Me: *Sits in a dark corner in disclaimer land*

Mello: *sigh* Mea wants Matt and I to apologize for her behavior

Matt: 4 chapters in and already they're are getting late, tsk tsk

Me: NO IM SORRY*BAWLS* I BEG FOR YOUR FORGIVENESS

Fate: Mea does not own Death Note, only… me…

Me: ZOMG FATE TELL THEM I'M SORRY

The next few days dragged on. Fate was busy, studying, as was Mello. It became clear to Matt that he quite literally had 2 friends. Much of the days were spent wandering empty corridors. Matt didn't consider himself studious, instead he spent time playing his games. Fate frequently asked how his brain hadn't rotted yet. Matt honestly had no logical answer.

Matt soon found himself wondering, wondering who Fate really was. He had only seen her a few times during the course of her rigorous study, and she made herself seem mysterious in the strangest ways. She consistently wore a pair of blue goggles on the top of her fiery hair, along with a pair of short, black gloves that exposed her fingers. She also possessed an immense knowledge of vocabulary, sprouting words like "grandiose" and "inconsequential". Matt was unfamiliar with such words, yet he was entranced by Fate's use of them. Something drew him closer and closer to her. Matt wanted to know more about her, but with Fate being Fate, he doubted he'd learn anything anytime soon.

Matt snapped out of his thoughts as he bumped into somebody.

"Pardon me." Large, nearly black eyes stared up at Matt.

"N-no, it was me, I should a-apologize." Matt's lack of social skills caught up to him yet again as he attempted to apologize to Wammy's best.

"You are?" Near took no notice of Matt's stuttering, and instead kept staring at Matt's slowly reddening face.

"Matt."

"Ah. I've heard of you." Near's gaze lowered, yet Matt still felt as if he was in the presence of royalty.

"You have?" Matt questioned, puzzled as to how the white haired genius had heard of him.

"Yes. You are Matt, naturally red colored hair, an avid video gamer, and lacking in many social skills, such as myself." Matt stood; a little stunned. It wasn't often complete strangers recited their knowledge of him to him. Near continued to stare, twirling a lock of white hair around his finger.

"I must be on my way now." Near started to move away.

"It was a pleasure." The words slipped out of Matt's mouth. Near hesitated, and Matt could've sworn there was a slight smile on Near's face. As soon as it was there, it was gone, and Near continued down the hall.

"Why don't you ever study?" Although she had asked this question millions of times, Fate was never satisfied with the answer of 'I don't know'.

"Fate." Matt sighed.

"Matt." Fate mimicked him, it seemed to have become her favorite pastime to joke around with Matt. Matt, meanwhile, picked at his food, unable to force anything down. For some strange reason, he always felt like this around Fate; some days were just worse than others.

"Matt? Why don't you eat?" It was always like this with her. Questions spilled out of her mouth like rain fell from the sky. Matt didn't really mind, though. In face, on occasion, he missed hearing her voice and the ever constant flow of words that tumbled from her mouth. When he thought back, Matt never would have imagined Fate to be this talkative. He realized now how much she actually needed companionship. Matt was more than happy to fill the role.

"I'm just not hungry." Matt continued to play with his food, building the classic mashed potato tower.

"Sitting here again, Matt?" Mello set his tray down next to Matt's. It was obvious Mello didn't care much for Fate, most likely because she was the one stopping him from being second in line.

"Yes, Mello, I am." Mello sighed, but sat down anyway. Mello would never admit it, but he enjoyed Matt's presence, whether Fate was there or not.

"Have you heard?" Mello initiated the conversation.

"Heard what?" Fate piped up. Mello sent a small glare towards the girl.

"L's coming, for a visit." Fate's eyes went wide. She suddenly got up and ran out of the cafeteria.

"L? Isn't he the really famous detective?" Matt was still a bit unfamiliar with the celebrity's among Wammy's House.

"Yes, you idiot. Near, Fate, and I are his successors."

"So he's a big deal, then?" Mello just rolled his eyes and followed Fate's actions.