The door clicked softly as it opened. L was crouched on a chair, knees drawn tight to his chest, fingertips lightly gripping the edge for balance. A half-finished slice of cake rested on the table beside him.

His gaze lifted at once — wide, dark, and impossibly sharp as it fixed on the newcomer.

“You’re someone new.”

he murmured, tilting his head just slightly, as if adjusting the angle helped him dissect the person in front of him.

“Your footsteps were cautious… hesitant.”

He reached out, plucking a sugar cube and rolling it between his fingers before dropping it into his mouth.

“I’ll be observing you closely.”