Staying in a hotel was better than looking for someone who was unlikely to be found, like Kira. That's how I thought for a week while staying at the hotel. It was fun if you think it was my first time being alone on vacation. It would have been more fun if the rest of the family had come, but maybe our parents wouldn't like such luxuries. They're not only their tastes.

One of those days, I took a walk but wherever I went, there would be someone talking about Kira. Everyone was talking about how dangerous he was. In fact, I heard some saying he needs someone's name and face to kill, and that he can also decide the date of the person's death.

He's indeed dangerous. In the end, it was the right decision not to join the team in the police force.I thought.

When returned to the hotel, I went straight to my room. It felt exhausting hearing people talk about Kira like he's some celebrity. Sure he's special, but he's not a celebrity like a singer.

I turned on the TV to spend some time before dinner and suddenly came across the news.

"We bring you this show under Kira's hostage while performing our duties as journalists. I would like you to understand we would never put this show on air with the intention of deceiving you or increasing our audience.'' the reporter said.

"Kira's hostage? What's going on?" I murmured.

"Four days ago our manager received these four tapes. It was Kira who sent them, undoubtedly. The first tape contained predictions of the date and time of death of two recently arrested suspects. These suspects died yesterday exactly on the predicted date of death. We have been specifically instructed by Kira to play the second tape today at exactly 17:59. We have the information it will contain a planned assassination, as proof it is actually Kira, as well as a message to the world."

"Are they pulling our legs? What does—"

"Please pay attention" the reporter finished. The screen went white and the word Kira appeared in artistic lettering. A computer-edited voice could be heard.

"I'm Kira. If this message is being transmitted at exactly 17:59 on October 9th, 2006, it should now be thirty-seven, thirty-eight, thirty-nine, forty seconds." he counted down.

»Now switch to Tayu TV channel. The main news anchor will die of a heart attack at six o'clock sharp."

I immediately switched to the channel he mentioned. The news anchor had collapsed on the desk and seemed to have fallen asleep sitting up.

"Oh God..." I mumbled.

"Another sacrifice must be made. The target will be someone who is now appearing live on NHN TV. A commenter who was negative towards me. I don't remember his name though."

"Maybe he's referring to Konbajumi Seiji." someone in the next-door room said.

"We have to stop the broadcast or we'll get into trouble!"

"Am calling the Sakura TV studio!"

Within a split second, I realized that those voices in the next room sounded familiar. It was Matsuda and the other policemen! An idea popped into my head but I dismissed it outright.

No... It's not my business, it's the police's. The holidays are better. I'll stay here and if... Nah, I'd better not. It's crazy!I thought.

I looked at the TV. Someone was yelling whom Kira killed outright. I couldn't tolerate such a situation...

"Why am I even thinking about it? Whatever, happens, happens! Let it be done!" I monologued.

I grabbed my sweatshirt, hurriedly put on my shoes, and rushed for the hotel entrance. There were bicycles placed for guests to ride.

"May I borrow one of these bikes?" I asked the receptionist.

"Of course, you may, sweetheart." she smiled.

Then, took the bike and rode it. I had never pedalled faster in my life. Obviously, I didn't know where the Sakura TV studio was, but I could tell from the bike's GPS.

The bike ran down the road. Some drivers pressed their car horns due to the speed being too fast. With such car chaos, I was afraid of getting killed. Kira wouldn't kill me, but my carelessness on the road would. The goal was to force the producers of the channel to give me the tapes. Apparently, I live dangerously on a daily basis.

It couldn't be true! They mocked people to their faces! Since Kira is a killer, he wouldn't appear on TV just to scare people. He's secret and remains secret. What criminal comes forward in public and admits their crimes?

*

When I arrived at the studio, I took off the sweatshirt and covered my face. Then checked for any people around me, and cut a piece of paper from the drawing pad to draw a gun. I approached the entrance and started knocking hard on the glass door.

"Open up!" I shouted. "Open up, dammit!"

"Oh, a little girl! Why are you here by yourself?" said the security guard as soon as he saw me.

"You really would like to know, huh?" I mocked. "Where's the room broadcasting the tapes Kira sent?!"

"Whoa, there girl! Chill out!"

I took out the gun and aimed at him.

"Tell me right now! Where's the fricking room?"

Even though I had a gun, the security guard didn't seem to care. He looked at me as if he sees lunatics every day who threaten him with a gun if they don't tell him what they want.

"On the first floor. I don't understand your tone though... I, too have problems, but I don't point people with guns!"

I followed the security guard's instructions and finally reached my destination. I opened the door wide and burst in like a robber. They all turned and looked nonplussed.

"You liars! How can you frighten people like this?!''

"Who are you;" they asked.

"Give me the tapes now!"

"Did the police send you?" another one asked.

"Just give me the tapes, you shitting rogues!"

"What's the fuss about, girl? We did nothing wrong!"

I pulled out the gun again. As before, there was no intention of shooting them. It was only for threat.

"Either you hand over the tapes, or I'm calling the police! Am I clear?"

"Alright, alright we will! Just put the gun down!"

Finally, they put the tapes inside a bag. Someone asked me if I work for the police.

"Why do you think that?"

"Because... No child your age would dare do such a thing."

"You could say so," I replied hesitantly.

*

*

Going back to the hotel, I also returned the bike to the reception. I rushed to the room where the police were. Before entering they said:

"Unbelievable! Who is that person and why they went to Sakura TV?"

"This is quite effective way to keep Kira from murdering you, though."

"They probably took the tapes. But what do they want them for anyway?"

I knocked on the door, feeling awkward about what just happened. It was extreme of me, not gonna lie. But since I wasn't in Japan for vacation, I had to act somehow! I didn't expect myself to react in such a way either. Matsuda opened the door.

"Oh..."

"I brought the tapes," I said pointing to the bag.

"Who's at the door, Matsuda?" someone asked.

I entered the room and everyone turned their eyes on me. There was a barefooted man sitting in an armchair with an unorthodox posture, his legs folded across his chest. He was staring at me too.

"Um... Good evening," I greeted awkwardly.

"You're... The one who went to Sakura TV?"

"Yes"

"And what's inside that bag?"

"The tapes? The ones Kira sent... You know..."

"Let me see..."

The man sitting unorthodoxly took out the tapes and placed them in the CD player of the TV. It felt uncomfortable just by watching him.

"Who's that?" I whispered to Matsuda.

"I didn't think so at first either... He's L"

"The best detective in the world? Are you sure it's him?"

"Definitely. He's L in person"

Unknown of how it happened, but I ended up joining the team. Just like that. After my "invasion" of Sakura TV, they decided to add me to the team. Not that I wanted to join them, I just couldn't bear to see such lies from news producers, let alone in public. I mean... Do they know lots of people watch them every day? What reason do they have to cause such not worth panic? To people who are easily influenced even! Someone might think: "It's a TV channel. They simply want to increase their audience." It's true, but I, as an ordinary citizen, can not accept such a thing.

Over the course of the days, I slowly began to learn about the members of my new team. Of course, the only one I already knew was Matsuda. And as he told, they call him a fool for completely unknown reasons.

I don't think he's that kind of person, but that's what he told me. What he accepts is atypical bullying and not the standard usually done in schools. Although the one who dislikes him the most is Aizawa. Basically, that's his last name and his first is Shuichi. He looks strict but he's not. Matsuda says he's naturally sullen, and maybe that's why he calls him a fool. As for the others, I see no reason to call him that. Not for Mogi, not for the manager or L. He just doesn't seem stupid to me.

Mogi seems a calm person. He is neither sullen nor cheerful, unlike Matsuda and Aizawa. You would call him neutral. The police director Mr Yagami seems like the kind of person who always cares about a member of the team or the development of the case. He's the chief police after all.

And finally... The famous detective L. He's calm like Mogi, but... Cold. —At least that's how he seems— He talks in a monotone voice, sits in this particular position and eats sweets all the time. Apparently, cakes and strawberries are his favourite ones. He seems to be lost in thought. It makes you think that this man knows how to solve the case, and even may be... Genius. Despite his odd appearance.

L seems to be an expert at his job because he has given each of the cops an ID with fake details in case they happen to run into Kira. And besides, I learned we shouldn't call him L in public but Ryuzaki. He's a detective after all. He must keep his identity a secret.

Well... That's where I ended up. I started working on a case, with a loose word. I even wondered how all this would end up, after joining the team. Maybe my sister was right after all. Some movies may indeed represent reality! They might as well have made me a second police chief! You never know...