The late afternoon sun dipped low in the sky, painting the streets of To-Oh University in hues of gold. Light Yagami, walking with his usual composed confidence, rounded the corner of a quiet café. His mind was still spinning from his recent clash with L and Kuri. He needed something, anything, to tip the balance back in his favor.
That's when he saw her.
A tall, elegant woman stood near the café's entrance, her dark hair tied back neatly, her posture refined. She was flipping through a small notebook, her lips pressed in concentration. Light almost walked past her—until her resemblance to Kuri stopped him in his tracks.
Could it be…?
He approached with a warm smile, the picture of politeness. "Excuse me, miss. I couldn't help but notice—you bear a striking resemblance to someone I know. Are you, by any chance, related to Kuri Hikawa?"
The woman blinked, startled, before her expression softened into a polite smile. "Yes, I am. I'm her older sister. Kumiko Hikawa—though my family calls me Mana. You must be a friend of Kuri's?"
Light nodded, filing away the information quickly. "Yes, I'm Light Yagami. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mana-san."
"Kumiko," she corrected, but her tone was light. "It's nice to meet you, Light. I've heard Kuri mention you before."
His curiosity piqued. Kumiko? Kuri's real name isn't Japanese? Why does she call her sister Mana?
Feigning casual interest, Light chuckled. "It's a small world. Are you visiting Kuri here in Japan?"
Mana shook her head, her smile fading slightly. "No, I've been here for work, though I'll be returning to America soon."
Her tone grew somber, and Light tilted his head, masking his intrigue with concern. "Is everything all right?"
"I…" Mana hesitated, glancing around before lowering her voice. "My fiancé… Raye Penber… was one of the FBI agents killed recently."
Light's stomach twisted, though his expression remained neutral. He gestured to a nearby bench. "I'm so sorry to hear that. Would you like to sit down and talk?"
XXX
They sat together under the shade of a tree, Mana clutching her notebook tightly. Light listened intently, his sharp mind soaking in every detail.
"We were supposed to move back to America after this mission," she said softly, her voice tinged with sadness. "Raye wanted me to leave early—he said Japan was getting dangerous. But I couldn't leave him here alone."
"I can't imagine how hard this must be for you," Light said, his voice low and empathetic. "Do you… have any idea what happened to him?"
Mana hesitated, her fingers tightening on her notebook. "Not entirely, but… I know it was Kira. I even think I saw him once."
Light stiffened slightly, though he kept his expression calm. "You… saw Kira?"
She nodded. "Raye told me about a bus he was monitoring, one that got hijacked. There was footage from that day—of the hijacker panicking. There was something strange about it… and there was a boy on the bus, too." Her voice wavered. "He had this… presence. I can't explain it. But I think he was Kira."
Light's heart skipped a beat. She's seen the footage?
Mana looked away, her gaze distant. "I've debated telling the authorities. But… what would it change? Raye's gone, and nothing I do will bring him back."
XXX
Light's calculating mind worked quickly. He couldn't let her report what she knew, especially if she had access to the bus footage. He leaned forward, his voice low and intimate.
"Mana-san… you're right about Kira. And you're right about the boy on the bus."
Mana's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"
Light smiled faintly, his expression taking on an almost reverent glow. "I am Kira."
The silence that followed was deafening. Mana stared at him, disbelief and fear flickering across her face. "You… you're Kira?"
"I am," Light said softly. "But you don't need to fear me, Mana-san. Everything I do is for the greater good. Raye's death… it was necessary for a better world."
Tears filled her eyes, and she stood abruptly. "You killed him," she whispered, her voice trembling. "You killed Raye."
Light's smile didn't falter. "I did. But his sacrifice wasn't in vain. He was part of something greater."
Mana's fists clenched at her sides, her body shaking. "You're a monster."
Light stood as well, his tone calm and measured. "I'm a god. And soon, the world will understand that."
As Mana turned to leave, tears streaming down her face, Light opened the Death Note. His pen moved swiftly as he wrote: Mana Hikawa.
"She'll know what to do," Light murmured, closing the notebook with a satisfied smirk.
XXX
Kuri stirred from her nap, her head resting against L's shoulder. A jolt of fear ripped through her chest, waking her fully. She gasped, clutching L's arm.
"Kuri?" L asked, his tone calm but laced with concern, he was used to her visions. "What do you see?"
Bloody Tears filled her eyes as she looked at him, her voice breaking. "Mana. I saw her… she was—she was ending her own life. And I saw her name. It was written down."
L's expression hardened, his hand moving to rest gently over hers as he put a cold cloth on her eyes. "Are you certain?"
She nodded frantically. "I felt it, Ryuzaki. Please, we have to save her."
XXX
They raced to Mana's apartment, Kuri's heart pounding with dread. The silence that greeted them as they entered was suffocating.
"Mana?" Kuri called, her voice trembling. "Mana, where are you?"
L's eyes scanned the room, his sharp gaze taking in every detail. And then he saw it—a shadow behind the bedroom door.
"Kuri, stay here," he said firmly, stepping forward.
But Kuri followed him, her breath catching in her throat as they entered the room. Mana's lifeless body lay on the floor, her notebook beside her. Kuri collapsed to her knees, a sob wrenching from her chest.
"No… no!" she cried, clutching her sister's hand. "Mana, please!"
L knelt beside her, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. His expression was grim, his usual detachment giving way to anger.
"Kira did this," he said softly, his voice low and steady. "I promise you, Kuri. He will pay for this."
Kuri sobbed into his chest, her tears soaking his shirt. "She didn't deserve this. None of them did."
L's arms wrapped around her, his grip firm. "Kira will never make you cry again," he vowed. "I swear it."
XXX
Back in his room, Light sat at his desk, the Death Note closed before him. He leaned back in his chair, a triumphant smirk on his face.
"Mana Hikawa is gone," he murmured. "And soon, Kuri will see that there's no point in resisting. She'll come back to me."
Ryuk laughed from the corner. "You're getting pretty cocky, kid. What if this backfires?"
Light's smirk widened. "It won't. Kuri will realize she's on the wrong side. And when she does, she'll have no choice but to join me."
But deep down, Light knew he was pushing her further away. And the thought only fueled his anger. If I can't have her… no one will.