21
"Okay, so this is Linda. We figured she would be the best teacher for you to practice your English" Mello introduced Light to a pretty looking girl, about the same age as Mello if not older. "She is on her way to graduate so she is no longer required to take those testing days, and she has the perfect English accent"
"Oh, stop it, Mello you're making me blush" the cheerful girl. She looked like she could be everyone's friend. "I'll make sure to make you sound like a native speaker in no time. How about you introduce yourself first?"
Light gulped.
"H-hello, my name is Raito…"
"Alright, that is one thing we need to work on" Linda said, without missing a beat. "Can you say my name, Light?"
"R-rinda…"
The two boys smiled, which made Light blush.
"Oh, don't worry about it, that thing's easily fixed. Why don't we start practicing somewhere private, maybe below that tree over there?"
"Have fun, Light!" Mello waved goodbye as Light followed Linda. Light just hoped that she really knows what she is doing.
"Okay, let's start with something simple. Why don't you tell me the English word of everything I point at?"
"A-awright…" Light spoke shyly.
"No need to be shy! We won't improve that way. There!"
Linda pointed at the tree.
"T-tu-ree" Light said.
Linda pointed at the flower.
"Fu-ra-wer"
"Nice"
Linda pointed at the grass.
"Gu-rasu"
"I'm gonna speed up a bit" Linda forewarned as she started pointing at things faster, up until Light can no longer follow. But it did loosen him up a bit.
"Good job, Light." Linda encouraged, though Light felt he could have done so much better.
"Now", Linda handed him a book. "Why don't you read this out loud?"
It was a children's book, which was a bit short and nothing too complicated. Light read it as best as he could, as Linda encouraged him. By the time he was finished, he felt a bit how and sweaty, like he just finished a work out.
"Very good." Linda praised. "Now, you will have to practice it over and over, as you will have to read it in front of the younger children after an hour"
"What?"
"I always volunteer to read to the younger kids around this time, everyday. It's good practice to speak in front of an audience." Linda explained. "So what do you say?"
"I'ru do my best"
"That's the spirit!" Linda clapped her hands and encouraged him more, correcting his pronunciation here and there until the hour came.
"Okay, time's up Light. It's now or never" Linda held his hand and led him to the library. There were already a handful of kids waiting for her.
"Hey, Linda! What're you going to read to us today?" said a seven-year old boy who wore the same clothes as Near. Come to think of it, they all wore the same clothes as Near, or L for that matter. It was like a group of young L's with different hair color, height and posture. Either that or Light was clearly missing the detective. He suddenly felt nervous.
"Well, today, someone else will read a story for all of you", Linda announced. "Everyone, this is Light"
"Hi Light!" greeted the kids cheerfully as they all settled down and took their seats. Light could hear his heart beat.
"Don't worry, Light. If you're nervous, just pretend that you're reading to only one person" Linda encouraged him. "Maybe someone special to you"
Light could only think of one person at the moment, although it may be because of the kids wearing those similar clothing. He imagined L also took a chair and was now waiting for him to read something.
"Are you scared, Light?" L said in his imagination. He took it as a challenge.
He opened the book and started reading.
…
Meanwhile, the detective in question was having problems of his own. Misa was quite a handful, it was nothing compared to Light at all. And she needed attention more often or else who knows what she will attempt to do. Thankfully they were able to spend the whole night without incident. Watari made sure to hide anything that she can use to harm herself, so there was nothing except pillows in their room, because well, you can't suffocate yourself.
Watari scheduled her to a private therapist, who will meet her everyday until they declared her mentally stable again. Misa felt that there was no need, and she just wants to be left alone. L didn't want any of that, and so, when the morning came, he dragged her uncooperative self to the room next door, which they arranged to be conducive for therapy. Misa was having her tantrum when the therapist came.
"I don't need this kind of thing" she insisted. "I can take care of myself"
The therapist noted the handcuff chained to each of their arms, and looked at L.
"This is just for safety reasons," L explained. "She keeps attempting to kill herself and we are having our hands full"
"I won't judge" the therapist simply said. "Although I want to know the reasoning behind it. How exactly does it make you feel safe?"
"It let's me keep an eye on her 24/7" L answered. "But I am not included in the therapy, I am simply accompanying her"
"And what do you feel about this arrangement, Misa-san?"
The therapist didn't skip a beat.
"Uh…it's personally annoying, and unnecessary."
"Why do you think so?"
"I just want to be free, to do what I want"
"Why do you think they chained you like that?"
"Because they don't trust me! Like I'm going to kill myself the moment I see a chance"
"And do you think their fears are justified?"
"Well….yeah. I want to hurry up and end my life!"
"Why?"
"I….I…." Misa sobbed. "I don't want to live without Light!"
She started bawling again, and honestly, L was already tired enough to ignore her.
"And what do you think, Ryuuzaki-san?"
"Why are you asking me, I'm not the patient here," L said defensively.
"I just want to get your input so that Misa-san can be aware of what this has been causing you."
"I honestly don't have any choice. I can't just allow her to end her life in front of me"
"There's always a choice, Ryuuzaki!" Misa shrieked. "Why are you so concerned of my life now? You clearly didn't think about it too much when you stole Light from me?"
"I didn't steal him from you" L objected. "He was the one who came to me"
"Oh, stop bragging about it! You knew I was Light's girlfriend and you still agreed to let him cheat on me! You knew I couldn't live without Light!" Misa went on. "You might as well have killed me back then"
"Light clearly told you that she wasn't interested in you, and that you weren't his girlfriend. You just force yourself into his arms every time"
"He kissed me!"
"That doesn't instantly make you a couple, Misa-san! For your information, we kissed several times and even had sex as frequently as you would cling to him, in fact every time you try to latch yourself to him he would want to have sex that same night!" L was easily matching her outburst. "And yet we are still not a couple and he still left me just as easily"
"Stop saying that like it's a brag! It's not! It's clear you're just using him!"
"Who's using who? I mean I for sure wasn't…"
"Shut up, Ryuuzaki! This is why I want to kill myself!"
"Why do you even love him in the first place? He was treating you like garbage"
"It was love at first sight, L! Something you wouldn't know because I don't even think you're capable of love"
"I loved him!" L shouted for the first time. "I didn't want him to leave!"
Misa was about to say something, but suddenly didn't when she heard L's sudden confession of love.
The therapist was shocked at the can of worms he managed to open within just five minutes of being there.
"I think there is a lot to unpack here…but if we go further, it might be too destructive for the both of you."
He started scribbling on his notes.
"I am prescribing a couple of anti-depressants for now. Make sure she takes it every night" the therapist said to L. "I'm also giving you a few…"
"There's no need, doctor. I don't need therapy"
"This is to alleviate the stress and prevent you from having too much headaches" he explained. "I was told you were constantly suffering from one"
Watari must have told him.
"Fine"
"Also, I am going to have to ask the two of you to write down the things you want to say to each other, as nicely as possible, I might add, and on our next session, I will give each of you the time to express yourself without any interruptions from anyone, and of course you are required to listen to each other without arguing"
"I don't think that is necessary, isn't it?" L argued. "We already told each other how we felt just then"
"I know", the therapist admitted. "But it could use some improvement. I want you to think about it through, and examine your emotions, if possible describe how you feel and explain why you feel it, to get your message across"
"It sounds like a bit of work…" Misa complained.
"If you do it properly, I will ask Ryuuzaki-san to get rid of the handcuffs."
Misa's faced brightened. L looked betrayed.
"I will make an even better prescription for your headache if you participate, Ryuuzaki"
L looked somewhat disappointed. He didn't come across as a pill junkie, did he? But if he managed to get through this sooner, the sooner also will they be free of Misa. To be honest that was a reward in itself.
"Alright, let us do it your way, doctor"