Chapter 22: Meaning of life

"Heh~ So that's what you guys were doing~" Shiranui hummed as she twirled around in circles in the hallway with Zenkichi walking besides her. "So Hitoyoshi-kun, you know Taekwondo?"

"Well, more or less." He replied casually with his hands in his pockets. "But not really. I know eskrima, muay thai, judo, taijutsu, kenjutsu, shurikenjutsu and savate. I specialized in using my legs and that's how Taekwondo mostly works."

Shiranui blinked her eyes, dumbstruck.

"So....not only did you create a new derived version of the Taekwondo fighting style, which sounds like a superior version compared to the plain one, but also used a technique of it to defeat a unofficial judo master like Akune Kouki? Without mastering or learning much about the techniques of Taekwondo?"

"Well, not really? I just copied the fighting style and its techniques from a comic I once saw. Since it was really cool, and I wanted to beat Akune-senpai in the most epic way possible, I figured I'd like to try and replicate it in real life." Zenkichi shrugged his shoulders. "It wasn't perfect and it had flaws since I didn't really know the true mechanics behind the technique, but it had only worked because of my superior speed and control over my body."

"....Now I understand why that Kurokami would choose you as the vice president. You're almost as much a monster as she is." The lithe student looked down and muttered under her breath. She narrowed her eyes for a moment before shaking her head and looked back at Zenkichi with a curious expression.

"So? What was the result about the request? Who'd you guys pick as the next successor of the Queen of Foul?"

"Ah, about that...."

They casually talked about stuff as they headed towards the student council room.

Zenkichi pondered on what he was going to do in the near future.

'I should probably train my time magic, my sacred gears, control my Extremis side and find more about what other power the Mark of Infinity would give me. What's the use of them if I can't even use them properly? Also, I should go find Naze and ask more details about the Flask Plan and finally decide on how to deal with it.' He let out a tired sigh.

'Who knew being a highschool student could be so stressful? Although college is a much bigger pain in the ass, it was something much more enjoyable and carefree.' The thought about the time he spent in his previous life caused a bout of sadness swell up inside him.

'Mom, dad, bros, hoes, games, springbreak....my most special and best time of my life. Although it's already been a few months since I've reincarnated into this world, and as someone else, it feels like it's just been yesterday that I was drinking with my friends and flirting with some girls. It feels like this is all just a dream, a hallucination. But I know that if it was, I would have dreamt about being in either Marvel or DC with some OP superpower and getting the girls. The best ones are the ones wearing skin tight spandex after all, damn.'

'What's more, it's also heartbreaking to reincarnate because I was about graduate! Four. Whole. Years of civil engineering, wasted! All those late night studies; missing on some game events, missing on watching some anime and the walking dead, haa!' He let out a sigh.

'I really missed my previous life....Also missed the beer and the weed as well, god, I could use a really good smoke right now with how stressed out I am.' Zenkichi let out another sigh, he could already tell that he'd be sighing a lot.

"Hm? Why are you sighing so much Hitoyoshi?" Shiranui asked with a tilted head.

"Oh, I'm just contemplating the meaning of life is all."

"Heeeeeh~ So? What's your verdict in the meaning of life, Hitoyoshi?"

"Living is a pain in the ass but it's worth it if it means experiencing many things. Whether it be beautiful or ugly, each will be an experience of a lifetime that'll accompany you until the end of your life. You'll laugh, cry and regret the many things you've done and seen in your life and wish you can take it all back but you can't help but admit, living my life like that was kinda fun."

"..." Shiranui stared at Zenkichi.

"Ah, but there are some that think that their life was nothing but meaningless and useless."

"Aaaaand the moment was ruined.....That was deep, Hitoyoshi. But also, kinda creepy? I mean who contemplates life when they're sixteen?"

"I know a certain black haired loner, who's at the same age as me, who does."

"Loners or anti social people don't count since they can think a lot of things in their head when they don't have any friends to talk to."

"Wow. Do you have something against loners or something?"

"No. But I have something against people who are useless and don't try to change their lives." Shiranui looked away. Signifying the end of their conversation.

Zenkichi glanced at her for a moment before turning towards the student council door and opened it.

Only to find Koga standing in front of the room with her right index finger pointing at him.

"Zenkichi Hitoyoshi! I know what you did last summer–!"

Zenkichi slide the door back to a close and clicked it lock with his key.

"–with Naze-chan! Eh? Oi!" Footsteps could be practically heard from the inside of the door. "Hitoyoshi! Don't you fucking run away from me now! You gotta tell me–what the heck? Why can't I open this door when I'm clearly in the inside of the room?! This doesn't make sense!"

Zenkichi stared deadpanned at the shaking door while Shiranui looked at him with curious wide sparkling eyes.

"Shiranui, I retract my previous statement." He let out a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Life is truly a pain in the ass and nothing more."

"ZENKICHI HITOYOSHI! OPEN THIS GODDAMN DOOR!"

❄️

A shorter chapter than usual but, my tooth fucking hurts.

This took way longer than it was supposed to, but I was busy with voting in the election in my country, eating some stuff with the money I got from the campaign, and trying to make an appointment with a dentist. Seriously, what kind of a dentist isn't at work when it's a weekday?!

I am purely motivated by praise and interaction, as well as power stones and I'll probably write faster.

Give me a hundred power stones and you guys get a chapter tomorrow!