Classmate Sakayanagi

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Sakayanagi Arisu (坂柳有栖)
Alias(es)	Classmate Sakayanagi
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Advanced Nurturing High School; initially First-Year Class A, later referred to as Class B 30 135
Occupation/Role	Student; leader of the Sakayanagi Faction and self-declared sole leader of her class in the second semester 18 107
First Appearance	Chapter 18

Background / History

Sakayanagi begins the school year already familiar with Advanced Nurturing High School's hidden rules. As the chairman's daughter, she regards the school as a familiar environment and initially shows little interest in ordinary class competition. Within her class, however, she takes notice of Katsuragi Kouhei and the opposition gathered around him, considering how to discipline his faction in a future exam. 18

During the Tian Shu Sha competition, Sakayanagi openly identifies herself as Room B's Traitor. She refuses to use either Dodge or Kill, treating the match as unimportant and seeking a quick conclusion. Her passivity allows Kaede's side to confirm her claimed role and secure maximum points for Class D by eliminating the Lord. 30 31

After learning of Tennoji Kaede's early contract with Kamuro Sumire and his apparent knowledge of the school's rules, Sakayanagi contacts him through Hashimoto Masayoshi's terminal. Their conversation establishes mutual curiosity and leads to an agreement to play chess after returning to campus. 87

At the library meeting, Sakayanagi probes Kaede's influence over Class C's strategies and his cooperation with Class D. She invites him to transfer to her class, believing he is an exceptional student concealed behind Ryuen's public leadership. Kaede declines, choosing to remain in his current class. 104 106

She later declares that she will lead her class alone in the second semester. Her subsequent maneuvers include negotiating an alliance with Ryuen, constructing an unusually difficult Paper Shuffle test aimed at Class D, and spreading rumors concerning Ichinose Honami while using the situation to pursue Ayanokoji. 107 136 142 176

Appearance

Sakayanagi is a short-haired girl with a pale, delicate appearance. She commonly wears a dark beret, white thigh-high socks, and carries a cane. Although others perceive her as physically frail, she states that her legs are healthy. 105 106

• Pale complexion, attributed to rarely spending time outdoors. 105
• Signature dark beret. 105
• Usually carries a cane. 105
• Soft, sweet voice. 105

Personality

Sakayanagi is composed, self-assured, and intensely analytical. She treats leadership as a question of capability rather than status, arguing that Class A's value only matters at graduation and that a class's true strength rests on its collective ability and leader. 106

She is highly curious about people who disrupt her expectations. Kaede's contracts, hidden-rule knowledge, and influence over Class C capture her interest, leading her to repeatedly test and recruit him. 87 106

Despite her calm demeanor, Sakayanagi can be forceful and manipulative. She uses classmates such as Hashimoto and Kamuro as instruments in her schemes, pursues political advantages through contracts, and spreads rumors as part of her effort to draw out Ayanokoji. 87 136 176 178

Abilities & Skills

Strategic Analysis

Sakayanagi rapidly identifies hidden structures and motives within the school.

• Understands the school's hidden rules from the beginning of the story. 18
• Deduces that Kaede has played a central role in Class C's abnormal cooperation with Class D. 106
• Recognizes the long-term importance of class strength and leadership over short-term Class A status. 106
• Negotiates contracts and exam arrangements with Ryuen to position her class against rival classes. 136

Chess

Chess is Sakayanagi's preferred intellectual pursuit and a central point of contact with Kaede.

• Practices chess alone for extended periods. 87 107
• Arranges chess matches with Kaede after their first direct conversation. 87
• Her games with Kaede include several draws, though he also loses to her. 106 107
• Shows little interest in Kaede's suggestion to replace chess with a four-person card game. 107

Academic Planning

Sakayanagi can weaponize academic assessments against opponents.

• Designs highly difficult Paper Shuffle questions intended to prevent Class D from scoring well. 142
• Uses questions containing details conspicuous enough for Ayanokoji to recognize her involvement. 142

Relationships

• Tennoji Kaede — A strategically significant rival and chess partner. Sakayanagi investigates his contracts and suspected influence over Class C, then invites him to transfer into her class; he refuses. 87 104 106 107
• Ayanokoji Kiyotaka — Her principal target in several schemes. She creates a test paper intended as a message to him and spreads rumors around Ichinose while seeking to draw him out. 142 176
• Kamuro Sumire — A classmate Sakayanagi recruits into her faction and calls a friend. Their relationship later becomes strained enough for Kamuro to disclose Sakayanagi's plan to Kaede. 37 178
• Hashimoto Masayoshi — A faction member used to facilitate her contact with Kaede and assist with her Paper Shuffle preparations. 87 136 142
• Katsuragi Kouhei — A rival within her class whose faction she considers a future target. 18
• Ryuen Kakeru — A negotiating counterpart in an alliance and contract dispute involving Class Points, Private Points, and attacks on other classes. 136
• Ichinose Honami — The subject of rumors spread by Sakayanagi as part of her wider effort to target Ayanokoji. 176 181

Story Role / Major Arcs

Tian Shu Sha Competition

Sakayanagi publicly claims the Traitor role in Room B and refuses to meaningfully participate in combat actions. Her indifference shapes the room's rapid conclusion and enables Class D's maximum-point victory. 30 31

Kaede's Recruitment Attempt

After investigating Kaede through his contract with Kamuro and reports from Hashimoto, Sakayanagi contacts him and arranges a chess match. She later offers him a place in her class, having deduced his influence over Class C's strategy, but he declines. 87 104 106

Second-Semester Leadership

Sakayanagi declares herself the sole leader of her class, negotiates with Ryuen over inter-class contracts, and directs her faction's strategy against rival classes. 107 136

Campaign Against Ayanokoji

Sakayanagi designs a Paper Shuffle exam aimed at Class D and engineers rumors around Ichinose. Her actions are repeatedly framed as attempts to provoke or target Ayanokoji. 142 176 181

Notable Quotes

“Heh, I'm the Traitor. I drew a rather boring role. I can just play around this game.”
— Sakayanagi 30

“Tennoji is quite extraordinary; I am certain of that now.”
— Sakayanagi 106

“If I take them seriously, neither of them will be my match.”
— Sakayanagi 107