When something that someone believes lies in a different realm comes down to them, people become disillusioned with things.
The ruler of a large empire taking a shepherd as his advisor, or a famous idol dating a normal salaryman. When something like this comes around, the ministers and the fans blame the shepherd or the boyfriend, accusing them of manipulation or blackmail.
Zachary was one similar person to the students. For everyone who used to be the best and aimed for the first rank, the person who actually took it would be no less than an idol.
And by ignoring the people closest to him in rank and pushing me, a lowly shepherd to the spotlight, he was setting me up for that very accusation.
{This bastard must have realized you were trying to keep away from attention and got angry! Tsunderes are dangerous}
I slowly stood up from my seat and nodded at Luke who still wore a gentle smile. There were not many ways to diffuse this situation. If I mess up, I would settle in with a negative impression among the entire student body.
So, I would do what I do best. Lie.
"Uh, I'm Ralph Rubinstein ranked 400th in the exams. I am not strong but good at academics."
I spoke the most irrelevant things that no one cared about, it was to set off one person who was most curious about Zachy. I maintained strong eye contact with Ardreth Vallen and continued. "My hobbies are reading and art, I guess?"
"Tsk. What the hell!" Ardreth Vallen slammed the table with his fist again. Was it ok to do that? Weren't those devices sensitive?
"What are you two eh? How did you come in and swoop the top rank?"
If I couldn't avoid all the attention, the next best way is to make it mostly positive and normal so people eventually lose interest.
"We're just old friends! He helped me out a lot."
I glared at Zachy through the corner of my eyes. How's that, bitch?
"Oh, old friends."
"So if we want to talk to the top-ranked we'll have to go through his friend."
Zachy was glaring back at me, understanding the implications of my actions. Idiot, he handed it to me on a platter. With this, I could control most of his social interactions.
{No, host! That's what he wanted!}
Zachy's glare softened and turned into a soft smirk. This bastard...
{We should've known from the exam! The damn tsundere was weak with people all along, so he's using you back!}
"Uh, well, nice to meet you, Ralph!" Luke Reese spoke up again with a charming smile. He shifted his eyes to Zachy next but then asked someone else to introduce themselves. The reason he didn't lead by example was that he wasn't going for the role of the class' leader but of the glue, the right hand. With Zachy pushing the first introduction to me, he let go of the responsibility of being the class' leader and it all ended up shifting on Luke Reese instead.
The situation was mostly fixed, I couldn't call myself the true victor, but I definitely didn't lose.
Soon, everyone introduced themselves as well, by sticking to the template I had chosen no one had to reveal their abilities which made the introductions easier for others. People like Florris and Blaine Sothsfield talked about their likes of business or engineering, while the curt ones like Ardreth Vallen and Kristina stopped after naming themselves and their ranks.
The second last to go was Zachy, who said his full name and thanked the people in the class for the help in defeating the Ender Ent back in the exam, very smartly pushing off the air of arrogance he had undoubtedly developed.
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In the end, Luke Reese had to be the one to go last, he left a strong impression on everyone from the beginning and with the end as well.
With the introductions all done, the clock reached the twenty-minute mark and the classes ended officially. I picked up my bag from the side of the desk and stood up. I thought I'll talk and leave with Zachy, but before that Cauldron and Florris approached me.
"HEY! Ralph! How have you been my dear friend?!" Cauldron's tongue hissed as he waved with three of his fingers. The lizardkin was still as cheery as ever.
"Long time no see, it's great to know we all passed," Florris added. Her ringlet curls too looked as unrealistic as ever.
"You guys too! And we're in the same class as well," I wore a bright smile and talked with them. Since Zachy, Luke and Kristina were all sitting close by, the pressure was immense, so we exchanged our contact details after some small talk and parted ways.
After some more members of the class left, I decided to go out too and Zachy followed right behind. We crossed through the doors in tow and passed by the lines of wide classrooms before going downstairs, most of them were strangely empty.
"So, what was that about, Zachy Bird?" I asked.
"Tsk. You pushed all the results of your hard work to my name and ended up in a low rank," Zachy lowered his eyes and said. "It's not like I don't want you to miss out on friendships and be looked down on or anything."
{Man, this guy is really gross}
Zachy shrugged and continued in a much more normal way now. "And anyway, it's convenient for me too. Were you trying to keep away from attention and used me to it?"
"Huh." I scoffed and ignored the dumb as rocks system. He did have my interests in mind and was also smart enough to maintain suspicion. My opinion of Zachy was largely reinforced by this interaction.
This guy.
He will be very useful.
"Think of it, Zachy," I said. "If I could do any of that, would I be walking here like this with you? You make me sound like a spy for some secret organization."
"Heh," Zachy smirked and nodded. "That's true, it was just how things turned out."
"Yup, just how they turned out."
"Wanna meet up and look around the campus later?"
"Man, at least move into your dorm first," I made a bemused face and crossed my arms behind my head. "Need any help?"
"I'll be fine."
With that, we were soon on the ground floor of our course's building. Everyone had piled up their bags near the entrance and went to collect them back. I had... already moved in, so I left the place.
"I'm tired..."
{It's just 10 AM}
Fuck.