Dear Meri,
I will pick you up at 9:00 on Saturday.
-Watari
August.
Sunlight bathed Wammy's House, casting a golden glow on its walls. The orphanage hummed with activity as the familiar sounds of children laughing and chattering echoed from behind its closed doors. However, on this particular day, Meredith stood alone at the entrance of Wammy's House, aware that she would not be partaking in the usual activities that day.
Meredith waited patiently at the entrance of Wammy's House. It was soon before her attention was caught by the sight of the arrival of a vintage classic black Jaguar driving close, coming to a smooth halt before her.
She reached out for the car door, "Watari, thank you for picking me up – "
But her voice trailed off as she swung open the door. She froze with astonishment as she saw the person seated in the back seat of the sleek black car.
It can't be -
L turned his head toward her, his gaze fixed upon her with his wide, intense black eyes. He played with the lollipop in his mouth, the stick constantly moving playfully around his lips.
"Hello there, Meri," L greeted her in his usual plain and enigmatic voice, pulling out the lollipop, his presence filling the vehicle.
"What are you doing here, L?!"
"I told you, we're going on a date with Takashi-kun, if that's what you want to call it –"
"It's not a date, L. It's just classmates having fun at the amusement park for a day."
"Meri, please close the door," Watari reminded her through the rearview mirror.
"Sorry, Watari," she entered the car, swiftly closed the door behind her, and fastened her seat belt. Her focus remained on L, who was still savoring the candy. "I thought you were just making fun of me."
"A promise is a promise, I have always been very faithful, you know that," replied L while still staring intently at her.
"I had no idea that was a promise," Meredith mumbled, still trying to process the situation, "What about assignments and cases? I thought you said you could only come back to Wammy's once a month or so."
"I managed."
"You managed?"
L nodded in affirmation. What he didn't tell her was that he had, in fact, sent everything he had to the current corporate investigation bodies for that day. He informed them that he had something "urgent" to attend to and provided them with all the necessary information they needed, trusting that they would be able to handle the task if they carefully read the instructions in the email. L had even taken the time to add extra detailed instructions, ensuring that he didn't repeat the situation he encountered with the British NCA. As a result, he hadn't slept for over 60 hours, determined to prevent any mishaps or complications.
"It's rare that you want to come with me, especially activities that involve someone else."
"Then let's make this the start of a new norm, Meri."
"Huh?"
"Never mind," L looked away and focused on the view outside, unsure why he had just said that.
She was standing at the entrance of the amusement park, facing him. Vibrant colors adorned the booths in the background. The charming combination of pastel hues, including mint green, cotton candy pink, and baby blue, painted a whimsical scene.
He caught a glimpse of the towering Ferris wheel against the sky, its impressive structure reaching for the heavens. The roller coaster tracks snaked through the blue skies, promising thrilling twists and turns, while another unknown ride loomed in the background, adding to the air of anticipation.
He noticed Meredith sighing.
"You always don't bring money with you when you go out."
L nonchalantly shrugged, "I don't consider money to be a significant aspect of life."
"It becomes important when you're outdoors and want to enjoy the amusement park, L."
Meredith turned and made her way towards the ticket booth, her mind still grappling with the disbelief of L actually accompanying her to the amusement park. While they were in the car, she had been skeptical, half-expecting him to playfully tease her at the last moment, saying, "Have a nice day!" before driving off with Watari. However, to her surprise, he stepped out of the car, bidding farewell to Watari, and joined her at the ticket booth.
"Here's your ticket. Have a nice day."
It was fortunate that she was allowed to keep her own allowance from bonuses earned through music competitions and composition assignments. Although she often donated most of the checks back to the orphanage, she still had enough to meet her daily needs, choose her own attire, and participate in activities with her classmates.
She turned for L, and saw his attention was completely absorbed by the park map he had somehow acquired. Meredith was still thinking about how to introduce L to her classmate, when she heard someone shrieking her name.
"Meeerrrrrrrriiiiiiiiii~~~Over here!"
Meredith followed the voice, and saw her classmates waving at her on the other side. They had already entered the park.
"Come on, L," Meredith grabbed his hand and led him into the park. L took a glimpse from his map, counting the classmates. It was only he and Takashi were boys, all the other were girls.
He looked at his surroundings while he was being tugged by Meredith.
Music could be heard coming from all directions, as groups of friends and families walked by, discussing where to go and what ride to try next. Children carried colorful balloons while parents holding their hands, and couples walked hand in hand. The sights and sounds of rides of all shapes and sizes, flashing lights, and the sounds of laughter and screams. The sweet aroma of cotton candy, popcorn, and other treats filled the air, exuding joy and excitement. Stalls selling souvenirs and carnival games with prizes enticed visitors.
"Meri, we've just decided to go to the roller coaster as our first stop - " they said, pausing when they noticed the teenager standing beside Meredith. He had messy, bed-lock hair and was hunched over with dark shadows under his eyes.
"Ah, that's great! Let's go there immediately before the line gets too long, shall we?" Meredith quickly intervened, and her classmates reacted, forming a pack as they headed towards the roller coaster.
The roller coaster was one of the most popular rides in the amusement park, and they knew that if they waited past noon, the queues would become unbearable. While her classmates casually bantered about which place to visit later, they couldn't help but sneak glimpses at the strange teen who was following behind Meredith, his hands tucked in his pockets. However, they considered it too rude to ask her about his identity in front of him. Takashi, in particular, was annoyed as he hadn't expected the teen who had dragged Meredith away from him a week ago to come along.
"Meri-chan, is that your friend?" whispered Tanaka, one of her classmates, finally asking while they waited in line for the roller coaster. L stood behind Meredith in line with them.
"...Yes, he's a friend from my neighborhood. I invited him to come along."
"Your friend's style... it's really unique."
Meredith stole a glimpse at L and noticed his typical attire of baggy pants and a white shirt, although the shirt appeared slightly more crisp and ironed than usual. His hair, while still somewhat unkempt, seemed to have been combed to some extent. As for his shoes, she doubted he was wearing socks, as he disliked socks from a young age, claiming that it was unnecessary to wear them if you could wear shoes directly. However, his sneaker laces were neatly tied, unlike his usual preference of leaving them untied. She often had to remind him that he might trip due to this habit, but he always insisted that he was more cautious than she thought.
Today he appeared less chaotic than usual.
"He's always like this. Don't worry, he's a nice guy."
"How should I address him?" Tanaka asked, still looking at L.
Meredith nudged L and mouthed, "Name."
"Asahi," L responded, still observing Takashi, who stood behind him chatting with two girls. Takashi was clearly in a bad mood as he had intended to ask Meredith out but was instead approached by the two girls. He couldn't express his annoyance due to their presence.
"Another alias?" Meredith whispered.
"I just made it up randomly," he whispered back, making her chuckle.
As they waited in line, screams and yells from the rides were in the air, making the crowd in excitement and anxiety. Meredith seemed not affected, but she still looked back at L, checking on him.
"Are you nervous? Don't push yourself too much and don't feel obligated to try out all the rides."
"I'm not," L replied in his usual monotone voice. "It's all rather new to me, and I find it fascinating how people can be so creative in designing entertainment facilities."
They went on roller coasters, and Meredith watched as L settled beside her, his legs stubbornly maintaining their usual position despite the staff's strong suggestions. His raven black hair flying in the wind, while maintaining a calm expression with his index finger held between his lips. While everyone else shrieked in excitement and thrill, the two seemed unaffected and calm. Yet, L noticed a gentle smile spreading across her face, indicating her unspoken delight. The ride spun, dived, making them feel the sinking feeling in their internal organs from all that turning and diving.
After they got off, the pack chatted while they headed to the next ride.
"I heard you will participate in the school's choir competition," Tanaka asked, "How did you manage to participate in the competition and your studies outside the school?"
"It's just for a day, and I'm just accompanying for the classes that do not have a pianist. As for our class, I'll be accompanying, too."
"I'm so envious of your talent, Meri. Even you are seldom at school, many people still know that we have a pro for accompanying for school anthem, music competitions, and special occasions that needed piano accompanying."
"It's the least that I could do for the school. I couldn't participate in other activities, and I don't take classes with you guys."
Overhearing Meredith and Tanaka's conversation, L noticed how isolated she seemed from her classmates. The way she interacted with others conveyed a different atmosphere than what L had known of her. Growing up together, he had always remembered her as a reserved but smiling girl. The person in front of him appeared even more distant than he had anticipated. It occurred to L that perhaps this was simply how she was—keeping a certain distance from others while still maintaining politeness and social interaction.
Then, a fleeting thought crossed his mind—that maybe what he had always considered as her true self was actually the hidden side. But he quickly dismissed the idea, shaking it away.
Takashi had always been successful with girls.
He had a keen sense of fashion, wealth, and the ability to sweep girls off their feet. His track record boasted a long list of successful dates, but there was something about her that set her apart.
She never had an interest in him. Not even one glimpse. This came as a surprise to Takashi, as he was accustomed to being the center of attention among boys and girls. With excellent grades and a handsome appearance, he was used to eyes lingering on him. He had not anticipated her complete disregard for his presence. She maintained a polite demeanor, never showing even a hint of a blush in his presence.
The quiet girl who only attended class twice a week was slightly younger than her peers and possessed delicate features that made boys and girls turn their heads in curiosity. However, her elusive nature kept them from truly getting to know her. She was known as the regular pianist for school ceremonies, and her academic achievements exceeded everyone's expectations, even if she did not take classes at school.
There was an enigmatic quality about her that captivated Takashi's attention like never before, presenting him with a challenge. He made a bet with his gang that he would be the one to ask her out on a date to the amusement park. However, to his astonishment, she didn't agree at first. Undeterred, Takashi persisted throughout the day, hoping to change her mind, until she was pulled away by a messy-haired teen who interrupted their conversation, leaving him with no answers. It wasn't until the next week when he encountered her at school that he learned she had eventually agreed to go with him and their other classmates to the amusement park. His hopes were high, and his determination was fueled once again.
Takashi stared at the teen before him. He had expected this trip to the amusement park to be the perfect opportunity to get close to Meredith. However, the teen he encountered on the day he tried to ask Meredith out—his name was supposedly Asahi—seemed to always be in his way.
Whether it was entering the Ferris wheel gondola, where the staff informed them that each gondola could only accommodate four people.
"Then I'll go with Mer—" Takashi began to suggest, but before he could finish, L entered the gondola right after Meredith and sat beside her.
"Sorry, Takashi, Asahi took the last seat. You can take the next gondola," Tanaka replied as the staff closed the door.
Takashi felt annoyance welling up inside him.
And again when they went on the spinning cups.
Asahi (L) leaped into the cup and sat near Meredith before Takashi could. He had a rather strange posture, always crouched, but she seemed not bothered by that.
"Takashi-kun, please take the seat over there," L pointed out the space across them politely.
Takashi felt annoyed.
And the frustration continued when they went on the Pirate Ship.
"Asahi, why don't we challenge each other in some games?" Takashi suggested, finally reaching his limit. The presence of this uninvited teen had been nothing but an annoyance throughout the trip. Takashi was determined to show him up, to regain his dominance.
"The indoor facilities seem like a good place for some competitive games," Takashi added.
L looked at Takashi and simply replied, "Sure."
Takashi felt a surge of satisfaction. He excelled at indoor games, whether it was claw machines, whack-a-mole, or air hockey.
However, his satisfaction quickly turned to frustration as he watched L skillfully hit every mole with lightning speed, breaking the machine's record, and effortlessly beating him at air hockey.
"Asahi, you're so good at this!" exclaimed one of the girls, while Meredith watched calmly. She didn't know that L had a knack for games, but she was confident that he hated to lose and would find a way to win at the last moment.
Takashi felt even more annoyed.
Finally, after being defeated in every game, they came across a shooting game stall. Takashi's confidence surged once more as he recalled his past experiences with shooting. It was a skill that an ordinary teen wouldn't possess, and he was certain that he could win this challenge.
"Asahi, let's see who can hit more balloons."
L didn't utter a word. Instead, he turned to Meredith, a silent request for money to play a round of the game.
"You two are competing in shooting? I wanted to play too," Meredith said, reaching into her pocket and handed the vendor the required amount of money.
"I won't lose," said L, raising the rifle.
"We'll see about that," smirked Takashi.
The trio positioned themselves in front of the shooting range, their eyes fixated on the row of ballons waiting to be popped. They agreed on the order: Takashi would go first, followed by L, and then Meredith.
Takashi took aim and pulled the trigger, his shots hitting the balloons with precision. As the balloons exploded, a proud smile graced his face.
"Fifteen hits out of twenty, no big deal," Takashi boasted, expecting praise for his marksmanship.
It was now L's turn, and once again, to Takashi's annoyance, the seemingly listless teen revealed a hidden talent for shooting. L's shots struck the balloons effortlessly, each hit resulting in a loud pop from the balloon's explosion.
"Asahi, you're really good. You got seventeen hits," commented Meredith with a smile.
"The distance is rather close, don't you think, Takashi-kun?" L remarked, his tone dripping with condescension. He certainly had a knack for belittling others.
As the turn passed to Meredith, both boys watched in astonishment as she effortlessly scored 18 hits out of 20 shots, surpassing both Takashi and L.
"Here's your prize," the vendor handed her a panda doll.
"It looks like you, L—I mean, Asahi," Meredith remarked with a mischievous grin, handing the panda doll to L, who reluctantly accepted it.
"I don't consider myself to resemble this doll. We are totally different species, and it is obvious that I look nothing like it," L retorted, his grip on the doll highlighting the resemblance between the panda's black eyes and the dark shadows under his own eyes.
Meredith chuckled, "No, you're basically the same, Asahi."
"I never knew that you were good at shooting. Did Watari train you?" L inquired, handing the doll back to Meredith, who promptly passed it on to a little girl standing nearby.
"No, but seeing is learning. Perhaps it's the posture, watching Watari shoot," Meredith explained, waving goodbye to the delighted little girl clutching the panda doll.
Takashi noticed her eyes had a spark when she was talking to Asahi, and it did not appear when he approached her. In fact, counting the times she genuinely smiled, it was always when she was looking at Asahi's direction and when she was talking to him.
He knew that he did not stand a chance.
They took some time for themselves, and Meredith's classmates wandered off to other rides. It was just the two of them, with L still focused on the map and wandering to the rides he was interested in, while Meredith closely followed him.
She watched L as he went on a swan carnival ride, taking his usual position while swan lake music played in the background. It was a funny scene to see him circling with the ride in a swan. L seemed to not mind being awkward at all, with parents and children stealing glimpses of the teen crouched on the seat of the swan ride.
She observed him riding a mini drop tower made for children, with his hands on the railings and his feet dangling above. Though L seemed calm, he noticed the small girl beside him, bubbling with excitement and joy, as she threw her hands up in the air, completely absorbed in the thrill of the ride. L decided to copy her and the scene Meredith saw was adorable, which made her smile at L. He saw Meredith smiling from the tower and quickly resumed his grip on the railings.
To his surprise, she went straight for him when they rode the bumper cars. She chased him vigorously in the playground, and he quickly realized that he was the main target of her playful assault. As he attempted to counter-attack, he found himself mostly on the receiving end of her energetic attacks. Despite his efforts to fight back, she seemed to have the upper hand, relentlessly pursuing him with her playful aggression.
"Vanilla or chocolate?" asked Meredith, holding out two ice cream cones for L to choose from.
L grinned and replied, "Chocolate." He took the cone from her and settled down on the bench beside her. As they enjoyed their sweet treats, L continued to glance around, taking in the lively atmosphere of the amusement park
"What should we do next? How about the Haunted House?"
"Oh, no. I don't trust you not to punch the staff out of fright," she teasingly responded, taking another slurp of her vanilla ice cream.
She had a smudge of white cream on the tip of her nose, a familiar sight from their childhood days when ice cream had a habit of finding its way there. He found it amusing to see, as it was yet another thing that brought him joy. Despite her generally well-mannered table etiquette and caution, even now in their teens, eating ice cream without some of the dessert on the tip of her nose remained a slight challenge for her.
L reached into his pocket, retrieving a neatly folded handkerchief that Watari stuffed into his pocket whenever he went outdoors, "Don't move."
"What?"
Without saying a word, L gently wiped the tip of her nose with the handkerchief, "You've always had a little trouble with ice cream."
Meredith gently rubbed her nose, realizing that L had cleaned it for her. She looked away, feeling slightly embarrassed and attempting to suppress the blush that was creeping up her face. She hadn't expected him to wipe it for her, yet it seemed that he was unaware of the significance of his gesture, which only served to make her blush even more. He had always been like this, unaware of whether his actions carried deeper meanings or were simply appropriate in the moment. She should have been accustomed to it by now, but perhaps it was the fact that he had broken the norm of not attending her activities and had come to the amusement park with her that made her feel today was a special day. Alongside that, there was a simmering feeling inside her that she couldn't quite put into words.
She quickly finished her ice cream, trying to cool down those unnecessary thoughts, while L focused on licking his chocolate ice cream.
"It's time for us to leave, Meri," her classmates checked the time and observed the darkening sky, witnessing the sunset casting an orange haze in the clouds. "Did you arrange for someone to pick you and your friend up? Would you like a ride in my father's car?"
"It's fine, Tanaka, thank you," Meredith smiled. "We've already arranged for someone to pick us up."
She waved goodbye to her classmates and turned to L, "Well, I suppose we should head to the exit. Watari said he would pick us up at 18:00."
"But we haven't been on the carousel yet," L said, glancing at the map in his hands with dissatisfaction.
"We can come back for the carousel next time, L. If we go on it now, we won't make it in time for Watari to pick us up."
"We will."
"What do you mean?"
"I called Watari and asked him to pick us up at 19:00."
"When did you...?"
"Just when I realized I wouldn't have enough time for all the rides around 16:00."
"That's quite early."
"Come on, let's go on the carousel."
"Alright - "
Before Meredith could finish, L took her hand, and they ran together toward the merry-go-round.
As the night deepened, the surrounding rides illuminated, casting a warm glow over the bustling amusement park. Matching L's pace, Meredith observed the twinkling lamps and lights surrounding them. The towering Ferris Wheel stood adorned with intricate patterns of sparkling lights, illuminating the night sky.
The carousel possessed captivating magic beneath the night sky. Bathed in a soft, radiant glow emitted by countless twinkling lights, its majestic presence was accentuated. As darkness settled, the carousel came alive, exuding an enchanting aura that captivated all who beheld it. Ornate carousel horses, painted in vibrant hues, appeared to spring to life amidst the moonlit glow. Frozen mid-gallop, their graceful forms created an illusion of movement as they circled the central axis, adorned with intricate details from delicate carvings to sparkling jewels.
Soon, it was their turn to ride. Meredith settled onto a horse behind L. As the carousel spun gently, the horses ascended and descended in perfect harmony, their movements synchronized to create a captivating spectacle. Soft music wafted through the night breeze, adding a whimsical touch to the experience.
Observing L's unchanged posture on the carousel horse, Meredith's attention remained solely captivated by him. The carousel's spinning motion filled the surroundings with an enchanting ambiance, momentarily transporting her from the confines of the amusement park.
No matter how the carousel horses seemed to gallop forward, the distances between them remained fixed, like revolving horses that never quite aligned. It was a long-standing realization. Despite her fervent efforts to bridge the gap, she knew deep down that an insurmountable barrier separated her from L, as if destined to perpetually orbit each other without ever truly touching. Perhaps she had sensed this from the moment she first laid eyes on him, recognizing that L occupied a realm she could never truly reach.
Yet, as her eyes lingered on his back, an intense longing surged within her—a yearning to extend her hand and make the slightest contact. Was this yearning rooted in dependency? She couldn't be certain. All she knew was that L and Watari were the closest people to her in this vast world. What harm could there be in desiring to draw nearer to the people she cherished?
For now, she acknowledged that if the gap reached an extent that could not be shortened, what she could do was to make the best of herself, to discover a position that belonged to her while still maintaining closeness to them.
The lights twinkled and shimmered, creating a festival-like and mesmerizing atmosphere that reflected in L's round eyes. Their soft glow illuminated his face as he observed the celestial ambiance they created, momentarily making him forget that he was in the realm of humans.
It was a nice day.
The rides, the games, even Takashi's presence, although L initially still didn't like him, playing with Meredith's classmates, were fun. He had always thought solving cases was his only desire and thing, but it seemed that he was getting to know himself a bit more from these rides. But when he reminisced about the events, the first picture that came to his mind was always her smiling, and then the other details that he noticed.
So strange, he thought. With every recall, it all started with her smiling, and then he was able to notice other things about the experiences.
It was strange, yet it brought him comfort. It was certainly his first time going to the amusement park, and having someone familiar with him... perhaps that's it. He wanted to have someone familiar with him when he went to unfamiliar places. And she was always the one taking him on adventures, teaching him new things.
The lights seemed to blur his vision, accompanied by the gentle humming melody playing in the background. In that moment, he yearned to share the enchantment with her, or perhaps he was expecting to see her smile imprint his memory for this last ride, to mark a nice ending for this day. He hoped to witness her awe-filled expression.
"Meri - "
As L turned towards her, intending to address her, his gaze met hers, but what he saw in her eyes was unexpected.
Sadness.
In her eyes.
He felt a tug in his chest.
It marked the second occasion in his life where he witnessed such profound sorrow in her inscrutable eyes, leaving him utterly perplexed, unable to decipher its origin or meaning.
Author's note:
Currently still struggling with how to develop the tension between the two teens. I kept wanting to jump straight to them already in a relationship (arrgh!) but I know I have to learn how to build it up. Inspirations are not coming towards me these days.
Comments are always welcomed. It would motivate me deeply!
This chapter is inspired by the one-shot manga L: One day, and also this clip: L Lawliet having fun in the City Centre ( Death note L change the world SUPER RARE footage)
You can find it on Youtube.
I just love how Kenichi portrayed L with more warmth and a more human-like quality, which is also what I'm aiming for in this fic.
Nice song that I kept looping when I wrote this chapter for more inspiration: BAEKHYUN 백현 '놀이공원 (Amusement Park)