Classroom of the Elite 4th Season: Second Year, First Semester Episode 1: Assassin From the White Room

The season opens with a stark, shadowy scene; a man reviews holographic data, focusing on Kiyotaka Ayanokoji's profile. He speaks of a mission to expel Ayanokoji within April, demanding intelligence over brute force. A hooded figure, also in silhouette, listens to the grim instructions, the room bathed in an unsettling red glow. The man warns against tarnishing 'that person''s name, hinting at greater powers at play. This isn't just about expulsion, it's a calculated attack on a specific target.

Back at school, Kiyotaka's friends, Haruka Hasebe and Akito Miyake, express concern over his absence during the holidays. The casual classroom atmosphere shatters when Ken Sudo and Honami Ichinose react with shock to Suzune Horikita's newly cut, short hair. Horikita declares this an act of resolve, signifying her commitment to elevating Class D to a higher standing. She states her intention to fight for her class, demonstrating a clear shift in her priorities and self-perception.

Their homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae, introduces the 'Over All Ability' (OAA) app, a new system designed to quantify student abilities. Students react with a mix of curiosity and alarm as they see their grades, from academics to social skills, digitized and made public. Sudo discovers his academic ability is a stark 'E,' prompting Chabashira-sensei to explain that scores are updated monthly, encouraging growth. This new transparency creates an immediate environment of scrutiny and competition among the students.

Kiyotaka observes the app, recognizing its implications go beyond a simple grading tool. Chabashira-sensei, in a rare moment of personal insight, speculates that students failing to meet a certain 'overall ability' will face penalties within a year. The students, including Haruka, immediately fear expulsion, a stark reminder of the school's harsh realities. This system, she reveals, was implemented at the suggestion of student council president Nagumo Miyabi, confirming Kiyotaka's suspicions about its strategic intent.

The first special exam of the year is announced, requiring second-year students to partner with first-years. Chabashira-sensei claims this initiative aims to improve communication and prevent grade stagnation between different cohorts. Students like Sudo voice frustration, perceiving this as a distraction from their internal class struggles. Despite the concerns, students are given two weeks to freely choose their partners from any class or grade level, adding another layer of strategic complexity to the test.

Horikita quickly discerns the OAA app's role in identifying suitable partners, assessing profiles like her own with an overall B rating. The exam's grim terms are laid out: a total of 500 points across five subjects, with potential expulsion for any second-year failing to reach this combined score. Chabashira-sensei confirms that partners are chosen by mutual agreement, and those unable to find one will be randomly assigned, incurring a five percent score penalty. Hirata attempts to reassure the worried class, advocating for careful preparation and study.

Kiyotaka discovers a crucial rule: intentional low scores, regardless of overall grade, lead to expulsion, a clause he immediately attributes to Tsukishiro. Horikita confronts Kiyotaka on a staircase, recalling their winter break promise to compete. She proposes a bet: if Kiyotaka wins, she joins the student council; if she wins, he must fully utilize his hidden abilities for Class D. Kiyotaka agrees, his calm acceptance hinting at his interest in her strategy.

Horikita presents Kiyotaka with detailed research on first-year students, noting the distribution of high academic ability across classes. She points out the difficulty of securing capable partners for Class D's lower-ranked students, highlighting Sudo as a particular challenge. Just then, Honami Ichinose sends a message, announcing an exchange event she organized at the gymnasium. Horikita praises Ichinose's proactive approach, recognizing the necessity of gathering information.

Walking with Sudo and Kiyotaka, Horikita notes the alarmingly low turnout at Ichinose's exchange event, especially the complete absence of Class 1-D students. This clear bias leads her to deduce that Class 1-D already has an influential leader who orchestrated a boycott. Their path is then blocked by Koji Hosen, a first-year student from Class 1-D, accompanied by Ryūen Kakeru. Ryuuen dismisses the exchange event as a gathering of 'idiots,' asserting his own methods of information gathering.

Ryuuen muses about coercing first-years, but Hosen takes a more direct, volatile approach, mocking Horikita as 'Princess' and belittling Nanase Tsubasa for her E+ academic ability. When Sudo intervenes, Hosen violently shoves him, then casually dismisses Ishizaki as he tries to intervene, calling them 'cockroaches.' Hosen openly threatens to exploit the rules, claiming he'll intentionally score low to get his second-year partners expelled. He ignores Nanase's logical warnings, stating he'll do 'whatever he wants,' even pulling her by her collar, escalating the situation into a raw display of physical intimidation.

Hosen challenges Sudo to a fight, easily throwing him to the ground, then mocks Ishizaki for his weakness. Ryūen watches, impressed by Hosen's raw strength, then quietly signals his own class to disengage. Before leaving, Ryuuen shares a knowing, challenging look with Kiyotaka, acknowledging his presence. Kiyotaka reflects on Ryuuen's words, understanding his strategy of intimidating the first-years. He also contemplates Nanase's actions, recognizing the complexity of the forces at play among the new students.