sempre in the same manner throughout
By the time Light enters high school, he knows what to expect.
No more insipid get-to-know-each-other games, no. In that, high school is not like elementary school. But the reviewing, and reviewing, and then proceeding at a snail's pace—that's all the same as it has been, not only every time he changes schools but every year, every semester, every week, every day, every class. He plays with his pencil and stares out the window. The scenery, at least, is new, though it won't be for long.
Unfortunately, a student staring out the window attracts teachers like nothing else. Hearing his name, Light blinks, and turns back to the front of the class. The teacher looks stern, clearly expecting him not to be able to answer her question. When he calmly recites the formula, she blinks in surprise. A boy who went to junior high school with him rolls his eyes.
He's stopped asking for books for holiday presents, which puzzles his mother. He doesn't ask for anything anymore, so she buys him books anyway, and he reads them, because it would disappoint her if he didn't. The nonfiction books contain information, so he values them, but he's read enough novels by now that he's able to pick up on all the clues and anticipate all the twists. When he's wrong, which is seldom, it's usually because he credits the author with too much cleverness. This particular mistake happens less and less as he ages.
Once his preferred television station, even the news now seems to repeat itself. The content differs, of course, but the subject matter is fundamentally the same. Violent crime, government corruption, natural disasters, economic stagnation. Compounding and playing on each other, day after day after day.
"What's wrong?" Sachiko asks one day as he's heading up the stairs to his room.
He stops and turns back to look at her. "Sorry?"
"You look unhappy." She frowns at him. "What's the matter?"
"Nothing." He summons a smile from somewhere and offers it to her, making a mental note to maintain a better facade. "I've just had a long day."