Ayanokoji's Backstory (Season three theory)

RocketEU said:
I haven't read ahead in the light novel. This is a theory based on what has happened so far in the anime. Please do not discuss events ahead of season two.

A few weeks ago, I came across a thread on Twitter that discussed Ayanokoji's robotic behaviour in relation to real psychological philosophy (as the series is based on, too). A comment in that thread referenced books that detailed these philosophies in bitesize form. I decided to pick up one of these works (The Laws of Human Nature, Robert Greene) out of curiousity, and also because exploring aspects of psychology in a digestable form is pretty much the whole point of the show. I've read up to the first chapter, and I've developed a theory as to why Ayanokoji acts the way that he does that (I hope) will be tested in the following season.

In season two, we've met Ayanokoji's "dad". In the brief scene that he was in, I picked up the detail of the "White Room", in which he had some kind of harsh authority over Ayanokoji.
In The Laws of Human Nature, the first chapter dictates how emotion clouds conscious thoughts and causes people to act irrationally, or tangent to what we aim to achieve, leading to disruption in our plans and our lives. Knowing this, here's what I predict we'll (we = anime only watchers) learn in season three. (Again, light novel readers, please do not confirm or deny this, but feel free to share your thoughts).

In the White Room, Ayanokoji's dad (which I predict will be revealed as NOT his biological dad, but he addresses him as such out of habit or courtesy) trained Ayanokoji's adolescent mind. He moulded Ayanokoji to never feel emotion. This explains why he never has an expression on his face, why he doesn't feel love, and why he sees people as tools, never as friends or even allies. This also explains how, in episode 24, in his fight against Ryuen, he feels neither fear nor anger, even when he risks serious injury (take note that he could have felt fear prior to engaging in the fight, before he knew of Ryuen's skill level and fighting style, but he doesn't). This episode also tells me that his father trained him in strength and in martial arts (also take note of the sports festival episode. It's clear that he has extraordinary phsyical levels).

The reason Ayanokoji's dad does this is to train Ayanokoji to be the most efficient human alive. One whose goals are driven purely by logic and thought, and never by emotion or attatchment.
He could've stopped there, but what's the rider without his horse? So he also trains Ayanokoji to be a skilled and strong martial artist.

Knowing this, I think, in the third season, conflict within the school is going to be a background plotline. Ayanokoji's relationship with his dad will take center stage, as my theory is realised (fingers crossed) and Ayanokoji eliminates the overlooming threat of his dad excluding him from the school. With nothing holding him back, he takes all the elements he has set up throughout the seasons to... erm...
What is his end goal, exactly? To just vibe and let drama pass him by? Does he have a long-term goal with his relationships with the students? I'm not sure, I must have forgotten. Regardless, I just wanted to open a discussion about my theory. Let me know your thoughts!

RocketEU said:
I haven't read ahead in the light novel. This is a theory based on what has happened so far in the anime. Please do not discuss events ahead of season two.

A few weeks ago, I came across a thread on Twitter that discussed Ayanokoji's robotic behaviour in relation to real psychological philosophy (as the series is based on, too). A comment in that thread referenced books that detailed these philosophies in bitesize form. I decided to pick up one of these works (The Laws of Human Nature, Robert Greene) out of curiousity, and also because exploring aspects of psychology in a digestable form is pretty much the whole point of the show. I've read up to the first chapter, and I've developed a theory as to why Ayanokoji acts the way that he does that (I hope) will be tested in the following season.

In season two, we've met Ayanokoji's "dad". In the brief scene that he was in, I picked up the detail of the "White Room", in which he had some kind of harsh authority over Ayanokoji.
In The Laws of Human Nature, the first chapter dictates how emotion clouds conscious thoughts and causes people to act irrationally, or tangent to what we aim to achieve, leading to disruption in our plans and our lives. Knowing this, here's what I predict we'll (we = anime only watchers) learn in season three. (Again, light novel readers, please do not confirm or deny this, but feel free to share your thoughts).

In the White Room, Ayanokoji's dad (which I predict will be revealed as NOT his biological dad, but he addresses him as such out of habit or courtesy) trained Ayanokoji's adolescent mind. He moulded Ayanokoji to never feel emotion. This explains why he never has an expression on his face, why he doesn't feel love, and why he sees people as tools, never as friends or even allies. This also explains how, in episode 24, in his fight against Ryuen, he feels neither fear nor anger, even when he risks serious injury (take note that he could have felt fear prior to engaging in the fight, before he knew of Ryuen's skill level and fighting style, but he doesn't). This episode also tells me that his father trained him in strength and in martial arts (also take note of the sports festival episode. It's clear that he has extraordinary phsyical levels).

The reason Ayanokoji's dad does this is to train Ayanokoji to be the most efficient human alive. One whose goals are driven purely by logic and thought, and never by emotion or attatchment.
He could've stopped there, but what's the rider without his horse? So he also trains Ayanokoji to be a skilled and strong martial artist.

Knowing this, I think, in the third season, conflict within the school is going to be a background plotline. Ayanokoji's relationship with his dad will take center stage, as my theory is realised (fingers crossed) and Ayanokoji eliminates the overlooming threat of his dad excluding him from the school. With nothing holding him back, he takes all the elements he has set up throughout the seasons to... erm...
What is his end goal, exactly? To just vibe and let drama pass him by? Does he have a long-term goal with his relationships with the students? I'm not sure, I must have forgotten. Regardless, I just wanted to open a discussion about my theory. Let me know your thoughts!

farooquifun said:

I already replied but need to say something else regarding cote anime. I highly recommend you start reading the LN from volume 4 since the 2nd season adaption was…as the rock likes to say “the biggest piece of dogshit”. In all seriousness tho I can tell just by reading your theory that you really enjoy cote so it kinda disappoints me how much your missing out on by watching the anime and not reading the LN. At the end of the day it is your choice but I’ll say it again; I really, really, really recommend that you start the LN from volume 4. Cheers!

Sassquatch010 said:
You obviously put effort into this, but why do that when the information is already out there? Especially as a lot of it is in the novels the anime has already adapted. Why not catch up to year two and make predictions with the same quality? That way, your efforts aren’t wasted.

Sol007 said:

Uh as a LN i can say your theory is good. But whether it’s right or wrong i won’t say. that’s a logical conclusion for an anime only person. If you want to be spoiled i can tell you but if you don’t i’ll stay quiet.

RocketEU said:


"That's a logical conclusion coming from an anime only" is pretty much telling me I'm wrong lmao. No worries though, it was just a theory.

RocketEU said:


I'll take your recommendation and read the LN. Usually I don't read ahead because I think an adaptation you had high hopes for turning out to be bad is worse than just watching the show without context, but I'll take your word and put it on my PTR list.

farooquifun said:

I already replied but need to say something else regarding cote anime. I highly recommend you start reading the LN from volume 4 since the 2nd season adaption was…as the rock likes to say “the biggest piece of dogshit”. In all seriousness tho I can tell just by reading your theory that you really enjoy cote so it kinda disappoints me how much your missing out on by watching the anime and not reading the LN. At the end of the day it is your choice but I’ll say it again; I really, really, really recommend that you start the LN from volume 4. Cheers!

Baby_Penewine said:

as an anime only i think reading from the start is always the best choice. you can see things that were left out and stuff like that

RocketEU said:
I haven't read ahead in the light novel. This is a theory based on what has happened so far in the anime. Please do not discuss events ahead of season two.

A few weeks ago, I came across a thread on Twitter that discussed Ayanokoji's robotic behaviour in relation to real psychological philosophy (as the series is based on, too). A comment in that thread referenced books that detailed these philosophies in bitesize form. I decided to pick up one of these works (The Laws of Human Nature, Robert Greene) out of curiousity, and also because exploring aspects of psychology in a digestable form is pretty much the whole point of the show. I've read up to the first chapter, and I've developed a theory as to why Ayanokoji acts the way that he does that (I hope) will be tested in the following season.

In season two, we've met Ayanokoji's "dad". In the brief scene that he was in, I picked up the detail of the "White Room", in which he had some kind of harsh authority over Ayanokoji.
In The Laws of Human Nature, the first chapter dictates how emotion clouds conscious thoughts and causes people to act irrationally, or tangent to what we aim to achieve, leading to disruption in our plans and our lives. Knowing this, here's what I predict we'll (we = anime only watchers) learn in season three. (Again, light novel readers, please do not confirm or deny this, but feel free to share your thoughts).

In the White Room, Ayanokoji's dad (which I predict will be revealed as NOT his biological dad, but he addresses him as such out of habit or courtesy) trained Ayanokoji's adolescent mind. He moulded Ayanokoji to never feel emotion. This explains why he never has an expression on his face, why he doesn't feel love, and why he sees people as tools, never as friends or even allies. This also explains how, in episode 24, in his fight against Ryuen, he feels neither fear nor anger, even when he risks serious injury (take note that he could have felt fear prior to engaging in the fight, before he knew of Ryuen's skill level and fighting style, but he doesn't). This episode also tells me that his father trained him in strength and in martial arts (also take note of the sports festival episode. It's clear that he has extraordinary phsyical levels).

The reason Ayanokoji's dad does this is to train Ayanokoji to be the most efficient human alive. One whose goals are driven purely by logic and thought, and never by emotion or attatchment.
He could've stopped there, but what's the rider without his horse? So he also trains Ayanokoji to be a skilled and strong martial artist.

Knowing this, I think, in the third season, conflict within the school is going to be a background plotline. Ayanokoji's relationship with his dad will take center stage, as my theory is realised (fingers crossed) and Ayanokoji eliminates the overlooming threat of his dad excluding him from the school. With nothing holding him back, he takes all the elements he has set up throughout the seasons to... erm...
What is his end goal, exactly? To just vibe and let drama pass him by? Does he have a long-term goal with his relationships with the students? I'm not sure, I must have forgotten. Regardless, I just wanted to open a discussion about my theory. Let me know your thoughts!