Kakeru Ryuen
The Class C leader who stepped down after a physical defeat.
Kakeru Ryūen is a student at Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School, initially a member of Class C. He is known for his aggressive tactics and serves as a primary antagonist during the first year. Ryūen uses a traitor within Class D to sabotage their efforts during the sports festival. He later kidnaps and interrogates Kei Karuizawa at a construction site to force the 'mastermind' of Class D into the open. Ayanokōji arrives and physically defeats Ryūen and his associates. Following this, Ryūen takes responsibility for the incident and steps down as Class C's leader.
- Full Name
- Kakeru Ryūen
- Affiliation
- Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School
- Initial Class
- Class C (Year 1)
- Role
- Former Class Leader / Antagonist
- Status
- Former Class C Leader
- Key Rivalry
- Ayanokōji Kiyotaka
Lore & Background
Kakeru Ryūen is the leader of Class C during the first year at Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School. His leadership style is aggressive and confrontational, relying on intimidation and sabotage. During the sports festival, where Class D is paired with Class C against Class A and Class B, Ryūen uses a traitor within Class D to sabotage their efforts. Despite this internal interference, Ayanokōji wins the 100-meter dash, and Class D finishes third out of four classes in the overall standings. Ryūen's most extreme action occurs after the 'Paper Shuffle' exam, when he kidnaps and interrogates Kei Karuizawa at a construction site to force the 'mastermind' of Class D into the open. Ayanokōji arrives and physically defeats Ryūen and his associates. Ryūen takes responsibility for the incident and steps down as Class C's leader. At the end of the first year, after the class vote exam, Class D is subsequently promoted to Class B.
In Their Own Story
The construction site was dark and empty, the perfect place for an interrogation. Ryūen had Kei Karuizawa cornered, demanding she reveal the 'mastermind' of Class D. He was confident that fear would break her. But then Ayanokōji arrived. The confrontation was brief and brutal. Ayanokōji physically defeated Ryūen and his associates. In the aftermath, Ryūen took full responsibility for the incident. He stepped down as Class C's leader, and Class D was subsequently promoted to Class C.
Reader's Guide
Kakeru Ryūen is a major antagonist in the first year arc of Classroom of the Elite. As the leader of Class C, he employs aggressive and underhanded tactics to gain an advantage over rival classes. His key actions include using a traitor within Class D during the sports festival to sabotage their efforts. His most significant confrontation occurs when he kidnaps Kei Karuizawa to force out the 'mastermind' of Class D. This plan backfires when Ayanokōji arrives and physically defeats him. Following this defeat, Ryūen takes responsibility for the incident and steps down as Class C's leader. This event directly leads to Class D being promoted to Class C. Ryūen's story arc demonstrates that his reliance on physical intimidation and sabotage ultimately fails against Ayanokōji's strategic planning.
Did You Know?
- Ryūen uses a traitor within Class D to sabotage their efforts during the sports festival.
- He kidnaps and interrogates Kei Karuizawa at a construction site to force the 'mastermind' of Class D into the open.
- Ayanokōji physically defeats Ryūen and his associates during the interrogation incident.
- After his defeat, Ryūen takes responsibility for the incident and steps down as Class C's leader.
- Class D is subsequently promoted to Class B following the class vote exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Kakeru Ryūen?
Kakeru Ryūen is the initial leader of Class C at Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School, renowned for his ruthless and aggressive leadership style. He serves as a primary antagonist in the first year, directly opposing Class D through intimidation and manipulation.
What role does Kakeru Ryūen play in the story?
As Class C's leader, he orchestrates complex schemes to sabotage rivals, including using an infiltrator during the sports festival and kidnapping Kei Karuizawa. His primary function is to challenge Ayanokōji Kiyotaka, acting as a foil who relies on brute force rather than subtle manipulation.
How does Kakeru Ryūen's arc conclude?
Following a physical confrontation where he is decisively defeated by Ayanokōji at a construction site, Ryūen accepts full responsibility for his actions. He subsequently resigns from his position as Class C leader to face the consequences of his unauthorized tactics.
Why is Kakeru Ryūen important to the plot?
His aggressive campaigns force Class D to reveal their true capabilities and expose the mastermind behind their operations. By serving as a formidable early-year rival, he sets the stage for Ayanokōji's eventual dominance and the shifting power dynamics within the school.
What are Kakeru Ryūen's key weaknesses?
Despite his physical prowess and strategic mind, Ryūen is ultimately outmatched by Ayanokōji's superior combat skills and psychological insight. His reliance on overt violence and intimidation proves ineffective against an opponent who can dismantle his plans without direct confrontation.
More in Characters & Students
Elsewhere in the Classroom of the Elite universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record