Classroom of the Elite III Episode 2: Man Is Wolf to Man.

Yagami Takuya, a first-year student, spots Kushida Kikyou and approaches her, claiming they were from the same junior high. He introduces himself with an overly enthusiastic smile, which catches Horikita Suzune's attention. Kushida, surprised but flattered, acknowledges his memory of her as a bright student. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka observes the interaction, silently noting Yagami's potential knowledge of Kushida's past, a detail that feels too convenient.

The school hums with the new special exam, requiring second-years to partner with first-years. Shinohara Satsuki and Sato Maya are seen happily chatting, oblivious to the underlying tension. Meanwhile, Ike Kanji, Yamauchi Haruki, and Sudo Ken are among the second-years still struggling to find partners. Sudo complains about the carefree first-years, a complaint Horikita quickly dismisses, reminding him of his own past inexperience.

Horikita attempts to recruit partners from Hosen Kazuomi's D-class, approaching him, Nanase Tsubasa, and Yagami. Yagami, with a sly smile, quickly demands 500,000 private points for a partnership. Sudo is outraged by the astronomical price, but Yagami explains that with offers from A and C class, they will not undersell themselves. Horikita, recognizing Hosen's intent to exploit their desperation, agrees to consider the demand.

Sudo expresses frustration at being looked down upon, worrying about being left without a partner. Horikita explains that first-years exploit the second-years' fear of penalties for not forming a pair. She calculates that even the highest class points gained wouldn't justify spending so many private points. She concludes that a direct money game is not worth playing, signaling a deeper strategic mind at work.

As Horikita searches for partners, Amasawa Ichika, a first-year from A-class, appears dramatically, offering her assistance. Amasawa boasts about her academic ability but then, to Horikita's annoyance, proposes a bizarre condition: she will only partner with the physically strongest male, demanding a fight. Her playful, yet unsettling, demeanor leaves Sudo terrified and Horikita incredulous.

Amasawa dismisses her earlier demand for a physical fight, instead stating her preference for men who can cook. She offers to partner with Sudo if he can cook a delicious requested meal. When Sudo admits he cannot, Horikita points to Ayanokoji, who reluctantly admits cooking is his only specialty. Amasawa agrees to the new terms, but warns that her judging will be strict.

Ayanokoji checks his phone, observing the rapid formation of partnerships among students, signifying the exam's urgency. Nanase Tsubasa approaches him, apologizing for Hosen's rude behavior earlier. Ayanokoji notes Nanase's politeness, sociability, and academic strength, wondering why she is in D-class. He recalls her intense gaze, suggesting a hidden depth to her character.

Ayanokoji, recognizing Nanase's potential, proposes that D-class students help each other find partners. Nanase agrees but warns that many students have already submitted to Hosen's demands. She reiterates her refusal to yield to violence, confirming Ayanokoji's observation of her strong will. Despite Hosen's influence, Nanase eagerly offers to set up a meeting for cooperation.

Horikita comments on Ayanokoji's bold approach to Nanase, acknowledging its unexpected success. She deduces that Hosen's true objective might be more than just points. Horikita reveals her own backup plan, having Kushida leverage her new partnership with Yagami to quietly negotiate with B-class first-years. She enlists Ayanokoji's help, explicitly referencing the Amasawa situation.

Ayanokoji finds himself accompanying Amasawa on a shopping trip for cooking supplies. Amasawa, with a cheerful and demanding air, insists on purchasing brand new, expensive tools exclusively for herself. She gleefully adds a "petty knife" and other items to the cart, fully expecting Ayanokoji to pay for everything. He accepts his fate with a sigh of resignation.

In Ayanokoji's room, Amasawa forbids him from using his phone for recipes, challenging his skills. She dramatically requests Tom Yum Goong. Guided by Horikita through an earpiece, Ayanokoji meticulously prepares the dish. Amasawa declares the meal delicious, yet maintains a playful pretense of strict judging. She agrees to partner with Sudo, citing Ayanokoji's efforts and the expensive tools he bought her.

As Amasawa leaves, Horikita congratulates Ayanokoji on solving Sudo's partner problem. Ayanokoji reflects on Amasawa's suspiciously "gentle" judging. He considers the possibility that Amasawa might be a "White Room" student, like himself, setting up some elaborate scheme. However, he dismisses this idea, noting that a White Room student would not have chosen Sudo as a partner.

Sakayanagi Arisu, relaxed in a cafe, learns that Ryuen Kakeru is challenging her for first-year partners. She instructs her subordinates, including Hashimoto Masayoshi and Kamuro Masumi, to match any offer Ryuen makes but to *not* form actual partnerships. Her goal is to make Ryuen waste his private points. Sakayanagi confidently asserts that Ryuen misunderstands the "brand power" of A-class.

In his dark room, Ryuen is informed that even a 200,000-point offer was placed on hold. He instructs his subordinate to offer more, but clarifies that he has no intention of paying. Ryuen states his true purpose: to identify which first-years are susceptible to money, and more importantly, which are not. He aims to gauge the new generation and plans to strike when class points fluctuate greatly.

At a meeting, Nanase expresses deep concern about Hosen's individualism, fearing that low-ability students will be left behind. She worries this will prevent D-class from uniting for future exams. Horikita agrees with Nanase's assessment and proposes a bold solution: for her and Nanase to collectively decide partners for the 15 unpartnered students, forming a block to secure their class's future.