Another Chance | Lawlight

Chapter 6

Day 3

There were many things Light had said and done throughout his life that he'd come to regret. It didn't matter that he was intelligent; sometimes, the wrong thing slipped out, and he dug himself a bigger hole with every word. He hadn't fallen asleep yet, having been sent to bed over four hours ago. The broadcast, his wording, and everything else played like a stuck record in his mind.

'Interpol is so stupid! Kira could start feeling cornered with unknown eyes everywhere and start killing anyone he doesn't recognise or who looks foreign because they could be these detectives. This is just a ruse to put pressure on Kira.' What the hell had he been thinking? Or better yet, why wasn't he thinking? Light knew L was watching, that anything suspicious could draw the detective's attention to them, and everything Light worked towards would be in turmoil because he couldn't keep his mouth shut. Forget Interpol being stupid; he's the stupid one. He's meant to pretend to be normal, not parading a neon sign around saying 'I'm the suspicious one.'

What's he going to do next? Start talking to L directly through one of the cameras hidden around his house, pretending he's on some reality TV show while sealing his fate. Forget being potentially arrested for being Kira; he might as well book himself a one-way ticket into some mental asylum because by the end of this all, he's going to look crazier than the serial killer. Imaginary friends, check. Seeing things that others can't, check. Feel like you're slowly going insane, check.

Sometimes, Light feels like he's constantly in a fight with the rest of the world and with the rise of Kira, he's slowly starting to lose that fight. Light knew he would always be at risk with his father being a part of the NPA, especially when he was promoted to Chief; any enemy his father made could try targeting his family out of revenge. That risk only increased when Light became Zero; even with all the protections he used to hide his identity, he always feared someone would track him down. Light knew they'd go after Sayu because it would be evident to anyone watching Sayu who he was close to. Maybe that's why he's so reluctant to reveal himself to L and fully trust the detective. All Light wants is for his sister to be safe. Yet, he can't do anything to protect her from the emotional and verbal abuse she is subjected to by their parents. No matter how hard he tries to keep their attention on him, they always find a way to be angry with Sayu also. Under everything, his walls, his fake persona, Light knew he was a failure; he couldn't protect Sayu; he could barely defend himself. Deep down, Light was scared that should he let anyone in, let L in, they'd see just how much of a failure he was and leave him. Light was scared of what would happen should he be left alone.

For once, Light didn't have to sneak out of the house; his mother was visiting her friend, and Sayu was staying home just in case she came back early before Light got home. Light hated leaving his sister in such a situation where she would get in trouble should their mother find out he had left the house and not stayed home to study. So, much for trying to defend his sister, he should be staying home whilst Sayu went out to meet her friends; not once had she been able to hang out with them outside of school while Light had been meeting Ryuga on nearly a daily occurrence. He's the worst brother ever.

"I'm glad you made it out in one piece," Ryuga said. Light had found him hidden away in the corner of the library, sitting in his weird scrunched-up position. Light smiled, pulled the chair opposite him out, and dropped into it.

"She was out this morning," Light said. Ryuga nodded, his legs dropping to the floor as Light pulled his laptop from his bag and switched it on.

"Light, I..." Ryuga said, but Light quickly interrupted him. He didn't want to talk about his home life with someone he barely knew. If he wasn't telling L, then he's not saying anything to Ryuga after all. Light wants to deal with this alone. He's to do this himself, to prove himself.