Class D’s hard-won victory on the island was only the beginning of a much deeper descent into the psychological machinations of Advanced Nurturing High School. As the students transition to the deceptive luxury of a cruise ship, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka must navigate the high-stakes Mars Group Special Test – a complex game of betrayal where the rise of Karuizawa Kei and the shifting Case 1 – 4 strategies will determine who truly holds the power.
“Remember to keep a clear head in difficult times.”
The Cruise Ship Conundrum: Classroom of the Elite Season 2 Episode 1 Review
On the heels of the Island Arc, Class D is thrown into yet another special test that divides them all. As the students transition from the grueling survival of the wilderness to the deceptive luxury of a cruise ship, the pressure to maintain their hard-won status reaches a fever pitch.
How will Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and the Mars Group navigate this new web of psychological warfare to succeed?
“Keep thou an even temper’s balance, still When times are hard; so when good luck is nigh Let no presumptuous joy thy spirit fill, Since, Dellius, thou art doomed, like all, to die!”
Return to Advanced Nurturing High School: After the Island Arc
Ah, it feels great to be back with the students of the Advanced Nurturing High School! I am also really happy that the anime decided to reintroduce all of the characters because it is quite difficult to keep track of their names!
On the heels of the Island Arc, the students seemingly got one single day to relax before another test was conducted for the remainder of their cruise. We received a little scene of Student Council president Horikita Manabu being all hot and bothered after learning of Class D’s success, and a possible setup for the continued silent war or rivalry between Manabu and Ayanokoji.
Since Class A and Class C had an agreement, and Class B and Class D were in an alliance on the island, I see no reason not to suspect the same outcome regarding the special test.
Navigating the complex hierarchy of Advanced Nurturing High School requires more than just a single episode guide. For a full breakdown of every special test, character profile, and tactical analysis we’ve covered, visit our central CotE Compendium – your ultimate field manual for the series.
The Mars Group Strategy: Ayanokoji, Kei, and the Roman God of War
Although the Special Test rules appeared quite complex, here’s a breakdown in layman’s terms from my own understanding:
Each class is broken up into eight groups reflecting the planets, with fourteen members from the four alphabet classes. There are four students from Class C and D, with three students from Class A and B in each group, respectively.
Ayanokoji has landed in Mars Group (Mars being the Roman God of War), with fellow Class D students Sotomura Hideo, Yukimura Teruhiko, and Hirata’s girlfriend Karuizawa Kei. I haven’t read the light novel yet, but based on what I’ve heard while reading Reddit threads, it seems like this season will be focused on Kei’s arc.
Judging by the ending theme, and Ayanokoji seemingly getting jealous when Class A’s Machida defended Kei from the Class C bullies, this should be really interesting to watch unfold.
Decoding the Special Test: A Layman’s Guide to Case 1 through 4
Ayanokoji mentions that there are four possible outcomes to this test based on which of the four case scenarios the group chooses.
Case 1: The entire group agrees to reveal the VIP’s identity and concurrently email it to the school before the exam ends. All participants receive 500k private points, and the (known) VIP receives an extra 500k on top of the base reward.
This is the most optimal situation for all group participants, and would greatly benefit Classes C and D in the school hierarchy.
Naturally, Class A would be against this outcome, as it narrows their grip on being number one in the first-year class rankings. Class B’s unofficial leader Ichinose Honami advocates for this outcome during both meetings in Mars Group, and even makes herself the moderator in order to further try and discern who the VIP is amongst them.
Case 2: If the group fails to submit an answer speculating the VIP’s identity by the exam deadline, or if someone submits an incorrect answer, then only the VIP alone would receive the 500k private points.
Class A’s unofficial leader Katsuragi Kohei favors this, as it would not upset the delicately balanced inter-class status quo he seems desperate to preserve.
Given the Katsuragi and Sakayanagi factions vying for power in Class A, it makes sense that Katsuragi would be paranoid about one of his own giving a wrong answer on purpose to further sabotage their class, as there were already traitors amongst them during the Island exam.
Case 3: This outcome is a special case that would only begin if someone were to correctly name the VIP before the exam’s final day.
That student’s class would gain 50 points for guessing the VIP’s identity, and the student who correctly guessed would receive 500k private points. In return, the VIP’s class would lose 50 class points as a penalty, and this situation would not work if a student names a VIP and they happen to be in the same class.
A very complicated case that involves sneaking around and employing subterfuge to eventually stab your classmates in the back, of course, this appeals to Class C’s resident bully-lord Ryuen Kakeru.
It is unclear whether or not Ibuki Mio will employ the same ‘spying’ tactics she used on the island while in group Mars. But judging by Class A’s refusal to take part in group discussions, it is not far off to assume Ibuki has been instructed by Ryuen to reprise her surveillance role.
Case 4: This is another special case that would only be triggered if someone incorrectly names the VIP without waiting for the final exam day. The consequences result in that student’s class collectively losing 50 points, and the VIP simultaneously gaining 500k private points.
Based on the way this case was portrayed on screen, it seems Ayanokoji favors using this method. Or rather, setting up another group to invertedly trigger Case 4 by using a misdirect and sowing doubt amongst them.
Shadow Games: Katsuragi’s Paranoia vs. Ryuen’s Surveillance
I am personally hoping Ayanokoji tries this on whatever group Ryuen is in, but the latter seems to be expecting something from either Ayanokoji or Suzune.
And since Katsuragi is also on guard, it would only make sense to try and blindside Ichinose and Class C by making it seem like the work of another class. Thus, preserving the alliance between Class B and Class D on the surface, while subtly sticking it to Class A and Class C while sowing discord among them.
It would be even better if Ayanokoji somehow made a secret alliance with Sakayanagi and her faction members to learn of another group’s VIP members.
After all, the enemy of an enemy is always a potential friend.
While Class D fights for survival on the cruise ship, the 2026 anime season is heating up elsewhere. If you’re tracking the biggest releases of the year, don’t miss our latest update on the Joestar lineage: JoJo’s Steel Ball Run Anime Hits Netflix in 2026: English Dub Cast & Trailer Revealed.
The Subterfuge Play: Will Ayanokoji Trigger a Case 4 Misdirect?
By intentionally sowing seeds of doubt, Ayanokoji appears to favor an outcome where he forces an opposing class to incorrectly identify a VIP through calculated misdirection. This high-risk strategy would allow Class D to preserve its current alliances, while subtly crippling the class point totals of rivals like Ryuen and Katsuragi.
Anyway, I think I’m going to wrap it up here.
But, tell me your thoughts: How do you think Ayanokoji giving Suzune the credit for Class D’s success on the island will impact her group during this test? And…does Ayanokoji have a thing for Kei?
The tensions brewing in the Mars Group don’t stay under the surface for long. To see how Ayanokoji handles the escalating confrontation between the Class C leadership and his own teammates, follow the trail into Bullies on the Boat – Classroom of the Elite S2 Ep 2 Review.
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If you enjoyed this analysis, check out our full archive of Classroom of the Elite Season 2 Episode Reviews or explore our latest seasonal coverage in Anime Episode Reviews to see what else Class D is up against this year!
☆ In Asian Spaces ☆ Ephesians 6:12 ☆
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