Since L was apparently suffering from severe hunger and Light was feeling quite empty too, he decided to make a second order. Two coffees, a toast with ham and cherry cake ("the largest you can find, please"). As they both waited for the food and drinks, Light decided this was the moment to finally engage in a decent conversation.
-"So, you seem to enjoy cake very much." L smiled as he heard cake. "Well I guess we should at least introduce ourselves. I'm Light Yagami. What's your name?"
-"You can call me Ryuzaki" The boy said politely. Of course, you don't say your name, but you don't claim either that Ryuzaki is your real name.
-"Oh, that's a very nice name. And Japanese too. Do your parents like Japan or something?" He smiled as he pretended to be surprised. Ryuk laughed.
-"Maybe."
-"So, tell me. What is a 16-year-old kid doing in an old and stuffy library the whole morning? Shouldn't you be at school?"
-"No. I concluded High school last year."
-"Really, are you serious? Wow, you must be very clever. So are you in college or something?"
-"No. The education system of universities or private courses does not attract me." Light blinked.
"Why not?"
-" I find following classes, exams and deadlines a restricted and therefore a worthless way of studying. I do not really see the space or possibilities there for expanding your knowledge and actually learning something significant and useful for your life."
The waitress brought the food and the drinks. L immediately flooded his coffee with cream milk and sugar.
-"Wow! Are you drinking coffee with sugar or sugar with coffee?"
-"It's obvious… Sugar with coffee."
Light had to smile. L actually made fun about his addiction for sweets. He remembered hearing only very occasionally a subtle joke coming from the great detective. Could it be that the 16-year old is more open to human contact? Is he somehow more sociable and more open about himself?
-"So, if you are neither in school nor in college, what were you doing the whole morning in the Law section of the library?"
-"I told you already." L spoke with his mouth full of cake "I was doing research. It's a hobby of mine."
-"What's the subject of your research, if I may know?"
-"No, you may not know." The boy looked Light in the eye "What I do in my spare time is of no concern to you." So, that's a very clear and direct answer. Light thought. Obviously he's already protecting his work and identity very carefully.
-"Sorry, I didn't mean to be nosy or something." Light saw L looking at him suspiciously while he broke another piece off the cake and stuck it in his mouth. "Ehm, you chose to study by yourself. I bet your parents are really proud of you."
-"Uh? Oh, my parents died a very long time ago. I live at an orphanage." L explained as if that was the most normal thing in the world. He ate another piece of the cake.
-"An orphanage. How awful." Light wondered if his reaction was not too overstated. Since he read the article about Wammy's House, he was almost certain that L was an orphan. This was simply a confirmation to him. L stared amazed at Light. One side of his cheek was big, no doubt it had cake inside it.
-"Awful? I do not see why you think that?"
-"Well, I don't know. I can't imagine a life without my family. I mean, who do you rely on when you have a problem?" L looked at Light for a moment. Then he looked at the ceiling with his finger on his lip, thinking.
-"Never thought about it." He paused. "Yes, I've seen some children seeking for emotional comfort from some staff members or older orphans but… no, I do not recall ever having the need to do that."
Light looked at the boy, surprised. He had to be kidding. He couldn't be so self-confident or independent to the point of never ever needing to depend on another human being.
-"Surely you talk with friends in difficult times?" This was the moment to discover if he, Yagami Light, was truly L's very first friend.
-"No, I don't have friends. Never had any." He spoke again with his natural tone. Ryuk gave a small squeal. Light felt his heart sink. So it was true after all.
