Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shiraishi Makoto harshly criticizes Hirata Yosuke for not preventing Class C's problems, leading Hirata to break down and reflect on his actions.
• Shiraishi encourages Hirata to apologize to the class and continue leading them, accepting responsibility for his mistakes.
• On March 14th, White Day, Shiraishi receives and delivers gifts to his classmates, including Shiina Hiyori, Horikita Suzune, Tachibana Akane, and Sakayanagi Arisu. He struggles to contact Sakayanagi, who ignores his calls and messages.

Character Developments

• Hirata Yosuke: Realizes his mistakes in trying to save everyone and accepts responsibility for his failures.
• Shiraishi Makoto: Shows leadership and understanding, helping Hirata grow and delivering gifts on White Day.
• Sakayanagi Arisu: Ignores Shiraishi's attempts to contact her, possibly due to feeling slighted that he didn't acknowledge her birthday.

Significant Themes

• Responsibility and accountability: Hirata learns the importance of accepting responsibility for his actions and their consequences.
• Friendship and relationships: The exchange of gifts on White Day highlights the bonds between classmates and the importance of acknowledging and celebrating each other's milestones.

Character Interactions

• Shiraishi Makoto and Hirata Yosuke: Shiraishi helps Hirata understand his mistakes and encourages him to move forward.
• Shiraishi Makoto and Sakayanagi Arisu: Shiraishi tries to deliver a White Day gift to Sakayanagi, but she ignores his attempts to contact her.
• Shiraishi Makoto and Kamuro Masumi: Kamuro helps deliver Shiraishi's gift to Sakayanagi and hints at the reason behind Sakayanagi's cold shoulder.

Key Plot Points and Events

• All classes reveal their events for the special exam.
• Class A's events: Judo, Mixed-Gender Table Tennis, Speed Mental Arithmetic, 4x200m Mixed-Gender Relay, Volleyball.
• Class B's events: Chess, Data Analysis, Go, English Exam, Darts, Volleyball, Reverse Commands, Tug-of-War, Dodgeball, Group Jump Rope.
• Both classes have the same rules for the Volleyball event.

Character Developments

• Katsuragi Kohei analyzes both classes' events, acknowledging Class B's potential advantage in Chess and Go.
• Shiraishi Makoto deduces Sakayanagi Arisu's strategy to force Class A to practice multiple events, giving Class B an information and time advantage.

Significant Themes

• The strategic planning and counter-planning by Class A and Class B's leaders.
• The importance of adaptability and versatility in facing uncertain situations.
• The theme of information control and its impact on strategy.

Character Interactions

• Katsuragi Kohei and Shiraishi Makoto discuss and strategize about the revealed events.
• Ichinose Honami communicates the events and sign-up process to their class.
• Sakayanagi Arisu's strategy is indirectly acknowledged and responded to by Class A's leaders.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter begins with Class A's students waiting for instructions before heading to their competition venues.
• Shiraishi Makoto and Sakayanagi Arisu meet outside the Special Building and exchange words, hinting at their competitive nature.
• The competition begins with a cross-supervision system between homeroom teachers. Each class selects five events, and a random draw decides the seven official events.
• The first match is Go, which Class B wins. The second match is Judo, which Class A wins.

Character Developments

• Shiraishi Makoto shows confidence and composure in his interactions with Sakayanagi Arisu, indicating his growth as a leader.
• Sakayanagi Arisu demonstrates her strategic prowess by using the Command Tower's privilege to influence the Go match.

Significant Themes

• The theme of strategic planning and decision-making is prominent, as both Command Towers choose their teams and use their privileges wisely.
• The importance of psychological warfare is shown when Sakayanagi Arisu tries to unsettle Shiraishi Makoto by making him wonder about her strategy.

Character Interactions

• Shiraishi Makoto and Sakayanagi Arisu engage in a friendly yet competitive banter, showcasing their mutual respect and understanding of each other's abilities.
• The interactions between the Command Towers and their respective classes hint at the dynamics within each class and the students' trust in their leaders.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Class A and B's lineups for the fourth exam, Volleyball, are announced.
• Class A wins the volleyball match, tying the overall score at 2-2.
• The fifth exam, Rapid Mental Arithmetic, is announced. Class A sends Katsuragi Kohei as their ace contestant.

Character Developments

• Shiraishi Makoto demonstrates strategic thinking and trust in Katsuragi Kohei by not using Ichinose Honami as a trump card.
• Katsuragi Kohei shows exceptional mental arithmetic skills during the Rapid Mental Arithmetic exam.

Significant Themes

• Trust and reliance on key students (Katsuragi Kohei).
• Strategic decision-making and long-term planning (Shiraishi Makoto).
• The importance of experience and technique in competition (Volleyball).

Character Interactions

• Shiraishi Makoto and Sakayanagi Arisu activate their Command Tower authority simultaneously, indicating their strategic alignment.
• Shiraishi Makoto and Sakayanagi Arisu engage in a brief conversation, acknowledging the high difficulty of the Rapid Mental Arithmetic exam.

Key Plot Points and Events

1. Shiraishi Makoto and Sakayanagi Arisu compete in a mental arithmetic contest, with Shiraishi Makoto altering the rules to weaken Sakayanagi Arisu's influence.
2. Class A wins the contest, putting them in the lead for the overall competition.
3. The sixth event, "Reverse Commands," is drawn, leaving both classes with unused leeway.
4. Sakayanagi Arisu's class wins the Reverse Commands event, tying the overall score at 3-3.
5. The final event, "Chess," is drawn, with Ichinose Honami representing Class A against Hashimoto Masayoshi from Class B. Sakayanagi Arisu uses her Command Tower authority to influence the game.

Character Developments

• Shiraishi Makoto demonstrates strategic thinking by altering the contest rules to counter Sakayanagi Arisu's advantage.
• Sakayanagi Arisu shows her calculating prowess and adaptability in the Reverse Commands event.
• Ichinose Honami maintains composure despite their class's disadvantage in the chess event.

Significant Themes

• Strategy and adaptability in competition.
• The influence of authority and power dynamics (Command Tower).
• The role of luck and uncertainty in competitive events.

Character Interactions

• Shiraishi Makoto and Sakayanagi Arisu engage in a tense exchange, with each trying to outmaneuver the other.
• Ichinose Honami and Hashimoto Masayoshi display sportsmanship and mutual respect before their chess match.
• Both classes' Commanders (Shiraishi Makoto and Sakayanagi Arisu) strategize and make decisions based on their class's best interests.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shiraishi Makoto takes over the chess match against Sakayanagi Arisu after Ichinose Honami's loss.
• Sakayanagi Arisu manipulates the game to restore a familiar board position.
• Shiraishi Makoto and Sakayanagi Arisu intentionally throw the match to gain Protection Points.
• The match ends with Class B winning 4:3, and the Acting Chairman Tsukishiro Tokinari arrives, ordering everyone to leave and arranging for data collection.

Character Developments

• Shiraishi Makoto demonstrates his strategic thinking and understanding of Sakayanagi Arisu's intentions.
• Sakayanagi Arisu shows her manipulative skills and chess prowess.
• Acting Chairman Tsukishiro Tokinari displays his influence and disregard for rules.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation and strategy in competition.
• The importance of Protection Points and their potential uses.
• The power dynamics between students and the school's administration.

Character Interactions

• Shiraishi Makoto and Sakayanagi Arisu engage in a mental battle, both acknowledging each other's abilities.
• Shiraishi Makoto challenges Acting Chairman Tsukishiro Tokinari, hinting at his awareness of the latter's true intentions.
• Chabashira Sae, Sakagami Kazuma, Hoshinomiya Chie, and Mashima Tomoya witness the events, showing varying levels of awareness and compliance.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shiraishi Makoto suspects that Tsukishiro Tokinari has altered his final instruction during the exam.
• Tsukishiro Tokinari admits to manipulating the exam and reveals his goal to expel Shiraishi Makoto.
• Tsukishiro Tokinari leaves, warning Shiraishi Makoto and Sakayanagi Arisu that he will target the Command Tower.

Character Developments

• Shiraishi Makoto demonstrates his keen observation and deductive skills by noticing Tsukishiro Tokinari's intervention and understanding his intentions.
• Sakayanagi Arisu shows concern for Shiraishi Makoto's safety and offers her support.
• Tsukishiro Tokinari displays his confidence and disregard for rules, hinting at his manipulative nature.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics between students and teachers, with Tsukishiro Tokinari abusing his authority.
• The importance of rules and how they can be manipulated or exploited.
• The bonds between allies, as seen in Sakayanagi Arisu's support for Shiraishi Makoto.

Character Interactions

• Shiraishi Makoto and Sakayanagi Arisu work together to understand Tsukishiro Tokinari's plans and protect each other.
• Tsukishiro Tokinari interacts with Shiraishi Makoto and Sakayanagi Arisu, showing his contempt for them while revealing his intentions.
• Shiraishi Makoto and Sakayanagi Arisu agree to have a proper match in the future, indicating their growing camaraderie.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Class A loses to Class B in the Special Exam, losing 3-4 and 30 Class Points.
• Class C defeats Class D 7-0, plundering 210 Class Points and reducing Class D's points to zero.
• The graduation ceremony for third-year students is held on March 25th. Horikita Manabu gives a speech, followed by Shiraishi Makoto.
• After the ceremony, Horikita Manabu transfers 37 million Private Points to Shiraishi Makoto.
• Spring break begins, but Shiraishi Makoto starts preparations for the new students' enrollment.

Character Developments

• Horikita Manabu shows concern for Horikita Suzune and entrusts Shiraishi Makoto to look after her.
• Shiraishi Makoto plans to expose Kushida Kikyo's middle school incident to neutralize its impact.
• Ayanokoji Kiyotaka agrees to help Shiraishi Makoto's plan by spreading the document to Ike Kanji or Sudo Ken.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of past actions and their potential impact on future lives (Kushida Kikyo's incident).
• The responsibility of leadership and looking after one's peers (Horikita Manabu entrusting Suzune to Shiraishi Makoto).
• The manipulation of information and public opinion (Shiraishi Makoto's plan to expose Kushida Kikyo's incident).

Character Interactions

• Horikita Manabu and Shiraishi Makoto discuss Suzune's well-being and the challenges ahead for the school.
• Shiraishi Makoto and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka discuss the plan to expose Kushida Kikyo's incident and its execution.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ayanokoji Kiyotaka trains Shiraishi Makoto in Judo, pushing him to his limits to prepare for potential confrontations with White Room students.
• Ichinose Honami asks Ayanokoji Kiyotaka why he refuses to join Class A.
• Shiraishi Makoto and his household members discuss Kushida Kikyo's public revelation of her dark past.

Character Developments

• Shiraishi Makoto shows dedication to improving his combat skills and supporting his classmates.
• Ayanokoji Kiyotaka reveals his reason for not joining Class A: to avoid trouble and maintain his current lifestyle.
• Kushida Kikyo reluctantly agrees to reveal her dark past due to Shiraishi Makoto's reassurance.

Significant Themes

• The importance of preparation and training (Shiraishi Makoto's Judo training).
• The consequences of hiding one's past (Kushida Kikyo's fear of her dark past being exposed).
• The value of sincerity and support (Shiraishi Makoto's support for his classmates).

Character Interactions

• Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and Shiraishi Makoto's training session highlights their respective strengths and goals.
• Ichinose Honami's concern for Shiraishi Makoto's well-being and her curiosity about Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's reasons for not joining Class A.
• Shiraishi Makoto and his household members' teamwork in preparing dinner and discussing Kushida Kikyo's situation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Katsuragi Kohei, after transferring to Class A, feels self-doubt due to Class A's loss in the Special Exam and his defeat by Sakayanagi Arisu.
• He discovers Sudo Ken and Ike Kanji acting suspiciously in the school grove, hiding something related to a piece of paper.
• Katsuragi finds disturbed earth beneath a tree, suggesting something was buried and later dug up.
• Ayanokoji Kiyotaka appears, and Katsuragi notices he has no mud on his shoes.
• Shiraishi Makoto and Sakayanagi Arisu play Chess in the library. Shiraishi receives a message from Ayanokoji, indicating a task is complete.

Character Developments

• Katsuragi Kohei: Struggles with self-doubt and feels isolated after transferring to Class A.
• Sudo Ken and Ike Kanji: Act secretively, hinting at potential wrongdoing.
• Ayanokoji Kiyotaka: Observant and appears to have some connection to the task mentioned in Shiraishi's message.
• Shiraishi Makoto: Dedicated to improving his Chess skills under Sakayanagi's guidance, and involved in the task mentioned in Ayanokoji's message.
• Sakayanagi Arisu: Shows interest in Shiraishi's progress and offers to help spread news related to the task.

Significant Themes

• Self-doubt and isolation (Katsuragi)
• Secrecy and potential wrongdoing (Sudo and Ike)
• Mentorship and guidance (Sakayanagi and Shiraishi)
• Trust and communication (Shiraishi and Ayanokoji)

Character Interactions

• Katsuragi encounters Sudo and Ike acting suspiciously, sparking his curiosity.
• Katsuragi and Ayanokoji briefly interact, with Katsuragi noticing Ayanokoji's clean shoes.
• Shiraishi and Sakayanagi play Chess and discuss Shiraishi's progress, with Sakayanagi offering help in spreading news related to a task.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Sakayanagi Arisu discusses the Special Exam incident with Shiraishi Makoto, revealing that Tsukishiro's actions were unexpected and that the teachers will now be more vigilant.
• She mentions that the upcoming exams will facilitate cross-grade competition, and asks Shiraishi to win over or at least neutralize the second-years.
• The chapter ends with Shiraishi seeing off Horikita Manabu, who graduates and leaves the school. He gives Shiraishi his contact information and that of Tachibana Akane.

Character Developments

• Sakayanagi Arisu: She shows strategic thinking and a long-term perspective, planning for future exams and cross-grade competition.
• Shiraishi Makoto: He demonstrates understanding of Tsukishiro's motivations and confidence in handling the second-years. He also shows respect and appreciation for Horikita Manabu.
• Horikita Manabu: He expresses regret at leaving the school and confidence in Shiraishi's abilities. He also shows concern for the students' well-being and provides his contact information for future help.

Significant Themes

• Competition and Strategy: The conversation between Sakayanagi and Shiraishi revolves around strategies for upcoming exams and competition between grades.
• Mentorship and Succession: Horikita Manabu's departure serves as a reminder of the passing of time and the need for younger students to step up, reflecting the theme of mentorship and succession.
• Adaptation and Growth: The mention of the changing outside world and the need to adapt suggests that characters must continually grow and evolve.

Character Interactions

• Sakayanagi Arisu and Shiraishi Makoto: They discuss strategies and plans, showing a level of trust and mutual respect.
• Shiraishi Makoto and Horikita Manabu: They exchange words of appreciation and encouragement, demonstrating a mentor-mentee relationship.
• Horikita Manabu and Horikita Suzune: They share a moment of emotional farewell, highlighting their sibling bond.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The new school year begins, with students moving to new classrooms equipped with advanced technology.
• The opening ceremony and homeroom orientation take place.
• Rumors about Kushida Kikyo start spreading among students.
• The club recruitment fair is held, with Shiraishi Makoto introducing the Student Council.

Character Developments

• Shiraishi Makoto shows leadership and confidence during the club recruitment fair.
• Ichinose Honami demonstrates her social awareness by monitoring the spread of rumors.
• Yagami Takuya, an assassin from the White Room, approaches Shiraishi Makoto to deliver a message from his older brother, Naoe Haruhiko.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics and authority, as seen through the Student Council's influence.
• Rumors and their impact on the school's dynamics.
• The ongoing conflict between Shiraishi Makoto and his older brother.

Character Interactions

• Shiraishi Makoto interacts with Ichinose Honami regarding the Kushida Kikyo rumors.
• Shiraishi Makoto and Yagami Takuya have a secret exchange during the club recruitment fair.
• Shiraishi Makoto addresses the First Year students during the club recruitment fair.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yagami Takuya, a White Room assassin, approaches Shiraishi Makoto, revealing his intention to expel Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and hinting at a connection to the Naoe family.
• Shiraishi Makoto learns about Naoe Yasuaki, the son of Naoe Jinnosuke, and plans to investigate further through Kanzaki Ryuji.
• Rumors about Shiraishi Makoto's harem and Kushida Kikyo's past spread throughout the school, causing concern among students, particularly Hirata Yosuke.
• Hirata Yosuke warns his classmates against believing the rumors about Kushida Kikyo, while Ike Kanji and Sudo reveal they have found information about her past.

Character Developments

• Shiraishi Makoto demonstrates his political acumen and calm demeanor when facing Yagami Takuya, showing no anger but curiosity.
• Hirata Yosuke shows concern for his classmates' well-being and takes a stand against the rumors about Kushida Kikyo, displaying his leadership and protective nature.
• Yagami Takuya reveals his true colors as a White Room assassin, showing arrogance and a lack of fear in confronting Shiraishi Makoto.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics and political intrigue, as seen in Shiraishi Makoto's investigation into the Naoe family and Yagami Takuya's attempt to expel Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.
• The spread of rumors and their impact on individuals and groups, as demonstrated by the gossip about Shiraishi Makoto's harem and Kushida Kikyo's past.

Character Interactions

• Shiraishi Makoto and Yagami Takuya: A tense exchange between the Student Council president and a White Room assassin, with Shiraishi Makoto remaining calm and Yagami Takuya showing arrogance.
• Hirata Yosuke and his classmates: Hirata Yosuke warns his classmates against believing rumors about Kushida Kikyo, showing concern for their well-being and trust in their companions.
• Ike Kanji and Sudo: The duo reveals they have found information about Kushida Kikyo's past, hinting at potential conflict or revelation in the near future.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hirata warns Ike Kanji about spreading rumors about Kushida.
• Kushida returns to Class C, but no one questions or stares at her.
• Sudo Ken and Ike Kanji are summoned to the Student Council office.
• The Student Council accuses Sudo Ken and Ike Kanji of secretly filming the girls' locker room using a remote-controlled car.
• Shiraishi Makoto plays a recording of Sotomura Hideo implicating Ike Kanji in the plan.

Character Developments

• Kushida Kikyo: She feels irritated and left out when no one reacts to her return.
• Sudo Ken: He becomes anxious and defensive when accused, showing his poor communication skills.
• Ike Kanji: He initially denies involvement but becomes flustered and tries to deflect blame.
• Shiraishi Makoto: He demonstrates his strategic planning and execution by orchestrating the exposure of Sudo Ken and Ike Kanji's actions.

Significant Themes

• Trust and Betrayal: The chapter explores the consequences of spreading rumors and betraying trust, as seen in the reactions to Kushida's return and the exposure of Sudo Ken and Ike Kanji's actions.
• Consequences of Actions: The characters face the repercussions of their past decisions, highlighting the theme of cause and effect.

Character Interactions

• Shiraishi Makoto and Ichinose Honami: They work together to expose Sudo Ken and Ike Kanji, demonstrating their partnership and shared goals within the Student Council.
• Sudo Ken and Ike Kanji: Their dynamic shows a lack of unity and preparation, as they try to defend themselves individually rather than together.
• Horikita Suzune and Chabashira Sae: Both are shocked by the accusations and serve as witnesses to the Student Council's inquiry.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shiraishi Makoto reveals that Sotomura Hideo was expelled for attempting to secretly film the girls' restroom using a remote-controlled car.
• Shiraishi presents evidence that implicates Sudo Ken, Ike Kanji, and Yamauchi Haruki in the incident, as they had requested Sotomura to do it.
• Shiraishi's actions suggest a hidden agenda, as he waited half a year to reveal this information.
• Ayanokoji Kiyotaka is summoned as a witness, and his involvement in the incident is clarified.

Character Developments

• Shiraishi Makoto demonstrates his strategic thinking and patience in using evidence to his advantage.
• Horikita Suzune deduces Shiraishi's true purpose and feels anger towards Sudo Ken and Ike Kanji for their actions.
• Ayanokoji Kiyotaka maintains his innocence and provides evidence to support his claim.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation and strategic planning (Shiraishi Makoto)
• Consequences of actions and their delayed effects (Sotomura's expulsion)
• Trust and loyalty within class dynamics (Sudo Ken and Ike Kanji's actions)

Character Interactions

• Shiraishi Makoto interacts with the Class C students, revealing their past actions and implicating them in the secret filming incident.
• Horikita Suzune and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka interact, with Horikita showing understanding towards Ayanokoji's situation.
• Sudo Ken and Ike Kanji interact with Shiraishi, trying to reduce their punishment and involving Ayanokoji in their defense.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Sudo Ken and Ike Kanji are expelled for secretly filming the girls' changing room.
• Class C loses 200 Class Points due to the expulsions, leaving them with only 246 points.
• The news of the expulsions spreads throughout the school, with rumors connecting it to Kushida Kikyo and Student Council President Shiraishi Makoto.

Character Developments

• Sudo Ken reflects on his growth over the past year, realizing that all his efforts have been for nothing.
• Horikita Suzune feels regret for expelling Sudo Ken but remains firm in her decision.
• Hirata Yosuke is unsettled by the expulsions and seeks information from Horikita Suzune.

Significant Themes

• Consequences of actions: Sudo Ken and Ike Kanji's expulsion serves as a harsh reminder of the consequences of violating school rules.
• Power dynamics: The Student Council's involvement hints at the power struggles within the school.
• Rumors and their impact: The spread of rumors about Kushida Kikyo and Shiraishi Makoto highlights the influence of gossip on social dynamics.

Character Interactions

• Horikita Suzune and Sudo Ken: Suzune's regret for expelling Ken shows her growing responsibility and understanding of her role as a leader.
• Hirata Yosuke and Horikita Suzune: Hirata's concern and pursuit of information from Suzune demonstrate his maturity and leadership potential.
• Tsubaki Sakurako and her unnamed male companion: Their conversation reveals their astuteness and strategic thinking, hinting at their future roles in the story.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shiraishi Makoto's plan is revealed: he used the controversy around Kushida to strengthen his position and make it harder for others to target him or Ayanokoji.
• The school introduces the OAA System, an app that evaluates students' abilities and allows them to view each other's data.
• The app updates monthly, reflecting students' performance in the new school year.

Character Developments

• Shiraishi Makoto's strategic planning and manipulation are further highlighted.
• Students begin to understand the importance of their class rankings and the uses of Class Points and Private Points.

Significant Themes

• The theme of power and manipulation is reinforced through Shiraishi Makoto's actions.
• The introduction of the OAA System emphasizes the school's focus on competition and evaluation.

Character Interactions

• Shiraishi Makoto and Ichinose Honami, having learned about the OAA System earlier, are not surprised by its introduction.
• Students explore each other's data on the OAA System, potentially leading to new dynamics and interactions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The OAA System's evaluation results for First Year students are displayed, while Second Year results are blank.
• A Special Exam is announced, involving cross-grade pairing with First Year students for the first time.
• The exam will test academic ability, with five subjects worth 100 points each, totaling 500 points.
• Rewards include Class Points and Private Points for both individual and class competition.
• Penalties include expulsion for score manipulation or deliberate low scoring.

Character Developments

• Shiraishi Makoto checks his class's overall standings and individual evaluations.
• Hoshinomiya Chie announces the Special Exam's rules and regulations.

Significant Themes

• The impact of the OAA System on student interactions and competition.
• The importance of academic ability in this exam.
• The tension between seniority and cross-grade collaboration.

Character Interactions

• Students react to the news of a cross-grade pairing exam, expressing surprise and concern about working with lower-grade students.
• Hoshinomiya Chie explains the exam rules and addresses potential issues, such as score manipulation.

Chapter Summary: “Different Objectives”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter introduces the partnership rules for the upcoming Special Exam:
  • Students may send one partnership request per day through the OAA System.
  • Once accepted, partnerships cannot be dissolved before the exam ends except in extreme circumstances.
  • Students who fail to form a partnership before the exam begins will be randomly assigned one and suffer a 5% deduction.
  • Students who form teams can no longer send or receive requests, and partner identities remain hidden.
• Teacher Hoshinomiya explains the exam’s difficulty curve. The test is designed so that:
  • Students rated E are expected to score around 150–200 points.
  • D-rated students should score 200–250.
  • C-rated students should score 250–300.
  • B-rated students should score around 350.
  • A-rated students should score around 400.
• Even high-performing students are expected to score lower than usual, making this the most difficult exam since enrollment.
• Shiraishi Makoto reviews the academic distribution of the Second and First Years. His class is relatively strong, with only one student rated D+, while most are C or higher. Among the First Years, Class A has the largest number of students rated B or above.
• After the meeting, the class discusses forming partnerships and coordinating with First Year classes. Kanzaki suggests class-wide cooperation, but Shiraishi argues that the exam’s structure makes such cooperation unlikely.
• Shiraishi explains that:
  • First Year classes may not yet be sufficiently organized.
  • The individual rewards—especially the Private Points awarded to the top students—are more attractive than the limited class-point benefits.
  • Weaker First Year classes have greater incentive to pay or otherwise persuade strong students to partner with their own classmates.
  • Second Years face the real expulsion risk, while First Years have fewer consequences, giving them less reason to prioritize Second Year students.
• Ichinose offers a more optimistic possibility: if a First Year class has already united and wants to establish an early advantage, genuine cooperation may still be possible.
• Shiraishi and Ichinose then use Shiraishi’s Student Council position to announce a First Year–Second Year exchange meeting in the gymnasium from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.
• The meeting is intended to allow students to exchange information and seek partners before private negotiations begin. Shiraishi also wonders whether students with hidden agendas—possibly including White Room-related figures—will reveal themselves.

Character Developments

• Shiraishi Makoto demonstrates strategic insight and leadership. He recognizes that the exam is designed to encourage individual competition rather than simple class cooperation and carefully analyzes the conflicting incentives of First and Second Years.
• Ichinose Honami remains calm and diplomatic. While acknowledging Shiraishi’s concerns, she points out that cooperation is still possible under the right conditions and helps him take a constructive approach.
• Kanzaki Ryuji proposes broad cooperation between classes, showing his preference for collective solutions, though his idealistic plan is challenged by Shiraishi’s practical analysis.
• Minamikozue appears anxious because her low academic ability places her at risk, highlighting the vulnerability of weaker students.
• Hoshinomiya Chie provides the framework for understanding the exam’s unusually high difficulty.
• Shiraishi’s suspicions about Tsukishiro and the White Room assassins deepen. The competitive structure seems intentionally designed to create disorder and opportunities for hidden operatives, making Yagami Takuya’s behavior appear increasingly suspicious.

Significant Themes

• Conflicting objectives: Second Years must protect weaker classmates from expulsion, while First Years are primarily motivated by personal rewards and class advancement.
• Individualism versus cooperation: Although teamwork is formally required, the exam’s rewards and penalties encourage students to pursue self-interested partnerships.
• Strategic manipulation: The exam appears structured to generate distrust, competition, and chaos, potentially benefiting those operating secretly.
• Information and timing: Shiraishi seeks to gain an advantage by creating an early meeting platform before students can independently secure partners.
• Unequal risk: Second Years face expulsion, whereas First Years face relatively mild consequences, creating a fundamental imbalance in negotiations.
• Hidden motives: The partnership process may expose students involved in larger schemes, particularly those connected to the White Room.

Important Character Interactions

• Hoshinomiya’s explanation gives Ichinose and the class the basis for assessing the exam’s difficulty and partnership needs.
• Shiraishi rejects Kanzaki’s class-unity proposal, explaining why cooperation with First Years cannot be assumed to be mutually beneficial.
• Shiraishi’s reasoning persuades the class that strong First Years may demand substantial compensation for partnering with weaker Second Years.
• Ichinose moderates Shiraishi’s pessimism by suggesting that some First Year classes may still value genuine cooperation.
• Shiraishi and Ichinose coordinate the Student Council announcement, presenting a united effort to organize negotiations and potentially identify suspicious students.

Chapter Summary: “Exchange Meeting in the Gymnasium”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After classes, First- and Second-Year students gather in the gymnasium for an exchange meeting organized by Shiraishi Makoto and Ichinose Honami.
• The First Years greatly outnumber the Second Years. Unlike the Second Years, who trust their established classmates and send representatives, the First Years are reluctant to entrust their futures to untested leaders.
• Representatives from Second-Year Classes 2-A, 2-B, and 2-C attend:
  • Shiraishi Makoto and Ichinose Honami for Class 2-A
  • Hashimoto Masayoshi for Class 2-B
  • Horikita Suzune and Hirata Yosuke for Class 2-C
• Class 2-D sends no representative, leaving Ryuen Kakeru’s intentions unknown.
• The First Years are immediately impressed by Class 2-A’s achievements, particularly its enormous 2,441 Class Points, forty-one students, and apparent success in avoiding expulsions while recruiting talent.
• Ichinose takes the leading role in speaking with the First Years, while Shiraishi monitors their abilities through the OAA System.
• The participants are mostly average or weak academically. The strongest students appear to have stayed away, possibly because they are confident in their own positions or suspicious that the meeting is a trap.
• Ichinose deliberately avoids discussing the upcoming Special Exam, focusing instead on building trust and relationships between the two school years.
• Hashimoto remarks on Ichinose’s effectiveness and explains that Sakayanagi Arisu did not attend because she considered the meeting meaningless and found traveling difficult.
• Shiraishi later consults Horikita and Hirata. Horikita questions whether the meeting is merely charitable, but Shiraishi argues that even academically weak students may possess other useful strengths.
• Horikita leaves, noting that Class 2-C no longer urgently needs top students after Sudo and Ike’s expulsions—and that the class lacks the Private Points needed to recruit anyone anyway.

Character Developments

• Shiraishi Makoto: Demonstrates strategic awareness by accurately predicting who would attend and evaluating the First Years through the OAA System. He remains cautious about investing heavily in the exam because he is uncertain how his existence may have altered the school’s plans.
• Ichinose Honami: Shows exceptional charisma, empathy, and social ability. She becomes the central figure of the meeting by making the First Years comfortable and establishing trust rather than immediately pursuing practical advantages.
• Hashimoto Masayoshi: Continues observing events from a politically flexible position. He admires Ichinose and remains interested in the relationship between Shiraishi and Sakayanagi.
• Horikita Suzune: Retains her pragmatic, utilitarian perspective, initially viewing the meeting as an inefficient form of charity. However, she acknowledges that Class 2-C’s needs have changed and that its financial limitations restrict its options.
• Sakayanagi Arisu: Does not attend, regarding the gathering as lacking practical value. Her absence reinforces her selective and calculating approach.
• First-Year students: Are curious about the legendary Shiraishi and deeply impressed by Class 2-A’s accomplishments, but remain wary and unwilling to commit themselves to any apparent leader.

Significant Themes

• Trust versus self-interest: The Second Years can rely on established relationships, while the First Years remain cautious because they have not yet formed bonds or chosen reliable leaders.
• Leadership and charisma: Ichinose’s ability to connect with people proves more valuable at this stage than academic strength or strategic reputation.
• Reputation and achievement: Class 2-A’s overwhelming Class Point lead makes its members appear almost legendary to the First Years.
• The limits of pure ability: Strong academic students are not necessarily the most useful recruits; students with weaker grades may possess valuable social, practical, or specialized talents.
• Pragmatism versus human connection: Horikita focuses on immediate utility, whereas Shiraishi and Ichinose recognize that relationships and trust can be important resources in themselves.
• Uncertainty and hidden agendas: The absence of First-Year leaders and Class 2-D’s complete nonattendance suggest that many students are still suspicious and unwilling to reveal their intentions.

Character Interactions

• Ichinose serves as the welcoming face of the meeting, while Shiraishi acts as the quiet observer and evaluator.
• Hashimoto privately praises Ichinose to Shiraishi and discusses Sakayanagi’s absence, hinting at his continuing effort to understand the connection between the two.
• Shiraishi asks Horikita and Hirata for their assessment of the gathering, leading to a brief disagreement with Horikita over whether recruiting weaker students is worthwhile.
• The exchange ends without any major recruitments, but it establishes the first stage of contact and potential trust between the First and Second Years.