Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | A Class (A班) |
| Affiliation | Koudo Ikusei High School 1 |
| Role | Highest-ranked class; graduating from A Class grants a student their chosen career or higher-education path 1 2 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 1 1 |
Background
Koudo Ikusei High School's four classes compete over three years for the right to graduate as A Class. Rankings can change through Class Points earned or lost in school activities and special exams 1 29 61.
The story follows a first-year A Class while also depicting A Classes in other school years. First-year A Class is divided between Katsuragi Kouhei and Yanagi, also called Sakayanagi Arisu in the provided passages. Its students are generally disciplined and capable, but their support for either leader depends in part on who can protect the class's lead 91 204 279.
Leadership and Internal Divisions
- Katsuragi Kouhei — Leads a cautious faction and favors protecting classmates and maintaining A Class's advantage. Tozuka Yahiko is a trusted supporter 76 204 279.
- Yanagi / Sakayanagi Arisu — Leads a rival faction willing to take greater risks for long-term advantage. Kamuro Masumi and Hashimoto Masayoshi are identified as core members 77 91 279.
- Neutral students — Do not give either faction unconditional support. Matoba Kouji's role in a group exam indicates that Katsuragi retains influence even when Yanagi directs the class's strategy 204.
The division damages A Class's exam performance. After its island-exam loss, Katsuragi and Yanagi's faction dispute responsibility; later, leaked exam questions help Class C defeat A Class in a paired exam 92 188 190. During an expulsion-vote exam, Katsuragi argues against losing a classmate, while Yanagi proposes removing a member deemed unnecessary. Her plan gains more support, though Katsuragi still commands a substantial following 279.
First-Year Exam Record
| Exam or point check | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Early Class Points check | 960 Class Points | A Class leads B Class at 650, C Class at 490, and D Class at 0 29. |
| Uninhabited Island Special Exam | Third place, 320 exam points | Katsuragi's faction uses a defensive campsite strategy. The result prompts accusations between the two factions 76 92. |
| Favored Student Exam | −150 Class Points; 1,024 total afterward | Katsuragi advocates preserving each class's favored student, but the other classes resist a plan that would protect A Class's lead 105 119. |
| Paired written exam | Loss to Class C; 824 Class Points afterward | Class C averages 85 against A Class's 78. The leak of A Class's questions contributes to renewed doubt about Katsuragi's leadership 188 190. |
| Selection exam preparations | Ten proposed events | A Class submits Shogi, mental calculation, Go, modern literature, social studies, volleyball, math, English, group jump rope, and dodgeball. Its rules sharply limit how much a commander can assist in academic events 344. |
Inter-Class Relations
- Tenyo Yuyuki's class — Tenyo proposes cooperation with Katsuragi during the island exam, but makes the proposed agreement conditional on Katsuragi retaining leadership and Yanagi signing it 76 77. Tenyo later seeks to keep A Class divided so his class can compete with it more easily 79.
- Ryuen's class — Ryuen's island-exam dealings add pressure to Katsuragi's position. In a later group exam, Ryuen recruits Katsuragi, who intends to help A Class if he can 89 204.
- Ichinose's class — Katsuragi's favored-student proposal would preserve the existing rankings; Ichinose objects to its unequal benefit for A Class 105.
Third-Year A Class
Third-year A Class is a separate cohort led by Horikita Manabu. Its members have developed a stronger bond under his leadership than the divided first-year class 315. Near graduation, it faces pressure from B Class and a rapidly advancing C Class 250 315. Manabu remains determined to lead his classmates to an A Class graduation, but his trust in them causes him to overlook their anxiety about threats to that goal 315.