With shoulder-length black hair and a cold, distant aura that pushed people away, Ryōgi Shiki sat expressionlessly on the edge of the bed. Her hands were neatly folded on her lap as she strained to keep her gaze from drifting toward the window.
Between her sharp yet delicate brows, an obvious trace of anxiety could be seen. Clearly, something was troubling her.
"He didn't come today."
This was a "surveillance" that both parties tacitly understood.
Ryōgi Shiki would quietly sit on her bed, leaving a gap in the curtains wide enough for the forest outside to see through—allowing Yagami Light to watch her.
Because even she didn't know whether the perpetrator behind the series of grisly dismemberment murders was truly herself. She could feel that the other personality inside her seemed to possess a bloodthirsty desire.
The surveillance usually lasted until nine o'clock, during which they never exchanged a single word. Yagami Light had maintained this routine for nearly two whole months—through wind, rain, and storm, without fail.
Ryōgi Shiki didn't know why Yagami Light was so obsessed with her.
Was it simply because he had once given her a red-and-white jacket? Or did he harbor a particular affection for women older than himself?
She had considered many possibilities—but the one she hadn't thought of was that Yagami Light truly intended to kill her, if it turned out she was guilty.
"But… he didn't come today."
"Did something happen?"
One thought stirred, and a thousand doubts followed.
The moonlight that once brought peace now only served to agitate her. Ryōgi Shiki couldn't sit still. Just as she stood up, preparing to walk down the wooded path to search for Yagami Light—
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of that figure arriving at last.
Shua—
Ryougi Shiki's restless, eager heart finally calmed down. But as if she were angry, she had no intention of forgiving Yagami Light just yet. She slowly walked over to the window, deliberately ignoring his presence, and for the first time broke the silent understanding between them—ruthlessly shutting the window closed.
"What an idiot."
Ryougi Shiki sat back down on the edge of the bed, shaking her head in amusement at her own outburst.
It was unclear whether she was cursing herself or Yagami Light.
'Monitoring me… what's the point?'
She sighed, raising her hand to press against the corner of her eye. At that moment, her eyes shimmered with a kaleidoscope of colors.
'With eyes like these, I could take your life at any time… Yagami Light.'
The instant she activated her ability, countless death lines appeared in her vision. As long as she cut through those lines, the target would be erased from existence—conceptually.
This ability was known as Chokushi no Magan (Mystic Eyes of Death Perception).
With such a power, if she truly wanted to eliminate her so-called watcher Yagami Light, it would be as easy as lifting a finger.
But the boy had no idea about any of this. He only ever thought of her as a normal, if somewhat deadly, heiress from a yakuza family.
"So... cute."
Outside the window—
"Is she… mad?"
Though he had never once stepped inside the Ryougi family mansion, Yagami Light couldn't shake the feeling of being shut out. He rubbed his nose awkwardly and leaned casually against a tree in a comfortable position, acting as if nothing had happened.
Even as fallen leaves fluttered on the breeze and landed on his face, he made no move to leave.
This wasn't the only path out of the Ryougi estate, but Yagami Light was certain—if it was Ryougi Shiki, she would walk this way. That was part of their unspoken understanding.
If she really was the killer, and decided to show her evil side in front of Yagami Light, then she would do so boldly and without hesitation. And Yagami Light would, in accordance with her wish, execute her using the power of the notebook.
This was a game between observer and the observed.
He pulled out his phone and casually browsed the latest Japanese news. By habit, he would normally use all three of his daily execution rights.
But today was different. After giving one page of the notebook's power to Yukinoshita Yukino, he had to save one execution slot just in case. That girl—was a toy that could be twisted and played with for amusement. Yagami Light showed her the utmost respect.
[Woman Falls from Building in Series of Incidents]
[Aum Shinrikyo Begins Research into "Apocalypse Virus"]
[Town Hit by Serial Killings—Most Victims Female, Hands Severed. Police Investigation Ongoing]
...
"I'm home."
Light opened the front door and called out.
Under the soft glow of the warm yellow lights, Makima lay sprawled seductively on the plush sofa.
She was engrossed in a book, not even glancing up at Yagami Light's voice.
What's got her so absorbed?
Yagami Light's curiosity was piqued. It was rare to see Makima in such a state. He instinctively glanced at the book's cover.
But just as he caught a glimpse, Makima seemed to sense it and quickly covered the book before he could make out the title. All he managed to catch was something like "...子の調."
(TL: Child of Melody??)
What kind of weird thing is that? Why does it feel like she's reading something... sketchy?
Yagami Light frowned slightly. Despite being close with Makima, he never dared to pry into her private matters.
As for why...
He remembered asking a similar question right after he first arrived in this world. He could never forget the feeling from that time—like being stared at by a terrifying apex predator.
That cold, bone-deep chill had haunted him ever since.
Makima sat upright, hiding the book behind her.
At home, Makima never seemed to mind Yagami Light's presence. Even though he was now an adult, she still walked around in loose, unrestrictive pajamas in front of him. Water droplets clung to the ends of her hair, occasionally falling onto the soft fabric of her pale sleepwear, accentuating her seductive figure even more.
Makima seemed not to notice his flustered reaction. On the contrary, she elegantly crossed her long, fair legs right in front of him, her toes playfully swaying.
"The bathwater's still warm. I just finished. Hurry and go soak, Tsuki-kun~"
---
Bath time.
A daily family ritual in the Yagami household.
The usual routine was that Makima would bathe first, and then Yagami Light would use the remaining water. As for bathing in someone else's used bathwater, Yagami Light didn't mind—he had gotten long used to it now. When he lived with his parents and now he lived with Makina.
"I understand."
Yagami Light first returned to his room to safely store the Death Note, then promptly walked to the entrance of the bathroom. The household's bathroom was divided into two sections—wet and dry areas. The first door led to the sink and vanity area, and further inside was the steam-filled bathroom.
In front of the inner door to the bathroom were two neatly separated laundry baskets.
One was exclusively for Makima, the other for Yagami Light.
Without hesitation, he quickly stripped off his clothes and tossed them into his own basket before stepping into the bathroom.
Letting out a soft, contented moan, he allowed the hot water to envelop his body. Say what you will, but among Japan's many customs, the bath culture was Yagami Light's absolute favorite. The day's accumulated fatigue seemed to melt away in that moment.
Completely immersed in the dual sensory blockade of heat and steam, Yagami Light didn't notice that Makima, dressed in a loose pajama set, had silently opened the outer bathroom door and approached the laundry baskets. With practiced ease, she squatted down, picked out the still-warm undershirt he had just taken off, and pressed it hard against her nose, greedily inhaling the lingering scent.
Her movements were so smooth and practiced that it was clear—this wasn't the first time she had done it.
"What an amazing taste, Tsuki-kun~"
(WTF❓❓❓)