Ryota

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Ryota Beppu (良太)
Alias(es)	“Young Master Ryota” — a joking nickname used by Tetsuya Hamaguchi 20
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School; Class 1-B 12 13
Occupation/Role	First-year student; member of Hajime Kashima's study group 43
Status	Enrolled; takes sick leave during the midterm period 47
First Appearance	Chapter 12

Background / History

During middle school, Ryota was a study-oriented but cheerful boy who spent two years seated beside a popular girl. They studied and spent breaks together, and she called them “really good friends,” leading him to develop feelings for her. 45

After overhearing her deny liking him and call him merely an ordinary friend, Ryota interpreted the exchange as a rejection. He withdrew from her, refused to discuss the incident again, and vowed never to be fooled in the same way. 45

Ryota entered Class 1-B at Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School, where he became acquainted with Hajime Kashima and formed a close, bantering friendship with Tetsuya Hamaguchi. 12 20

Appearance

Ryota presents himself with a reserved, studious appearance that initially makes him seem difficult to approach. 12 13

• Wears glasses and is frequently depicted adjusting them. 12 38 43
• Usually maintains a stiff or expressionless face. 12 38
• Gives off a “stay away” impression in larger social settings. 13

Personality

Ryota is serious, observant, and bluntly practical. Although his expression and manner can seem cold, he is considerably more talkative in small groups and gets along well with people who take the time to speak with him. 12 13

His middle-school heartbreak left him guarded around girls. He prefers mutual non-interference rather than open hostility, but he becomes notably uncomfortable when expected to socialize closely with female classmates. 15 44 45

He has a dry sense of humor and regularly trades insults with Tetsuya, even while looking after him and accommodating his requests. 20 25 43 When Class B's prospects worsen, Ryota quickly accepts that complaining is useless and resolves to pursue graduation from Class A. 35

Abilities & Skills

Academic Aptitude

Ryota is Class 1-B's top-ranked student and demonstrates an advanced, self-directed approach to learning. 43

• Treats practice problems as a means of confirming mastery rather than the goal of studying itself. 40
• Can solve questions intended for top students. 40
• Creates targeted review problems for Tetsuya, whose weak subjects are English and history. 44
• Acknowledges that being able to learn well does not necessarily mean being able to teach well. 43

Analysis and Argumentation

Ryota is capable of identifying weaknesses in an argument and confronting others directly when he considers their position irresponsible.

• Publicly challenges Aru Akasaka's objection to Ichinose's Personal Point savings plan. 38
• Cites Aru's low Personal Point balance to question whether he could reliably contribute during a future class emergency. 38
• His intervention helps eliminate open opposition to Ichinose's proposal. 38

Relationships

• Tetsuya Hamaguchi — Close classmate and frequent sparring partner. Ryota is often irritated by Tetsuya's noisiness and social scheming, but still accompanies him to the soccer club and prepares review material for him. 20 25 43 44
• Hajime Kashima — Classmate and study-group member. They walk to school together, study alongside one another, and Hajime joins Tetsuya in checking on Ryota when he isolates himself. 20 43 46
• Ichinose Honami — Class representative whose Personal Point plan Ryota publicly supports. Ichinose is concerned about his discomfort around girls and respects his right to choose his own relationships. 38 44
• Yui Ninomiya — Classmate who asks him to check her review work, prompting a conflict when he refuses. She attended his middle school, understands the source of his trauma, and admits that she likes him. 44 45
• Karuizawa Kei — Knows of Ryota's past and agrees to help with his studies after learning about his circumstances. 45
• Unnamed middle-school classmate — Ryota's former deskmate and close friend. Their unresolved misunderstanding became the source of his distrust of romantic attachment. 45

Story Role / Major Arcs

Class 1-B Enrollment

Ryota is introduced alongside Tetsuya as one of Hajime's first classmates. Though initially distant, he becomes part of Hajime and Tetsuya's regular three-person group. 12 20

Class Point Crisis

When Class 1-B falls to 630 Class Points, Ryota abandons passivity and states that the class must aim for Class A graduation despite the setback. 35

He later helps secure support for Ichinose's classwide Personal Point savings plan by discrediting Aru Akasaka's challenge to it. 38

Midterm Study Group and Withdrawal

Ryota serves as the academic backbone of the study group, assisting Tetsuya and preparing custom review problems. 43 44 However, his refusal to help Yui with her work sparks an argument with Tetsuya and forces the group to confront his aversion to girls. 44

After recounting his middle-school experience, Ryota withdraws from the study group and asks Hajime and Tetsuya for time alone. He is subsequently absent from school on sick leave. 45 46 47

Notable Quotes

“I'll never be fooled like that again.” 45