Arc 2Bai Lan’s Schemes
Bai Lan manipulated his reputation, uncovered Kushida’s past, and struck a bargain with Hirata while pursuing Karuizawa. The arc ended with Bai Lan sending Karuizawa a recording of her private meeting with Hirata, making her fear he had discovered her vulnerability.
- Bai Lan deliberately provoked Class D with his self-introduction, and Hirata persuaded the class that Bai Lan had been mocking Kogenji, Ike, and Yamauchi.
- Bai Lan paid Chabashira for competition information, while Kushida realized she had destroyed the evidence she might have used against him.
- Kushida apologized to Bai Lan and revealed how her past disclosures had caused her former class to collapse, then explained why she feared Horikita might expose her.
- Bai Lan advised Kushida to provoke Horikita, then told Hirata he wanted to drop out, after Hirata punched him, Hirata recounted his history of using violence to stop bullying.
- Hirata offered Bai Lan 80,000 points a month to hold back against Class D, and Bai Lan chose Kei Karuizawa as his fake girlfriend while secretly investigating her.
- Bai Lan followed Karuizawa and watched her ask Hirata to be her boyfriend, but he misread her fear of bullying as a threat against Hirata’s classmates.
- Bai Lan edited a recording of Karuizawa and Hirata’s meeting to make the unclear parts appear threatening, then messaged Karuizawa that he knew what she had told Hirata.
- Karuizawa recalled asking Hirata to pretend to be her boyfriend for protection, then received Bai Lan’s recording and feared he knew she was vulnerable.