History Manga / KindergartenWars

* CerebusRollercoaster: On one hand, ''Kindergarten Wars'' is very much a comedy series, featuring over-the-top gags and zany LoveDodecahedron shenanigans. It can also get shockingly depressing, repeatedly reminding the audience that the teachers are all fighting tooth-and-nail to escape from a life of crime that none of them ever wanted in the first place. Despite being a comedy manga, [[spoiler:the story is entirely willing to invoke AnyoneCanDie, even with [[KilledOffForReal members of the main cast]]]]. However, it never fully sticks with either tone, routinely switching back and forth between them, sometimes even in the [[MoodWhiplash same chapter]].

* HateSink : Hana's father lacks any sympathetic or comedic traits compared to other assassins. A flashback shows him beating a very young Hana with a stick for failing training. In the present, despite promising to spare Hana and her brother if she kills Rita, only for him to attempt to kill both anyway.
* ILied: Hana's father made a deal with her: kill Rita and he will forgive Hana and her brother for failing a mission. After Hana seemingly kills Rita, he to tries to kill both of them anyway.
--> '''Hana's father''': Did you really believe that deal? Foolish girl.

* AscendedExtra: [[spoiler:Natsuki is initally introduced as an ArcAntagonist in the same vein as Natasha, with his and Haruo's story seemingly concluding with their deaths at the hands of Leo... except it turns out that [[NotQuiteDead both of them survived]]. Harou gets put into a coma and is taken hostage by the Principal, forcing Natsuki to join the Kindergarten as its janitor, thus becoming a part of the main cast.]]

* CerebusRollercoaster: On one hand, ''Kindergarten Wars'' is very much a comedy series, featuring over-the-top gags and zany LoveDodecahedron shenanigans. It can also get shockingly depressing, repeatedly reminding the audience that the teachers are all fighting tooth-and-nail to escape from a life of crime that none of them ever wanted in the first place. Despite being a comedy manga, [[spoiler:the story is entirely willing to invoke AnyoneCanDie, even with [[KilledOffForReal members of the main cast]]]]. However, it never fully stick with either tone, routinely switching back and forth between them, sometimes even in the [[MoodWhiplash same chapter]].

* AscendedExtra: [[spoiler:Natsuki is initally introduced as an ArcAntagonist in the same vein as Natasha, with his and Haruo's story seemingly concluding with their deaths at the hands of Leo... except it turns out that [[NotQuiteDead both of them survived]]. Harou gets put into a coma and is taken hostage by the Principal, forcing Natsuki to join the Kindergarten as its janitor, thus joining the main cast.]]

* RefugeInAudacity: Leo and Sylvia's strategy of attacking Leo is to keep him between them and open fire in each other's directions. As Leo internally points out, this runs the risk of friendly fire if they miss him, but then realize that the two are genuinely insane enough to take their chances and hope to hell that the other person is quick enough to know where the next shot might land.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kindergarten_wars_sj_volume_1.png]]

* DecoyProtagonist: The first chapter follows an assassin named Spade as he's handed an assignment to assassinate a young boy at Kindergarten Noir. He's killed in the middle of the chapter as the manga reveals Rita as the true protagonist.

* ForcedIntoEvil: A major theme in the series is that nearly every single assassin is trapped in a life of killing. Even those who try to quit being an assassin, such as those in the kindergarten, ironically need to continue killing in order to finally turn their lives around. After all, most people don't ''want'' to be killers.

* MoodWhiplash: Right after grimly realizing that the New World Order is making their move to capture Lyla, the Principal then cheerfully announces that it's time for the staff to get ready for Parents' Day.

* ForcedIntoEvil: A major theme in the series is that nearly every single character is trapped in a life of killing. Even those who try to quit being an assassin, such as those in the kindergarten, ironically need to continue killing in order to finally turn their lives around. After all, most people don't ''want'' to be killers.

* EarlyBirdCameo: Chapter 1 ends with a group shot of the colorful staff of Kindergarten Noir, before the later chapters properly introduces them.
* ForcedIntoEvil: A major theme in the series is that nearly every single character is trapped in a life of killing. Even those who try to quit being an assassin, such as those in the kindergarten, ironically need to ''continue'' killing in order to finally turn their lives around.

* LoveDodecahedron: Sylvia is in love with Luke, who Rita is attracted to, but Rita also might have feelings for Doug, who ''does'' have feelings for Rita, but Doug is also the target of Hana's crush. On the side, Lyla seems to have a PrecociousCrush on Doug. [[spoiler: And then Natsuki developps a crush on Hana.]]

* TrappedInVillainy: A major theme in the series is that nearly every single character is trapped in a life of killing. Even those who try to quit being an assassin, such as those in the kindergarten, ironically need to ''continue'' killing in order to finally turn their lives around.