Classroom of the Elite (ようこそ実力至上主義の教室へ)

I have news.

The special exam results.

After spending an entire week on a deserted island,

--the winners were... -- Class D.

Yes.

How will you overcome this next challenge,

Ayanokoji?

That man who called me.

Who, I am sure you've figured out by now, is your father,

said "Someday, Kiyotaka will choose to leave the school

of his own accord."

"Everything humans do

is in service towards some goal." Indeed.

Now this is what I call a summer break!

Heck yeah!

Watch where you're splashin'!

Damn it, knock it off!

Hey, Horikita! What are you up to?

I thought it'd be obvious.

Is the book good?

It's not a romance novel, is it?

Of course not.

Must be nice.

Ayanokoji! You busy?

I was wondering.

A couple of us are gonna get lunch, if you wanted to join us.

I'm good, thanks.

All right, what if it was just you and me?

I'll pass.

I get the feeling Karuizawa wouldn't be too happy with that.

Hirata! There you are!

Ready to go?

Karuizawa.

Hey, so, mind if Ayanokoji comes along?

Huh? Do we have to?

He's always so gloomy. He'll just bring the whole mood down!

Attention, students.

We have an important announcement.

The second special examination will begin shortly.

All first-year students on board will receive an email

from the school administration. Please ensure that you read it

carefully and follow the instructions.

"Regarding the special exam:

Make sure you arrive at your assigned room

at the time indicated below."

"Students who are more than ten minutes late

may be subject to penalties."

Looks like I have no choice.

"Come to room 504 by 6PM today."

The door's unlocked.

Yukimura and Sotomura?

I was wondering who else was gonna show up!

After Ayanokoji, there's one spot left!

Something doesn't feel right.

--Yeah. --

We're waiting on the last person to get here.

Please refrain from talking.

Sorry, I'm late!

Ew, seriously?

Don't tell me I'm stuck in a group with you guys.

Enough chatter. Hurry up and take your seat!

Whatever.

What's got her so upset?

Now that everyone's here,

I'll explain the rules of this special exam.

All first-year students will be split

into eight different groups,

each named after a planet in the solar system.

You all will be part of "Mars."

Look here. Every group will include students

from each of the classes.

There're 14 people in each group.

We have to work with Class C?

Plus, three from Class A and Class B!

But aren't we supposed to be competing with them?

For this test, we're no longer students of Class D,

and instead, we'll be acting as members of the "Mars" group.

Our test results will go towards the group's overall score.

The exam will last four days,

with day three set aside for everyone to rest.

At 8AM, the school will send out an email to one member

of each group, who will then be "the VIP"

Two times a day, the group will meet up

and have a discussion and try to find out the VIP's identity.

Thirty minutes after the sixth discussion ends,

everyone will mail their answer to the school.

Each person can only submit one guess.

For obvious reasons,

the VIP isn't allowed to send in an answer.

Let's see. It says here...

There are four scenarios.

"In case one, if everyone in the group, aside from the VIP

and their classmates, correctly guesses the VIP's identity.

Then all members of the group will be awarded

500,000 private points.

And The VIP will receive an extra 500,000 points."

Whoa! That's crazy!

So, the VIP gets 1,000,000 points?

"In case two,

one or more people, aside from the VIP and their classmates,

fails to submit an answer in time, or guesses incorrectly.

If this happens, then only the VIP will be awarded

500,000 private points."

So that's how it is.

Case two represents the scenario

where the VIP keeps their identity hidden.

And if they succeed, they'll be the only person in the group

to get points.

Just so you know, you don't have to wait

until the end.

You can attempt to expose the VIP at any time.

Of course, that scenario is covered by cases three and four.

Everything he said is true, according to this.

"Answers will be accepted at any time during the testing period.

Regardless if answers are submitted early

or at the end of the last day.

Any incorrect answers will result in a penalty.

In case three, someone, other than the VIP,

emails the school before the end of the last day,

and correctly guesses the VIP's identity.

In that case, that person's class will have

50 class points added to their total.

Also, that student will be awarded 500,000 private points,

and the testing for that group will immediately end.

However, correct answers from students in the VIP's

own class will be declared invalid

and the exam will continue.

And case four:

someone, other than the VIP, emails the school

before the end of the last day, but incorrectly guesses

the identity of the VIP.

If that happens, then that person's class will have

50 class points deducted from their total.

Additionally, the VIP will be awarded 500,000 private points.

Furthermore, their class will have 50 class points

added to their total."

And the moment the incorrect answer is received,

the testing for that group will conclude.

Oh. It says here if the wrong answer comes

from someone in the VIP's class,

their answer is invalid and won't be accepted.

I see, this won't be easy.

Honestly, I still don't really understand what's going on.

I'm in the same boat. This test is surprisingly complicated.

I'll explain it to you both later.

Don't bother the teacher over it.

Last thing. The school is committed

to protecting our students' anonymity.

After the special exam is over,

We'll take steps to make sure that only your group's

final result and class-wide point changes are announced.

What about the VIP's identity?

That will remain secret

along with everyone's answers.

-- This is so weird! -- Right?

It seems there are four ways this can play out.

What a pain.

The VIP is identified.

Then the whole group answers correctly and wins.

If, on the last day of the test,

at least one person guesses wrong,

only the VIP is victorious.

Someone betrays the group and wins points

for their class instead.

And the final possibility:

someone betrays the group,

but their guess turns out to be wrong.

They're evaluating our "thinking."

Which students will be able

to accurately analyze the situation,

and if they can effectively manage their group's actions.

In short, they're testing our problem-solving ability.

This special exam is all about anticipating

how others will act and manipulating their actions

to your benefit.

How annoying.

It's almost time.

Yeah.

I got the same message.

That's a shame. Neither of us were selected as VIPs.

Agreed. This limits our options.

What do you think of this whole thing?

The special test, I mean.

It depends on how the VIP approaches it.

That said, I've come up with a few ideas for how we can win.

Of course you have.

Seems I can leave the Mars group to you.

Sure.

I am curious to see how you handle things with your group.

Do you need my help?

No thanks. I'm fine.

Anyway, I wanted to ask you.

Is there anyone you're wary of in the other classes--?

Oh, what a coincidence!

You don't mind if I join you, right?

Suzune, you're not the VIP, are you?

I wouldn't tell you even if I was.

Really. Who would freely give away that kind of information?

I would, if you just asked.

But I couldn't care less about that.