03x06 - It is Better to Receive an Injury than to Inflict One

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"IT IS BETTER TO RECEIVE AN INJURY THAN TO INFLICT ONE."

"IT IS BETTER TO RECEIVE AN INJURY THAN TO INFLICT ONE." CICERO, "TUSCULAN DISPUTATIONS"

Regarding the results of your final exam...

You all passed.

Hell yeah!

We're moving on for sure!

- We're moving on for sure! - Awesome! You kidding me?!

- We're moving on for sure! - Awesome! You kidding me?! - Everyone?

- Awesome! You kidding me?! - Everyone?

Everyone?

We get to stay together!

- We get to stay together! - That's fantastic! - I'm so happy!

For once, I'm unable to find fault with the result anywhere.

That test was easy-peasy!

Says the class joke!

Says the guy with the lowest score.

Hey, don't say that!

You really are stupid.

Only stupid people call people stupid!

You're both stupid.

- You're both stupid. - Shut up!

However...

Even with the year's final exam,

we haven't seen a single expulsion.

This is unprecedented in the history of this school.

Therefore, we will have to hold a follow-up special exam.

Huh?!

How come?

What in the world?

This is totally out of nowhere!

It's crazy!

Why do we have to do this?!

- Why do we have to do this?! - Unbelievable!

- Unbelievable! - Tell us why!

Tell us why!

The school admits that you've done very well.

Then what's the deal, huh?

Yeah!

END-OF-YEAR TEST / TOTAL RANKING

END-OF-YEAR TEST / TOTAL RANKING - We, the teachers,

END-OF-YEAR TEST / TOTAL RANKING - don't take the task of burdening you with an

unexpected exam lightly.

END-OF-YEAR TEST / TOTAL RANKING

So Chabashira doesn't like how the school's reacting, either?

You have no right to refuse.

Teacher, what kind of exam is it?

The special exam...

will be a class vote.

CLASSROOM OF THE ELITE RD SEASON

I will now explain the rules of the class vote.

In four days, you will evaluate your classmates,

voting for three students who are worthy of praise,

and three students who are worthy of censure.

The student with the most positive votes will receive a special reward—

a new privilege known as a "protection point."

A protection point?

It allows its user to negate an expulsion they've qualified for.

You kidding me?!

Wow!

- Wow! - That's awesome!

- That's awesome! - That's amazing!

- That's awesome! - That's amazing! - Really?

- That's awesome! - That's amazing! - That's the best privilege ever!

That's the best privilege ever!

- That's the best privilege ever! - That's a rather extreme reward.

That's a rather extreme reward.

Does something negative happen to the three lowest placers?

Only one of them will be affected.

The purpose of the exam is to total up votes received,

with positive votes adding points and negative votes subtracting them,

to determine a single top and single bottom placer.

The single... bottom placer?

As for why the school is using the extraordinary measure of protection points...

It's because this is one test that most likely cannot end

without someone getting expelled.

That's right. The lowest placing student...

will be expelled from this school.

Huh? Expelled?!

- Huh? Expelled?! - No freaking way!

- No freaking way! - After we passed, even...

- After we passed, even... - It can't be...

After we passed, even...

In addition,

the protection point received by the highest placing student

cannot be transferred to others.

Which means someone will be expelled for sure.

Though simple, this may be the cruelest test yet.

I don't get this!

Are we seriously talking about expelling someone?

Yes.

But for once, the class will not be penalized when the expulsion takes place.

The expulsion itself is the penalty!

A protection point is an extraordinary reward.

But it comes with an appropriately extraordinary risk.

I fully understand that you find it unreasonable.

But now that it's done, you must follow the rules,

and undertake the special exam.

That's how the world works.

Sakayanagi's father, the chairman,

didn't seem like the type to conduct unreasonable exams, but...

Let's not lose hope just yet!

We've always found a way through before.

There's got to be a way to prevent expulsion this time!

Hirata-kun is right.

We need to come together as a class and make sure all the votes come out equally.

No, that won't help you.

You'll be forced to repeat the vote until someone is expelled.

In addition, you'll be casting one positive vote for a student in another class.

So it will be impossible for a single class to fully manipulate the result.

But earlier, you said "most likely" expelled...

The use of private points could change the equation.

If you can pay twenty million points, you can potentially cancel an expulsion.

Twenty million points?

That's way too many points to pool for one person!

Which means, after the test, someone from this class is...

What the heck are we gonna do?!

This is the worst test possible!

- This is the worst test possible! - Shut up, Yamauchi!

What's your problem?

Hey... you're not gonna cast a negative vote for me, are you?!

She's not gonna tell you who she's voting for.

Yeah, I knew it!

I guess I'll have to vote for you guys, then!

How unsightly.

This is a test about looking forward at our next two years.

Well, you're not exactly in a safe spot, are you?

You understand so little, Red Hair-kun.

What?!

The fact that there's no penalty to the class

makes it an excellent opportunity to delete an undesirable classmate.

Such as one of your incompetent friends, perhaps.

Incompetent?

Shut the hell up!

Calm down. Let's all stay cool.

You don't have to worry, Hirata!

It's not like you're gonna end up on the bottom!

Hey—

You're the safest one here.

It's not guaranteed for me, either!

It's not guaranteed for you, huh?

Yeah, right. You're the one safe man here.

Sure is nice being popular, huh?

Yeah, he doesn't have to worry about being expelled!

- Yeah, he doesn't have to worry about being expelled! - Hirata-kun...

Yeah, so just back off.

I'm talking to Koenji right now.

That's enough, Sudo-kun.

Suzune?

There's still some time before the vote.

Let's use that time to think up what to do.

As I'm sure you're aware, blank votes and abstentions will not be allowed.

Votes for yourself or multiple votes for the same person are also not allowed.

I understand that this test will be difficult for you,

but these are the rules as decided by the school.

As long as you're attending this school, you must follow these rules.

Now, we will hold the vote in four days.

Do you understand?

You can't do this to us!

Boy, this really stinks, huh?

Isn't there any way to get around it?

Planning out our votes is the only way.

I do have a suggestion.

What would you think about us coordinating our votes as a group?

You mean, write each other for the positive votes?

Yeah.

It won't guarantee us a place at the top,

but cooperating to avoid placing last is probably for the best.

But is that all right?

The teacher said trying to arrange the vote wouldn't help.

Even if we don't do it, other groups surely will.

I'm in favor of covering for each other as a group.

I wouldn't want to lose anyone here.

N-Neither do I!

It's settled, then.

Then let's get ahead of the game and talk to some others.

No, we should stay under the radar until the test is over.

So that we don't end up deliberately targeted?

Yes. In this test,

if someone gets negative votes focused on them, there's no defense.

- if someone gets negative votes focused on them, - In this test,

- there's no defense. - the lowest in the class hierarchy will

- likely become negative vote sinks. - I see. We've got to lie low until the test, then.

Yeah.

I suppose I'll have to take action, then.

CLASSROOM OF THE ELITE RD SEASON

DISCOURSE ON DECADENCE ANGO SAKAGUCHI

He's been rather quiet lately, hasn't he?

Horikita.

You seem to have time to k*ll, Ryuen-kun.

I was wondering who it might be.

So it's you, Suzune.

And...

Your perpetual tagalong.

So? How can I help you?

What do you intend to do on the upcoming special exam?

Nothing.

So you don't intend to fight to make sure you're not expelled?

Hard to say.

I'm sure many people would be happy to see you expelled.

For better or worse, you've done too much here.

No one's going to reach out to help you.

Seeing as you're my enemy,

taking me out now would be your best course of action.

Once I'm gone, Class D won't stand a chance against you.

You think quite highly of yourself.

But you lack the talent that a true leader needs.

That's why you fell to Class D.

True enough.

As this might be our last conversation,

could you tell me one thing?

If someone like you, stuck in a hopeless situation,

wanted to engage seriously with this test,

do you think you could escape being expelled?

What a stupid question.

Of course I could.

Empty confidence, but typical.

Satisfied now?

Or do you want me to tell you my plan for survival?

No.

Hearing it might lead me right into your hands.

Still, thank you.

Seeing you accept reality

helps me to do what needs to be done.

What needs to be done?

If we can't avoid expelling someone,

I need to determine who's actually worthy,

and see that their sentence is carried out.

That could end up bouncing right back at you.

If it does, I suppose I'll have to accept that this was the limit of my abilities.

Sounds like empty confidence to me.

It's not that easy to k*ll someone.

I can do it.

From the moment I came here, I've never shown mercy to students who held me back.

You can't do it.

How would you know that?

I know all about you.

I can see the hints of reluctance behind your words.

If you can't even face your own brother, you're not prepared to do anything.

You don't actually know what to do, do you?

And you've already gotten comfortable in your little class dynamic.

You can't possibly be level-headed about it.

The only ones who can, maybe, are me,

and Sakayanagi, who sees her classmates as nothing more than pawns.

Despite all your confidence,

you don't really have a way out, do you?

What makes you think that?

Because at the end of the day, you will be expelled.

Which is why I'm sitting back and accepting it.

Don't let this chance get away, now.

I don't actually think I want Ryuen expelled.

He's completely bluffing.

No matter how he struggles, he's going to be expelled for sure.

I wonder.

He really may have a plan.

Even if he reformed and apologized now, he'd still get the same negative votes.

You're right. A direct engagement wouldn't work.

Then that's the end of it.

But he did have a point back there.

What do you mean?

You probably should face your brother at least once before he graduates.

I don't expect my brother to be willing to meet with me.

Much as I dislike it, you're the only one he has any interest in.

I suppose, if you say so.

I don't like how you said that.

She still has a powerful complex about her brother.

What is it?

Hey, you got any advice for what I should do on this test?

Have any groups begun to form around you?

Yeah, a few.

I'm sure everyone's afraid of expulsion.

So am I! I don't know how many people hate me.

I wouldn't be surprised if you received a few negative votes, yeah.

Hey, you're supposed to deny that one, even if it's not true.

The best thing to do for now is lie low.

Fine. I won't stir the pot.

But your breakup with Hirata may end up being a point in your favor.

If you were still dating Hirata, who's quite popular with the girls,

one might have expected there to be students who wanted to expel you

in order to drive you two apart.

Wow, scary.

But you might be right.

You're lucky.

No one notices you, your grades are average...

Who are you gonna put in negative votes for?

I intend to choose those who will be a negative to the class going forward.

Wow, that's cold.

Though I guess that's what you do...

If we can't avoid expelling someone, it's the only logical choice.

Hey, you're not gonna say that's me, are you?

You're very important to the class.

I'd never eliminate you.

Y-Yeah, right?

I mean, of course!

If groups are forming, votes will likely relate to something other than grades.

Seriously?

If you see some guiding principle forming behind negative class votes,

let me know right away.

Okay. I'll call you right away.

Later, then!

Sure.

He's running late.

I guess it's really not nice to ambush someone...

But...

I've been waiting.

Morning, Ayanokoji-kun!

I'm going on ahead.

Sure. See you later.

Morning, Ayanokoji-kun!

Oh. Good morning, Ichinose.

Um, so...

It's another cold day, huh?

I suppose.

Have you agreed to walk to school with anyone in particular?

No.

Then... could I walk with you?

Sure.

The upcoming test is going to be hard on Class B, I suppose?

Oh... yeah. I guess it will.

It might be our hardest test yet, even.

I bet.

But we just have to figure something out, right?

You're not going to drop out, are you?

Oh, come on...

I didn't say that.

Your classmates aren't going to write your name down, you know.

I didn't say I was going to drop out.

It's written on your face.

I-Is it?

I didn't mean literally.

Oh, right.

I guess not...

You want to sacrifice yourself to protect someone else?

Not... quite.

I just feel like I have to take on more risk in this fight.

But let's not get too deep into strategy.

We're in different classes, after all.

That's true.

Will you be okay, Ayanokoji-kun?

I'm not sure.

Would you like me to write you down for my positive vote for another class?

You don't have to do that.

I'm not worthy of that vote.

That's not true!

You're very deserving of it.

Then I may ask you for that, just in case.

Sure, I'll keep it in mind.

Sure.

I really am glad I got to speak with him today.

Ayanokoji-kun.

Do you have a moment?

Well... I should go.

Sure.

Later!

Did you find the extra exam unreasonable?

I suppose.

There's a reason why they're doing it.

My father, the chairman, was recently suspended.

Someone may have a larger plan in mind.

This test was arranged at the last minute in order to expel someone...

Does that seem possible to you?

You mean, me?

It would explain why the school was plotting something this unreasonable.

Would it mean that man is involved, then?

That being the case, I'd like to postpone our competition.

You're free to do as you like.

Thank you very much.

Now I can focus on matters within Class A.

However...

Since we're calling a ceasefire,

I won't be doing anything to sabotage you on the test, Ayanokoji-kun.

Are you sure you want to promise that?

If I do end up doing something to damage you in the results,

I will accept it as my own loss.

You'll be free to refuse our next competition, as well.

Though if I end up as a target for negative votes in this exam,

there won't be a next competition.

That's very true.

There won't be any sudden betrayals before our fight happens?

Surely you jest.

The moment the test was announced, I knew who I was going to expel.

Katsuragi Kohei-kun.

That's about what I expected.

What does Class C intend to do?

I'm not getting involved.

Really?

From Class D, I'm sure it will be Ryuen-kun.

The only mystery is Class B.

Seeing who from that close-knit class will be expelled

will be the greatest enjoyment from this test.

Now, we'll compete at the last special exam of the year.

It's a promise.

Right.

I've been waiting.

President Nagumo...

Regarding the private point matter we discussed...

E-Er...

Date me, Honami.

That's the condition.

Simple, isn't it?

I have to protect everyone.