[Location: Death Note – Japan – Tokyo – Nerima – Private Residence.]
Light Yagami, a young and promising high school student, sat at his desk.
The dim light of his desk lamp illuminated the room, casting elongated shadows across the walls.
With a slight frown, he wrote diligently on a page of his notebook, his eyes alternating between the paper and the information on his computer screen.
After several minutes, he felt the tension accumulating in his shoulders and leaned back in his chair, letting out a held-in sigh.
Four days had passed since he obtained the Death Note, a notebook capable of murdering people.
The instructions for use, conveniently written in English, were simple: "The humans whose names have been written in this notebook will die."
To avoid mistakes, it specified that the writer had to keep the target's face in mind while writing the name, thus ensuring that no other person with the same name would be affected.
There was more. The notebook allowed for the cause of death to be detailed; otherwise, the victim would succumb to a heart attack. This detail, seemingly insignificant, was actually key to Light's plan.
'It's too obvious... even an idiot would notice,' he thought, sketching a faint smile as he drummed his fingers on the edge of the desk.
He knew that consecutive deaths by the same cause would unleash panic and paranoia, leaving a clear message: someone is purging the world's criminals.
Light didn't want to remain in the shadows. His goal was for the world to know of his existence, of his unwavering judgment. In his mind, he wasn't just a simple human; he was a judge, an executioner, and perhaps something more.
He had speculated that the Death Note belonged to a Shinigami, or else that he had been blessed with the power of one.
The mere possibility that a supernatural being had chosen him aroused both pride and caution within him.
Whatever the reason, he had decided to use the power bestowed upon him.
Moments before, he had been completing the list of the world's most wanted criminals. Names, faces, crimes; every piece of data carefully verified.
But. What had led him to undertake this crusade? What right did he have to decide who lived and who died?
The answer was simple and chilling.
Boredom.
On the other hand, the judicial system was corrupt. The worst criminals escaped their sentences thanks to their wealth, influence, or legal loopholes.
To Light Yagami, that was unacceptable.
If earthly justice couldn't punish the guilty, he would. His ultimate goal was a world purged of evil, where the fear of his judgment would deter anyone from committing atrocities.
He knew it was an extremely difficult dream to achieve, but that wouldn't stop him.
'Even if the Shinigami appears and claims this notebook... or my life. My legacy will remain. An indelible mark on humanity.'
An ironic smile crossed his face. "Could I be a god?" he murmured. Then he shook his head. "No. I am just an executioner. At best, a lesser god."
"..."
"... No. More importantly... do they even exist?" he spoke in a low voice, a hint of cynicism in his words. "I don't think so..."
Ding!
[You, a god? You're truly amusing. At this rate, you'll die just like any other human being.]
The abrupt sound interrupted his thoughts. A holographic text window floated before him, emitting a faint glow. Light Yagami froze, his eyes analyzing every detail of the strange projection.
'The Shinigami?' he thought, though his mind quickly dismissed the idea. Something didn't fit. 'Is this... magic? Technology? No. More importantly... is someone watching me?'
The possibility of being watched sent a chill down his spine. His gaze swept across the room, searching for any hidden devices. But even though his thoughts raced, he controlled his expression as best as he could.
After a few minutes of fruitless searching, he sat back down. His worry diminished, replaced by a cold determination.
If someone was watching him, sooner or later they would make a mistake, and Light would be ready to act.
"Yes, you're right. I am a human, after all," he finally said, maintaining a calm, calculated tone.
Ding!
[Then. Do you want to have the power of a god?] [Yes. / No.]
A new window superimposed itself over the previous one. This time, it presented two clear options.
Light Yagami observed the holographic window with a slight frown, his thoughts moving like well-oiled gears.
Seemingly calm, his mind was far from it.
'The power of a god? How interesting. Who or what is behind this?'
The young student understood that something as unusual as a holographic window could not be taken lightly.
However, his recent experience with the Death Note made him cautious. He already possessed a power that went beyond the human scope, and this new offer was suspicious, even to him.
'Accepting without knowing more could be dangerous...' he thought. 'But refusing could mean losing a unique opportunity.'
Light crossed his legs and propped an elbow on the desk, bringing a hand to his chin as he analyzed the situation.
The key lay in understanding the interlocutor's motivations.
No one offered power without expecting something in return, and Light assumed that by accepting, he would incur a debt to whoever was behind all this.
'I wonder if this hologram can be seen by anyone...'
He maintained his composure while considering his response, as unanswered questions arose from time to time.
While his ambition to become a divine figure drove him, Light knew that blindly accepting was imprudent.
Finally, he spoke in a calculated tone, keeping his expression neutral. "Before accepting or refusing, I need to know more. What you offer is not something that can be taken lightly, especially if it comes with hidden conditions."
He let his words resonate in the room, waiting for a reaction.
In his mind, he had made the decision not to select any option just yet. If anything else arose, it would be a clue to understanding the nature of the other party.
'If they insist, it will be interesting to see how far they are willing to go. If they don't, perhaps this is just a game to test me. In any case, I will learn something.'
Light smiled to himself. This offer didn't intimidate him; it was just another piece on the board he planned to dominate.
However, contrary to his expectations, nothing happened.
Light waited in silence for several minutes before concluding that the other party would not give him any more information.
Light sighed with a mix of irritation and resignation. He had hoped to gather more clues from the enigmatic message, but the lack of response was as revealing as any explanation.
'So be it, then,' he thought, narrowing his eyes as he observed the options in the holographic window. 'They don't seem to want to force it, nor are they trying to persuade me... But by leaving me in silence... they want me to make a decision with the limited information they've given me.'
It was a psychological trick, a way to gauge his character. Light understood these kinds of tactics well. The absence of data forced him to gamble, and the gamble itself said as much about him as the choice he made.
'The power of a god...' he repeated in his mind, his thoughts returning to the present. 'I already have something close to that... But the offer suggests something more, something beyond my current control.'
Light stared at the options for a few more seconds, considering the somewhat annoying situation.
If he selected "No," he might be left out of a larger game, a power structure whose rules he still did not know.
If he chose "Yes," perhaps he was falling into a stranger's trap.
But in the end, the unknown was always something he could master over time. The possibility of gaining more control over this power was worth the risk.
With a small smile that didn't reach his eyes, he reached his hand toward the "Yes" option.
"If this is a game..." he murmured to himself, "then I will play to win."
He had already abandoned his life and soul by using the Death Note; gambling with them now didn't seem much worse.
Without further hesitation, he selected "Yes." Ultimately, Light did not fear power. He feared it even less if it meant he could move one step closer to his goal of being the god of a new world.
[Great! In that case, welcome to the "Part-Time Workers Group"!]
"Group of what...?" he murmured, confused. But he didn't have time to think about it further.
Suddenly, everything went white. As if the world itself had vanished.
_____
[Location: White World - Waiting Room.]
Appearing in an empty space, Light Yagami quickly evaluated his surroundings.
The abnormality of the situation surprised him.
However, his gaze stopped on a young man who was already there, sitting comfortably in an armchair.
Although he observed him closely, he maintained a neutral expression, masking any reaction. 'This place... and that person...' he thought.
The white space was unusual, and Light assumed that the encounter with that young man had a deliberate purpose.
He studied him.
His relaxed posture, his emotionless expression, and the ease with which he seemed to fit into this strange scenario.
'He doesn't look special, but he's surely not ordinary. If he's here, he must play an important role in this,' he concluded.
Kiyotaka Ayanokouji, for his part, noticed Light Yagami's appearance. His eyes scanned him for a brief instant, but he showed no signs of surprise.
It was exactly what he had expected: the arrival of someone else in this environment carefully designed to provoke interaction.
'His gaze... Nothing extraordinary about it,' Kiyotaka thought as he turned his attention back to the teacup in his hand. Nonetheless, he remained attentive to Light Yagami's every move.
Light Yagami broke the silence with a light smile, his tone carefully controlled. "How unexpected... I didn't expect to find someone else here. Were you... invited as well?"
Kiyotaka barely looked up from his cup. "Invited? I'm not sure what you're talking about." His voice was serene, almost bored, as if he weren't actually talking nonsense. "I'm just here waiting. Maybe you can explain to me what's going on."
His deliberately ambiguous words were a ploy to gauge the other party's reaction.
Light Yagami noticed Kiyotaka's evasive approach and adjusted his posture. This young man wasn't easy to read, and that intrigued him. However, if there was one thing he knew how to do, it was adapt his approach.
"Are you serious? This place... A blank space... with no indication of where we are or why we are here." Light walked calmly toward the table, taking a seat opposite Kiyotaka. "I doubt it's a coincidence. Perhaps you... are no ordinary person."
Kiyotaka Ayanokouji met his gaze without flinching. "That depends on what you consider ordinary," he replied. "Perhaps being here doesn't mean anything..."
The evasion persisted.
Light Yagami tilted his head slightly, as if considering Kiyotaka's words with interest.
"Perhaps you're right," he said softly, crossing a leg while keeping his eyes fixed on Kiyotaka's.
"Then tell me... what do you think is the objective of gathering us here?"
Kiyotaka didn't answer right away. Instead, he took a sip of tea, taking his time.
"I can't imagine..." he finally said, his tone emotionless. "Maybe you can tell me something more."
Kiyotaka continued to talk nonsense, sizing him up.
Light, on the other hand, maintained his cordial smile, but he was starting to get fed up. However, before he could reply, another person suddenly appeared not far from where they were.
Both turned their heads in the direction of the stranger and quickly estimated that it was another high school student.