————

L's POV:

A heavy sigh slipped from my lips as I sat, my gaze fixed on the figure of Light Yagami, someone who my instincts screamed at me was Kira. The boy who, despite every shred of evidence pointing towards him, appeared so innocent. So perfect. Perhaps even a little too perfect.

"Ryuzaki, is everything okay?" came the voice from my left. I glanced at Soichiro Yagami, Light's father, a man whose unspoken concern for his son weighed heavily on him.

I looked between him and the monitors for a few long moments, contemplating whether or not to speak. Finally, I gave a subtle nod, my voice soft but steady. "Yes. Everything's more than fine. It's just... maybe I was wrong to suspect your son. All he's doing is studying." I paused, leaning in closer to the screen. "By the way, out of curiosity, what school is your son studying so hard for again?"

He raised an eyebrow, the question clearly unsettling him. His eyes narrowed slightly, and I could see the guarded tension in his posture. He didn't like me prying into his son's life. Still, after a small sigh, he answered, though not without reluctance. "If everything goes according to plan, it will be Advanced Nurturing High School. To my knowledge, they have no contact with the outside world so you won't be able to monitor him."

"I see," I muttered, my mind now pondering with the implications of his words. As I heard a little about the place but before I could continue, Soichiro's eyes lit up with sudden realization.

"That means when the killings continue, it proves that my son can't be Kira," he added, a slight hopefulness creeping into his voice.

I chewed thoughtfully on my thumb, eyes still glued to the screen, yet my mind was elsewhere. I excused myself, standing and making my way over to Watari's station. There, I sat down, staring at the four notes Kira had sent. They were long, elaborate, and full of seemingly irrelevant details—but something told me there was more to them than I could immediately see. I scanned the notes over and over, searching for some sort of pattern, just anything.

Before I could make any headway, a soft cough interrupted my thoughts. Watari's voice broke through the silence, calm yet tinged with a hint of concern. "I know you're focused on the Kira case, but after that stunt from the person they call Zero... the Britannian Empire has blamed a Japanese individual, and they're desperate for you to help find the actual man before anything else happens."

I set the note down, pondering for a moment. Zero and Kira. two distinct cases with no apparent connection. Yet, they seemed to share a common interest, it definitely was off having two cases like this especially at the same time. Though I didn't want to get distracted, but I couldn't help wondering.

Watari spoke again, this time more directly. "Do you think Zero and Kira could be working together?"

"No," I replied sharply, the answer immediate. "They couldn't coexist. With Kira, I'm certain they're Japanese. But Zero? I don't think so. I've already got a theory about Zero, but right now I'm too close to Kira to take that risk with jumping at the zero case just yet."

I picked up the notes once again, my fingers tracing the unfamiliar letters as I continued to process the situation. Something was off suddenly, it clicked. My eyes narrowed as I studied one of the cards more intently. Watari, who must have noticed the change in my demeanor, asked, his voice tinged with curiosity, "What's wrong?"

I didn't answer immediately. I picked up another card, then another, before finally speaking. "This card—its most frequently used letter is 'S.'" I continued with the rest: "This one is 'A.'" Then, "'N'..." And finally, "'H.'"

At first, it seemed like a meaningless jumble of letters, but something stirred in my mind. I flipped the card over, revealing numbers on the back, and a sudden realization hit me. "Piecing these together... it spells out 'ANHS.' I believe it's short for Advanced Nurturing High School."

A chill ran down my spine. Kira had done something, yes—but this? This felt different. This felt personal. Could it be that I was right about Light? Why would he leave this challenge for me? Was he testing me, wanting me to join thinking it would reveal my own name? But I dismissed the thought. Kira wasn't that simple-minded.

I chewed on my thumb, glancing up at Watari. His expression had turned more serious.

"It seems I have no choice but to comply with Kira's demands," I muttered, the weight of the decision pressing down on me.

Watari's lips twitched, and a small chuckle escaped him. "Well, everything's already been arranged. In truth, I had planned to take you

there after the Kira case anyway."

————

Light's POV:

Here I was, on my way to my 'new adventure.' A journey that, while filled with possibilities, seemed rather ordinary at this very moment in time. My thoughts began to drift, contemplating the future and the unknowns that awaited me. However, my thoughts were abruptly cut short by the heated sound of an argument. The noise surged through the bus, snapping me back to reality, and before I knew it, my curiosity was piqued, drawing me into the scene that was unfolding*

I observed, my gaze sweeping across the bus. The passengers' reactions were varied, their focus trained on the confrontation that seemed to be growing in intensity. At the center of it stood a well-built blond man, clearly determined to defend his right to the priority seat. His voice, laced with frustration, echoed throughout the bus as he argued passionately that he owed nothing to the older generation, that the seat belonged to him more than anyone else. He came off as a brash, self-assured delinquent, and yet there was something about him that demanded attention.

The other passengers, for the most part, seemed to agree with him. I could see subtle nods of approval, their silent support evident in their body language. But it was the blond girl beside him who stood out the most. Her voice was desperate, her pleas for someone to give up their seat becoming increasingly urgent. She was visibly distressed, her frustration and concern for the elderly woman more than visible but it seemed no one was budging.

I found myself sympathizing with her cause. It was unfair that the old woman should have to beg for a seat in such a crowded space. To most there was something uncomfortable about the situation, and I decided, in that moment, to intervene. I would offer my seat to the elderly woman. It was a small gesture, but one that would not only ease the tension but also enhance my image before I even got to the school. After all, a show of kindness was a simple way to ingratiate myself with my future schoolmates and help build an image.

With my decision made, I stood up and walked towards the pair. I felt the eyes of the other passengers follow me as I moved, and I could almost hear their judgment in the quiet whispers that filled the air. I cleared my throat, the sound cutting through the murmurs like a blade. It was enough to draw everyone's attention, and I could feel the weight of their gazes on me as I spoke.

"I'll give up my seat," I announced, my voice carrying throughout the bus, cutting through the stillness that had followed my words.

The attention of the entire bus was now on me, the tension felt visible in the air. I moved towards the arguing duo, my eyes momentarily meeting the blond girl's gaze. Her eyes, wide with worry, locked onto mine. There was something strange about the look she gave me. It was as if there was an underlying mask to her expression, something that didn't quite match the circumstances.

I shrugged it off, pushing my thoughts aside for the moment. I was here to make my image stand out, for now just to carry out the small but meaningful act of kindness. As I reached the pair, I extended my hand to the elderly woman, gesturing toward the now vacant seat.

She looked up at me, her face lighting up with gratitude. "Oh, thank you," she said, her voice trembling with thanks. Her eyes shone with appreciation as she made her way to the seat I had just vacated.

As the old woman settled into the seat, I heard the soft voice of the blond girl from behind me.

"Thank you so much for doing that," she said, her voice sweet, almost cutesy in a way. The words carried a sense of gratitude, though something about them again felt... off. There was a strange quality to her tone, one that I couldn't quite place.

Turning slightly, I offered a polite smile, keeping my demeanor friendly and open, as if nothing was amiss.

"No worries. It was the least I could do for those who came before us," I replied smoothly, my tone light and casual.

She seemed satisfied with my answer, her lips curving into a soft smile of her own. "It's nice to meet you. My name is Kikyō Kushida," she said, her eyes gleaming with a kind of innocence. "And what's your name?"

I hesitated just for a moment, maintaining the perfect mask of a friendly, approachable stranger. "Light Yagami," I replied, my voice steady and composed. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

The conversation continued for a few moments longer, but my mind wasn't fully engaged with her words. My gaze drifted out the window, my thoughts wandering as I wondered if the message had been received. If L was truly who I suspected, I expected him to be here, watching, even though I didn't yet know what he looked like. A brief smirk tugged at the corner of my lips.

This rivalry of ours, I realized, was only just beginning, and I would make sure that I would be the winner.

***

Authors note:

Quick heads up if I ever do this between words.

—————

—————

It means that a flashback is happening.

Well, anyway, that's it for this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it.