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✦ THE KIRAS ✦

I find it extremely sus that they are all Japanese. As if the Shinigami have a very clear preference where to drop their damn book.

(-Near, probably)

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Buon 25 Aprile.

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He loves his friends

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Some fem DN designs :3

I may make the rest of the task force idk

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death note except Light and Sayu act like real siblings, pt2

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day 4: praise kink

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I'm going insane

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i dont think its been asked but it feels wrong to ask sachiko and not have anyone ask soichiro so. soichiro for the ask game if you wouldnt mind

i absolutely do not mind i love soichiro!!!! one of the best characters in this franchise for real

favorite thing about them: the way his instincts tend towards violence and he's terrified about it

he imprisons himself for two whole months just because he's scared he'll hurt the people around him. the ocd is not a headcanon at this point it's canon to me

least favorite thing about them: the casual paternalistic sexism is like, kind of part and parcel of who he is (and makes light's personality make a lot more sense) but still annoys me every time. he says it's not possible for sayu to have gotten the death note, he's basically forbidden sayu from dating boys… it's subtle but it's always there

favorite line: (this is the one line i like the anime version of more) light, my son. from one murderer to another, i'll see you in hell.

brOTP: i am fucking obsessed with light and soichiro's relationship i have like ten drafts from months ago rambling about them in agony. i think the fanon perception of soichiro as unwilling to accept light's guilt is basically the opposite of what actually happened: he doubts light constantly and he hates himself for it. he literally says on his deathbed that he's so relieved light isn't kira, and matsuda says, "o-of course he isn't! you were still worried about that?" (74) and light's face, god. to know your dad secretly suspected you of being a murderer for five years. to know that he's right.

also him and light are the same kind of punitive justice brainrotted to me. the one difference between them is that soichiro can't do the mental gymnastics light can. like, soichiro is determined to bring down "evil" even if he sacrifices himself for it; light is determined to do the exact same thing. and both of their definitions of sacrifice are kind of fucked! light's for obvious reasons (no the greatest loss to the world isn't your pure soul, it's that you're murdering hundreds of thousands of people) but also every time soichiro considers self-sacrifice light is like "what about mom and sayu?" and soichiro just doesn't. care. like he cares about sachiko and sayu but he thinks of their pain as an extension of his pain

does this make sense. okay here's a clearer example: when soichiro says he's willing to die in an explosion if it means bringing mello down with him, and then this happens

task force in the background: hey uh no the fuck we're not?

but also what i love about soichiro is that he can never actually go through with it. mello correctly clocks that he has never killed a person before. he's punitive justice brainrotted but he can't bring himself to write down mello's name. and That is the difference between soichiro and light.

awww what's the problem light-kun are you coming to the realization that your role model in life would rather die than become kira?

OTP: i think he and sachiko do genuinely love each other. however i am obsessed with soichello by proxy it's so real to me i love that all their interactions are mello reading him to filth. i dont have much to say about it because i have not spent much time rotating mello in my head but I See The Vision. also the fact that what gets soichiro to pull a gun on mello is when mello says he hasn't killed anyone is sooo good it's like soichiro's insecure about it

nOTP: iiii. uh. hm. i can kind of see soi/matsu as a onesided crush on matsuda's end but i can't really see soichiro reciprocating. could be convinced though as ever

random headcanon: okay i know that i just said it's important to soichiro's character that he's never killed before BUT indulge my crack headcanon for a second. some other shinigami dropped a death note into the human realm maybe a year before 11/28/2003. soichiro picked it up, used it once, and then immediately had a heart attack. the shinigami was like wow you are Not meant for this lmao and took the notebook back immediately. soichiro does not remember this for obvious reasons

unpopular opinion: he doesn't actually like being a cop. quitting would fix him. please soichiro please your family loves you you don't have to do this

song i associate with them: policemen swear to god love seeping from their guns…………

favorite picture of them:

what can i say. it's iconic

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italian is truly a beautiful language

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italian is truly a beautiful language

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The fact that the homophobic term the Pope used is like, intercommunity Italian gay slang, adds a whole nother level.

Imagine if the Pope called someone a "passoid." Holy Father who taught you that word.

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There are lines that can’t be crossed

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i have started a re-reading of death note

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How would an all-female take force be?

Umm wow! Either Death Note now takes place in Barbie- Land or L is getting a lot more shade for hiring only female officers for his task force. As regardless of how skilled they are, there's always going to be questions about the task force, and now there's going to be questions about if it really is the most skilled force for the job. 

Because unfortunately as a girl, people have this barrier of you first needing to prove you can do the job before they let you go do the job. Social progress has been made in the 20 years since Death Note was first written, but in Japan has different values then western, a big one being valuing the collective over the individual. 

For the collectivest to work, everyone has to value group cohesion and stick to the natural order of things over the individual needs the west favors. 

Anyone who is outside of that norm, is labeled troublesome, which leads to isolation and bullying, a problem which people of mixed heritage have enough of a problem with in Japan.  

So this many ladies becoming prominent figures in the police force and being born in the 1950'-70's is going to stand out. And they are probably a lot more cynical about their jobs, to say the least, and likely not as highly placed. 

If we are going for realism on this Soichiro is probably not Chief in this AU to say the least. And L is losing a lot of social credit for this decision, as this Kira case is not going anywhere fast to say the least. 

Here's a video from Lady Virgilla that talks (amongst other things) about Japanese culture and female leadership in the workforce (part 4 has statistics about females in the workforce)

At the same time, being on the task force is also a choice that all of them made in Canon, and I don't know if they would be willing to risk their jobs in the same way as females, given how much work it took them to get where they already are. The cost-sunk benefit would weigh a lot heavier here. 

I don't even know if all of them would want to stay on the task force if they were all female as I would imagine it would not do positive things to their jobs long term, particularly after the funding was discontinued, I imagine leaving would be a thing more of them took him up on. 

That said you guys are probably here for funner headcanons, and I plan to expand on this in the other Anon ask. May be yours, may not be, so stay tuned, and lets start.

So Mogi is kind of a Stoic, though he seems to get a kick out of messing with Yotsuba Kira.

E:-He probably regretting this after a week.

Mogi really is the best jk. 

K:-Hes also a good actor, and does a good job as Misas manager. 

E:-He needed a raise.

K:-What if we flip it for Female Mogi. 

Acts cheary and friendly around people she doesn't know, but get to know her and you find that she actually doesn't like talking all that much, preferring to spend her downtime quietly. 

Can fade in and out of a scene, stealing the spotlight and leaving like a ninja exiting stage right. 

Secretly likes quietly appearing behind people and startling them. 

I think Mrs. Ukita in this one is a little more cautious, which means Misa doesn't kill her as easily, having the investigation last longer.

E:-Not as hot headed. Still is reckless but instincts much higher.

Do Mello or Matt know how to cook?

I need to know how they even start off their business. Does Whammy prepare them for adult home ec life?

K:-I have no idea? I suppose that depends on what Whammies considers necessary orphan skills. Most in Japan don't, though that's more mostly there's more children than caretakers. 

I doubt L learned.

E:-"Cake is a nutrient. It has all the food groups necessary to function properly--"

"That's bullshit and you know it."

Lmao ok I have an idea. But also the idea of Matt and Mello having to do small gigs but influential enough to get their mafia gang appeals to me. 

K:-I don't know. I feel that Mello more got the job in part because A Kira had killed off the old boss and they needed someone less high profile. So they made a deal.

Honestly I don't even begin to pretend to have the background knowledge of crime to try to map out how Mello became a crime boss in 4-5 years, so I'm chalking it up to Kira, rule of cool, and Mello being good at psychology in spite of being impulsive as hell.

E:-Nah its fine. My brain wants to fill in the gaps. But also thinking about the fem versions of them. While I can see the same recklessness of a fem Mello, I can see some precautions she takes and more tough around the edges she has to be running a mafia group. 

Ohhh. MELLO AT HOT TOPIC!

K:- Eclipse, I think Mello would tell you true punks make it themselves not shop for it

E:-Very true. He has taste lets be real here

K:-I'm thinking about Honne and tatemae, and how the task force probably tried to take L out for work drinking so they could give honest opinions and show face with drinking as the reason for letting social barriers down to give him honest criticism, and L just said Nah, so they went and complained about L drunk. 

E:-Bwhwhahahha. Okay okay thats hilarious. Eyo flavor shots!!

I want them having fun for a bit since this is such a stressful case. 

K:-Maybe it would be fun, but actually it serves a social purpose l, such as maybe telling your boss that maybe his ideas are not working so well, or to tell people things you don't like about them, as expressing it publicly/at work would be a social faux pass, but expressing it "drunk" has an excuse, and as its a different setting you can all go back to work and put your "face" back on.

Well sort of. The article I read explains it better.

Emotional honesty. Terrible for the liver.

E:-True very true. Sometimes its an imbalance and most would rather have gone home than attend a mandatory drinking session. 

Hey new article popped up. Apparently Japanese citizens are having a lawsuit against Japanese police due to their racial profiling. 

So apparently due to the rise of foreign workers and those with obvious mixed race they do get stopped more and checked 'randomly'.

I still remember the podcast of Trash Tase about how when a officer came over checking their 'noise complaint' Conner and Joey didn't need to be checked too much when they answered the door.

But they mentioned Garnt as a Thai man and instantly the officer voice changed

Very little info but here is an article

Also I forgot until someone reminded me Light swallowed a piece of the death note paper he used. 

Or he played fucking mario kart with Ryuk.

K:- I forgot that too

E:-Light and video games give me a whiplash. Most time I feel like Light cane out of the womb with a sneer and a pocket protector. 

K:-He might have a god complex but he knows how to blend. Video games are blending. Besides, could you see Light having friends over and pulling out a deck of cards or something?

E:-I mean I can see him being decent at poker. Delinquents jk. 

K:-But gambling. From the top honors student *shocked gasp*

E:-Lmao top student my ass. He needs a bit of thrill once in a while. 

I mean surely making bombs doesn't come out of nowhere. 

K:- Who taught him that. I just want to talk. I need to ask. WHY! Why in the world would you teach Light Yagami how to make a bomb!

E:- Me thinking bruh he totally had some bad influence friends. I mean 'classmates"

I doubt his dad would let him see things. 

But Soichiro also seems to be the dad to go over safety things with his kids of what not to mix

You be surprised how many people die by mixing bleach and ammonia (spelled it wrong) together accidentally making homemade mustard gas. Or that tiktok trend of mixing cleaning supplies in a batch. 

And kids are curious. Light is smart enough on what chemicals can make a home made bomb. But I'm more concerned how he figured the trap. Or his lie about a diary.

That makes it even more suspicious Light. Makes me think u did illegal shit.

K:- Youtube wasn't exactly big those days. 

Seeing as how death note takes place in 2003. And youtube was 2005.

E:- Time travel jk. Then again chatrooms were a thing. 

K:- "hey all, how do I best trap my desk to keep people out of it. I need to know for reasons. Lol.

Aside from the Yagamis, Aizawa is probably the closest to Matsuda in the task force. 

Aizawa is kind of Sochiro's successor. In both Job and team dad energy, and I doubt that would change with gender.

In contrast to Sochiro whose family is used to her being away, Aizawa is in more conflict with her spouse then canon, and feels guilty about it. 

She's cooly polite to L, as L drives her absolutely nuts. And has a kind of tranquil furry building up towards her. An increasing air of "I'm done with your bullshit"

E:-Aizawa can be the voice of reason. And its amplified during times when the team needs to be grounded even if she doesn't like what L does. However Aizawa does show sympathy at times to L. 

Aizawa has that scary outburst when she has had enough and those types who are consistent about the details of why she's at this point. A strong duty of justice but also loyalty to Soichiro. 

K:-Do you think she should leave at the same point of when L pulls the money stunt. Or sooner, in part to be at least a better more present mother she feels her child needs her to be, while returning to a more scheduled time at the police force. 

Family means a lot to her, after all.

E:- really? Yes. Yes she would especially seeing she would still be the bread winner. 

Soichiro has just as much to stake one

K:-Yah, at one point Aizawa is having Martial troubles with his wife and comes in with a bruise. 

E:-However Light is with him. Sayu is almost an adult, and his household is a lot more solid as to Aizawa's newborn child and his wife. Where they have a less stable financial status in case he ever died. Or as L had said no longer funded.

Aizawa want to do good and to do justice. Regardless of their gender its something so Aizawa. But duty and family is what makes him head to the door but breakdown leaving his team behind. 

Oooh I forgot about that. Also Aizawa wanted to avenge his friends death too right.

K:- Yes. Though I think we averted or delayed that .

Wait doesn't he have a daughter too? Yumi?

E:-Wait what! Eyo i feel like we don't see much of their family. Did Matsuda have a dog or was I imagining that. I feel like fem Matsuda has a cat or some plants.

K:-I don't know if he would have time for a dog.But maybe he has an old dog he got from his friend. Can see a cat and some plants though. Does the cat get on with cat Misa?

E:-Matsuda does give rescue dog vibes. 

Ah yes the cat named Misa. Have made a cameo. I honestly thought of Matsuda genuinely contemplating getting a mask for her dog......in case Kira can kill dogs

"Why would Kira do that?"

"I dunno feels like they can."

K:- Bringing his cat to the office would mean he got to spend more time with said cat.And the plants would have a better watering schedule there too. 

In a nod to Australian Matsuda (KTPS4tv) i'm naming one of the pets Bikkie, (Biscuit)

E:-Hehehe. Matsuda moves her cat in and some plants in.

"Matsuda please remove your cat off of me."

"Awww thats sweet. She must really like you L."

"And I wanted to use the restroom for the past two hours."

Fem Matsuda gets a cat. She be lonely since she is single and has a very stressful job.

K:- name?

E:- Lets stay with Biscuit that sounds super cute.

K:-Does human Misa make an anti sugar comment?

E:-Lmao.  Probably hahaha

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soichiro D?

death note reborn

Soichiro keeps a lot of stuff hidden, but it's hard to pick out anything in particular. He's canonically called the only one with proper morals iirc, but I honestly don't think that quite suits. He has a strong sense of justice and he doubts both Light and L, yes, but he isn't necessarily a great guy just because of that. don't get me wrong I LOVE his character, but he's a very distant husband and father from what I can see — I'll elaborate on that if someone asks for Light's motivation/backstory — plus he doesn't seem very empathetic.

So, what does he keep hidden?

I think mostly his love for Light. Soichiro does love his son but at the same time he seems more old-fashioned, the type to believe boys need to learn to be "men" id eat emotionless tough all that.

As well as that, I think he has some serious doubts about the justice system, especially in Japan, that he keeps to himself. I remember reading Japan has a 99% conviction rate and lawyers basically only argue to reduce sentences (do not quote me on that, I don't remember where I read it so I can't claim to its authenticity). And because Soichiro has that sense of justice, he can see that's wrong. But he needs to keep his job and catch people who ARE criminals.

Finally, I have a headcanon that he had a bit of a gambling problem when he was in his 20s or 30s. No idea where this came from ahahhahshrh. Probably he bet on horses. And he probably managed to overcome this addiction but it's something he'd always be ashamed of, so I think it'd be right down there with everything else he'd never talk about.

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Analysis of the romance in Death Note's Spiraling Trap game.

EDIT 02/03/2024: minor edits and fixes, added a few imgs and extra content.

A huge thank you to the folks over at agtteam who translated L - the ProLogue to Death Note: Spiraling Trap into English! Now we can all date L become FBI agents after hours.

I've been playing the game recently and one of the features I love the most is the L Communicator, which allows the main character (referred to as MC henceforth) to take a break from adventuring and listen to L talk about whatever is on his mind.

There's around one hundred different lines available as the MC develops a relationship with L and they paint him as such a sweet, attentive and thoroughly unique individual that I was surprised by how detailed it was. If you're thinking about playing, then this part is definitely worth putting effort into.

The mechanics of the dating sim are relatively simple: during the adventure, you'll pick up a number of recipes hidden among traps and tools. Then, Watari will provide the ingredients and you can give L whatever sweets he specifically craves. These recipes and cravings depend on the time of day and can be season specific.

Character analysis

As stated in-game, giving L sweets causes his appreciation for the MC to grow. However, L being L, means that he craves different sweets throughout the day. He's definitely very specific about what he likes and what he wants for his sugar fix.

However, if you give L something he isn't craving at that specific moment, he will sulk. The way he expresses his displeasure varies according to the depth of the budding relationship he has with the MC.

L: To tell you the truth, there are many other things I would have preferred. L: [F/N], I hate to say this, but I really would have preferred something else. L: F/N], you must know that I was hoping for something else, right? L: [F/N]… It’s not my favorite but, it made me really happy.

Note: Given that the books in the expanded universe (Another Note and L: Change the WorLd) came out before this game, I think some of the quotes further ahead might be a subtle nod to how L is perceived by the police forces as the "creepy murder detective". However, references about his piece of mind lead me to believe that L craves some respite from the burdens he carries on his shoulders — burdens so strong that they managed to curve his spine.

Note: I'm unsure how the system here works, as the MC also gets points for gaining L's trust in the actual adventure when they a) agree with his observations and b) find key objects hidden in unsuspecting places. It might affect the available lines through the L Communicator.

L: Today is going to be a better day… Let’s think positive. L: I wonder what kind of morning this will be. L: It seems the air outside is crisp this morning.

L: I want to finish what I need to get done before night falls. L: It’s nearly sunset. Time for children to go back home. L: If you just stare into space, night will be here before you know it.

L: It’s already evening… Time keeps passing me by. L: There’s something different about the air at night. L: Night-time, dusk… It’s the witching hour.

As a naturally introspective individual, L observes the world around him and draws conclusions. To my surprise, the game actually managed to capture how observant L is about small, unsuspecting details of daily life and give him a slightly poetic side laced with a hint of wistfulness that suits his character well.

This is a side of L in his private life that I personally wish we had been able to glimpse during the Kira investigation. Though, at the time, L was busy trying to prove that Light was, indeed, Kira. It left him little to no time to enjoy the world around him. During the brief time that L could have had a semblance of rest right before the Yotsuba arc, he was depressed that his deductions were "wrong" — though I could see him musing about some of the above, equal parts whimsy and sulking.

L: If I start to lose my touch… I guess I’ll retire. L: Another day, another mystery… L: I have a lot of thinking to do. L: I feel like doing some capoeira… L: I haven't played tennis for a while. L: The weather today is… Well, it matters not. L: I, um… No, ignore me. L: Am I reading too much into it…?

As a thinker, L has a lot of unfinished thoughts he says out loud. Some border on cliché, others are musings about things he'd like to do or that he's missing.

I wonder if some of his thoughts end up trailing off because, suddenly, he catches himself and believes they're not important? Or that he doesn't think the MC would be interested in what he has to say beyond work matters?

L: “In spring one sleeps a sleep that knows no dawn.” Though, too much sleep isn’t good for anyone. L: If you think about things persistently, noticing all the sides to them will come naturally. L: Strawberries… Despite the name, they aren’t actually berries. How berry disappointing. L: The one who has thought it through wins. It’s true for chess, and for deduction. But in the case of love… I don't know.

He's also a philosopher at heart, always thinking about the human condition. In these we can also witness his dry humour, silly puns along with a subtle desire to share his thoughts on the world and give helpful advice.

As for love, L is cautious but willing to learn. It's a topic where he's out of his depth.

L: Um, Watari is… L: I wonder if Watari’s asleep? L: What could Watari be up to? L: Today is Thanksgiving Day. I am truly grateful to Watari for his diligence.

I found it interesting how L's thoughts eventually go back to Watari and what he's doing. He's the one person that L relies on and whom he interacts with the most. Other people are passing acquaintances at best, who show little interest in L beyond work.

Notice how he mentions diligence? Although it is a utilitarian consideration, it also reveals a thankfulness for the comforts of familiarity and the peace of mind that trusting someone close brings. This is a topic we'll explore better at a later stage, i.e., how trust and acts of service work as a relationship builder.

Romance

Neutral stage

One of the first things I've noticed is that, during the early stages of the relationship, L is still very formal and quite a bit dismissive — even borderline rude. As his sugar fix gets sated by the MC's keen suggestions (Watari provides the ingredients, of course), L grows gradually more fond of them and wants to include the MC in his life with an enthusiasm I can only define as endearing.

L: Aren’t you bored? You don’t have to check in on me. L: Don’t you have stuff to do?

At the beginning, L is still wary of the MC on a personal level as they have absolutely no rapport beyond a partnership of circumstance and usefulness in the name of justice. He's quick to get bored and doesn't take it very well when he's given sweets he isn't craving. A bit childish, one could say, the way he sulks when the MC errs by not reading his mind.

L: Did I enjoy it? Let me just say “no comment”. (about sweets that weren't quite to his taste)

It's also very in-character for L to feel both annoyed at someone who is randomly calling him and be suspicious of their motives.

Growing interest

L: Spending the afternoon with you isn’t so bad. L: Even though it’s late, you’re not going to bed, huh? L: You must be a night owl, [F/N]. L: I’m a little curious about you, [F/N]. L: Are you having a good time? I’m just curious. L: You’re kind of… Ah, no, forget I said anything.

He starts addressing the MC by their first name as he becomes more enamoured. It's very sweet. I was pleasantly surprised at how attentive L becomes as he gradually comes to the conclusion that this is a person who understands him.

Mind, due to game mechanics the MC gains approval by giving L sweets, but from a narrative perspective what's really happening is that L not only feels seen and understood, but also accepted. And when that happens, he starts lowering his walls and relaxing.

As a plot device, I would say these are defining moments within L's thought process here; he's curious about the MC, finds them interesting enough to want to know more them and pursues that curiosity to see what they might have in common. It seems he's both a little baffled and content about this development.

L: [F/N], what do you think of when you see a sunset? L: What are you doing this afternoon? Oh, should I not have asked? L: Are you a night owl? Oh, you don’t have to answer if you don’t want.

It should also be noted that L is very mindful of boundaries. There's a tentative, almost shy attempt to connect. He's determined to indulge in his curiosity since the MC's attentiveness towards him shows an opening for closeness he's unused to (but is happy about) and to tend to his more immediate needs (i.e., food cravings), which in turn shows a genuine concern for him. Aside from Watari, I doubt anyone ever extended L similar kindness.

And it is in this determination to get to know the MC that I also find Mello's words (AA: LABB Murder Cases) that L is actually a very active, aggressive individual with absolutely no interest in social conventions perfectly represent him this game, as he navigates a growing fondness with expectation, curiosity and caution — on his own terms, while minding that he doesn't overstep.

L: Staying up late talking to you… It makes me feel calm.

I find it particularly heartbreaking how this confession of L unknowingly makes it more transparent how burdened he is. The spine curved by burdens unseen, the addiction to mind games and sweets; all of these point to stress factors which isolate him further, increasing the loneliness and lack of affection in his life.

That L feels the need to mention the MC makes him feel calm seems telling.

L: We’re both late workers, huh? That makes me happy. L: [F/N]… You’re pretty formidable. L: It’s reassuring to have a partner like you. You’re someone I can trust. L: Your feelings have been received. (Valentine's Day) L: The fact we’ve become so close was an unexpected development on my part.

And here it is, the acknowledgement just as L enters the highest stages of approval, where he expresses admiration and happiness at the close bond he developed with the MC.

"An unexpected development on my part" is quite the turn of phrase. One can only wonder, but I'd make an educated guess that L didn't see this coming because:

a) no one showed feelings towards him before. In his line of work, hidden behind a screen there is no time to indulge or get attached to anyone (he would mistrust their intentions anyway) and so L keeps everyone at arms length, sharing little more than a professional side of himself and fostering utilitarian relationships that help him win "games". L ultimately carries various burdens the average civilian would never be able to understand, all due to the pressure of his job. When failing at the "game of cat and mouse" means being responsible for the likely deaths of dozens, perhaps even hundreds or thousands, the stakes are up in unimaginable ways. What started as a thrill chase can have catastrophic consequences should L fail. That in itself alienates him from society at large. It's a game that L plays well and absolutely profits from, but it is also an indicative of two major flaws: his addictive personality and how he suppresses his emotions to carry on. Coincidentally, it's the expanded universe, in particular Another Note: LA BB Murder Case and L: Change the WorLd, that give us the best insight into this. This isn't too dissimilar to the struggles policemen face in high risk jobs or technicians who have to flag and delete sensitive content from online platforms. These people end up changed from what they see — and some carry traumas for the rest of their lives. That's not to say that L doesn't feel for others. He respects people whom he considers good or morally upstanding (Soichiro Yagami), who are competent in their line of work (Naomi Misora, Mogi), worthy of a second chance (Aiber and Wedy), who speak their minds, unafraid (Aizawa) or who are reliable, loyal to him as a person and not just his cause, in whom he can place his trust and feel secure won't betray him (Watari). The MC seems to fall mostly in the last category, though the relationship is rather precocious — and there seems to be a fair amount of wishful thinking and even projecting on L's part, since communication happens over a device connecting two people remotely. He falls both for the idea of the individual and their attentiveness towards him. When L mentions that they make him feel calm, I'd argue it comes both as a surprise to him and a confession of a closeness and safety he intimately craved — though I personally view L as someone who feels lonely and wanting healthy human contact, even if his social skills might not be the best (worsened by his distrust of people as a whole). Someone who ultimately is willing to adapt to him but whom he can adapt to, as well. Someone who sees him as a person and not an unfeeling robot. It's a POV that certainly challenges certain aspects of DN: Vol 13. I would further argue that L's portrayal has evolved significantly beyond the manga, and that his subsequent humanising is partially a result of the creative liberties the English translations took, as well as a more empathetic view of the character and hidden struggles. Each medium displays a separate iteration of L, with common variables.

b) L fosters distant relationships with others as a safety measure. Aside from Watari, L's contact with other people had always been distant, work-focused, perhaps even tainted by notions of his supposed creepiness as a kinky detective "who relished bizarre murders" (L:CtW). He's useful to the police because he achieves favourable results, though L is still viewed as "a human computer, capable only of measuring mass murders in terms of cold numbers, a reclusive sociopath" (L:CtW). He isn't necessarily liked; in fact, I would argue he rubs people the wrong way most of the time — as we can see during his interactions with the Task Force, during the events of Death Note. L is tolerated, a useful asset who is both mysterious and a pain to deal with. However, he's also put on a pedestal due to his status (i.e., Relight, the children at Wammy's). For the latter, he purposely shatters their idea of L as this unbeatable, paragon of justice by defining himself as a monster (anime), a dishonest cheating human being who hates losing (manga). I do share in lux-mea-lex's perspective on L doubting his own humanity and how it fuels a certain self-hatred for distrusting everyone around him. As lux mentions, "love comes with trust" and L is an excellent detective precisely because he questions everything and everyone — but it comes at a cost: his own loneliness. To draw a parallel, L's ultimate flaw — and that which makes him great at his job — is not unlike what we see during the moments of extreme anguish that Veronica Mars goes through in her personal relationships and which draw people away from her when she oversteps boundaries to prove she's not being lied to. That mistrust comes from experience, for people burdened with having seen too much and it's not unlike a kind of paranoia acquired when one has to deal with the worst of humanity on a daily basis.

Full reciprocity

L: [F/N] you’re the light that illuminates the dark night. That’s an exaggeration of course, but… L: What I need to live is glucose… and to talk to you. Nourishment for my brain and heart. L: When we’re together, I feel like there’s no problem we can’t solve. L: The afternoons I get to spend with you are precious to me.

When the MC achieves the stage of full reciprocity with L, he's very open to showing vulnerability and lowering his emotional defenses. I found this to be particularly sweet, as L is such a secretive man with so many hidden layers that him being willing to show such honesty with that one person he holds dear is incredible character development.

Beyond the game, I would say that achieving this stage with L would be much more difficult and, naturally, would involve going beyond picking the best sweets for him.

Something important to keep in mind is that L seems to value acts of service, as the people who interact with him more closely have some utility value and aid his work. However, L's life revolves around his work; he lives and breathes his detective work, which is why having a partner who brings him peace would be so important.

L: The time I spend with you is as important to me as the sweets. L: Good morning. It makes me really happy to see you here. L: For your sake… I’d think of a way to get through anything. We share a bond. L: When you have time, I’d like to take you to a shop that makes the best sweets. L: When you’re free, how about we play tennis together? I will have Watari reserve a court. L: If something were to happen to me… I want you, as the person I hold dearest, to carry on the L moniker. L: When my thoughts hit a dead end late at night, I feel like I’m stuck in a maze. But, having you here makes me feel reassured.

I also found it very sweet how L takes the initiative to plan for activities to do together with the MC. And how their presence, their reassuring words make him feel at ease. It seems that a loving relationship would give L a goal in life beyond his work.

Carrying on the L moniker... this quote might be the result of L's trust in the MC growing during the events of the game, or a sentiment L nurtures due to the MC being attentive enough to understand his specific cravings. But being able to read L and having the mental dexterity to become him are different things, as the latter involves a lifestyle that few would want and a complete focus on work. Even FBI agents have lives beyond work.

L: I learned from you that sweets are the bond that brings people together. L: You give me true peace of mind. No one could ever replace you. L: The way I am now, I… I can’t think straight when you’re not around. L: Being able to share this sunset with you, I couldn’t ask for anything more. L: You understand, don’t you [F/N]? What my heart so strongly desires is something more… L: When I talk to you, I feel like my senses are sharpened. Thanks to that, my radar has become more sensitive.

What a sweet guy. I love how L focuses on the little things and just wants to spend time together with the person he holds dearest. It's almost as if he daydreams a close, loving relationship — a trait that clashes with L's logical side.

This game and the expanded universe of Death Note have convinced me that there are many more layers to L than what we can see in the main story.

As Fu Takahashi, who plays L in the 2020 Japanese version of the musical, said:

“(...) A common thing about L among these versions is that, despite his superficial image as a smart guy who hates losing, he actually feels lonely and needs affection, I imagine. Perhaps he is an orphan – his character suggests so. He tries to control his emotions, like the feelings towards his parents, or romantic feelings; that’s why he is sort of dependent on games or battles of the mind. So I want to play L while thinking about the foundations on which his personality has been formed.”

I think this quote and the game are actually very telling of L's core personality and how it moves beyond that cold, calculating persona that defines him in the manga. It's also more in line with the characterisation that we see in the anime and the books, which help humanise L.

As I mentioned elsewhere, learning how to trust and be comfortable around someone else would do L wonders. Though that person would have to accept him for who he is and help him learn how to navigate a healthy relationship.

Perhaps the true test of love, for L, would even be for him to be confronted with someone who knows who he really is and, is not only kind to him, but also sees the best in him — regardless of his flaws. I think that we've had a glimpse of it in this game and it's a breath of fresh air.

[gagugal]

The seventh song from the Death Note Genderbent project, There Are Lines, featuring Broadwayman23 (he/him) as Soichiro Yagami and Isabel (she/her) as Light Yagami! Please give it a listen and support the project by subscribing on youtube and following the project here!

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The DNG Universe genderbends Light, L, and Misa. The rest of the characters retain their original gender. We wanted to explore how this affects the relationships in the show - with Soichiro and Sayu watching their precious, studious daughter/sister become a monster, with the leading detective in the world being afab nonbinary leading a group of male detectives, with a male Misa being in love with Kira without knowing who Kira is, implying the possibility of a queer male popstar.