Hi, a newbie here 🙂

I recently started reading the Light Novels, after rewatching the anime series like 8 times since its release and I must say, how have those who have been with the series since it's early stages, managed the past 10+ years, to wait for each Volume to drop?

If Kinu is releasing 3 Volumes a year, then that means the LN might end in January 2029. I heard he won't be releasing .5 anymore? Is this true? Also I noticed he didn't release in January due to health concerns (good to hear these authors take breaks for their health), so is it May 2029?

• Year 1 published from May 2015 to September 2019.
• Year 2 published from January 2020 to November 2024.
• Year 3 started March 2025, so excluding the .5 LN, it'll end January/May/September 2029, according to the pattern of release...

How have you guys been able to wait for 3-4 months for a release? years to get to the end? I'm struggling to wait until September despite catching up with the LN now, and now the last Volume is 3 years away?

Have you gotten used to the pattern of release or?

Someone made a theory post on here, 5 years ago, and out of all the discussions I have seen under COTE, majority agreed with this person's theory.

It got me curious because normally, there would be many that oppose the theory discussed but for this post, it's one of those rare ones where many in the comments were impressed and agreed with this person's theory.

It was sent as a link in the comments but to my surprise, when I clicked it, the post was deleted.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ClassroomOfTheElite/comments/s3a46m/deleted_by_user/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

Does anyone remember what the post said or does anyone know the reason why the person deleted this post?

I've heard something about them not liking where the direction of the LN is going, the post was made 5 years ago and so much has happened since then, but I am still curious to know what he or she was saying.

>!Now that Shinohara has been expelled!<, how are Kei and Sato going to react?

I've been on Reddit for two weeks now, looking through each subreddit of the female characters and I must say, people do bring up good points about each female character being the chosen one at the end.

Note: I am not comparing girls, I'm talking about the fandoms and subreddits.

From what I understand from the subreddits, this is a basic summary of what each Fandom is saying, which truly aligns with what we see happen in the LN:

1. Kei is the relatable one: they share similar beliefs about the world and have experienced trauma as children.
2. Hiyori is the comfort one: they both like reading and talking about books.
3. Horikita is the fun one: he is clumsy and childlike with her, I couldn't find a proper word but I settled for fun because they seem to be having fun whenever they converse with each other.
4. Ichinose is the attractive one: it sucks to say this but he sees her as captivating, but that's about it. It's also mostly one sided since he said "this is not a ritual to become lovers" so.

Sakayanagi seems to be more of a confidant Ayanokouji can trust his White Room matters and share plans with, so I will not include her in the list.

[Note: I used one to prevent using the words "friend", I would go with girl but one feels more proper in this context].

But yes, looking through each subreddit:

https://www.reddit.com/r/KaruizawaKei/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Horikitafanclub/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Hiyori_Library_Club/

https://www.reddit.com/r/HonamiFanClub/

Everyone brings up good points, I don't understand why you guys hate on each other😂💔, but either way, every girl mentioned above deserves their shot with Kiyo.

My only question regarding this is why would anyone want their favorite female character from COTE to end up with the guy... he is undoubtedly broken beyond repair and I highly doubt any girl each Fandom is vying for, will be able to fix him/change him/evoke strong emotions in him.

I want to include comments Kinugasa has made thus far regarding the LN:

Kinugasa: Based on what I feel, this story has no “heroine” in the first place. I never wrote Horikita, Kushida or Karuizawa with the intention to make them heroines. I understand these characters are no more than people that had a chance to interact with Ayanokouji at a given point in time, and that said relationships could change given the circumstances and the environment that revolves around him.

Kinugasa: That’s also a crucial point of the series. A normal protagonist usually changes after experiencing many things with the heroines, rivals and friends, but Ayanokouji’s essence and defect are that he is unchanging, after all.

Kinugasa: Well, there's something common in normal works. About who is the heroine, is she the one from the start, or she only be decided at the end, or it won't be decided at all. I've had enough of that! "Would the girlfriend change or not" I don't want to end like that. It's more interesting to write "how the couple will develop" instead of "who will the end girl be"!

I got it from here: https://www.reddit.com/r/ClassroomOfTheElite/comments/wqavgf/kinugasa_x_tomose_newtype_september_2022/

https://www.reddit.com/r/ClassroomOfTheElite/comments/q0b38r/youjitsu_year_1_artbook_interview_volume_115/

I honestly thought Kiyo and Kei were super cute, I like reading their romantic scenes but after seeing what he did, and how he still has this "experiment hat" on (which is understandable, since he has been sheltered and he wants to learn stuff, but the fact that it's happening at the cost of all these female characters being played with😕), yeah no Kiyokei were cute but it must have been exhausting for Kei to have to accommodate an emotionless broken human like Kiyo, she is better off with someone else. Anyone who hopes they end up together, those red flags must be rose-colored to you then because for me, they're disturbingly red.

I don't know if it really is a win for a fandom if the girl they love is picked at the end by Ayanokouji because it seems, he won't change as much as every fandom hopes he would, even if it's by the hands of a girl they support

Honestly, it seems more like a loss than a win to be with someone like him, so that said, may the "best" girl win.

Also, I am more excited to see how Kiyo develops at the end rather than who he will end up with.

I've been on Reddit for two weeks now, looking through each subreddit of the female characters and I must say, people do bring up good points about each female character being the chosen one at the end.

Note: I am not comparing girls, I'm talking about the fandoms and subreddits.

From what I understand from the subreddits, this is a basic summary of what each Fandom is saying, which truly aligns with what we see happen in the LN:

(1) Kei is the relatable one: they share similar beliefs about the world and have experienced trauma as children.

(2) Hiyori is the comfort one: they both like reading and talking about books.

(3) Horikita is the fun one: he is clumsy and childlike with her, I couldn't find a proper word but I settled for fun because they seem to be having fun whenever they converse with each other.

(4) Ichinose is the attractive one: it sucks to say this but he sees her as captivating, but that's about it. It's also mostly one sided since he said "this is not a ritual to become lovers" so.

Sakayanagi seems to be more of a confidant Ayanokouji can trust his White Room matters and share plans with, so I will not include her in the list.

[Note: I used one to prevent using the words "friend", I would go with girl but one feels more proper in this context].

But yes, looking through each subreddit:

https://www.reddit.com/r/KaruizawaKei/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Horikitafanclub/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Hiyori_Library_Club/

https://www.reddit.com/r/HonamiFanClub/

Everyone brings up good points, I don't understand why you guys hate on each other😂💔, but either way, every girl mentioned above deserves their shot with Kiyo.

My only question regarding this is why would anyone want their favorite female character from COTE to end up with the guy... he is undoubtedly broken beyond repair and I highly doubt any girl each Fandom is vying for, will be able to fix him/change him/evoke strong emotions in him.

I want to include comments Kinugasa has made thus far regarding the LN:

Kinugasa: Based on what I feel, this story has no “heroine” in the first place. I never wrote Horikita, Kushida or Karuizawa with the intention to make them heroines. I understand these characters are no more than people that had a chance to interact with Ayanokouji at a given point in time, and that said relationships could change given the circumstances and the environment that revolves around him.

Kinugasa: That’s also a crucial point of the series. A normal protagonist usually changes after experiencing many things with the heroines, rivals and friends, but Ayanokouji’s essence and defect are that he is unchanging, after all.

Kinugasa: Well, there's something common in normal works. About who is the heroine, is she the one from the start, or she only be decided at the end, or it won't be decided at all. I've had enough of that! "Would the girlfriend change or not" I don't want to end like that. It's more interesting to write "how the couple will develop" instead of "who will the end girl be"!

I got it from here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ClassroomOfTheElite/comments/wqavgf/kinugasa_x_tomose_newtype_september_2022/

https://www.reddit.com/r/ClassroomOfTheElite/comments/q0b38r/youjitsu_year_1_artbook_interview_volume_115/

I honestly thought Kiyo and Kei were super cute, I like reading their romantic scenes but after seeing what he did, and how he still has this "experiment hat" on (which is understandable, since he has been sheltered and he wants to learn stuff, but the fact that it's happening at the cost of all these female characters being played with😕), yeah no Kiyokei were cute but it must have been exhausting for Kei to have to accommodate an emotionless broken human like Kiyo, she is better off with someone else. Anyone who hopes they end up together, those red flags must be rose-colored to you then because for me, they're disturbingly red.

I don't know if it really is a win for a fandom if the girl they love is picked at the end by Ayanokouji because it seems, he won't change as much as every fandom hopes he would, even if it's by the hands of a girl they support.

Honestly, it seems more like a loss than a win to be with someone like him, so that said, may the "best" girl win.

Also, I am more excited to see how Kiyo develops at the end rather than who he will end up with.

I've been on Reddit for two weeks now, looking through each subreddit of the female characters and I must say, people do bring up good points about each female character being the chosen one at the end.

Note: I am not comparing girls, I'm talking about the fandoms and subreddits.

From what I understand from the subreddits, this is a basic summary of what each Fandom is saying, which truly aligns with what we see happen in the LN:

(1) Kei is the relatable one: they share similar beliefs about the world and have experienced trauma as children.

(2) Hiyori is the comfort one: they both like reading and talking about books.

(3) Horikita is the fun one: he is clumsy and childlike with her, I couldn't find a proper word but I settled for fun because they seem to be having fun whenever they converse with each other.

(4) Ichinose is the attractive one: it sucks to say this but he sees her as captivating, but that's about it. It's also mostly one sided since he said "this is not a ritual to become lovers" so.

Sakayanagi seems to be more of a confidant Ayanokouji can trust his White Room matters and share plans with, so I will not include her in the list.

[Note: I used one to prevent using the words "friend", I would go with girl but one feels more proper in this context].

But yes, looking through each subreddit:

https://www.reddit.com/r/KaruizawaKei/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Horikitafanclub/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Hiyori_Library_Club/

https://www.reddit.com/r/HonamiFanClub/

Everyone brings up good points, I don't understand why you guys hate on each other😂💔, but either way, every girl mentioned above deserves their shot with Kiyo.

My only question regarding this is why would anyone want their favorite female character from COTE to end up with the guy... he is undoubtedly broken beyond repair and I highly doubt any girl each Fandom is vying for, will be able to fix him/change him/evoke strong emotions in him.

I want to include comments Kinugasa has made thus far regarding the LN:

Kinugasa: Based on what I feel, this story has no “heroine” in the first place. I never wrote Horikita, Kushida or Karuizawa with the intention to make them heroines. I understand these characters are no more than people that had a chance to interact with Ayanokouji at a given point in time, and that said relationships could change given the circumstances and the environment that revolves around him.

Kinugasa: That’s also a crucial point of the series. A normal protagonist usually changes after experiencing many things with the heroines, rivals and friends, but Ayanokouji’s essence and defect are that he is unchanging, after all.

Kinugasa: Well, there's something common in normal works. About who is the heroine, is she the one from the start, or she only be decided at the end, or it won't be decided at all. I've had enough of that! "Would the girlfriend change or not" I don't want to end like that. It's more interesting to write "how the couple will develop" instead of "who will the end girl be"!

I got it from here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ClassroomOfTheElite/comments/wqavgf/kinugasa_x_tomose_newtype_september_2022/

https://www.reddit.com/r/ClassroomOfTheElite/comments/q0b38r/youjitsu_year_1_artbook_interview_volume_115/

I honestly thought Kiyo and Kei were super cute, I like reading their romantic scenes but after seeing what he did, and how he still has this "experiment hat" on (which is understandable, since he has been sheltered and he wants to learn stuff, but the fact that it's happening at the cost of all these female characters being played with😕), yeah no Kiyokei were cute but it must have been exhausting for Kei to have to accommodate an emotionless broken human like Kiyo, she is better off with someone else. Anyone who hopes they end up together, those red flags must be rose-colored to you then because for me, they're disturbingly red.

I don't know if it really is a win for a fandom if the girl they love is picked at the end by Ayanokouji because it seems, he won't change as much as every fandom hopes he would, even if it's by the hands of a girl they support.

Honestly, it seems more like a loss than a win to be with someone like him, so that said, may the "best" girl win.

Also, I am more excited to see how Kiyo develops at the end rather than who he will end up with.

[removed]

I've seen discussions about the anime possibly ending before Volume 4.5 is covered, meaning the anime has covered the entirety of Y2 V4 thus far with episode 15, just one more episode left.

Do you think they might announce a part 2 for Season 4, possibly covering Y2V4.5 till Y2V7? The studio did that with Toilet-bound Hanako kun last year, so there's hope right?🥲

Also not much happens from like Y2V7 until Y2V9, and I heard they cover 4 volumes for each season, but...

Ending the season at Volume 4, and starting a new season with Volume 4.5 just doesn't feel right because there's so much that happens in V4.5 that sort of fits in with Season 4 but maybe I'm just hoping they'd include a few scenes from V4.5 because it really is an interesting and fun Volume.

I'm not eager to wait another 2 years honestly

I have a question...

&#x200B;

>!You know how Ishizaki kept making comments about Hiyori and Kiyo looking cute together, since from like Year 2, and Hashimoto in Year 3...!<

&#x200B;

Has anyone in the LN said anything or made any comments about Kei and Kiyo's relationship or them coupling up together, except for Hirata in the anime?

&#x200B;

>!Hirata in the anime said something along the lines of: "I wouldn't mind if she got into a real relationship", Kiyo responded with: "Me and Kei?".!<

&#x200B;

Has anyone else in the LN made comments about Kei and Kiyo's relationship? Not specifically about the characters' individuality but just their relationship?

&#x200B;

>!Isn't it weird that we're always hearing negative stuff about them being together such as Hashimoto (correct me if I am wrong, but it was Hashimoto right) thinking Kiyo is better with Hiyori than Kei?!<

&#x200B;

What are Chabashira Sensei's thoughts on their relationship?

&#x200B;

>!Nagumo thinks Kiyo doesn't care about Kei so he is out of the list of options, since Kiyo acted like he didn't care if Nagumo were to try to expel Kei.!<

Wouldn't it be so interesting if the Final Special Exam from Year 1 is the Final Special Exam for Year 3 with it's own added twists.

&#x200B;

The Class Leaders would be:

Ichinose, Ryuen, Ayanokouji, and last but not least >!Karuizawa Kei.!<

&#x200B;

I know it's insane but I'm just looking at how Karuizawa Kei might actually be the Key to taking down Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, I'm not so sure about the class battles, but if this dead fish eyes dude wants to feel something in his cold heart, she might be the one to draw out his emotions fully.

&#x200B;

Her not popping up at all in the recent Year 3 Volumes except only for a spy mission she did for Horikita or questioning Horikita's feelings for Kiyo, isn't she being built up for an insane amount of screen time in the later volumes.

&#x200B;

Also considering how she is able to guess his intentions well, I wouldn't be surprised if the class, most likely Kushida or Hirata or even Horikita, request she take up a commander position for a class battle against Kiyo.

&#x200B;

Why am I saying this, well, the movie date chapter:

&#x200B;

Year 2 Volume 12.5 Chapter 6.1

&#x200B;

>!"Well, I guess I think…” she trailed off for a moment !<

>!before answering properly. “It might have been intentional, yeah.”!<

>! !<

>!“And what’s your basis for that?” I asked.!<

>! !<

>!“Because you’ve got enough power to win, no matter !<

>!who you’re up against, Kiyotaka. Besides, spending time with you has taught me how to think. If you got Maezono-san expelled, it means that you had some other goal aside from winning, right? In that case, it’d probably be something like, well, making her pay the price for betraying the class, or something. Still, it’s pretty shocking when someone gets kicked out of school, right So, like, I was thinking that regardless of what your abilities or intentions were, Kiyotaka, you had, like, painted over that shock. I wondered if it was a camouflage to keep people from realizing the truth at the same time.”!<

&#x200B;

>!Kei responded with her own summary of what !<

>!happened, not particularly bothered by any of it. Like !<

>!Kushida, her guess as to what I was after was adequate.!<

>! !<

>!However, the instant I was about to evaluate her, Kei looked at my face and told me to wait.!<

>! !<

>!“No, wait, I think there might be a little more. I thought !<

>!that my guess before was pretty much right, but, like… For example, if Ichinose-san were a stronger opponent than I !<

>!thought she’d be, maybe you used Maezono-san as a !<

>!surefire move to make your 99 percent chance of winning into a 100 percent chance. Or maybe you were looking !<

>!beyond just this one time, and you, like, wanted to !<

>!thoroughly beat her in this exam.” !<

&#x200B;

>!I would have given her only seventy points for her first !<

>!answer, but that added more points to her score.!<

>! !<

>!“I guessed right, didn’t I?” asked Kei.!<

>! !<

>!I wasn’t aware of my facial expression changing or !<

>!anything, but the look Kei gave me said that she was !<

>!convinced she was correct. Since we had arrived at the !<

>!movie theater just in time, I quickly took care of picking up our tickets, which I had booked in advance.!<

&#x200B;

Whether she would do it or not, I wonder, but Arisu might get involved to, why?

&#x200B;

>!Karuizawa Kei might be the secret Arisu mentioned in her monologue, in Year 2 Volume 09.5 Chapter 4.5!<

&#x200B;

Year 2 Volume 09.5 Chapter 4.5

>!She took one step down the snowy path. She knew, concretely, what Ayanokouji’s plans were. The arrangement that he was envisioning for when they were in their third year. !<

&#x200B;

>!It would be no fun to let him proceed as he wished. !<

&#x200B;

>!In that case, Sakayanagi already had the answer for what she should do in that case. !<

&#x200B;

>!I want to get in his way. I want to see his troubled face. I want to show him that there are areas beyond even his calculations, to smear it in his face. I want to draw out his emotions and then destroy him. I want to love him.!<

>! !<

>!“It really is a pity,” she sighed. “Your plans have begun to go awry since the special exam on the uninhabited island this summer.” !<

&#x200B;

>!She couldn’t help but want to tell him, but that was still a secret. It was precisely because she didn’t know, because she couldn’t anticipate it, that there was fun to be found in what lay ahead.!<

>! !<

>!“I promise that this fact will be the first step in changing you, in a way you never thought possible.” !<

&#x200B;

>!She couldn’t help but be excited to see what kind of decisions he would make in the coming year.!<

&#x200B;

You guys let me know what your thoughts are, especially for what the Year 3 Final Special Exam might be...

After reading the light novels from Volume 1 from year 1 to now, going through Fandom debates, reading the short stories, and also watching a few fan theories on youtube.

>!If "Ayanokoji likes Hiyori", he is basically letting the White Room persona win. And this is the very same person who hates this persona that was built up by the White Room, by his father... the guy calls his own dad "that man".!<

The reason why I am saying this is: We were all so confused by where the sudden affection for Hiyori comes from.

>!One of the youtube theories actually said something about the comfort and happiness Kiyo feels towards Hiyori, and how being with her might actually remind him of his safe space back when he was in the White Room which was: Reading.!<

He did mention somewhere in year 2 I think, that he enjoys reading because that was the only thing that was allowed in the White Room back then (reminder: they weren't allowed to talk back then, imagine how crazy traumatizing that must be for kids, kids love making noise) but back to what I am trying to say:

>!The White Room persona is taking over in year 3, we are meeting the "man made in the White Room" aggressively, which is why I think it's super important to ask yourselves these questions:!<

1. >!is Ayanokoji really the type of person to declare loudly to someone "she is special to me" (I'm referencing year 3 volume 4 chapter 7/8)?!<
2. >!when has he ever been so honest about how he feels, except for only when it's something entirely negative (for this one, there are so many instances)? !<

>!That is why I'm doubting this affection for Hiyori, if it truly is love, then it is love that is coming from a person who was trained to see emotions/feelings as weakness.!<

I'm honestly just going to take a break from reading these LNs, especially if Kinu is not revealing anything major to us in the next release, I can't take it anymore with this drama Kiyo is creating in year 3😭

That is all 🙂