For My Own Benefit

*Kei Machida's POV*

//July 17, 2040//Tuesday//

I heard all of it. I heard the things these students said about me.

I was about to enter inside to have breakfast with these people, but I heard that everyone was talking about me, and Kiyoko so I stood in front of the door to eavesdrop on the things they were talking about.

They were asking if Kiyoko had romantic feelings for me. Kiyoko was flustered, and couldn't give them a straight answer. I was a little bit irritated.

How can a person who I work with for the sake of getting out of this place to develop some feelings for me?

As their conversation continued, Everyone was talking about me. My attitude, and how I talk with them, everything. I heard all of it. But, most of them were compliments. I never expected them to give me those praises because

I am aware that I treated them like shit. Even the higher-ups in the government despise me, and the only ones who complimented me for the things I did were the president, Shinohara, and my family. I never expect to hear praises from other people who I barely knew.

"That's rubbish…"

I walked away and decided to continue investigating the place. Megumin probably saved us some food since that is the kind of person she is. I should just eat my breakfast when all of them are not in the cafeteria anymore.

It's not because I acted nice towards you people, that doesn't mean I am your ally or friend. I did what I said to Kiyoko the second time we met.

I will help you fix the broken bonds you had with one another, and I will have a good connection with each one of them.

That is what I said, but don't jump to conclusions that I am someone you can rely on, especially you, Kiyoko. If you really have feelings for me, forget about it. After all…

"You people are only useful for my own benefits."

I will not hesitate to kill any of you if needed. Kiyoko, you already know that I am a murderer. At that time you should have been more alert, but you didn't. You became more comfortable with me, and now you had these mixed feelings inside of you for me. I will get out of this place, and use you people if necessary. I will get out of here no matter what, and find the person behind the Ruination of Kanagawa.

I will kill that person.

I went to the third floor and went inside the Arts room. I haven't checked this area closely yet, and I wanted to explore it a bit more.

It was dark inside, the room was spacious, and there were a lot of mannequins inside, some of them were covered with a cloth. I opened the lights inside, and I looked at each of the mannequins since I haven't done it yet in the past.

Upon further investigation on these things, I noticed something.

"A camera?"

There was a small camera hidden inside one of the mannequin's eyes. It was concealed, and people would not be able to find it if they didn't look at it closely. What confused me was, that it was working, and someone was watching me.

"But why is there a camera hidden here?"

I do not have a clue who it was watching. But if it was Ichi who was monitoring these cameras, why would he use these things? If he was a God, shouldn't he be able to see us without using cameras?

Wait, Why am I considering Ichi as a God?

This doesn't make sense at all. He can create money from his palm. He can also disintegrate, and regenerate a limb. So why would someone use a camera to watch all of us if he had those amazing supernatural powers that even Science can't explain?

"Found you…"

My skin shivered as soon as I heard an unusual voice from behind. When I turned around a fist was going to fly to my face.

I managed to block it with both of my forearms, but I heard a crack in my bones, and it gave me excruciating pain.

"Shit!"

I backed away to have some distance from the attacker. I threw away the mannequin that I was investigating but this person managed to catch it easily.

"Why are you throwing this piece of shit at me, Machida?!"

As soon as that person threw the heavy mannequin with ease, my eyes widened, and I was startled at the person in front of me.

"Hyakuzawa?"

We haven't seen Hyakuzawa for the past month, and it was my mistake to let my guard down. As time passed by, I disregarded the existence of Hyakuzawa, and I thought he wouldn't be much of a threat. Even if he acted tough towards us, he didn't have the guts to kill someone here inside.

But that is what I thought.

"What the hell, Machida? Does my punch hurt your arm a lot?"

He cracked his fingers while mocking me. If I didn't block his punch earlier, that would be fatal to me, and he might beat me up easily.

My body shakes a little.

I thought this person is a nobody. A coward who can't put his words into action. But Hyakuzawa was in front of me right now.

He was oozing with bloodlust.

"It's not like you to do a surprise attack, Hyakuzawa."

I pulled the knife that I was carrying in my pocket. I usually bring a knife with me in secret just in case there will be a time when I am in a pinch. And this was that time.

"I learned from my mistake last month, Machida! After all, I AM MORE STRONGER THAN YOU IF I USE MY BRAINS!!!"

This person must be killed. Sasaki and the others will get furious at me later when they see me kill this guy. But my life was more important than his.

I quickly rushed at him and tried to slit his throat open. Hyakuzawa quickly dodged it, and held the blade of my knife with that strong grip of his.

*SNAP*

I was surprised at what happened. With just his grip, he managed to snap my knife into two. He disregarded the pain that he accumulated from the cut of my knife even though his palm was bleeding a lot. All I could see in this person's face was the urge to kill me here right now.

I quickly let go of the knife that I was holding and tried punching him in the face with my other hand, but he was quick. He grabbed my wrist and held it with his strong grip. I heard my wrist crack, and it was painful.

Hyakuzawa was enjoying it, and he knew that he had the upper advantage. He was one of the most athletic students in Japan after all.

"Machida, there will be an investigation where you will need the help of others."

I suddenly remembered what Shinohara said to me before I came here to Saitei University. She told me that there will be a time that I will really need the help of others. Not because I want someone for my own benefit, but because I really need their help.

I became irritated at what I recalled. I got pissed at Shinohara's voice inside my head.

I don't need the help of others. I can do things on my own.

I let him hold my wrist. That way, only one of his hands is available to block an attack from me. I tried kicking him in the head quickly. I am experienced in taekwondo, and I was able to land a powerful kick on him.

But that didn't even work…

"Is that all you got?"

My foot stayed on the side of his face after the impact of my kick. Hyakuzawa didn't even budge, and it looked like he didn't feel anything at all. I was surprised, and at this moment.

I realized how powerless I was once again.

*SMACK*

I received a strong punch from Hyakuzawa in the face, and in the stomach. I vomited a lot of blood from that one punch on my gut that made me fall to the floor.

My head was spinning around, and I couldn't stand up. My nose and mouth were bleeding from the impact of his punch. He was too powerful.

"HAHAHAHA!!! HOW PATHETIC YOU ARE KEI MACHIDA!!!"

I wanted to fight back, but I couldn't. Those two powerful punches were lethal, and a barrage of them will kill me. I didn't want to give up, but my body was already surrendering.

"Rely on me more, okay?"

I remembered what Kiyoko told me when we were in the elevator. I don't want your help, I can get out of this situation on my own. I don't need to rely on anyone. I don't need it. I don't need it!

"Kiyoko, help me…"

Those words suddenly came from my mouth. A cry for help. I am pathetic to be asking for help, but at this moment I wanted someone to give me a helping hand. Someone who can save me from death.

"HAHAHAHAHA!!!! THIS IS UNEXPECTED MACHIDA!!! YOU OF ALL PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR HELP FROM SOMEONE!!! YOU ARE PATHETIC!!!"

I ignored what Hyakuzawa said to me, and pulled my phone from my pocket. I tried messaging Kiyoko to ask for help, but I was already too late.

*CRACK*

"AAAAAAAHHHH!!!"

Hyakuzawa trampled my arm and broke it. I can feel my bones cracking consecutively, and it gave me an agonizing pain that made me scream.

I let go of the phone that I was holding in my hand that he was trampling on. I didn't know if I sent Kiyoko a message. But my situation right now is pretty much hopeless. I might die before they can even come here.

"Machida, let me tell you something. Even if those people can make it in time, and save you here right now. I will still win in the end. I can kill these pieces of shit just by myself. After all…"

Hyakuzawa carried me on my collar with just one hand with ease and slammed my body on the wall. He continued by choking me really hard with a smile on his face.

"I AM AT THE TOP OF THIS WORLD'S FOOD CHAIN!!!"

******** TO BE CONTINUED ********