- The blow of the century

Shohei sat at his desk, staring at the piece of paper he'd just retrieved. In the half-light of his room, only Ryuk's voice broke the silence.

- You asked them directly for the winning code, but don't you think there's a chance, however slight, that someone else might win?

questioned the god of death, apple in hand.

Shohei smiled slightly.

- Don't worry, I've already thought of everything.

Ryuk bit into his apple, then frowned.

- By the way, why did you ask me to leave a page of the Death Note for them to write on?

- When it's all over, you'll go back to your world with the notebook, won't you? And yet, as far as I know, nobody ever sees a notebook floating in the air without first explaining why.

Ryuk shrugged.

- Yes, but what are you getting at?

Shohei straightened slightly, his eyes shining with a mischievous gleam.

- The notebook follows the same physical laws as you, Ryuk. Which means it can also walk through walls.

The god of death's eyes widened in astonishment.

- Oh... I see. You've even figured that out.

Shohei folded the paper and put it away carefully.

- And then, although I trust you, it was an extra precaution. Now that I've got the code... we can move on to the final stage of my plan.

Friday, October 11, 15 minutes before the official close of lottery ticket sales.

As the late afternoon show was being broadcast as usual on SakuraTV, something strange happened mid-air.

Without warning, a sign suddenly appeared on the screen, floating mysteriously in the air. The presenters, at first bewildered, interrupted their speech, and the viewers, dumbfounded, stared at the strange apparition without understanding.

On this sign, an enigmatic message was inscribed in thick letters:

「This Friday, October 11, will see the biggest draw in Lotto history, with a record sum at stake: 1,334,567,890 yen. To maximize your chances of success, here's a list of 50 codes. Of these, only one is a winner. 」

A heavy silence settled over the set, as technicians bustled backstage, trying to figure out how such a thing was possible.

Just as the first floating sign was causing viewers to gasp in amazement, a second appeared, this time displaying a list of 50 codes.

The SakuraTV set went into a panic.

- What's going on?! cried one of the presenters, instinctively jumping back from his seat.

- Quick, cut the cameras!" ordered the director, but it was already too late. The image had been broadcast live to millions of viewers.

At the same moment, in the SPK offices, an agent rushed up to L, looking distraught.

- L, we have a problem. Something strange just happened on SakuraTV.

- Please explain.

- A massive leak has revealed the winning code for tonight's draw, from a list of 50 codes.

L remained silent for a moment, analyzing the information, before letting out a slight smile.

- I see... So that's how D-Kira intends to get her money back.

- What do you mean?

asked a puzzled agent.

- To increase the chances of winning, D-Kira published a list of codes 15 minutes before the end of ticket sales. This created pressure on players, prompting them to rush to choose their code from these 50 proposals. As a result, he greatly increased the probability that several people would choose the right number, and this would allow him to hide in this excuse.

Meanwhile, the Japanese population was in shock. The strange message broadcast on SakuraTV had not only taken viewers by surprise, it had sent shockwaves throughout the country.

Social networks were ablaze within minutes. Discussion forums exploded under the weight of speculation, while the media tried their best to analyze the mysterious announcement.

- Who did it? Was it a hoax?

- If it is, then someone is out to defy the Japan Lottery Association...

- What if... it's the return of Plotus Kira?

The name sent shivers down many spines. Plotus Kira, the mysterious individual who, years before, had sold a Death Note in the United States, creating a wave of new Japanese millionaires overnight.

The idea of history repeating itself excited some and worried others.

- If it's true, we can all get rich playing these codes... people were saying in cafés and offices.

- What if it's a trap? retorted the more cautious.

Japan was once again split into two camps: those who saw this opportunity as a blessing and those who saw it as a threat.

The announcement caused an immediate frenzy. In the minutes that followed, konbinis and online gaming platforms were taken by storm. Everyone wanted to try their luck, convinced that this latest revelation was a blessing from heaven.

- I've gone and played. I hope I win.

- Did you see that, man? We've got a one-in-50 chance of winning the jackpot!

Shohei was walking through the busy city streets, his gaze fixed on his phone, when he felt a certain excitement invade his thoughts. The online lottery site had just crashed, a victim of the massive influx of players. This had limited participation options, forcing people to physically visit the nearest konbini to have a chance of entering the draw.

Looking up, he saw a konbini just a few yards away. A smile spread across his face.

- What a coincidence, there's a konbini right in front of me. Let's play before it fills up.

he laughed, a touch of sarcasm in his voice.

Faced with the enigma represented by this new Kira, L realized that he had few means of tracking him down. This Kira's actions were skilfully orchestrated, and he communicated with the world only through the SakuraTV channel, leaving very few traces behind him. No fingerprints were found on the signs, and no concrete information filtered through. The mystery of this Kira was tightening around him like a vise, and L found himself trapped in a game of shadows and manipulation.

- We can only hope that only one person wins tonight's draw," said L, his piercing gaze fixed on the surveillance screens. Although I don't believe in that probability.

On the evening of the draw, everyone was holding their breath, the whole world hanging on this single announcement, hoping perhaps to receive their share of fortune or to witness a historic event. The tension was palpable, a shiver ran through the ranks of spectators, whether they were in front of the TV or connected to their phones.

- And the winning code is: 03, 07, 15, 18, 22, 28, 34," announced the host, his deep voice echoing in every home.

- I've got the same numbers... I've won the prize!" exclaimed one exuberant phone caller.

- Thank you, Kira!" added another, his voice filled with gratitude.

- Glory to Kira!" shouted a third voice, almost screaming with joy as the entire crowd turned to the same cult.

Shohei, meanwhile, was listening to the broadcast with more than serious attention, his eyes riveted to the screen. A smirk slowly formed on his lips.

- Why are you so impatient, Shohei? After all, it's not as if you've already won, is it?" Ryuk asked, a touch of irony in his voice.

- Because the most important thing is coming, Ryuk. It's not my victory that's important, but that of others. I need to know how many people got the exact code. replied Shohei, the excitement in his words betraying what was at stake.

The answer was not long in coming.

- It looks like we've got 7 winners today. announced the host, sending shockwaves through the audience.

It was then that some began to calculate how much the 7 winners would share. A murmur went through the crowd as the numbers ran through everyone's heads. Spirits ran high as everyone tried to assess their share of the fortune.

Shock was written all over their faces when they saw the result. At the very least, each winner would receive a phenomenal 190.65 million yen. Wide-eyed, they looked at each other, unsure of the veracity of what they had just calculated.

Shohei's mother, who had been following events in another room, rushed into his room, anxiety mixed with curiosity painting her features.

- You said you'd played, didn't you? Well?" she asked, her eyes filled with questioning, as if she couldn't believe her ears.

- Yes, Mum, I won. Shohei replied in a detached voice, as if this victory didn't affect him in the slightest.

L, with a look of slight frustration on her face, realized that the chance of finding D-Kira had vanished like a fleeting illusion. The wheels of Kira's plan had been set in motion with disconcerting precision, and once again he found himself facing a challenge far more subtle and complex than he had imagined.

- Well done on his part," murmured L, his fingers tapping nervously on the table. By sharing a list of fake codes with the real one inside, he increased everyone's chances of victory.

However, Matsuda, always quick to seek solutions, suggested that they could very well investigate the 7 winners. His enthusiasm never waned, even in the most tense moments.

- But what if we investigate the 7 winners?" he said, with a glimmer of hope in his voice.

L looked up, and his piercing gaze fell on Matsuda. He hadn't missed the shadow of certainty in his proposal.

- Imagine you were Kira," said L, in a calm tone heavy with innuendo. And that it was you who had orchestrated this whole masquerade. If investigators came to question you, what would you say?

Matsuda paused, surprised by the question. He thought for a moment, then, as if it were obvious, answered:

- I'd say it was thanks to the list Kira circulated.

Matsuda, suddenly realizing the depth of the ruse, finally understood the logic behind Kira's plan.

- The answer the 7 winners will give," said L, his voice calm but heavy with meaning. They'll probably say that luck favored them, and no one will be able to contradict them.

He paused for a moment, his eyes lost in deep thought, then added almost introspectively:

- And Kira will surely have lost her memories by now, remembering nothing.

Matsuda, still reeling from the situation, searched for words to respond, but the truth seemed inescapable. L'was right, D-Kira's plan was so well conceived that it left little room for effective intervention.

- What can we do then?" asked Matsuda, frustration and defeat evident in his voice.

L sighed softly, looking up at his team-mates.

- We have to admit defeat. L's tone was tinged with gravity. D-Kira has outdone us. It's impossible for us to stop her.

A heavy atmosphere settled over the room as everyone realized the magnitude of the failure.

- Although he didn't kill with the Death Note, he still used it as a means of blackmail," added L, as if this truth resonated even more strongly. He found another way to sow chaos and manipulate people, while leaving us unable to stop him.

A heavy silence fell as the SPK members slowly assimilated the magnitude of their failure.