The wound is at her heart.
Virgil
It's not my fault.
What's everyone so mad at me for?
They're the ones with the problems.
All I did was tell the truth.
It's their fault for rejecting me.
Yeah, that's just how it had to be!
Okay!
Is everyone in favor of study sessions to prepare for Paper Shuffle?
I'm in!
Yeah!
It looks like Kushida-san, Horikita-san, and I
will be serving as teachers.
Group 1 will be held after class, and group 2 after clubs end.
Each gets two hours.
Let's assign the rotation now.
I'll take part in both groups as much as I can!
Thank you, Kushida-san.
Let's all work hard together!
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2nd Season
Classroom of the Elite
Classroom of
the Elite
I'll oversee group 2.
Then I'll oversee group 1.
And Kushida-san will watch over both groups.
Could we talk?
Miyake-kun and Hasabe-san?
Miyake Akito
Hasebe Haruka
What is it?
We're paired up,
but we have the same strong and weak testing areas. It's a problem.
I see.
You're a bad match-up for the upcoming test.
But we can't handle many more in our study groups.
I'd like to give everyone the support they need, but...
True.
If we just had another potential teacher...
I'll look after them, then.
Yukimura-kun? Are you sure?
I want our class to get past this test.
I wasn't of any use during the sports festival.
That's not true.
We've all been undermined by things we've regarded as unnecessary in the past.
The only difference is whether that was sports or academics.
At this school, you need to be good at more than just academics or sports.
Yes. That's true.
Instinct, inspiration, intuition.
We'll be called on to use these indispensable human qualities.
I hate to admit it, but none of us can do it alone.
What we need now is a team that covers all the bases.
Unity, then?
I want you to take part in Yukimura-kun's study group.
Why me?
I want you to see if they're making progress.
You were in Yukimura-kun's group during the test on the ship,
so you must have some flexibility.
So these are the members of our study group.
I feel a little bad.
Is this where we say, "Nice to be working with you"?
Nice to be working with you.
Ayanokoji-kun's capable of talking!
Hey, Hasebe.
Well, the guy's usually invisible.
I barely notice if he's even in class half the time.
But he was pretty awesome at the relay the other day.
I was in the bathroom, so I didn't see him in action.
He raced the former student council president, right?
Speaking of which,
no more hiding things like you did at the sports festival.
When it comes to academics,
Horikita tells me you're pretty darn good.
I can memorize stuff okay.
Miyake, Hasebe.
I've studied up on your weakest subjects.
Can't you do something?!
Let's get into details.
I've written up a few humanities questions.
Our special cakes must be reserved one week in advance.
I'll want you to solve those first.
You'll have ten minutes.
And I'm tellin' you to make an exception!
What's going on there?
I'm terribly sorry.
He's from Class C, right?
C'mon, guys, stay focused here!
Cake...
That reminds me.
You could buy one of our premade cakes.
We can have one ready in a jiffy.
It's almost my birthday.
It's impressive, in a way.
They even made pretty much the same mistakes.
So we're basically teaching one person, then.
Class C will be making our questions, right?
Yeah.
As long as they pull questions from the textbook, it'll come down to basic ability.
We should be able to form basic counter-strategies.
You know they're gonna make weird questions for us.
You really think this study group will help?
Well...
The school will decide if the questions are appropriate, right?
Right.
If we learn exactly where the school draws the line,
we'll have a stronger footing.
Where the school draws the line?
Is there a way to find that out?
I believe there is.
We need to prepare some questions that seem on the dicey side,
and see what the school has to say about them.
Whether or not they accept those questions
will give us our answer.
It does seem worth investigating.
How's the question composition coming along?
Hirata-kun and I are making progress.
We're sharing study group information, as well.
Good.
How did things go with Kushida?
In what sense?
No change in her behavior?
She helped as much as she could.
She's not involved in coming up with the questions for Class C, is she?
Yes. We're keeping that close to our chest.
But... I don't think that will solve the basic problem.
Correct.
But I have a way to deal with her, I think.
Ayanokoji-kun.
There's one more favor I'd like to ask of you.
Yes?
On a day when Yukimura-kun's study group isn't meeting,
I'd like you to drop in on ours.
Again?
There are so many people in it, it's hard for me to see everything that's happening.
From: Ryuen Kakeru To: Mastermind Subject: No subject
Who are you?
What's the matter?
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2nd Season
Classroom of the Elite
Classroom of
the Elite
Wow, it's my first time in a library!
What about you, Ayanokoji-kun?
I've been many times.
Really?
A real study nerd, huh?
It's just how I kill time.
You go to the library to kill time?
Say... is this a problem?
Is what a problem?
You know... suddenly saying I wanted to join the study group.
I don't mind.
And I suspect Horikita and Kushida are more than happy to have you.
That's not what I meant...
I need a little less chatter from the group this time around.
F-Fine, we know!
Yeah, yeah!
Hey, hey! How do you think I should study?
This is a good opportunity.
You're a pair already, so Ayanokoji-kun can look after you.
My test scores aren't that much higher than Sato's.
Let's work hard together, Ayanokoji-kun!
You're always so calm and cool, Ayanokoji-kun.
I wonder what you were like back in middle school!
These two are pretty cozy, huh?
They look like they're dating to me!
No way!
Ike-kun, Yamauchi-kun!
Stop getting off-task and get ready to study.
We're about to start!
Fine.
I think that's enough for today.
So tired!
It's finally over!
Well, goodbye!
And goodbye to you, Horikita-san!
Indeed.
Ayanokoji-kun, wanna walk back with me?
I have a few things left to take care of. Go on without me.
Aw, really?
Yes.
Well, see you tomorrow, then.
Can you tell me what you have in mind to deal with Kushida?
I've thought a few things over.
If I hadn't come to this school,
Kushida-san would have earned the whole class's trust
and become a fully functioning member of the class through graduation.
Yet... I stole that future from her.
It's not my fault, of course.
But I did play a part.
What will you do, then?
Deal with it in my own way.
Kushida-san.
I'm sorry to keep you waiting.
What were you talking about with Ayanokoji-kun?
Nothing of consequence.
Something you can't tell me?
We went to the same middle school,
and I know your past.
Thus, you want to have me expelled.
Am I correct in this understanding?
Yes, I absolutely want to get you out of this school.
Because you were at the same school in the same year,
and you know about what happened.
I don't know anything more than rumors.
But I can't be sure of that, can I?
Will you make a bet with me?
What kind of bet?
If I score higher than you on the upcoming final,
I want you to stop trying to sabotage me.
And? If I score higher than you?
Then I will leave the school of my own free will.
Oh?
And we're competing as individuals, not as our pairs?
Yes.
Oh, come on!
That's no contest!
I've never beaten you in overall test scores before.
Not overall test scores.
I want to compete in one of the eight subjects we'll be tested on in our finals.
I'll even let you choose the subject.
Oh?
You have an objection?
It sounds like a total "honor system" agreement to me...
What if the results come out and the loser pretends it never happened?
To make sure that doesn't happen,
I've prepared what I believe to be a reliable witness.
Witness?
It's been some time, Kushida.
You... remember me?
I never forget a face.
This is the person I trust most in the entire school.
Am I right in thinking that you trust him to some degree yourself?
This whole thing between us—
I don't care.
I was asked to appear as a witness, no more.
Are you sure about this, Horikita-senpai?
If your sister gets a lower test score than I do...
She's the one who proposed this deal to me.
I have no intention of interfering.
You're really serious about this, huh, Horikita-san?
I have to go all-in at some point.
Okay.
I'll take your bet.
The subject I choose is math.
And if we tie, it's a wash, I guess?
It's done.
If either of you goes back on your word,
be prepared for the consequences.
I'm looking forward to the finals, Horikita-san!
Let's both give it our best.
You give it your best, too, Ayanokoji-kun!
Come on, I'm not that stupid!
He's listening over your cell phone, right?
Come quick, won't you, Ayanokoji-kun?
Call in Progress Horikita Suzune
Hey.
Do you think I could stick another condition onto our bet?
What condition?
If I beat your math score, Horikita-san,
I'd like Ayanokoji-kun to be expelled, too!
I can't agree to that.
Aw, really?
Too bad!
I'll agree to that.
I'll bet on Horikita winning, of course.
Ayanokoji-kun, no!
This has nothing to do with you!
That's untrue.
I'm so glad you agreed.
I'm sure.
But that means I add a condition of my own.
I want you to tell me exactly what happened
with you in middle school.
I think I have a right to know.
I could get expelled for something I know nothing about.
And you're acting under the assumption that Horikita knows what happened, right?
Therefore,
giving us the details here and now won't change anything.
I have no interest in learning about her past!
You may not, but I do.
How about it?
Or if I claim I know nothing about it,
will you let me off the hook?
You want to hear it that badly?
Hey, Ayanokoji-kun...
That moment you feel you do something better than others...
Isn't it just the best?
Back in elementary school,
people would lavish me with praise over the smallest accomplishments.
If I got the best grade on a test,
or placed first in a race,
I'd be the center of attention.
"So awesome, so impressive, so charming."
You've had those moments in the spotlight yourself, haven't you?
More than anything, I wanted the spotlight.
More than anything, I wanted praise!
And in the moments I received those things, I felt so worthwhile.
"Desire for recognition," I think they call it.
I feel that more strongly than others, and I became dependent on it.
But...
I soon found my limit.
No matter how hard I worked,
academically or in sports,
nobody gave me any more attention.
And so I realized...
I just had to do the things nobody else wanted to do!
"I'll tutor you."
"I'll help you."
"I'll be there for you."
I'd be the nicest and the friendliest.
And that made me number one!
Thank you
Number one in popularity!
You're a lifesaver, Kushida
The ecstasy of being needed, of being trusted!
Thanks a bunch!
It was bliss!
But...
volunteering to do the things nobody else wants to do
is painful, you know?
Well, of course it's painful.
It hurts.
But...
If I don't suck it up...
If I want to maintain my popularity...
I can't throw away what I have.
I endured, endured, and kept enduring.
But...
Who could possibly keep that up...
forever?!
The only outlet I had at the time was...
my blog!
It was the one place I could vent all the secret stress I couldn't reveal to anyone.
Title
Today's my 80th Entry
Password
K.H. You act so hot, like you're the most popular girl in class. But what you don't know, Miss Queen Bee, is that there's a private chat for all the girls except you. The boys think you're annoying, too. Maybe you should get over yourself, lol.
Student K
Just your average, everyday middle schooler. I write what happens to me at school plus my thoughts.
And just like that, the bile in my throat went back down.
But one day...
My classmates happened to find my blog.
Today's my 80th Entry
I didn't use any names, but based on what I said, they all knew who it was.
They found out all the awful things I said about everyone in the class,
so I know that's just how it had to be...
But they really gave me an earful about it.
After everything...
After everything I'd done for all of them,
they just turned on me!
Even the boys who said they liked me!
Even the girls I comforted when their boyfriends dumped them!
I mean, it's not like I didn't think those boys were gross,
and I wanted them to die...
Or that one look at the girls' faces made it obvious why they got dumped...
My fight-or-flight instinct was triggered.
The whole class was against me, after all.
So I used my weapon.
I told them everything.
The truth about all the classmates I didn't even write about in my blog!
Who he's cheating with.
Cheating
Who she's been badmouthing on an underground gossip website.
Gossip
Underground website
Devoted supporting player
Chronic shoplifter
Banned from idol meet and greets
Sleeping with the married teacher who creeps on girls
The dark truths that lived within all of them!
Part of a behind-the-scenes bullying group
Two-faced overachiever
Entertaining sugar daddies
Three months pregnant
Pretending to be rich
Brother failed to get into college five times
S h o p l i f t i n g
And then...
You've got to be kidding!
How many girls have you gone out with?!
What's wrong with you?
The anger they'd turned on me, they soon turned on each other!
That's just how it had to be!
They'd stopped praising me, after all.
And that's what really happened!
"Truth," eh?
A powerful but double-edged sword.
I don't know Class D all that well just yet...
But I do know enough "truth" to take down a few people.
My real mistake was venting stress on the Internet.
You never know who's looking at it,
and there's no getting rid of the content once it's on there.
That's why, for now, I'm venting all my stress verbally,
and otherwise getting along!
I hate you, hate you, hate you!
Just die, Horikita!
You'd go that far... just for...
Well, it's my purpose in life!
My whole life, there's nothing I've loved more than being noticed and praised!
And when someone reveals secrets to me that they haven't told anyone else,
I feel something welling inside me that defies even imagination!
A monster created by the "desire for recognition"...
My past is really nothing special, see?
But it's everything to me!
Don't forget, okay?
You both promised you'd drop out of school if I won!