"Let's run away together," Mei told Sayu. "Away from all this Kira stuff. We'll go to London, or America, or…"

"Just the two of us?" Sayu asked.

Mei nodded. And Sayu realised… there was nothing she wanted more.

"Seriously? You're so lucky!"

"Yeah… my brother would never do that for me…"

My friends were giggling away as I told them about my mall trip with Light.

"Yeah…" I swallowed.

I couldn't giggle. I couldn't even pretend. My shoulders were hunched over.

"You okay, Sayu?" Kaede asked. "You look tired…"

"Huh?" I jumped ten feet in the air. "Uhh! Yeah! I'm all good!"

I grimaced. How did I tell them? How the fuck did I tell them!?

My heart was racing so fast. Sweat covered my brow.

"We should get away from them," Guardian told me.

I whimpered. "I'll be right back!"

And so, I was in the bathroom, crying all over again. Guardian flew above me. They put their hand on my shoulder.

"God…" I muttered. "I just… I can't…"

Guardian sighed. "You have been doing well, Sayu. Be proud of yourself."

"Proud?!" I almost burst out laughing. "How could I possibly be proud? I'm useless!"

"You were chosen for a reason," Guardian told me. "You may not believe it now, but you will save the world."

"The world is fucked," I sighed.

Mei and I linked arms as we walked through the street, heading to her house. Guardian flew above, watching us with a cautious eye.

"So…" Mei spread her arms. "You ready for the exam tomorrow?"

Oh god, the algebra exam. I had completely forgotten about it. The Life Note had completely distracted me from everything.

"Um… yeah," I said. "Totally."

Mei just stared at me. Ugh, I couldn't lie to that face.

"Okay, okay, maybe I forgot all about it," I admitted.

"Seriously?" Mei groaned. "Oh my god, Sayu. We're gonna have to do so much revision."

"I know," I sighed. I backed off from her.

"Uh, Sayu?" Mei asked.

"Don't worry," I croaked. "Revision! I can totally do that."

"You know, you've been acting weird for a little while," Mei told me, her brow raised. "Is everything okay?"

I wished I was good at hiding my emotions. I wished I was a better liar, so the tears didn't slip down my cheeks.

"Sayu…" Guardian reached over for me.

"Oh, Sayu…" Mei reached over. She wrapped her arms around me. I put my head into her shoulder, tears staining her blazer.

"You can tell me anything," she said, just like my brother had done.

My sniffling grew worse. All these people want to help me… and yet I can't do anything! Why! Why does it have to be me!

Why was it like this…

"I'm sorry," I sobbed. "I'm so sorry!"

"It's okay," Mei assured me. "You haven't done anything wrong!"

If only she knew.

I reached out, holding her hand. She squeezed it. I stared into her eyes, feeling my heart race.

"Come on," I wiped my nose. "Let's just go to your house."

We arrived at Mei's place. Her parents were home, as well as her younger brothers.

"Hi, Sayu!" her mother grinned at me. "It's lovely to see you!"

"Thanks, Ms Nakahara," I replied.

"Hey, Sayu," one of her brothers waved.

"Wanna see something cool?" the other asked, picking his nose.

"Uh, no way," Mei grabbed my arm, "we're going upstairs."

We went up to her room. Mei gazed over her shoulder.

"You're so lucky," she sighed. "Your brother is so laid back. Those guys drive me insane!"

"Heh, yeah…" I shrugged.

Mei furrowed her brow in concern. We entered her room. She slumped at her desk, her brow furrowed.

"So, revision?" I asked.

"No," Mei closed the door, "you're going to tell me what's going on."

She was glaring at me, arms crossed.

"Do not," Guardian advised.

Mei was still staring at me. My heart was racing.

"Mei, I… you wouldn't believe me." I admitted.

"Try me," she stepped forward. "Come on, Sayu. This is really upsetting you. I just want to help."

My throat was dry. Guardian was staring down. I was shaking like a leaf, torn between the gods. I threw up my hands in defeat. The weight on my chest was like a ball and chains.

"Um… so what if I told you… that I'm the Anti-Kira?" I squealed.

Mei just stared at me. Then she burst out laughing.

"Yeah, right!" she cackled. "Good one, Sayu! Tell me what's really going on."

I was staring at her, dead on. She wiped her eyes.

"Come on, Sayu!" she said. "There's no way! You…"

There's no going back now.

"I'll prove it to you," I clenched a fist. "Your grandpa died a few weeks ago, right? What's his name?"

"You can't be serious," she shook her head.

"Tell me his name," I repeated.

Mei was staring at me, strangely.

"Please," I pleaded. "This is gonna work."

Mei breathed out, slowly.

"Tareo Nakahara," she replied.

I got out the Life Note, feeling the smooth cover beneath my fingers.

"This is not a good idea," Guardian told me.

"Shut up," I uttered.

"What?" Mei asked.

"Do you have a photo of him?" I asked.

"Um…" Mei looked away. "Yeah, hold on…"

She got up, racing out of the room.

"Sayu, this is not going to end well," Guardian advised.

"I told you to shut up," I snapped. "I have to do this."

"I warned you," Guardian replied, "sharing this power with others is-"

"I DON'T FUCKING CARE!" I snapped. "You don't get it - I'm gonna LOSE MY MIND IF I DON'T TELL SOMEONE!"

"Sayu!"

Mei was holding up a photo of her grandfather. He was smiling, so peaceful.

"Why were you yelling?!" Mei asked.

I ignored her, writing down her grandfather's name. I'd never felt so scared… so angry. So determined.

"Sayu?" Mei asked.

"Forty seconds," I replied.

"What's gotten into you?" Mei asked. "You're being so weird!"

"Hold on," I said.

My tone was serious. But my hand was shaking, so, so bad. God, I was scared out of my mind. What the fuck was I doing.

There was a scream downstairs.

"Wh…" Mei paled.

"Come on," I got up.

I led her out of the room, towards the staircase. Downstairs, Mei's mom was at the door, talking to an old man.

"Dad…?" she whispered, eyes huge.

"It's been a few months," he chuckled. "What happened?"

"No way," Mei breathed. "No fucking way."

I just sat there, Mei gazing at me.

"This must be staged," she uttered. "You're pranking me."

"You still don't believe me?" I asked.

"It's just…" she trailed off. "How is this possible?!

"So…" I looked down. "You remember a few weeks ago? When I found a notebook in class, but you couldn't see it?"

"Uh, yeah?" Mei asked. "What was that all about?"

I grimaced. "That was the Life Note. It can bring the dead back to life."

"This is crazy talk," Mei shook her head. "I'm dreaming."

"I said the same thing," I sighed.

"It's just…" Mei looked down. "No offense, Sayu, but you're the last person I'd expect to… to be doing all this stuff!"

I simply stared at her in response.

"Sorry," she shrugged, "but you…"

"You're right," I sighed, "but… I don't have a choice. The angels chose me."

"Angels?!" Mei asked.

"Mei…" I grabbed her hand. "Please don't tell anyone else. I know it's a big ask, but… I'm so alone. I just had to tell someone."

She shook her head. "There's no way you can keep this up. The police will find out eventually."

"... then I have to beat Kira before they can," I gazed up at Guardian, "you don't have to help me, but please… don't tell anyone."

Mei stood back. "I… I don't know, Sayu… I don't want to get caught up in all this…"

"I'm sorry," I bowed my head, "I… I shouldn't have said anything. I won't let anything happen to you, I swear it."

Mei sighed. She took a deep, painful breath.

"If you really think you can save the world, then fine," she grabbed my arm, "but if you become evil? I'm telling."

Finally, the friendly fire in her eyes was back. I grabbed her other arm.

"It's a promise," I grinned.