I will not let.

After Light's last statement, Aiber had convinced himself that it was best to act fast. He took the boy to the restricted area with the greatest possible discretion. Light felt like a kind of spy, of the worst quality. He could barely breathe properly, but maybe it was just the high-pitched smell of hospital making him sick. They were in front of the end of another corridor, where Aiber tried all the keys to his giant sauce, wanting to be quick enough for anyone to pass by. Yagami, on the other hand, expected to support his weight on one foot and cross his arms.

─ Are you sure that the key is there?

─ Of course, yes. He countered. ─ I tested it before.

As an answer, the beam moved with a soft click, and the doctor soon opened both doors, pulled the boy by the arm, and they closed again, cutting off the view of anyone outside, except for both. rounded and translucent windows.

─ Here, we don't have much time.

Light nodded, taking long strides, sometimes running to catch up with the man. The luck is that there was nothing in the way, unlike the previous section. Everything was extremely quiet, and the light, softer and softer, which was a great relief to his impending headache.

After an eternity, they turned a corner. Aiber stopped in the last room on the right, number 19, the twin of everyone else. He raised his tinkling sauce again and began to examine all the metal parts, of the most varied types. Light almost sighed, but soon the doctor chose one, looked at it more closely and gave a half smile of satisfaction. Then he took it out of his big keychain, hesitantly holding it out to Light

─ Won't you stay? The boy asked, no matter how obvious it was.

─ I don't think we would make much progress with me here.

─ But ... what if someone sees me? What I say?

─ You are going to lock the door from the inside and no one will know you are here. He gave the boy the key, instead, tucking it in the doorknob.

Light looked around the corridors, feeling suddenly desperate.

─ Am I going to be stuck?

─ There is an intercom in there. I left my room number on the nightstand. You only need to call me when you're done.

─ And the cameras?

─ They have been broken since last week.

─ But, what if ...

Aiber put a hand on his shoulder.

─ Hey, relax. He breathed, probably starting to lose his temper. ─ Everything will be fine.

Light looked him in the eye, the yellowish-brown irises looking genuinely concerned, flickering with an uncertain glow. Aiber, who had probably dealt with it thousands of times in other situations, was still unsure. It was foolish to ask himself to remain calm and rational. No. I shouldn't be appealing to reason at that moment, and I couldn't freak out either.

I had to do something really useful once in a lifetime.

─ Okay. ─ He swallowed. ─ Come on.

He touched the key, and turned it, as well as its knob. The wood slid gracefully, making no creaks. Yagami kept looking at the doctor until he inclined his head, saying goodbye, and slowly went back the way they came. The Japanese gave one last, accurate shot inspired by the outside air. Then, at once, entering the room and locking yourself again.

Light's anxiety did not allow him to do anything other than scan his eyes across the room in search of him. She found him as a small figure covered with white sheets, with only strands of hair tousling out and indicating that this was, without a doubt, L.

Even without being able to see him directly, I knew, somehow, that I was awake. The air that circulated was almost radioactive, and the whole atmosphere seemed to contribute to suffocating Yagami to death. The truth is, he didn't know what he was doing there, he had no idea how or what to say. His mind was locked in such a way that every thought was a tremendous effort.

Still, the urge to leave him there was less than that.

Yagami moved forward, staying in the middle of the room. The small hospital bed was flush with the wall, and L was facing away from him. The nightstand was actually there, with the promised number. He went on analyzing the details of the environment, hoping that some idea of ​​how to approach the Briton would spring like magic. As expected, nothing came.

However, a few seconds later, L moved. He removed the arm on which he was lying, pulling a pillow thrown close to his legs and wrapping himself around him. His movements were slow, but he seemed as comfortable as he would be if he were alone. Maybe he hadn't really noticed Light come in. Perhaps they were remnants of the effect of the sleeping pill.

It was a little terrifying to think that L wouldn't notice something so obvious. He was the type of person who notices everything, who has keen senses that irritate anyone. If it was that way, it was not a good sign.

Nothing was a good sign, to be honest

ero.

In the process of moving, L discovered the back of his neck, which revealed a fraction of his neck and the start of his hospital gown, in that usual depressing green. However, what really mattered was the thin reddish-pink streak that permeated the beginning of the back of his neck, and spread, thickening with every millimeter, going down until he was covered by the clothes. It stood out on his skin like a pen mark, a trail from hell.

Light narrowed his eyes, tried to get a closer look, staying far enough away not to startle him. He had seen it before, while he was loading it, in the car, but after all the dark context of Aiber, his imagination was much more evil, and each theory seemed a thousand times worse now. Because when he was in the car, he hoped Lawliet would wake up the same way he always did: irritatingly healthy. Now, I was already satisfied that things were not so.

The fact is, there was no way to guess what I was feeling. I needed to do something.

He decided that there was no miracle formula for getting to Lawliet at that moment. He couldn't use his manipulation, his speech, or anything else that would work for 99% of other human beings. Well, L wasn't like everyone else, and Yagami was sure of that.

He took a deep breath.

"Hi," he said, which was more silly and obvious, even though it came out as a TV hiss. There was no reaction, and it was impossible to say whether L had gone back to sleep or something. The anxiety started to boil even more.

A few seconds passed, and a monologue started:

─ I need to talk to you.

Light sat on the floor, crossing his legs, five feet away from the other boy.

─ About what happened ... Ah, I don't know how to talk about it.

He began to draw imaginary circles on the floor.

─ I don't know if they told you, but I brought you here because of your head. They ... They still don't know what it is.

Yagami looked up, and I could see small involuntary contractions and the British's breathing gap, to pretend he was sleeping. In fact, it was clear that he wasn't, and yet he didn't seem willing to give up his cover.

─ But they will let you go home as soon as they make the swarms ... So, I think you don't want to stay here.

L clearly squeezed her pillow tighter.

��� And also ... it could be something serious. And from what the doctor told me, they can't give you morphine anymore. They said it's not safe.

The air-conditioning engine killed the near-silence. In addition, it seemed that the stillness would never end. I couldn't do much if I couldn't even get him to talk.

To be honest, the saddest thing of all is that Light knew that Lawliet's wall was up again, now in full force. If it was difficult to approach before, now it was practically impossible.

There was nothing he could say or do to change that, he thought. Not now.

─ Sorry. I really don't know what ...

"You know ..." L's voice broke out suddenly. Low, on his back, but exactly as Light remembered. Hearing that timbre was both good and bad. Light, by reflex, went back a little. ─ That I cannot leave.

Hearing him talking was so bewildering that Yagami had realized that he hadn't understood a word.

─ No ... can you? He repeated, feeling his heart racing again.

─ They will find out. He whispered. ─ And you will be irritated.

Light blinked and moved a little closer.

"I won't be angry," he replied, twisting his face in a confused expression. After all, what the hell was L talking about?

The Brit sighed, as if Light were a small child who understood nothing.

─ So how do we explain the marks?

Automatically, the Japanese eyes returned to focus on the back of his neck and the mysterious scar. Most likely I was talking about it. But there was no point in enunciating the way Lawliet did it, as de Light had known it all for a long time.

─ Let's find a way. He gasped.

─ That doctor has seen it. ─ L always replied in the same small, cautious tone. ─ And now we also have ...

The sentence faltered in the middle, and Light was sure he didn't want to say that second part.

─ What do we have?

─ You will be angry. - repeated, with more fear than at other times, making a movement of denial with the head, confirming what he said.

─ I'm not going. ─ he said, still one hundred percent confused. I just wanted to keep you talking.

There was silence.

─ I swear.

L sighed again, unconvinced.

"There's that boy ..." he blew.

Nothing made sense. Maybe his fever was just too high.

─ There is no other boy here.

L pushed himself further into the mattress.

─ So he left? He asked, but soon regretted it. ─ It doesn't matter, I'm sorry. It doesn't matter. I only said that because I may have noticed something.

Light frowned.

─ Okay. He concluded. ─ How are you feeling now?

─ Well enough to get out of here. ─

he stated without any emotion. ─ I just don't know how we are going to convince the doctors. You shouldn't have brought me here.

─ Wait. How do you convince doctors?

Lawliet snorted very softly. Light was beginning to think that that headache could be followed by delirium, because that seemed the only possible explanation.

Anyway, the Englishman pushed the sheet away until it was on his belly, bent his head back and slightly pulled the collar of his shirt, exposing the back of his neck and the scar, without ever turning to see Light. Just as Light had weighed it, it made a trail that went down and coiled around its back.

─ How are we going to convince them that this was an accident? He asked, irritated.

Light stared at the brand, trying to understand what seemed so obvious to L.

─ It is very red. ─ he noted. ─ What kind of accident was that?

L made a noise that sounded like a growl, but low, as if Light were the President of the republic and he could not disrespect him.

─ This is ridiculous. - he found, very quietly, and in English. ─ We need to resolve this. We don't have time for this kind of game. Soon the doctors will be back.

─ Just kidding? ─ Light shifted his gaze to the small camera on the wall, stuck to the ceiling. ─ They just want to help you.

─ No, no. "He murmured in a tired voice, as if he were really dealing with a child." I don't understand why you're not taking this seriously. You really don't understand ...

─ Then explain it to me. ─ Yagami exclaimed, and again, everything was quiet.

─ With all these marks, we could not say that it was an accident. They ... would find out. And then, I don't know what would happen to us. Maybe they would arrest you, or send you back to England ...

─ Well ...

─ And then. He continued. ─ I would be alone.

Lawliet had changed from Japanese to English without even realizing it. He spoke the last part in a decreasing and frightened tone.

L was mistaking his voice for someone else's.

The fact was, L thought he was someone else. And by the way he was talking, there was only one person who could be. I mean, the voices were nothing like that and if L was thinking that Light was his brother, everything was much worse than he thought. Still, it is to be considered that he is not in his full preceptive state. Except that even if that was what was happening, that conversation was still extremely suspicious, full of loose ends.

First, Light mistook him for L. Now, he is mistaken for Beyond for L. That was hopeless. Anyway, all was not lost (or that was what I wanted to believe). Perhaps I could use this confusion to find out more.

It would have to be his brother for a few minutes.

─ All right. But still, we need to find out what's going on in your head.

─ It's just a relapse. I remember you said that they could happen from time to time.

─ Of course. ─ Light swallowed. ─ L, about that boy you said ...

Lawliet got a little harder on the bed, as if touching a terrible taboo, but Light continued:

─ I know you're tired and I wasn't going to tell you anything, but in fact, he's here. I wanted to solve something about school, but you were sick before I could call you.

"Beyond ..." L whispered. ─ Listen, I know you are angry. But I swear I had nothing to do with it. Just send him away. We don't need to create any more problems. Please.

If there was one strange thing about the way L spoke it was the choice of words. It was clear that it was not simply spontaneous, but previously articulated, as if a wrong sentence could destroy the world. Destroy it.

And by the way, what would be so wrong with a friend from school looking for you?

─ It seems very concerned about you. I think you should talk to him, "Yagami suggested, devising a strategy to be able to talk to L being himself and mainly, without saying that he was pretending all this time.

─ If you do something, it will attract a lot of attention. ─ L proclaimed, working hard to make his voice loud.

Light looked at him, even more confused.

─ Hm ... I just ... I thought it would be good for you.

Yagami tried to look trustworthy, but was not so sure if Beyond really meant well. It is true that he had acted in a strange way, to say the least. Also, it is not known what to expect from a twin who has remained hidden all this time. Light just knew he was starting to get scared.

─ You know this is not the time. ─ L interrupted his thoughts. ─ Just send him away. I'll tell you all about that day later, if you want.

─ I thought he was your friend. - he commented, and the sensation of talking about himself in third person started to make him feel ridiculous. L seemed extremely determined not to meet Light. Still, something said there was a reason for that, and not because Lawliet was really angry.

"That day"

If that day was referring to what

hi to your house, so ...

When she met him at the bus stop, he had said he didn't want to go home. Maybe it was all connected. There was some kind of fight between those two. And that would also explain that line that covers "pretending that brands are an accident". After all, if they are not unintentionally, they may be the result of a fight.

But what kind of fight is this?

"Don't bring him here ..." L asked, touching the wall in front of him and sliding his hand over it.

─ So ... Just tell me why. ─ Yagami replied in the same tone of voice, afflicted and constant.

─ Alex. ─ He dug his nails into the cement, afraid ─ Everything will repeat itself.

Yagami took a deep breath. I didn't even know what they were talking about, and it was unlikely that I would be able to find out everything with that scheme. It was only a matter of time before Lawliet turned and found him. This would leave him, at the very least, confused enough to expel Light from the room, destroying any possibility of trusting him and also Aiber.

And besides, I felt that they were entering a field that Yagami had no right to explore, however good his intentions were.

─ I'm not Alex.

─ Of course not. He whispered, as if that fact were the saddest thing possible.

"What do I mean ..." Light pushed a hand through her hair and massaged the back of her neck. ─ I am also not your brother.

─ I think this is not our choice.

Yagami moved his hand to his temple.

─ It's me, Light.

─ I don't know how you found out the name, but this is no time to be kidding ... ─

─ Your partner since the beginning of the year. And I have a crazy sister and a particularly tidy room, in your opinion.

Everything returned to silence. The sun's rays were already touching the ground. The sky was already beginning to blend with the red-orange tones of dusk. Light didn't know how much time had passed, but honestly, it felt like hours.

Lawliet, slowly and with difficulty, turned around until he found the other boy.

─ Light-kun. ─ L articulated, slowly, as if to convince himself that he really was saying that. Talking to him ─ Was it you all the time?

─ Sorry. ─ Light sighed. That was the first thing he could say, and it came out automatically, it wasn't just because he pretended to be Beyond. It was for much more. Not that it mattered now. The coal eyes continued to stare at him, seeking an explanation ─ I ... Aiber sent me here to try to convince you to ... You know, the swarms and stuff.

Another hole of stillness erupted. It was impossible to know what L was thinking. Suddenly, Light began to find himself a big intruder in everything. He had time to contemplate, this time with a conscious Lawliet, all the absurd features and changes that made L a real hospital patient. His dark circles looked like a direct entrance to his soul. Her hair was up to her shoulders, even slightly above it. She looked at him with the same expression of boredom that always looked at him. Often. Not always. But now, yes, he just looked tired. Forcibly tired, wanting to be natural.

It was scary how I managed to read it like that.

"Light-kun ..." L repeated after a while, louder and more astonished, drawing his attention.

I didn't know if I should start explaining to him exactly what happened, how exactly it had stopped there. He had a right to know, much more than the boy had to ask. And seeing him, L was just as confused as he was, probably wondering how it all turned out. Light really wanted to have all the wisdom and self-control necessary to not be invasive and selfish, as if he only wanted to know what happened because it was something intriguing, and not because he was worried.

Yes, I was worried, but I was unfortunately unable to be so patient. His chest screamed, he wanted, he had to know. He had to do something. Take L out of the lions' den.

─ Look ... I didn't want to pass for your brother. Oh really. He said, unable to stop looking at him. ─ I didn't know how to talk to you ...

"I need you to listen to me," he interrupted, and his face hardened, even though he still didn't seem entirely convinced that Light was there.

Light stopped. L sighed.

─ You need to go.

Instantly, his eyes widened. He didn't take his eyes off his, and he did the same. Therefore, they stayed long seconds looking at each other, nobody being capable of any reaction.

─ Why? ─ Yagami asked, crossing his arms and frowning.

─ You need to. He replied, relentlessly apathetic. He might have been ill, but he was still tirelessly irritating.

Light frowned.

─ Of course not. ─ His tone came out a little more sharply than he would have liked, but he didn't care. Lawliet then looked away, starting to fold the sheet over his lap. I didn't say anything else. In the position he was in, his hospital pajamas showed part of his shoulders, as well as the marks. They looked worse from the front, but it was hard to say

with those meters that separated them.

L realized he was staring, so he wrapped his neck around the same sheet he was playing with, like a giant scarf.

The words just said "With all these marks, we couldn't say it was an accident" have been hanging around your mind ever since. What would it be, if not an accident? Do you mean, then, that those things were done on purpose?

Many, many questions hung like lead in the Japanese brain. But he could not deviate from what he came to do there.

─ I have already apologized. You don't have to expel me ...

─ That is not the point.

─ Then give me a reason ...

─ I am asking. ─ L interrupted the progress of thoughts. ─ I'm just saying that you don't have to waste your time here.

Light tucked her hair behind her ear.

─ I'm sorry for everything. I'm not wasting my time

It was so stupid to be apologizing like that. L didn't give a damn. He shook his head sideways, disapproving the direction the conversation had taken.

─ I want to stay here with you and help you. ─ The Japanese said, as if to confirm what he had said.

L shook his head even harder.

─ I do not want to receive visitors.

"You don't want to receive anyone," he breathed gently.

─ I don't want to receive you.

Light stopped, hesitated for a moment. L spoke with the same face, and maybe he has no idea how personally it hit Light. Not in the sense of making him sad, but more as a confirmation of his fears: that it would be totally useless to L. I couldn't help him at all.

It was suffocating.

─ About the three months ... I'm really sorry. He said, desperate.

─ Okay. ─ Lawliet replied, but nothing was right. ─ I'm not mad at you, Light-kun. Thank you for coming. I'll be fine.

Ah, why did he have to be such a liar when Light himself? He has a damn crack cutting him in half, his brother is a likely international drug dealer and he probably had something horrible on his mind. And that was just what was known.

It was okay?!

Light continued with his stare, filling with shallow anger. Not his, exactly. He was angry at the way it had no effect on Lawliet, how he didn't even consider him a friend. But this is not today. L never told him anything. They were never friends.

Which is not to say that Light didn't feel any other way during that time.

─ I will leave if you let Aiber examine you.

L seemed to ponder the proposal.

─ Okay, then. I will leave. You can go.

─ It seems. - gave a bitter smile. ─ I will call you now. And I'll get out of here when he says you did your part of the deal.

L was quiet again. He always gave the impression that with each sentence that Yagami said, the other assessed how it could harm him. L was definitely not in his natural state of manipulation. It was obvious that, in spite of his lethargy, he seemed somewhat desperate. I wanted to throw him out anyway.

─ So, I'm going to call him now. Declared Light, and went to the counter with the intercom and the number. She looked at him sideways, and L followed him with her eyes, large and attentive. He slowly removed the phone from its base and, one by one, dialed the numbers, which made a rather terrifying noise. When he was about to start the call, L broke in.

─ Wait. ─ Lawliet leaned closer. ─ I can't ...

Yagami winced with his mouth.

─ Then we are back to square one.

The Brit gave a tired look.

─ Light-kun. It is not a competition. You have to get out of here.

─ Ah, it is certainly not a competition. Aiber is going to kill me if I can't convince you. Also, I will not leave you alone ... ─ The words "Again" got stuck in his throat and Light almost choked. But L didn't seem to be touched by that. He bit down on his lower lip as well as the tip of his thumb. Reluctant.

─ My ... Brother will be here soon. She whispered, for a second hesitating in her expressionless expression to make room for worry lines. ─ I will not be alone.

The boy wanted to shout that Beyond would not arrive. Maybe never. But Light knew it shouldn't be healthy to fill L's mind with these things now. He hadn't seen the guys who showed up at his house, or the way they looked, to say the least, angry.

─ Beyond, isn't it? ─ He sat with his legs crossed, leaning against the wall next to the door, speaking so casually that they looked like they were going to have a great chat. L followed his movements with his eyes.

─ How do you know? ─ His tone sounded so incredulous that, for a moment, he didn't even look like Lawliet anymore.

─ That day, at my house. I imagine that it would be the only person who would call you 45 times. Also, you called me "Beyond" just now.

─ He must be arriving by now. ─ Lawliet clasped one hand in the other, rubbing them. The way it

he murmured did not appear to be a good thing. It sounded more like an inevitable and inconvenient fact, like: Oh, what the hell, it's going to rain.

─ It does not change my decision. And besides, from the conversation in the back, I don't know if I trust him very much. He said, repenting almost immediately. He thought L would put on an ugly face, but all he did was blow, in a slow tone.

─ It is not up to you.

After that, there was a long silence, with that atmosphere getting even worse. Congratulations, Light, you are really inspiring confidence.

L rubbed his hands together again. Light focused his eyes on the scene

─ Are you cold?

─ I'm fine.

─ I will ask you to increase the temperature in this room.

─ You don't have to.

─ But you are red.

─ It is nothing.

─ Don't you understand that you are sick ?! ─ he asked, receiving attention from L. ─ Do you want me to tell you about your condition when I carried you here? I guarantee you didn't waste your health.

Lawliet caught his breath.

─ What is it? Light asked, eyebrows pinched.

─ Did you bring me here?

─ Yes. ─ Light replied, shrugging. ─ What do you think?

─ Did you bring me here? He repeated, pointing at Yagami.

─ How do you think I know you would be here?

─ So ... where is he?

─ Beyond? ─ He gave another sour smile. ─ How am I supposed to know?

L frowned.

─ It doesn't make any sense.

─ Several things do not make sense. ─ Light scolded, feeling irritation growing. ─ Like why the hell you don't want to be examined.

─ I ...

─ Or why do you need me so much to go away.

─ Light-kun ...

─ Or what are those things around your neck ...

─ None of this is any of your business. ─ He cut him off, with the loudest voice since he started talking.

Light gasped, feeling like a stupid teenager for blowing up like that. But I couldn't stop.

��� And why don't you tell me what's going on? ─ he countered in the same way. ─ Sometimes I think you have some kind of double personality, as if you think of yourself as a secret detective!

─ Because I don't need to tell you anything. ─ Lawliet returned to his usual low tone, this time looking at his thumbs as if they were splendidly interesting.

It is difficult to recognize that he was right. Except that the adrenaline lapse has not passed.

─ Something happened to you, didn't it? ─ Light asked, and the weight of the bullshit started to fall on his back. He was not going to achieve anything that way. His tone became more empathic and he sighed. ─ Something bad.

L remained staring at his feet, with no change in expression.

─ And Beyond is the only one who knows that. ─ Light deduced. ─ That's why you need it here.

L rubbed his hands again, but this time, Light knew he was nervous. Maybe he was right. Not entirely, but still, he had a truth in his deductions. Before, however, that Light could make any further considerations, L turned back to the wall. He bit his thumb again.

─ And I understand that you didn't want to tell me anything. It's just that, seeing you pass out like that, it scared me.

─ Go away. ─ asked. ─ Please.

Light's empathy went like a tight chain to her heart. He got up, moving closer to the bed and making L twitch. He was being a complete idiot. Always, always stupid. Did he have the capacity to do something good for someone?

─ You're not going to get rid of me like that, do you understand, Lawliet? He murmured.

Then Light started to turn around, ready to leave. His mind was so white that he didn't even know what he was going to do, he was just sure he was going to come back. And I would do it fast. But, as at Lawliet's house, the doorknob trembled. Fortunately, however, unlike the previous situation, this time it was a polished Japanese man who broke into the boys' ears.

─ Light, I need to talk to you. ─ Aiber's voice resonated through the wood.

It was then that Lawliet came out from behind his wall.

When Yagami turned around in order to open the door, he felt his shirt being pulled, and he went back. L had grabbed her in one last act of desperation. The quick and merciless way in which L had turned around made crushing his broken, or semi-broken, arm even more, it didn't matter. What was noticeable was the desperation and restlessness of that act. It certainly hurts a lot, but the expression of terror that the Englishman displayed was not provoked by pain. His eyebrows were high on his forehead, his mouth was open and his breathing was starting to become uneven.

Light staggered back, turned and met his eyes, and waited for him to say something. I did not say anything. The fact is that 90% of the time Lawliet wants to say one thing, he says another. Sometimes you have to resort to body language, the smallest movements. At other and rare times, L would explode, and demonstrate everything at once as a tsunami. It had been like that at the bus stop, and in some less important moments, when he displayed a sad smile

and he was staring at the ceiling of the classroom, making Light lose focus on the professor's explanation almost every day. Or when Lawliet sat in the physical education bleachers, facing all the boys and girls around the court like a bench. It all had a meaning, and it all connected. Light just needed to be smart enough to see beyond the horizon.

No. I didn't want to treat it as another puzzle.

Lawliet slowly loosened his fingers, loosening the bone-white knots. His whole expression withered even more, like a professional corpse. His outburst was passing, and he was regretting doing that. Incredible that, from time to time, it is so easy to read. It was late now, and Light was already confirming that L was terrified of being examined. So terrified that he was willing to contradict his speech about "Wanting Light to leave."

I just didn't know why.

Before the Brit completely regretted it, Yagami was faster. He captured the English hand in the air when he was about to wrap himself around the rest of the body. L tried to pull it back, but he wouldn't let it. Light held her by the back, wrapped her fingers like a glove. The second time, he didn't resist. He released her, only to then allow the Japanese phalanges to intertwine with his own, and then he shook Light's hand very tightly, looking away and wanting to kill himself for allowing something like this. Or at least that was what Yagami could see in his downcast eyes: fear and self-hatred.

Touching his hands was like touching pure ice, but ironically, Light felt like he was melting. Light didn't understand him as the oldest,by then, he had no longer snarled and pulled his arm back, angry that Yagami would take advantage of those breaches in his wall.

But the truth that I had no strength, literally and metaphorically, to do so.

─ Is anyone there? ─ Aiber tapped the wood. Then a tinkling sound was heard. Probably a spare key.

Lawliet crushed his hand even harder.

��� They will take me. He whispered to himself, suddenly. 'He will finish me off.

─ No, they won't. ─ Light replied, even though he knew that was not spoken to him.

Aiber appeared at the door, his face looking slightly worried that someone might have died. First he looked at L, like a good doctor would. Then he went up until he found the boys' hands, and went like a maze to Light's face, who was also looking at him. The doctor asked for explanations with his eyes, but Light gasped.

─ They reported someone talking loudly around here. ─ said and frowned at Yagami, as if to say "I didn't warn you?".

─ Sorry. ─ Light murmured. Those walls were too thin.

Aiber snorted.

─ If you need to talk, you have to go somewhere else - Her tone softened. ─ The cafeteria is the best option.

L looked at Light, distressed. And then the Japanese said something that might not even make sense, but somehow, it just came out.

─ I won't let them take you. I won't let him take you.

Light didn't even know if he was talking about the doctors, Beyond or the Briton's own fears. But he said it so profoundly that he convinced it anyway. L, in turn, took a deep breath, but the diminishing of his wrinkles showed that that sentence might have calmed him down a little. I mean, Yagami understood that Lawliet wouldn't trust him like that.

─ You go out first, Light. ─ He motioned for him to accompany him. ─ For anyone to notice that you were here. I'll take Lawliet later.

That said, L released his hand. Light followed his eyes, and even though he didn't look at him, he whispered.

─ You are coming, aren't you?

He hesitated, and then Light added:

─ Just this once, and I will leave you alone.

L nodded, with a thumb in his mouth and his weight on the wall.

[...]

They walked all the way back, and Aiber asked no questions. His silence was intimidating, almost like a bomb before it exploded. They passed the desert corridor, and only then did the blonde speak.

─ If he was talking to you, it is a good sign. - he said, calmer than Light expects after almost making him lose his job. ─ He didn't even let me get close.

─ It was not so good.

─ Well, it was better than me. Just try not to be too invasive now, because our goal is to examine, not interrogate you.

Light nodded, feeling it start to throb, thin and pulsating.

─ I will drink water. Meet you at the cafeteria. He said and strayed from the course before Aiber could protest. I just needed to breathe a little. He walked the path he thought he had come, so absorbed that he kept bumping into things. It was too much information, and he couldn't give himself up now.

He arrived at the reception fountain. It seemed that with each sip something tightened his heart even more.

─ Light. ─ A hand landed on his shoulder and he wanted

ase jumped back. It was Kyomi. Her face was scrunched up, as if she had taken a nap, but her expression was serious. Behind her, Naomi had her arms crossed, her features incredibly empathetic to her level.

─ Ah, hi.

─ What happened?

Yagami massaged his temples with one hand.

─ I don't know yet. He admitted, throwing the glass in the trash. ─ It was very confusing. Only ... It doesn't look good.

─ But is he okay? ─ Naomi entered the conversation, as if impatient for the important information.

─ He's ... whole.

─ This is incredibly vague. ─ Misora ​​switched her body support to the other foot.

Takada gave her a hard look.

─ It's just that your eyes are red ... ─ The Japanese girl pointed at Light.

─ Are they? ─ He touched his eyelids.

"Yes." She sighed. ─ But you don't have to count now. Anyway, are we leaving?

Light was almost offended. I didn't even want to dream of leaving this hospital now, however much I also wanted to run. Paradox.

─ You don't have to stay here. He said, in the friendliest tone he could. ─ I will speak to L again, try to find out more. I'll probably be late.

Kyomi and Misora ​​looked at each other as if there was an internal joke between them.

─ Your mother called asking for you.

─ Damn it. He sighed. ─ I forgot to call her saying it was going to take a while. What did you say?

─ We said that a friend in our room had an accident and that we were coming to visit him. ─ Naomi found out, but both continued to sting Light lightly, waiting for an answer.

─ And what is the problem? ─ He took a step back.

─ Your mother told you to come back as soon as possible. She seems a little stressed that you disappear like that, without fixing anything. Her words.

─ Tidy up? ─ He frowned.

─ "Does he think he is a child to leave me with the obligation to pack all his bags?" ─ Takada reproduced the lady's voice miserably.

─ Suitcases? He asked. ─ What are you talking about?

─ De Harvad, golden boy. ─ Misora ​​snorted.

Despite having just drank water, Yagami's mouth felt incredibly dry. He had completely forgotten. His flight was scheduled for tomorrow. Then he looked at the folders in the girl's hand, his things, and remembered how it all started that day.

For tomorrow, he repeated mentally.

─ I ... I can't go now. - He declared, feeling dizzy enough to become a patient.

─ It's almost eight already. She will eat your liver. ─ Naomi comforted him in his own way.

"Takada ..." He turned his face away from her completely, asking for help.

─ I will call and say that there are a lot of people here, and that our turn to see him has not yet arrived. But Light, she's right, your flight is in the afternoon. If you don't go now, you won't be able to organize or say goodbye to your family.

Before Light could respond, Aiber waved a few feet in front of him,

─ Light, I need you here. Snapped.

─ Talk to you later. ─ Light announced, stepping away immediately.

The two girls stood by the drinking fountain, facing the scene of Yagami and Aiber almost running into the hospital. It was kind of impressive, like, to see Light that way. Even Kyomi remained watching them until she couldn't, focusing on how the boy hadn't hesitated to forget about his college. No, from your dream. He had almost run off.

Light from a year ago would definitely not do that.

─ He will never get on that plane, will he? ─ Naomi made a bun with her hair.

─ Probably not. He agreed, taking the girl's arm and guiding her to the nearest bench.