@Reqqles Whoo nice!
1. I Lol'd the moment you called takagi shithead and mean spirited, I probably can guess what's your preferences by this point, thanks for the laugh. Though I would agree with you if you said that the manga is just too formulaic and at some point become boring.
And no, I am sure as hell nagatoro bullying doesn't come through place of affection, if crushing your self-esteem and continuously embarrass you in front of her circle are form of 'affection' then something's messed up with your head.
2. The one thing I don't understand is exactly this kind of thing, regaining your confidence by being bullied first doesn't make sense to me, I feel bad when paisen just scared when nagatoro appeared all of the sudden and just starts her usual routine. If anything this manga can turned dark with paisen trying to commit not dead.
3. I can't comment on your third reason since I don't reach that point yet, but it's nice to hear if paisen can open up.
Yeah they were in the same category, but Anjou feels more natural to me. Anjou was painted kind and flirtatious since the beginning and nagatoro depicted as your classic bully turned romance partner just because paisen doesn't fight back and still nice to her, it's just feel forced.
@Siwan Yeah maybe it's just personal bias that I am against this bullying-trope, maybe I should try re-read it again someday.