Hayate Ayasaki is a sixteen-year old boy who has been working hard earning money as a bicycle delivery boy. He loses his job after his employer finds out he is still in high school, and his irresponsible parents spend the money he had earned. Hayate tries to kidnap a young girl named Nagi Sanzenin, but fails in his attempt. Later, Hayate saves her from other kidnappers and Nagi repays him by offering him a job as her new butler. However, overcome by injuries received during the rescue, Hayate collapses and is taken from the scene by Nagi's private helicopter.

Awakening within Nagi's mansion, Hayate incorrectly concludes that he has died and gone to heaven, and resolves to make the most of it. While he is enjoying a soak in an enormous indoor bath, the water re-opens his wounds and he passes out. When he regains consciousness, Nagi and Maria explain that he is Nagi's new butler. Eager to demonstrate his aptitude for the job, Hayate begins cleaing the mansion at a remarkable rate, drawing on cleaning skills he gained during previous employment. He finds a manga that Nagi has been drawing, and when he mistakenly refers to it as a picture diary, Nagi ejects him from the room. Believing himself fired, Hayate leaves the mansion and is immediately abducted by the loan sharks that are after him. All seems lost until Nagi, wearing an unconvicing disguise, appears and rescues him by paying off his debt. Hayate will now work as Nagi's butler to repay her.

Hayate wakes up Nagi one morning to find a large white tiger sleeping with her in her bed. The tiger, named Tama, nabs Hayate and carries him outside to fight. Hayate inevitably loses. Afterwards, Klaus, who is still upset about Hayate being Nagi's butler, challenges Hayate to a match with a robot to see if he has the necessary skills to be a butler.

When Nagi goes to school, she forgets to bring her lunch and Hayate offers to bring it to her. Once he gets to school, he is stopped at the front gates by a teacher (Yukiji) who thinks he is an intruder. Hayate eventually gets into the school, but the teacher continues her pursuit. Once inside, Hayate meets the student council president of the school, Hinagiku Katsura, for the first time, and helps her down from the tree she was climbing. As a reward, she brings him to the top of the Student Council tower so that he could see from the terrace. Yukiji, who is still searching for Hayate, finally finds him there and ends up fighting Hinagiku. After taking Nagi's bento box from Hayate, she jumps onto the railing of the terrace only to get blown off by a breeze. Hayate promptly rescues her, which ended her hostility to him. In the process, however, she had thrown Nagi's bento box onto to ground and spilled its contents.

Nagi does not want to go to school today and instead stays home to hang out with some friends. One of her friends, Sakuya Aizawa, arrives and starts to teach Hayate to be a better comedian despite Nagi insisting that he is a butler. Hayate later goes out to pick up some more tea wearing a cashmere coat, but finds the journey perilous.

Continuing from the last episode, Isumi gets to Nagi's mansion but Hayate leaves to pick up the tea that he was supposed to get. Hayate is ambushed by Isumi's protective staff and the loan sharks from the first two episodes. Hayate eventually makes it back, but comes down with a cold. The next day after Hayate has healed, he meets a young boy and his maid who have come to Nagi's mansion. The boy, Wataru Tachibana, is Nagi's fiancé.

Wataru, who is infatuated with Isumi, challenges Hayate, whom he perceives as a rival, to a duel. Hayate loses to Wataru on purpose, hoping for a romantic conclusion between Wataru and Isumi that will allow Nagi to break off her unwanted engagement. However, his overly obvious act ends up hurting Wataru's feelings. In order to reach Wataru and apologize, Hayate, together with Isumi and Nagi, must brave the Tokyo subway system.

Nagi gets Hayate to first try on a female school uniform, much to his displeasure and before he can do anything about it, Maria comes to Nagi's room and sees what is going on. Nagi and Maria then proceed to put Hayate in a full cat-girl outfit which entices Tama's animal instincts. Afterwards, Hayate runs into Klaus and initially tries to run away, but in the end Klaus' instincts take heed, and Maria must interfere. Later, Hayate and Maria play a game of pool where if Hayate loses, his debt will increase to 200 million yen.

Hayate tries to motivate Nagi to go to school finally, and offers to take her to and from school everyday from now on. Nagi reluctantly agrees and goes to school for the day, but when she comes back it turns out she forgot her notebook at school. Hayate offers to go to school late at night to bring it back and at the school gate he runs into one of the school's teachers he met earlier.

This episode, which is anime-only, takes place during the same time as episode eight and shows some other strange things that were going on in the background. A demon living inside an old video game is awoken and takes three of the student council members from Nagi's school inside the game where they must defeat her to return to the real world. Hinagiku, the student council president, arrives soon after and they go to destroy the demon, but she ends up ending it herself.

Nagi, with Hayate, Maria, and Sakuya, go to visit the head of the Sanzenin family — Mikado Sanzenin. Hayate runs into him outside, but initially believes him to be a landscaper on Mikado's estate. After Mikado reveals himself, he informs Hayate that his life is infinitely worthless while he is living to merely pay off the debt he owes Nagi. Mikado gives him a special pendant before leaving. Later, Hayate decides that he will protect Nagi from anyone that tries to hurt her, which greatly flusters Nagi.

After waking up from a dream about his childhood, Hayate talks with Maria about having dreams to live for and believes that dreams in life are very important. After revealing a childhood dream of his, Hayate gets the day off and decides to visit his old high school. There, he meets one of his old classmates, Ayumu Nishizawa, who has a crush on him. Hayate finds out that his parents took the rest of his tuition money, leaving him without a high school to go back too. After he begins to leave, Ayumu confesses her love for him, but he turns her down. Later, Ayumu gets taken into the ground of Nagi's mansion under the pretense that Hayate was being held captive by yakuza.

After turning down Ayumu, Hayate continues to wonder what she is doing while at he is at the mansion. Transfer documents arrive in the mail for Hayate to transfer into Nagi's school, and Hayate is overcome with joy to the point of crying. Hayate attempts to study the rest of the day for the exam the next day, but continuously gets interrupted by Klaus and Tama, so he does not get much sleep. The following day, Yukiji Katsura, one of the teachers at Nagi's school, has a bit of fun at Hayate's expense in order to "loosen him up" before the real exam. However, due to the physical and mental exhaustion he acquires as a result, he fails the entrance exam by one point. Yukiji is told that she must go to the Sanzenin mansion to inform Hayate, but is hesitant to do so because she believes herself to be the reason Hayate failed.

Hayate and Nagi are excited about Hayate being qualified for Nagi's school. However, Yukiji Katsura struggles to tell Hayate that he actually failed and that she was the indirect cause, having played pranks on him before the exam. She continually gets beaten by her little sister for skirting around the issue. Hayate eventually finds out and is disappointed but finds out that he actually qualified thanks to a recommendation from Maria.

Hayate goes to school early with Nagi despite her complaints. They meet a butler with a student along the way who eventually runs off with Hayate's necktie which makes Hayate and Nagi fetch a new one from home. Hayate has various discussions with Nagi and discovers that she jumped a few grades and thus is a high schooler despite her age. Hayate also discovers that Nagi used to be in a kendo club with Hinagiku but quit. Hayate decides to put Nagi back into the club when he is challenged by someone in the club.

Hayate is ready to fight. However, the boy who challenged him calls his butler to fight instead. The butler then punished the challenger for being a coward. Hinagiku then stops them and the battle starts. Hayate stands no chance against the butler since he lacks a last-minute powerful move. However, he eventually wins by using the boy who challenged him as shield calling it the "Art of Changing Bodies."

Nagi tries to gain experience after her work was rejected by a manga magazine. She believes she has no experience being lazy and staying in all the time, despite being rich and thus not having any problems living. She asks Hayate who has extraordinary experiences, but then becomes angry when Hayate tells her he once won a 'Manga Newbie Award'. She continues to gain experience while attempting to clean the house (which she messes up terribly) and by trying to serve food.

The students at Hakuō Academy go to a remote island for beach class. The butler of the beach resort named Schmidt hen Bach greets them and tries to create fun experiences for the group. However, the group of students is not having fun and want to go home, but Schmidt is not willing to let them go.

Wataru notices that Saki is acting strange so he decides to ask Hayate and Maria for help while he's picking up the cursed video that Nagi rented. It seems that Wataru forgot about Saki's seijin shiki and the people who watches the cursed video will be attacked by a giant cockroach. While Wataru is asking Nagi where he could buy a present, Hayate and Maria battle the giant cockroach. Nagi mistakes Wataru's present to be for Isumi so she sends Isumi to Wataru's house.

Hayate is searching for an ultimate attack and Maria suggests looking in the Sanzen'in library for hints. They find a book that teaches the Sanzen'in secret ultimate attack. After some training, Nagi finds out that Hayate is training for Hinagiku's sake and burns the book. Depressed, Nagi leaves the house at night where she meets Ayumu Nishizawa who challenges Nagi.

Nagi decides to take Hayate to an amusement park in her own backyard. While Hayate is roaming through the haunted house, Robot Eight, who was defeated in episode 3, appears to get revenge. After Eight's plan fails, he flees, upgrades, and breaks into Nagi's mansion for another chance for revenge.

With summer vacation coming to an end, Nagi is saddened that there won't be anymore free time to spend with Hayate. After reading a manga, Nagi decides to take Hayate fishing. While Hayate and Nagi are having a romantic time fishing (in Nagi's mind), the lord of the lake overturns their boat. Returning home, Hayate takes a bath and is joined by Tama who breaks the bath's water heater. Hayate becomes depressed because he believes he's always causing problems for Maria and attempts to fix the bath, only for it to be destroyed once again by Tama.

Shiori Makimura is sent to take over Yukiji Katsura's homeroom at Hakuō Academy after a number of failed projects at M.H.E. Corp. Yukiji Katsura is demoted to sub-homeroom teacher. In order to get her old job back, Yukiji begs Hayate to help her blackmail Shiori. Hayate refuses, but Shiori runs away crying and calls Eight after Yukiji manages to get a picture of Hayate on top of Shiori after he falls down.

Hayate is having a bad day thanks to the pendant that Nagi's grandfather gave to him. After Hayate and Wataru rescue Isumi's stole, Isumi thanks Hayate by decursing the pendant. Nagi and Wataru become depressed because they misunderstand the decursing as an act of love because they embraced. Nagi runs away from home to Wataru's video store.

Nagi is despondent over her conflict with Hayate, so she, Saki and Gilbert plan a fake kidnapping in Isumi's house underground. However, things turn bad when a Mecha programmed by Shiori goes crazy, and it is up to Hayate to go rescue Nagi and to recover his butler's status.

A marathon is coming up at Nagi's school, and Maria and Hayate want her to participate too. Nagi makes a bet with Klaus, where if she can get in first place in one of the races, then that would prove Hayate's worth as a butler, but if she cannot, then Hayate will be fired. Hayate trains with Nagi the next two days, and the day of the race the two get off on a slow start. Before long, Hayate must carry Nagi throughout most of the race, and faces a few enemies along the way impeding their progress. After running into Hinagiku, Nagi goes on ahead, but just as she is about to win, Hinagiku's older sister Yukiji beats her to the goal, winning the 150 million yen prize.

As stipulated, Hayate is to be fired as Nagi's butler, but as Klaus fears getting fired himself for this, he sends Hayate off to be trained at the Tiger's Den for Butlers to show his worth. Hayate meets a Catholic sister on the train, Sister Fortesia, and he later meets her again at a church which doubles as the location of the Tiger's Den. The next day, Hayate must find three others to go on a Butler Quest in an underground dungeon as a part of his training. Nagi is quick to join, and Yukiji and Wataru also join in.

Hayate and his party members continue to go on the butler quest. Hayate is poisoned by a poisonous spear after saving Nagi's life. Meanwhile, Hinagiku and Isumi are on the quest to help Hayate and exorcise this evil spirits, respectively. Hayate's group encounters the now-dead, ghost priest of the church, Rin Regioster, who points out Sister Fortesia to be a fake. The sister is takes control of a plug-in giant size robot to enact her revenge against the Sanzen'in family. While Fortesia and Hinagiku are fighting, Yukiji is possessed by an evil spirit, and attacks the others, also using the giant robot. Hayate exudes more power and destroy the robot, while Isumi exorcises the spirit possessing Yukiji. Back at the mansion, Hayate collapses after the butler quest.

One day before valentines, Nagi is trying to make some chocolate for Hayate and decides to skip school. At school Nishizawa tries to give Hayate some "love chocolate" but insteads gives him obligation chocolate. Hinagiku realizes Nishizawa panicked and tells Hayate to exchange it. However after receiving the "love chocolate" Hayate is a bit confused on the love concept and asks Maria for help. Maria remembers that she had little/no experience with love either and becomes depressed/mad. However she decides to make some chocolate for Hayate. Nagi, after failing herself to make chocolate, tells Hayate to make some chocolate for her. Hayate meets Maria in the kitchen and they have a contest to make the best chocolate. Maria makes her chocolate super incredible, but when asked about who its for, she becomes embarrassed and runs outside. Hayate catches up to her and gives her some chocolate that he made, and says valentines is the time where people work harder just to see the person they treasure smile.

Maria explains how Nagi developed an inferiority complex due to her short height causing her to frown most of the time. Kazuki, Ayumu Nishizawa's younger brother, confesses to Nagi about his love for her and asks if he is able to take Nagi on a train ride, though it becomes a date. At the end, Kazuki says that they should do things like this again. Nagi says that it is impossible because she already likes someone, but Kazuki says he has not given up. Back at the mansion, Nagi becomes dejected because Hayate has not become jealous about her date with Kazuki. Later, Nagi takes a bath, with Maria helping her wash her hair. Maria leaves for a bath towel, but due to a sudden visitor, she asks Hayate to bring a towel to Nagi. Hayate walks into the bathroom and accidentally sees Nagi naked. Hayate asks if Nagi is mad at him, and she says she is, but she says she forgot why she was mad, and kisses Hayate on the cheek.

Nagi is feeling embarrassed after kissing Hayate on the cheek, and she sends him out the house. Maria gives Hayate one million yen to go live outside the mansion for three days, but he uses the money to help people in need. Broke and having nowhere to go, Hayate is in the park reflecting on his position, when Hinagiku invites him to her house. Hayate stays for the night, and Hinagiku comes into Hayate's room. Hayate becomes flustered when he sees Hinagiku and notices her beauty. Hinagiku as well becomes flustered when she wants to ask Hayate about his relationship with Ayumu. The people that Hayate helped come back to the mansion and give all the money back. Maria notices that Hayate gave away his living expenses and decides to find out where he is staying. Maria decides to infiltrate the school to do so, and meets Hayate on the elevator for the school clock tower, although he is clueless that she is really Maria.

Hayate and Maria get stuck inside the school's clock tower elevator where Hayate realizes Maria is disguising herself. Nagi calls Maria on her cellphone due to her clumsiness with making tea, and Maria goes back to the mansion. Hinagiku and Hayate go to the supermarket and talk with each other, and also make dinner for each other. Hinagiku asks Hayate if he has a girlfriend, but he says he does not. Hinagiku goes to a supermarket and meets Ayumu who is eating baked yams. Hinagiku talks to Ayumu about what happened during Valentine's Day, and if she has a relationship with Hayate. Hinagiku sees a little kitten, and decides to take it back home. Hina feeds the kitten milk, but Hayate says they cannot sleep because they need to take care of the kitten. Maria asks if Nagi wants Hayate to come back to the mansion the next day, and she says she does.

Hayate goes back to the mansion with the kitten, and Nagi instantly decides that she will raise it and names it Shiranui. Tama becomes jealous of Shiranui, and tried to make it seem like Shiranui ripped up Nagi's manga, but the plan backfires when Shiranui rips of the manga, and makes it seem like Tama did it. Nagi locks Tama in a cage for a little while as punishment. Isumi comes over to play with the kitten, but Shiranui becomes vicious towards her, and makes Isumi feel horrible. Isumi asks Sakuya for help, who suggests a change in attire, since she always wears traditional clothes. After changing into more casual clothing, Sakuya and Isumi head over to Nagi's mansion. Hayate helps Isumi by spraying diluted cat nip on her, causing Shiranui to become playful towards her. Nagi and Isumi play with Shiranui, and Nagi lets Tama play as well.

Sonia (the nun) is outside Wataru’s Video Store debating to herself about her love for Wataru, she finally says she just wants to acknowledge her feelings and goes in the store. She realizes that she is truly in love with Wataru but becomes jealous when Wataru takes care of Saki when she falls. The two kidnappers from the 1st episode try to kidnap Wataru, but they accidentally kidnap the Saki instead. Wataru gives Sonia a kiss on the cheek to save Saki and she does so easily. Sonia goes into the video store again, and Wataru lends her another video, but this seems to get Saki jealous. Later, Katsura sensei has been asked if she has a boyfriend, and she makes up a lie saying that she has dozens and chooses one to be with depending on her mood. To get a boyfriend Katsura sensei asks Nagi when the next high society party is, and Klaus says they will have one tonight. To prepare for the party, Katsura sensei goes around and asks people for advice about love. Miki, Izumi, and Risa go directly to Hayate for help on this matter. Nagi talks to Katsura sensei about having a boyfriend, and after a little bit of thinking Katsura sensei says she actually prefer booze instead. Everything goes well for Katsura sensei, but in the end, we see Maria sighing about having a boyfriend.

Hayate asks Maria what she would like to get an idea of what girls his age want so that he can figure out what to buy Hinagiku for her birthday. Hayate goes into town and chances upon Ayumu, though they are initially awkward toward each other after remembering the events of Valentine's Day. Izumi, Miki, and Risa show up as well, and they help Hayate look for a present. Hinagiku finds them and finds out about Hayate looking for a present for her. Hayate says he does not have the financial means to support a girlfriend at this time, so while he does not dislike Ayumu, he cannot bring himself to get involved in a relationship. Back at the mansion, Hayate asks Maria when her birthday is, but Maria evades the question, causing Hayate to think he said something tactless. He apologizes to her, and finds out Maria was abandoned by her parents, never knowing her birthday or her real name, though her birthday is set on December 24, the day she was found.

Hina becomes preoccupied with why she has been thinking about Hayate so much lately. She finds out that Hayate is on the verge of failing to progress into the next grade, causing her to get very angry at him. Hayate goes to apologize, but he does not know what to say. When Sakuya breaks a cursed doll of Isumi's, a cross-dressing curse befalls Hayate, causing him to wear a maid uniform against his will, and if he does not beat Hina in a match before 9 PM tonight, he will have the desire to cross-dress for the rest of his life. Isumi gives a note to Hina to explain what she should do, but Hina takes this as a note of challenge, and does not intend to lose.

After Isumi's butler, Kotetsu, realizes Hayate is a boy, he becomes enraged, and tries to hunt down Hayate. Later, Nagi gives Hinagiku the watch she prepared for her birthday, and then becomes kidnapped by Kotetsu, who says to have Hayate rescue her. Meanwhile, everyone surprises Hinagiku with a surprise birthday party, and after being asked where Hayate's present is, Hinagiku misunderstands the letter of challenge as a way for them to be alone. After hearing that Nagi has been kidnapped, Hayate runs through the festival even though he is wearing embarrassing clothes. Nagi talks with Kotetsu about how shallow his love is, and how he only looks at the appearance of others. This opens Kotetsu's eyes and he confesses his love again to Hayate, but is beaten away by Nagi. Nagi also scares away the curse of the Hina Doll and Hayate returns back to normal. Finally, Nagi and Hayate head home, but Hayate remembers that he forgot to meet up with Hinagiku, and heads to the clock tower where Hinagiku is sleeping.

Hinagiku wakes to see Hayate, and after noticing the time, becomes enraged at Hayate's tardiness. She begins to attack Hayate with the Masamune Bokken she received from Isumi, and after a while, Hinagiku loses control of her emotions due to the sword and cries in Hayate's chest. Later, Hinagiku becomes embarrassed due to losing control of her emotions, and when she asks Hayate for her present, Hayate gives her some cookies he baked. Hinagiku then proceeds with telling Hayate about how her family also left her and her sister behind with a debt of 80 million yen and how she can relate to Hayate. Hayate leads Hinagiku to the terrace and makes her look at the view to make her feel better. After seeing the beautiful sight of the city at night, Hinagiku finally realizes that she is in love with Hayate.

Nagi wakes up after her dream where she became the number three spot in the Hayate the Combat Butler character rankings and Hinagiku became the top spot. On that night, Sakuya and Isumi are battling an evil eye yōkai, however they fail to catch its remainder. The next day, Maria gives bag to Hayate to deliver to Isumi because she is not feeling well. Hayate meets Isumi's mother and grandmother at the Saginomiya mansion. Afterwards, Isumi is attacked by the giant evil eye yōkai and Hayate saves Isumi. After leaving the Saginomiya mansion, a small person wearing a mask in all while attacks Hayate. Their battle ends abruptly to reveal the person as Ginka Saginomiya, Isumi's great-grandmother. She reverts to her old self again, and sucks Hayate's blood to gain back her youth. Hayate goes back home to the mansion, dry of blood and horribly thin.

Nagi decides to take Hayate and Maria on a trip to visit a mysterious meteorite that seems to enhance growth, along with other special powers. On the way there, Nagi accidentally leaves the train to buy a box lunch, but then the train leaves without her and she becomes lost all alone. Nagi meets up with Ayumu after eating at a ramen shop and Ayumu lets her ride on the back of her bike to take her to the next train stop. Meanwhile, Hinagiku tries to talk to Maria for advice about love, but they are interrupted by a call from Nagi. While waiting on hold, Nagi and Ayumu meet some hit men who say they need to take out Nagi but do not know which one is her due to both of them having pigtails. Ayumu pedals away on her bike, and Hayate is on the same road, looking for them.

Ayumu and Nagi manage to get away, but Nagi jumps off the bike soon after, telling Ayumu that she will be fine since Hayate is coming. Hayate finds Ayumu's cellphone and is promptly attacked by Ginka, Isumi's great-grandmother, who wants to take him to the Shimoda onsen. Ayumu comes back to Nagi to share a soft drink when the hit men return, and Ayumu and Nagi jump on the bike again to escape. Hayate and Ginka arrive, and Ginka takes care of the hit men, allowing the others to meet up at the train station in Asami. Nagi tells Hayate to bike Ayumu the rest of the way, and Hinagiku looks after Nagi and Maria on the train. Once in Shimoda, Nagi meets with Sakuya and the two go to a secret hot spring which causes Nagi to act like she is intoxicated, though it does not adversely affect Sakuya or Hayate who comes to retrieve Nagi. Later, an alien comes crashing into Nagi's room at night.

When Nagi wishes an alien on her mother's star,Nagi's wish become real Nagi helps the alien to find the spaceship, Hinagiku is relaxing on a onsen she decides to find and tell Ayumu Nishizawa the truth about that Hinagiku is fallen in love with Hayate,then suddenly she passed out, Nagi and the alien found the spaceship and finds Hayate going to Isumi then Nagi and the alien follows Hayate, Hayate agreed to Isumi's great-grandmother he will give blood to Isumi to regain her powers but Isumi rejects the help of Hayate the great-grandmother of Isumi hits him with a morning star which cause him to bleed,soon after Nagi and Hayate had a fight suddenly Nagi accidentally gets on the spaceship that she will never come back,Isumi kisses hayate on the cheek and regains her powers back and sends him in the outer space to save Nagi,after that the alien comes to the spaceship and takes Hayate and Nagi home,Hayate dreams about Nagi's mother Yukariko Sanzenin to protect Nagi,the reason they came to shimoda is to celebrate the death anniversary of her mother and soon after Nagi introduces Hayate to her mother.

Ayumu realizes that despite telling him otherwise, she actually does want a White Day present from Hayate. Hayate buys a basket of cookies for Ayumu at Hinagiku's suggestion, but, nervous about presenting the gift to Ayumu, practices a greeting for Ayumu only to accidentally give the cookies to Maria instead. When Hinagiku discovers that Hayate neither gave the gift to Ayumu nor has enough money to buy another one, she brings Hayate to a friend's cafe in order to bake cookies. Despite Hayate's terrible luck, he manages to meet Ayumu and give her his White Day gift. That night, Hayate catches up to Hinagiku and gives her a present as well.

Nagi, having woken up after noon for all of spring break, resolves to rid herself of her hikikomori lifestyle. After Hayate accidentally breaks his cell phone, Hayate and Nagi go shopping in Shinjuku to replace it. Nagi gets lost, although she vehemently denies it, and is directed to the lost child section of the electronics store. Nagi challenges the boys there to a duel with the Hayate the Combat Butler Trading Card Game; she wins and tells the boys to call her "boss", after which Hayate arrives to pick her up. On March 29, Sakuya reminds Hayate that her birthday is on April 3. Knowing that Hayate cannot afford to buy her a present, she asks for a good laugh. In an attempt to learn how to be funny, Hayate forces himself to try and jab at Maria but instead trips and face-plants her chest. Nagi beats up Hayate as a result, and Sakuya gets the laugh that she asked for, although she tells Hayate that she still expects something on her actual birthday.

Father Linn Regioster suddenly appears before Hayate and announces his decision to rest in peace. However, he claims that to finally leave the Earth, he must rid himself of his one lingering regret by flirting with a maid. Since Maria cannot see Linn and because Hayate has no intention of letting Linn take over his body, Isumi resolves to learn how to be like a maid herself. After Nagi coaxes some advice out of Wataru under dubious circumstances, Sakuya introduces her maid Haru to teach Isumi the spirit of a maid. Much to both Hayate and Isumi's chagrin, however, the entire setup was an April Fools' Day joke by Linn.

Nagi tells Hayate how she came to adopt Tama during a trip in Africa. Tama, determined to get rid of Hayate and Shiranui, corners the latter in a delivery truck only to be locked in and transported to an unknown location. Fearing for his life after hearing that an anaconda loose in the city was shot and killed, Tama tries to make his way home with Shiranui. The two are saved by Hayate when he pulls them out of the way of a speeding truck.

Nagi asks Maria about the importance of money by which she understands how hard Hayate works to pay his debt off. She decides to give Hayate a birthday present,a wrist-watch which Hayate wants to wear all the time,by working for the money at a part time job. At the same time Hayate receives a call from an old cafe place he used to work for and finds out that he is needed there. Maria seeks this chance and replies on the phone that Hayate and another girl by the name Nagi Sanzennin will be working there. In the end it turns out to be a contest between Ayumu Nishizawa and Nag

Tired after a day's work, Nagi decides to take a nap even though Sakuya's birthday party is that same evening. At the party, Aika discovers that Chiharu works as Sakuya's maid. Meanwhile, Sakuya forces an extremely reluctant Wataru to entertain her and her guests; after Hayate and Nagi arrive, Sakuya manages to get Hayate to perform as well. Sakuya introduces her father and younger twin siblings to Hayate. After seeing Sakuya play with her siblings and her father, Nagi leaves. At Café Donguri, Hinagiku asks Ayumu to see the cherry blossoms with her, saying that she needs to talk with Ayumu about something important.

Ayumu takes Hinagiku to a Ferris wheel which overlooks a grove of cherry blossoms. At the Aizawa mansion, Nagi goes missing and Hayate and the others try to figure out where she is. Hinagiku tells Ayumu that she betrayed her and that she too is in love with Hayate, though Ayumu does not think that this is a big deal. Hayate finds Nagi on a balcony and wants to comfort her, but ends up destroying the atmosphere. Nagi tells Hayate that she will keep him close to her for the time being.

Nagi is forced to rest after coming down with a fever after a day of hard work. Nagi asks Hayate to do something that makes her sleepy, upon which Hayate tells a strange and nonsensical version of Alice in Wonderland. Bored, unable and unwilling to fall asleep, Nagi asks Hayate to get her some Packy and attaches a hidden camera to his tie for entertainment. Nagi and Maria watch as Hayate's terrible luck forces him to undergo a string of unfortunate events. Hayate ultimately makes some Packy himself and brings back one stick after narrowly being run over by a truck. A new semester starts at Hakuō Academy though Nagi is still unwilling to attend.

A new semester is about to begin, but Nagi is lazying arround as usual. Hayate and Maria try to cheer her up without success until she gets impressed by a TV Show about aliens near Area 51 in Nevada, USA and wishes to get there to investigate. An opportunity arrives when she recieves a call from the U.S. Police asking her to retrieve some of his late father's belongings, but Maria states that she is forbidden to get there until Silver Week. Nagi flees from the mansion in anger just to find later that she had forgotten her cellphone and wallet and is unable to get back home. However she is found by Hayate and when he is approached by a small child, he finds that Nagi was kidnapped. Hayate gets on the girl's bike to pursue the kidnappers and rescues Nagi from them. Just then Hayate and Nagi return home, the girl appears before them once more, introducing herself as Ruri Tsugumi and claiming to be Nagi's little sister.

Despite her shocking revelation, Ruri is ignored by Hayate and the others until she is finally brought before Nagi who hears from her that she is actually her sister, despite having no proof of it. Nagi allows her stay for a while, but after seeing her snooping around the mansion, she decides to take her to live with the other tenants of the Violet Mansion. Ruri refuses to stay, until Nagi is convinced to give her a chance. Nagi asks Ruri if she has any sort of special skill and she reveals herself as a master of Systema, strong enough to confront Hayate. Hayate is attacked mercilessly by her until he decides to fight back and she starts crying, which is later revealed as just a trick for him to open his guard. Nagi reprimands Ruri for using such underhanded tactics but compliments her for her fighting skill, even asking to learn it from her.

At Hakuo Academy, Ms. Katsura tells Hayate to deliver student council notes to Hinagiku. Hayate finds Hinagiku napping when Miki, Izumi, and Risa appears, waking her up, judging that Hinagiku is often scary. Hinagiku decides to be nicer for Hayate. Despite hearing her favorite tea cup get broken, and her sister already spend the money that she lend to her, Hinagiku shows a smiley personality to them; much to their surprise. Hayate suddenly ask Hinagiku to see a kids’ movie with him then Ruri joins them later. The kids in the theater tease them thinking that they are a couple, the movie starts shortly after but the film cuts off. Then Hayate takes Hinagiku to an amusement park; leaving Ruri behind. They enjoyed themselves until it was time for them to leave. Hinagiku ask Hayate to why did he take her out, he explains it was Miki and the others who told him to; thought she was having a bad day. Hinagiku says that she wouldn’t go out with a guy unless she likes him, but Hayate couldn’t hear that part.

Ruri is looking for a way to get close to Nagi in her search for some unknown item at her mansion. Chiharu and Kayura recommend her to buy some games for her to play with Nagi just to find later that she had already bought and played them. After both Nagi, Chiharu and Kayura have a heated discussions about their preferences related to manga, anime and games, Ruri asks them for some recommendations and they set for Tachibana's shop. While the trio argue about which manga she should start reading first, she ends up wandering into the R18 dōjinshi section just to flee in horror soon after. In the end, she ends up purchasing just a dōjinshi from an unknown author which Hayate recognizes as one of Nagi's original creations.

Angry at Maria for always scolding her, Nagi orders Hayate to follow her arround looking for some reason for her to scold the maid herself. Unable to find any bad trait about the maid, the butler stumbles on Yukiji who invites him for lunch just to learn that she has no money and intends to have him pay the bill. Meanwhile, Maria calls Mikado and asks about why there is no pictures or any info about Nagi's father, and he responds that all evidence of his existance was erased by him, as according to him, he was just a con artist who married Yukariko aiming for the Sanzenin fortune. As Hayate argues with Yukiji, both Ruri and Sonia appear and start ordering food, increasing the bill. As the four argue about who will pay the bill, a thief breaks into the restaurant, giving an opening for both the sister and Ruri to flee. The thief claims that he is stealing money for the sake of his sick little sister's medical expenses and Yukiji reprimands him while pointing his own gun at him and Hayate. Hinagiku appears mistaking her sister for the thief and stops her. With the thief turning himself to the police and Hinagiku leaving with her sister, Hayate remains alone at the restaurant, calling Maria to ask her for help with the expenses.

Silver Week has arrived but Nagi has no interest to set to Las Vegas and retrieve her late father's possessions, rathering to spend the day with Hayate instead. Later she pays a visit to the Violet Mansion, just to find that Ruri is alone there. Unable to leave when it starts raining, Nagi manages to have Ruri confess that her true intention is to obtain the elusive "Black Camellia", a treasure believed to be in possession of the Sanzenin family and Nagi asks her grandfather by phone about it. However, Mikado refuses to say anything beyond the fact that the treasure was stolen 13 years ago and she breaks her smartphone in anger. When the rain worsens into a storm, the two girls struggle to keep the house by themselves when Ruri saves Nagi from being hit by a large tree branch carried by the wind. When the storm passes, Hayate appears at the mansion and he gets a call from Mikado who reveals to Nagi that the Black Camellia was stolen by her father.

A story about Nagi’s father, Shin Hayek, is told how he was a thief then he met Yukariko and eventually fallen in love with her. Nagi discover the Black Camellia is in Las Vegas with Shin’s belongings. Nagi explains the Black Camellia is a clock that brings bad luck (but can grant the owner miracles for eternity). Ruri who is desperate decide to enter a quiz contest hosted by Fumi Hibino to win tickets to New York as a way to go to Las Vegas. In the end, Hinagiku and Ayumu won and want to see Ruka’s concert in Las Vegas. Ruri ran away wondering what to do next, since Nagi warned her not to do anything dangerous. Hayate comes looking for her when he, Isumi, and Sakuya witness her being abducted by a bird-like creature.

Hayate, Isumi, and Hinagiku (using her Shirosakura sword) manage to save Ruri from the bird-guy, but she refuse to tell them who he was. The next morning, at the mansion they receive a ransom note for Ruri’s return in Las Vegas; nonetheless, recognize the handwriting to be Ruri’s. Wondering if she really was kidnapped or not, Nagi finally takes the motive to go to Las Vegas and retrieve the Black Camellia. Testing the misfortune clock, Maria grabs it then suddenly the ventilation went up under her skirt in an eerie timing, and so Hayate took possession of the clock for now. While killing time in Las Vegas, Hayate got lost and his smartphone battery unfortunately died. He unexpectedly meets Ayumu saying their plane had a mechanical problem, thinking the Black Camellia caused it. Maria and Nagi found Hayate, from their viewpoint seeing as if he is kissing Ayumu. Much to Nagi’s shocking surprise just to find out he was only taking a bit of fuzz off Ayumu’s eye.

While entrusted with the Black Camellia, Hayate's bad luck has gotten much worse. At the hotel they’re staying, the trio: Izumi, Miki, and Risa overreacts to help search for Ruri, as Hayate tries to cease them two cops mistake his action as of indecency, then startup panic throughout the hotel. Nagi insist Hayate to leave when Yukiji takes the clock from him, she won billions from a casino but then thieves showed up and stole the money and the clock with her car. Later, Hinagiku receive a call from Izumi to where the thieves' hideout. Nagi goes along with Isumi and Sakuya to where Ruri is supposed to be at. There they find a tree in the desert and meets a woman who appears to be a demon, when Nagi tells her the Black Camellia been stolen the woman sends out Ruri and the bird-guy—Shidou to retrieve it while taking Nagi hostage. Hayate and Hinagiku saved Izumi and Yukiji from the thieves before Ruri appears and found the blond-hair guy who has the clock. Ruri knocks out the thieves using her skills, but just as she strikes the guy with the Black Camellia it suddenly transforms into a sword, Hayate pushes her out of the way and gets stabbed.

Nagi inquires the woman why does she desire the Black Camellia, saying it is a magical sword that grants eternity. When Hayate got stabbed by it he collapse and later gets up, however his personality seems to have changed. The woman and the tree appear and attempt to take the Black Camellia, the thieves try to fight back as their hideout catches on fire and escapes with Yukiji’s money. Hayate wants to talk to the woman, but Isumi interrupts them and release Nagi. The woman starts to weaken and retreats with Shidou and Ruri. As the police arrive, Nagi concerned about Hayate’s behavior, and then Hayate tells her that he "quits" being her butler, leaving Nagi alone. The next day, Nagi pretends to be okay without Hayate. They meet Kyonosuke with a new car saying Yukiji will pay him back for it wasn't aware that she was robbed. Kyonosuke takes Nagi and Ayumu a drive to Area 51 when Ayumu shows Nagi the Black Camellia she found last night. Then the car suddenly broke down, Kyonosuke and Ayumu left Nagi alone in the desert. Nagi begins to realize how important Hayate was to her and exclaim that she wants him back no matter what. Ayumu comes back and gives Nagi a helping hand. Meanwhile, Hayate minds his own business when Yukiji gets him to find her money by interrogating a thief that she caught. Hayate (now speaking English) reluctantly threatens the thief who gives them the location at the Starside Hotel.

Everyone gather together gladly to help Nagi search for Hayate. The girls try to figure out the mystery: the Black Camellia, the woman—Dolly, the accident 13 years ago, and Hayate’s strange behavior. After Izumi and Hinagiku mention that Hayate got stabbed the previous night, Nagi comes to a conclusion. Ruri appears and Nagi asks her to bring her Dolly’s ring; Hayate’s life depends on it. Nagi orders Klaus to deliver her mother's wedding ring over immediately then lends it to her friend, Ruka Suirenji, so Hayate will notice the ring on Ruka’s TV interview. Ruri found Dolly's ring and receive an email to meet at the Starside Hotel. Tonight at Ruka’s concert, Nagi’s friends go there to enjoy the show. Hayate and Yukiji arrive at the hotel; Hayate goes into Ruka’s dressing room and found a note written by Nagi informing him the ring is at the wedding hall. In the wedding hall, Nagi reveals the Black Camellia is a sword that exchanges a person’s soul and what happened 13 years ago, and thus Hayate is now Shin Hayek—Nagi’s father! Shin sat down with Nagi and talk about Yukariko. Dolly shows up with a captured Ruri and demands the Black Camellia, but Nagi and Shin explain that her beloved king died 13 years ago and Hayate is inside the clock now. Shin demands his ring back that signifies his and Yukariko’s eternal love. While Yukiji beats up the thieves, chaos rises above her and Maria cause by Dolly.

Within the Black Camellia, Hayate is introduced by a tanuki who tells him how the clock’s fortune functions. Meanwhile, Ruka is doing her singing performance; Isumi and Sakuya run to help Nagi. Ruri and Shidou try to defend Dolly but she rejects them, Shin protects Nagi from Dolly’s wrath. The rest of the thieves are defeated when Hinagiku uses her Shirosakura sword to rescue Ruri from a falling pillar. Shin takes Nagi to safety and approaches a helicopter with Hinagiku and Yukiji (with her money), but then Dolly captures Nagi and creates a gigantic tree. Yukiji flies away with Hinagiku on a parachute, Dolly begins to crush to Nagi, and then Shin arrives with the Black Camellia and stabbed himself asking Nagi to get his ring back for him. Shin appears before Hayate telling him to go save his daughter. Hayate comes after Nagi, proving to Dolly that he is not her beloved and starts to crumble. Hayate holds Nagi’s hand and flies down on big balloons miraculously and she confesses to him. It’s raining money, Isumi and Sakuya had Ruri taken to a hospital. Shin sang a song when Yukariko appears and the two are finally reunited. As Hayate and Nagi land safely Dolly comes down and Nagi reveals what her beloved king last words were before disappearing into the sky, the Black Camellia got crushed. And they go to see Ruka’s concert. After all other businesses were taken care of; Ruri gives Nagi her father’s wedding ring and leaves with Shidou revealed be a handsome man in a suit. Hayate and Nagi arrive at Shimoda to drop off Shin’s ring and the Black Camellia at Yukariko’s grave thanking them for everything.

Hayate shops in a poverty district then experience his misfortune. The story goes back in the daily life at the Violet Mansion apartment, where Hayate and Hinagiku make an early morning preparation. Maria notices how Hayate can be so popular with the girls. The tenants; Chiharu, Kayura, and Ayumu leave for school as Nagi gets up late despite Hayate's actions to wake her when she's been trying her best to do better in life. Athena Tennousu (as Alice in child-form) barely stays awake. After school, Nagi attempts to play video games when they all should be studying for their final exam. Hayate continues his hard work preparing for tomorrow already then begins studying after midnight and Hinagiku comes to his room to tutor him, and he wakes up for just an hour of sleep and does the same early morning routine. Unfortunately, he discovers everyone is sick; except Ayumu until she fakes it. The next day, Hayate caught their cold but pretends he's fine to relieve Nagi’s worries.

Nagi is playing her fierce video games until Maria instantly unplugs the TV. One morning, Nagi inadvertently awakens early at the Sanzenin Mansion and discovers how the early mornings can be so delighted. She follows a scent of cooking and found Hayate in the kitchen. After eating breakfast, Nagi tries not to get sleepy by doing some exercise which isn’t easy for someone of her lifestyle. At Wataru Tachibana's video store, Nagi purposely rents an R-18 naked DVD mix with a stack of random ones; however, when she presenting it to Shiranui in her tree house Nagi found out she had grabbed an R-18 horror DVD by mistake. Ending up watching the whole film Nagi becomes terrified and begs Hayate to stay by her side all day until she’d fallen asleep, and Hayate whispers her a good dream that suppress her fears. Maria also watches the film and its déjà vu. Shifting back at the Violet Mansion, Nagi confined herself from going to school on a soggy day.

Having to sleep late again Athena (Alice) takes in some sunlight for refreshments. Hayate gave her some ringlet-shaped chocolate. Suddenly, a big dog approaches Athena then licks her. She demands Hayate to find its owner. While they search for the dog’s owner on the streets, Athena disciplines the dog. Fumi appears declaring the dog, Armageddon, is hers. Armageddon quickly tackles onto Fumi, just as they leave Athena signs she likes Armageddon, and Fumi responds he likes her too because of her ringlet-shaped hair. The next day, Wataru struggles with the pile of money that Sakuya had delivered to him in order to keep his business funded. Hayate and Saki offer to help deposit the money into the bank account regardless of Wataru's denial. Walking on the streets, Armageddon and Yukiji suddenly appear then the dog snatches the briefcase full of money and runs off.

The Saginomiya residents are curious to why they don't have a maid to support them in any way. So Hatsuho went to request Hayate to handing out flyers to recruit suitable maids use to overcome Isumi's weakness of smartphones. Fumi chose to be a maid candidate confident in her skills. In the end, both Isumi and her mother rejected Fumi because she did not meet the standards of understanding how to use smartphones. Nagi responds Isumi doesn't need a maid. At the Aizawa mansion, Chiharu as Haru is teaching Sakuya to be modest. In a flashback, the story goes on how Chiharu been hired to be Sakuya's maid. Makita & Kunieda reach agreement that Sakuya needs a maid by choosing one at her café. Sakuya asks Nagi why she hired Hayate as her butler in the first place; she replies that it was fate. In an arcade, Sakuya and Chiharu play virtual games together, and felt faith in her so she had Chiharu become her maid.

Feeling depressed because she isn't fragile, Hinagiku wishes Hayate to give her a shoulder massage, but is too embarrassed to ask him. Thinking how to get him to offer her a massage, Hinagiku uses a chance while studying with Hayate in the evening, but fails. The next day, Hinagiku reflects from the previous night. Athena reassures Hinagiku she try hinting Hayate again. Hinagiku receives a call from Hayate to meet at the Sanzenin Water Resort to deal with the troublesome Hakuou Three Amiga swimming in the artificial sea. Abruptly, their old foe Gilbert makes an appearance causing Hayate to beat him up. Gilbert provokes a 2v2 volleyball game challenge with the butler. Gilbert's partner is a new and improved Eight, and he chooses Hinagiku as Hayate's partner believing she is "fragile". Hinagiku pretends to be fragile for Hayate at the start of the game, which they didn't expect. Hayate apologizes to Hinagiku that with her on his side he thought he'd win the game.

At Hakuou Academy, Risa discusses with Hayate about why people recently been calling them the "idiot trio". Izumi and Miki thrash out then start arguing together with Risa, they decided to find results on who's the smartest of the three by creating an interesting film. Hayate follows Izumi firmly to where she’s recording a plant growing, but accidentally kills it. Next, Miki shows them some eggs she’s waiting to be hatch; however, Hayate corrects her that unfertilized eggs will never hatch. Last, Risa presents a contraption that sets off balloons, but failed to notice them flying away without recording. In the end, it became clear to Hayate that the three are idiots. Thinking about yesterday, the trio are in session alone then again rather study on how to be popular. Hayate comes to check on them, and Risa tries to force him into doing something shameless to Izumi for the cute and blush research.

Ruka the idol is told from her manager Atsumari that she been booked to star in a bicycle commercial, telling her how lucky she is. Nagi, Hayate, and Maria are watching a recap of Ruka's concert on TV at the Violet Mansion. Ruka got the day off so she makes a surprise visit there and informs them her amazing opportunity. Tactlessly, she doesn't know how to 'ride' a bike so she intensely desires Hayate to teach her how since he’s a professional at bicycling. Ruka first practices in the yard but ruins Maria's garden. It soon gets dark, Chiharu suggest Ruka should try practicing on Hakuou Academy's grounds. Hayate strictly trains Ruka to ride a bike down a steep hill, that looks risky. He pushes her down the hill and catches her before she falls, hoping it would help overcome her fear of falling. At the end of the day, Ruka and Hayate start having fun using a squirt gun. Nagi asks Hayate if he can teach her how to ride a bike too but expects him to do it more kindly.

Astonish to gaining weight, Ayumu efforts to preserve her health. Following at Café Donguri, Hayate gives Ayumu some Nikuman he made, at that moment, she realize her constant consuming of Hayate's food is the reason she's gaining weight. She stops herself from eating, but just couldn't resist Hayate's generous offer. In a flashback, Ayumu remembers how everyone prepared a surprise birthday party for her. Hayate was baking cookies for her, Maria questions who else's birthdays does he know, answering he remembers everybody's. Nagi and Chiharu compromise they should throw a surprise party for Ayumu over at Café Donguri. Before they can start setting it up, Ayumu arrives already! As she attempts to remind them what "today" is, they try to avoid the question by feigning ignorance until she gives up. Ayumu finally leaves after part-time and everyone quickly prepares the party. Nagi calls for Ayumu's return, but she is too dismayed, so Nagi use a sympathetic manner to convince her.

Top of the Hakuou clock tower, Chiharu is doing a speech pattern when Aika caught her unguarded. Aika responds that side of her is cute. Chiharu believes there are others who are more unguarded than herself, as she hangs out with Nagi due to their common interest. Later, Chiharu decided a barbecue for the tenants, and she has Hayate give her grocery shopping assistance. She questions Hayate what would he do if a girl confesses to him; he gives a serious answer. Ruka arrives at the Violent Mansion as she accepted Chiharu’s invitation. Ruka asks Ayumu if Hayate would become her boyfriend even if it means kissing him, which irritates Ayumu. As Hayate and Chiharu return, he responds to Ruka and Ayumu that Chiharu asked him the same question, but they misunderstood it, then everyone celebrate for the barbecue. Kayura is eating the kebabs and making weird remarks. In a flashback, Hayate and Nagi remember when they first met Kayura (and pitching up a tent).

Shiori fixed a tape recorder for Yukiji then tells her days as a student at Hakuō Academy. 7 years ago, when Maria was the student council president, Shiori amazed how academic and cute Maria is, so she shows her camera photos of her growth…but Maria breaks it like it was an accident. In the end, it seems Maria refuses to expose any of her cute traits. At the Sanzenin Mansion, Maria discovers a love letter for Hayate; however, he wants to turn it down then Nagi returns a strict reply to the sender; a second later, the sender replies a horror letter to Hayate which now scares him. Nagi devises Hayate and Maria to go on a fake date in order to drive away the sender. The sender is revealed to be Linn and he gets enrage of seeing Hayate dating Maria. Hayate and Maria follow Nagi's script by trying on different clothes even though it's embarrassing, with Ayumu and Hinagiku following them thinking their date is real.

"May I kiss you?" All of the Cuties have had the same dream - one in which Hayate kisses them! Meanwhile, the indebted butler himself continues to unwittingly make all the girls' hearts skip a beat after having a troubling dream of his own! A tumult of love beginning from a single dream and someone's idea of a joke throws Hayate and the Cuties for a loop!

"I have to kiss someone, for Miss Nagi's sake!" As the time limit draws near, Hayate dashes through town looking for someone to kiss! And the Cuties, hoping to help Hayate somehow, are also running all over the place! The days of youth, and the first kiss - two things that everyone treasures.