Insanity's Ideals ~Prequel to Deathnote~

Chapter 17 ~Abnormal~

“You work here?”

“Yes, I do. Is there a problem?”

“N-no, just that it...”

“Just what?”

“I never expected for you to work in a place like this.”

I sighed in aggravation, sick of this idiotic conversation between Ren and I. Brushing off my unusual uniform. It was understandable why he would think where I work was strange, but this was the only part time job I could between studies. Hanging my clothes up in my locker, I closed it and spun the lock. I did not dare bring the Death Note with me, mostly because I did not want to leave it unattended. Instead I brought with me a page of the note, hidden in my boot. It was the only way to be safe.

Glancing in the mirror, I frowned. Even though I was required to wear this outfit, it did not mean I relatively enjoyed it. It was a good job with better-than-average pay, which was the only real reason I kept up with this job. The employees were good people, but complete scum in real life. They will probably just be destroyed once I become Tenshi, but that’s beside the point.

“Ai~! Come on, you’ve been requested!” One of the girls, Miki, shouted to me when she poked her head through the doorway.

“Requested?” My eyebrows furrowed. I never had a customer request me before.

Giving one more quick look in the mirror, I checked to make sure the maid’s outfit was in place before leaving to see who was there. Miki pointed me in to the table, and I put on a smile. Another requirement to this job, working at the cafe.

As I neared the table, the atmosphere seemed to change. Things seemed to become heavier, hiding a darker side things. Like there was some kind of serious mood underneath all the cutesy furnishing of the cafe. Interested to see who actually has the audacity to even request someone. And when I saw him, I resisted the urge to turn around and leave.

He was probably the strangest sight I have ever had the displeasure to lay my eyes on. Dark spiky hair with matching dark eyes that were similar to a panda’s, even more so by the dark circles under his eyes. As if he had been awake for several lifetimes. He looked raggedy, wearing a long sleeved white shirt and loose jeans. What freaked me out the most was that he was barefoot, and the way he sat. He sat in a crouch, hugging his knees to his chest. The way it looked would remind someone of a small child, but seeing an adult in this kind of position made it seem like he was some kind of pedophile.

His eyes seemed to drift over to me when I stopped at his table. Deciding to forget about his oddities, I did what I was supposed to do.

“Ohayo nasai, ojou-sama~!” I sang merrily, an awkward expression was on my face and I knew it. He did not seem fazed.

“You are Tagayoshi Ai, correct?”

Quite to the point.

“Yes, why is it you requested me?”

If he was going to be direct, then so will I.

“No specific reason,” He answered. I raised an eyebrow, feeling a little more annoyed. “But I am being rude. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Hideki Ryuuga.” He did not seem to know anything about human interaction, because he did not even make a move to turn toward me or even offer a hand to shake in greeting. He was different.

That scared me.

I knew a lot about humans by this point. I understood how they reacted to things, I knew then what to expect in most situations that would occur everyday. This guy... Hideki, he was bluntly stepping on my work like it was nothing better than garbage on the streets.

“You already seem to know my name, considering you asked for me. How do you know who I am?”

“A friend of mine talks about you a lot. So I figured I would see what the fuss was about.”

“And how did that work out for you?”

“Still trying to decide.”

He was beginning to get on my nerves. Being at work though, I wasn’t allowed to show it. So, I just proceeded to move about what I was being paid to do.

“While you decide that, have you decided what you’d like to eat?”

“Yes, I have. The orange marble cake, if you please.”

“Anything to drink?”

“Coffee.”

“I’ll be right back then,” I said after collecting his menu. I was happy to get away from him, exceeding so. He was so strange that it made me want to shudder. The way he spoke and moved just shouted abnormal. I sent the order to our cook, and leaned against the wall in the back. Something just wasn’t sitting right with me.

“Oranges...” I muttered, thinking quickly.

‘Yes, I do, actually.’

Isn’t that what he had said? L liked oranges, he had made that much clear. Now, after he said that, and after Hinata had gone to try and get on the investigation, which he did. L had probably gotten files on him, and the rest of my family. That meant he had files on me and could easily find out where I was currently working in a matter of seconds. Although this could only be an assumption, I had the feeling pressing on the back of my mind.

That guy with the spiky black hair, that guy with those out-of-the-ordinary habits...

That had to be L.

The sound of the chef’s voice calling to me to pick up the order placed. Grabbing my tray, I carefully put the plate of cake and the cup of tea on there with a sigh. I did not want to deal with him again, he made me uncomfortable. But if he was L, then I needed to see him again. I needed to use the Shinigami eyes.

I rounded the corner to get one last glance. That was all I needed...

But he was gone.

Heading over to his table, I noticed one note left behind.

So, Tenshi, what will you do next?