Meanwhile, in the operations conference room on the top floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department headquarters building.
"L."
The Director of the Metropolitan Police Department, along with over a dozen other high-ranking officials, stared at L, who was crouching directly on his chair at the far end of the long table, speaking in a grave tone.
"The investigation into Kira has been ongoing for several months now, yet we haven't obtained any concrete evidence. We don't even have a criminal profile, let alone the perpetrator's identity. This is a complete failure!"
"Criminal profile?"
In response to the Director's questioning, L merely yawned and rubbed his eyes.
"Oh, that. I've had one for a while now."
Under the astonished gazes of the Metropolitan Police Department executives, L gave Watari a meaningful look beside him. The latter immediately produced a document from his coat and began speaking calmly.
"Everyone, based on Kira's activities during this period and L's personal assessment during the previous prison incident, we've reached the following conclusions."
"Kira's methods and personality display arrogance and pride, suggesting the perpetrator is likely under thirty-five years old with comfortable financial means. In the public eye, they would appear exceptionally accomplished."
"From this, we can deduce the perpetrator's motive isn't like most suspects who seek to validate their existence. In their ordinary life, Kira's self-esteem is already sufficiently satisfied, eliminating any need to commit crimes for attention."
When Watari reached this point, L took over, scanning the Metropolitan Police Department members before him as he spoke in a soft voice.
"Precisely because of this, Kira is more dangerous than ordinary criminals. Their reason for committing crimes stems from dissatisfaction with the world's order, yet not entirely for this reason alone."
"Since Kira enjoys favourable conditions and has never experienced failure or setbacks in life, this proves they're exceptionally capable. It's this extraordinary talent that fuels their growing confidence, even to the point of... finding everything dull."
"They uphold absolute conviction without losing rationality. Otherwise, when I deliberately revealed my identity last time, they should have simply killed me. A criminal who maintains such principles and objectives is the most troublesome to deal with."
Here, L paused, raising a hand to stop the Director who was about to speak, continuing quietly.
"As for Kira's method, they manipulate something ghost-like to kill. This entity possesses unique properties - invisible to ordinary people. But based on my gunshot from last time, I determined that observation must first be completed before interaction can occur."
Upon hearing this, the operations room fell into prolonged silence. After a long while, the Director finally stared at L's face with a complicated expression.
"Ghosts... are you being serious?"
"See, I knew you'd react like this."
L shrugged, completely unconcerned.
"Kira is a criminal who single-handedly managed to evade so many armed Metropolitan Police Department officers while still holding back - he must possess extraordinary abilities beyond ordinary imagination. Whether you believe it or question it, this fact is undeniable."
Just then, a senior Metropolitan Police Department official hesitantly spoke up.
"Someone like that... could almost be called a superhuman... Is continuing to pursue Kira really the right choice..."
L frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
"My meaning is simple."
Seeing everyone's attention on him, the senior official stopped hiding his true thoughts.
"Since Kira first appeared publicly, Tokyo's crime rate has dropped significantly - something our Metropolitan Police Department hasn't achieved despite years of effort."
"In both the Tokyo City Museum and detention centre incidents, he chose to show mercy when he could have killed the officers present, sparing their lives."
"Those Kira has killed are all societal scum - including madmen who committed horrific crimes but escaped the death penalty due to mental illness, and vicious criminals who continued plotting crimes even after being released from prison."
"At the same time, he hasn't shown any tendency to use this power for personal gain. Someone like this only benefits Tokyo's public security. Why should we waste precious police resources searching for Kira's traces? It's simply a waste of time."
Hearing these words, L's frown deepened as he immediately responded.
"Isn't pursuing criminals the Metropolitan Police Department's duty? Such talk is simply..."
Mid-sentence, L noticed that more than half of the senior officials present made no objection, and some even appeared to agree with the official's words.
Only at this moment did L finally realise something.
For him, investigating the criminal Kira's identity was absolutely necessary, but for these Metropolitan Police Department officials, it was a completely different matter.
"I agree with his opinion - pursuing Kira isn't essential."
"Indeed, to be frank, I've seen many Kira supporters online recently who criticise our Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department for forming the Kira investigation team, saying we should spend our time catching actual criminals instead."
"We must consider the pressure of public opinion..."
"Frankly, what would we achieve by catching Kira now? He's a hot potato - if we actually caught him, our department wouldn't receive praise but would become the target of public criticism."
The impact of Light Yagami's chosen path, completely different from the original storyline, was now clearly evident.
In the original storyline, many FBI investigators pursuing Kira had been killed by him.
The hatred born from the deaths of colleagues, friends, and even a husband was precisely the emotion that made the police firmly believe Kira was a dangerous individual who acted recklessly and must be apprehended.
But the current situation was completely different from the original storyline.
Kira had never killed an innocent person. Even when others stood in his path, he never resorted to lethal force, only eliminating those who truly deserved it.
Under this influence, not only had public opinion in Tokyo shifted, but the Metropolitan Police Department's internal stance was quietly changing as well.
As several high-ranking officials had stated, Kira's emergence had reduced Tokyo's crime rate, gained public support, involved no self-serving actions, and had not directly opposed the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, the representative of law and order.
There was simply no benefit in apprehending such a person.
L finally realised he had miscalculated.
In deductive reasoning, he was strong—the strongest in the world.
But he didn't understand human hearts and public opinion, much less the mindset of the Metropolitan Police Department's leadership.
Maintaining normal social order was the Metropolitan Police Department's most crucial duty.
And now...
What threatened Tokyo's current order and stirred unrest wasn't Kira, but the investigation into Kira.
"Enough, no more discussion."
The Director of the Metropolitan Police Department, as the highest authority, raised his hand to silence the others and spoke gravely to L.
"Three months—we can only sustain this for three more months at most. If, after three months, Kira remains as he is now, having killed no innocents, and you still haven't uncovered his true identity, then the investigation ends here. The task force will be officially disbanded."
"Three months, then..."
L repeated the words and nodded.
"Acceptable."
"There's one more thing."
The Director sighed slightly, his expression resigned.
"Given the current pressure from public opinion, we need someone with a positive public image, trusted by the people, to join the task force and act as a spokesperson to reassure the citizens and minimise the impact of public opinion."
"After much consideration, I believe there's only one suitable candidate: the former Criminal Affairs Bureau Chief and head of the Special Operations Group from Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department, Soichiro Yagami, who recently resigned, taking responsibility."
"Of course, this is contingent on him accepting my invitation."
Upon hearing this, L's expression remained unchanged, merely showing interest as he said.
"Is that so... I'm quite curious about this Chief Yagami. Working together could be quite good."
The Director frowned deeply, speaking with utmost seriousness.
"Let me remind you, our duty at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is solely to investigate Kira. Matters concerning Mask are outside our jurisdiction. Do not bring trouble upon yourselves."
"Understood."
...
That evening, at the hot spring inn.
"Well then, cheers to the school festival's successful conclusion."
Kazusa Touma raised her glass, glanced at Setsuna Ogiso, who was still lost in thought, and gently pressed her cold, dewy cup against the other's cheek.
"Wake up, time to come back to reality."
"Oh... oh."
Setsuna Ogiso belatedly snapped out of it, picked up her glass, and said with a smile.
"Thank you both for your help during this time."
Then, Setsuna Ogiso looked towards Kazusa Touma and said softly,
"Thank you, too, Kazusa, for becoming my dearest friend."
Hearing this, Ye Xing, sitting opposite, couldn't help but comment,
"She should be the one thanking you. She's never had friends before."
"Eh?"
Setsuna Ogiso froze for a moment, then said in disbelief,
"Kazusa, you've... never made friends before?"
"No."
Kazusa Touma shook her head, her expression calm as she replied,
"Is that strange?"
"Of course it's strange! We'll be second-year high school students next year, and you've never had any friends before? I can hardly imagine how you managed to survive..."
Kazusa Touma waved her hand casually and responded,
"You can live perfectly fine without friends. Going months without speaking to anyone is perfectly manageable—I speak from personal experience."
Hearing this, Setsuna Ogiso's expression turned somewhat complicated as she awkwardly smiled and said,
"This... I don't know whether to call you impressive... or just uniquely individual..."
"However."
Kazusa Touma shifted the topic, propping her chin with one hand, a smile in her eyes as she looked at Setsuna Ogiso and Ye Xing sitting before her, and said softly,
"Having the two people I care about most by my side—this kind of life really is much happier than before."
"Kazusa..."
Watching Kazusa Touma's smiling face and Setsuna Ogiso's moved, teary-eyed expression, Ye Xing silently drank from his cup and couldn't resist commenting,
"You two are practically making eyes at each other. Why not just kiss already?"
"You... stop talking nonsense!"
Setsuna Ogiso's cheeks flushed red as she puffed up in anger,
"Kazusa and I are best friends! It's not the kind of indecent relationship you're imagining!"
"Alright then."
Ye Xing agreed outwardly, but inwardly, he was pondering.
The relationship between Setsuna Ogiso and Kazusa Touma... really wasn't easy to describe.
It definitely wasn't anything like a yuri relationship, but calling it just a simple friendship seemed too shallow.
"I get it now."
Ye Xing suddenly had an epiphany.
"The relationship between you two is like family, right?"
"Eh? Family?"
Setsuna Ogiso was taken aback for a moment, then glanced at Kazusa Touma beside her before smiling sweetly and saying,
"That word really is the most fitting."
Watching Setsuna Ogiso's sweet smile, Kazusa Touma sighed helplessly, resting her forehead in her hand as she murmured,
"Setsuna, the family Ye Xing means... isn't the same kind of family you're thinking of..."
...
After the meal, Ye Xing was soaking in the outdoor hot spring. The slightly cool late autumn breeze brushed against him while his body was immersed in the warm spring water—truly one of life's greatest pleasures.
At that moment, from behind the door connecting the hot spring to the room, Setsuna Ogiso's shy voice suddenly rang out.
"And... and Kazusa... what are you doing..."
Ye Xing looked up to see Kazusa Touma, wrapped in a bath towel, pushing forward an equally towel-clad Setsuna Ogiso while murmuring.
"Didn't we agree that all three of us would come to the hot spring together? If that's the case, then of course we should stay together all the time."
Hearing this and seeing the scene before him, Ye Xing suddenly felt a sense of familiarity.
Thinking carefully...
Wasn't this originally Setsuna Ogiso's line?
Truly a reversal of positions.
But thinking about it, this time it was indeed Kazusa Touma who came first - whether in terms of acquaintance, joining the band, or developing feelings.
This time, it really came down to who arrived first.
"Re... really now..."
Setsuna Ogiso's face was flushed, though whether from the hot spring's steam or her own shyness was unclear. In any case, she offered only token resistance as Kazusa Touma led her into the hot spring pool.
Then, stealing a glance at Ye Xing, who was leaning nearby, she immediately raised her hands to cover her eyes and said shyly:
"You... you're just sitting there like that? Turn around."
"Turn around for what?"
Ye Xing replied with complete confidence.
"I was here first. I'm letting you appreciate this ultimate form of human art without even charging you, so don't push your luck, Ogiso-san."
Kazusa Touma sighed helplessly, pressing her hand to her forehead.
"Just who exactly is pushing their luck here? Hurry up and turn around."
"Fiiine."
After Setsuna Ogiso and Kazusa Touma entered the hot spring together, the two removed their bath towels and sat together, their backs turned to each other.
Sensing the unusual silence in the area, Setsuna Ogiso took the initiative to break the awkwardness by starting a conversation.
"The second semester is already half over... In a few more months, we'll be second-year high school students. What are your plans for the future?"
Without waiting for an answer, Setsuna Ogiso added with a laugh:
"With Ye Xing's excellent grades and clever mind, you'll probably choose to continue your studies, right?"
"Further studies... not necessarily."
Ye Xing shook his head and replied with a light laugh.
"I might inherit a multi-billion dollar corporation after graduation, or perhaps even become the heir to a financial conglomerate."
Setsuna Ogiso was momentarily stunned, then covered her mouth with a light laugh.
"What's this, you're deliberately saying strange things again. What about you, Kazusa? What are your plans for the future?"
"Hmm..."
Kazusa Touma thought for a moment before giving an answer that surprised Setsuna Ogiso.
"If I live until graduation, we can talk about it then."
Setsuna Ogiso's expression changed immediately, and she turned around to face Kazusa Touma.
"Why would you say something like that... Are... are you ill?"
"I'm perfectly healthy."
"Then why..."
Kazusa Touma placed both hands on Setsuna Ogiso's shoulders, looking directly into her brown eyes as she slowly spoke.
"Setsuna, you said you wanted the three of us to be together forever, that I'm your best friend, right?"
"That's right... but what does that have to do with..."
Before Setsuna Ogiso could speak, Kazusa Touma continued softly.
"No matter what kind of people Ye Xing and I are, will your feelings remain unchanged?"
At this moment, Setsuna Ogisa was sweating profusely.
She forced a smile.
"What do you mean... no matter what kind of people... Are you two wanted criminals? That can't be... Don't joke with me."
"What if I said yes?"
Ignoring Setsuna Ogiso's incredulous expression, Kazusa Touma spoke calmly.
"No matter what happens, can you understand and be willing to continue this relationship?"
"I..."
Setsuna Ogiso hesitated, first glancing at Kazusa Touma before her, then stealing a look at Ye Xing beside her. Finally, she made up her mind and nodded, nervously pursing her lips.
"I believe... Kazusa, who was willing to become close friends with someone like me, and Ye Xing, who saved me... couldn't be bad people. I'm willing to trust you."
"Alright, since that's the case..."
Kazusa Touma patted Ye Xing's shoulder and tilted her chin up.
"Transform."
Ye Xing responded noncommittally.
"Are you sure?"
"Hurry up, I can't transform anyway. I trust Setsuna, and you should, too. Tell her the truth."
"Fine then."
Under Setsuna Ogiso's astonished gaze, Ye Xing casually agreed before standing up directly from the hot spring pool. Before she could even cover her eyes, she saw dark flames covering his body and face.