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Sprocket Granted, and the editor thing is just a rumor, but it would explain the intense drop off in the cruel bullying of the first 2 chapters to those that came after. Judging from community reactions, it first 2 chapters made a lot of people uncomfortable but it had a niche following coming from those who liked the webcomic. It looks like it might have been advice from the editor to broaden the appeal to improve sales.
In the first 2 chapters, Nagatoro's bullying takes the form of sexual manipulation and emotional cruelty. In the 3rd chapter the bullying changes form to humorous physical abuse. In the 4th chapter we get the first concrete clue that Nagatoro is capable of feeling embarrassment and nervousness. From then on the bullying is purely physical and sexual.
It could be that this is just character growth on both their parts and/or the fan theory that Nagatoro has been toughening Senpai up to make him worthy of her is accurate. But the shift in tone between the first 2 chapters and chapter 3 is massive and shouldn't be ignored. After that it becomes a gradual progression of Senpai becoming more comfortable around Nagatoro and I can get behind that, but I miss the emotional cruelty because it was something very unique.
Like I said, Nanashi is perfectly entitled to make something that would be commercially successful and I wish him all the luck. I just miss the old Nagatoro.