Do you know how Classroom of the Elite throws those mind games at you? Well, Season 3 had me totally invested in one thing – figuring out if Kiyotaka and Kei are actually in love, or if it’s all part of some bigger plan. Let’s discuss what I really think about this relationship.
Kei: Not Your Average Popular Girl
At first, Kei seems like your typical high school queen bee, right? Always with her crew, focused on clothes and stuff. But there’s something else going on. Underneath that popularity, she’s hiding a whole lot of hurt from being bullied in the past. That explains why she’s so controlling, and her fake relationship with Hirata – it’s about keeping up appearances.
It was later revealed that Kei was also getting bullied by 1-C girls and she was hiding it and hoping Hirata would protect her since she trusted him the most.
Kiyotaka: The Guy Who’s Always a Step Ahead
Then there’s Kiyotaka – the ultimate mystery. He stays under the radar, but you can tell he’s got this crazy-smart brain and he always seems to be pulling the strings. At first, it feels like he’s just using Kei as a pawn in whatever game he’s playing.
Things Get Messy, Feelings Get Real
But here’s where it gets interesting. Kiyotaka figures out what Kei’s hiding, and somehow, there’s this switch. He starts stepping in, protecting her when things get rough. You can see Kei softening, the way she starts trusting him. And hey, it’s not one-sided – she becomes one of the only people he seems to let his guard down around.
The Big Confession (But Is It Enough?)
Things get wild when Kiyotaka spills his feelings and they actually become a couple, even if it’s a secret one. But this ain’t a fairy tale, okay? Kei’s past makes her doubt everything – what if Kiyotaka gets rid of her when she’s not useful anymore? And you can tell Kiyotaka, with his own baggage, is struggling to open up fully.
However, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji did confess his feelings, and at the end of the episode he ended up hugging Kei and they became a couple. Now, I haven’t read the novel/manga of the series as I don’t want to spoil myself.
So, What’s the Deal?
I don’t think even Kiyotaka knows if this is real love. Maybe he started off using her, but then real feelings got mixed in. Or maybe he can’t fully separate his emotions from his strategic mind.
Whatever the truth is, it’s one heck of a complex relationship, and that’s what makes it so darn interesting. Is it the healthiest romance ever? Nope. Is it going to keep throwing curveballs at us? Absolutely.
Let me know what you guys think! Is this Kiyotaka-Kei ship sailing, or is it going to crash and burn?
