# E10 - The first cause of Absurd conclusions I ascribe to the want of Method.
Source: [Crunchyroll](https://www.crunchyroll.com/watch/GJWU20QGG/the-first-cause-of-absurd-conclusions-i-ascribe-to-the-want-of-method)
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(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
***SIGN*** T. Hobbes, "Leviathan"
**[00:15] FV**
Hey, did you see that stream yesterday?
**[00:18] FV**
Yeah, it was so good!
**[00:19] FV**
What? A drama? What was it about?
**[00:21] FV**
I'm curious now!
**[00:25] Hirata**
*To protect my precious friends,*
**[00:29] Hirata**
*I must protect the class.*
**[00:32] Hirata**
*Because if the class is protected,*
**[00:34] Hirata**
*my friends will be protected.*
**[00:38] Hirata**
*But...*
**[00:40] Hirata**
*That's not who I really am.*
**[00:44] Hirata**
* During that incident in*
* middle school, I messed up.*
**[00:49] Hirata**
* That's why I can't afford to make*
* the same mistake in this class.*
**[00:54] Hirata**
*And the answer I arrived at for that...*
**[00:57] Hirata**
*was...*
**[01:01] (Flashback) Hirata**
Horikita...
**[01:02] (Flashback) Hirata**
Shut the hell up, would you?
**[01:06] Hirata**
*But in the end...*
**[01:10] Hirata**
*I made the same mistake.*
**[01:14] Horikita**
We're here.
**[01:16] Horikita**
What did you want to talk about?
**[01:18] Yukimura**
Kiyotaka?
**[01:20] Horikita**
If we're discussing the special exam,
I thought it would be best to have him along.
**[01:24] Horikita**
He's the team captain, after all.
**[01:26] Yukimura**
Got it.
**[01:28] Horikita**
So?
**[01:29] Yukimura**
I thought up a way to get
information on Class A.
**[01:33] Horikita**
Follow one of them around?
**[01:36] Yukimura**
No.
**[01:39] Yukimura**
Get Katsuragi-kun from Class A on our side.
**[01:43] Horikita**
What do you mean?
**[01:44] Yukimura**
He might hold a grudge against Sakayanagi
for expelling Yahiko, who admired him.
**[01:51] Yukimura**
Since then, he's been isolated within
the class and lost all standing.
**[01:56] Horikita**
He and Sakayanagi are enemies, it's true.
**[02:00] Horikita**
But do you think he'd betray his class
just to embarrass Sakayanagi-san?
**[02:06] Yukimura**
He would certainly need
compensation, of course.
**[02:10] Horikita**
Do we have something like that available?
**[02:14] Yukimura**
If we make it to Class A, we'll issue
Katsuragi the right to transfer to our class.
**[02:20] Horikita**
We'd need twenty million points for that!
**[02:22] Yukimura**
If the whole class worked
together, we could save it up.
**[02:26] Horikita**
I can't imagine most students
accepting that bargain.
**[02:30] Horikita**
We're still only Class C.
**[02:32] Ayanokoji**
And if his betrayal were discovered,
he'd be the next one expelled.
**[02:38] Ayanokoji**
We'd need to rack up those
twenty million points quickly.
**[02:42] Horikita**
I'm not denying that he has
potential as an informant.
**[02:46] Horikita**
But the plan you proposed won't work.
**[02:48] Yukimura**
If we don't do anything,
we won't get any information.
**[02:51] Horikita**
I don't think this plan will
get us any information, either.
**[02:55] Horikita**
If you get a new idea,
let me know about it.
**[03:03] Yukimura**
Kiyotaka, will you help me?
**[03:06] Yukimura**
I've arranged to meet with Katsuragi soon.
**[03:12] Katsuragi**
And if I did that,
what would be in it for me?
**[03:15] Yukimura**
We'd let you join our class.
**[03:18] Yukimura**
Once we made it to Class A, we'd save up—
**[03:22] Katsuragi**
I'll pass.
**[03:24] Katsuragi**
Your class will never save
up twenty million points.
**[03:29] Katsuragi**
However, it's true that I harbor
tremendous anger toward Sakayanagi.
**[03:36] Katsuragi**
She hasn't told anyone her
five genuine subjects,
**[03:40] Katsuragi**
but if you don't mind best guesses,
I'll happily give them to you.
**[03:43] Yukimura**
You mean it?
**[03:45] Yukimura**
But what would you want in exchange?
**[03:47] Katsuragi**
All I really want is the
defeat of Sakayanagi.
**[03:52] Katsuragi**
Chess, English, math.
**[03:54] Katsuragi**
These three are unquestionably genuine.
**[03:57] Katsuragi**
Most likely after that are modern
literature and mental math.
**[04:00] Katsuragi**
Meanwhile, jump rope and dodgeball, which
require a large number of participants,
**[04:04] Katsuragi**
are most likely fakes.
**[04:06] Yukimura**
Kiyotaka, this could be our ticket!
**[04:09] Katsuragi**
No, you won't beat her with
this minor amount of help.
**[04:14] Katsuragi**
If I hold back, it might help you
fight on even terms, at least.
**[04:18] Katsuragi**
The only fields in which I can
help you are mental math
**[04:21] Katsuragi**
and perhaps jump rope, on the
off-chance that it's chosen.
**[04:26] Ayanokoji**
With Sakayanagi on her guard, do you
think she'll allow you to participate?
**[04:32] Katsuragi**
In Class A, the only ones skilled at
mental math are me and one other.
**[04:38] Katsuragi**
If I'm not chosen, chalk it up to bad
luck and be resigned to your fate.
**[04:44] Yukimura**
Let's tell Horikita.
**[04:46] Ayanokoji**
No. She'll be angry if she
learns we went behind her back.
**[04:51] Ayanokoji**
Let me decide when to tell her.
**[04:55] Yukimura**
Okay.
***SIGN*** Special Lunch Set Cheese Gratin Tofu Salad
**[05:06] Ayanokoji**
What is it?
**[05:07] Horikita**
*Could you come meet with me immediately?*
***SIGN*** Special Lunch Set Cheese Gratin Tofu Salad
**[05:12] Ayanokoji**
I have a bad feeling about this.
**[05:24] Ayanokoji**
Barley miso?
**[05:25] Ayanokoji**
I didn't know you were a good cook.
**[05:27] Horikita**
It's hardly worth bragging about.
**[05:30] Horikita**
Now, you've eaten, haven't you?
**[05:35] Horikita**
May I come to the subject at hand?
**[05:38] Ayanokoji**
I appreciate the effort, but please
don't use this method again.
**[05:44] Horikita**
Very well. I'll think up another way.
**[05:48] Ayanokoji**
That's not what I meant, actually...
**[05:52] Horikita**
I thought up what I feel to be an ideal
plan for Class C going into this.
**[05:58] Horikita**
I'd like your opinion on it.
**[06:05] Ayanokoji**
You've really exposed our
whole class with this data.
**[06:08] Horikita**
This is the answer I came up
with over a week of thinking.
***SIGN*** RPS Best Candidate: Ike Kanji Chance of Success: 50%
Piano Best Candidate: Horikita Suzune Chance of Success: 60%
Tennis Best Candidate: Kushida Kikyo Chance of Success: 55%
Ping-Pong Best Candidate: Sudo Takeshi Chance of Success: 60%
Final Special Exam Class A Subjects
(Chance of success with best candidate)
Chess
Best Candidate: None Chance of Success: 40%
***SIGN*** Modern Lit Test
50 minutes
Rules: Compete over year's worth of subject matter.
Captain rules: Able to answer one question in test-taker's stead.
Social Studies Test
50 minutes
Rules: Compete over questions based on a year's worth of geography,
history, and civics subject matter.
Captain rules: Able to answer one question in test-taker's stead.
Volleyball
Time limited 3 sets to 10 points
Rules: Standard volleyball rules.
Captain rules: Able to swap out three players at chosen time.
Math Test: 50 minutes
Rules: Compete over year's worth of subject matter.
Captain rules: Able to answer one question in test-taker's stead.
English Test: 50 minutes
Rules: Compete over year's worth of subject matters
Captain rules: Able to answer one question in test-taker's stead.
**[06:14] Ayanokoji**
I have no objections to the content.
**[06:16] Ayanokoji**
But may I make one request?
**[06:19] Horikita**
What is it?
**[06:20] Ayanokoji**
I'd like you to take on the chess
competition Class A requested.
**[06:25] Horikita**
Me?
**[06:27] Horikita**
It's true that someone will
need to practice it, but...
**[06:30] Horikita**
Why me?
**[06:32] Ayanokoji**
You seem the most suited for me to teach.
**[06:36] Horikita**
Very well.
**[06:37] Horikita**
How will we practice, then?
**[06:40] Ayanokoji**
I was thinking we'd
practice online overnight.
**[06:43] Horikita**
That way, no one will see us.
**[06:48] Horikita**
You think we can beat Class A this way?
**[06:51] Ayanokoji**
I don't think they're an unbeatable opponent.
**[06:54] Ayanokoji**
That's what this data made me think.
**[06:58] Ayanokoji**
I'm going to keep leaving things to you.
**[07:04] Ayanokoji**
All that's left is...
**[07:10] Horikita**
Wait a moment, Hirata-kun.
**[07:13] Horikita**
I'd like to confirm one thing with you.
**[07:16] Horikita**
I don't currently plan to use
you on the day of the test.
**[07:20] Horikita**
But if we end up with a subject that
requires a large number of people,
**[07:24] Horikita**
will you at least give
the bare minimum effort?
**[07:29] Horikita**
You're not going to tell me?
**[07:35] Sato**
I guess we don't stand a chance, huh?
**[07:38] Sato**
With Hirata-kun acting like that...
**[07:40] Shinohara**
And with so little time before the test...
**[07:44] Wang**
Wait, Hirata-kun!
**[07:46] Wang**
Please, Hirata-kun.
**[07:48] Wang**
We really need you for this!
**[07:51] Wang**
Please...
**[07:53] Hirata**
Could you please leave me alone?
**[07:56] Wang**
I can't do that!
**[07:58] Hirata**
Then will you bring Yamauchi-kun back?
**[08:02] Hirata**
Talking with you is a waste of time.
**[08:05] Hirata**
I can go now, right?
**[08:16] Wang**
Ow...
**[08:18] Hirata**
If you won't leave me alone—
**[08:20] Koenji**
Well, well.
**[08:22] Koenji**
Still skulking around, are we?
**[08:26] Koenji**
This is quite an ugly side you're showing.
**[08:29] Koenji**
Oh, dear.
**[08:31] Koenji**
Don't mind me.
**[08:33] Koenji**
By all means, continue.
**[08:35] Hirata**
I suppose you want something from me, too?
**[08:39] Koenji**
As I already possess everything I want,
the most I'd ask from you would be...
**[08:44] Koenji**
to kindly remain out of my sight.
**[08:48] Hirata**
Just shut up.
**[08:49] Hirata**
You don't know what I'm going through!
**[08:51] Koenji**
I certainly don't.
**[08:53] Koenji**
Nor do I want to.
**[08:54] Wang**
S-Stop this, Koenji-kun!
**[08:57] Wang**
Hirata-kun didn't do anything wrong!
**[09:00] Koenji**
Oh, do forgive me.
**[09:02] Koenji**
But you'd be best off forgetting
about your boy Hirata there.
**[09:07] Koenji**
He's broken.
**[09:13] Hirata**
I've had just about enough
out of you, Koenji!
**[09:21] Koenji**
If you come after me, I won't hold back.
**[09:35] Koenji**
If you don't want her, perhaps I'll take her.
**[09:43] Wang**
Wh-What?!
**[09:46] Wang**
P-Please, let me down!
**[09:48] Koenji**
I can't do that.
**[09:49] Koenji**
You're heartbroken, and physically harmed.
**[09:54] Koenji**
I'd like to mend all that ails you.
**[09:56] Wang**
E-Er... I... I'm not harmed at all!
**[10:00] Koenji**
No need to worry, now.
**[10:03] Koenji**
Despite appearances, I'm really quite gentle.
**[10:06] Wang**
Let me go!
**[10:07] Wang**
Put me down!
**[10:10] Koenji**
I fear I can't do that.
**[10:10] Wang**
Why?!
**[10:11] Koenji**
I already have you, you see.
**[10:12] Wang**
No! Put me down!
**[10:19] Koenji**
You still have call to quarrel with me, then?
**[10:23] Hirata**
You're doing this to hurt me, aren't you?
**[10:26] Koenji**
No.
**[10:28] Koenji**
You're the one hurting those around you.
**[10:33] Koenji**
At the very lease, I refuse to let
such a good-hearted girl go neglected.
**[10:41] Koenji**
Why don't you just disappear?
**[10:53] Wang**
Hirata-kun...
**[10:55] Koenji**
You'd be best served by
leaving him alone for today.
**[11:17] Ayanokoji**
Hirata.
**[11:20] Hirata**
Why can't you people just leave me alone?
**[11:24] Ayanokoji**
Are you going to shove me and run
away, like you did with Mii-chan?
**[11:29] Hirata**
I'm too tired.
**[11:31] Hirata**
I don't have the energy to run anymore.
**[11:34] Hirata**
So, what did you want to talk about?
**[11:37] Ayanokoji**
I want to hear what you have to say.
**[11:42] Ayanokoji**
You continue to resent the expulsion of
Yamauchi, and refuse to work with the class.
**[11:49] Ayanokoji**
I want to know what happened that
formed that worldview of yours.
**[11:55] Hirata**
What good would it do for me to tell you?
**[12:00] Ayanokoji**
You'll have told me.
**[12:05] Hirata**
There's a terrifyingly vast
darkness behind your eyes.
**[12:14] Hirata**
It all started when I was in middle school.
**[12:18] Hirata**
A good friend of mine became
a target for bullying.
**[12:23] Hirata**
I wanted to save him.
**[12:26] Hirata**
But I was afraid of becoming a target myself,
**[12:31] Hirata**
so I just sat back and watched.
**[12:34] Hirata**
Then, one day...
**[12:36] Hirata**
My friend tried to jump to his death.
**[12:47] Hirata**
They managed to save his life,
**[12:49] Hirata**
but he never recovered,
and remains in a coma.
**[12:55] Hirata**
I'm the one who drove him to it.
**[13:00] Ayanokoji**
It wasn't solely your fault.
**[13:05] Hirata**
That's true.
**[13:07] Hirata**
But bystanders share the guilt.
**[13:11] Hirata**
I thought my friend's suicide
attempt would be the end of it.
**[13:16] Hirata**
But it wasn't.
**[13:18] Hirata**
After that happened, I saw the
greatest depths of human darkness.
**[13:24] Hirata**
My classmates found a new
target for their bullying.
**[13:29] Hirata**
I couldn't believe it.
**[13:32] Hirata**
Someone who'd been a bystander until then
**[13:35] Hirata**
became their new target.
**[13:37] Hirata**
And even classmates who only tolerated
the bullying began to join in.
**[13:45] Ayanokoji**
Once the bottom rung of
the hierarchy disappears,
**[13:48] Ayanokoji**
the student just above
them is now on the bottom.
**[13:53] Ayanokoji**
It's a law of nature, in a way.
**[13:56] Hirata**
I was determined to stop it.
**[14:00] Hirata**
So I tried to control them through fear.
**[14:05] Ayanokoji**
You did?
**[14:07] Hirata**
I employed violence.
**[14:10] Hirata**
No one was willing to hit me back.
**[14:14] Hirata**
I created a hierarchy with me on top,
and everyone else at the bottom.
**[14:19] Hirata**
If any conflict came up, I dished out the
same punishment and pain to both sides.
**[14:27] Hirata**
I think I destroyed the entire
class year as a result.
**[14:33] Hirata**
The students stopped smiling and
conducted themselves like robots.
**[14:40] Ayanokoji**
And that's why you didn't like seeing
Yamauchi singled out among our class?
**[14:48] Hirata**
In the end, I couldn't protect Yamauchi-kun.
**[14:52] Hirata**
I was incapable of bringing
our class together.
**[14:57] Hirata**
To protect one person, I tried
to rule through fear once more.
**[15:02] Ayanokoji**
It's not Horikita's fault
that Yamauchi was expelled.
**[15:07] Ayanokoji**
It isn't mine, either.
**[15:09] Ayanokoji**
Do you realize that?
**[15:12] Hirata**
Yeah. It was inevitable.
**[15:16] Hirata**
There was nothing any of us could have done.
**[15:19] Ayanokoji**
That isn't true.
**[15:23] Ayanokoji**
Yamauchi's expulsion, Hirata,
**[15:27] Ayanokoji**
was your fault.
**[15:31] Ayanokoji**
If you really wanted to save him,
**[15:33] Ayanokoji**
you should have done
whatever it took to do it.
**[15:38] Hirata**
But I did everything!
**[15:40] Hirata**
I just couldn't save him!
**[15:42] Ayanokoji**
Ichinose of Class B didn't sacrifice anyone.
**[15:48] Hirata**
But that's...
**[15:50] Hirata**
Her situation was special.
**[15:53] Hirata**
She had all those private
points that made it possible!
**[15:56] Ayanokoji**
Then the issue was your inability
to spearhead a similar initiative.
**[16:01] Hirata**
That's unreasonable!
**[16:03] Ayanokoji**
Yes, but that doesn't matter.
**[16:06] Ayanokoji**
That's the path that you'd chosen.
**[16:09] Ayanokoji**
Your belief that everyone could be saved
is a private fantasy of your own making.
**[16:16] Ayanokoji**
But if you want to continue
to feel that way,
**[16:19] Ayanokoji**
then when you fail,
you need to take on all the blame.
**[16:23] Ayanokoji**
That's the dedication that
that cause requires.
**[16:25] Hirata**
I—
**[16:26] Ayanokoji**
I was under a mistaken impression.
**[16:29] Ayanokoji**
I thought you were a person of character,
whom our classmates respected.
**[16:35] Ayanokoji**
But that's not true.
**[16:37] Ayanokoji**
A shallow, helpless student who boasts
about wanting to do the impossible...
**[16:44] Ayanokoji**
That's who you are, Hirata Yosuke.
**[16:50] Ayanokoji**
How long do you expect
to remain in your dream?
**[16:54] Hirata**
This is who you really are, isn't it?
**[16:58] Hirata**
Those are horrifyingly merciless, cold words.
**[17:03] Ayanokoji**
You're free to want what you want.
**[17:06] Ayanokoji**
But if you want to save everyone,
the only way is to fight to the end,
**[17:11] Ayanokoji**
and struggle to the limits
of what is available.
**[17:15] Ayanokoji**
If, after all that, someone is still expelled,
**[17:18] Ayanokoji**
you must resign yourself, accept it,
**[17:19] Ayanokoji**
and continue to walk forward.
**[17:24] Hirata**
It's all too cruel.
**[17:26] Ayanokoji**
Hesitation on your part now will lead to
more and more of your classmates being lost.
**[17:32] Ayanokoji**
That's why you need to keep looking
forward and walking to the very end.
**[17:37] Ayanokoji**
If you do that, then when it's all over,
**[17:40] Ayanokoji**
you'll find many students
standing right behind you.
**[17:44] Hirata**
Do I really have to bear the
entire burden and keep walking?
**[17:51] Hirata**
Then where am I supposed to show weakness?
**[17:55] Ayanokoji**
When you're struggling, you can ask
your other classmates for help.
**[18:01] Ayanokoji**
You can show weakness to
whoever you choose to rely on.
**[18:05] Ayanokoji**
It doesn't matter if they're
ahead of or behind you.
**[18:09] Hirata**
I... Is someone like me...
**[18:13] Hirata**
really suited to walk in front of everyone?
**[18:19] Ayanokoji**
The person you are now
**[18:21] Ayanokoji**
can safely walk in front of them.
**[18:25] Hirata**
Thank you.
**[18:26] Hirata**
Thank you, Ayanokoji-kun.
**[18:35] Ayanokoji**
*That should do it.*
**[18:41] MV**
Morning!
**[18:43] FV**
Morning.
**[18:44] FV**
Morning!
**[18:45] FV**
Pretty warm out today, huh?
**[18:51] Wang**
G-Good morning, Hirata-kun.
**[18:55] Hirata**
Good morning.
**[18:57] Hirata**
I'm sorry about yesterday!
**[19:00] Hirata**
I was absolutely horrible to you, Mii-chan.
**[19:03] Hirata**
You've been trying and trying to talk to me.
**[19:06] Hirata**
I'm sorry I ignored you.
**[19:08] Wang**
Th-Th-That's okay...
**[19:10] Wang**
I wasn't bothered at all.
**[19:14] Hirata**
Good morning, everyone!
**[19:15] ???**
H-Hirata-kun?
**[19:18] Hirata**
And... I'm sorry!
**[19:21] Hirata**
I realize it might be too late for apologies,
**[19:25] Hirata**
but if you're all right with it,
I'd like to contribute to the class again.
**[19:30] Wang**
Hirata-kun!
**[19:31] Ike?**
What's come over you?
**[19:33] Matsushita?**
We've been waiting!
**[19:34] Sato**
Yeah!
**[19:36] Horikita**
What happened here?
**[19:39] Hirata**
Good morning, Horikita-san.
**[19:41] Horikita**
Y-Yes... good morning.
**[19:44] Hirata**
I don't think I was wrong to object
to your treatment of the class vote.
**[19:49] Horikita**
I see.
**[19:51] Hirata**
But what you did wasn't wrong, either.
**[19:55] Hirata**
Rather... it was one correct option.
**[19:58] Horikita**
That's a significant change
in perspective from yesterday.
**[20:02] Hirata**
I'm going to do the best I can to recover
the trust you've all lost in me.
**[20:21] Ayanokoji**
*Checkmate.*
**[20:24] Horikita**
I have a long way to go.
**[20:26] Ayanokoji**
* You've acquired an impressive amount*
* of mastery in quite a short time.*
**[20:32] Horikita**
I still couldn't win without
you taking it easy on me.
**[20:36] Ayanokoji**
*No one can beat me when I'm not holding back.*
**[20:41] Horikita**
You're awfully confident.
***SIGN*** Ayanokoji Kiyotaka
**[20:44] Ayanokoji**
*It's not confidence. It's experience.*
**[20:47] Ayanokoji**
* We'll call it off here in*
* preparation for tomorrow.*
**[20:50] Horikita**
I suppose.
**[20:51] Horikita**
I'll see you tomorrow, then.
**[20:53] Ayanokoji**
*Right.*
***SIGN*** Final Special Exam
***SIGN*** Final Special Exam
Team Captain Meeting Spot
**[22:40] Ichinose**
Kaneda-kun's not here yet.
**[22:51] Ichinose**
Ryuen-kun?
**[22:53] Ichinose**
What are you doing here?
**[22:56] Ryuen**
What's got you so upset?
**[22:58] Sakayanagi**
I see.
**[23:00] Sakayanagi**
It seems we made an assumption
that whoever had protection points
**[23:04] Sakayanagi**
would serve as team captain.
**[23:07] Ryuen**
If the team captain is absent,
**[23:09] Ryuen**
it's only natural that someone
else should fill in for them.
**[23:13] Ryuen**
Isn't it?
**[23:15] Ichinose**
Well, gosh.
**[23:17] Ichinose**
Watching Ryuen-kun, back to the wall,
without a protection point...
**[23:21] Sakayanagi**
It appears their competition
will be quite amusing, as well.
**[23:26] Sakayanagi**
Now that we're all here, shall we proceed?