The gray overcast morning blanketed Tokyo, casting a muted light over the quiet streets. Aruto remained still, tucked away in a discreet corner across from Light's house. His sharp eyes followed every movement as Light and his sister exited the front door, exchanging brief goodbyes with their mother before heading down the block together. At the crossroads, they parted ways—Light toward school, his sister elsewhere.

Aruto stayed calm, knowing Light's father had already left earlier. Only the mother remained, and Aruto would need to wait for her to leave. He took a deep breath, letting the stillness of the morning wash over him as the day slowly brightened. The sun, faint at first, began to break through the heavy clouds, casting a soft, golden light over the city. Though the streets of Tokyo were starting to stir, this small corner of the world felt frozen in time.

Eventually, the door opened again, and Light’s mother stepped outside. She walked down the street, oblivious to Aruto's presence as she went about her morning errands. Now was his moment. With the house seemingly empty, Aruto shifted into action.

He crossed the street and slipped into the entryway, removing his shoes and replacing them with indoor slippers he'd noticed during his earlier surveillance. Each move was deliberate and precise. His heartbeat remained steady as he advanced toward Light’s room, where he believed the Death Note was hidden.

Aruto approached the drawer where he'd seen Light stash the notebook before. But when he opened it, his heart sank. The drawer was empty. The Death Note wasn’t there. Damn it, he thought, quickly piecing together what must have happened. Light must have taken the notebook with him to school.

His mind raced through his options. Staying in the house too long was risky. Light was cautious, and if anything seemed off, Aruto's plans could unravel quickly. I need to leave, he decided, shifting into action.

Just as Aruto turned to make his exit, he heard the unmistakable jingle of keys at the front door. His eyes widened. Light’s father. Aruto froze, assessing his situation. It was too late to slip out unnoticed. The door swung open, and in walked Soichiro Yagami, the imposing head of the NPA.

“Light?” Soichiro’s voice echoed down the hall. “Why are you still home?”

Aruto felt a surge of adrenaline but forced himself to remain calm, his mind rapidly calculating. He had seconds to come up with a response as Soichiro’s footsteps approached.

In desperation, Aruto did the only thing that came to mind. He closed the bedroom door and locked it. Steadying his voice to mimic Light’s tone, he coughed softly before speaking.

“Uh, I… forgot an assignment. Just grabbing it real quick,” he said, his voice strained but steady.

A pause followed—too long of a pause. Soichiro’s footsteps stopped right outside the door, and the air grew heavy with suspicion.

“Light?” Soichiro’s voice came again, this time more pointed. “You should be at school by now. What’s so important?”

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Aruto’s pulse quickened. Soichiro wasn’t just any man—he was a sharp detective. One wrong word, and the lie could unravel. Keep it simple, Aruto thought.

“Yeah, just… forgot some notes for class,” he responded, trying to sound casual, though his pulse pounded in his ears.

Another pause, then the door handle jiggled. Soichiro was trying to open the locked door. Aruto’s heart skipped a beat.

“Light, why is the door locked?” Soichiro’s tone was no longer just curious; it was laced with suspicion.

Aruto swallowed hard, scrambling for a believable answer. “I just needed privacy to concentrate,” he said, cursing himself for how weak that sounded.

“Light, open the door. This isn’t like you,” Soichiro demanded, his suspicion now undeniable.

Aruto’s heart pounded as the walls seemed to close in. He couldn’t keep dodging questions. With time running out, he made a snap decision.

“Coming, Dad! Just give me a second!” Aruto called, fumbling with the window latch behind him. He pushed it open quietly, the cool morning air hitting his face as a surge of relief washed over him.

“Light, open the door now!” Soichiro insisted, his voice firm, the edge of suspicion sharper than ever.

No time for finesse. Aruto slipped his legs through the window and threw himself outside. “Sorry, Dad!” he called out, his voice breaking under the strain.

The moment his feet hit the ground, adrenaline took over. He cursed under his breath as he sprinted down the side of the house, his shoes slapping against the pavement. He ran toward the nearest alley, his breath ragged, pushing himself to move faster.

The door unlocked. Soichiro stepped into the room just as Aruto disappeared around the corner, his sharp eyes scanning the open window.

Meanwhile, Aruto was mentally kicking himself. How could I have screwed this up so badly? But there was no time for self-pity. He needed to lose any potential pursuit.

Turning into a side street, Aruto glanced over his shoulder. No sign of Soichiro—yet. He ducked into another alleyway, squeezing into a narrow gap between two buildings. His heart pounded as he caught his breath, allowing himself a small grin. Made it. For now. But he knew this wasn’t over. Soichiro was no fool, and if Aruto wanted to stay ahead, he’d need to be more careful next time.

As he walked through the twisting backstreets of Tokyo, Aruto's mind switched gears. He had called in sick that morning, so no one would expect him at school. But Soichiro’s unexpected appearance had thrown his plans into disarray. Light likely had the Death Note on him, making the task of retrieving it much harder than anticipated.

Aruto’s pace slowed as the adrenaline began to wear off. The city hummed around him, but his thoughts were locked on the situation. Soichiro had been suspicious, but not enough to act—yet. But if he mentioned the locked door to Light, things could escalate.

Could I use this to my advantage? Aruto wondered. If he could plant doubt in Light’s mind, it might make Light paranoid, careless even. But it was a dangerous gamble. Light was at his most dangerous when cornered.

Aruto stopped at a small park, sitting down on a bench. He needed to think clearly. The trees rustled softly overhead, and a few birds chirped. He couldn’t afford to be reckless, not with someone like Light. Patience was key.

The plan had to change. Going after the Death Note directly was no longer an option. Light was carrying it, which made things infinitely more complicated. Aruto leaned back, watching the shifting clouds. He would need to stay close but not too close. Light would slip up eventually. He just had to wait for the right moment.

A grin crept onto his face as a new thought struck him. Light’s arrogance could be his downfall. If Aruto played into that, he might be able to make himself invisible in Light’s eyes—until it was too late.

As he sat there, his mind began to shape a new plan. This game wasn’t over. It had only just begun.