What if Ayanokoji tried to solve the Kira case?

A Silent Observer

Ayanokoji had always known that the most important skill in any confrontation wasn't strength or even intelligence—it was patience. The ability to wait, to observe, to strike only when the moment was right. And as he sat quietly in his dorm room that evening, scanning through the newly acquired files from the Task Force, he knew that patience would be his greatest weapon in the battle against Kira.

The dormitory was quiet, the other students either out enjoying the evening or occupied with their own activities. Ayanokoji preferred it this way—silence and solitude allowed him to focus. The glow of his laptop screen was the only light in the room, casting long shadows across the walls. On the screen, a series of reports and logs from the Task Force were displayed, each one meticulously organized and cross-referenced.

He had spent the last few hours combing through the data, looking for patterns, anomalies, anything that might give him insight into Kira's methods or identity. The Task Force had done a thorough job of documenting their investigations, but Ayanokoji knew that the real clues wouldn't be found in the obvious places. He needed to read between the lines, to see the connections that others had missed.

One report in particular caught his attention. It was a detailed analysis of Kira's victims, compiled by L himself. The report outlined the timeline of the killings, the nature of the crimes committed by the victims, and the geographical distribution of the deaths. But what interested Ayanokoji the most was L's commentary on Kira's psychological profile.

L had noted that Kira's choice of victims seemed to be driven by a desire to create a new world order—one free of crime and corruption. Kira believed himself to be a god, or at the very least, a judge with the power to decide who lived and who died. But L had also pointed out something else, something that resonated with Ayanokoji: Kira was playing a dangerous game, one that required absolute control and precision. Any mistake, any miscalculation, could expose him.

Ayanokoji leaned back in his chair, considering L's words. It was clear that L understood Kira's mind, perhaps better than anyone else. But L's approach was flawed—he was too direct, too willing to put himself in the line of fire. Ayanokoji, on the other hand, preferred to stay hidden, manipulating events from a distance. It was a strategy that had served him well in the past, and he had no intention of changing it now.

As he continued to sift through the data, Ayanokoji began to form a plan. He needed to test Kira, to find a way to provoke him without revealing his own hand. It had to be something subtle, something that wouldn't draw attention but would still force Kira to react. But what?

His thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at the door. Ayanokoji's eyes narrowed slightly, but his expression remained neutral as he stood and walked over to open it. Standing in the hallway was Horikita, her sharp eyes studying him with the same intensity as always.

"Ayanokoji," she said curtly, "I need to talk to you."

Ayanokoji stepped aside, allowing her to enter. Horikita was one of the few people at the school who saw through his facade, though even she didn't know the full extent of his capabilities. She had a keen intellect and an even keener sense of determination, qualities that Ayanokoji respected. Still, he was always cautious around her—Horikita was too smart to be underestimated.

"What is it?" Ayanokoji asked, his tone as calm as ever.

Horikita glanced around the room before speaking. "There's something strange going on," she began, her voice low. "I've been hearing rumors about students who are afraid... afraid that Kira might target them."

Ayanokoji raised an eyebrow. "Kira? Here?"

Horikita nodded. "It's not just here. Students across the country are talking about it. They're scared that Kira might start targeting people like us—students, especially those with less-than-perfect records."

Ayanokoji listened carefully, his mind already processing the implications. It made sense that fear of Kira would spread beyond criminals. Kira's actions had shaken the world, and the idea that he might expand his criteria to include anyone who defied his sense of justice was a terrifying prospect.

"And why are you telling me this?" Ayanokoji asked, his expression unreadable.

Horikita hesitated for a moment, as if weighing her words. "Because I know you're different," she finally said. "You're not like the others. You don't get scared easily, and you're always watching, always thinking. If anyone can figure out what's really going on, it's you."

Ayanokoji considered her words carefully. Horikita was perceptive, that much was clear, but she was also still in the dark about his true nature. She saw him as someone who could solve problems, someone with a sharp mind, but she didn't know just how deep his skills ran. And that was exactly how Ayanokoji wanted it.

"I appreciate your confidence," he said finally. "But Kira is a dangerous enemy. It's not something we can fight directly."

Horikita frowned. "Then what do we do?"

Ayanokoji's eyes narrowed slightly. "We wait. We observe. Kira will make a mistake eventually, and when he does, we'll be ready."

Horikita didn't seem entirely satisfied with his answer, but she nodded nonetheless. "Just... be careful, Ayanokoji," she said before turning to leave. "I have a feeling this is only going to get more dangerous."

Ayanokoji watched her go, his mind already turning back to the problem at hand. Horikita's visit had given him an idea—a way to test Kira without exposing himself. If students were already afraid of Kira, it wouldn't take much to stoke that fear, to push someone into doing something reckless.

He returned to his laptop, pulling up a list of the school's students. He quickly scanned the names, looking for someone who fit the profile—someone who was already on edge, someone with a history of trouble. It didn't take long to find a candidate: a student who had been involved in several incidents of bullying, someone who might see Kira as both a threat and a possible ally.

Ayanokoji's plan was simple but effective. He would subtly manipulate the student, planting the idea that Kira might be watching, that Kira might be interested in how he dealt with his problems. If the student acted on this, if he tried to use Kira's name to intimidate others or even to protect himself, it would force Kira to make a decision—ignore the situation and risk exposing his lack of omnipotence, or intervene and reveal a pattern that Ayanokoji could exploit.

The beauty of the plan was that Ayanokoji didn't have to do anything overt. He would simply guide the situation, letting the pieces fall where they may. If Kira was truly as arrogant as Ayanokoji suspected, he wouldn't be able to resist the challenge.

As he finished setting the plan in motion, Ayanokoji felt a familiar sense of anticipation. The game was progressing, and he was slowly but surely drawing Kira out of the shadows. It was only a matter of time before Kira made a mistake, before he revealed something that Ayanokoji could use.

And when that moment came, Ayanokoji would be ready.

In this chapter, Ayanokoji begins to lay the groundwork for his strategy against Kira, using subtle psychological manipulation to provoke a response. The introduction of Horikita adds a layer of tension, as she becomes aware of the growing fear surrounding Kira, and Ayanokoji's response hints at his deeper understanding of the situation. The chapter sets up the first of many traps that Ayanokoji will use to test Kira, all while maintaining his position as a silent observer in the shadows.