Chapter 36

It was only the second day that I was invited to sit through Light's interrogation process when Matsuda rushed into the room, kicking open the door and shouting that Kira was back. I had never seen anyone so happy about the continuing mass murders in all of history. Dad beamed at the news, turning hastily towards L who was sitting beside me.

"Kira-Kira is back!" Dad shouted after flinching from my cold gaze. He turned his guilty eyes to focus on L before lowering his so that he could pull himself together. "Is Light cleared from his suspicion?!"

L moved his feet, fiddling both his toes together as he stared at the screen emotionlessly, picking up his cup with his second finger and thumb before sipping casually.

"I'm afraid I cannot let him go yet."

Soichiro's shocked face turned pale as he gritted his teeth, facing the screen in which Misa was still screaming about being kidnapped by a crazy stalker fan. I sighed a bit in my mouth, chewing on the gum and blowing a large bubble apathetically.

"Ryuzaki, for once I agree with chief Soichiro. The health of both Misa and Light will be endangered if this continues." One of the task force members, Shuichi Aizawa spoke out seriously as my eyes glanced towards his face. I could tell that he was beginning to panic, yet still held his poker face for the sake of professionalism.

He was a tall man, with both a black afro and dark brown eyes. His moustache was also untrimmed like dad's, however, it wasn't that rigid compared to Soichiro.

"In the first place, Light should have been cleared from suspicion when he joined the Kira task force," Aizawa bit out harshly before narrowing his eyes. "Are you sure you aren't keeping them confined because you can't admit that your suspicions were wrong?"

L turned his face towards Aizawa the moment those words left his mouth.

"I am quite positive with my speculation that Light is Kira. In fact, I allowed him to join the force because I wanted to test him at a closer range. Please do not wrongfully accuse me of my suspicions before handing out thick evidence that I could be wrong."

And with that, L turned back to munching on his macaroons. I heard Aizawa fume as he paced out of the room, slamming the door behind him as Dad swallowed thickly. L turned towards me with a quiet gaze.

"What do you think, Sayu?" He asked.

I blew another bubble before reaching out to snatch a macaroon from his plate, twirling my gum to the upper pocket of my left teeth and munching into the macaroon, grinning from the sweet taste.

"Time will tell," I turned back to L who gave me a head tilt. "If the Kira killings continue, then I have a theory."

"Continue?!" Dad raised his head as he stared at me with disbelief. "Sayu! Your brother is suffering-"

"Even more than me?" I raised my eyebrows and cocked my head, smiling wistfully.

"I was tortured by mom for over a week," my nose wrinkled at his insensitive words. "Light wanted to prove his innocence himself. Give him what he wants."

I saw the emotion eating dad up as I stared cruelly at him, Matsuda and the others gulping at the tension between us.

"This theory," L spoke up, snatching my attention. "Would you please elaborate?"

Giving him a smile that did not reach my own eyes, I turned back to the TV and stared hardly.

"My brother has changed."

"Oh?" L's eyes glinted with a suggestive light. "How so?"

"He seems so much more..." I trailed off. "Innocent."

"I can't put my mind on it, but it seems as if he completely forgot about Kira's powers," I paused before turning to L. "If he was Kira, of course."

"You think that Kira has the power to possess people?" L confirmed as I nodded slightly.

"If all Kira needs is a face and a name, then it shouldn't be a far fetch to dive completely into the supernatural parts of it," I said.

"Impressive," L trailed off and looked at me with a small smile. "That is exactly what I was thinking."

I felt my dad stiffen at the mention of me having a similar thought process to L.

"Sayu, you don't think that Light is actually Kira, right?" His mournful voice came out meek, unlike the strong one he had moments ago.

"I hope that he isn't Kira," I pointed out before swallowing down the macaroon and making sure my mouth was clean so I could take the gum out to chew it. "But I haven't been long with this case to actually deem him as the criminal."

"It also hurts me when I think of the possibility that he is Kira, dad." I gave him a soft smile and stood up to relieve his stress by massaging his shoulders. Dad sighed regretfully as he nodded, swallowing thickly. I studied carefully at Soichiro's expression as my massage reminded him of the time when he was at home. When he had a home.

His face instantly paled like I fed him poison.

"Though L, I am not saying this so that you can go easy on my brother, but if both our theories are correct, there should be no reason to hold Light and Misa under your watch. You need to prove to everyone that Kira had taken possession of Light and Misa," I gestured to the screen as Matsuda and the rest nodded with me.

"Very logical," L nodded along with the gang, thinking for a moment before making up his mind. "Very well, I shall keep them for a few more days before deciding if Light and Amane Misa have been cleared of their suspicions temporarily."

Dad beamed shakily at his response, sighing in relief before leaning back into his chair.

"Finally," I heard dad whisper before taking my hand and clenching it tightly like his lifeline. "Finally.

The next day, Aizawa stomped into the office, passing a bunch of files to Watari before raising his voice.

"Ryuzaki! You cannot do this! I propose Light Yagami and Misa Amane be released immediately! If Kira only needed a name and a face, we would all be dead if he was in the same room with us!"

Aizawa pointed to the stack of papers.

"Nothing has been found in Light Yagami's remaining belongings except for the class notes that questioned himself as Kira! This is too stressful for an 18-year-old child! Not to mention that chief Yagami is put under extreme pressure because of this!"

L raised his hand and glanced at Aizawa.

"Mr. Aizawa, we have already discussed the release of them yesterday after you left," L said curtly as the tension from Aizawa's shoulders disappeared.

"Light Yagami and Misa Amane will be placed into the last test before confirming their release," L opened the plastic lid of his caramel pudding before dipping the spoon into the dessert.

"Chief Yagami, I will need your assistance on this."

I listened in amusement as Light and Misa screamed for mercy in the car, begging dad to put down the gun, only to brace for their lives when the shot was fired. It was exactly the same as the anime, the intense pleading and Light's accusation of his father believing L more than his own son.

L had proposed a recording device rather than the security cameras, hoping that it would trick Light to believe that the situation was real instead of L trying to trick him. It worked fabulously.

"Quite amusing, no?" I heard L's crunching after the group of three heard L's confirmed release of their custody.

"Indeed," I agreed after turning my eyes away from the screen, feeling the strain in my eyes. "If our theory is true, L, you'll have a lot of work to do."

L chuckled before biting into his matcha crepe cake with his mouth open.

"In the special case that we do, I have moved the investigation into a special faculty," L gestured to Watari as he gave me a card with a fake name on the ID. "This is the key that allows you to enter."

I thanked him, taking the card before flipping it over and over, pondering on my thoughts. It was time for my university entrance exams.

"Is this really necessary?" Light picked up his left arm that dangled the chains of the handcuffs that were connected to L. Misa pouted beside me, pressing her two decorated nails on her fluffy cheeks as she eyed the chains with jealousy.

"Even if Light should be handcuffed," Misa spoke out with a haughty voice. "Why couldn't he be chained to Misa?!"

Beside her, I sipped my tea quietly and watched the three chatter about the rules of Misa not being able to be alone with Light, and Misa screaming in agony because she couldn't go on any of her dates with Light anymore. I sighed softly and chuckled as the depressed look of Matsuda's face was apparent as Misa rejected him as her manager.

"Misa Misa will only accept Matsu Matsu as her manager if she can get dates with Light!" Misa crossed her arms and stared at L with flared nostrils, earning a yelp of fury from Aizawa who complained about focusing on catching a criminal rather than playing dates and exchanging kisses. I mused at his outburst and watched Aizawa grumble about playdates before stomping out of the room.

"I mean, why don't you just leave them alone in the room, videotape their actions and wiretap their voices?" I suggested boredly as I yawned, earning looks from all of them.

"That's not a bad idea if Misa wants to be alone with Light in the same room," L agreed as Misa's lips formed a devastated 'o' shape. Light made an even more uncomfortable face.

"But what's the point?! Misa will be aware of the cameras and feel awkward around them!" Misa stood up and placed both of her hands on her hips, leaning forwards towards L.

"Misa demands to go on dates with Light! At least twice a week!"

I could feel Light's upcoming sigh as he pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation. I laughed at his despair, earning a sharp glare from my brother.

"Misa, this is just temporary," Light plastered a big fake smile onto his lips before distracting her and forcing her to comply with the current situation. Since the orders came from her lovely boyfriend Light, Misa begrudgingly agreed, glaring at L before Matsuda ushered her out for her photoshoot.

All three of us sat in silence, L staring hardly at Light, Light staring hesitantly at me, and me who was sipping calmly on my rose tea, occasionally reaching out for the cookies that were placed in front of us.

"Sayu," Light started as I bit into the chocolate-covered cookie. "I heard what happened with mom."

I shrugged nonchalantly as the creases on his forehead grew deeper as the silence passed on. Back to the frustrated Light instead of the overly confident one, huh?

"Sayu, show me your arm."

I stood up obediently and shoved my limb towards him before he slowly slid up the sleeve, wincing at all my scars.

"Damn, should I just be carrying these scars like a medal to prove that I survived?" I joked as Light's eye twitched from my words. L snickered, taking a cookie for himself before gesturing a silent, 'go on, pretend I'm not here.'

"Don't blame dad too much," Light grazed his fingers over my skin smoothly, earning a slight flinch from me that did not escape L's gaze. Does Light still remember everything that happened between us? I did a double-take at his face, the soft features gazed back at me with pure concern and worry.

If he didn't take the Death Note, would his eyes look like this?

Would he trust me like this?

I shook myself away from that thought, continuing with my fabulous acting.

"He could have called," I mumbled before casting my eyes onto the ground. "But he didn't, not even once."

"Sayu, his phone was confiscated," Light soothed my pain with a fond ruffle on my head, patting me twice when I didn't glare at him like in the past.

"I know," I sighed furiously before leaning towards him and bumping my forehead onto his shoulder. "I just- I just need time to accept it."

Light nodded softly, wrapping his free arm around my head to comfort me before pushing me back and smiling innocently.

"How was your entrance exam?" He asked and I bobbed my head slightly.

"I will pass, but I won't get a very eye-catching mark," I grumbled with clenched fists.

"It's expected when you didn't study and what happened before the exam," Light stroked my hair before I clutched my chest in a dramatic manner, gaping at him.

"How could you say that?! You and Ryuzaki could probably get in blindfolded and drunk from the night before!" I stomped my foot like a child. "I call for perfection, and you two are so irritating that you literally embody that definition!"

"While it is true that the exam was easy for both of us, I doubt that we would be able to write the correct answer without seeing," L butted in as Light rolled his eyes, turning back to me who was grumbling curses.

"Damn you, genius people, you should all just die and go to hell, why the hell are you still living, this is so unfair, give me back all my hard work, you effing pieces of shit that know nothing but your smarts, and be so young and get all the best marks in this whole prefecture. This is so unfair-"

"Sayu, scores aren't everything in this world," Light chuckled as the amusement danced in his eyes at my words.

"I agree," L nodded before lifting the cookie he was munching on just a second ago. "What do you see in this, Sayu?"

"Isn't that just a cookie?" Light leaned against the couch, questioning with his eyes.

"According to the damp spots on the cookie, Ryuzaki, I believe you have a problem with sucking on the dough before eating them." I rolled my eyes at his obvious attempt to prove that my observational skills were better than the average genius.

"And?" The light in L's eyes continued to brighten as my eyebrows quirked skeptically.

"What? I get what you're trying to prove, why do I have to continue?"

"Elaborate more, please. I'm interested." L propped his chin on his knees, tilting them innocently to play the puppy eyes trick which failed because his dark circles had blocked any cuteness that came out of that technique.

"Because you like sucking, it is deductible that you enjoy feeling the oil come out from the dough. Amplifying the chances that you are the type of person to enjoy the breakdown of ingredients." I paused before narrowing my eyes.

"Ryuzaki, don't tell me you're the type of person that tries to taste the ingredients placed inside the food?"

L shrugged before chomping onto the cookie, reaching out for another one.

Was that a Yes or a No?

Light glanced at me with newfound curiosity before I too, reached out for another cookie to suck on the dough and try to taste how many grams of sugar was in it.

Apparently the next day, Light had punched L's guts out.

I had nothing to do all day. Again.

I stared at the ceiling of the HQ that L had moved us in, sighing in frustration before opening the textbooks that dad had willingly offered to buy to help me pass time and get ready for my University life while being a proclaimed genius on campus.

Apparently, it had already spread that Light Yagami, the genius student's sister, had enrolled into the university starting this September at only 15 years of age. Hell, they even prepared some kind of investigation on my background and found out the reason why I had gotten so low on the entrance exams was because of the incident that was reported by the neighbors.

It was the entrance ceremony tomorrow.

I was actually surprised at how fast time had passed, it first being late June when I had met L and watched Light being interrogated. Months had passed in a blink of the eye and September was here, ringing on my doorbell.

I had tried to go outside, yet L had assigned Watari to follow me everywhere. I was actually flattered that he had placed me to be that high in his list of to be 'wary' of, since Watari was his most trusted assistant, but apparently it was because none of the other members wanted to babysit me.

The good thing was that I found Felix trying to contact me in the salon, but with my flickering glance, he noticed that Watari was behind me. The other positive thing was that I had specifically mentioned to both Henrik and Felix of my plans to infiltrate L's task force, so just by that passing by the salon, Felix had pinpointed the guy that would lead him to the orphanage.

Never thought that would be so easy, especially when Watari was one of the most secretive people in the anime. I really had to thank the Gods for placing things in my way just the way I had hoped.

I closed my eyes and prepared for my first day of university again, this time in Japan.

I wasn't part of the Kira task force.

I was only a freeloader who had nothing to do but study and rely on L for my shelter. Of course, he was more than happy to support his potential partner and suspect as Kira's accomplice. Light was also flabbergasted after the fight when L invited him to join his team if Light was ever proven innocent, which L snarky added that the possibility was impossible.

It was October 2 when I realized that the Kira task force was falling apart.

The authorities of the NPA had officially called off the Kira Taskforce since they deemed Kira impossible to catch. But mostly that was just an excuse because the case's sponsors had pulled out from supporting them. The officers were given two choices: to quit the NPA and fully join the Kira Task Force supported by L, or drop the Kira investigation.

At the end of the day, Soichiro Yagami, Kanzo Mogi, and Touta Matsuda stayed.

This was totally expected since I watched the anime, but I was sad that Aizawa had to go. He was really the only one that went against L and tried focusing him on the capture Kira project. I had grown a bit fond of him, yet I didn't stop him because I knew his face would appear somewhere during the second half of the anime.

I was completely and utterly unproductive in these whole two months. It felt terrible. L was restraining all of my efforts to go outside and do something-anything. While that did help me solely focus on my studies, I was more than bored when nothing was being leaked to me about the case.

Light was also chained to L 24/7 so the only time I could see him was when coming back from school and greeting him only briefly.

See, this is what happens if you transmigrate into an anime where the main protagonist cast is literally only two people. If you get transferred into anyone not related to the main character, you'd just have to spend your life being normal unless you decide to pick up the Death Note before Light got his hands on it.

Thank goodness I was born as Sayu Yagami.

If I was anyone else, I'd have to either wait for my death or somehow hijack myself into L or Light's life.

I grumbled as I took out my textbook, yawning as the professor stepped onto the platform to begin his 2-hour speech. University was, I had to admit, much more interesting than high school. The things that I learned were in the advanced section, and the pace wasn't all that fast nor slow. Being from the 21st century, I was already rushing my courses by taking 6 classes per semester. But now that I had gone back in time, 8 courses were surprisingly acceptable.

Information was rushing too fast in 2021, everything being online and easily accessible. 2004 was almost the same, except there were no pages and pages of citations, nor a fast search engine that would help with pulling out a book from the online library that I could use for reference. But from reading thousands of articles from my English courses in the past, I had developed an article radar.

Just by looking at the first page of the article, I was able to tell if the person's work was worth including in my essay.

Here was the thing: faster information meant faster classes and more cramming of information.

Slower information meant that the professors had to go over each thing personally, showing us and teaching us until the majority of the class understood the concept. Which created more time in classes to do other things.

I smugly grinned at my papers when the result was passed down on my psychology test. Too bad, psychology was the one thing that I did not care for yet got such a good mark in it.

Obviously saying that I was already way ahead of my peers from that extra reading before university, and my personal life experiences gave me the advantage of knowing how a person should act in what situation.

In order to graduate, I would need 120 credits and that would mean 40 classes. If I were to continue taking 8 classes per semester, during the 2 winter semesters, that would be 16 courses, adding onto summer school's max course take was 4 classes.

20 classes per year.

I was able to graduate in 2 years.

I cackled in my mind.

In my last life, I spent years moping about how long it would take me to graduate. Now that I thought of it, I only needed 2 years.

I sneered at no one in particular.

Is this what being a genius feels like?

Because it freaking felt awesome.

Retaining the title was something that I did not regret at all.

I had a very fun time watching other people's mouths fall as I mentioned my name and age. I was also constantly amused by how they had the urge to take care of me because I was technically younger than them by 4-5 years.

I also wondered how the heck did Light somehow not be required to go to school. Like okay, he was the prime suspect for Kira, but L was literally stealing him from his education. Was that even legal?

I sighed before dozing off in class, bored with all the shit that was happening without me.