[Location: Death Note – Japan – Tokyo – Nerima – Private Residence.]
Light Yagami, a young and promising high school student, sat at his desk.
The faint glow of his desk lamp illuminated the room, casting elongated shadows along the walls.
With a slight furrow in his brow, he diligently wrote on a page of his notebook, his eyes shifting back and forth between the paper and the information displayed on his computer screen.
After several minutes, he felt the tension that had built up in his shoulders and leaned back in his chair, letting out a restrained sigh.
Four days had passed since he had obtained the Death Note—a notebook capable of killing people.
The instructions for use, conveniently written in English, were simple: "The human whose name is written in this notebook shall die."
To prevent mistakes, it specified that the writer must picture the target's face while writing the name, ensuring that no other person with the same name would be affected.
There was more. The notebook allowed the user to specify the cause of death; if none was written, the victim would die of a heart attack. This seemingly minor detail was, in fact, a cornerstone of Light's plan.
'It's far too obvious… even an idiot would notice,' he thought, a faint smile forming as he drummed his fingers along the edge of the desk.
He knew that consecutive deaths by the same cause would spark panic and paranoia, sending a clear message: someone was purging the world of criminals.
Light did not wish to remain in the shadows. His goal was for the world to know of his existence—of his unwavering judgment. In his mind, he was not merely human; he was a judge, an executioner, and perhaps something more.
He had speculated that the Death Note belonged to a Shinigami, and the mere possibility that a supernatural being had chosen him filled him with both pride and caution.
Whatever the reason, he had decided to use the power bestowed upon him.
Moments earlier, he had been completing a list of the world's most wanted criminals—names, faces, crimes, every detail carefully verified.
But… what had driven him to begin this crusade? What right did he have to decide who lived and who died?
The answer was simple—and chilling: boredom.
On the other hand, the judicial system was corrupt. The worst criminals escaped punishment thanks to wealth, influence, or legal loopholes.
To Light Yagami, that was unacceptable.
If human justice could not punish the guilty, then he would. His ultimate goal was a world cleansed of evil, where fear of his judgment would deter anyone from committing atrocities.
He knew it was an incredibly difficult dream to achieve, but that would not stop him.
"Even if the Shinigami appears and reclaims this notebook… or my life. My legacy will remain. An indelible mark upon humanity."
An ironic smile crossed his face. "Could I consider myself a god?" he murmured. Then he shook his head. "No. I'm merely an executioner. At best, a lesser god."
"…Damn it, I don't even know if a god exists," he concluded quietly, his words tinged with cynicism.
Ding!
[You, a god? You're truly amusing. At this rate, you'll die like any other human.]
The abrupt sound shattered his thoughts. A holographic text window floated before him, emitting a faint glow. Light Yagami froze, his eyes analyzing every detail of the strange projection.
'The Shinigami?' he thought, though his mind quickly dismissed the idea. Something didn't add up. 'This… is it magic? Technology? Is someone watching me?'
The possibility of being observed sent a chill down his spine. His gaze swept across the room, searching for any hidden device. Yet, while his thoughts raced, his expression remained controlled.
After several minutes of fruitless searching, he sat down again. His concern gradually faded, replaced by cold determination.
If someone was watching him, sooner or later they would make a mistake—and Light would be ready to act.
"Yes, you're right. I am human, after all," he finally said, his tone calm and calculated.
Ding!
[Then… do you want to have the power of a god?]
[Yes. / No.]
A new window overlapped the previous one, this time presenting two clear options.
Light Yagami stared at the holographic window, his brow slightly furrowed, his thoughts turning like well-oiled gears.
Outwardly calm, his mind was anything but.
'The power of a god? Interesting. Who—or what—is behind this?'
Light understood that something as abnormal as a holographic window could not be taken lightly.
However, his recent experience with the Death Note made him cautious. He already possessed power beyond human limits, and this new offer was suspicious—even to him.
'Accepting without knowing more could be dangerous,' he thought. 'But rejecting it might mean losing a unique opportunity.'
Light crossed his legs and rested an elbow on the desk, bringing a hand to his chin as he analyzed the situation.
The key lay in understanding the motivations of whoever was addressing him.
No one offered power without expecting something in return, and Light assumed that accepting would place him in debt to whoever stood behind this.
'I wonder if anyone else can see this hologram…'
He maintained his composure as he considered his response. While his ambition to become a divine figure pushed him forward, Light knew that blind acceptance was reckless.
Finally, he spoke in a measured tone, keeping his expression neutral. "Before accepting or rejecting, I need to know more. What you're offering isn't something that can be taken lightly—especially if it comes with hidden conditions."
He let his words linger in the room, waiting for a reaction.
In his mind, he had already decided not to select either option just yet. If anything else appeared, it would serve as a clue to the nature of whoever was confronting him.
'If they insist, it'll be interesting to see how far they're willing to go. If they don't, then perhaps this is just a test. Either way, I'll learn something.'
Light smiled inwardly. This offer did not intimidate him; it was merely another piece on the board he intended to dominate.
However, contrary to his expectations, nothing happened.
Light waited in silence for several minutes before concluding that the other party would provide no further information.
He sighed, a mix of irritation and resignation. He had hoped to glean more clues from the enigmatic message, but the lack of response was as telling as any explanation.
'So be it,' he thought, narrowing his eyes as he looked at the options on the holographic window. 'They don't seem to want to force it… nor persuade me. By leaving me in silence, they want me to decide based on limited information.'
It was a psychological trick—a way to measure his character. Light was well acquainted with such tactics. The absence of data forced him to gamble, and the gamble itself revealed as much about him as the choice he would make.
'The power of a god…' he repeated to himself, his thoughts returning to the present. 'I already possess something close to that… but this offer suggests something more—something beyond my current control.'
Light stared at the options for a few more seconds, finding the situation mildly irritating.
If he chose "No," he might be excluded from a larger game—a structure of power whose rules he had yet to understand.
If he chose "Yes," he might be falling into the trap of an unknown entity.
But to Light, the unknown was always something that could be mastered with time. The chance to gain even more control was worth the risk.
With a faint smile that never reached his eyes, he extended his hand toward the option "Yes."
'If this is a game…' he reflected to himself, 'then I'll play to win.'
He had already sacrificed his life and soul by using the Death Note. Gambling with them now hardly seemed worse.
Without further hesitation, he selected "Yes." In the end, Light did not fear power—especially if it brought him one step closer to becoming the god of a new world.
[Great! Then welcome to the "Part-Time Workers Group"!]
"Group of what…?" he muttered, confused. But he had no time to think further.
Suddenly, everything turned white—as if the world itself had vanished.
_____
[Location: White World – Waiting Room.]
Appearing in an empty space, Light Yagami quickly assessed his surroundings. However, his gaze soon settled on a young man who was already there, seated comfortably in an armchair.
Though he observed him carefully, Light kept his expression neutral, concealing any reaction. 'This place… and that person…,' he thought.
The white space was unnatural, and Light assumed that encountering this young man was no coincidence.
He studied him: his relaxed posture, his emotionless expression, the ease with which he seemed to belong in this strange setting.
'He doesn't look special… but he's certainly not ordinary. If he's here, he must have an important role in this,' Light concluded.
Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, for his part, noticed Light Yagami's arrival. His eyes scanned him briefly, yet he showed no sign of surprise.
It was exactly what he had expected—the arrival of someone else in an environment carefully designed to provoke interaction.
'That gaze… sharp. Nothing extraordinary,' Kiyotaka thought as he returned his attention to the teacup in his hand. Still, he remained alert to every movement Light made.
Light Yagami broke the silence with a faint smile, his tone carefully controlled. "How unexpected… I didn't expect to find someone else here. Were you also… 'invited'?"
Kiyotaka barely lifted his eyes from the cup. "Invited? I'm not sure what you mean," he replied calmly, as though he truly weren't feigning ignorance. "I'm just here waiting. Perhaps you can explain what's going on."
His deliberately ambiguous words were a ploy to gauge the other's reaction.
Light Yagami noticed Kiyotaka's evasive approach and adjusted his posture. This young man was difficult to read—and that intrigued him. Still, if there was one thing Light excelled at, it was adapting his approach.
"Are you serious? This place… a blank space… with no indication of where we are or why we're here." Light walked calmly toward the table and took a seat across from Kiyotaka. "I doubt it's a coincidence. Perhaps you… aren't an ordinary person."
Kiyotaka Ayanokoji met his gaze without flinching. "That depends on what you consider ordinary," he replied. "Perhaps being here means nothing at all…"
The evasion continued.
Light Yagami tilted his head slightly, as though pondering Kiyotaka's words with interest.
"Perhaps you're right," he said softly, crossing one leg while keeping his eyes locked on Kiyotaka's. "Then tell me… what do you think is the purpose of bringing us here?"
Kiyotaka didn't answer immediately. Instead, he took a sip of tea, taking his time.
"I can't imagine it…" he finally said, his tone devoid of emotion. "My brain can't conceive of it. Maybe you can tell me something more."
Kiyotaka continued to play along, measuring him.
Light maintained his polite smile, though irritation was beginning to creep in. However, before he could respond, another person suddenly appeared not far from where they sat.
Both turned their heads toward the newcomer and quickly concluded that he, too, was a high school student.