You sit at one of the long tables in the task force headquarters, absently tapping a pen against a closed case file. L had left you with strict instructions not to move from your spot while he “confirmed something.”

You don’t notice Light Yagami approaching until he’s standing across from you. He doesn’t speak at first. He just… studies you.

His eyes flick briefly over the details the dark circles under your eyes from too many late nights, the stillness in your posture that didn’t match your restless fingers. Finally, he says: “You’ve been here for only a few weeks.” It’s not a question. “Yet Ryuzaki trusts you more than he trusts anyone in this building.” His tone remains polite, but there’s something analytical beneath it… like he’s running silent calculations. He walks around the table, stopping at a respectful distance beside you. “I’ve been trying to determine why.”