Matsuda couldn't accept this bullying towards him. The members of the task force always bully him for being an idiot as if it's something bad. What's wrong with being an idiot? That was his charm after all. Not everyone can have Einstein's IQ. It seemed to him that his other colleagues were just pretending to be smarter than him, while in reality, they weren't. Because if they were actually smart, they wouldn't glorify it and be like «we are the best ones! Only Matsuda can have such a little IQ, just like a rat's IQ» He just couldn't bear it. He didn't get involved with the case just for fun! He knew what was his role about as a police officer.
Bringing them such an intelligent bird as Kenta would be proof that he's not what they think he is. After all, crows are clever birds from birth. He had read once in an encyclopedia about birds that crows have the same IQ as humans have, although their brain is small in size. Even that, a crow must be specially trained to complete difficult tasks such as helping the police for example. In that case, the IQ doesn't really matter. No matter how smart a crow is, if it's left untrained it will not be able to perform difficult missions.
Matsuda didn't know yet if Kenta could actually help them. That's just what he wanted to believe, hoping the rest of them would stop bullying him. It doesn't mean he didn't have high expectations from this bird. He had always loved animals, especially their babies. He believed they are pure creatures of God and that they also have the right to be loved by humans. That's how he felt for Kenta.
As it turned out later, L had the same opinion about Kenta, although he wanted to be one hundred percent sure that indeed the bird's intelligence is high enough for such a case as Kira's. He had to admit though he agreed with the rest of the team. How the bird was supposed to solve the case on its own, while the police themselves struggled to find the real Kira and also to bring him to the court?
That being said, he decided to set up specific objects to test the bird's brain skills. Going to one of the rooms of the building, -specifically to the room where L had once talked about burning calories by using your brain- he placed on the small table three hamster cages, each of them containing small stones. The last cage had very little space between the bars, so Kenta must use something in order to get the stone.
He then hanged a thread next to the window, which was also hanged by a tiny stick. On the other side of the window, the left one, there was also a longer stick hanged by a thread. Last, he placed near the table a taboret with another hamster cage on it, but this cage had a tiny tunnel on the top. Inside the cage, there was a strawberry, but there was no stick to get it through the bars.
Kenta had to find out how to take all the stones, so he can place them inside the tunnel. L thought this was enough to test Kenta's intelligence, and how he can pass the final stage. There were also cameras in the room so they can see how Kenta is doing.
"Ryuzaki, what did you put on this room? What Kenta should do?" Matsuda asked.
"Do you see these cages on the table? Each of them contains a small stone. The bird must find out a way to get all of them. On both sides of the window, there are hanged-up threads with sticks that he's supposed to take. The last cage has little space between the bars, so the bird should use the sticks properly. When he collects all the stones, he will need to place them on the cage containing this tunnel. Down the tunnel there's a strawberry, though there's no stick to get it, so he must make up a way on his own. If the bird succeeds all the tasks completely, we will get a proper conclusion"
"Why do you call him "bird"? He's not a bird, he's Kenta!"
"Let it be... He's Kenta" L replied slightly annoyed by Matsuda's distracted behavior.
"Interesting idea, Ryuzaki... I already look forward to seeing how far this pathetic loser's bird can get" Aizawa offended Matsuda.
"Stop calling me names!"
Mogi clapped his hands as a sign to stop.
"Enough for today! Matsuda put the bird's cage in the room"
And so, he did as he was told. He took Kenta's cage and walked into the chosen room. He looked at the tasks the crow had to complete, opened the small gate of the cage, and let the bird free. He stood upon the small table where the three cages were put. He looked at them inquisitively while he let his cawing sounds be heard.
"I believe in you, little Kenta! Make daddy proud!" Matsuda stroked the bird's wings softy.
The bird didn't respond to the touch. He continued examining the room and the cages with his look.
As Matsuda returned to the main room of the task force, he heard Kenta making his cawing sounds. He smiled knowing Kenta was going to pass the test.
"I wonder how this idea crossed your mind..." Aizawa referenced Matsuda.
"Stop mocking me! I'm not so stupid as you think!"
"Would you mind not talking for a while? I want to concentrate" L said turning his attention to the bird.
Everyone turned and looked at the big screen. Kenta was still examining the room trying to understand what he should do with the cages and the hanged-up sticks. For some minutes, his body stayed motionless staring at the cages. He was similar to a mini statue. Due to his posture, it seemed like he didn't know what he was supposed to do. He scratched his wings with his beak and examined the cages one more time.
Making another caw sound, he turned his head and approached the sticks. His beak pulled both of the sticks out of the threads and placed them on the table. His look got pinned at the stone of the first cage. Looking at the sticks, he got the first one, which seemed to be the longest stick. The stick crossed through the small gate of the cage, trying to get the stone. With the help of his beak and the stick, the small stone got finally out of the cage. That's how it continued with the second cage. But, when he looked at the third cage, he seemed to be stuck.
The gates had little space for the stone to cross between them. How would he use the sticks? Kenta looked at the cage inquisitively to find an alternative way to get the stone. He tried with the long stick. It didn't work. He tried with the short stick. It didn't work either. Perhaps he could use both by placing his beak between their points. But as it seemed, it didn't work out either.
He let the sticks down to try another time with his beak by crossing it through the bars. It worked. He put the last stone next to the previous ones. He left a happy cawing sound.
"Yay!! That's what I expected from you, Kenta!" Matsuda applauded the bird by clapping his hands.
"It's still too soon to get a conclusion, Matsuda" L reminded Matsuda's words. Though the entire time he was noticing the bird with a deep interest in his eyes. His tongue slightly touched his lip and thumb. He knew where this was going.
Kenta is doing well so far. But the last stage is the toughest... He thought.
-----
Turning his head, Kenta faced the cage with the strawberry inside of it. He approached it so he can examine it better. He focused it from top to bottom, and from right to left. In addition, he tested its material by hitting his beak on the edge of the cage. Plastic. Perfect material for hamster cages. Perfectly constructed for this challenge.
He scooped to observe the bottom better. There were three circles that protruded slightly from the bottom. Maybe it was a secret opening. He had encountered something similar in his previous trials. He knew people's minds and how they worked. After all, he had the same degree of IQ as the average person.
His beak transferred to the top of the cage the stones. One by one. There was this tunnel next to them. After observing the circles and the position of the stones, he slightly pushed all of the stones and slipped into the colorful tunnel. The stones rolled over the floor of the cage. Surprisingly, all of them passed over these circles on the floor, which made the bottom open a small orifice, and making the strawberry falling down. The members of the task force had their eyes wide opened.
"Say... What?!" Aizawa was surprised.
"What did the bird did to the cage?" Mogi wondered.
"I told you Kenta is smart!!" Matsuda justified his words.
"The bird did nothing. In this cage, I had installed a special mechanism, so that the floor of the cage looks like it has buttons. When the stones passed over them, what actually happened was that an opening formed in the center of the bottom, making the strawberry fall onto the floor" L explained still looking at the bird eating the strawberry.
"I'm impressed as always, Ryuzaki!" Matsuda flattered him. "So, what are your impressions for Kenta?"
The detective licked his lips along with his thumb as a tic.
"The tests I gave him are specially designed for birds of his species. Precisely because he is a crow I wanted to test his intelligence. And from the movements of his body and eyes, I noticed that before acting, he carefully observed and examined the cages, the stones, even the sticks, and how to use them. But what impressed me the most, was in the last cage that before putting the stones on top, he stared at the bottom as if he knew something was inside. In the meantime, he placed the stones at the correct angle, so that they can fall exactly on the circular openings" L continued his statement.
"So? What's your conclusion?" Matsuda asked.
"I think we should keep him. He's an appropriate police partner"
"Yay!! You're awesome, Ryuzaki!" Matsuda cheered and attacked him with a tight hug. His hands wrapped L's back as a sign of friendly cuddling. L blinked fast as a questioning for the other man's actions.
"Hey, what's going on here?! Get off him, you perverted queer!" Aizawa shouted at him.
"You love animals don't you, Ryuzaki? You pretend to be a tough guy, but deep down you have a soul! I knew you had!"
"M-Matsuda... Please be a little more decent. We don't have such intimacy with each other" L tried to get his hands out of his body.
"That's what you've told me the other day when you were in the hospital! You need to be more open at least once! I'd suggest you call me by my first name from now on! Touta!"
Matsuda's hands were now around L's shoulders. It seemed he didn't know in which part of his body his arms were located.
"Matsuda... Be careful where... Ah!" L left an exclamation showing pain.
"Don't be so unsightly! Just get off him!" Aizawa pulled him behind his costume though Matsuda grabbed L's arms to continue hugging.
"You need to respect other people's privacy! He says he feels uncomfortable, you must listen to him!" Aizawa tried to pry Matsuda away.
"But I want a hug!!" The younger policeman protested.
"Get your own girlfriend! L already has one!"
"I don't have a girlfriend" L correct Aizawa.
"Yes, you do! The little blond chick you saved from being dead!" Matsuda mocked him.
"I already know this action was towards her! You don't have to remind me constantly" L slightly pushed Matsuda.
"You heard us, kiddo! This behavior for a 26-year-old doesn't suit you! Now get the bird in his cage to see what we're gonna do with him!"
Aizawa managed to pry Matsuda's body away from L and sent him upstairs, along with Kenta's birdcage. L rubbed his wound wondering what caused Matsuda that sudden cuddling.
"No comments..." Mogi said.
"What does that mean?" L asked him.
"It's up to anyone's actions. I can't judge" He replied feeling a little uncomfortable about what happened.
Due to L's posture, a small piece of paper fell from his pocket. He felt something made of paper slipping away from his clothes. As he scooped to take it, he noticed it was a mobile phone number with a name next to it: Negishi Sakamoto. The name made him remember the conversation he had with this old man in the hospital.
«Well... You seem to be for a student, young man. What are you studying?»
«I don't study. I already have my own work»
«Okay, so what do you do for a living?»
«I work with the police»
«Oooh... So you're a police officer» The old man concluded.
«Um... Yes. You could say that»
«I was a police officer too! Back in my days my colleagues and I had lots of cases to solve! Murders and drugs were my strong point! I always hoped that people will change one day and the crime rate will probably be reduced... But as time passes, crimes get increased! Especially now with Kira's case! I never liked that guy! He's so arrogant to think he can change the world by himself!»
L sighed softly.
«I agree with you. His case was difficult for us to solve»
«So you did get involved with the case! You're really brave, son! Not just you but your colleagues too! Our society needs people like you! You should be careful though! Now that he escaped the court he may become a hundred times more dangerous!»
«Thank you, sir. I will keep that in mind»
The old man smiled.
«By the way, son. Now that I have retired I think I have to spend my time creatively. Call it a hobby if you like. You know people my age must have athletic and creative hobbies»
«It is clever on behalf of you. It means you see age as a number»
«That's right! Ever since my wife passed away, my life's been a mess! It's not the same as before... I promised her I will be by her side and protect her from the grim reaper's expectations. I told her I'll suffer if she leaves first, so I thought I should leave. But now... Now...»
The old man's facial expressions had now changed. He was both frustrated and angry with himself.
«Sir, I understand your pain, but-»
«And as if that weren't enough, I also have this damned leg surgery. I'm getting old, boy! My legs don't support my body... I will not accept it though! I will go against nature! I won't let it take my youth away! I have to find something extreme! Something that will take me back to the age of 30!»
L looked at him from top to bottom as if he didn't believe this old man's words. He tried to find an appropriate reply to this statement, but he couldn't think of one.
«Do you see that desk over there? There are some paper and pencils on it. Would you mind going there and take some for me?» The old man asked the younger.
«Yes, but what's the reasoning for needing them?»
«I'll write down my phone number, so you can call me anytime. I'm getting myself involved in the Kira case!»
L was now eighty percent sure this old man needed a psychologist to talk to. He knew third age wasn't the most pleasant period of a person's life, so old people had to improve their diet and everyday life, but what he heard was completely unpredictable. However he kept his voice calm and patient as he usually did.
«Sir... How are you feeling?»
«I feel great! Can't be better! Why?»
«I would suggest you rest for a while until the surgery begins. I believe you feel nervous about it, but don't worry. Doctors have knowledge of their job»
«It's not about the surgery, boy. I'm talking seriously here! If anything happens, you'll call me right away! I told you murders and drugs used to be my strong point! I want to feel like a 25th-year-old again! Don't worry, I have a clean criminal record. You can rely on me»
«It's not that I can't trust you, sir, but think about your children. What they will think when they found out you're working on such a dangerous case? Besides, you're retired. It means you stopped working»
«I never said I'll be working full-time. My hobby will be part-time! I told you when something happens, you'll call me in a heartbeat!»
----
In a strange way, he managed to give Mr. Sakamoto that piece of paper to write his cell phone, since he wanted it so much... Naturally, he didn't know what to do. Like if he should keep it or throw it away. However, he kept it for no particular reason. Maybe it will be useful one day.
The next chapters will be about Light, Takada, Misa, and the shinigamis. No spoilers here! You know what has happened, so you know how it will be continued. I mean, you don't know every detail of the story, but you get my point here XD Yes, I will add L x Misa references, just be patient. Until the next chapter, stay tuned ;)