Episode 9 of "Study Group" kicks off with a haunting flashback to a fateful year ago, when Jung-hwa tragically lost her life defending her son, Gyeon-yeob, who was also stabbed, after she demanded a disciplinary committee to investigate Min Hwan and Pi Han Ui. Shockingly, it transpires that Pi Han Ui's father was privy to his son's misconduct yet chose to remain silent, an unsurprising revelation indeed. Consequently, Jung-hwa's untimely demise led to the cancellation of the disciplinary committee, with a member of Yeonbaek's gang wrongfully taking the blame for the murder. Pi Han Ui capitalized on the turmoil by launching his ranking app within the school.
Presently, the study group confronts Pi Han Ui, wondering if the impending disciplinary committee rattles him. They harbor hopes that tensions have subsided due to the committee's reunion. Meanwhile, Han-gyeong seeks out Gyeon-yeob to express her heartfelt apologies for not recognizing him sooner. Despite Gyeon-yeob's warning to give up, Han-gyeong remains undeterred.
Elsewhere, the Deputy Principal briefs Pi Han Ui's father on the unfolding situation, expressing pessimism about halting the disciplinary committee. However, Pi Han Ui assures his father that he has everything under control, revealing his sinister plan to tarnish the study group's reputation by leaking footage of the brawl at Yeonbaek Capital. The media swiftly labels the study group as a gang attempting to steal from the company, attracting a swarm of inquisitive YouTubers eager for more dirt on the so-called "school gang."
In the meantime, the Deputy Principal seizes this moment to file for a disciplinary committee against Ga-min, threatening to expel him if Han-gyeong doesn't cancel the meeting against Pi Han Ui. Though shaken, Han-gyeong reluctantly asks Ga-min and the others to remain calm and avoid provocation.
This proves a monumental challenge when Pi Han Ui announces a bounty of one million Won for anyone who disrupts the ranking system. Students descend into chaos, instigating fights and baiting the study group members. Simultaneously, Min Hwan and Pi Han Ui terrorize the group, reducing their study room to ruins.
Se-hyeon's spirits plummet, vowing to his father to quit school and join the construction crew. Fortunately, Ga-min refuses to abandon him, trailing him to the construction site until he agrees to rejoin the study group. Reinvigorated, they regroup with the other members, beginning with Hee-won, and reignite their determination.
Concurrently, Han-gyeong steadfastly refuses to call off the disciplinary committee, vowing to salvage the study group's tarnished reputation. This blindsides the Deputy Principal, who believed he had Han-gyeong cornered.
