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[SPOILER] tag just in case.
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Along with many other people in the [Classroom of The Elite] fanbase, I started off as an anime-only fan. When I first saw Ayanokoji's dad, I instantly detested him with every fibre of my being. I thought he was a cold-blooded, selfish, disgusting person. Don't get me wrong though, I still see him as such. However, despite my hatred for this character, I still have great appreciation for him, since he allowed me to look at this story with a completely different point of view.
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This volume is a masterpiece. They include all the details about Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's childhood (or lack thereof), which really gives us a different perspective on the story compared to the anime.
This volume's focus was mainly on Atsuomi (the father) at first, telling us about his unparalleled ambition to succeed in Japan, the political world he lived in, and his rivals at that time. Instead of painting him as only the "abusive dad" which was how he was portrayed in the anime, this volume tells us that there is much more to the story (in addition to being abusive). I obviously will not spoil it here, since I want you to read it for yourself (hence the recommended tag).
The second half of the volume shifts the spotlight from Atsuomi to Kiyotaka, and of course, the White Room, which had a very mysterious introduction in the anime. If you have only seen the anime and are confused about the White Room, I highly recommend you read this. It will tell you everything you need to know, from the students' lifestyle, Ayanokoji's peers, and exams, to even statistics about how many fights Kiyotaka won as a kid...
Some [Classroom of The Elite] haters hate the anime for being a "self insert perfect unrealistic powerful mc" type of show, but reading this will drastically change your opinion. This volume will show that there is much more to Kiyotaka's character than what is seen on the surface.
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There has been bits and pieces from this volume that has been adapted into S3 of the anime, but I am crossing my fingers for a full adaptation. However, it seems quite unlikely, as this volume is not that popular. I hope people start realizing how underrated this is, and that it starts to get the attention it deserves.
