A man who cannot command himself will always be a slave.
JWV Goethe, "Zahme Xenien"
The real reason I called was to apologize.
Apologize?
Yes.
I've caused you a great deal of trouble in the past.
Huh? Where's all this coming from?
I have no further need to work to increase Class D's standing.
My motivating factor has ceased to exist.
Oh? So you're gonna lie low from now on, huh?
Yes. I'll leave the rest in the hands of Horikita and Hirata.
Gotcha. Sounds like you're free now, huh?
Precisely.
Which also means this will be
my last time contacting you.
It sure is cold, huh?
I really hate the cold!
Morning.
Hey.
It'd be better for me if I didn't have club stuff.
You gotta watch out for Class C, Suzune.
Hey, Kiyotaka.
Morning.
I'm sure I don't need you worrying about me.
I saw him! I don't need you telling me that.
You're as sour-looking as ever, huh?
Hey, Ayanokoji's here.
Sorry. Things are the same as ever.
Don't be like that! I'm here for you, no matter what...
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2nd Season
Classroom of the Elite
Classroom of
the Elite
So what was your proposal, Hirata-kun?
We should keep up the study groups, not just before tests—
What?
Hey, now!
What the hell? This is Class D, assholes!
Do you have business here, Ryuen-kun?
Do I need a special reason to visit another class in my grade level?
I'd say you're all jumping at shadows.
In most schools, you wouldn't.
But circumstances are a little different at this school.
I just think it's time we start being a bit friendlier.
Ishizaki.
Hey. Is it just me, or is Ryuen about to do something crazy?
Wanna follow?
Wait. You think he's gonna do something to Koenji?!
This seems rather bad, doesn't it?
Yeah...
Kiyotaka, maybe we should go watch,
with as many people as possible.
I think he's about to try something.
True.
Having cameras around is no guarantee.
I'll go with you.
Too dangerous to send just a few.
It might be best for you to stay in the classroom.
If instigators like Ike and Yamauchi go,
it might make any trouble worse.
You might be right.
All right.
But take care of yourself first.
Wait right there!
Wait?
Wait for what?
As you can see, we haven't done anything.
What brings you to me?
Have I done something to warrant your interference?
I'd like to talk with you,
weirdo.
"Weirdo"?
Is it I to whom you refer?
Who else could I mean?
Pure poppycock, I assure you, but I'll pretend I didn't hear that.
A sign of my boundless magnanimity.
But as I do have a date coming up...
I wonder if we might keep this brief.
I'd appreciate it if you'd delay those plans.
How terribly lowbrow!
Are you aware of how much this mirror cost?
Sorry. It slipped.
That's enough, Ryuen-kun!
Pipe down, Suzune.
I'm having a game with Koenji right now.
I thought I heard something brewing.
What a curious combination of characters.
Sakayanagi, eh?
It's almost like you knew this was about to go down.
I just happened to be passing by.
Don't make me laugh.
Discussing plans for a Christmas party?
Get lost.
I'm not dealing with you just yet.
Oh, don't be that way!
Won't you let me join in the discussion?
You can stay if you like. Just don't interrupt.
I'm more than happy to perform before a larger audience,
but could you make your point quickly?
I'm afraid I'll have to leave if you don't.
Sorry about that.
Let's get down to brass tacks.
My inference is thus:
someone in Class D has been interfering in your plans.
You're trying to find out who that is.
Exactly right.
Then I assure you, you have no quarrel with me.
I'm incapable of caring how any classes end up.
I haven't even put any particular effort into tests up to this point.
Nor do I intend to.
What could you possibly get out of confronting me?
Your story doesn't quite add up.
What about the special exam on the ship?
I know what you did there.
A mere exercise to kill time.
And it freed me from participation in those annoying get-togethers.
Then I can't be assured you didn't participate in any others.
In other words, there's no guarantee that you don't control Class D.
Correct?
Correct indeed!
But if you're the kind of person that would come to such a conclusion,
it merely shows the limits of your own brainpower.
Stupid...
is what I might call that behavior.
Fair enough.
If you're telling the truth, that makes you entirely irrelevant to me.
Yes.
I appreciate that quick wit of yours, Dragon Boy.
And if I choose to pursue an unjustified resentment,
and attempt to dominate you through violence?
What a nonsensical question.
You won't make that decision. Certainly not here.
I'm afraid I'm capable of anything, even in inconvenient locations.
Whether it earns me something or not.
I see.
Then I'll give you my answer.
If you do make that decision,
then in order to protect myself and my pride,
I'll knock out all who come after me.
You think you can beat me alone?
I'm failing to imagine a reason why I couldn't.
He's...
completely insane, in a different way than me.
I think that's all it is.
So glad to have the misunderstanding resolved.
Tell me one thing, Koenji.
If it's not you, who is it?
Is it a member of the congregation here?
I wouldn't dream of stealing your fun.
Might I ask a question?
A little bird told me that Dragon Boy-san
was looking for a particularly clever member of Class D.
Is that tru—
I told you to keep out of this, Sakayanagi.
And the next time you call me that, I'll kill you.
You don't like it?
I thought it was a lovely name for you myself,
Dragon Boy.
My, did that upset you?
Didn't I say I'd kill you if you called me that again?
Stop it right now!
Your behavior right now is a huge problem.
Did something problematic happen just now, Hashimoto-kun?
No, I simply tripped and fell.
That's all it was, Horikita-san.
There's something wrong with all of you.
Terribly sorry, Ryuen-kun.
My teasing went too far.
Are you sure you want to let him go?
If he'd been the one I was looking for, he wouldn't be going anywhere.
He looked plenty suspicious to me.
He's really hard to get a read on,
and it's entirely possible that what he said was a lie.
His thought processes and mine don't match up.
Does he seem like the type who'd be scheming with Horikita?
It's certainly hard to imagine...
But then, why did you go after him in the first place?
Hey.
What do you lot think of Koenji?
What the hell are you even talkin' about?
This is all nuts!
I didn't ask the fool's opinion.
What was that?!
Ryuen-kun, your behavior is highly erratic.
I can't understand it at all.
Well, that suggests I'm doing something right.
I was able to narrow down my candidates today...
as to who it is that's hiding behind you.
I have no interest in whatever you're doing.
But I do feel comfortable asking you to stay away from my classmates from now on.
I'm not obligated to stay away from anyone.
I haven't broken any rules.
But this game, too, will end soon.
You can look forward to the finale.
Ichinose and Sakayanagi have begun to show interest in me,
but if I start working now, I should be able to fade out.
The only remaining issue is...
Ryuen.
He never showed his hand.
My first little fox hunt turned up empty.
How gracious to admit defeat.
Are you giving up now?
No. I will crush him.
He didn't show his hand today,
but my attempts to corner him will work.
The hunt continues.
After Paper Shuffle,
I assigned watchdogs to Class D students I deemed worthy of observation.
Their purpose: to sow unease and tension throughout all of Class D.
Over the course of two weeks, I'm sure he's been feeling this.
The kind of person who would remain in hiding behind Suzune...
Why are you doing this?
I'm enjoying myself.
The truth is, my heart is racing.
An exaltation akin to first love.
Message History To: Mastermind To: Ishizaki Daichi To: Mastermind To: Ishizaki Daichi To: Kondo Reo To: Kaneda Satoru
Message History To: Mastermind To: Ishizaki Daichi
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2nd Season
Classroom of the Elite
Classroom of
the Elite
Just tell me what you're doing already.
Worried?
I like to know what I'm going along with.
You'll find out soon.
I've called the bait here.
At the same time, I've sent an email to the mastermind.
You think he'll buy it?
In the worst-case scenario, neither shows up.
But that would be enjoyable in its own way.
So, concretely, what's your angle?
I'll crush the bait.
Or I'll crush the bait and the mastermind.
You can't do that much with all these security cameras around.
No worries there.
Notice of Construction
It's so cold...
Now there's no one to see.
Won't you get punished for this?
It's just a prank.
Any punishment won't be severe.
Albert.
Take your place.
If the bait shows up, let it through.
If anyone unexpected shows up, call me via cell phone.
That's heavy!
I hope you're right and the bait shows up.
Oh, she will.
The card I hold is a life-or-death for her.
And now, we wait.
You're alone?
That's what it said in your email, right?
I came alone, just like you asked.
What the heck was that email about, anyway?
Do you really need further explanation?
I don't know what Manabe and the others told you,
but I have no idea what they're talking about!
Then why didn't you ignore it?
Well...
I didn't want you spreading unfounded rumors.
Is that all?
What's that supposed to mean?
Just give up already.
Everyone here knows that before you reinvented yourself for high school,
you were a constant victim of bullying.
What are you—
Wh-What now? Cut it out!
Stop it! I said stop!
Let me go!
What are you doing? Ow!
Just what do you want?
What do you get out of threatening me?
I'm just killing time.
If you do anything to me, I'm telling the school!
Go ahead, then.
But I don't think you can.
You came here alone, after all.
Karuizawa.
Tell me who's pulling the strings for you and Suzune.
Do that, and I won't reveal your past to anyone else.
I don't know what you're talking about.
The mastermind saved you from being bullied by Manabe and the others.
I've never been bullied.
And I don't know anything about some mastermind.
I have proof.
From Manabe's own mouth.
She said the mastermind threatened her to protect you.
I don't know what you mean.
That means you know the mastermind's identity.
Who is it?
All I want is the mastermind's identity.
I have no real interest in your past.
Make this easy on yourself.
I-I'm telling you, I don't know what you're talking about!
Is the mastermind that important to you?
You can ask all you want, but the answer is the same.
I don't know anything!
Untie me already! It's seriously cold here!
Then I'll expose your past.
All the relationships you've built at this school...
Are you brave enough to abandon them?
It's not like...
It's not like I'm stupid, okay?!
You think there's someone pulling my strings.
You're coming after me because you can't find them yourself.
If I'm your only chance, you won't just throw that away.
I see.
You think I can't expose your past?
Am I wrong?
You get it?
Don't you think letting me go is the best choice?
Absolutely not.
I'm getting that info from you, here and now.
Don't underestimate me.
Ishizaki.
Sir.
Wh-What are you doing?
Hey, wait a minute!
You hear me?
Untie m—
S-Stop... it...
At first glance, this school appears governed by rules.
But it's not. Not really.
Forceful methods are permitted, to a degree.
Surveillance cameras.
Bribing upperclassmen.
Behind-the-scenes trades with other classes.
The hints to realizing that are all around us in our daily lives.
Anyone with any brains will be testing out the boundaries through trial and error.
This is part of that.
Ishizaki, next stage.
The nature of trauma
is that experiences trigger it faster than words.
I'll break you down, slowly and thoroughly.
Kiyotaka.
Wanna go somewhere together?
L-Like karaoke, maybe?
Sounds good to me.
We made it safely through our second term, after all.
I can't see the harm.
What about you, Kiyo-pon?
Sounds good.
S... Stop it...
I love you this way, Karuizawa.
St... Stop... Stop it...
Ishizaki.
No...
I'll ask you again.
Who is the mastermind?
There is no... mastermind.
There isn't... isn't...
That's some backbone you've got.
Oh, I get it...
Someone accustomed to bullying can endure a whole lot more than that, eh?
Hey.
The minute we learn who the mastermind is, I'm leaving.
For the sake of my own pleasure,
I will destroy Karuizawa Kei.