One of Kayahara-sensei's students falls for her, but seems unaware of this, other than being happy that he's going to back to school, if only because he finds her so adorable WhenSheSmiles.
* HypocriticalHumor:
** All the core cast is guilty -- someone criticizes another for some fault that is an established part of their own characterization, or just before or after exhibiting that particular fault themselves. LampshadeHanging almost always follows immediately.
---> '''Miki:''' "Joining in the middle of the game, trying to influence the outcome... ThisIsUnforgivable"\\
'''Junior baseball players:''' "Didn’t you just do that too?"
** Kankuro:
--->'''Kankuro:''' "No more sneaky, underheaded attacks. I’ll just find her weakness and exploit it, nya!"\\
'''Akihiko''' "That’s even more underhanded, isn’t it?"\\
'''Kankuro''' {{Beat}}. "Anyway, I don’t have time for chit-chat, nya."
* IHaveTheHighGround: Miki, in the opening.
* IWasQuiteALooker: Makiko used to be quite the stunner when Miki was a toddler.
* ImTakingHerHomeWithMe: Parodied with Miki -- as a child, she used to take home kittens, an old person who fainted, and some bullied kids. As a [[ManChild woman (child)]], she takes home a criminal she defeated.
* IdiotHero: Kankuro, through and through. Miki is also a lesser example, being DumbMuscle and all.
* ImagineSpotting: When Akihiko imagines himself as the Red Star Ranger while fighting an AngryGuardDog to protect a child, Kankuro briefly sees Akihiko as he thinks of himself, and acts very surprised:
-->'''Kankuro:''' "Eh, what happened? For just a moment, I saw Akihiko as Star Ranger, nya!"
* ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy: Despite all the training she went through, Megumi rarely hits Miki with her skewers.
* ImprobableWeaponUser: Megumi uses ''hot dog skewers'', after [[TrainingMontage first learning how to throw blackboard chalk with high precision]].
* ImprovisedTraining: Kankuro uses some old tires and school furniture to train to become… a train. ItMakesSenseInContext. Sort of.
* InVinoVeritas[=/=]MirrorMoralityMachine: Alcohol turns the normally violent Miki into a NiceGirl who despises violence and can fight only by instinct. Inversely, a drunken Megumi shows the "bitch" in "BitchInSheepsClothing".
* InactionSequence / TalkingIsAFreeAction: Played so straight it could be a parody at episode 2B, Kankuro and Miki are less than ten meters apart before their fight. Then Kankuro begins to run towards Miki to attack her, and [[CallingYourAttacks he manages to imitate the voiceover of a local train before fighting]]. Miki stays immobile while [[ToThePain she begins to imitate the voiceover of a bullet train]] and adopts an AssKickingPose. Then she begins to run towards Kankuro. [[CombatCommentator Akihiko desperately cries to Kankuro to stop]]. Kankuro manages to answer that [[UpToEleven he will increase the power]]. [[InactionSequence Miki and Kankuro take one minute and ten seconds running into each other at a distance of less than ten meters]]. [[RuleOfCool And it’s epic]].
* InformedLoner: Deconstructed with Megumi, who sincerely believes herself a victim of bullying who has no friends even when she hangs out with her LimitedSocialCircle. FridgeBrilliance when you realize that Megumi is TheBully[=/=]SchoolyardBullyAllGrownUp, and her definition of friend is: ''[[LetsYouAndHimFight someone who Megumi can manipulate into beating Miki]]''. Since nobody wants to do that, Megumi feels she has no friends.
-->'''Kayahara-sensei:''' ''This isn't bullying, it's just mutual aggression.''\\
'''Megumi:''' ''[[ThisCannotBe How did it turn out like this?]] [[WoundedGazelleGambit It was just supposed to curse Onimaru-san]], [[OutGambitted but now I'm getting involved too]]. [[ItMakesSenseInContext It makes no difference if it's this world of the next]]. [[InformedLoner I am all alone.]]'' '''[[LargeHam I'm SO PITIFUL!!!!]]'''
* InsaneTrollLogic: This fuels Kankuro's plans to beat Miki.
* {{Japanese Delinquent|s}}: One episode features Suzuki, a schoolboy trying to be one, only to be scared by Kayahara-sensei into skipping school. Until he sees her smiling and falls in love, causing him to ultimately change his ways. She seems mostly unaware. In other episodes, they are merely BitPartBadguys / [[VeryPunchableMan Very Punchable Men]] to Miki.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Miki, HeroicComedicSociopath and all, battles delinquents and/or saves hapless kids one minute, then bullies them the next. Similarly, Megumi does genuine good on occasion, and has a massive GuiltComplex about having to do bad.
* KillerRabbit: Toshiyuki, the Endou family's guard dog, looks harmless. But he has MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily and has fighting skills to match even Miki.
* KungFuKid: Miki and Megumi were this as kids, and [[OneOfTheKids they still are]] even as [[ManChild Women Children]].
* LaserGuidedKarma: Parodied when Megumi, just seconds after trying to curse Miki with ThePowerOfHate nailing a [[VoodooDoll wara ningyo]] to a sacred tree, sees Kayahara-sensei falling from that same tree and takes her for a StringyHairedGhostGirl that is [[GhostlyGoals going to curse Megumi]].
* LawOfDisproportionateResponse: Justified because the core cast is a bunch of ManChild [[SchoolyardBullyAllGrownUp Schoolyard Bullies All Grown Up]].
* LetsYouAndHimFight: Just after Megumi hears Miki describing a powerful enemy at the Endou house, while Makiko is punishing Miki for constantly CarryingACake:
--> ''This is surprising! There’s someone who can land Onimaru–san in this much trouble. He must definitely be an amazing fighter. [[FalseFriend First I should become friends with this person]], then teaming up would be the best course of action.''
* LimitedSocialCircle: Once the primary cast is [[DebutQueue introduced]], the only people they seem to encounter besides each other are random customers. Maybe it's justified, the core cast being a bunch of {{Heroic Comedic Sociopath}}s.
* LimitedWardrobe: Everyone wears civil clothes whenever they are not working, but when they are, they use their {{Burger Fool}}s uniforms.
* LoonyFan: Deconstructed by Akihiko, who despite being abused during his childhood, is a NiceGuy who is everyone’s ButtMonkey. He deeply desires to be the Red Ranger because he is always recognized for his efforts with a HundredPercentHeroismRating. Akihiko is so fond of the Red Ranger that he copies his CatchPhrase ''I’ll pay them back several times over'' and uses it in situations where it doesn’t even make sense:
-->'''Akihiko:''' ''[[CannotTellFictionFromReality Just leave it to Star Ranger!]]''\\
'''Wakana:''' (Very confused) ''Star Ranger?''\\
'''Akihiko:''' ''That Toshiyuki, I'll bring him back several times over.''\\
'''Wakana:''' ''No, just once is enough.''
* LordErrorProne: Akihiko JumpedAtTheCall to find Toshiyuki [[CannotTellFictionFromReality believing himself the Red Ranger]], but he fails to ask Toshiyuki's description, gets lost many time asking other children for him, and when he believes he's found him, he attacks an AngryGuardDog that seems to menace the child (that dog never wanted to attack the child and [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomps]] Akihiko). Also, the dog [[spoiler: is really Toshiyuki]].
* MagicSkirt: No matter what wacky gravity defying antics Miki is performing, her skirt is always in an adequate place.
* ManChild
** Miki and Megumi are both twenty and in a job, but both look in their mid-teens and act less than half their age... and very violent ones, at that, too, bordering into {{Psychopathic Manchild}}ren.
** Kankuro is twenty-four and already with a college degree, but came back to Hanami [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge to get back at Miki]] for the many years she bullied him ([[{{Determinator}} not that he will have a chance, but still...]]). He also acts like a true IdiotHero and his reasoning is pure InsaneTrollLogic.
** Makiko was very depressed when she found out that the Ramen contest has an age limit (and she's beyond it).
** Yakihiko’s obsession for [[ShowWithinAShow Star Rangers]] made him a LordErrorProne who CannotTellFictionFromReality.
* MajorInjuryUnderreaction: Kankuro hits the ball Miki was pitching him... with his arm. It breaks.
-->"[[UnsportsmanlikeGloating It’s a home run, isn’t it? It’s my victory]]. But my left arm seems to have bent in a way it isn’t supposed to. [[ComicallyMissingThePoint Then it’s a tie]], [[VerbalTic Nya!]]"
* MasterOfDelusion: A variation: Kankuro fervently believes that he is Miki’s WorthyOpponent, but to Miki (and everyone else) he is only the UnknownRival:
--> '''Kankuro''' – Talking over a PhotoMontage of him being [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomped]] by a smiling Miki: ''But everytime, my attacks have failed just barely. Everytime, I’ve lost just by a hair’s breadth, [[VerbalTic nya!]]''
* MeanCharacterNiceActor: InUniverse -- the actress who plays "Hell's Bunny", the antagonist of ''Star Rangers'', is a sweet, kind lady outside the camera, and is even best friends with the actress who plays "Star Pink".
* MistakenIdentity: Given her constant depression, her FaceOfAThug and her physical appeareance, everyone takes Kayahara-sensei for an StringyHairedGhostGirl ''onryo'' bent on revenge on the living. Given her enormous GuiltComplex, Megumi [[ThoroughlyMistakenIdentity will always take her for one.]]
* MundaneMadeAwesome: All the core cast every single episode! Let's just say that the picture at the anime page shows [[MundaneMadeAwesome/AnimeAndManga Kankuro changing a bulb. Epic!]]
* MyKungFuIsStrongerThanYours: Deconstructed -- because HardWorkHardlyWorks, the only one who [[TrainingFromHell trains to be strong]] is Kankuro, Miki's UnknownRival. Toshiyuki and Megumi know they can’t beat Miki with brute force, so they [[WeakButSkilled use their intelligence]]. And not even all of them combined can match up to Makiko.
* NiceGuy: Akihiko deconstructs this trope, because being surrounded by {{Arrogant Kung Fu Guy}}s, he becomes their ButtMonkey. Kankuro also qualifies.
* NobleDemon: Endou Toshiyuki only wants to fight and bite people, but he would NeverHurtAnInnocent and recognizes Kankuro as a WorthyOpponent. It says a lot of this series that the most ethical fighter is an AngryGuardDog.
* NoblewomansLaugh: Megumi uses these a lot.
* NotDistractedByTheSexy: At least by the people of the district. In one episode, Megumi tries to attract male customers to her bakery with a sexy dress. It fails when Miki dresses up as a clown, attracting children, and their families by consequence.
* NotSoAboveItAll: Akihiko is the voice of reason most of the time, but when it involves ''Star Ranger'' even he can snap.
* NotSoDifferent: How Kankuro eventually sees his relationship to Megumi, being both young adults itching to defeat Miki.
* OneDialogueTwoConversations: Wakana misinterprets Kankuro's constant challenges to Miki as a sign that he's {{Tsundere}} for her, and gives him dating advice. Likewise, Kankuro further misinterprets Wakana's advice as tips to [[AttackItsWeakPoint find and exploit Miki's weakness(es)]]. Kankuro still follows Wakana's advice to the [[LoveLetterLunacy (love) letter]], and HilarityEnsues.
* TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou: ''Almost'' invoked word by word:
-->'''UnknownRival:''' ''Onimaru Miki! How could you have a showdown with someone else without letting me know, nya? The one who will defeat you is me, Nishiyama Kanku-'' [[KilledMidSentence Knocked Out Mid Sentence]]
* OpposingCombatPhilosophies: Parodied to hilarity in Episode 10B, "Nishiyama Kankuro vs Kannazuki Megumi". Kankuro, the IdiotHero, believes in [[AttackAttackAttack going all out]] [[HonorBeforeReason without thinking twice]], and is the UnknownRival to Miki. Megumi, the SmugSnake, prefers [[TrapMaster luring Miki into her traps]]. When Megumi offers Kankuro an [[EnemyMine alliance against Miki]], the latter quickly agrees, but their combat philosophies are so diametrically opposed they go through an epic switcheroo between [[WeAreStrugglingTogether infighting]] and [[FireForgedFriends compromise]]. It’s very easy for Miki to incite EnemyCivilWar between them, but Megumi finds Kankuro a WorthyOpponent with his idealism, while Kankuro realizes that he and Megumi are NotSoDifferent.
* ParentalSubstitute: Akihiko goes out of his way to help Miki: He wants to know if Kankuro plans to hurt her, he follows her to deliver ramen when he suspects something is wrong, and spies on Miki and Kankuro’s “date”. Miki has her mother, and she does care about her, but she is very busy working because Miki is TheSlacker.
* PassiveAggressiveKombat: Deconstucted by Miki and Megumi: This is the weapon of the people who cannot win a physical confrontation, [[PowerAtAPrice but also takes a psychological toll on those who use it]]:
** Megumi knews she cannot defeat Miki in a physical confrontation, so she excels at verbally humiliating Miki… at the price of developing a terrible GuiltComplex about being a BitchInSheepsClothing and being trapped in a CycleOfRevenge.
** Miki can beat physically any person in the world… except her own mother, Makiko. As a consequence, Miki never uses PassiveAggressiveKombat on anyone (there is no need) except her mother: Miki always finds a way to [[DamnedByFaintPraise call her mother "ugly", "old" or "fat"]], or by being TheSlacker in the family business … at the price of being a ManChild, sponging off her own mother.
* PassThePopcorn: Megumi discovers that Onimaru Restaurant exploits this trope when she does TheInfiltration to find why the restaurant thrives when the [[FanserviceWithASmile kanban musume]] is not as cute as Megumi, the décor is not as beautiful as Megumi’s bakery and the locale is rather dirty. There ''has'' to be another reason besides the food for their success: Megumi finds out that the clients are there to see Miki battle people.
-->'''Megumi:''' ''I understand now! The reason so many customers are here is because they want to watch Onimaru battle people, one by one. To the customers, this is some kind of spectacular event.''
* PerpetualPoverty: Deconstructed with Miki, who has little money, and no TV or video games... because she is TheSlacker sponging off her mother. Kayahara-sensei tries to be a SaveOurStudents teacher, but is so depressed that only manages to be TheDreaded among her students... her room is completely empty except for a calendar and a TV she won at a contest. Maybe she has a LimitedWardrobe because her jumpsuit is her only clothes.
* PetTheDog: Miki tries to do it, but being TheBully, it ends up being an EpicFail:
-->'''Kankuro:''' After being defeated again: ''[[{{Determinator}} Hold it, Onimaru Miki, No matter what, at the very least I'll have you remember my name, nya.]]''
-->'''Miki:''' (Smiling) ''I remember it. It's Hatashi Jou [[note]] Translation of "I challenge you", the text of the Challenge Letter Kankuro hands her every time he meets her [[/note]], right?'' She closes her door.
-->'''Kankuro:''' ''[[KnowWhenToFoldEm Tomorrow, I'll start to use that name, nya!]]''
* PowerCopying: Deconstructed when Kankuro, an IdiotHero, uses InsaneTrollLogic to conclude that by imitating a local train that Miki avoided she could beat her:
--> It’s similar to animal styled martial arts, They imagine themselves as the animals they’re imitating, nya. In other words: ''[[InsaneTrollLogic The train is pulling into station four, please step behind the yellow line… KATAN KATAN, KATAN KATAN. Yes, this is the result of my special training. My goal is… a train!]]''
** Later, Miki does the same, only she imitates a ''bullet train''.
* ThePowerOfHate: Invoked by Megumi when she tries to curse Miki nailing a [[VoodooDoll wara ningyo]] to a sacred tree. Every time she drops the hammer, she screams “hate!” and we see a PhotoMontage of Miki bullying her. Also deconstructed: Miki really isn't cursed, [[AnAesop it's Megumi who ruins her own life hating Miki]].
-->'''Megumi:''' ''Hate! Hate! Hate! Hate! Hate! Hate! Hate!! I will not forgive you, [[LastNameUltimatum Onimaru Miki!]] [[LargeHam Hate!!!]]''
* PretenderDiss: Parodied when Kankuro melodramatically informs Akihiko that he is not a Star Ranger.
** Miki and Akihiko discover a high school student out of school drawing pathetic graffiti and ask him what he's doing:
-->'''VictimOfTheWeek:''' ''Isn’t that obvious? Being a {{Delinquent}}.''
-->'''Akihiko:''' ''So you call yourself a delinquent with doodles like that? Your delinquency is still lacking. These days, the popular thing would be, a drawing like this, and a curve here… Basically, something like this.'' (A screaming skull shouts: “Welcome!! To Hell)
-->'''VictimOfTheWeek:''' ''Senpai, you’re amazing!''
* RapunzelHair: Miki and Megumi.
* RealMenWearPink: Kankuro has once worn the exact same outfit as Miki -- skirt and all -- and once worn a frilly Victorian dress, both times to match Miki. Neither was very successful.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Megumi constantly makes MaliciousSlander and sends {{Cut and Paste Note}}s to Miki, exposing... the truth about Miki’s various character flaws. Miki retorts by revealing that Megumi is NotSoDifferent from her own image of Miki.
* RedOniBlueOni: Miki is the red JerkWithAHeartOfGold; Megumi is the blue BitchInSheepsClothing: Both are each other's {{Shadow Archetype}}s.
* RedemptionQuest: Deconstructed with Kankuro. He claims he has come to get back at Miki so he can finally get over his FreudianExcuse and [[CharacterDevelopment move on]]. Defeating Miki seems the way to go, but it's an ImpossibleTask, thus trapping him into a CycleOfRevenge. Here he explains why while we see a PhotoMontage in a computer... complete with a ''delete trash can'' image.
--> "[[FreudianExcuse Being made a fool by a girl younger than me, and the tormenting memory of being treated as a slave...]] If I don’t erase those images I’ll never be able to [[CharacterDevelopment leave this town and put it behind me]], [[VerbalTic Nya]]."
* RegalRinglets: Megumi sports a variation that also falls under AnimeHair. She has a very large curl on the back of her head.
* TheRival: Megumi and Toshiyuki for Miki (or at least the latter was in Miki's head).
* RuleOfCool: Deconstructed into MundaneMadeAwesome.
* SadistTeacher: Kayahara-sensei tries to be a SaveOurStudents teacher. Unfortunately, she is always depressed (maybe because she cannot admit to herself that she doesn’t enjoy teaching), and for that, is always being taken as a StringyHairedGhostGirl, and all her students are [[TheDreaded very afraid of her.]]
* SaveOurStudents: Deconstructed by Kayahara-sensei: This is the kind of teacher that she strives to be, as she is a BullyHunter, always trying to stop any abuse. Unfortunately, the only thing she accomplishes is being a SadistTeacher.
* SchoolyardBullyAllGrownUp
** Miki, a kid who bullied boys four years her senior, has grown up into... a twenty-year-old [[ManChild Woman Child]].
** Same goes for Megumi... only she prefers to be a CombatPragmatist who uses MaliciousSlander.
* {{Sentai}}: Akihiko goes crazy whenever ''[[ShowWithinAShow Star Ranger]]'' is involved. So much as ''mentioning'' the show makes him think he's Red Star.
** In ''Napalm'' it is revealed that he is a fanboy of the entire genre in general, even noting that his fanboyism peaks every last episode before moving on to the next series.
** Also from ''Napalm'', ''Searanger'' is a strange parody of sentais -- all five members are different tones of ''blue''.
** The genre is also deconstructed: The Red Ranger is TheHero, he acts heroic, gets things done, and always gets a HundredPercentHeroismRating... because he's in a TV show. Akihiko is the LoonyFan who does exactly the same things the Red Ranger does, but is a LordErrorProne and ButtMonkey in a SliceOfLife show.
-->'''Akihiko:''' ''[[ShaggyDogStory Today certainly did seem to be a waste of time]]. But so what? That little girl’s sad face now carries a smile. '' - Begins ThemeMusicPowerUp - ''Do your best, Ohta Akihiko. Never lose, Ohta Akihiko. For the sakes of everyone’s smiles, fight for tomorrow, Ohta Akihiko. ''
--> '''Kankuro:''' ''How are you Akihiko, are you okay? Can you walk on your own? ''
-->'''Akihiko:''' ''No. I don’t think so. ''
--> At Akihiko’s house, he is watching Star Rangers, with his arm and head bandaged: - '''Star Ranger’s narrator:''' ''After destroying the Evil Base, the Star Rangers put hope back on the young boy’s heart. Today, they fought for justice yet again. ''
-->'''Akihiko:''' Dramatically standing up adopting an AssKickingPose ''Don’t forget to watch next week! ''
* ShaggyDogStory: Toshiyuki’s rescue by Akihiko.
** At the end of episode 7 A, ''Peel Off the Fake Smile'', Miki tells how his EngineeredPublicConfession worked:
-->'''Akihiko:''' ''So, did Megumi-chan show her true self?''
-->'''Miki:''' ''[[StatusQuoIsGod Of course, but it was only to me.]]''
-->'''Akihiko:''' ''[[LampshadeHanging Isn't that the same as always?]]''
* [[HeWhoFightsMonsters She Who Fights Bullies]]: When Megumi accuses Miki of bullying her, Megumi is truly surprised when Miki retorts that Megumi is the true bully -– by committing MaliciousSlander, [[ThrewMyBikeOnTheRoof sabotaging Miki’s work]] and [[TrapMaster setting traps against her]] -– a realistic depiction of TheBully in RealLife.
* ShipperOnDeck: Wakana tries to hook up Kankuro and Miki [[OneDialogueTwoConversations after mistaking his challenges to Miki for love confessions]].
* ShopKeeper: Makiko owns a ramen restaurant, Megumi a bakery/lunchroom, and Akihiko a greengrocer's.
* ShoutOut
** Every episode begins with a spoof of the MGM Studios lion roar (that showed before every ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry'' cartoon), with Miki in place of the lion.
** Kayahara-sensei constantly (albeit unintentionally) spoofs [[Literature/TheRing Sadako Yamamura's]] StringyHairedGhostGirl look.
** In Episode 1B, "Another Poster Girl", Miki challenges Megumi to a boxing fight, quoting lines from ''Manga/AshitaNoJoe'' while Akihiko suddenly adopts Danpei Tange's outfit and trademark eyepatch.
** In Episode 2A, "Challenger: Nishiyama Kankuro", at a baseball game, Miki signals a home run with her metal bat, just like Babe Ruth did at the 1932 World Series.
** Hell's Bunny appears in Episode 8A, "That Guy Sure Looks Like He's the Strongest", and is a parody of [[Franchise/SailorMoon Usagi Tsukino]] (whose name literally means "moon rabbit"), right down to her [[InTheNameOfTheMoon pre-fight boast]].
** Miki's opening dance in the boxing ring in Episode 10B, "Sudden Fight! Nishiyama Kankuro VS Kannazuki Megumi", is a parody of a ritual performed by Muay Thai kickboxers before every round, Thai flutes playing in the background and all.
** In Episode 11A, "The Guy Lets His Back Do the Talking", Wakana's worry of being swallowed by a whale and living on a raft inside is a direct reference to the story of [[Literature/TheAdventuresOfPinocchio Pinocchio]].
** Makiko's poses after her destructive drunken rampage in a flashback during Episode 12A, "When You Were Smashed", are a reference to the Creator/JackieChan film ''Film/DrunkenMaster''.
** ''Onimaru'' is the name of a nasty bully in ''Anime/MazingerZ'', who after being helped by his victim in a mortal peril apologized and become a JerkWithAHeartOfGold.
** Akihiko's EnemyWithin teases his Star Rangers Justice love side:
-->''[[Franchise/StarWars That's it. Go ahead and hate me. All that hate will turn you to the dark side.]]''
* TheSlacker: Miki only took her current job because she could slack all she wants there. Come day-offs, she doesn’t know what to do... because [[CarryingACake she never delivers the ramen on time]], has little money, and no TV or video games. Megumi, on the other hand, takes her job seriously, and thus is rewarded with a better lifestyle.
* SlapstickKnowsNoGender
* SlasherSmile[=/=]MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily -- Miki, Megumi and Toshiyuki. Justified in the latter because it’s a dog.
* SliceOfLife: Yes, Hanami Town Shopping District is a WorldOfHam, but TheCity is not a CityOfAdventure: Everyone else is pretty normal, and this series talks about the [[ADayInTheLife daily life]] of a group of {{Burger Fool}}s that practice MundaneMadeAwesome.
* SmugSnake: Megumi -- crafty, pragmatic but also highly prone to a beatdown from Miki.
* SortingAlgorithmOfEvil: Inverted and subverted because they aren't presented in order of menace to Miki, but in alignment relative to her -- Makiko, her mother who deals a lot of ToughLove; Megumi, TheRival and BitchInSheepsClothing; Kankuro, the UnknownRival[=/=]IdiotHero; and finally Toshiyuki, her WorthyOpponent.
* SpellingSong: Kankuro's ImageSong, which consists entirely of him spelling his name in various ways so Miki can remember who he is.
* SpiritedCompetitor: Miki fought Toshiyuki for hours just to make a delivery, despite the owners telling her that she could yell their names and they would go out, just because she had the chance to flex some muscle.
-->"Yes, I did take a long time... but that’s because I had the determination not to lose. To trade work hours for my victory, it was worth it."
* SpoofAesop
-->"Having a pure heart and being able to ride a dog have nothing in common."
%%* SqueakyEyes
* StalkerWithoutACrush: In Episode 2A, "Challenger: Nishiyama Kankuro", when Miki feels she is BeingWatched, Akihiko invokes a StalkerWithACrush on her. Miki denies it, sensing the aggression Kankuro is projecting.
* StartOfDarkness: Megumi’s flashback in Episode 1B, "Another Kanban Musume", is a DeconstructiveParody, where she recalls how, when she was a child, she tricked her her teacher into [[TrainingFromHell teaching her to throw projectiles with high accuracy]]. The truth is that Megumi is not a ClassicVillain, but just TheRival, and even then Miki always manages to [[DodgeTheBullet dodge anything Megumi hurls at her]]. Megumi's true StartOfDarkness is only her FreudianExcuse of [[SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids how she eschewed a direct approach to fighting Miki]] in favor of [[TrapMaster subtler]] [[MaliciousSlander means]].
** The ColdOpen to Episode 1A is the StartOfDarkness for Miki. See FreudianExcuse.
* StatingTheSimpleSolution:
** Megumi, as the CombatPragmatist, asks Miki in episode 3A why she is fighting an AngryGuardDog when she could easily avoid it. In episode 5B, after she and Miki beat someone to use him as a stepping stone to escape a well, she recognizes that the guy had a rope and they should’ve just let him rescue them.
** This is one of Ohta’s duties as the MetaGuy.
* StatOVision: Parodied when Megumi uses it on all her clients to find the right time to attack Miki [[BitchInSheepsClothing unnoticed by them]].
* StockShoujoBullyingTactics: Exaggerated by Megumi, who now is a SchoolyardBullyAllGrownUp: Instead of hiding Miki’s shoes, she blows up her bicycle tires, instead of posting embarrassing photos, she publishes the true facts about Miki (that she is TheSlacker, TheBully and spreads MaliciousSlander) in public places, [[UpToEleven and she sends menacing letters to Miki and leaves Miki’s card at the scene of a crime. Oh, and she leaves hot dog skewers instead of tacks in Miki’s shoes]].
* StringyHairedGhostGirl: Everyone takes Kayahara-sensei for an ''onryo'', a ghost trying to get revenge on the living.
* SuicideAsComedy: At the beginning of episode 4A, Kayahara-sensei mentions eating ''her last ramen'' and ''To continue this pitiful life of a teacher… I’m already tired of it''. Later we discover that Kayahara-sensei is not talking about suicide, but quitting her job as a teacher. However, Miki invokes it to solve her problem with a student that wants to quit Kayahara’s class:
-->''Imagine, if she committed suicide because of you, she’ll haunt you for sure!''
* SuperstitionEpisode: Episode 4B is about Megumi mistaking Kayahara-sensei for an ''onryo'', a ghost trying to get revenge on Megumi for being a BitchInSheepsClothing, and Megumi's efforts to avoid her and her ''curse''.
* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: Megumi invokes it while Miki fights Toshiyuki, talking about the yet intact ramen Miki tries to deliver.
-->''Oh my! How I could I have accidentally kicked over the ramen?''
* SweatDrop
* TakeThat: So subtle, maybe it was not intentional:
--> '''Miki:''' ''Oh, so you remember my face. Toshiyuki eh? I will remember that name. [[WorthyOpponent I never forget the names of strong people]].''
--> '''Kankuro:''' ''[[UnknownRival What the heck is that supposed to mean?!!]]''
** Megumi gives another to Miki when she does TheInfiltration at Miki's restaurant:
-->'''Megumi''': ''Compared to our store, the employee here isn't nearly as cute.''
* ThereCanBeOnlyOne: Central theme of episode 5 A, ''"Be my stepping stone"''. Miki and TheRival are trapped in a dead end and invoke this trope: To go out, they need to defeat the other and [[KickTheDog use her as a stepping stone]]. Even when the rest of the cast show up to help, they involve them in the game. Deconstructed when everyone is knocked out and the last one is ''too tired to escape''.
* TheThingThatWouldNotLeave: Miki invokes this trope in episode 7 A, ''Peel Off the Fake Smile'', when she becomes a client of Megumi’s bakery and acts as annoying as possible for hours to make Megumi drop his façade of TheFakeCutie in front of her clients.
* ThrewMyBikeOnTheRoof: Miki accuses Megumi of blowing up her bicycle tires. [[BitchInSheepsClothing Megumi denies it in public, but confesses only to Miki]].
* TimeToUnlockMoreTruePotential: Deconstructed and parodied.
** Parodied with Kankuro, who goes into training... not to be a better fighter, but just to be less of a CombatPragmatist.
** Deconstructed with Miki, Megumi and Kankuro: because they're not professional fighters, they only use their skills against each other. But they're so good at it two true martial artists (the best friends and actresses behind Star Pink and Hell Bunny), come to Hanami only to see them fight and help them with Pink Star’s confidence. In other words, the protagonists are TheQuest.
-->'''Pink Ranger's Actress:''' "Amazing! I never thought I would see such skills outside such a small neighborhood store."
-->'''Hell’s Bunny's Actress:''' "What do you think? Aren´t you glad we came?"
* TimmyInAWell: When Wakana ends up flung into a garbage truck, Toshiyuki goes to inform Miki.
* ToBeAMaster: Deconstructed: None of our protagonists wants to be the best at their jobs, but they all want to be the biggest [[TheBully bully]] in all town.
* TokenMiniMoe: Wakana
* TomatoInTheMirror: Parodied after Kankuro reveals to Akihiko that he is not a Star Ranger, merely a guy who CannotTellFictionFromReality:
-->'''Akihiko:''' The Background Goes DeliberatelyMonochrome While He Is Looking Dramatically At His Hands – ''I’m not a real [[{{Sentai}} Star Ranger?]]'' – He Adopts A PoseOfSupplication - ''Is that so, is this how it is? [[HeelRealization No, it's true. Somewhere in the depths of my heart, I already knew…]] [[ScrewDestiny However, however, I can’t just give up now! Even if I am not Red Star…]]''
* ToughLove: Makiko definitely loves her daughter, but hits Miki not so much to make her stronger, but to make her less of a {{Jerkass}}.
* TournamentArc: Deconstructed: At last year's District Sumo Contest, Miki won, [[CurbStompBattle leaving fifty people wounded]], [[ATwinkleInTheSky one still missing]] and wounding a [[ProfessionalWrestling Professional Wrestler.]] This year they simply change it to a nonviolent competition.
* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Kayahara-sensei loves Onimaru's ramen. It's the only thing that makes her smile in a non-creepy way. Deconstructed as an eating disorder: Kayahara-sensei is a SaveOurStudents teacher that really wants to help... except when she is eating ramen... [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything then she cares about nothing]].
* TrainingFromHell / InHarmsWay: Justified by Miki and deconstructed by Megumi: Miki’s explanation about why she didn’t call people out to make the delivery avoiding the AngryGuardDog justifies those tropes, while Megumi’s reflection deconstructs it:
--> '''Megumi:''' ''[[StatingTheSimpleSolution If the dog is restricted by the leash like you said, would it be better to just call the people out and make your delivery?]]''
--> '''Miki:''' ''That’s different! It’s true if I stay outside of that the dog’s range of movement and call the customer loudly, it would be safe to make the delivery. However, [[InHarmsWay to expect me to turn away from this challenge in front of me… Do you think I can do that? No. There’s no way I can do that!]] [[TrainingFromHell If I’m to call the customers to come out, I’ll do it after beating this guy.]]''
--> '''Megumi:''' [Wearing a serious face] ''I see, Onimaru-san [[TrainingFromHell deliberately takes the more difficult path. It’s true, compared to an uneventful day to day life, this stressful lifestyle would make you grow a lot more]]. Onimaru-san, you…'' [Megumi wears a SlasherSmile] ''[[WhatAnIdiot are such an idiot]].''
** Kankuro tries to fight Toshiyuki to best Miki.
* TwinkleSmile: Kankuro and Megumi, complete with AudibleGleam.
* [[ThreeShorts Two Shorts]]: Though the shorts always share a similar theme.
* TheUnSmile: Tomoka Kayahara is so depressed, that when she wants to smile, this is the result... except when she is eating her TrademarkFavoriteFood, or trying to become friends with TheBully.
* UnexplainedRecovery: Kankuro, mostly.
-->'''Akihiko:''' "Have all the wounds Miki left you with yesterday healed already?"
-->'''Kankuro:''' "I only had eight broken ribs, nya."
* UnknownRival: Kankuro repeatedly [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou challenges Miki]] to a fight, but never wins. She can never remember his name either. Justified because Miki is TheBully[=/=]SchoolyardBullyAllGrownUp who suffers AttentionDeficitOohShiny and ButForMeItWasTuesday. Also deconstructed because as a FightingSeries protagonist, she always encounters BitPartBadGuys / [[VeryPunchableMan Very Punchable Men]] that are mean to her, which she defeats and immediately forgets; [[FridgeBrilliance why should Kankuro be different than them?]]
* VandalismBackfire: Subverted -- even when Megumi kicks the ramen box while Miki’s busy, the latter is so used to Megumi's antics she [[CrazyPrepared put the ramen in a safer place beforehand]].
* VerbalTic: Kankuro adds "~nya" to the end of his sentences. Odd in that he's a ''male'' character that does this.
* VictimOfTheWeek: Subverted, because the various non fatal victims of the week that we meet in the series are regulars in her DebutQueue (they will not solve their problems) or people who will solve their problems themselves, [[UnwantedAssistance despite the help the protagonist gives]].
* ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption: Averted in Episode 1. In the first half, two teens enter a EatingContest. In the second, Megumi and Miki duel to be the best poster girl. They never resort to violence... because Makiko interrupted (with violence) both contests. [[DeconstructedTrope And the teens realize that resorting to violence only fits]] {{Man Child}}ren like the Onimarus.
** Zigzagged in episode 2A: Kankuro and Miki compete in different baseball teams... and Miki manages to break both Kankuro's arms.
* ViolenceReallyIsTheAnswer: In a genre that frequently portrays fighting as a [[NecessarilyEvil regrettable necessity]], this series is one of the few that ''averts'' this trope: every problem could've been solved without violence had it not been for the many {{Heroic Comedic Sociopath}}s in the series.
* VoodooDoll: In episode 4B, Megumi is trying to curse Miki by nailing a wara ningyo (a straw doll that represents people) to a sacred tree in the temple at the top of the hill.
* WaifFu: Miki ''looks'' like she wouldn't pose a threat, but she's undoubtedly the strongest person in the district... Except for her mother, and (possibly) [[KillerRabbit Toshiyuki]].
* WeWantOurJerkBack: When Makiko starts acting nice to Miki following the advice of a CoincidentalBroadcast, the latter wants her old, abusive mother back immediately. The sentiment is reciprocated when the drunken, nicer Miki appears.
* WhenSheSmiles: Kayahara-sensei's perpetual depression makes her look like a StringyHairedGhostGirl, and attempts to cheer up result in TheUnSmile… except when she eats her TrademarkFavoriteFood, which makes her so happy that WhenSheSmiles, everyone thinks she is beautiful and LoveBubbles appear. When she tried to become Megumi's friend, she smiled maybe her first true smile, and she looked beautiful in a very normal way.
* WhyAreYouNotMySon: Makiko said this about hard working Kankuro.
* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: Makiko fears nothing. Except spiders.
* WorldOfHam: The core cast is this in a SliceOfLife anime.
* WorthyOpponent: According to the conventions of the FightingSeries genre:
** Kankuro tries with all his might to invoke this trope with Miki. Sadly, one is the IdiotHero and the other is TheBully, so he will never pass the UnknownRival ceiling.
** Episode 6a, ''Fight! Bark Bark vs. Nya Nya,'' chronicles how IdiotHero Kankuro was recognized as one by NobleDemon Toshiyuky.
** And Miki recognizes Toshiyuky as one, but fitting the NobleDemon, Toshiyuky doesn't respect TheBully Miki.
* WoundedGazelleGambit: Exaggerated with BitchInSheepsClothing Megumi, who accuses Miki of bullying her… sincerely forgetting that [[EvilVersusEvil Megumi also bullies Miki]].
* WrongGenreSavvy: In Episode 6B, “The Rift That Looked Like [[RedStringOfFate Red String]]”, Wakana is seeing the UnknownRival Kankuro in yet another CurbStompBattle with SchoolyardBullyAllGrownUp Miki. Wakana ThinksLikeARomanceNovel: Is Kankuro a [[{{Tsundere}} sweet but quickly angered guy]] [[StalkerWithACrush looking for Miki’s Attention]]? [[note]] No, he is the UnknownRival who [[StalkerWithoutACrush only spies on Miki so he can defeat her]] and so [[DefeatMeansRespect win her respect]]) [[/note]]. Is Miki a [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold secretly kind jerk?]] [[note]] No, she is a JerkAss [[/note]]. Are they always fighting? [[note]] Yes, both of them are {{Arrogant Kung Fu Guy}}s). [[/note]] So? The only logical conclusion for the TokenMiniMoe? BelligerentSexualTension! Wakana sets herself to be their ShipperOnDeck as Kankuro’s Love Cupid. HilarityEnsues!
----

-->'''Megumi:''' ''As you’d expect, this is simply my daily greeting.''\\
'''Akihiko:''' ''That’s your ‘greeting’?''\\
'''Megumi:''' With a beautiful smile: ''[[HaveANiceDaySmile Have a nice day!]]” – then puts on a FaceOfAThug and closes her door.

--> '''Kankuro:''' ''[[YouCanBarelyStand Hey Akihiko, your body can’t…]]''
--> '''Akihiko:''' *Signals Kankuro to shut up* ''[[DamselInDistress Wakana-chan is waiting for Toshiyuki – Kun’s safe return]]''. – ThemeMusicPowerUp begins - ''[[HeroicResolve I’ve still got willpower]]. [[IGaveMyWord Since I was asked, I have to help her!]] [[HeroicSpirit A man… is forged from willpower and perserverance!]]'' – Cue ImagineSpotting.

* BitPartBadguys / VeryPunchableMan: Miki encounters an unfortunate thief, LowlyCriminal {{Yakuza}}, and JapaneseDelinquents, all of them only there to [[MuggingTheMonster Mug The Monster]] Miki and give her an excuse to CurbStompBattle them, and then be forgotten.
-->Hey Missy, [[BumpIntoConfrontation are you going to pretend that you didn’t bump into me?]] You shouldn’t distress us [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial ordinary citizens]]. Maybe you should pay me as an apology.

* TheBlindLeadingTheBlind: Miki always wants to help the VictimOfTheWeek. Unfortunately, the two teens from episode 1 A and Suzuki, the would-be delinquent from episode 4 A, immediately recognize Miki as a WomanChild ComedicSociopath that is a KnowNothingKnowItAll:
-->'''Suzuki:''' ''What'' exactly ''can I learn from someone like her? ''

-->'''Miki:''' ''So, who is this guy?''
-->'''Akihiko:''' ''You really don’t remember? You used to pick on him all the time.''
-->'''Miki:''' ''I don’t know this guy at all.''
-->'''Akihiko:''' ''It’s only been four years!''
-->'''Kankuro:''' ''How awful, [[VerbalTic Nya!]]''

-->'''Miki:''' (Talking about TheRival): ''Man, that fake smile really pissses me off!''
-->'''Makiko:''' ''So, you skipped work all day. What exactly you were doing?''
-->'''Miki:''' ''Mom, there is a good reason for this''
-->'''Makiko:''' ''No excuses!''
-->'''Miki:''' ''That smile... is fake! Stay away from me!''

--> '''Kankuro:''' ''[[PowerCopying As long as I imagine myself as something before training, I’ll gain both confidence and strength,]] [[VerbalTic nya]]. What should I imagine myself as next, [[VerbalTic nya]]?''
-->'''Akihiko:''' ''Shouldn’t you have already decided on that?''
-->Flashback of Miki being [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomped]] by her mother, a fat restaurant hostess.
-->'''Kankuro:''' ''That’s impossible, [[VerbalTic nya]].''

-->'''Akihiko:''' ''Are you being bullied? My high school life was rather dark too. [[ThrewMyBikeOnTheRoof My shoes got hidden...]] I was bossed around...''
-->'''Miki:''' ''[[PrankDate And being forced to confess to a girl you didn't like.]]''
-->'''Akihiko:''' ;;[[HarmfulToMinors Ahh! That really was the worst!]] Wait, how did you know about that?''

-->'''Miki:''' "Hey, Ohta-san, do you manage your shop alone?"
-->'''Ohta:''' "Eh? What about Megumi-chan?"
-->'''Megumi:''' "That is a profesional secret, of course!"
-->'''Miki:''' "You are alone, isn't it?"

-->'''Miki:''' ''An attack of that level? Did you think I couldn’t dodge that?''
-->'''Megumi:''' ''That’s not it… his target isn’t Onimaru-san. It’s the ramen.''
-->Toshiyuki eats the ramen Miki is trying to delivery while a surprised Miki falls ignominously.
-->'''Miki:''' ''You bastard!''

* {{Fandumb}}: InUniverse. Yakihiko’s moral dilemma in Episode 8A, ''"That guy sure looks like he is the strongest"'', shows him as a [[{{Sentai}} Star Rangers]] LoonyFan who has doubts about his fandom when the evil “Hell’s Bunny” appears and he becomes a Mad Groom for an Evil Character. When some little kids want to roleplay with him and forget the name of a character, he exploits it:
-->'''Little Kid''': ''What was it?''
-->'''Miki''': ''Oh yeah, it’s Dark Star!''
-->'''Akihiko''': ''(Yelling furiously) Wrong! It’s Pink Star! [[StopHavingFunGuys If you don’t even know such basic information, you shouldn’t be role-playing Star Rangers!]]''

-->"My family has a ramen restaurant. While I was growing up, I used to see my mother’s back while she was working all day. [[BreadEggsMilkSquick To think one day I will grow up to be like my mom gives me the shivers]]. [[GrowingUpSucks To have to work since morning to night will be terrible]]." ([[MoodDissonance Smiles]])

-->'''Suzuki:''' ''All right, I’ll tell you. What I said before about school being boring… It was all lies. To tell the truth, after that time, I lost my way in the cemetery, I’ve always been scared of [[TheSevenMysteries ghost stories, scary pictures, haunted staircases and the likes]]… I worked had to overcome my fears, and could finally bear listening to [[GhostStory ghost stories]], But this spring… every time I went to school, I’d get scared even by just looking at my teacher’s [[FaceOfAThug face]], so [[InvokedTrope I became a]] {{delinquent}}.''
-->'''Miki:''' ''In other words, you’re scared of ghosts.''
-->'''Suzuki:''' ''It’s really lame, I know.''

* HypocriticalHumor: All the core cast is guilty -- someone criticizes another for some fault that is an established part of their own characterization, or just before or after exhibiting that particular fault themselves. LampshadeHanging almost always follows immediately.
--> '''Miki:''' "Joining in the middle of the game, trying to influence the outcome... ThisIsUnforgivable"
--> '''Junior baseball players:''' "Didn’t you just do that too?"

--> '''Kankuro:''' "No more sneaky, underheaded attacks. I’ll just find her weakness and exploit it, nya!"
--> '''Akihiko''' "That’s even more underhanded, isn’t it?"
--> '''Kankuro''' {{Beat}}. "Anyway, I don’t have time for chit-chat, nya."

-->'''Kayahara-sensei:''' ''This isn’t bullying, it’s just mutual aggression.''
-->'''Megumi:''' ''[[ThisCannotBe How did it turn out like this?]] [[WoundedGazelleGambit It was just supposed to curse Onimaru-san]], [[OutGambitted but now I’m getting involved too]]. [[ItMakesSenseInContext It makes no difference if it’s this world of the next]]. [[InformedLoner I am all alone.]]'' '''[[LargeHam I’m, SO PITIFUL!!!!]]'''

-->'''Akihiko:''' ''[[CannotTellFictionFromReality Just leave it to Star Ranger!]]''
-->'''Wakana:''' (Very confused) ''Star Ranger?''
-->'''Akihiko:''' ''That Toshiyuki, I’ll bring him back several times over.''
-->'''Wakana:''' ''No, just once is enough.''

** LawOfChromaticSuperiority: Akihiko is the only one with a CoolBike (really a normal bicycle) because he is the leader.
--> '''Miki:''' Wait a second, [[CardCarryingVillain why am I black?]]

* {{Dojikko}} / CuteClumsyGirl: Miki stages a EngineeredPublicConfession denouncing that Megumi served Miki her coffe with salt instead of sugar, so Megumi’s clients can realize she is really a BitchInSheepsClothing. Megumi apologizes and invokes being a {{Dojikko}}. Megumi’s clients forgive her and think she is even more adorable.

-->'''Wakana:''' ''You're just frustrated because of Onimaru-san, aren't you?... Have you felt that way for a long time?''
-->'''Kankuro:''' ''Ever since I met her at elementary school... so I guess it has been 10 years now...''
-->'''Wakana:''' ''Huh?! It's been ten years and you still haven't made any progress?! I can't believe it! And you call yourself a man?''
-->'''Kankuro:''' (Thinking) ''On some levels that hurt more than any of Miki's punches, nya...''

-->'''Megumi:''' ''As you’d expect, this is simply my daily greeting.''
-->'''Akihiko:''' ''That’s your ‘greeting’?''
-->'''Megumi:''' With a beautiful smile: ''[[HaveANiceDaySmile Have a nice day!]]” – then puts on a FaceOfAThug and closes her door.

* MundaneMadeAwesome: All the core cast every single episode! Let's just say that the picture at the anime page shows [[{{MundaneMadeAwesome/Anime}} Kankuro changing a bulb. Epic!]]

[[RunningGag Being a]] DeconstructiveParody of the FightingSeries, ''Muteki Kanban Musume'' ("Invincible Poster Girl") is a 17-volume manga series written by Jun Sadogawa between 2002 and 2006, and published by Akita Shoten, with a North American release under ADV Manga as ''Ramen Fighter Miki''. A 2006 12-episode anime adaptation also aired as part of the Summer 2006 Anime lineup. Following the end of the manga, a 5-volume sequel was released between 2006 and 2008, called ''Muteki Kanban Musume Napalm'', in which the cast is extended by the employees of the Tekkotsudo Megastore, which threatens the shopping district.

''Muteki Kanban Musume'' ("Invincible Poster Girl") is a 17-volume manga series written by Jun Sadogawa between 2002 and 2006, and published by Akita Shoten, with a North American release under ADV Manga as ''Ramen Fighter Miki''. A 2006 12-episode anime adaptation also aired as part of the Summer 2006 Anime lineup. Following the end of the manga, a 5-volume sequel was released between 2006 and 2008, called ''Muteki Kanban Musume Napalm'', in which the cast is extended by the employees of the Tekkotsudo Megastore, which threatens the shopping district.

* WhenSheSmiles: Kayahara-sensei's perpetual depression makes her look like a StringyHairedGhostGirl, and attempts to cheer up result in TheUnSmile… except when she eats her TrademarkFavoriteFood, which makes her so happy that WhenSheSmiles, everyone thinks she is beautiful and LoveBubbles appear. [[CrowningMomentOfHeartWarming When she tried to become Megumi's friend, she smiled maybe her first true smile, and she looked beautiful in a very normal way]].

* AbusiveParents: PlayedForLaughs. Makiko would frequently give Miki, her [[ManChild Woman Child]] of a daughter, outright violent {{Curb Stomp Battle}}s. The fact that her daughter is a [[TheSlacker lazy]] [[TheBully bully]] also gives her a plausible reason. [[spoiler: It's also deconstructed when you realize that Miki being a bully is partly because the AbusiveParents]].
* ActorRoleConfusion: Happens when a little girl confuses Megumi with Hell Bunny, the villain from Star Rangers. Unusual for this trope, to fool a little girl with that lie is treated InUniverse as a MoralEventHorizon.

-->'''Kankuro:''' ''Ever since I met her at elementary school... so I guess It has been 10 years now...''
-->'''Wakana:''' ''Huh?! It's been teen years and you still haven't made any progress?! I can't believe it! And you call yourself a man?''

-->'''Megumi:''' With a beautiful smile: ''[[HaveANiceDaySmile Have a nice day!]]” – then puts a FaceOfAThug and closes her door.

** Kayahara-sensei seems to take her responsibilities as a teacher and a BullyHunter seriously, until he gets her TrademarkFavoriteFood and then forgets everything else.
* AwesomenessByAnalysis: Deconstructed when Kankuro becomes a StalkerWithoutACrush to analyze Miki’s weakness. Being the resident IdiotHero, Kankuro uses InsaneTrollLogic ruining this trope:

** It’s debatable: The music is superb, but the images only ''seem'' serious, those are: The main cast ChewingTheScenery while they adopt {{AssKickingPose}}s, Miki {{DeathRay}}ing Megumi’s house, Makiko {{MegaTonPunch}}ing the world, Miki SkySurfing her ramen container… all of them showing a WorldOfHam.

* BelligerentSexualTension: Episode 6B, ''The Rift That Looked Like [[RedStringOfFate Red String]]'', deconstructs the FightingSeries showing us this trope is averted when the protagonist of this series [[AdultChild obviously lack the maturity to fall in love with someone else]]

* BitPartBadguys / VeryPunchableMan: Miki encounters an unfortunate thief, LowlyCriminal {{Yakuza}}, and JapaneseDelinquents, all of them only there to MuggingTheMonster Miki and give her an excuse to CurbStompBattle them, and then be forgotten.
-->Hey Missy, [[BumpIntoConfrontation are you going to pretend that you didn’t bump into me?]] You shouldn’t distress us [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial ordinary citizens]]. Maybe you should pay me as an apology.
** This trope also explains why Miki treats Kankuro as the UnknownRival. Miki [[ButForMeItWasTuesday has forgotten why Kankuro wants to defeat her]], but she considers him a BitPartBadguys / VeryPunchableMan that keeps meeting her.
* TheBlindLeadingTheBlind: Miki always want to help the VictimOfTheWeek. Unfortunately, the two teens from episode 1 A and Suzuki, the would-be delinquent from episode 4 A, immediately recognize Miki as a WomanChild ComedicSociopath that is a KnowNothingKnowItAll:

** This is the CentralTheme of episode 4 TwoShorts: As a teacher, Kayahara-sensei feels is her obligation to be a BullyHunter and help her students to reach success. However, her constant depression make her look like a StringyHairedGhostGirl, and that prevents she can help anyone.
* TheBully[=/=]SchoolYardBullyAllGrownUp: Deconstructed by Miki and Megumi’s relationship.

* BullyHunter: Deconstructed, our protagonists are all Bully Hunters, but for the wrong reasons, or making thing worse for everyone.

** Makiko stops Miki’s bullying, only because she needs Miki to work for her, or when Miki is being a true JerkAss.
** Megumi has been bullied practically all her life by Miki, and as a result becomes a bully right back, evolving into the SchoolYardBullyAllGrownUp.

** Kayahara Sensei is a teacher who is actively seeking to stop any bullying and the CycleOfRevenge... only because she wants to avoid her own self esteem issues. [[AttentionDeficitOohShiny She is easily distracted from her quest by her]] TrademarkFavoriteFood.

-->'''Miki:''' '' So, who is this guy?''

* ButtMonkey: Deconstructed because in a FightingSeries, the {{NiceGuy}}s Akihiko and Kankuro become this.
* BreakingTheFourthWall
-->"It's the first episode and the heroine is puking."
* BreakThemByTalking: Megumi can easily talk down on Miki and shatter her confidence with a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech, but it only works because Miki is flawed and Megumi is just another SchoolyardBullyAllGrownUp.

* CannotTellFictionFromReality: [[FanDumb Akihiko Ohta]] watchs the last episode of the [[ShowWithinAShow Star Rangers show]], where a crying girl asks for help to the Red Ranger, and he manages to make her smile at the end of the episode. When a crying Wakana asks for help to find Toshiyuki, Akihiko JumpedAtTheCall envisioning himself as the Red Ranger, her bicycle as a [[CoolBike Ranger Motorcycle]], and assigning [[ColourCodedForYourConvenience Ranger’s code names to the rest of the core cast]], recruiting them into the search… and acting like a true LordErrorProne.

* CityWithNoName: Averted, as a deconstruction, TheCity is named Hanami, a very normal town with a very anormal Shopping district, and in no way a CityOfAdventure.

* CrocodileTears: Megumi can fake tears when Miki acusses her of changing the sugar of her coffe for salt on purpose.
* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: When Akihiko assigns the color to each of the core cast, he exploits the GoodColoursEvilColours trope to a subtle TakeThat to Miki: Akihiko (TheHero) assigns himself Red (RedIsHeroic), IdiotHero Kankuro is assigned Blue (TheLancer) TokenMiniMoe Wakana is assigned Yellow (KidAppealCharacter) BitchInSheepsClothing Megumi is assigned Pink (TheChick) and DesignatedHero Miki is assigned Black (badass AntiHero).
** LawOfChromaticSuperiority: Akihiko is the only one with a CoolBike (really a normal bicycle, because he is the leader.

* ComplexityAddiction: Miki as TheBully and a JerkWithAHeartOfGold, displays this when at episode 3A when she insists on fighting the WorthyOpponent when she could easily avoid it. And at episode 5 B, she insists of beating Ohta to use him as a stepping stone to escape a well, when Ohta had a rope and Miki could’ve just let him rescue her, she simply handwaves it.
-->''It's to late to worry about that right now''
** Kankuro's plans to defeat Miki always had to involve some kind of duel.

-->Flashback of Miki being {{CurbStompBattle}}d by her mother, a fat restaurant hostess.

* DarkAndTroubledPast: Akihiko was bullied at his High School, but he managed to grow up a NiceGuy. That explains why he is such a LoonyFan to the [[{{Sentai}} Red Ranger]]

-->'''Miki:''' [[PrankDate ''And being forced to confess to a girl you didn't like. '']]
-->'''Akihiko:''' [[HarmfulToMinors ''Ahh! That really was the worst!]] Wait, how did you know about that? ''

* {{Delinquent|s}}: One episode features Suzuki, a schoolboy trying to be one, only to be scared by Kayahara-sensei into skipping school. Until he sees her smiling and falls in love, causing him to ultimately change his ways. She seems mostly unaware. In other episodes, they are merely BitPartBadguys / VeryPunchableMan to Miki.

* DisproportionateRetribution: Miki will beat you if you are a {{delinquent}} and are ''there'', Makiko will MegatonPunch Miki if she is late, Megumi tries to curse Miki for bullying her, Kankuro would do anything to defeat Miki, and Toshiyuki would beat you if you invade his house.
* DisproportionateReward: Miki is willing to be a substitute pitcher for a junior baseball league after a player helped her find an address. Kankuro does the same for the opposing team, and he's willing to help Megumi beat Miki up as a show of gratitude for sheltering him in Huet after another beatdown from Miki. Ultimately deconstructed, because they have ulterior motives -- Miki wants to slack (again), while Kankuro still persists in beating up Miki.
* {{Dojikko}} / CuteClumsyGirl: When Miki stages a EngineeredPublicConfession denouncing that Megumi served Miki her coffe with salt instead of sugar, so Megumi’s clients can realize she is really a BitchInSheepsClothing. Megumi apologizes and invokes being a {{Dojikko}}. Megumi’s clients forgive her and think she is even more adorable.

* DoNotDoThisCoolThing: InUniverse: Averted in the first short -- after seeing two teens fighting, Makiko asked them to stop...[[ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption with violence]]. Miki prefers to challenge them to an EatingContest. [[RunningGag Things degenerate in a violent fight between Miki and her mother...]] and after seeing two {{Man Child}}ren fighting, [[AnAesop the boys feel ashamed of themselves and leave as friends]].

* TheEeyore: Kayahara-sensei, who exudes a regular aura of depression with very few exceptions.

* EngineeredPublicConfession: Miki tries this at episode 7 A, ''Peel Off the Fake Smile'', when she becomes a client of Megumi’s bakery and acts like TheThingThatWouldNotLeave to make Megumi drop his façade of TheFakeCutie in front of her clients denouncing her as the BitchInSheepsClothing.
* EntitledBastard: Miki and Megumi never doubt asking for help to the very people they constantly bully and abuse.
* EvilCannotComprehendGood: Deconstructed with Megumi: Given her self hatred, she considers herself as a CardCarryingVillain, but she is only a SchoolYardBullyAllGrownUp who cannot understand why she has to help anyone or why anyone would want to be her friend… because her definition of friend is ''Someone who I can manipulate to defeat TheRival Miki''. She cannot understand why Kayahara Sensei would want to be her friend, nor that IdiotHero Kankuro would want to help her in her quest.

-->'''Megumi:''' ''That’s not it… his target isn’t Onimaru san. It’s the ramen.''

* FaceOfAThug: Kayahara-sensei is a female version -- unless she's eating a good meal, her normal face frightens children, small animals and Megumi. She gets mistaken for a [[TheRing certain]] StringyHairedGhostGirl ''onryo'' when Miki (and later Megumi) first meets her.

* {{Fandumb}}:InUniverse: Yakihiko’s moral dilemma at Episode 8A, ''"That guy sure looks like he is the strongest"'', shows him as a [[{{Sentai}} Star Rangers]] LoonyFan who has doubts about his fandom when the evil “Hell’s Bunny” appears and he becomes a Mad Groom for an Evil Character. When some little kids want to roleplay with him and forget the name of a character, he exploits:

-->'''Akihiko''': ''(Yelling furiously) Wrong! It’s Pink Star! [[StopHavingFunGuys If you don’t even know such basic information, you shouldn’t be role-playing star rangers!]]''

* FanserviceWithASmile: Played with -- Miki is the poster girl for mother's ramen restaurant but wears a little red MagicSkirt; Megumi is the poster girl for a bakery, but wears a long blue skirt.
** In Episode 1, both girls challenge each other on a "best poster girl" duel: Megumi wears a sexy mini-dress, while Miki wears a NonIronicClown costume. While Megumi [[ShowSomeLeg shows some leg]] to attract young adults to her bakery, Miki attracts a lot of children. After some children realize that Megumi looked like Hell Bunny, antagonist of the ShowWithinAShow "Star Rangers", the latter changed into a Hell Bunny costume to attract children. And when some of Miki's clients threatened to leave unless she drinks with them, Miki complied when she was called "beautiful".

-->"My family has a ramen restaurant. While I was growing up, I used to see my mother’s back while she was working all day. [[BreadEggsMilkSquick To think a day I will grow up to be like my mom gives me the shivers]]. [[GrowingUpSucks To have to work since morning to night will be terrible]]." ([[MoodDissonance Smiles]])
** Back when she was a kid, Megumi lied to her teacher into [[TrainingFromHell teaching her how to throw a chalk]].

-->'''Suzuki:''' ''All right, I’ll tell you. What I said before about school being boring… It was all lies. To tell the truth, after that time, I lost my way in the cemetery, I’ve always been scared of [[TheSevenMysteries ghost stories, scary pictures, haunted staircases and the likes]]… I worked had to overcome my fears, and could finally bear listening to [[GhostStory ghost stories]], But this spring… every time I went to School, I’d get scared even by just looking at my teacher’s [[FaceOfAThug face]], so [[InvokedTrope I became a]] {{delinquent}} ''
-->'''Miki:''' ''In other words, you’re scared of ghosts. ''
-->'''Suzuki:''' ''It’s really lame, I know. ''
* FunnyBackgroundEvent: At episode 2B, while Ohta is cleaning the street, Kankuro, disguised as a trashcan, is beaten by a car. Later, while Kankuro is spying Miki, some aliens refuse to take refenge on Miki who before destroyed their spaceship.
** InUniverse example: Wakana and Chiemi are chatting while Toshiyuki and Kankuro fight on the background and only Chiemi realizes it. They stop when Wakana check them. After Kankuro menaces Chiemi with his looks, she flees.

* GreenEyedMonster: Miki hates all the [[MaleGaze male attention]] Megumi gets when she does FanServiceWithASmile. FridgeBrilliance: This is a clue about Miki and Megumi relationship as each other ShadowArchetype.
* GuiltComplex: Megumi claims she is content being a CombatPragmatist. [[YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre She lies]]. She is painfully aware that she's a {{Hypocrite}} and it's so hard for her and pervades every aspect of her life she believes that [[ItMakesSenseInContext Kayahara-sensei is an]] [[StringyHairedGhostGirl ''onryo'' avenging spirit trying to torment her]].

--> '' She tied me up and forced me to eat crayfish, She threw a beehive into my back. She rolled me up in a carpet and tossed me into a river.''
* HopeSpot: Just when Miki believes she had exposed Megumi as a BitchInSheepsClothing to her bakery clients, Megumi invokes being a {{Dojikko}} frustrating Miki's plan.
* HotBlooded: Miki and Kankurou, especially the latter, considering [[Creator/NobuyukiHiyama his voice actor]]. Unfortunately, it usually involves him becoming more involved into trying to defeat Miki (only to end up having his ass served to him) than doing something productive.

--> '''Miki:''' "Joining in the middle of the game, trying to influence the outcome... ThisIsUnforgivable!"

--> '''Kankuro:''' ''No more sneaky, underheaded attacks. I’ll just find her weakness and exploit it, nya!
--> '''Akihiko''' ''That’s even more underhanded, isn’t it?
--> '''Kankuro''' {{Beat}}. ''Anyway, I don’t have time for chit-chat,'' nya.

* IdiotHero: Kankuro, through and through. Miki is also a lesser example, being a DumbMuscle and all.
* ImTakingHerHomeWithMe: Parodied with Miki -- as a child, she used to take home kittens, an old person who fainted, and some bullied kids. As an [[ManChild woman (child)]], she takes home a criminal she defeated.
* InformedLoner: Deconstructed with Megumi, who sincerely believes herself a victim of bullying that has no friends even when she hangs out with her LimitedSocialCircle. FridgeBrilliance when you realize that Megumi is TheBully[=/=]SchoolYardBullyAllGrownUp, and her definition of friend is: ''[[LetsYouAndHimFight someone who Megumi can manipulate into beating Miki]]''. Since nobody wants to do that, Megumi feels she has no friends.
-->''' Kayahara Sensei:''' ''This isn’t bullying, it’s just mutual aggression.''
-->''' Megumi:''' ''[[ThisCannotBe How did it turn out like this?]] [[WoundedGazelleGambit It was just supposed to curse Onimaru-san]], [[OutGambitted but now I’m getting involved too]]. [[ItMakesSenseInContext It makes no difference it it’s this world of the next]]. [[InformedLoner I am all alone.]]'' '''[[LargeHam I’m, SO PITIFUL!!!!]]'''

* InactionSequence / TalkingIsAFreeAction: Played so straight it could be a parody at episode 2B, Kankuro and Miki are less than ten meters apart before their fight. Then Kankuro begins to run towards Miki to attack her, and [[CallingYourAttacks he manages to imitate the voice over of a local train before fighting]]. Miki stays immobile while [[ToThePain she begins to imitate the voiceover of a bullet train]] and adopts an AssKickingPose. Then she begins to run towards Kankuro. [[CombatCommentator Akihiko desperately cries to Kankuro to stop]]. Kankuro manages to answer that [[UpToEleven he will increase the power]]. [[InactionSequence Miki and Kankuro take one minute and ten seconds running into themselves a distance of less than ten meters]]. [[RuleOfCool And it’s epic]].

* InVinoVeritas[=/=]MirrorMoralityMachine: Alcohol turns the normally violent Miki into a NicGirl who despises violence and can fight only by instinct. Inversely, a drunken Megumi shows the "bitch" in "BitchInSheepsClothing".

* LaserGuidedKarma: Parodied when Megumi, just seconds after tries to curse Miki with ThePowerOfHate nailing a [[VoodooDoll wara ningyo]] to a sacred tree, sees Kayahara Sensei falling from that same tree and takes her for a StringyHairedGhostGirl that is [[GhostlyGoals going to curse Megumi]].
* LawOfDisproportionateResponse: justified because the core cast is a bunch of ManChild {{SchoolYardBullyAllGrownUp}}s

--> ''This is surprising! There’s someone who can land Onimaru–San in this much trouble. He must definitely be an amazing fighter. [[FalseFriend First I should become friends with this person]], then teaming up would be the best course of action.''

* LimitedWardrobe: Everyone wears civil clothes whenever they are not working, but when they are, they use their {{BurgerFool}}s uniforms.
* LoonyFan: Deconstructed by Akihiko, who despite being abused at his childhood , he is a NiceGuy who is everyone’s ButtMonkey. He deeply desires to be the Red Ranger because he is always recognized for his efforts with a HundredPercentHeroismRating. Akihiko is so found of the Red Ranger that he copies his CatchPhrase ''I’ll pay them back several times over'' and uses it in situations that doesn’t even make sense:

* LordErrorProne: Akihiko JumpedAtTheCall to find Toshiyuki [[CannotTellFictionFromReality believing himself the Red Ranger]], but he fails for asking the description of Toshiyuki, lost many time asking to other children for him, and when he believes to find him, he attacks an AngryGuardDog that seems to menace the child (that dog never wanted to attack the child and {{CurbStompBattle}}s Akihiko). Also, the dog [[spoiler: really is Toshiyuki]].
* MagicSkirt: No matter how wacky gravity defying antic Miki is commiting, her skirt is always in an adequate place.

** Miki and Megumi are both twenty and in a job, but both look like in their mid-teens and act less than half their age... and very violent ones, at that, too, bordering into {{Psychopathic Manchild}}ren.
** Kankuro is twenty-four and already with a college degree, but came back to Hanami [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge to get back on Miki]] for the many years she bullied him ([[{{Determinator}} not that he will have a chance, but still...]]). He also acts like a true IdiotHero and his reasoning is pure InsaneTrollLogic.

* MasterOfDelusion: a variation: Kankuro fervently believes that he is Miki’s WorthyOpponent, but to Miki (and everyone else) he is only the UnknownRival:
--> '''Kankuro''' – Talking while a PhotoMontage of him being {{CurbStompBattle}}d by a smiling Miki: ''But everytime, my attacks have failed just barely. Everytime, I’ve lost just by a hair’s breadth, [[VerbalTic nya!]]''

* MistakenIdentity: Given her constant depression, her FaceOfAThug and her physical appeareance, everyone takes Kayahara Sensei for an StringyHairedGhostGirl ''onryo'' bent on revenge on the living. Given her enormous GuiltComplex, Megumi [[ThoroughlyMistakenIdentity will always take her for one.]]

* NiceGuy: Akihiko deconstructs this trope, because being surrounded by {{ArrogantKungFuGuy}}s, he becomes their ButtMonkey. Kankuro also qualifies.
* NobleDemon: Endou Toshiyuki only wants to fight and bit people, but he would NeverHurtAnInnocent and recognizes Kankuro as a WorthyOpponent. It says a lot of this series that the most ethic fighter is an AngryGuardDog.

-->'''UnknownRival:''' ''Onimaru Miki! How could you have a showdown with someone else without letting me know, nya? The one who will defeat you is me, Nishiyama Kanku-'' [[{{KilledMidSentence}} Knocked Out Mid Sentence]]
* OpposingCombatPhilosophies: Parodied to hilarity in Episode 10B, "Nishiyama Kankuro vs Kannazuki Megumi". Kankuro, the IdiotHero, believes in [[AttackAttackAttack going all out]] [[HonorBeforeReason without thinking twice]], and is the UnknownRival to Miki. Megumi, the SmugSnake, prefers [[TrapMaster luring Miki into her traps]]. When Megumi offers Kankuro an [[EnemyMine alliance against Miki]], the latter quickly agrees, but their combat philosophies are so diametrically opposed they go through an epic switcheroo between [[WeAreStrugglingTogether infighting]] and [[FireForgedFriends compromise]]. It’s very easy for Miki to incite EnemyCivilWar between them, but Megumi found Kankuro a WorthyOpponent with his idealism, while Kankuro realizes that he and Megumi are NotSoDifferent.
* ParentalSubstitute: Akihiko goes out of his way to help Miki: He wants to know if Kankuro plans to hurt her, he follows her to deliver ramen when he suspects something is wrong, and spies Miki and Kankuro’s “date”. Miki has her mother and she cares about her, but she is very busy working because Miki is TheSlacker.
* PassiveAggressiveKombat: Deconstucted by Miki and Megumi: This is the weapon of the people who cannot win a physical confrontation, [[PowerAtAPrice but also takes a psychological toll in those who use it]]:
** Megumi knews she cannot defeat Miki in a physical confrontation, so she excels verbally humiliating Miki… at the price of developing a terrible GuiltComplex about being a BitchInSheepsClothing and being trapped in a CycleOfRevenge.
** Miki can beat physically any person in the world… except her own mother, Makiko. As a consequence, Miki never uses PassiveAggressiveKombat in anyone (there is no need) except her mother: Miki always finds a way to [[DamnedByFaintPraise call her mother ''ugly'', ''old'' or ''fat'']], or by being TheSlacker in the family business … at the price of being a ManChild, sponging out his own mother.
* PassThePopcorn: Megumi discovers that Onimaru Restaurant exploits this trope when she does TheInfiltration to find why the restaurant thrives when the [[FanserviceWithASmile kanban musume]] is not as cute as Megumi, the décor is not as beautiful as Megumi’s bakery and the local is rather dirty. There ''has'' to be another reason besides the food for their success: Megumi finds out that the clients are there to see Miki battle people.

* PerpetualPoverty: Deconstructed with Miki who has little money, no TV or video games... because she is TheSlacker sponging out his mother. Kayahara Sensei tries to be a SaveOurStudents teacher who is so depressed that only manages to be TheDreaded among her students... her room is completely empty except for a calendar and a TV she won at a contest. Maybe she has a LimitedWardrobe because her jumpsuit is her only clothes.
* PetTheDog: Miki tries to do it, but being TheBully, it does an EpicFail:

--> It’s similar to animal styled martial arts, They imagine themselves as the animals they’re imitating, nya. In other words: [[InsaneTrollLogic ''The train is pulling into station four, please step behind the yellow line… KATAN KATAN, KATAN KATAN. Yes, this is the result of my special training. My goal is… a train!'']]
** Later, Miki will do the same, only she would imitate a ''bullet train''.
* ThePowerOfHate: Invoked by Megumi when she tries to curse Miki nailing a [[VoodooDoll wara ningyo]] to a sacred tree. Every time she drops the hammer, she screams “hate!” and we see a PhotoMontage of Miki bullying her. Also deconstructed: Miki really isn't cursed, [[AnAesop is Megumi who ruins her own life hating Miki]].

* PretenderDiss: Parodied when Kankuro melodramatically informs Akihiko that he is not a Star Ranger
** Miki and Akihiko discover a high school student out of school drawing pathetic graffiti and ask him what is he doing:

* RedemptionQuest: Deconstructed with Kankuro. He claims he has come to get back on Miki so he can finally get over his FreudianExcuse and [[CharacterDevelopment move on]]. Defeating Miki seems the way to go, but it's an ImpossibleTask, thus trapping him into a CycleOfRevenge. Here he explains why while we see a PhotoMontage in a computer... complete with a ''delete trash can'' image.
--> "[[FreudianExcuse Being made a fool by a girl younger than me, and the tormenting memory of being treated as a slave...]] If I don’t erase those images I’ll never be to [[CharacterDevelopment leave this town and put it behind me]], [[VerbalTic Nya]]."

* SadistTeacher: Kayahara Sensei tries to be a SaveOurStudents teacher. Unfortunately, she is always depressed (maybe because she cannot admit to herself that she doesn’t enjoy teaching) and for that, is always being taken as a StringyHairedGhostGirl, all her students are [[TheDreaded very afraid of her.]]
* SaveOurStudents: Deconstructed by Kayahara Sensei: This is the kind of teacher that she strikes to be, she is a BullyHunter, always trying to stop any abuse. Unfortunately, the only thing she accomplishes is being a SadistTeacher.

** In ''Napalm'' it is revealed that he is a fanboy of the entire genre in general, even noting that his fanboyism peaks every last episode before moving on the next series.

** The genre is also deconstructed: The Red Ranger is TheHero, he acts heroic, gets things done, and always gets a HundredPercentHeroismRating... because he is at a TV Show. Akihiko it the LoonyFan does exactly the same things the Red Ranger does, is a LordErrorProne in a SliceOfLife show, and he is the ButtMonkey... because he is at RealLife.
-->'''Akihiko:''' ''[[ShaggyDogStory Today certainly did seem to be a waste of time]]. But so what? That little girl’ sad face now carries a smile. '' - Begins ThemeMusicPowerUp - ''Do your best Ohta Akihiko. Never lose Ohta Akihiko. For the sakes of everyone’s smiles, fight for tomorrow, Ohta Akihiko. ''

--> - At Akihiko’s house, he is watching Star Rangers, with his arm and head bandaged: - '''Star Ranger’s narrator:''' ''After destroying the Evil Base, the Star Rangers put hope back on the young boy’s heart. Today, they fought for justice yet again. ''

* SchoolyardBullyAllGrownUp
** Miki, a kid who bullied boys four years her senior, has grown up into... a twenty-year-old [[ManChild Woman Child]].
** Same goes for Megumi... only she prefers to be a CombatPragmatist who uses MaliciousSlander.
* [[{{HeWhoFightsMonsters}} She Who Fights Bullies]]: When Megumi accuses Miki of bullying her, Megumi is truly surprised when Miki retorts that Megumi is the true bully -– by committing MaliciousSlander, [[ThrewMyBikeOnTheRoof sabotaging Miki’s work]] and [[TrapMaster setting traps against her]] -– a realistic depiction of TheBully in RealLife.

* At the end of episode 7 A, ''Peel Off the Fake Smile'', Miki tells how his EngineeredPublicConfession worked:

* ShopKeeper: Makiko owns a ramen restaurant, Megumi a bakery/lunchroom, and Akihiko a greengrocery.

** Kayahara-sensei constantly (albeit unintentionally) spoofs [[TheRing Sadako Yamamura]], StringyHairedGhostGirl look.
** In Episode 1B, "Another Poster Girl", Miki challenged Megumi to a boxing fight, quoting lines from ''Manga/AshitaNoJoe'' while Akihiko suddenly adopts Danpei Tange's outfit and trademark eyepatch.

** Makiko's poses after her destructive drunken rampage in a flashback during Episode 12A, "When You Were Smashed", is a reference to the Creator/JackieChan film ''Film/DrunkenMaster''.

-->''[[StarWars That's it. Go ahead and hate me. All that hate will turn you to the dark side.]]''
* TheSlacker: Miki only took her current job because she could slack all she wants there. Come day-offs, she doesn’t know what to do... because [[CarryingACake she never delivers the ramen on time]], has little money, no TV or video games. Megumi, on the other hand, takes her job seriously, and thus is rewarded with a better lifestyle.

* SliceOfLife: Yes, Hanami Town Shopping District is a WorldOfHam, but TheCity is not a CityOfAdventure: Everyone else is pretty normal, and this series talks about the [[ADayInTheLife daily life]] of a group of {{BurgerFool}}s that practice MundaneMadeAwesome.

* SpiritedCompetitor: Miki fought Toshiyuki for hours just to make a delivery, despite the owners telling her that she could yell their names and they would go out, just because she has the chance to flex some muscle.

** Megumi as the CombatPragmatist, asks Miki at episode 3A why is she fighting an AngryGuardDog when she could easily avoid it. At episode 5 B, after she and Miki beat someone to use him as a stepping stone to escape a well, she recognized that the guy had a rope and should’ve just let him rescue them.

* StockShoujoBullyingTactics: Exaggerated by Megumi, who now is a SchoolyardBullyAllGrownUp: Instead of hiding Miki’s shoes, she blows up her bicycle tires, instead of posting embarrassing photos, she publishes the true facts about Miki (that she is TheSlacker, TheBully and spreads MaliciousSlander) in public places, [[UpToEleven and she sends menacing letters to Miki and leaves Miki’s card at the scene of a crime. Oh, and she leaves hot dog skewers instead of taks in Miki’s shoes]].

* SuicideAsComedy: At the beginning of episode 4A, Kayahara sensei mentions to eat ''her last ramen'' and ''To continue this pitiful life of a teacher… I’m already tired of it''. Later we discover that Kayahara Sensei is not talking about suicide, but to quit her job as a teacher. However, Miki invokes it to solve her problem with a student that wants to quit Kayahara’s class:

* SuperstitionEpisode: Episode 4B is about Megumi mistaking Kayahara sensei for ''onryo'', a ghost trying to get revenge on Megumi for being a BitchInSheepsClothing, and Megumi efforts to avoid her and her ''curse''.

* ThereCanBeOnlyOne: Central theme of episode 5 A, ''"Be my stepping stone"'' Miki and TheRival are trapped in a dead end and invoke this trope: To go out, they need to defeat the other and [[KickTheDog use her as a stepping stone]]. Even when the rest of the cast show up to help, they involve them in the game. Deconstructed when everyone is knocked out and the last one is ''too tired to escape''.

* TheThingThatWouldNotLeave: Miki invokes this trope at episode 7 A, ''Peel Off the Fake Smile'', when she becomes a client of Megumi’s bakery and acts as annoying as possible for hours to make Megumi drop his façadeof TheFakeCutie in front of her clients.

** Deconstructed with Miki, Megumi and Kankuro: because they're not professional fighters, they only use their skills against each other. But they're so good at it two true martial artists (best friends and actresses behind Star Pink and Hell Bunny), come to Hanami only to see them fight and help them with Pink Star’s confidence. In other words, the protagonists are TheQuest.

* ToBeAMaster: Deconstructed: No one of our protagonist wants to be the best at their jobs, but all they want to be the biggest TheBully in all town.

* ToughLove: Makiko definitely loves her daughter, but hits Miki not so much to make her stronger, but to make her less of a {{Jerkass}}.

-->'''Akihiko:''' The Background Goes DeliberatelyMonochrome While He Is Looking Dramatically At His Hands – ''I’m not a real [[{{Sentai}} Star Ranger?]]'' – He Adopts A PoseOfSupplication - ''Is that so, is this how it is? [[HeelRealization No, its true. Somewhere in the depths of my heart, I already knew…]] [[ScrewDestiny However, however, I can’t just give up now! Even if I am not Red Star…]]''
* TournamentArc: Deconstructed: At last year District Sumo Contest Miki won [[CurbStompBattle lefting fifty people wonded]], [[ATwinkleInTheSky one still missing]] and wounding a [[ProfessionalWrestling Professional Wrestler.]] This year they simply change it to a nonviolent competition.

--> '''Megumi:''' [Wearing a serious face] ''I see, Onimaru san [[TrainingFromHell deliberately takes the more difficult path. It’s true, compared to an uneventful day to day life, this stressful lifestyle would make you grow a lot more]]. Onimaru San, you…'' [Megumi wears a SlasherSmile] ''[[WhatAnIdiot are such an idiot]].''

* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Kayahara-sensei loves Onimaru's ramen. It's the only thing that makes her smile in a non-creepy way. Deconstructed into an eating disorder: Kayahara Sensei is a SaveOurStudents teacher that really wants to help... except when she is eating ramen... [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything then she cares about nothing]].

* UnknownRival: Kankuro repeatedly [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou challenges Miki]] to a fight, but never wins. She can never remember his name either. Justified because Miki is TheBully[=/=]SchoolYardBullyAllGrownUp who suffers AttentionDeficitOohShiny and ButForMeItWasTuesday. Also deconstructed because as a FightingSeries protagonist, she always encounters BitPartBadGuys[=/=] [[VeryPunchableMan Very Punchable Men]] that are mean to her, she defeats and immediately forgets; [[FridgeBrilliance why Kankuro should be different than them?]]
* TheUnSmile: Tomoka Kayahara is so depressed, that when she wants to smile, this is the result... except when she is eating his TrademarkFavoriteFood, or trying to become friends with TheBully.

* VictimOfTheWeek: Subverted because the various non fatal victims of the week that we met at the series are regulars in her DebutQueue (they will not solve their problems) or people who will solve their problems themselves, [[UnwantedAssistance despite the help the protagonist give]]

** Zigzagged in episode 2A: Kankuro and Miki compete in different baseball teams... and Miki manages to break Kankuro's both arms.

* VoodooDoll: At episode 4B, Megumi is trying to curse Miki by nailing a wara ningyo (a straw doll that represents people) to a sacred tree in the temple at the top of the hill.

* WeWantOurJerkBack: When Makiko starts acting nice to Miki following the advice of a CoincidentalBroadcast, the latter wants her old, abusive mother back immediately. The sentiment is equal when the drunken, nicer Miki appears.
* WhenSheSmiles: Kayahara’s sensei perpetual depression made her look as a StringyHairedGhostGirl, and attempts to cheer up result in TheUnSmile… except when she eats her TrademarkFavoriteFood, she is so happy then that WhenSheSmiles, everyone thinks she is beautiful and LoveBubbles appear. [[CrowningMomentOfHeartWarming When she tried to become Megumi's friend, she smiled maybe her first true smile, and she looked beautiful in a very normal way]].
* WhyAreYouNotMySon: Makiko said that about hard working Kankuro.

* WrongGenreSavvy: Episode 6B, “The Rift That Looked Like [[RedStringOfFate Red String]]”, Wakana is seeing the UnknownRival Kankuro in yet another CurbStompBattle with SchoolyardBullyAllGrownUp Miki. Wakana ThinksLikeARomanceNovel: Is Kankuro a [[{{Tsundere}} sweet but quickly angered guy]] [[StalkerWithACrush looking for Miki’s Attention]]? [[note]] No, he is the UnknownRival who [[StalkerWithoutACrush only spies Miki so he can defeat her]] and so [[DefeatMeansRespect win her respect]]) [[/note]]. Is Miki a [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold secretly kind jerk?]] [[note]] No, she is a JerkAss [[/note]]. Are they always fighting? [[note]] Yes, both of them are {{ArrogantKungFuGuy}}s). [[/note]] So? The only logic conclusion for the TokenMiniMoe? BelligerentSexualTension! Wakana sets herself to be their ShipperOnDeck as Kankuro’s Love Cupid. HilarityEnsues!

* AttentionDeficitOohShiny: Miki literally cannot focus in making deliveries without being distracted by helping stray dogs, beating BitPartBadguys or chasing insects.

--> '''Akihiko:''' Signals Kankuro to shut up: ''[[DamselInDistress Wakana-chan is waiting for Toshiyuki – Kun’s safe return]]''. – ThemeMusicPowerUp begins - ''[[HeroicResolve I’ve still got willpower]]. [[IGaveMyWord Since I was asked, I have to help her!]] [[HeroicSpirit A man… is forged from willpower and perserverance!]]'' – Cue ImagineSpotting.

** Kankuro [[BrokenAesop deconstructs the "standing up for oneself" attitude]] in dealing with Miki. After four years in college, [[BestServedCold he returns to Hanami to defeat Miki]] and thus purge all memories his HilariouslyAbusiveChildhood -- by [[DefeatMeansFriendship winning her respect]]. Yet Miki, unable to empathize with anyone weaker than her, [[UnknownRival doesn't acknowledge the rivalry]], let alone [[ButForMeItWasTuesday remember his name]]. Thus Kankuro is trapped in a CycleOfRevenge, unable to leave Hanami and start anew because he simply CantCatchUp.