Ep 21. Usui's Rival?! Hinata Shintani

In Maid-sama season 1 episode 21, titled "Usui's Rival?! Hinata Shintani," we are introduced to a new character named Hinata Shintani. Hinata transfers to Seika High School and immediately catches the attention of the student body with his charming personality and good looks. However, his real motive for coming to Seika High is to challenge Usui for Misaki's affection.

Hinata and Usui have a complicated history from their time in England, and it is quickly revealed that Hinata has had feelings for Misaki for a long time. He believes that he can win her heart by outshining Usui in every way possible. While Misaki is initially flattered by Hinata's attention, she becomes increasingly uneasy when she realizes that he is trying to come between her and Usui.

The episode follows Hinata as he tries to win Misaki over by showing off his skills in various areas, such as cooking and athletics. While Misaki acknowledges that Hinata is talented, she is put off by his competitive nature and his disregard for Usui's feelings. Usui, on the other hand, seems unfazed by Hinata's efforts and continues to act as if he has no interest in Misaki.

As the episode progresses, we learn more about Hinata's past and his relationship with Usui. We discover that they were once close friends, but their bond was destroyed when Hinata betrayed Usui's trust. While Hinata deeply regrets his actions, Usui still harbors resentment towards him and refuses to forgive him.

Towards the end of the episode, Hinata challenges Usui to a baseball game to determine who is more worthy of Misaki's love. The two compete fiercely, with both of them pulling out all the stops to win. However, the game ends in a tie, leaving Misaki and the rest of the student council members unsure of what to think.

The episode ends with Hinata revealing his true feelings to Misaki and asking her to choose between him and Usui. Misaki is caught off guard by Hinata's boldness and is left with a difficult decision to make.

Overall, "Usui's Rival?! Hinata Shintani" is an intense and emotional episode that explores the complexities of love and friendship. It highlights the struggles that individuals face when trying to navigate their feelings for someone while also maintaining important relationships with the people around them. The episode leaves viewers on the edge of their seats, eager to see how Misaki will respond to Hinata's confession and how Usui will react to the situation.