Light Yagami seems to have it all. He is the top student in Daikoku Private Academy, is a champion tennis player and is going out with the up-and-coming model Misa Amane. But he is bored. His classes don't challenge him, tennis has become a drag and Misa...well...she's not exactly on his level. Until the mysterious L. Lawliet arrives on the first day of school, a transfer student from London. He is the complete opposite to Light, it seems; dishevelled, quirky and quietly assured. He is also the only person Light has ever met who can outsmart him. The two begin a vicous battle over the position of top of the class and king of the tennis court. Light begins to realise that he feels undeniably attracted to his new classmate. He denies it, believing that if he ignores the problem it will go away. That is, until a class prank leaves the two chained together and they must confront their feelings for each other...