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 students in real-time and assigns numerical value. 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: A hundred measly 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 to have to push ourselves from here on out to take on Class C.

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

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Were you just doing an impression of 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: I was wondering, do you play sports or something?

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: No, not at all. In fact in middle school, I did nothing extracurricular.

Suzune Horikita: That makes no sense. Your forearms are so muscular, I thought you must.

Kikyō Kushida: Hey there, Horikita! Do you maybe want to come swim with us?

Suzune Horikita: Would you please go away?

Kikyō Kushida: You don't have to be mean. Are you a bad swimmer or something?

Suzune Horikita: No, I'm an incredibly average swimmer.

Kikyō Kushida: Back in middle school, I was probably the worst swimmer in the whole wide world. But then, I practised really hard, and nowadays I don't think I'm that bad at all.

Suzune Horikita: Well, that's fascinating.

[Suzune Horikita walks out.]

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

Kikyō Kushida: I do wish I could find a way to get along with her better.

Yōsuke Hirata: Hey, guys. Do you have a minute to talk about something? We didn't get any point again today and that has got to change. I don't want this problem to haunt us for the rest of our time at the school. We have to do something to turn this around. There's no way I wanna go all the way to graduation without earning any more points.

Kei Karuizawa: I agree, we can't let that happen!

Yōsuke Hirata: You're right, we won't. We'll turn this around. Next month, we're going to get more points than any other class.

Ken Sudō: I don't know why you keep saying we like that. Seriously, you can leave me out of it.

[Ken Sudō walks out]

## SCENE 5

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

Manabu Horikita: Class D again. You're both in Class A. Sakayanagi and Katsuragi. Congratulations are in order. Your class earned a total of 940 points this month. Quite a feat. I do hope you're both very proud of yourselves. Now then, how much do you know about the S-system?

## SCENE 6

[**Setting**: *1st Year D-Class Room*]

Haruki Yamauchi: Hideo! You're my best friend, you gotta help me out! Buy this console for me for 20,000 points?

Kei Karuizawa: Actually, its so funny. I spent all my points on accessories, so I'm totally broke now. I was thinking about borrowing a couple of points from all the girls in class to buy the essentials ... you're one of my best friend, aren't you? Just 2,000 points would be enough.

Kikyō Kushida: Sure!

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

Suzune Horikita: Do you have any plans for lunch? I was wondering if you would be able to join me.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Huh?

## SCENE 7

[**Setting**: *High School Cafeteria*]

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Well, let's eat then, thank you for the food. I have to ask, are you sure it's ok if I put this super expensive lunch on your tab? I feel awkward.

Suzune Horikita: Yes. I told you to get whatever you wanted, and I meant it. Lunch today is my treat, so don't feel awkward.

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

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji (Monologue): What now?

Suzune Horikita: Is something wrong with you, Ayanokōji? Dig in already.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Right.

Suzune Horikita: Now listen, I want you to hear me out on something important. I'm aware that Hirata and the others worked out their plan of action earlier today. They're all forming a study group. Their goal is to make sure they ace the test.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: A study group?

Suzune Horikita: Yes. But three of our classmates refused to join and it just so happens they're the ones with the lowest scores.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Sudō, right?

Suzune Horikita: Yes, and Yamauchi and Ike as well.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Well, I can't say I'm surprised. Those three never did strike me as the studious type.

Suzune Horikita: I don't see how anyone fail a test. Nevertheless, the fact remains, they did. There are kids out there who don't even know what it means to be a good student. I guess some people really are that pathetic.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: That's cold, don't you have any sympathy?

Suzune Horikita: Would being sympathetic keep it from being true? If we don't do something, they're most likely going to fail. And if we want to overtake Class C, not only do we have to stop our class from hemorrhaging points but we've also got to do everything in our power to start gaining them back.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Are you saying you want to start a study group too? You're willing to help Sudō, Ike and Yamauchi get good grades on the midterm?

Suzune Horikita: Yes.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Seriously?

Suzune Horikita: Of course. If left to their own devices, they'll sink and bring the rest of Class D with them. I may have been relegated to the lowest class in school, but not for long. I will crawl my way up to Class A.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Hey, wait a minute.

Suzune Horikita: What now?

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Did you just say you wanna be Class A?

Suzune Horikita: You heard, right?

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: You sure you didn't mean Class C?

Suzune Horikita: I meant what I said. I find my assignment to Class D utterly offensive and unacceptable. I intend to change it.

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

Suzune Horikita: Since you've grasped that, you can guess what's next.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: I rather not.

Suzune Horikita: Did you enjoyed your lunch? An extravagant meal like that doesn't come free. Even an idiot can see you're expected to provide something in return. And don't think I've forgiven you for conspiring with Kushida and taking me to that cafe under false pretences. That was foul play.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: That's not cool...

Suzune Horikita: If you want to make it up to me, then you'll work with me to help save the whole class. Your job would be to round up those three losers and convince them to join my study group.

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

Suzune Horikita: Here's my phone number and email. Alright, contact me if you need anything along the way, but don't think you can reach out whenever you want.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji (Monologue):
This is how I get a girl's number for the first time in high school. Pathetic. I'm not even happy that she gave it to me, but I'd better save it anyway.

## SCENE 8

[**Setting**: *1st Year D-Class Room*]

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji (Monologue): I guess I'll have to comply, even though I technically never agreed to this. Well, here goes nothing.

Kanji Ike: Leave me alone.

Haruki Yamauchi: Yeah, no.

Ken Sudō: What the hell did you just say to me, punk?!

## SCENE 9

[**Setting**: *Dorm*]

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: I knew it was hopeless. Maybe I could enlist help from someone who can get through those three, should have done that to begin with. I wonder if she's home right now.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji (Monologue): If I can call her room.

[Telephone call begin]

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Hi. Can you connect me to Kikyō Kushida's room? Yes, from Class 1-D. Yes, it is about something school-related. Yes.

Kikyō Kushida: Um, hello?

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Alright, this is... Hold on, what's that weird noise?

Kikyō Kushida: Oh, Ayanokōji? Sorry, was it too loud? I just got out of the bath. I was blow-drying my hair, sorry about that. You caught me a little off guard. I've never used the dorm's internal landline before, so I was startled.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: I'm amazed you answered.

Kikyō Kushida: Huh?

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Anyway, rejoice Kushida. I've selected you as a goodwill ambassador. It's for the good of the class, so I know you'll do your best.

Kikyō Kushida: Huh? What did you mean? Right. Wow. A second study group for Sudō, Ike and Yamauchi? Run by Horikita herself? Well, when a friend needs help, I always answer the call no matter what it might be. I'll do whatever it takes.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: You don't have to, you know.

Kikyō Kushida: Mm-mm. I think it's cruel that anyone who fails gets expelled immediately. The thought of having to say goodbye so soon especially after we just got to know each other ... I mean, that's awful. Oh, I do have one request, in exchange for helping you guys. I wanna join the study group too. Would that be okay?

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

Kikyō Kushida: Yeah. I want to help the cause in any way. Let's see... Oh! Why don't I give you my cell phone number, So you can contact me whenever, instead of just when I'm in my room.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: You're cool with that?

Kikyō Kushida: Yeah! I mean, we're classmates right? Sorry I didn't give it to you until now. I just didn't think of it. You can reach out anytime you want.

[Call ended]

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: I've got Kushida's phone number.

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

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Wow, she works like lightning. Good job, Kushida. Insert.

[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: Can you at least hear me out for a minute-

[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): Are you kidding me? What do you mean what? I thought I was being perfectly clear. You should be glad. All three of them have agreed to come to the study group, including Sudō. Thanks to Kushida, your little plan just might work.

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

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

Kikyō Kushida: I understand. Is that her final word?

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Yeah, even after you helped make it happen. I'm really sorry.

Kikyō Kushida: Right! It's okay! You just let me handle her from here on out!

## 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: Call me incompetent again?

Suzune Horikita: Well, if you don't know how solve a simple simultaneous equation, I don't know how to proceed. I shutter to think of what the future holds for you.

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

Kikyō Kushida: Sudō, stop!

Ken Sudō: Who needs algebra anyway? When am I ever gonna use it, huh? If I wanted to prepare for my future, I'm better off playing basketball to get ready for a career in the pros, not sticking my nose in some book!

Suzune Horikita: Really delusional. You playing pro basketball? Do you even have an inkling of how difficult it is to get to that level? It requires commitment and dedication that you sorely lack. Face it, you don't have what it takes.

Ken Sudō: I didn't skip practice to come here and get insulted. I knew this was a waste of my time.

Kanji Ike: You know what? I'm out too. Horikita might be smart, I don't want help from someone so condescending. I rather failed than be treated like crap.

Haruki Yamauchi: Yeah, same here!

Suzune Horikita: If you wanna get expelled, be my guest. See how much I care.

[The three idiots walk out.]

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji (Monologue): I left it to you like you said, Kushida, and look what happened. Do something.

Kikyō Kushida: Look, Horikita. No one's going to study with you if you make them feel stupid when they make a mistake.

Suzune Horikita: Yes, I can acknowledge that I was wrong about them. It's clear to me that this is all a fruitless waste of my time.

Kikyō Kushida: What do you mean?

Suzune Horikita: I mean that if those idiots are going to drag us down with them, we're better off without. I say good riddance.

Kikyō Kushida: I see. Okay then, I'll work it out with them myself. I promise. I don't think we should give up on our friends so soon. It would be sad if those three got expelled. I won't abandon them and I think you'd rather not either. That's why you started this group in the first place.

Suzune Horikita: If you're being sincere right now, then I appreciate the sentiment. I do. Tell me, why did you really agree to help us in this endeavor? Are you just trying to sabotage me?

Kikyō Kushida: I can't believe you. Do you really think that? I'm not an underhanded person. The fact that you would even assume that about me makes me feel so sad for you. It's awful, and I hope you don't need all that.

[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): I need to go get some fresh air.

## 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'm amazed you had the brains to track me down.

Suzune Horikita: Listen, brother. I'm not the failure that I was in the past. I followed you because I want to prove that I've changed.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji (Monologue): That's Horikita, but who's she with? Brother?

Manabu Horikita: Prove you've changed? Hardly. After all this time, you clearly have not come to terms with your own shortcomings. You're foolish to think you could succeed here. Leave now.

Suzune Horikita: You're wrong. I'm going to be in Class A soon! Then you'll see...

Manabu Horikita: Don't bother.

Suzune Horikita: I promise... I know I can make it.

Manabu Horikita: You're an irrational little brat.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji (Monologue): The student council president?

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

Manabu Horikita: Do you ever stop to think of the shame you bring this family? My own little sister in Class D, pathetic. Withdraw from school, if you know what's good for you.

Suzune Horikita: Brother, please just listen.

Manabu Horikita: You don't have the right to better yourself, nor do you have the ability to do so. Someday you'll learn.

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

Suzune Horikita: Ayanokōji, don't.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Seriously, you really were planning to hurt her, weren't you? You better let her go now.

Suzune Horikita: Go away. this doesn't concern you.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji (Monologue): She sounds like a completely different person.

[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 one.

[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 fight like an expert. Which of the arts do you practice?

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Piano and calligraphy.

Manabu Horikita: Ah, now I get it. I think I know who you are. I heard there was a student who got 50's on all of his entrance exams. The other day, you got a 50 on one of your quizzes in class as well. Are you trying to make some kind of statement scoring exactly half of what you should at this school?

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Wow, that's a strange coincidence.

Manabu Horikita: You pride yourself on being unique, I see. Suzune, I'm surprised you've made a friend, although I assume you had to bribe him.

Suzune Horikita: You're wrong. He isn't my friend. He's just a classmate. I don't need any friends. You know that.

Manabu Horikita: As usual, your immaturity is leading you to mistake isolation for independence. Anyway, if you truly wish to be in a less humiliating class, you're going to have to work a lot harder.

[Manabu Horikita walks out]

## SCENE 13

[**Setting**: *Street Near the Back Alley*]

Suzune Horikita: I'm sorry you had to witness all of that.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: It's okay. It was sort of a relief to see you acting like a normal girl and not some kind of-

[Suzune Horikita looked annoyed.]

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: I didn't even say anything.

Suzune Horikita: I'm impressed by your skills.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: It's just piano and tea ceremony.

Suzune Horikita: You said it was calligraphy.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Yeah, I do calligraphy too.

Suzune Horikita: How did you doctor your scores on all of the entrance exams? Tell the truth.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: I told the truth, coincidence.

Suzune Horikita: I don't get you at all. You're such a weirdo.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Huh? Sure. So, were you serious about disbanding the study group?

Suzune Horikita: Yes. It's a waste of my time. If those losers want to fail, that's their prerogative. It makes no difference to me.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: Even though failing would get them expelled?

Suzune Horikita: I don't care what happens to anyone but me. And their exit would motivate the rest of us to be better. I don't see a downside to any of that. Without them, it would be easier for our class to advance. I don't think I could have asked for a better solution.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji: That sounds like flawed thinking. Maybe you're just lying to yourself. It's a shortcoming. You make the assumption that other people hold you back, so you always keep them at arm's length as a rule. Have you ever considered that your isolationist philosophy might be the very thing that landed you in Class D in the first place?

Suzune Horikita: Ridiculous.

## SCENE 14

[**Setting**: *1st Year D-Class Room*]

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji (Monologue): And so it went. Everything looking hopeless. Nevertheless, the day arrived. And all of us, we students in Class 1-D. Every last poor soul. In grammar, math, chemistry, civics, English, and every other classroom subject, we dodge the bullet with higher scores than ever.

(Ending Song)

[Episode 3 Title Card]