L had always been focused on his cases, consumed by the search for Kira, but the moment he saw you again, all of that seemed to fade into the background. You had been a part of his life once, someone who meant so much to him. It had been years since the breakup, but seeing you now, standing across the room in the same cafe, brought everything back.

You hadn’t noticed him at first. You were too busy with your own life, talking to someone, laughing, enjoying your coffee. But L couldn’t stop staring. He remembered the moments when it had been just the two of you—when you had been his escape from the weight of his work, when he could let down his guard and just be with you. He never imagined that he’d have to let that go.

The pain of the breakup had been something L never allowed himself to fully feel, hiding behind his work and his endless pursuit of justice. But now, it was undeniable. He still had feelings for you. He couldn’t deny it, no matter how much he tried to convince himself otherwise.

L took a deep breath and stood up from his seat, slowly walking over to your table. His footsteps were heavy with uncertainty, his heart racing despite his usual calm demeanor. You looked up when you saw him, a flicker of recognition crossing your face.

—"Hello," he said, his voice soft but steady, though his insides were anything but calm. "I didn’t expect to see you here."

Your eyes softened, but there was a distance in them now, something that hadn’t been there before. You weren’t the same person he had once known. You had your own life now, your own world. L’s heart sank, realizing how much time had passed, how much had changed.