"Why are you crying?"
The 8-or-9-year-old girl stopped suddenly. She lifted her head and looked at the 10-or-11-year-old boy with wet, puffy, violet eyes. He had messy, black hair and deep blue-black eyes with dark circles under them.
"Why are you crying?" He asked again, his voice comforting her.
"I'm crying…" She said, "I'm crying because there's no reason not to cry. Both my parents are… are gone, and… even when they were with me when I did cry… I can't remember having been comforted in the longest time. There's no one who will comfort me. All I can do is cry…"
"It's okay." The boy said, "My parents are gone, too. Everyone here's parents are gone. That's why it's an orphanage. But it's a good one. I promise."
"I believe you…" Said the girl. She sniffed and wiped her nose.
"How long have you been here?" He asked.
"A couple days…" She said. "I came here with my little brother."
"Well, it's good that you at least have each other, right?"
"Yes…"
"What's your name?" He asked.
"Well, they…" She said, "They told me I'm not supposed to go by my real name anymore." The boy nodded. The girl continued, "They told me that from now on I have to go by Aya. My brother, too. Even though he's little they said he has to go by Mello now. Not his real name."
"Well, Aya…" Said the boy, "I'm here to assure you that both you and your brother will be happy living here. Wammy's House is a wonderful place, I've lived here four years now. You can learn, and grow, and one day you'll be a splendid grown-up."
"But…" she sniffed, "But I'm just… too sad."
"Not anymore." He said, taking her hand. "Because from now on, I'll comfort you when you're sad. I promise that as long as I live, I'll never let you cry."
"Oh my goodness… Thank you…" She sniffed again, "So much! And, in return, I won't ever let you cry either. It's a promise, okay?" She held out her pinky finger and he locked his with hers.
"A promise," He said.
"So… what's your name?"
The boy smiled. "It's… L"
And he handed her a lollipop.
Twelve years later, and L has, for a long time, been known as the greatest detective in the world. In that time, Aya had earned the title of Wammy's House's (second) "A". The two now work together, the greatest partners in the business. And all the while, neither of them has ever broken their promise. In all of those years, not even once, has one of them ever let the other… one… cry.
