Chapter one:

Sometimes our lives don't turn out the way we wanted them to. However it is up to us how we will respond to the circumstances that life has decided to hand to us.

...

Mello stops his walking to turn as he sees Near pass by him. He watches his rival head down the stairs that lead to the hall where the orphan bedrooms are. He turns away once the other is out of sight. He heads towards his best friend Matt's room. He pauses just before he is about to pass by Nears own room. He turns to look at it finding that it is left slightly open. He glances around not spotting anyone around him. He carefully opens the door heading inside and closes the door quietly behind himself. He starts to look around Near's room avoiding any toys left out on the floor. He glances under the bed spotting some books stacked there... And almost out of sight on top of some books is a laptop. He pulls it out to take a look. He finds that the top of the laptop has a series of sticky notes on it. He wonders if there is any information on what he could do to be able to get one step ahead.

Nears first place in this orphanage can't be held by him forever.

Not if Mello has anything to say about it. He reads over the sticky notes only to blink as he realizes that the notes are just some information on some case. He just isn't sure what case this could be.

Obscure website likely used that is only found if really looking deeply for it. Note: I did manage to find what one I know was used based on the image attached to it.

A lot of money involved. Maybe someone who is rich who could afford such a thing?

The attack was done by professionals who knew what they were doing. It was quick, clean and full of knowledge. They have done this many times before.

I haven't been able to sneak information out of them yet.

No suspicion is on me yet though I should tread carefully. Hopefully I'll be able to get the answers I need.

Mello isn't fully sure what to make of the notes. He takes a picture of the notes with his secret phone. He wants to take the laptop however he can't if he is going to avoid being caught. He slips the laptop back into his spot knowing who he can turn to for help in this. He gets out of Near's room leaving everything the way that he had found it. He goes right to Matt's room to which the red head turns to him pausing his video game. "Matt. I need your help with something." He informs the other causing the other to blink curiously at him through the orange lenses of his goggles. He goes over to his friend sitting next to him where he allows the other to take a look at the photo.

"You know it could be a case L gave him." Matt attempts to point out. "As two of the top three here you know that L will send us cases to help us work up to possibly being his successor."

"I know." Mello breathes out. "Just look into his laptop and his activities for me. Just to quiet my curiosity."

Matt stares at Mello for a long moment before turning away. "Alright." He grabs one of his many laptops he has on the opposite side of where Mello is. He begins working away on it while Mello stays there, the blonde hoping that this might be something more than an assignment from L.

Meanwhile…

Near makes his way to the back of the library in a corner which has been long forgotten.

Especially if the dust is to say this.

Near leans against the wall pulling out his secret cell phone. He dials a number before bringing it to his ear. He waits as there is ringing until finally the call is answered.

"Password?" A voice asks without even so much as a hello.

"146827." Near responds to which a glad noise comes from the other end.

"Good timing. The boss is itching to talk to you." The voice on the other side that sometimes sounding a little masculine then leaning back towards feminine. "Hold on for a few moments." The person pushes a button based on the sound from the other side of the line.

Near waits for a bit in the silence then the sounds of a phone shifting as it is answered.

"Glad you called. Let us start with something simple. Did you manage to gather anymore information for me?"

"Not much this time. L hasn't been in contact with me recently. Though I am waiting as he promises another case for me. He has been trying to avoid some of my questions though I have gotten one thing from him. He told me that he is working with an old orphan from this orphanage to figure out a case. He said that this person is known as J. So he'll be away for a bit until the case is finished. Then he will contact me again."

"Hm. I see." The man hums a little impressed. "You are doing very well."

"Text me proof that your end of the deal is being kept. Make sure that there is proof that it is taken today. Then I will continue to get the information you desire."

"Of course I will. After this conversation I will send it to you. I have the news on which is on channel six. That will be the background and you can confirm pretty easily that it is todays news. Though there is something else that I wanted to bring up with you."

"Huh?" Near blinks at hearing this not having expected this. "Something else?"

"Yes. You see I have an extra job for you. I will give an upgrade in care to my end of the deal if you are able to do this. If you refuse then nothing will change but I will demand more information next time."

Near silently swallows some saliva as he knows that he has to take this deal. He knows that it will benefit what he wants so he has to do it. "Alright." He agrees. "What is this work that you want done?"

"I want you to go out tonight to grab a package in a location that I will text you. You're going to be bugging that hacker of the orphanage's computer."

Near blinks at hearing this. "The hacker? Why would we do that? He isn't the target of all of this."

"No. However his skills will be needed for something that I am honestly planning. So I need to be able to get him onboard. Bugging his computer will give me the information that I will need to blackmail him to do so. Just get it done and I will send you proof of the reward being done. I will speak to you again." The man hangs up so Near brings the phone away form his ear.

Near opens the texts that are sent to him just moments after the call has ended. He stares at the one photo that was sent to him. He clutches the phone a little tightly. He lets out a breath before putting his phone away in his pocket and heading out of the library.