Not that it matters too much, but we miss out on seeing Ayanokouji initially turning down Satou for a date, but right after asking her if she is free over winter break. We also miss out on....
...Chabashira-sensei and Ayanokouji talk about snow, among other things, in particular her reasons for wanting to rise to class A. They have a brief conversation on the subject, with her saying the school was also designed to not only have the students, but the teachers as well be rivals in a sense. Here in the anime the whole scene is basically Ayanokouji saying "stuff is going down, come with me, let's check it out"
While waiting for the ex-president to arrive, and also to let the whole scene on the "rooftop" play out (he later gives the reason for waiting so long being that he while she probably would've trusted him more had he arrived earlier, she could now better understand that she could rely on him even until the very last second, and also just to test how loyal she could be), Ayanokouji and Chabashira have a rather insightful and important even conversation regarding the points at this school. It doesn't really have anything to immediately relate to anything happening currently, but I'm still surprised the left this out. Maybe they'll insert it somewhere in season 3. I just like at the end of the conversation, Chabashira asks what the point was in asking her about this, with Ayanokouji responding he just wanted to talk about something while waiting to strike.
Ayanokouji and Chabashira actually talk about quite a bit before things go down. Chabashira warning Ayanokouji about revealing his identity, as to which he responds (I think) that she only wants him to be laying low so that he'll remain most effective in continuing to serve as the mastermind to get Class D to A. She also mentions how she and Sakayanagi (the dad of Arisu) talked about giving Ayanokouji an environment in which he wouldn't want to leave, to give him something the white room couldn't have. Ayanokouji responds saying that rest assured, he never had any intention of leaving, and never would go back to his father. He also tells her that he didn't bring her there as insurance, but to prove that he was going to finish things on his side from here on out, stepping out of the game, and letting Horikita and the others take control in getting their class to rise.
Now onto where sh*t actually goes down:
It looks like Albert was supposed to stand guard downstairs at the entrance the whole time, but Ayanokouji actually tells him to come up with him, because Ryuuen would need him on the roof for what was about to come. I'd like to think that he only told Albert that so that he could beat up Ryuuen's strongest lackey right in front of him.
Everyone comes to the conclusion that Ayanokouji is the mastermind right after he reveals he was responsible for damaging Ibuki's camera in the island test. However in the LN's, their doubt goes on for far longer than that, especially for Ibuki, who can't imagine this weak-looking quiet loner could be the thorn in their side. I think having them all doubt him for a period of time makes their beatdown later on all the more impactful.
Anyway, everyone actually nearly comes to an agreement where they'd all go their separate ways, both keeping each other in check by having blackmail on the other, but refraining from using it. This was actually quite close to being resolved peacefully (other than Karuizawa potentially getting hypothermia), but it's because of Ryuuen's distaste for an non-climactic ending that we get what follows.
Noting how Ryuuen's all about violence, saying it's the most powerful weapon, Ayanokouji fires back: "Violence is a powerful tool. But you have to be stronger than your opponent for it to be at your advantage." I think this episode left out this line
Ishizaki actually shows some hesitation when Ryuuen commands him to take Ayanokouji down, kind of feeling bad even, saying that he just sees him as any other normal student. It wouldn't be the same as beating up Sudou who was someone prone to getting into fights. Of course he goes up against Ayanokouji anyway, stating that he's just following orders.
It's further emphasized how even though Ryuuen is witnessing all his plans being actively dismantled before him, he actually gets more and more excited as he realizes he might have possibly found someone almost like him.
Ibuki actually was supposed to get f*cking CHOKE SLAMMED into the floor and knocked out cold, rather than here where Ayankouji gives her a light chop to the neck to knock her out, before gently laying her on the floor.
Not too much is left out of this scene, except this one thing which could've add to Ryuuen's characters. Mid-fight, Ayanokouji acknowledges Ryuuen's resilience, despite getting beaten on every front of his plans to beat all other classes, and in the moment for no doubt realizing the gap in their skill in close combat. But he sees that Ryuuen is not simply a madman blindly going into a fight he cannot win, but is fully aware of the situation and is just enjoying the adrenaline rush of the fight. Although then Ayanokouji mutters to himself that Ryuuen's unrelenting nature is to his own loss, since this fight will have to take longer, and he will have to endure more pain.
In this episode, as Ryuuen's getting beat down hard, he asks Ayanokouji what he is feeling in that moment, as to which Ayanokouji replies with something along the lines of, "nothing". And in that moment we see Ryuuen's expression change, Ayanokouji noticing it, and seeing that Ryuuen has finally felt fear. This is actually something small that the ANIME does BETTER than the light novels. Because in the LN's, (I think) Ayanokouji doesn't actually verbally respond to Ryuuen's question of what he is feeling. He only answers it in his own mind that he feels nothing, so Ryuuen doesn't get an answer. It's just implied that eventually after getting hit in the face so many times, he eventually felt fear at some point. Or maybe I'm wrong, and that this way is actually better because Ryuuen never needed a verbal answer, maybe he got his answer by looking at Ayanokouji's face as he mercilessly beat down on him. Idk, this is up to the viewer I guess. |