Chapter 2 - I'm Kira!

To carry out his plan, Shōhei needed to obtain crucial information. He went to his school library, a quiet place conducive to research. His objective was clear: to determine the GDPs of the most economically powerful countries in Asia. This data was essential for setting the price he wished to ask. 

As he settled down at a table, he put on his headphones to pretend he was talking to someone.

Shōhei (in a low voice): I've come here to do some research, Ryuk.

Ryuk: ...

He glanced at Ryuk, the god of death who'd been following him ever since he'd acquired the Death Note.

Ryuk (squeaking): Ah, you're talking to me! Research? What for?

Shōhei: So the investigators can't find out who's doing the research, in case they manage to trace it back to me.

Ryuk (laughing softly): You're getting really paranoid. But I suppose it's a good idea.

Shōhei nodded and plunged into his research, determined to gather the information he needed for his plan.

"As he leafed through books and consulted websites, Shōhei found himself immersed in silent introspection. The GDP figures of Asian countries spread out before him, and he tried to decide on the most affordable price. His voice echoed softly, barely audible to anyone who wasn't Ryuk.

Shōhei: Japan... Its GDP is high, but it's been badly hit by the financial crisis. People are hungry for wealth here. I could ask for a high price, but he might have trouble paying it.

He paused, continuing his search.

"I'll have to assume that other countries can come to his aid... In that case..."

Shōhei: "China... Asia's economic giant. Their GDP is colossal, but the authorities are strict. Still, it could be interesting."

He took mental notes, weighing the pros and cons of each choice.

Shōhei: "South Korea... Steadily growing GDP. The people are ambitious. Could be a good choice."

He then ponders India, adding:

"Counting the US, which will have no choice but to cooperate, it should be good."

After long hours of research and reflection, Shōhei rose from his chair in the school library. He had finally made a decision about which Asian country he would target to implement his plan. Carefully tidying up his notes and putting the books he'd been consulting back where they belonged, he turned to Ryuk, who was silently waiting for him in a dark corner of the room.

Shōhei: "I've made my choice, Ryuk. I know which countries to target."

Ryuk let out a small chuckle, apparently impatient to hear Shōhei's decision.

With these words, Shōhei and Ryuk left the library, ready to implement their bold plan to sow wealth and discord in the world."

Once home after her day of classes, Shōhei made a radical decision. It was time to part with the Death Note, an act that would change the course of events forever. Ryuk, the invisible observer, watched silently as this decision was made.

"Are you sure of yourself, Shōhei?" asked Ryuk in a curious voice.

Shōhei, determined, replied, "Yes, Ryuk, I'm sure. It's the only way to advance my plan."

Ryuk, intrigued, raised an eyebrow. "What plan do you have in mind?"

Shōhei had it all figured out; he'd been on this plan for over five hours now.

"Listen Ryuk." Shōhei explained his plan from A to Z.

Shōhei: My plan... I'm going to put pressure on the Japanese government. I'm going to ask them for an astronomical sum, in exchange for not making this notebook available to all Japanese. I'll remind them of what Kira was capable of doing.

Ryuk (intrigued): Is it really possible to do that? I didn't even know.

Shōhei: That's where you come in. I'm going to need your cooperation for my plan to work.

Ryuk (curious): And what do you offer in return?

Shōhei (smiling): Mmmm well I don't know... Tell me, what do you love most of all?

Ryuk (enthusiastically): Apples, I love apples!

Shōhei (confidently): Then you'll be allowed to eat as many apples as you like. You'll always have unlimited access to this delicious fruit. And at the end of it all, when my time comes, you'll be the one to kill me, won't you?

Well aware of the dangers and consequences that would follow from using the deadly notebook, he had made a radical decision. Shōhei sat down in front of him with the Death Note resting on his desk.

Shōhei: Don't forget to write it in English, so we can reach as many people as possible. Now that you know my plan, I don't intend to use it Ryuk. I want to abandon it.

Ryuk (indifferently): Whatever you say, kid.

Ryuk walked away from Shōhei with the Death Note in hand, ready to execute the next phase of the plan. He headed for the SakuraTV television station, where he knew his message would be broadcast throughout Japan.

During the news broadcast, a sign suddenly appeared on screen, floating mysteriously in the air. The sign read: 

「To avoid national-class chaos or more... I ask the government to pay the sum of ¥19,241,000,000,000 ($156,102,973,037) in compensation. The transaction will be as follows: you must share the money equally with all those who meet the following criterion: 

- reside in Japan

- are under 26 years of age

- do not belong to Yotsuba Bank

- earning no money (if aged between 16 and 18)

- earning less than 88,642 yen a month (for working 19-26 year olds).

The transaction must at least start within 2 months from today. (from October 13, 2023 7:32 p.m. to December 13, 2023 7:32 p.m.)

Otherwise, Kira's power, will be made available to all.」

The population of Japan watched with amazement and concern at this unexpected announcement, wondering who could be behind this strange manifestation. The message had been clearly delivered, but the identity of the sender remained a mystery.

The mysterious TV announcement quickly made the rounds of social media and street chatter. Some began to wonder whether the return of "Plotus Kira" was imminent. This was the pseudonym of the man who had once sold the Death Note to America, creating millions of new Japanese millionaires. The possibility of reliving such an experience aroused enthusiasm in some, while others remained skeptical, believing it might be a bad joke orchestrated by the TV channel.

Japan was divided between those who hoped to profit from the potential sudden fortune and those who preferred to remain cautious, aware of the potential dangers of the return of Death Note and the chaos that had followed the first time around.

Meanwhile, Near, the famous detective and successor to "L", was following the story closely. He was initially skeptical, regarding the case as a sophisticated hoax.

[SPK Japan (Tokyo)]

"L have you seen the news? A new Kira has appeared and he's demanding an astronomical sum from the Japanese government."

A young adult with gray eyes and long white hair that he often plays with. The shadow below his eyes was the result of his insomnia. He stood before Gevanni sitting in the same position as his predecessor (Lawliet) expressionless looking at the horizon. 

L: Could this be the return of A-Kira... It's time to sort out the true from the false in this affair.

L stood up and started building a pyramid with dominoes. Despite his 32 years, he had always retained his boyish air. 

He felt compelled to settle the matter quickly. He was determined to face this new Kira and put an end to this potential threat. He assembled his team of detectives and decided to make a public statement.

SakuraTV then broadcast a masked message from L, in which he expressed his position.

L :

  "Dear jester, if you expect us to bow to your provocations, you are mistaken. We firmly reject your proposal and consider the idea that Kira's power can be made accessible to all without risk of discovery to be implausible. You greatly underestimate our skills and determination. We're ready to face you and put an end to this charade."

Ryuk, back with Shōhei, was curious as to how the latter would react to his failed request to L. He asked Shōhei what he intended to do now that L had not been receptive to his request.

Shōhei had offered his deal to Japan, hoping to elicit a serious response from them. However, when L called him a "jester" and casually rejected his offer, he wasn't affected. On the contrary, he had anticipated this reaction, knowing that his proposal was unusual and would not be taken seriously. He was ready for any reaction, even those that portrayed him as a prankster.

Shōhei, having thought of a new plan to put pressure on the government, tells Ryuk, "We need to be more persuasive. There's a printing office not far from here. Take a pile of sheets from there, and throw them from the sky, all over Japan. We need to cause a supernatural event to attract the world's attention. This time, we have to make L understand that we're serious. If he still refuses, next time it won't just be white sheets falling from the sky, but the pages of Death Note itself.

Ryuk: I understand better now. But are you sure it's all good?

Shōhei: Yes, for this to work, I'll have to give up my rights to the Death Note again. This will allow you to act freely without being limited by the 14-kilometer distance. Plus, I won't arouse any suspicion about myself if the surveillance cameras are ever analyzed."

Ryuk, holding the pile of sheets he'd taken from the printing agency, soared into the night skies. From above, he let go of the leaves, letting them float gently down to earth. Thousands of leaves fell from the sky, creating a supernatural spectacle. People who witnessed the scene were amazed and intrigued.

After sowing the leaves all over Japan, Ryuk returned to Shōhei to reclaim his rights to the Death Note. He was pleased with the impact the demonstration had had.

However, the whole world was in an uproar. The media were constantly broadcasting images of the leaves falling from the sky, and social networks were abuzz with speculation and theories. At first, many thought it was a hoax, but soon realized that something supernatural was at work.

L, informed of these events, could no longer ignore the situation. He began to take the investigation seriously, as did the rest of the world. He knew that something far greater was at stake, and he was determined to solve this complex mystery.

As he studied the images of the leaves falling from the sky, L had a revelation. He understood that this new Kira had used this demonstration as a message, a way of showing how he planned to make the Death Note available to all, by dropping the pages of the notebook from the sky! He had illustrated his threat in a symbolic way. A wave of shock ran through L as he realized the significance of this challenge.

L (thinking aloud): This goes far beyond hoaxes. We're dealing with something far more sinister.

Tracking down the origin of this new Kira became his priority, and he knew he had to find out who was behind it.

~ How to use it XLVII:

Losing memory of the Death Note by passing on the ownership to another, or by abandoning its ownership will only occur when someone is actually killed using that Death Note. You will not lose memory of the Death Note, for example, if you merely owned it and had not written anyone's name. In this case, you will not be able to hear the voice or see the figure of the god of death any more. You will also lose the eye power of the god of death you traded with.