Ryuen

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Kakeru Ryuen (龙园)
Alias(es)	“Tyrant of Class C”; Ayanokoji’s “special opponent” 9
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Class C
Occupation/Role	Leader of Class C
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 7

Background / History

Ryuen begins monitoring Class D after identifying Ayanokoji Kiyotaka as an “anomaly.” Rather than eliminate an unknown variable immediately, he regards a capable opponent as a source of amusement and orders Class C to increase its surveillance of Ayanokoji before the next special exam. 7 9

He formally confronts Ayanokoji after orchestrating an ambush using three students as a test. Ryuen recognizes Ayanokoji’s combat ability, suggests he may be connected to the White Room, and forces a wager on the upcoming special exam: Class C will leave Class D alone if Ayanokoji wins, while Ayanokoji must perform three favors if he loses. 9

During the Uninhabited Island Exam, Ryuen repeatedly targets Class D’s position and resources. His class attempts to retake Lookout Hill, burns Class D’s supplies in a night raid, contests the water source, and later uses a student to attempt poisoning Class D and Class B. 16 18 24 25 The poisoning incident damages his authority when Mio Ibuki publicly identifies him as its planner and defects from Class C. 25

Following Class C’s losses, Ryuen shifts his retaliation to the Sports Festival. He plans “accidents” through Albert Yamada, escalates the class’s interference with Class D competitors, and seeks to humiliate Ayanokoji directly through Albert’s Combat Exhibition Match. 27 36 After the festival, he openly promises to find Ayanokoji’s weakness and exploit the people Ayanokoji cares about. 38

Ryuen later recruits Kikyo Kushida as Class C’s “Special Consultant,” purchasing her detailed intelligence on Class D and using it to plan an attack on Airi Sakura and Kei Karuizawa. Ayanokoji turns the operation into a counter-trap, forcing Ryuen to delete incriminating evidence and withdraw. 45 46

Appearance

Ryuen is first seen in Class C’s black uniform with a red tie. 9 By the time of his meeting with Kushida, he bears a stitched scar on the side of his face from a recent fight. 45

• Often wears a savage or viper-like grin while confronting opponents. 9 20
• Carries and idly spins a utility knife during his meeting with Kushida. 45
• Maintains an intimidating presence that leaves even his own followers reluctant to oppose him. 9 45

Personality

Ryuen is aggressive, thrill-seeking, and obsessed with control. He considers ordinary bullying boring; what interests him is an opponent capable of resisting him. This is why Ayanokoji becomes his preferred target rather than simply another obstacle to remove. 9

He uses fear, leverage, and uncertainty as deliberately as physical force. Ryuen pressures observers by speaking to a suspected surveillance camera, intending to make whoever is watching nervous enough to make mistakes. 20 He is also willing to deny responsibility for his class’s actions, discard subordinates when plans fail, and exploit personal histories to break his targets psychologically. 25 46

Despite his impulsive aggression, Ryuen can assess opponents accurately. He recognizes that Class D may be feigning weakness to conceal surveillance access and prepares alternative strategies when direct assaults fail. 21

Abilities & Skills

Class Leadership and Intimidation

Ryuen leads Class C through fear and personal authority.

• Commands Class C’s core members, including Ishizaki and Albert, who carry out surveillance, sabotage, and physical intimidation on his orders. 9 27
• Keeps potential allies under watch; after appointing Kushida as a consultant, he orders Albert to monitor her movements. 45
• His control weakens after Ibuki condemns his abandonment of Manabe and leaves Class C. 25

Psychological Warfare

Ryuen specializes in forcing opponents into disadvantageous positions through threats and pressure.

• Uses the potential reporting of Ayanokoji’s courtyard fight to force the special-exam bet. 9
• Attempts to destabilize Class D by implying he has discovered its surveillance advantage. 20
• Threatens Ayanokoji after the Sports Festival by promising to identify and exploit his weakness. 38
• Uses Kei Karuizawa’s middle-school past as leverage during the library ambush. 46

Sabotage and Field Tactics

Ryuen favors disruptive tactics over fair competition.

• Prepares ropes, machetes, fishing nets, and trap-making techniques for the island exam. 12
• Orders attacks on Lookout Hill and later burns Class D’s camp supplies to undermine its ability to hold the position. 16 17
• Uses captured Class C students and supplies as leverage in the conflict around the waterfall. 19
• Plans Sports Festival “accidents” through Albert to injure or disrupt Class D participants. 27 36

Information Exploitation

Ryuen actively acquires and weaponizes information.

• Orders Class C to surveil Ayanokoji and Class D after recognizing Ayanokoji as a variable. 9
• Shares suspected intelligence about Class D’s surveillance access with Class A to pressure Class D from multiple sides. 20
• Pays Kushida for Class D’s organizational details, personal weaknesses, schedules, and contingency plans. 45
• Falls victim to Ayanokoji’s double-blind counter-espionage during the Library Media Room operation. 46

Equipment / Items

• Utility knife — handled during his meeting with Kushida. 45
• Class C field supplies and trap tools — ropes, machetes, fishing nets, and related survival equipment prepared for the island exam. 12

Relationships

• Ayanokoji Kiyotaka — primary rival and self-designated “special opponent.” Ryuen forces a special-exam wager, repeatedly targets Class D, and becomes increasingly determined to expose Ayanokoji’s weakness. 9 38 46
• Kikyo Kushida — hired as Class C’s “Special Consultant” in exchange for points and bonuses tied to successful strikes against Class D; Ryuen distrusts her and has Albert monitor her. 45
• Mio Ibuki — initially one of Ryuen’s confidants and operatives, but she denounces his role in the poisoning plot and defects from Class C. 9 25
• Daichi Ishizaki — subordinate who assists with reconnaissance, relays Ryuen’s orders, and participates in Class C’s operations. 16 21 27
• Albert Yamada — Class C’s physical enforcer and athletic ace; Ryuen orders him to cause Sports Festival “accidents,” monitor Kushida, and participate in the library operation. 27 36 45 46
• Shiho Manabe — a Class C operative used in the poisoning plan and later in Ryuen’s Sports Festival schemes; her failure and public exposure contribute to unrest in Class C. 24 25 31
• Atsushi Ryuen — Ryuen’s older brother and the leader of second-year Class 2-C. 48 49

Story Role / Major Arcs

Discovery of the Class D Anomaly

Ryuen identifies Ayanokoji as Class D’s hidden variable, observes him from afar, tests him through a staged ambush, and establishes their special-exam wager. 7 9

Uninhabited Island Conflict

Ryuen makes Class C a direct obstacle to Class D’s rise by contesting Lookout Hill, destroying supplies, seeking control of resources, and using poisoning as an escalation tactic. 16 25

Sports Festival Retaliation

After Class C’s island setbacks, Ryuen attempts to recover status through physical interference and public humiliation of Class D. His plan culminates in Albert’s violent Combat Exhibition Match against Ayanokoji. 27 36 38

Alliance with Kushida and the Library Trap

Ryuen accepts Kushida’s intelligence on Class D and uses it to target Sakura and Karuizawa. Ayanokoji anticipates the operation, reverses the trap, and forces Ryuen to retreat. 45 46

Notable Quotes

“Variables make the game more interesting.” 9

“I will find your weakness. You'll always have someone you care about, and you'll always have a moment of negligence.” 38

“Hatred can turn anyone into the sharpest blade.” 45