Episode 2/Screenplay

SCENE 1
[Episode 2 Title Card]

[Setting: Covered Swimming Pool]

Kikyō Kushida: Ah! Hey, stop splashing me!

Chiaki Matsushita: Couldn't help myself.

Maya Satō: It doesn't hurt to have some fun.

Kikyō Kushida: Fine, bring it on!

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji (Monologue): Ah, free time during swim class, people have naturally broken up into groups, which makes sense, I guess ... It's official. I have utterly failed at making friends. I am destined to be alone.

Suzune Horikita: What are you brooding about over here?

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Oh, I was just embroiled in a painful internal struggle.

Suzune Horikita: How can these losers even enjoy themselves? You think that they will be more deflated?

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Maybe that's how these guys cope. They wanna have some fun while they still can.

Suzune Horikita: You could be right, I guess.

Kikyō Kushida: Hey, stop it!

(Opening Song)

SCENE 2
[Setting: Covered Swimming Pool]

Suzune Horikita: They sure are having a good time.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: It's early in the spring for swimming to start, and their first year is on a free class period. It's normal for them to enjoy themselves, don't you think?

[Kikyō Kushida is seen being splashed by Kokoro Inogashira with water and Mei-Yu Wang hugging her from behind.]

Suzune Horikita: They're like a bunch of grade school kids. Although I suppose I can't really fault them for it. But in the S-system, they're going to suffer for that attitude.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: But aren't you and I just like them?

Suzune Horikita: Maybe.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji (Monologue): The S-system ...

SCENE 3
[Setting: 1st Year D-Class Room]

[Flashback Begin]

Sae Chabashira: Indeed, this is called the S-system.

[Sae Chabashira wrote at the board something about the point list for freshmen classes (S-system). For Class A, B, C, and D, there are 940, 650, 490, 0 corresponding class points.]

Sae Chabashira: It evaluates the students in real-time and assigns numerical values. Observe. Class D has thoroughly proven that you deserve to be ranked dead last. You truly are the worst of the worst.

Kikyō Kushida: Zero?

[Kiyotaka Ayanokōji gazes slightly at Suzune Horikita]

Sae Chabashira: However, I am rather impressed with this class. Never in the history of this school, has a class blown through all of their points in the first month, not even Class D.

Yōsuke Hirata: Excuse me, will you at least tell us what the school's criteria is for gaining and losing points?

Sae Chabashira: You're preparing for the real world. So, figure it out. In the workforce, you are expected to come to the table knowing what to do. On the board, I have written the current scores held by all first-year classes. For every point the class gets, 100 private points are distributed to each student individually. When the school year began, each first-year class was allotted 1,000 collective points. To be frank, you people lost every point you had.

Kikyō Kushida: Teacher? Will we get the chance to earn any points back?

Sae Chabashira: Of course. And in doing so, if you earn more points than Class C, you'll be promoted up to Class C, and Class C will be downgraded to D. Your earliest opportunity to do this is coming up in the midterms. Depending on your scores, you can earn as many as 100 points for the class.

[Kiyotaka Ayanokōji looks at what was Suzune Horikita doing]

Kanji Ike: 100 easily points?

Haruki Yamauchi: Yeah ... but it's better than nothing, right?

Sae Chabashira: However, these are the grades from the most recent quiz you took. And as you can see, they are complete garbage! From this point forward, anyone who receives a failling grade on any midterms or finals will be expelled immediately.

[Flashback End]

SCENE 4
[Setting: Covered Swimming Pool]

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Considering this most recent development, everyone in class is gonna have to completely change their habits, and that's only to get us a few meager points. So, if everyone doesn't ace the midterms, we're all going to be royally screwed.

Suzune Horikita: That's right.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Even more than that, if we're going to measure up and achieve the high college entry and employment rates they promised us, we're going bad to push ourselves from here on out to take on Class C.

Suzune Horikita: Beating Class C has to be the primary goal now. As if we can't even do that, we have no hope of advancing.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Were you just doing an impression of Ms. Chabashira?

Suzune Horikita: No. Why?

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: You sounded like her, a little.

[Suzune Horikita was a little puzzled to what Kiyotaka Ayanokōji said.]

Suzune Horikita: Ayanokōji-kun, do you play sports?

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: No. I'm not proud of it, but I was club-free in middle school.

Suzune Horikita: Still ... the development of your forearms, and

Kikyō Kushida: Hey, hey! Horikita-san! Wanna swim with us?

Suzune Horikita: No, thank you.

Kikyō Kushida: Horikita-san, are you not good at swimming?

Suzune Horikita: I neither excel nor fail at it.

Kikyō Kushida: Back in middle school, I was simply awful at swimming. But I practised really hard, and now I can do it just fine.

Suzune Horikita: I see. How nice of you.

[Suzune Horikita walks out.]

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: She's totally unapproachable, isn't she?

Kikyō Kushida: I wish we could get along a bit better...

Yōsuke Hirata: Everyone, I want you to listen to me seriously for a minute. We didn't get any points today. This is a problem that's going to haunt us for the rest of our time here at school. There's no way we can make it to graduation with zero points.

Kei Karuizawa: We can't let that happen!

Yōsuke Hirata: You said it. That's why we need to make sure we get some points next month.

Ken Sudō: You can do whatever you want. Just leave me out of it.

[Ken Sudō walks out]

SCENE 5
[Setting: Unwell-lit Room Next to the Swimming Pool]

Manabu Horikita: Class D. Class 1-A's Sakayanagi and Katsuragi. You're to be congratulated. Your class received 940 points this month. How much do you know about the S-system?

SCENE 6
[Setting: 1st Year D-Class Room]

Haruki Yamauchi: Hideo! As your best friend, I have a favour to ask! Would you buy this system off of me for 20,000 points?

Kei Karuizawa: Actually, I spent too many points, and now I'm totally broke. I thought if I could borrow just a couple of points from each girl in class ... we're friends, right? Just 2,000 points would be enough

Kikyō Kushida: Sure!

Kei Karuizawa: Thanks! It's great to have friends

Suzune Horikita: Do you have plans for lunch? I was wondering if you might join me.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Eh?

SCENE 7
[Setting: High School Cafeteria]

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Well, let's eat, I guess. Are you sure I can have this expensive special lunch set on your tab?

Suzune Horikita: Yes. I did tell you to get whatever you wanted, after all.

[Suzune Horikita stares at Kiyotaka Ayanokōji while taking his first bite]

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji (Monologue): What?

Suzune Horikita: What's wrong, Ayanokōji-kun? Start eating already.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Right.

Suzune Horikita: Now, I want you to hear me out. It seems Hirata-kun and the others worked out their plan of action earlier today. They're going to hold a study group to prepare for the next test.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Study group?

Suzune Horikita: Yes. But three classmates with especially poor scores have refused his invitation to join.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Sudō, right?

Suzune Horikita: As well as Yamauchi-kun and Ike-kun.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Yeah, they didn't really look like the studious type, I guess.

Suzune Horikita: I personally can't imagine how someone could fail a test. But the fact remains that there are hopeless students out there for whom failure is nearly inevitable.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: That's pretty cold.

Suzune Horikita: I'm stating the truth, that's all. If nothing changes, they'll likely fail. And if we want our class to be promoted, it's vital that we not only avoid losing points but that we also gain them. Right?

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: You want to hold a study group, then? To help Sudō, Ike, Yamauchi?

Suzune Horikita: Yes.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Are you serious?

Suzune Horikita: Dead serious. If left to their own devices, they could damage Class D as a whole. If I really have been relegated to Class D, then I'll crawl my way up to Class A.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Wait a minute.

Suzune Horikita: What?

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Did you just say Class A?

Suzune Horikita: I did.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Not Class C?

Suzune Horikita: Class A. I find my assignment to Class D utterly unacceptable.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: So, step one is to rehabilitate the failures?

Suzune Horikita: If you've grasped that, you can guess what I'm about to propose.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Please don't drag me into this.

Suzune Horikita: You ate it, didn't you? You enjoyed the luxurious special lunch set I treated you to. I still haven't forgiven you for conspiring with Kushida-san and taking me out on pretences.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Foul play...

Suzune Horikita: If you want to square the debt between us, help me. Your job will be to round up those three and bring them to my study group.

[Suzune Horikita stands up and gave a piece of paper to him]]

Suzune Horikita: That's my cell phone number and email address. Contact me if you need anything.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji (Monologue): The first girl's phone number of my high school career. I'm not really happy about it, but I'd better save it anyway.

SCENE 8
[Setting: 1st Year D-Class Room]

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji (Monologue): I guess I have to do it since I said I would. Okay, let's do it.

Kanji Ike: Nah

Haruki Yamauchi: Hmm, can't make it.

Ken Sudō: The hell did you say to me?!

SCENE 9
[Setting: Dorm]

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Knew it was hopeless. I'd better get help from someone they get along with. I wonder if she's in.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji (Monologue): The internal phone lines

[Telephone call begin]

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Yes. Could you put me through to Kushida-san, from Class 1-D? Yes, I need to talk to her about something for the class. Yes.

Kikyō Kushida: Hello?

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Hel- Uh, what's that sound?

Kikyō Kushida: Ayanokōji-kun? Sorry, can you hear me? I was in the bath. I just got out though, so don't worry. You surprised me. I've never used the dorm's internal phone line before!

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: You surprised me, too.

Kikyō Kushida: Hmm?

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Anyway, rejoice, Kushida. You've been selected as the goodwill ambassador. For the sake of our class, please give it all you've got.

Kikyō Kushida: Um? Yeah. Sure. A study group for Sudō-kun and the others? And Horikita-san's running it? Well, when a friend's in trouble, you have to be there for them. So of course, I'll help.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: You're under no obligation.

Kikyō Kushida: It's okay. It's pretty cruel that anyone who fails gets expelled. The thought of having to say goodbye like that after only just becoming friends ... wouldn't that be awful? Oh, but can I ask you one favour in exchange? I want to join that study group, too.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Are you sure that's all you want?

Kikyō Kushida: Yeah. I want to study with everyone, too. Oh, I know! I'll give you my cell phone number.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Are you sure?

Kikyō Kushida: Yeah! I mean, we're classmates! I'm sorry I never had a chance to give it to you before. Call me anytime, okay?

[Call ended]

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Kushida's contact info ...

[Kikyō Kushida sent him a message on his phone. She said that Yamauchi-kun and Ike-kun both said yes. She also just talked to Sudo-kun and he accepted the proposal.]

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Wow, she works fast. Way to go, Kushida.

[Kiyotaka Ayanokōji sends Suzune Horikita a message with a subject: Rejoice, Horikita. The message says that he got Kushida's help, and the three idiots agreed. He asks if it is okay if Kushida joins in the study group.]

[As a response, Suzune Horikita called him]

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: He-

Suzune Horikita: No.

[Call ended]

[Kiyotaka Ayanokōji tries to contact her immediately after she held him up.]

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: At least hear me ou-

[Call ended]

[Suzune Horikita sent him a message that she has no idea what he was talking about.]

[Kiyotaka Ayanokōji tried to call her but to no avail, she doesn't want to receive the call, she instead sent him asking what he wants.]

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji (Monologue): What do you mean, you have no idea what I'm talking about? I was being as clear as I could. Aren't you glad? The three of them will come to the meeting, including Sudō. Thanks to Kushida, it's all going to work out.

[Suzune Horikita denied as her reply before Kiyotaka Ayanokōji sends his message.]

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji (Monologue): I hadn't even sent it yet.

Kikyō Kushida: I see. Is that what she said?

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: I'm really sorry. After I asked you to help.

Kikyō Kushida: Okay! You just let me handle it, then!

Eyecatcher
[Eyecatcher] Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School

At this school, each class is assigned a certain number of class points. Class points will fluctuate based on the affiliated students' behaviour and the results of certain tests. Every month, each student is assigned private points equal to their class points times 100.

SCENE 10
[Setting: Library]

Ken Sudō: Did you call me incompetent?

Suzune Horikita: Yes. If you can't solve a single simultaneous equation, I shudder to think of where you'll end up in the future.

[Ken Sudō intimidates Suzune Horikita by dragging her ribbon.]

Kikyō Kushida: Sudō-kun!

Ken Sudō: Who needs these stupid problems? Studying is pointless, anyway. If I want a good future, I'm better off playing basketball to prepare for my pro career than sticking my nose in some book!

Suzune Horikita: Oh? How childish. Do you dream to be a professional basketball player? Do you really think the world will grant a dream like that so easily? Someone so lacking in commitment and dedication can never become a professional.

Ken Sudō: I skipped club for this crap. Damn waste of my time.

Kanji Ike: I'm out, too. Horikita-san might be smart, but I can't hang with someone who talks down to me.

Haruki Yamauchi: Same!

Suzune Horikita: If you don't mind being expelled, do as you wish.

[The three idiots walk out.]

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji (Monologue): I left it to you, and this is how it turned out? Kushida ...

Kikyō Kushida: Horikita-san, no one's going to study with you if you act this way.

Suzune Horikita: Yes, I can see that I was mistaken. I realized now that I was wasting my time on a fruitless endeavour.

Kikyō Kushida: You mean...

Suzune Horikita: I mean that if they're going to hold us back, they should drop out as soon as possible.

Kikyō Kushida: Ah. I see. I'll work something out myself. I promise I will. I really don't want to have to say goodbye to them so soon. I don't want to abandon them. I think you feel the same way. That's why you started this study group, right?

Suzune Horikita: If you're saying that in all sincerity, I don't mind. But, rather ... what did you really come here for? Did you come here to sabotage me?

Kikyō Kushida: What do you mean? I don't understand ... How can you be so comfortable saying such hostile things? It makes me feel so sad.

[Kikyō Kushida walks out.]

SCENE 11
[Setting: Dorm]

[Kiyotaka Ayanokōji, while laying down, looks at his phone with the girl's contact number on his screen. After a while, he lets his hand down.]

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji (Monologue): Maybe I'll go buy something.

SCENE 12
[Setting: Back Alley]

[As Kiyotaka Ayanokōji reached the ends of the alley to buy at a vendo-machine, he heard someone talking.]

Manabu Horikita: Suzune, I didn't expect you to follow me, here.

Suzune Horikita: Brother, I'm not the failure I was back then. I came here to catch up with you.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji (Monologue): Horikita and .. who? "Brother?"

Manabu Horikita: "Catch up?" You still haven't even realized your own shortcomings. You were a fool to choose this school.

Suzune Horikita: I'll reach Class A soon! When I do...

Manabu Horikita: Impossible.

Suzune Horikita: I will ... make it there.

Manabu Horikita: What an unreasonable sister you are.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji (Monologue): The student council president?

[Manabu Horikita forcefully pins Suzune Horikita's right hand on the wall.]

Manabu Horikita: My little sister, assigned to Class D, and I'm the one who bears the shame of it. Leave this school right now.

Suzune Horikita: Brother, I-

Manabu Horikita: You have neither the right nor the ability to aim for something higher. You must learn.

[Manabu Horikita is about to attack her but Kiyotaka Ayanokōji grabs his hand at a right time.]

Suzune Horikita: Ayanokōji-kun?

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: You were really going to drive that in, weren't you? Let her go.

Suzune Horikita: Stop it. Ayanokōji-kun.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji (Monologue): I've never heard her speak that way.

[When Kiyotaka Ayanokōji lets go of Manabu Horikita's hand, the latter quickly tries to go on offence but Kiyotaka Ayanokōji instantly counters it.]

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Close call. [Manabu strikes several more times but each time Kiyotaka Ayanokōji makes his counter to Manabu's surprise as he tries again and fails. Kiyotaka forces Manabu back.]

Manabu Horikita: You move well. Do you practice something?

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Piano and calligraphy.

Manabu Horikita: Oh, that's right. I'd heard there was a new student who got 50's in every subject on his entrance exam. You got a 50 on the quiz the other day, too. Fifty, exactly half of 100. Was that intentional?

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Coincidences can be freaky.

Manabu Horikita: You're a unique man, I see. Suzune, I'm genuinely surprised to see you've made a friend.

Suzune Horikita: He's not my friend. He's just my classmate.

Manabu Horikita: As usual, you've mistaken isolation for independence. Suzune. If you want to ascend to a higher class, struggle with every ounce of strength you have.

[Manabu Horikita walks out]

SCENE 13
[Setting: Street Near the Back Alley]

Suzune Horikita: I guess you caught me at an awkward time.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Actually, I was glad to see what a normal girl you could b-

[Suzune Horikita looked annoyed.]

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: I didn't say anything.

Suzune Horikita: You're incredible.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Yeah, I used to do piano and tea ceremony.

Suzune Horikita: You said it was calligraphy.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: I did calligraphy, too.

Suzune Horikita: Did you really rig your scores on the entrance exam?

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: It was a coincidence like I said.

Suzune Horikita: I don't understand you at all.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Are you really finished with the study group?

Suzune Horikita: Yes. I've determined those persistent failures to be a waste of my time. It doesn't benefit me in any way.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: They'll be expelled.

Suzune Horikita: I don't care what happens to anyone else. To the contrary, those who remain will be the better students. Their loss will make it easier for our class to rise. I couldn't ask for more.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Are you sure that's not a flawed way of thinking? Your shortcoming is that you assume others will hold you back and put them at a distance from the start. Couldn't that philosophy, looking down on others, be what got you thrown into Class D in the first place?

Suzune Horikita: I ...

SCENE 14
[Setting: 1st Year D-Class Room]

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji (Monologue): And so, with everything looking hopeless, the day arrived. We, we of Class D, every student in Class D. In grammar, math, chemistry, civics, English, and every other subject achieved high scores.

(Ending Song)

[Episode 3 Title Card]