Encounter

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Summary

While out walking, Ryuk - whose body is contorted due to apple withdrawal - tells Light he's not being followed so he can eat apples. Light seems to still be concerned about last nights news report regarding dispatch of 1,500 investigators, but Ryuk assures him it's a bluff. Meanwhile, L and Mr. Yagami continue watching Light as he comes home. Light is aware that the deaths he caused last night would go noticed as minor compared to what he usually goes after, but he continues to kill them while he's out walking so he doesn't draw any attention by writing the names down at home. After much work reviewing surveillance cameras over both households, L has come to a conclusion - No one in either house appears to be suspicious, and the cameras and wiretaps will be removed.

However, he makes it clear he still believes one of these families has Kira in it, even if it is a 5% chance. L wonders in his mind what Kira is all about, and ponders the thought that it really is some god. But he concludes that it is nothing more than a murderer, and if so, wonders if it would be possible to meet and get to know this murderer in person... The next day, Ryuk notices all the cameras have been removed from the house, but Light continues to ignore him in case there are still wiretaps. Today is a big day for him now since he's going to be taking college exams. He knows that in college, he'll have more time to be Kira and find out L's identity. All seems normal in the exams, but soon a student is spoken to by the teacher for sitting strangely. When Light looks back to see who it is, he sees L himself sitting there, not knowing who he is...

Now comes the day Light graduates, but his glorious day is interupted by talk of afreshman by the name of Hideki Ryuga, the name of a famou singer. Despite the name he used, this was really L going under an alias. It was perfect for him to go in public using an alias since no one at all knew how he looked, so people didn't find anything suspicious other than how he managed to be a high scorer on the exams, second to Light. While sitting down in the crowd beside Light, L speaks to him quietly. He tells him he's impressed by his deduction skills and knows of his interest in the Kira case. Lastly, he tells him he has important information regarding to case as long as he doesn't speak of it to anyone else. Light wonders just who he is, but agrees to keeping a secret. Then, he's told in a few simple words; "I am L..."

Light is utterly shocked by this statement, but he has to remain calm - If this really is L, he has to show him how Light Yagami would act, not Kira. Calmly, he tells him that if he really is L, then he highly respects him. L tells him he could be of help with the investigation, but he thinks he's too perfect. Light continues to wonder the possibility of him being L and why he would be so bold to contact him directly, but he continues to keep his mind clear until after the people leave, just in case L is expecting a freaked out reaction. Saying his goodbye to Ryuga/L, Light gets back home.Light locks himself in his room, and breaks down in anger due to the pressure. If this is the real L, he's bound to be found out soon. But if he were to do the Shinigami Eye trade with Ryuk and try to kill L, it's possible he's just a stand-in like Lind L. Tailor was.

Underestimating L, Light didn't expect this sort of introduction to happen intentionally on L's part, and he's sure L will continue to put pressure on him by pretending to be a college student. Breaking out in laughter, he states he's safe since it proves they have no proof of him being Kira yet, and that he has nothing to worry about if that's the case. On the surface, they'll be friendly acquaintances on college campus, but on the inside they'll be at a constant battlewith oneanother, trying to uncover each other's true identity. What happens next now that L has brought himself to being in public? The battle to find each other has ended, but the war of wits has just begun...