Rokusuke Koenji: The Jock Everyone Hates?

Let’s face it, we all know the archetype that Koenji is supposed to encapsulate: He’s the jerk jock. A bodybuilder who has an awful attitude and follows it up with even more awful actions. He’s a character that is practically made to be hated. 

But the difference between Koenji and those meathead types is the fact that he’s actually got the brains to back it up. No, really, Koenji might just be the smartest person in Class D, if we don’t count the obvious protagonist. And we see hints of that almost regularly, like how he passed the midterms without having to cheat his way through.

But the problem is, the one thing he doesn’t excel in? That’s being a team player. Because for all that Koenji could be an asset to Class D excelling, he refuses to help his own classmates. Honestly, he seems more content with being an obstacle in their way instead. Like, my man has no qualms about betraying his own teammates and leaving them in the dust. It’s almost like you can bet that whenever they need him most, he is most assuredly not going to be there.

Which is probably why Koenji’s character ends up being so fun in the first place. Like, yes, he’s an absolute menace. And you can depend on him to deliver the worst Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School has to offer. 

Rokusuke Koenji’s Hidden Smarts Are Suspicious

So, Koenji is arrogant, overconfident and hails from a line of celebrated scholars. He has lofty ideals and the money to back it up, and he isn’t afraid to say so. So, how did someone who is so self-assured of his abilities, end up in a class that ranks as low as Class D does? 

Well, that’s the mystery of it all, isn’t it? It’s precisely because Koenji goes so against the grain of his character model that it makes you feel like you’re being duped. Because clearly, he didn’t get into somewhere that is touted as birthing Tokyo’s future leaders without some effort put in. This is the same man that passed the class test without having to resort to Kushida Kikyo’s leaked answer sheet. 

There are other instances as well that showcase just how far beyond his skills are compared to his peers. For example, when he’s able to determine the VIP correctly for the Special Test on the very first day. There’s also how he figured out the ‘Traitor’ for their Case 3 test without any help. Not to mention how he’s the most athletic member of Class D, being a bodybuilder that is clearly in the peak of their performance. 

Koenji could be a huge boost to Class D. But for some reason, it feels like he’s more inclined to work against them, rather than with them. It’s why some people joke that it’s easier to believe Koenji is doing the opposite of what’s best for everyone.