A review by mikathereviewer
Classroom of the Elite, Vol. 2 by Syougo Kinugasa

funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This volume was once again mainly about one major thing, just that I didn't think that it would actually take 200+ pages to resolve itself. I think that this book series is probably in general rather medium-paced which I don't find to be bothersome, just a bit surprised as the anime definitely was skipping some parts in the light novel which I wouldn't have known until I read it now, (glad I did).

Once again a secret is revealed. Also, at the end of this book another secret is hinted on (it might seem like the real question behind it got answered, but I'm sure there is more to it). 

This volume seemed to be way more funny than the last one, though I think this isn't intentioned and probably just a me thing, but the way Ayanokouji sometimes acted (especially towards Horikita) is just too hilarious. The funny scenes weren't that many, but enough to put me off guard and make funny commentary to the scenes. For example when Ayanokouji remembered something and even though he was in the middle of a conversation with Ichinose he just started running away. Even funnier, Ichinose decided to just run with him, though she didn't know what was going on.

“Oh, yeah, that reminds me. There was one thing I wanted to tell you, Ayanokouji-kun.”
Before Ichinose could say anything, though, I was already running away. Whatever she wanted to tell me, it was going to have to wait.
“Huh?! W-wait a minute!”
Even though she couldn’t understand what was happening, for some reason Ichinose followed me.

Back to the relationship of Ichinose and Ayanokouji: They just met in this volume and they didn't have mutual trust but that changed quickly and I do believe that their development went pretty fast, but it was still a good development which also made sense. The way Ayanokouji refused to be called a certain name for a lie and then changing roles and being the one to accept it later on without Ichinose pressuring him into it, showed how much his perspective about Ichinose changed. Once again, I see potential in them becoming allies. Definitely looking forward to seeing more of them. 

I also noticed that the author must be liking Fyodor Dostoevsky as he mentioned again one of his works and it's only volume two. 
Volume 1 mentioned: Crime and Punishment
Volume 2 mentioned: Demons
For the second time Horikita read it herself and if I remember correctly in the first volume it was just referenced for something else. Ayanokouji apparently also approves of the author as he thought to himself that what Horikita was reading was a ‘good choice’. For myself, I do approve of what Horikita was reading as well, as Fyodor Dostoevsky is indeed a great author. 

And of course I shouldn't forgot the teaming up between Ayanokouji and Horikita, which already started in the last volume but is still interesting to observe. He even took a step further by tickling her which was just like in the anime funny.

<blockquote>I resigned myself to the fact that I might be killed later for doing this, but I got up slowly from my folding chair and stood behind Horikita. I stretched my arms out and grasped her sides as hard as I could.
“Hyah?!” Horikita cried out in an abnormally girlish voice.</blockquote>

Ayanokouji is again more human than he could ever be in the anime, specially in the manga which altered his personality completely, though he is way more robotic in the anime. It's sad to see that only the light novel made him appear to be human and have moments that some people could relate to. I honestly also see myself relating to him more than I could have ever in his anime version (though of course I don't relate to everything).
<blockquote>I was experiencing a strange phenomenon: I had friends, yet I was still on my own. It was an uncomfortable experience.</blockquote>

<blockquote>“I’m glad. When I was a kid, I used to cry in front of people all the time.”
“I had no idea that you were like that, Ayanokouji-kun. That’s completely unlike the image I have of you.”
“Yeah, I cried a lot. Maybe 10 or 20 times in front of other people.”</blockquote>

Also, can we please discuss about Sakagami-sensei, the homeroom teacher for Class C? He is such a bad person. I get that he of course is on the side of his own class he also represents, but his comments towards students that aren't his? Bad, way too bad. I'm glad that class D didn't met him before that incident 'cause I surely wouldn't want to meet him any time soon again after what he said. He is not just the gaslighting type, but in general seems to be mean to those that aren't his responsibility which is something I wouldn't expect from a teacher.

Another thing that I didn't like, which in this case might actually influence my rating, unless the one above as there are always bad characters in a story is that once again someone was sexually harassed, this time I didn't even remember that scene from the anime, which made me feel towards this scene even more uncomfortable. Though once again, it wasn't anything unnecessary but necessary for a major character development (I know this sounds crazy, but if you read this volume you will understand), so I won't reduce my rating like I did last time (last time it were two different ones though, with only one contributing to the story and the other one being unnecessary).

Based on enjoyment, I did prefer the first volume (excluding the ending of the 2nd volume which was really tense). I also think that more stuff happened in the first volume, if I compare both. Therefore I once again give this book a 3 star rating.
(This doesn't mean that I didn't like it, it just means that I see, but also know since I watched the anime, that there is more to come).