Chapter 5: Recruitment

"Can you believe it? Kurokami-san had actually become the student council president!"

"I know right? I had only voted for her out of sympathy for being fellow first years, and that she's hot as fuck, but for her to actually won? Dude, now that's just awesome."

"But can we really trust her to run this school around? I mean, I heard that she's got a huge stick up her ass that even the most stoic and serious person would crumble before her."

"Not only that, but I also heard that because of her own abilities and background, the teachers are too afraid to do anything that could upset her."

"Haa... Not even a minute after lunch starts and the rumor mill has already started up." Zenkichi sighed within the confines of his arms on the desk, his brows furrowed.

'Kurokami Medaka, just seeing her, even when she isn't even in a combat stance, made me feel shivers running down my spine. It was like, instead of a human being, it was like staring at a monstrous beast.' He clenched his hands, cold light flashed from his blue eyes.

'That should be her Alpha Presence, a passive trait born out of her sheer raw power that she unconsciously emits. Humans perceive it as either as a supernatural charisma and eloquence which inspires them to follow her, or as an overwhelming fearful aura that forces them to obey her. What I felt was most likely the latter.'

Zenkichi's lips curled up into a twitchy smile, 'Seriously, how in the hell did the original manage to get her to stay by his side for so long?'

Yet, as he recalled that feeling and her face as she faced the students with a mixed expression of confidence and stoicism, his smile settled down and widened into an unhinged smile.

Medaka Kurokami, a human being that was more a goddess in human form than mortal, inspired loyalty and fear from her presence and actions. The original Zenkichi was no different.

Unfortunately however, this Zenkichi felt no such loyalty towards her.

As for fear?

'Ah, this is getting interesting!'

There was none but excitement.

"However you look at it." Zenkichi snapped out of his thoughts and turned his head to the side.

A little girl wearing the Hakoniwa Academy's uniform with blue bob cut hair, with a curled ahoge on top of her head, and similar colored eyes stared at Zenkichi with a wide, mischievous smile.

This girl, that looked and should belong in an elementary school than high school was Shiranui Hansode. The best friend(maybe?) of Zenkichi.

"You have to be impressed that she can pull a bluff like that in front of the entire school, with such a straight face at that!" Shiranui's expression brightened and her smile widened. "I suppose you could say she's used to standing up in front of people...."

Zenkichi sighed, with a deadpanned expression, turned to face Shiranui and said, "You're wrong Shiranui, it's not that Kurokami is used to standing up in front of people. It's more like she's used to standing over people than anything."

"Hmm, well you could put it that way as well. If that weren't the case then there would've been no chance for a first year such as Kurokami Medaka to become the Student Council President." Her eyes glance slyly towards Zenkichi, who merely replied with a raised eyebrow and a blank expression.

"Is it to be expected of the childhood friend of the little princess? The one that had helped her in her presidential campaign which led to the sharp increase of votes, to the point that 98% of the entire student body voted for the little princess? Shishishishi." Shiranui chuckled.

'As always, her little eavesdropping on people is both useful and terrifying. I wonder what other information and secrets she's heard in the entire school population. I wouldn't even be surprised if she managed to hear about someone's security number... Okay shit, that's terrifying!' He sweatdropped.

"It's nothing impressive. Anyone with clear eyes and common sense could see it." Zenkichi rolled his eyes, feeling at ease for some odd reason. He looked over Shiranui from head to toe with a blank stare.

'Okay, this has got to be some weird coincidence or I just have a thing with lolis.' He did not miss how Shiranui shared a certain look with his mom. 'Or is it hereditary?'

"Oh? What do you mean by that?" She tilted her head to side, an expression of curiosity.

Zenkichi smirked, giving her a 'really?' look, and said, "Don't act like you don't already know. To put it in a certain point of view, Kurokami Medaka is someone that's easily described by a few words, and that is—she's an almost perfect human being."

Shiranui blinked her eyes, seemingly as if she didn't know, and cutely smashed her fist on her palm, saying, "Oh! So that's what makes everyone so attracted to her? She's almost so perfect, that us humans, who unconsciously or consciously crave perfection, couldn't help but seek her out."

"More or less. It is true that most people are attracted to Kurokami, whether it be positively or negatively, but it isn't because of what she represents as an almost perfect human–no, the perfect ideal human."

"What makes people endear to her are her kindness, confidence, aloofness, charisma, intelligence, stubbornness, beauty and her buttload of money. Basically, her humanity."

"But...isn't that what a perfect ideal human is? Or should it be? Hitoyoshi-kun, you're just contradicting yourself." Shiranui said with a frown.

'Yes, it is precisely that is what makes Medaka so attractive to others like moths to a flame. She...'

Zenkichi eyelids lowered halfway down his eyes, giving her a dry look, and said, "Are you sure that's the ideal of what a perfect human being?"

"...It should be obvious, though, the perfect human being to me is someone who embodies greed and laziness~" Shiranui jokingly said as she started spinning around in place.

Zenkichi was surprised at what she said for a brief moment before he let out an amused chuckle, muttering, "Basically, you."

"Yup~! I'm the perfect human being!"

The corner of his lips curled. She didn't need to tell him, he already knew. He knew what the ideal and true perfect human being was. That is—

Zenkichi's eyes widened. 'Wait a second!' Why did he start talking about what is the perfect human being?

He was pretty smart, at least college level probably, but it wasn't to the point that he would start discussing the ideal human being!

Discuss politics? Boring but he could start a debate easily enough. Solve some hard equations? He could do it with enough time. Build some sort of machine that can help them in their every day life? Pssh, anyone who has an internet could do that.

He could do all that, but what he can't do is be philosophical!

'What's going on? Did the original's personality fusion with my own cause some sort of imbalance in my psyche? Or did the assimilation of the system do this? It should be most likely, but I don't want to come to any wrong conclusions. Dammit. I should've expected this, considering that it's barely been a few hours since I reincarnated. I should analyze more of my body and mind later on, possibly after classes.'

'Fucks sakes, I gotta deal with any issues concerning myself, I don't wanna take any risk. I especially don't want to develop some kind of multiple personality bullshit.'

Zenkichi thought to himself, clenching his fists. While his mind was in chaos, his face was expressionless as he tried listening on to Shiranui's rambling about Medaka's many achievements and exploits she'd done in this school alone.

Though he was a bit surprised that Shiranui just completely moved on from their previous topic of the perfect human being and seemingly acted as if their entire conversation didn't occur just awhile ago.

"...So, are you going to join the Student Council?" Finally, Shiranui stopped rambling about Medaka's accomplishments, which was starting to become more exaggerated and unbelievable, and asked a question that was in her and anyone's mind, who knew Zenkichi, the moment Medaka became the SCP(Student Council President, not the other one).

Will Zenkichi Hitoyoshi join the Student Council? Continue on following the back of the girl, sink deeper into her shadow with a tighter leash than ever before?

"I...probably wouldn't, to be honest." Zenkichi, looking hesitant for a moment, finally uttered a reply as he rubbed the back of his head.

He, didn't hate Medaka Kurokami. Nor did he hold any anger towards her. He hated being ordered around, being in the shadows and being some random goon that just got lucky he continued being alive for this long because he clung to someone powerful.

Zenkichi hated that, both 'him' and the original, watching from a distance while his friend fought her battles on her own and sometimes even his own.

He felt so powerless, helpless, useless... He loathed himself for it so much that it became his motivation to become better.

Zenkichi Hitoyoshi shared the feelings of the original, he was once like that after all, and having a second chance in life made him swore to himself that he wouldn't become the person he once was.

So, he'll grow stronger, better. Taking each step at a time, with the help of the system, he'll one day surpass Medaka Kurokami and have her, and anyone else, rely on him.

'I won't go back to being 'me'.' Zenkichi clenched his fists, a hazy memory appeared in his mind.

A memory of himself, all chubby, his entire upper body bare, except for a gaming headset around his neck alongside his shoulder long black hair. His body was as big as a yoga ball. He looked at his flabby body, from his stomach to his arms, to his man tits and then to his face. His face was a mixed expression of sadness, regret and resignation clearly reflected by his hazy blue eyes.

'I'll be better this time...'

So for that to happen, he has to get away from Medaka for a bit. How can he grow stronger if he's under the wing of someone who's already at the top of the school chain in both popularity and power?

'Should I try joining another committee instead? Or just a club–hm?' Just as Zenkichi was in deep thought he suddenly felt someone grabbing his right shoulder.

"Can I help you..." He turned his head around with a raised eyebrow, not noticing Shiranui's shaking her head at him, he started talking to the person grabbing his shoulder but the words coming out of his mouth instantly died off as he saw who was behind him.

"My, Zenkichi. How could you just refuse me so readily when I still haven't offered you in joining the council? Though I don't have to worry, as you might change your mind soon if I told you the benefits in becoming a member of the student council."

That person was Medaka, her eyes were closed, and she was smiling right at him. Menacingly.

"Will you come peacefully with me or will I have to "strongly" persuade you into coming with me?"

"...That depends, will there be coke and cookies?"

"...I don't have coke, but I do have some cookies and green tea."

"Alright, I'm in. Let's go."

"Hey wait! If there's drinks and snacks then I'm coming along with you guys!"