that' s a stupid statement.
I mean I get u, but u don't have to say it u know
So I think they explain this later, but the teachers were actually manipulating their grades so that he would always be in first place because of his higher social status: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2056dv/
That does make it slightly more palatable
I think it doesn't really have to do with gender, but the fact that the girl is the main character. The main character is the one who is less bright than the romantic interest, and overthrowing this person to become n°1 becomes their objectif, wich midst this hatefull tention, they develop feelings for one another. Rivalry is one of the many ways to give the readers something to cheer the main character on. I have to say though making a love story with rivalry is hard, especially with the sort of characters this story is working with, you have to make the enemy, antagonist a romantic interest, whilst that person is superior and cooky, whilst the main character is very determined and very dense, this manga doesn't handle it that well, like in the most recent chapter, chapter 5, the teacher teleports the love interest to the main character wich is quite lazy writing, but there is most defenetly worstmangas and examples. In rivalry romances where a boy is the main character, it will also most likely be played out with love interest, this meaning the girl, on the top of whatever they're rivaling against.I'm sorry for rambling and I hope this is informative!
Oh but what if~~ FL said being 2nd place was comfortable. What if ML worked hard to be on top so people didn’t regard her a monster in terms of studying. She was already a commoner, to be 1st place would probably cause her soooo many issues.
Just a theory. (๑•ㅂ•)و✧
It really pisses me off that there is this fucking trope in Japanese stuff that no matter how good or genius the FL is, the ML by mere 'virtue' of having a dick is first and the FL 2nd. It's not balanced whatsoever. This can't be called rivalry unless both sides struggle. And there is a constant up and down of change between who beats who. And what about everyone else? They're not the sole geni in the whole academy! I wanted to see fair competition between them and everyone else. But Nooooo~ He's got a dick so of course he's going to be better tha her in everything.