Spoiler Alert: This article contains full spoilers for Classroom of the Elite Season 4 Episode 9.
Episode 9 opens with Nanase Tsubasa recalling a person she once admired — someone strong, gentle, and who worked harder than anyone she knew. The tone quickly turns dark as the memory reveals a tragic end, implying the person may have taken their own life. She then talks about needing a “stronger half” within herself to support her weaker side, all to achieve one goal: defeating Kiyotaka Ayanokōji — the person she says she can never forgive.
But this immediately raises questions — what did Ayanokōji do to be connected to something this tragic? Who is the person Nanase lost?
If you’re jumping in here, you might want to look back at Episode 8 first to fully understand what’s building up
Ayanokōji and Kei’s Quiet Moment Before the Test
Kiyotaka Ayanokōji and Kei Karuizawa talk alone on the cruise ship before the test. Kei says the view is amazing, but Ayanokōji reminds her she already saw it last year. Kei replies that it feels different now, since she was more focused on her friends back then than on the scenery. Their conversation shifts to their relationship, acknowledging they are still “dating” but keeping it hidden, with Ayanokōji hinting that, depending on the upcoming test rules, he may have to involve Kei in certain actions. Kei accepts this calmly, saying she can only handle what she’s capable of.
After they receive a message that the first years are ready, they head back separately to avoid being seen together and keep their relationship undiscovered.
Deserted Island Special Test Rules Explained
Tomonari Mashima explains the deserted island special test, a high-pressure survival exam where students must constantly move between changing designated areas while managing time, resources, and coordination. The system rewards speed, consistency, and strategy, while punishing delays and repeated failures to reach locations. Alongside movement rules, students are also monitored and given tools that directly affect their survival and performance throughout the test.
The rules of the deserted island special test are as follows:
- If everyone in a team drops out, the group is immediately disqualified.
- The bottom five ranking groups at the end of the test will be expelled at once.
Movement and Scoring System
- The map is divided into 100 squares, and game points are earned by moving into designated areas.
- Designated areas are announced four times per day at fixed time intervals.
- Most designated areas will appear within two spaces horizontally or vertically, or one space diagonally from the previous location, but once per day, a completely random location will be assigned.
- Points are awarded based on arrival order:
- 10 points for first place
- 5 points for second place
- 3 points for third place
- 1 bonus point for anyone arriving within the time limit
- Arrival order rewards only apply once all members of a group have reached the area.
- If a group is already inside a designated area when it is announced, each member receives 1 point, but no arrival order bonus is given.
- Missing three consecutive designated areas results in penalties.
Monitoring Equipment
- Students are required to wear wristwatches and use synced tablets, which track game points and status.
- Health is continuously monitored through the watch system.
- If health exceeds safe limits, a warning alarm is triggered and stops after five seconds.
- If the condition continues, the alarm escalates to an emergency alert.
- Emergency alerts require a medical check at the starting area, and failure to reach it results in penalties or possible disqualification.
- If the emergency alert lasts over five minutes, staff and medical teams will track the student using GPS.
- Removing or damaging the watch disables scoring and forces a return to the starting area for replacement.
Tables and Area Assignment
- Each group is assigned one of twelve preset tables that determine their designated areas throughout the exam.
- All members of a group share the same table.
- Larger groups will have adjusted table assignments to balance difficulty.
Additional Ways to Earn Points
- Special challenges appear randomly across the island with unpredictable timing and locations.
- Challenge details and participation conditions can be checked in advance, but real-time status is only visible upon arrival.
- Rewards may include game points, food, water, and group expansion slots.
- Linking up with other groups is possible, but requires syncing watches between participants.
Acting Chairman Tokinari Tsukishiro’s Warning
Acting chairman Tokinari Tsukishiro warns the students that this deserted island exam may be the largest special test the school has ever conducted. He explains that while the school will act as caretakers and monitor them as much as possible, full surveillance is impossible on an island of this scale. He makes it clear that serious misconduct, such as sexual abuse or other extreme behavior, will not be tolerated and may lead to strict punishment or even legal action. He also states that as hunger and stress increase, conflicts between students are expected, and the school will allow a certain level of freedom in handling disputes, only stepping in when things become truly severe, with expulsion or forced withdrawal as possible consequences.
But this raises questions about how far “permissiveness” will actually go once the exam starts. If the school already expects fights and conflict, where exactly is the line before they step in? And is Tsukishiro’s warning just standard procedure, or is he subtly preparing the students for something far more chaotic than they’re being told?
Day 1 Begins: Ayanokōji and Horikita’s Island Start
The first day of the deserted island special test begins as students dock off from the cruise ship and officially enter the island. Suzune Horikita speaks with Kiyotaka Ayanokōji. Horikita notices he doesn’t seem rushed, and he explains that reckless movement won’t help at this stage. Their assigned tables are revealed to be different, with Ayanokōji on D7 and Horikita on F9, confirming they will be operating separately. Horikita tells him she’s not worried, but still urges him to finish with as many points as possible.
Ayanokōji then brings up Rokusuke Kōenji, questioning whether he truly intends to aim for first place, but Horikita admits she doesn’t know, only that she made a bet with him and even she can’t predict what he will do. Ayanokōji simply points out that there’s really no way to enforce a promise. After their brief discussion, Horikita decides to head out first.
Is Ayanokōji deliberately holding back at the start, or simply reading the situation more carefully than others? And with different table assignments and no way to guarantee cooperation, how much control can Horikita really maintain over the class’s overall performance in this exam?
D8 Area: Ayanokōji Meets Miyake’s Group
At the D8 location where Kiyotaka Ayanokōji is currently positioned, he notes that one of the key aspects of the test is not losing out on designated area game points. Placing highly in arrival rewards and completing challenges can earn five or ten points all at once
This also requires a significant amount of:
- Strong stamina
- Brains and planning
- A fair amount of luck
That combination is what makes those high-reward plays difficult to consistently pull off, which is why Ayanokōji focuses more on steady point accumulation instead.
At the D8 area, Ayanokōji meets Akito Miyake, Airi Sakura, and Haruka Hasebe, who confirm they have already finished their assigned zone. Miyake asks about his location, and Ayanokōji replies that his is D7, just one space north. He then states he will move quickly to clear his area and secure points as efficiently as possible.
As he moves forward alone, Ayanokōji reflects that there are many ways to cooperate without being in the same group, but it only works if you avoid teaming up with people who might slow you down. In this case, he’s glad that he is on a different table from Miyake’s group, implying he views them as less efficient and potentially a hindrance rather than an advantage.
D7 Area: Ayanokōji’s Solo Movement and Nanase’s Intentions
At his designated D7 area, Kiyotaka Ayanokōji considers moving toward the center in anticipation of the next designated zone. His goal is to identify other groups on the same table to better gauge potential rivals.
While moving through the area, he encounters Tsubasa Nanase and asks about Kazuomi Hōsen and Ichika Amasawa. Nanase replies that they are currently out investigating the surroundings and checking how many groups are present, which Ayanokōji notes is essentially the same approach he is taking. Before leaving, Nanase warns that things will not be easy if he stays alone and tells him to take care.
Given her earlier statement about not forgiving Ayanokōji, is her concern genuine, or is there a deeper motive behind her actions? What exactly is she trying to observe or confirm by staying close to him while acting neutral?
Ayanokōji still has 3 hours until the next designated area is announced. At the moment, his options are:
- Continue waiting in the current area
- Head for a challenge opportunity
C6 Area: Ayanokōji and Hoshinomiya’s Unexpected Proposal
After arriving at the C6 area, Kiyotaka Ayanokōji is greeted by Chie Hoshinomiya, who tells him registration has already closed just a few minutes earlier. As he tries to leave, she stops him and insists he stay and talk for a bit, mentioning they haven’t had a proper conversation since last year’s final exam. Hoshinomiya brings up his recent attention at school and questions why someone who avoids standing out would score perfectly in math. She also suggests that someone of his ability doesn’t belong in Class D.
Ayanokōji internally notes that Hoshinomiya seems to have been gathering information about him. She then makes an unexpected proposal, comparing it to Katsuragi joining Class B and asking whether Ayanokōji would consider joining their class instead. Ayanokōji immediately calls it an outrageous request, but Hoshinomiya insists they should aim for Class A together. Ayanokōji replies that there is no guarantee that he will reach 20 million points or even that it is known which class will ultimately come out on top.
Hoshinomiya suggests that he may be behind Ken Sudo’s recent changes, implying his influence is spreading beyond what he admits. Ayanokōji quickly denies it and ends the conversation.
Ayanokōji’s Thoughts on Tsukishiro’s Possible Strategy
As Kiyotaka Ayanokōji lies inside his tent, he considers the possibility that Tokinari Tsukishiro’s goal is to expel him, not through direct methods, but through more indirect pressure.
- Using orthodox methods like forcing him into the bottom five is difficult since he can control his game points
- Tampering with his watch or tablet to falsify point totals is a possible strategy, but it would collapse if he reports it to the school
- If the White Room Student is involved, they may instead aim to disqualify him through injury or sickness
He concludes that targeting him in areas outside strict surveillance is the more realistic method if expulsion is truly the objective, as it avoids direct interference from the school.
Day 2 Begins: Ayanokōji and Nanase’s Unexpected Pairing
On the second day, Kiyotaka Ayanokōji arrives at his new designated area, E8, where he secures 1st place and earns 10 game points. The following areas, E6 and F7, result in him placing 2nd twice in a row, leading him to suspect that he may have a strong rival within his table. He decides to return to E6 and wait for a possible challenge. While there, he encounters Nanase Tsubasa again, making their repeated meetings feel too frequent to be a pure coincidence.
In Ayanokōji’s mind, even if they are simply heading toward the same designated areas, the frequency of their encounters feels statistically unlikely. This leads him to question whether it is just a chain of coincidences or if there is some intentional factor behind their repeated meetings, suggesting he is considering the possibility that someone may be subtly influencing their movement or positioning within the test.
Nanase then asks a favor, requesting to travel with him for a while if she is not in his way. She explains that Hōsen and Amasawa split off on their own, and she is struggling to keep up with the designated area schedule alone, especially since Ayanokōji has consistently arrived earlier whenever they meet. Ayanokōji warns that traveling with someone from another year could create conflict, especially in limited-entry challenges, but Nanase says she is willing to defer to him in those situations. After some hesitation, Ayanokōji agrees, and the two begin moving together through the area. With over an hour left before the next designation, Ayanokōji mentions a quiz challenge in F8 and heads there, with Nanase deciding to follow him.
Final Thoughts
Episode 9 officially starts the Deserted Island Special Test, pushing students into a high-pressure system where constant movement, timing, and strategy directly decide survival through points and penalties. Nanase becomes a key focus as her repeated interactions with Ayanokōji clash with her earlier claim that she cannot forgive him, making her true intention unclear, whether she is genuinely concerned, emotionally driven, or observing him for a hidden purpose.
Key Moments in This Episode:
- Nanase’s past is hinted at, suggesting a deep personal connection tied to her grudge against Ayanokōji
- The Island Special Test rules are fully explained, revealing a system built on movement, timing, and penalties
- Tsukishiro warns students about the limits of surveillance, while indirectly hinting at chaos and possible escalation
- Hoshinomiya attempts to recruit Ayanokōji, showing his influence is now being actively recognized by teachers
- Ayanokōji deduces possible expulsion strategies involving indirect attacks and outside surveillance weaknesses
- Day 2 begins with rising suspicion as Ayanokōji’s repeated encounters with Nanase feel statistically abnormal
- Nanase formally joins Ayanokōji, changing the dynamic from observation to active cooperation
Who is that person in Nanase’s Past that she admired? What is that person’s connection to Kiyotaka Ayanokōji, and how does it shape her current actions and hostility toward him? Is Tsukishiro already moving pieces behind the scenes to force an expulsion without confrontation? And what role does the rumored White Room student play in all of this — is Nanase connected to them, or is she acting as part of a completely separate objective?
Episode 10 is likely where suspicion turns into confrontation.
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