Sushi, fried chicken, yakitori skewers, oden...
Although the portions of each were not large, it was indeed quite a lavish spread for a late-night snack.
Hayashi and Eri each opened a bottle of beer.
"How do you feel today, Yoshiki-kun?"
"Very happy, Auntie Eri."
"That's even better then."
Hearing this, Eri seemed somewhat relieved. She gazed into Hayashi's eyes, her elbow resting on the table supporting her cheek, and her other hand holding up her beer glass.
"Cheers."
She smiled with narrowed eyes.
"Cheers."
The two glass cups clinked together, and white foam swayed with the beer.
Eri picked up an oden skewer and tasted it.
Perhaps she felt that something she hadn't eaten in a long time was still delicious, she looked particularly pleased.
Hayashi also tasted it.
"The fried chicken from this place has always been quite good, it's just a little soft from sitting for a while."
"Yes, but it's still delicious."
"Auntie Eri, have you encountered any tricky cases recently?"
"No tricky ones, it's just that there have been quite a few requests lately. To focus on them, I've had to turn down several subsequent consultations."
"Being a lawyer is tough."
"It is, but if you put it that way, Yoshiki-kun, you're the same. You've been cooped up in your room creating for a while, it must have been tiring..."
Eri said this, holding her wine glass, her bright eyes filled with a smile: "You should get some good rest after your new work is released. Have you thought about going somewhere to play?"
"Hmm, I will rest for a while, but as for where to go play..."
Hayashi hadn't really thought about that question.
Saying he was cooped up creating was actually just praising himself... He just adapted the work "Kindaichi Case Files" into a novel, but plagiarism is plagiarism. He neither felt smug nor feigned guilt in his heart.
For him, writing mystery novels was just a convenient means to move forward.
Hayashi's contemplation made Eri a little concerned.
Her voice unconsciously softened a bit:
"Don't always stay at home. Occasionally, you should make more friends and go out to play."
"I do have that idea."
"Right? Yoshiki-kun, you must have been approached by girls quite a bit outside. As long as they're nice girls, Auntie is very supportive, you know."
"...Unfortunately, I haven't met anyone who catches my eye yet."
"As expected, handsome guys have high standards."
"..."
Hayashi couldn't help but be speechless.
Eri rarely said such playful remarks.
She was always very serious and a bit unapproachable in front of others, but she was very gentle with Hayashi...
If there was a reason, it was probably because of Hayashi's parents, who had passed away in this world—as Hayashi understood, his mother and Auntie Eri were very close cousins.
Eri poured beer into her glass again.
The two chatted about some trivial matters, and the atmosphere between aunt and nephew was intimate. Then Hayashi suddenly asked:
"By the way, Auntie Eri, do you know about invisible ink?"
"Invisible ink?"
Eri was startled at first, then pondered, "Are you talking about that special ink that leaves no trace when writing, but only appears under a UV lamp?"
"Yes, where can I buy this ink?"
"It should be available at most stationery stores. I remember it was quite popular among elementary school students for a while."
"Okay."
"Why are you suddenly asking about this? Is it a setting you'll use in your next work?"
Eri said with a laugh, then added, "There also seem to be some inks made from chemicals. I'm not too familiar with that, but if you need it, I can help you ask around. However, if you're not particular about the conditions of use, you can actually use milk too."
"I know about milk, though."
Hayashi also smiled and said, "By utilizing the high-temperature denaturation of protein, the words written with milk can be revealed by heating them under a lighter."
"Exactly. So, if we're just using high temperatures to reveal writing, many materials would work."
"I'll try them all."
Hayashi nodded in agreement.
It was already past eleven when they finished their late-night snack. It was getting late, so Hayashi got up and helped Eri clean up.
"Alright, that's enough. Yoshiki-kun, you should get some rest too." Eri saw Hayashi to the door.
"Mm, I should be able to get a good night's sleep tonight."
"You're right. See you tomorrow."
"Good night, Aunt Eri."
"Good night."
Under Eri's watchful eye, Hayashi returned to his rented apartment across the hall.
Although he had some alcohol today, it didn't affect him much.
After closing and locking the door, Hayashi's heart was peaceful.
Aunt Eri is indeed a very charming woman...
He thought, taking a carton of milk from the refrigerator and returning to his bedroom.
—It's time to start a new experiment.
The invisible ink he had asked about earlier was an idea he had had for a long time.
According to the death note's rules, as long as text can be left on the note, any tool can be used, such as cosmetics or blood.
However, for the note to be effective, the writing must be clear and distinct.
Words written with invisible ink are normally not visible, so according to the death note's rules, they cannot trigger its effect... But what if the hidden writing becomes clear through high-temperature baking? Will the death note's effect be triggered? This is a situation worth trying.
Hayashi sat at his computer desk, tore a page from the black notebook, and picked up a pen without hesitation.
He wrote the target's name—
Killing someone with the death note caused no more ripple in his heart than crushing a mustard seed with a millstone.
Hayashi is not Light Yagami.
He doesn't want to be Kira, nor is he interested in becoming the god of a new world.
He just wants to do as he pleases.
—To get everything he wants, to eliminate everything he finds an eyesore, a stable but interesting and free life—that is the direction he wants to go.
"A person confident enough to control their own life can even control the lives of others."
His handsome face was calm and serene.
The aura that now filled him was a stillness like death itself.
————
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When did I feel myself grow?
That would be when my editor asked about the outline not long ago.
If it were the old me, I would have waved my hand and said, "What outline? What I want to write is a magnificent story where I punch Gin, kick Conan, stir up trouble in Beika City, throw my weight around, and dominate the whole damn world!" 2