[Location: Death Note – Japan – Tokyo – Nerima – Private Residence.]
Light Yagami, a promising young high school student, sat at his desk.
The dim light from his desk lamp illuminated the room, casting elongated shadows across the walls.
Brow slightly furrowed, he wrote diligently on a sheet from his notebook, his eyes darting between the paper and the information on his computer screen.
After several minutes, feeling the tension built up in his shoulders, he leaned back in his chair and let out a measured sigh.
Four days had passed since he obtained the Death Note, a notebook capable of killing people.
The instructions for its use, conveniently written in English, were simple: "The human whose name is written in this note shall die."
To avoid mistakes, it specified that the writer must have the target's face in mind while writing the name, guaranteeing that no other person sharing the same name would be affected.
There was more. The notebook allowed one to detail the cause of death; failing to do so meant the victim would succumb to a heart attack. This detail, seemingly insignificant, was actually vital to Light's plan.
'It's too obvious... even an idiot would notice,' he thought, a faint smirk playing on his lips as he tapped his fingers on the edge of the desk.
He knew that consecutive deaths by the exact same cause would unleash panic and paranoia, sending a clear message: someone was purging the world's criminals.
Light had no intention of remaining 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 an ordinary human; he was a judge, an executioner, and perhaps something more.
He had speculated that the Death Note belonged to a Shinigami, or that he had been blessed with the power of one.
The mere possibility that a supernatural entity had chosen him stirred both pride and caution within him.
Whatever the reason, he had resolved to use the power granted to him.
Moments earlier, he had been finalizing a list of the world's most wanted criminals. Names, faces, crimes—every piece of data meticulously verified.
But what had led him to embark on this crusade? What right did he have to decide who lived and who died?
The answer was simple, and chilling.
Boredom.
On top of that, the judicial system was corrupt. The worst criminals escaped punishment through wealth, influence, or legal loopholes.
To Light Yagami, that was unacceptable.
If earthly justice could not 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 extraordinarily difficult goal to achieve, but that wouldn't stop him.
'Even if the Shinigami appears and reclaims this notebook... or my life. My legacy will remain. An indelible mark on humanity.'
An ironic smirk crossed his face. "Could I be a god?" he murmured. Then he shook his head. "No. I am merely an executioner. At best, a lesser god."
"..."
"...No. More importantly... do they even exist?" he spoke in a low voice, a thread of cynicism lacing his words. "I doubt it..."
Ding!
[You, a god? You're truly amusing. At this rate, you'll die like any other human.]
The abrupt chime cut off his thoughts. A holographic text window floated before him, emitting a soft glow. Light Yagami froze, his eyes analyzing every detail of the strange projection.
'The Shinigami?' he thought, though his mind quickly discarded 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 through him. His eyes swept the room, searching for any hidden devices. Yet, even as his mind raced, he controlled his expression as best he could.
After a few fruitlessly thorough minutes, he sat back down. His unease receded, replaced by a cold determination.
If someone was observing him, sooner or later they would make a mistake, and Light would be ready to act.
"Yes, you're right. I'm only human, after all," he said finally, maintaining a calm, calculated tone.
Ding!
[In that case... Do you want the power of a god?]
[Yes / No]
A new window overlapped the previous one, this time offering two distinct options.
Light Yagami stared at the holographic screen with a faint frown, his mind operating like well-oiled gears.
Seemingly calm on the outside, his mind was anything but.
'The power of a god? How interesting. Who or what is behind this?'
The young student understood that something as extraordinary 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 beyond human scope, and this new offer felt suspicious, even to him.
'Accepting without knowing more could be dangerous...' he thought. 'But declining might mean forfeiting a unique opportunity.'
Light crossed his legs and rested his elbow on the desk, placing his chin in his hand as he weighed the situation.
The key lay in understanding the other party's motives.
No one offered power without expecting something in return, and Light assumed that accepting would incur a debt to whoever was orchestrating this.
'I wonder if this hologram can be seen by anyone else...'.
He maintained his composure while mulling over his response, unanswerable questions surfacing one after another.
While his ambition to become a godlike figure drove him, Light knew that accepting blindly was reckless.
Finally, he spoke in a calculated tone, keeping his expression neutral. "Before I accept or decline, I need to know more. What you are offering isn't something to be taken lightly—especially if it comes with hidden terms."
He let his words hang in the room, waiting for a reaction.
In his mind, he had decided not to make a choice yet. If anything else appeared, it would serve as a clue to decipher the other party's nature.
'If they push, it will be interesting to see how far they're willing to go. If they don't, perhaps this is merely a game to test me. Either way, I'll learn something.'
Light smiled inward. This offer didn't intimidate him; it was simply another piece on the board he intended to master.
Yet, contrary to his expectations, nothing happened.
Light waited in silence for several minutes before concluding that the other party would not provide further information.
Light sighed with a mix of irritation and resignation. He had hoped to glean 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 studied the options in the holographic window. 'They don't seem inclined to force it, nor are they attempting to persuade me... But by leaving me in silence, they want me to make a decision based on the limited information provided.'
It was a psychological ploy—a way to measure his character. Light understood these tactics well. The absence of data forced him to gamble, and the act of gambling itself revealed as much about him as the choice he would make.
'The power of a god...' he repeated in his mind, his thoughts snapping back to the present. 'I already possess something close to that... But the offer suggests something more, something beyond my current reach.'
Light stared at the options for a few seconds longer, finding the situation somewhat annoying.
Selecting "No" might leave him shut out from a larger game—a power dynamic whose rules he did not yet know.
Selecting "Yes" meant he might be walking straight into a stranger's trap.
But in the end, the unknown was always something he could master in time. The possibility of obtaining greater leverage over this power was worth the risk.
With a faint smile that didn't reach his eyes, he reached out toward "Yes."
"If this is a game..." he murmured to himself, "then I'll play to win."
He had already gambled his life and soul by using the Death Note; wagering them now hardly seemed any worse.
Without further hesitation, he selected "Yes." Ultimately, Light did not fear power. He feared it even less if it meant taking one step closer to his goal of becoming the god of a new world.
[Great! In that case, welcome to the "Part-Time Workers Group"!]
"Group of what...?" he muttered, bewildered. But he had no time to dwell on it.
Suddenly, everything turned white. As if the world itself had vanished.
_____
[Location: White World - Waiting Room.]
Materializing in an empty void, Light Yagami swiftly evaluated his surroundings.
The abnormality of the situation caught him off guard.
However, his gaze locked onto a young man already present, sitting comfortably in an armchair.
Though he scrutinized him thoroughly, Light maintained a neutral expression, revealing nothing. 'This place... and that person...' he thought.
This white space was hardly ordinary, and Light assumed meeting this young man was deliberate.
He studied him.
His relaxed posture, his emotionless expression, and the ease with which he seemed to fit into this bizarre setting.
'He doesn't look special, but he's certainly no ordinary person. If he's here, he must play an important role in this,' he concluded.
Kiyotaka Ayanokouji, for his part, registered Light Yagami's arrival. His eyes scanned him for a brief moment, yet he showed no sign of surprise.
It was precisely what he had anticipated: the arrival of another person in an environment carefully crafted to induce interaction.
'His gaze... Nothing about him seems particularly extraordinary,' Kiyotaka thought, returning his attention to the teacup in his hand. Nevertheless, he remained observant of Light Yagami's every move.
Light Yagami broke the silence with a slight smile, his tone meticulously 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 calm, bordering on bored, as though he weren't intentionally playing dumb. "I'm just sitting 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 caught Kiyotaka's evasive stance and subtly adjusted his posture. This teenager wasn't easy to read, which made him intriguing. However, if Light knew how to do anything, it was adapting his approach.
"Are you serious? This place... a white void... with no indication of where we are or why we're here." Light stepped calmly toward the table, taking a seat across from Kiyotaka. "I doubt it's a coincidence. Perhaps you... aren't an ordinary person."
Kiyotaka Ayanokouji held his gaze unblinkingly. "That depends on what you consider ordinary," he replied. "Perhaps being here doesn't mean anything at all...".
The stonewalling persisted.
Light Yagami tilted his head slightly, as though considering Kiyotaka's words with genuine interest.
"Perhaps you're right," he said smoothly, crossing one leg while keeping his eyes fixed on Kiyotaka's. "So tell me... what do you think is the purpose of gathering us here?"
Kiyotaka didn't answer right away. Instead, he took a sip of tea, taking his time.
"I couldn't say..." he finally offered, his voice devoid of emotion. "Maybe you can tell me something more."
Kiyotaka continued to deflect, sizing him up.
Light maintained his genial smile, though his patience was beginning to wear thin. Before he could respond, however, another person materialized out of nowhere, not far from where they sat.
Both turned their heads, observing the newcomer. At first glance, they quickly deduced that it was yet another high school student.