These people are not normal

Chapter 2: Ch2: A tempting offer 2.



[Location: Death Note - Japan - Tokyo - Nerima - Private Residence.] 

Light Yagami, a young and promising high school student, sat at his desk. 

The dim light from his desk lamp illuminated the room, casting long shadows on the walls. 

With a furrowed brow, Light diligently wrote on a page in his notebook, his eyes shifting between the paper and the information displayed on his computer screen. 

After several minutes, he felt the tension accumulating in his shoulders. Reclining in his chair, he let out a restrained sigh. 

It had been four days since he obtained the Death Note, a notebook capable of killing people. 

The instructions for its use, conveniently written in English, were clear: "The human whose name is written in this notebook shall die." 

To avoid mistakes, it specified that the writer must picture the target's face while writing their name, ensuring that no one else with the same name would be affected. 

There was more. The notebook allowed for the cause of death to be detailed, and if left unspecified, the victim would succumb to a heart attack. This seemingly trivial detail was actually key to Light's plan. 

It's too obvious… even an idiot would notice, he thought, a faint smile crossing his lips as he drummed his fingers on 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 didn't want to remain in the shadows. His goal was for the world to know of his existence, of his unyielding judgment. In his mind, he wasn't merely human; he was a judge, an executioner, and perhaps something more. 

He had speculated that the Death Note belonged to a Shinigami. The mere possibility that a supernatural being had chosen him stirred both pride and caution within him. 

Whatever the reason, he had decided to use the power granted to him. 

Moments earlier, he had been compiling a list of the world's most wanted criminals. Names, faces, crimes—every detail carefully verified. 

But what had driven him to embark on this crusade? What right did he have to decide who lived and who died? 

The answer was simple and chilling: boredom. 

The judicial system was corrupt. The worst criminals escaped justice thanks to their wealth, influence, or legal loopholes. 

To Light, that was unacceptable. 

If earthly justice couldn't punish the guilty, he would. His ultimate goal was a world purged of evil, where the fear of his judgment would deter anyone from committing atrocities. 

He knew it was an impossible dream, but that wouldn't stop him. 

Even if the Shinigami appears and reclaims this notebook… or my life. My legacy will remain. An indelible mark on humanity.

An ironic smile crossed his face. "Could I consider myself a god?" he murmured. Then he shook his head. "No. I'm just 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 interrupted his thoughts. A holographic text window floated before him, emitting a faint glow. Light remained still, 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. Is this… magic? Technology? Is someone watching me?

The possibility of being observed sent a chill down his spine. His gaze scanned the room, searching for any hidden devices. But while his thoughts raced, his expression remained controlled. 

After several minutes of fruitless searching, he sat down again. His concern diminished, replaced by cold determination. 

If someone was watching him, they would make a mistake sooner or later, and Light would be ready to act. 

"Yes, you're right. I'm human, after all," he finally said, maintaining a calm, calculated tone. 

Ding!

[So. Do you want the power of a god?] 

[Yes. / No.] 

A new window overlaid the previous one. This time, it presented two clear options. 

Light Yagami observed the holographic window with a slight frown, his thoughts turning like well-oiled gears. 

Seemingly calm, his mind was far from it. 

The power of a god? Interesting. Who or what is behind this?

The young student understood that something as unusual as a holographic window couldn't be taken lightly. 

However, his recent experience with the Death Note made him cautious. He already possessed power beyond human comprehension. 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, resting an elbow on the desk and placing a hand on his chin as he analyzed the situation. 

The key was understanding the motivations of the one offering this power. 

No one offered power without expecting something in return, and Light assumed that accepting would place him in debt to whoever was behind this. 

It could be a trap to expose me. If this window is being watched, any reaction of mine could give me away.

He maintained his composure as he considered his response. While his ambition to become a divine figure drove him, Light knew that blindly accepting was imprudent. 

Finally, he spoke with a calculated tone, keeping his expression neutral: 

"Before I accept or reject, I need to know more. Power is not something to be taken lightly, especially if it comes with hidden conditions." 

He let his words hang in the air, awaiting a reaction. 

In his mind, he had decided not to select either option just yet. If something more emerged, it would provide a clue about the nature of whoever he was dealing with. 

If they insist, it'll be interesting to see how far they're willing to go. If they don't, perhaps this is just a game to test me. Either way, I'll learn something.

Light smiled inwardly. This offer didn't intimidate him; it was just another piece on the board he planned to dominate. 

However, contrary to his expectations, nothing happened. 

Light waited silently for several minutes before concluding that the other party wouldn't provide more information. 

Light sighed with a mix of irritation and resignation. He had hoped to glean more clues from the enigmatic message, but the lack of response was as revealing as any explanation. 

Interesting, he thought, narrowing his eyes as he studied the options on the holographic window. If they truly wanted to pressure me, they would've insisted. But by leaving me in silence, they've posed something else… they want me to decide with the limited information I've been given.

It was a psychological trick, a way to measure his character. Light knew these tactics well. The lack of data forced him to gamble, and the gamble itself said as much about him as the choice he made. 

The power of a god…, he repeated in his mind, his thoughts returning to the present. I already have something close to that with the Death Note. But this could mean something different, something beyond my current control.

Light stared at the options for a few more seconds. The situation was frustrating but also an opportunity. 

If he chose "No," he might be excluded from a larger game, a power structure whose rules he didn't yet know. 

If he chose "Yes," he might be falling into a stranger's trap. 

But for Light, the unknown was always something he could master in time. The possibility of gaining more control over this power was worth the risk. 

With a faint smile that didn't reach his eyes, he extended his hand toward the "Yes" option. 

"If this is a game," he murmured to himself, "then I'll play to win." 

Without further hesitation, he selected "Yes." In the end, Light didn't fear power. He feared it even less if it brought him closer to his goal of becoming the god of a new world. 

[Great! Then, welcome to the "Part-Time Workers Group"!] 

"Part-time what…?" he muttered, confused. But he had no time to ponder further. 

Suddenly, everything turned white. As if the world itself had disappeared. 

--- 

[Location: Blank World - Waiting Room.] 

Appearing in a void, Light Yagami quickly assessed his surroundings. However, his gaze stopped on a young man already there, sitting comfortably in an armchair. 

Although he scrutinized him carefully, he kept a neutral expression, hiding any reaction. This place… and that person…, he thought. 

The white space was anything but ordinary, and Light assumed that meeting this young man had a deliberate purpose. 

He studied him: his relaxed posture, his emotionless expression, and the ease with which he seemed to fit into this strange scenario. 

He's not ordinary. If he's here, he must have an important role in this, he concluded. 

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji, for his part, noticed Light's arrival. His eyes scanned him briefly but showed no signs of surprise. 

It was exactly what he had expected: the arrival of someone else in this carefully designed environment meant to provoke interaction. 

His gaze… sharp. This guy isn't just anyone, Kiyotaka thought as he returned his attention to the teacup in his hand. Nonetheless, he remained alert to every movement Light made. 

Light broke the silence with a light smile, his tone carefully controlled. 

"Interesting… I didn't expect to find someone else here. Were you also… "invited"?" 

Kiyotaka barely looked up from his cup. His voice was serene, but with a hint of disdain that suggested Light's words didn't impress him. 

"Invited? I'm not sure what you're talking about. I'm just here waiting. Perhaps you can explain what's happening." 

His tone was deliberately ambiguous, a strategy to gauge Light's reaction. 

Light noticed Kiyotaka's calculated approach and adjusted his posture. This young man wasn't easy to read, and that intrigued him. However, if there was one thing Light knew, it was how to adapt his approach. 

"Curious place, don't you think? A blank space… with no indication of where we are or why we're here." Light calmly moved toward the table, taking a seat across from Kiyotaka. 

"I doubt it's a coincidence that we're both here. Perhaps you and I… aren't ordinary people." 

Kiyotaka held his gaze, unfazed.

 

"That depends on what you consider ordinary," he replied with calculated coldness. "Being here doesn't mean anything… yet." 

The tension between the two was palpable. Light tilted his head slightly, as if he were considering Kiyotaka's words with interest. 

"Perhaps you're right," he said softly, crossing one leg as he kept his eyes fixed on Kiyotaka. "But tell me, what do you think someone seeks by bringing us here?" 

Kiyotaka didn't respond immediately. Instead, he took a sip of tea, taking his time. 

"I don't know," he finally said, his tone devoid of emotion. "But if we're here, there must be a purpose. Maybe you can tell me more." 

Both were playing a verbal chess match, each gauging the other, testing their limits without revealing too much. Light concluded that it wouldn't be easy to extract information from Kiyotaka, but that didn't discourage him. 

However, before either could delve deeper into their strategy, another person suddenly appeared not far from where they were. 

Both turned their heads toward the newcomer. 

It was a high school student. 


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