@Abedeus
He loves cliches. Especially ones from manga featuring anti-heros. The tournament cliche was "weak but unyielding shonen protagonist who refuses to give up". He told you the school one. Everything is an act to him. He truly believes everything is done purely for the sake of his enjoyment and the appreciation of cliches. That no seriousness is behind it. Everyone is just super into it where they dedicate 100% to authenticity.
I literally got to halfway through the chapter and couldn't help but burst out laughing uncontrollably. The whole cringey exchange "you have won the battle of the soul" is intensified so much by how extra mc is being. I fucking love it.
@JavelinJoe
You got the tournament cliche wrong, he actually messed up there because he wanted to show off all the moves he practiced instead of staying defeated like he's meant to.