'Why do they fear him?' I thought. 'Has he ever been strange? He's very normal…' but part of me knew that wasn't true. For the thing that irked me the most were those bitter, apple-red eyes…


I wasn't sure if it was her pale, nearly white skin, her black hair that harbored just a tint of blue from how dark it was, or her silver eyes that imitated charcoal when her pupils were dilated… but something made this girl, A, apart from those who judged me.

'She is judged too,' I thought to myself, 'And acts like it doesn't matter.'

That was it… I had to follow her, just for a while. Just to class… my own classes could wait; I already knew everything there was to know at the Wammy House. I wandered to the back of the class after the first wave of early students. My black shirt and jeans blended in with the majority of the student body's attire. After the rest of the class shuffled in the low roar became louder, as some of the few found their companions. A sat three seats in front of me and one row to the right. Directly next to me was a boy with reddish brown hair and a vest with long, snaky, striped arms that—at the hands—lay a pack of cigarettes. I knew his name was Matt here, but his real name was Mail Jeevas. I also knew A's real name, but I'll never reveal it. Not unless she lets me. Matt gave me a smirk and licked his lips, which caused my cheeks to imitate my eyes. I averted his gaze and stared at the board, attempting to ignore him.

A was busy scribbling the notes the teacher was dictating, but I was still taking notes on her;

She looks up through her bangs when she understands a topic.

She gnaws her tongue when she doesn't.

She chews her lip when she's thinking.

She—is moving. She's decided to come to the back of the class. And… she sat next to me. When class was over she walked with me silently to the commons. Or rather, walked next to me…

"Look, you're obviously more suited for this than I am… I don't want to be L… I just... Will you teach me all you know? I'm not stupid it's—"

"Well, obviously not…" I chuckled very slightly. I, only for a moment, saw a faint pink tint cross her otherwise white face. She smiled back and continued.

"Just that if I have to be L… I can't delegate the task to you. Will you teach me?"

How could I refuse? This was after all, a rather good-yet unexpected-start to my plan. Naturally I said "Of course..."

Unfortunately, for A those would be the words that sealed her fate over the next 2 years.