Original subtitles

Um, is that you... Kushida-senpai?

Yes?

It's me!

I was a year behind you in middle school—Yagami Takuya.

Yagami...

Oh, Yagami-kun?!

Yes! It's been a while, hasn't it?

You know this guy?

Yes, we didn't interact very much,

but he made a big impression because he was so smart!

- Do you know this Yagami person, too?

- I feel so lucky to get to go to the same school as you again!

- You went to the same middle school, right?

I'm afraid not.

I didn't have time to notice people who didn't concern me.

Do you think Yagami knows about Kushida's past?

I wouldn't be surprised.

I know it's sudden, but I feel like I can trust you.

Would you be my partner for the special test?

You're all right with me?

Wouldn't you rather be with someone a bit smarter?

I'm still finding my way at this school,

so what I really want is a partner I can trust!

Um... can you give me some time to think about it?

Oh, of course!

I won't partner up with anyone until you give me your answer.

Classroom of the Elite 4th Season 2nd Year 1st Term

Classroom of the Elite 4th Season 2nd Year 1st Term

I admired you so much!

Isn't that cool?

Look at this!

Awesome!

Man, those first-years don't have a care in the world.

And here we are running ourselves ragged looking for good partners...

Have you forgotten how you acted a year ago?

O-Of course not!

I just know better now.

So we're looking for a first-year willing to partner with Sudo?

I thought we should ask around, at least.

Could we speak with you?

We're searching for partners for the upcoming special test.

Could we speak with you?

Oh, of course.

Right?

Yes, we haven't found partners yet ourselves.

Thank you for being so forthcoming.

We're looking for someone to partner with Sudo-kun here.

How about this, then?

What, we gotta pay you with points?

And 50,000? What a rip-off!

Oh, Senpai, don't be ridiculous.

It's not 50,000. It's 500,000.

F-Five hundred thousand?!

We've already had offers from Class A and Class C.

We're going to get the best offer we can.

Very well. We'll consider it.

That said, we have another request.

Could you introduce us to other Class D students?

Well... that might be difficult.

Yeah. Hosen-kun'll get mad if we fall out of line.

Right?

Bastards. Takin' advantage of us like that...

And Hosen-kun gets mad if they fall out of line, they said.

But aren't they gonna end up without partners by the deadline?

It's the second-years who have the most to fear from failing to find partners.

Hosen-kun wants to use that to extort large numbers of points from us.

Continuing to ask around will likely yield the same results.

How will you approach it?

I won't attempt to engage with the money game.

The most we can earn from this test is fifty class points for first place.

Converting that to private points, it's just a little over two million.

In other words,

paying 500,000 per student means you're in the red after five.

Which means throwing points at the problem isn't a solution.

I think our best chance is to negotiate with Class 1-D.

That said, relying solely on Hosen-kun's class seems risky.

To find an excellent partner,

we'll have to continue asking as many people as possible.

Hello!

There's an excellent partner right here, actually!

You were eavesdropping on us?

What a thing to say, Senpai!

I just happened to overhear, so I spoke up.

I'm Amasawa Ichika of Class 1-A.

I have an A ranking in Academic Achievement.

Would you like to work with me?

I appreciate the offer,

but would you be willing to work with Sudo-kun here instead?

Your academic rating is E+, I see...

Well, I'm willing to lend you a hand.

You mean it?!

I just love strong men, see?

What are you talking about?

I don't mean strength of will or anything.

I mean physically strong!

Maybe I'll find a lot of strong men and have them slug it out.

Whoever comes out on top will be my partner!

Is this some kind of joke? You obviously can't do that.

Joke? No, I'm very serious.

I just love strong men.

Let's go, Suzune.

She's just making fun of us.

I believe you're right.

Okay, fine!

I'll give you another chance if you'll forgive me.

A chance?

After strong men, I love men who can cook!

If you can make a delicious dish that I request, I'll partner up with you.

C-Cook?! I've never cooked before...

You wouldn't allow me to cook for you instead?

Nope!

I told you, I love men who can cook.

Ayanokoji-kun.

I believe you've bragged to me about your cooking skills before.

Yes.

It's no exaggeration to say that cooking is my strongest field.

Would you accept Ayanokoji-kun, then?

Fine, but are you really good at cooking?

My standards are extremely high!

He can handle it. Right?

Yes, I suppose.

Well, then, it's a deal!

If you fail to cook me a delicious home-cooked meal tomorrow after class,

the whole deal's off.

I'm counting on you, Ayanokoji!

Please cook me up a partner!

Tomorrow it is, then! Bye-bye!

Horikita, I believe you're aware that my cooking skill is—

Be quiet now. I'll think up a plan.

- Advanced Nurturing High School Staff Update: 34 new partnerships have formed. The current number of partners is 56.

- Fifty-six pairs have formed as of this morning.

Over a third of the student body has partnered up by now.

I'd better start getting serious, too.

Good morning, Ayanokoji-senpai.

I apologize for Hosen-kun's actions the other day.

You don't need to apologize for that.

Well... I tagged along to make sure he didn't do anything rash,

and I deeply regret that I failed.

Well-mannered and polite, with excellent grades.

Why is she in Class D?

And of greater concern to me is...

the way she looked at me then.

Do you have a partner yet?

Me?

No, not yet. A few people have made offers, but...

Couldn't both Class Ds work together to find partners with each other?

You mean like... an alliance?

Yes.

I'm in favor of that.

There's one problem, though.

Hosen, you mean?

Yes. Most of our students are

keeping their heads down and doing what Hosen-kun tells them.

Are you in a special position within your class?

You don't seem particularly cowed by him.

I refuse to be intimidated by violence!

But if it's Hosen who decides your class policy,

I doubt he'll agree to the offer I made.

Um... if you're all right with it, despite the situation,

I could set us up a negotiation?

You're sure about that?

I'm sure Horikita would appreciate that.

Is Horikita-senpai your class's leader?

Yes. I'll let her know.

Could we trade contact information?

Yes. I look forward to working with you, Ayanokoji-senpai!

That was a surprisingly assertive move, coming from you.

Should I not have done it?

No, it's wonderful.

But it seems Hosen wants to play the money game you're trying to avoid.

You're right.

But are points really all he's after?

You think he's targeting us somehow?

Still, I can't imagine he'll be easy to deal with.

As insurance, I'm discussing a potential alliance with part of Class 1-B.

Would that involve Yagami,

that boy who went to middle school with you and Kushida?

Kushida-san partnered up with him yesterday.

I'm having her negotiate through him behind the scenes.

I'd like you to do your part, as well.

Amasawa, you mean?

Yes.

I've figured out a plan.

First, you need a cutting board, right?

And a chef's knife, right?

And you'll need a bowl and a whisk...

Wait a minute.

I have cooking supplies in my room.

It's fine. I want you to have a set just for me!

These are all expensive brands, too.

Of course, you'll need a Petty knife, too!

May I ask a question?

Who's paying for—

You are, of course! Silly.

I knew that, of course.

Well, I guess it's an investment in high-quality equipment.

Oh, I told you, these are just for me.

Don't waste them on anyone else, okay?

She's a monster.

Coming in!

Wow, it's so nice and tidy!

You can make yourself at home while I'm cooking.

Thanks, Senpai!

Oh, and no looking at your phone while you cook!

How strict.

Can't handle it?

Of course I can.

I'll put my phone right here.

So, what dish do you want?

Here comes the big announcement!

The dish I want you to cook is...

Tom yum goong!

Tom yum goong?

I can't wait, Senpai!

I heard everything.

I wasn't expecting tom yum goong...

Please walk me through it.

I taught you yesterday how to use your knives.

We're going to aim for fifteen to thirty minutes of prep time.

Is that all right?

Let's see how far I've come in a day.

Wow, awesome! If we're going on looks, it's a pass for sure!

Okay, let's eat!

I love the cilantro!

And you made bunny apple slices!

Thank you for the meal.

Senpai, your tom yum goong...

I'd say it's pretty decent!

First, let me clean this up.

I'll handle that.

Hey, it's no big!

I asked such a big favor. Let me handle this much.

Okay, then.

By the way, about your judgment...

Well, honestly, it shouldn't be a pass,

but you bought me all this expensive stuff...

So, in honor of your efforts,

I guess I'll pair up with Sudo-senpai.

I'm grateful.

Hey, no prob!

Just don't forget that gratitude, okay?

Anyway, I don't wanna stay too late, so I'm heading home.

Sure.

Later, Ayanokoji-senpai!

Bye-bye!

Well done.

It seems to have worked.

The Sudo problem is solved.

That's an important accomplishment.

Though I feel we were saved by Amasawa's generous judging.

I'll let you know when Nanase contacts me next.

Right.

If Amasawa is the White Room student,

I'd expect her to have rigged something here...

but what matters is that she's partnering with Sudo, not me.

Normally, that would

clear her of suspicion of being the White Room student, but...

It seems the students we talked to got another offer from Class C.

They said they'd give them 10,000 points to refuse Class A's offer.

What are they, stupid?

It seems Ryuen-kun is determined to take the fight to me.

What are you going to do?

Tell the first-years that I'm prepared to match Ryuen-kun's offer.

But even if the first-years agree to it, don't actually form the partner contract.

What in the world?

I don't understand at all.

Ryuen-kun... your strategy is working to my benefit.

I'm not following this all.

Sounds fine to me. If the princess says she doesn't need it...

Ryuen-kun's naked attempt at bribery...

It's not bad in and of itself.

But it was a mistake to compete with us over the exact same students.

But to be able to offer up bribes like that,

they must have a lot of private points saved up, right?

I'm not convinced.

It doesn't cost anything just to offer a bribe.

So they're just pretending to have the money?

How does that benefit Class C, exactly?

Without Ryuen-kun there,

we of Class A would attract the most excellent students

through our brand power alone.

But with Class C offering bribes, we're forced to play the money game, too.

What's his next move, then?

Drive up the price, and try to force us to expend as many points as possible.

I get it. Like a poker game.

But he's misjudged me...

and the brand power of Class A.

Apparently, the Class B first-years we'd enticed for 200,000

are entertaining more offers.

But why? Is 200,000 not enough for them?

Calm down.

I know just what they're after.

Tell them we'll pay 100,000 up front, and 200,000 after the test.

Y-You serious?

That won't be enough to lock down most of them.

They'll expect Sakayanagi to go higher.

You sure this won't just blow up in our faces?

Even if we both offer the same amount, their brand power will carry the day.

The brand power of Class A is a temporary thing.

Still, what if the bidding keeps going up?

We don't actually have to pay.

What I'm trying to do

is take the measure of the people in the first-year classes.

Anyone who would flip over money

is someone we can get on our side at any time.

What matters is everyone else.

I was never going to pay out

pocket-change levels of class points on this test.

To kill Class A, I need to wait

for when far more class points are being thrown around.

Oh, I don't see you here often.

Hello, Shiina-san.

We'd like to talk, so it may get a little loud today.

I see.

In that case, there are seats back there that would be suitable.

Thank you.

Are things going well in Class C?

Yes, it seems they're really moving along.

Nanase-san aside, we need to know what Hosen-kun might do.

Yes.

Whether he shows up today will greatly change our approach.

Sorry I'm late, Senpai.

Horikita Suzune.

Thank you for making time to meet with us today.

I'm... I should say...

My name is Nanase Tsubasa.

Really, I should be thanking you.

To get right to the point, my proposal is not

to pay points in exchange for a contract.

I understand.

You want a proper alliance,

with both sides covering for the other's students with poor Academic Achievement.

Yes. If you were aware of that when you came here,

can I assume there's room for negotiation?

Well... I hope so.

Hosen-kun's strategy is rooted in personal self-interest.

At this rate, the students with low Academic Achievement won't be able to

find partners by the day of the test.

But what I'm most afraid of

is that his self-interest will take precedence moving forward,

and our class unity will fall apart.

True. Too much focus on self-interest will leave you at a major disadvantage

in future tests that require class unity.

Yes.

That's why I chose to undertake these negotiations myself,

for the sake of our class.

Then let me ask a rather bold question.

How many students in Class 1-D are currently struggling to find a partner?

About fifteen at the moment.

That's more than I expected.

Nanase-san, if possible,

I'd like to arrange a rather large contract with you.

A large contract?

You and I will determine and finalize fifteen partnerships between ourselves.

That's an excellent proposal,

but Hosen-kun will never agree to help you without payment.

But why? It won't disadvantage him in any way.

But even so...

I don't think he'll allow it.

I see. So that's the situation.

I've learned one thing about how Hosen thinks.