Chapter Seven

月

The sensation of being utterly alone, in a colorless world, felt like drifting in an endless void.

Light lay on his bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling above, thoughts swirling.

How long had L been watching him? How long had Light been pretending not to notice? And yet, the moment they began to speak, everything seemed to unravel.

The buzz of his phone broke the stillness. Light glanced at the screen—just a message from a classmate. He'd reply later, it wasn't important right now.

He wasn't accustomed to feeling lost, but if this was what a crisis felt like, it wasn't welcome. The detachment that once made him immune to concerns now left him adrift.

In just four days, his once carefully controlled world had screeched to a halt.

Thirty-one dates. The number felt like a countdown. He had L in a deadlock, but he'd trapped himself in it as well. It would give him time, time to figure out what all of this meant.

But Light knew this wouldn't be simple. L wasn't just different to the usual—there was something deeply fractured within him. His mind seemed trapped in a place far removed from the world of school, from normality, from Light. Was this what made him so unpredictable? It was as if he'd flicker into focus for brief moments, only to vanish again into his own thoughts.

Even the gym incident with Yumi had been enough to push L further from the edge of what little stability he clung to. And they barely still knew each other.

Another buzz. Another classmate, inviting him to a weekend movie with some friends.

Light ignored it again. Instead, his mind wandered to the more pressing thought of where to take L on their first date. A movie felt too unoriginal... What kind of place would actually intrigue him?

Light recalled the perfect resource to help him plan—the book now in L's possession, thanks to Sayu. A Traveler's Guide to the Highlights of Tokyo . Maybe he had underestimated his sister, just as L had said; she might be sharper than he thought. With that book as an excuse to visit L's home, he could also observe his reactions and gather some insight into what kind of place L might actually enjoy.

Light stepped into the hallway of L's house and slipped off his shoes, the familiar routine grounding him for a moment.

"Can I ask why you're here?"

L's voice, flat and direct, broke the quiet of the building. It was 7:30 p.m., and Light had already finished dinner with his family. Without a word, he held out a bento box toward L, its contents wrapped in a brightly patterned furoshiki cloth.

"I thought you might be hungry," Light explained smoothly. "Lately, you've been unwell, living off microwave meals and binging on whiskey."

L blinked, clearly surprised, before tentatively accepting the offering.

Light leaned in, just close enough that their faces were nearly touching, his gaze fixed on L's. He'd never encountered eyes quite like L's before—a deep, piercing gray that felt almost unnaturally intense. He knew the color was simply a result of low melanin, but somehow, Light couldn't help getting drawn in.

"What are you doing?" L asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Just making sure you're not drinking anymore," Light replied, his voice calm. He paused, his face still close. "But I don't smell it on your breath."

Normally, Light would have considered someone their age drinking to be a sign of delinquency, but L was an exception. He was clearly far from being a delinquent. He removed his finger from under L's chin and casually shrugged off his jacket, hanging it neatly on a hook.

"I also need to borrow a book," Light said, his tone light. "Don't worry, I don't need to take it. Considering it was a gift, I'll just read it here."

"A book?" L's voice carried a hint of suspicion. "You know there's a library at school."

"They don't have this one."

Without waiting for a response, Light moved briskly up the stairs. Startled, L hurried after him, his usually composed demeanor slipping into alarm. He dashed ahead, blocking the doorway with a quickly outstretched arm before Light could enter.

"Wait—you can't go in there."

Light paused, eyebrows raised, his eyes flicking to L's unusually panicked expression.

"Huh?" His curiosity piqued by L's unusual reaction. Panic? What reason could he have to panic? "Why? Were you in the middle of doing something weird?"

L's mouth tightened, but he remained stubbornly silent, refusing to respond.

Light's gaze narrowed in suspicion. "Wait—don't tell me someone's in there?"

The silence that followed spoke volumes.

"Seriously? I just asked you out today," Light said, incredulity creeping into his voice.

"I didn't know you were about to storm into my room," L muttered defensively, his posture rigid.

Light gritted his teeth, the disbelief washing over him like a cold wave. He didn't have the patience for this. "You know what, fine. I said no strings attached, so do whatever you want."

He turned, his feet hitting the stairs with heavy, frustrated steps as he descended. Really? Was this actually happening? Well, it didn't matter. In fact, this probably solved everything. He wouldn't have to waste energy worrying about his stupid crush on his rival or deal with the endless complications that came with L. He could go back to being perfect, and have no more distractions.

His hand was on the door handle, about to leave, when he felt a grip tighten around his arm.

"It's really not like that," L said quietly.

Light shot him a sharp glance. "Then what is it like?" His voice was laced with irritation. "No, don't bother explaining. It's your business who you get close to, but I didn't expect it from someone who keeps pushing everyone away. You push me away for no reason, and now there's someone in your room?"

L's grip tightened before he pushed Light away from the door, pinning him against the wall.

"You really get jealous that easily?" L's voice was calm, but the intensity behind his words made Light's heart race.

Before Light could respond, L grabbed his hand and pulled him back upstairs, opening the door to his room without another word.

The scene that greeted Light was pure chaos—L's room was even more of a mess than before, clutter scattered across every surface. But something unusual caught his attention. From the dark gray bed covers, two yellow eyes peered back at him, surrounded by a ball of black, fluffy fur.

"I found him outside," L explained, his voice softening. "He was meowing at my window. I thought if you came in, it would scare him."

Light felt his anger dissipate instantly.

"You really think I'm that loose?" L asked, one brow raised in genuine offense as he stepped inside.

Light hesitated, the realization dawning on him that he had jumped to the wrong conclusion.

L knelt beside the bed, resting his head and arms on the mattress, the small kitten regarding them both with wide, unblinking eyes, seemingly as lost and confused as they were.

"I don't exactly know what to do with him," L continued. "He seems young, but I couldn't find his family around."

"Maybe he's just... a stray," Light suggested quietly, his voice softer now, almost apologetic. He sat next to L, crossing his legs on the floor. The kitten looked between them both, its tiny form shivering slightly, unsure of its new surroundings.

"Maybe you can take him to the vet, see if he has a chip. Or put up some posters..."

"If someone had him before, they didn't care much. I doubt anyone's looking," L replied with a slight frown.

Light couldn't argue with that.

"Sorry," he murmured, guilt coloring his tone. "I overreacted... I shouldn't have assumed—"

"There's nothing to apologize for," L interrupted, shrugging. "If there had been someone in my room, your reaction would have made sense. Honestly, I'd prefer if it bothered you."

Light felt a strange unease settle in his chest. Just moments ago, he was ready to throw away his feelings for L, to leave it all behind. But now, they hit him harder, amplified by the realization that he felt possessive, even jealous. He swallowed hard as the kitten let out a small, plaintive meow.

L slowly reached his hand out toward the little creature.

"What should we name him?" he asked.

" We ?" Light raised an eyebrow. "He's your cat."

"But you're here, and I'm asking your advice," L pointed out, his gaze still on the kitten.

Light sighed, giving it some thought. "Then how about… Yoru? He's black, like the night."

"Too simple."

"Okay, so Kuro's probably out too?"

L bit his thumb in thought, watching the kitten. It let out another small mew, then clumsily padded across the bed toward Light, sniffing curiously before letting out another loud cry. Light felt the soft tickle of its whiskers brush his face.

"What about Kira?" L suggested suddenly. "With the kanji for beautiful silk, like its fur?"

Light grimaced slightly. "It sounds too much like 'killer.'"

"Ah—right. In Japanese, I suppose it does."

Before Light could respond, the kitten tilted its head back and sneezed, the sound sharp and high-pitched as it sprayed Light's face.

"I think it likes you," L remarked, his lips curling into a small smile. "And I think it just chose its name."

Light wiped his face with his sleeve, shaking his head. "I'm not sure about that."

"Animals are usually good at sensing people's intentions. And right now, he's looking at you very intently. I'll call him Tsuki."

"Tsuki?" Light echoed, raising an eyebrow. "Because that uses the same kanji as my name?"

"Yes," L replied with a slight, surprising smile. "Light and moon."

The kitten, now named Tsuki, seemed fixated on the edge of the bed, preparing to leap down. Before it could, Light quickly scooped it up and set it gently on the floor.

"Tsuki, huh? Not sure if I should feel flattered or insulted that you'd name a pet after me,"

L's smirk deepened. "Why wouldn't you be flattered? Just look at how cute he is."

"Yeah," Light admitted with a grin. "I can barely compete."

"Don't tell me you're still jealous?"

Light shook his head. Better a kitten than a person, he thought. Although, his reaction now was a little embarrassing. His eyes drifted to a small bowl of water L had set up, but there didn't seem to be any food for the kitten.

"I guess I'll go to the convenience store and get some food," he said, standing up. "You stay here and keep an eye on him."

"Oh… thank you,"

Light stretched as he stood, feeling a wave of fatigue. It had been difficult to sleep lately with so much on his mind.

"I'll be back soon."

The nearest convenience store to L's house didn't stock kitten food, so Light found himself walking to the next one. He picked up the largest bag he could carry and made his way back to L's place, moving at a slower pace, lost in thought. The streetlight above him flickered and rain pattered, and his own mind felt like it was working to the same rhythm.

Why had he let himself get so worked up earlier? It wasn't like him. He'd never cared much in the past, not even when he discovered some of his ex-girlfriends had been cheating. He'd always brushed it off, dismissing them as not worth his time. But with L, that moment of jealousy had shaken him deeply—more than he cared to admit.

He swallowed hard, reminding himself that none of it mattered. This wasn't anything serious. Dates were just dates—nothing more. Maybe it would be better if something went wrong, some complication that would let him retreat back into his previous life. The perfect student, the perfect son, with perfect grades and a perfect smile— perfect, perfect, perfect...

Nothing about him had really changed. Not in the ways that mattered. But no one else would see it that way. Except, he thought, maybe his sister Sayu.

When he returned to L's house, he rang the doorbell, and Watari answered with a bemused expression.

"Oh, what a coincidence! But sorry, I don't want to buy—" Watari's eyes drifted from the bag of kitten food to Light's face, and his demeanor brightened. "Oh, it's you, Light! Come in, come in!"

Watari stepped aside, and Light slid inside, grateful for the dryness of the house.

"Thank you," he murmured in English.

"Oh! You're welcome! Yes, L told me about the kitten. I'll take him to get a check-up tomorrow. It'll be tight, but I'll manage. I'm having a meeting with Ingrid Nilsen. Can you believe she flew all the way from Norway to discuss her new biometric access hub system with me? I was astounded when she told me! It should be a fascinating talk, indeed. Ah, it was raining again, would you like some hot tea?"

Light hesitated at the offer, recalling the last time he had accepted tea from L. He didn't know much about Ingrid Nilsen or exactly what Watari did, but he assumed he was some kind of inventor or security expert. Perhaps genius ran in the family.

"Um—yeah. Thank you, Ojii-san."

"Oh-ho!" Watari clapped his hands together, clearly pleased, whether due to his upcoming meeting or simply in a good mood.

Well, a good mood and pleasantries certainly didn't seem to run all the way in L's family.

Light turned the door handle of L's bedroom with his elbow, and he pushed it open.

He was met with an unexpected sight: L was lying on the floor, holding the kitten above his head and gazing at it with an expression of fascination.

"Ah, welcome back," L greeted him, his voice light.

A pleasantry from L? Maybe the kitten had put him in a better mood. In fact, for the first time, L didn't seem to be shrouded in the usual darkness that surrounded him.

Watari returned shortly after, setting a tray down on the desk and tutting at L about the state of his room. "When are you going to clean up in here?"

"It's clean," L replied, unbothered. "I know where everything is."

Meanwhile, Light had been flipping through the book he'd used as an excuse to come over and paused on a page.

"Huh—Books Kinokuniya," he remarked, intrigued.

"A weekend outing?" Watari asked, a glint of curiosity in his eye, as he set another bowl down for the kitten's food.

"Light is taking me on a date," L interjected, a slight smile curling at the corners of his lips. Light had rarely seen L smile so much; he might have asked about the sudden change if his own face hadn't flushed red in embarrassment. What? He would just say that with his grandpa here?

Watari sighed heavily. "Such is youth. I feel like I haven't been on a date in a hundred years. It's hard when you never stopped loving your ex-wife. But her research was far more important. Well yes, it was fruitless."

Once the door closed, Light turned to L, still in disbelief.

"You just—told him?"

"Why wouldn't I?" L replied, now cradling the kitten on his shoulder and protectively guarding it with a hand, as if it might fall at any moment.

"But—we're both guys. Doesn't that scare you at all? What will other people think?"

L shrugged his free shoulder. "He didn't seem to care. Besides, he knows I had a boyfriend before. Maybe you're just overthinking it. And anyway, how else am I supposed to explain you always being at my house, seeing as you seem to be making it a habit?"

Light hesitated, considering his own thoughts. Was he overthinking? It was hard not to with everything swirling around him.

"So," L mumbled, settling into a seat next to Light. A hint of that familiar dark cloud seemed to creep back into his demeanor. "Books Kinokuniya?"

Watari had known L had a boyfriend before? If his entire family was aware, it must have been somewhat serious. Light felt a twinge of jealousy resurface, despite his best efforts to push it down. He thought of the photo he had seen—the guy had been annoyingly attractive in the Polaroid, next to L. A messy head of curly dark hair, face sprinkled with freckles and bright blue eyes. If he had to compare himself to that guy—

"Light-kun," L's voice broke through his thoughts, and Light shook his head, trying to refocus. What was he even doing?

"Um, yeah. There's also a café on the rooftop. You can see a good view of the city from up there."

"Hm," L mused, tapping his finger against his lip in consideration. He then set Tsuki down on the floor and reached for the kitten food.

"I suppose I'd rather like that," he said finally.

Light felt something like relief washing over him. "So then, our first date is settled."

L watched intently as Tsuki munched on the food, crunching loudly with his tiny teeth. Light could tell this little kitten had already nestled into a special place in L's heart—much easier than any human could.

"So it seems," L replied softly.