𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄

二十九 | 𝐉𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐘

_________________

_________________

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘 𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄
𝐉𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐘

_________________

__________________________________

Near let a small hum reverberate from his throat as he glanced over the pictures that Agent Gevanni had provided him, his eyes narrowing the longer he looked, and the longer he allowed himself to think about what the images meant.

In one image, taken from the ground whilst looking into the school building, (Y/N) and Arata were talking quite intimately even though it was their first meeting. In another, Arata had his arm around her. The third, he was leaning quite close to her on the bus. The fourth, he was invited into her home. And finally, the last image that Gevannia was able to procure by looking into (Y/N)'s bedroom window, was of the two being pressed together in a way that people would normally perceive as lovingly.

"And these were all from... today?" He asked Gevanni, tugging on a strand of his hair.

"Yes."

"Hm..."

They seem to be quite close considering it hasn't even been a full twenty-four hours yet...

It's odd... isn't it?

Only a day before it was confirmed there was another Successor, and now... now this boy comes in acting all too close with (Y/N).

"Gevanni," Near called out to the man after snapping out of his thoughts, gesturing with one hand for him to approach. "It seems that (Y/N) isn't as careful as she may think she is. This boy... I believe he is the second Successor of Kira, and he has the eyes. If anything, doesn't this exact situation remind you of someone else? Or... in this case, two other individuals?"

"It seems to be the case," Gevanni sighed, scratching his head and making his dark hair a bit more messier than usual. "This entire case is reminding me all too much of the original Kira and his dealings."

"I want you to investigate him more thoroughly," Near demanded. "And... bring Mr. Rester with you."

"Of course, L."

Gevanni's footsteps that clicked against the cold concrete floor faded away and soon disappeared entirely after a few moments. Near's mind was no longer on Gevanni or the instructions he had just given him. He stared at (Y/N) and Arata in the pictures in front of him, and his mind couldn't help but pull him back to the time when he was so much younger than he was currently—back to when he had to deal with the First and Second Kira, and how the original L had known it was Light Yagami and Misa Amane.

Those two that had been so closely intertwined and had been so intimate. He couldn't help but see them when looking at Arata and (Y/N), and something about that fact irritated him greatly—more so than he would ever want to admit.

Is it because it's foreshadowing?

Because of Misa and Light, L died... so does that mean because of these two now, I'll die?

No...

That's not it...

Pulling his knee up to his chest, Near kept staring at the photos for so long the images were practically burned into him. He wanted to know why such trivial matters bothered him so much, yet no matter how long he spent studying the pictures, he came up blank, and his irritation festered. This continued into the evening and into the next day, and the only thing that was able to distract him away momentarily from the problem was when Gevanni brought (Y/N) in.

"Hello, again, L," she smirked.

She didn't notice the way he studied her for any signs of unease.

If that guy really was the other Successor... surely she would have shown some signs of discontent at the very least.

Though...

For someone that murders people daily and is still able to keep up with social activities and school...

Who knows, really?

"Why do you keep staring at me like that?" (Y/N)'s question finally snapped him from his internal monologue, forcing him to look up and meet her scrutinizing (E/C) gaze. "If you're having second thoughts on whether I'm Kira's Successor or not, then I'll gladly hear them, L."

"Not second thoughts," he murmured, standing up before stopping in front of her, holding up a picture for her to see. "But... who is this?"

(Y/N) narrowed her eyes when seeing the photograph of her and Arata.

So.

He knows.

"That's just my new classmate, Hayato Arata," she gave him a light smile. "He needed someone to show him around, and so I volunteered to do so."

"You seem a lot closer than that..."

"Oh, L... are you jealous?" She teased, reverting back to that flirtatious attitude of hers that she adopted when they first met. "If you are, just say so. I'll gladly stop meeting Arata if that's what you want."

Near's brow ticked.

On first name basis already?

I was right.

They're a lot closer than she is trying to admit.

But... jealous?

Why does she keep acting like this?

What does she gain?

Is it just a way to maintain her composure so she doesn't accidentally slip up? But more so than that... I wonder what would happen if I responded?

Near by far wasn't a large person, but he was still a man. Resting his hands on her shoulders, an act that (Y/N) raised a brow to, she stifled a gasp when he pushed her down so that she was lying flat on her back before he clambered onto the couch so that he was on top of her. His neutral and stoic expression never changed, only adding to the growing number of things that had the girl's nerves buzzing in bewilderment.

"Jealous, you say?" He murmured as he stared down at her coldly. "You really think that? What would you say if I affirmed your thinkings?"

(Y/N) merely smiled.

His eyes only narrowed.

__________________________________

To be continued...