Classroom of the elite: The Four elites

Light's POV:

I arrived in class earlier than usual, finding the room deserted. I welcomed the solitude as it would be easier to make me focus. Taking my seat, I retrieved my notebook and let my thoughts drift, idly scribbling on the page. My mind wandered back to the events of yesterday, specifically, an encounter with a certain black-haired girl.

Suzune Horikita of Class 1-D. Was Utterly and truly worthless.

I sighed, writing her name down in my notebook before drawing a single, sharp line through it.

Initially, my goal had been simple: leverage her connection to the student council president. The shared surname; Horikita, had been the first clue, and her consistent top rankings in national exams had only help my theory. If Manabu Horikita, the student council president, was clever enough to lead the school, surely his younger sister would possess comparable intellect.

But theories built on assumptions are fragile, so I had decided when I spotted her alone at the library, that I would put my theory to the test.

When I casually mentioned her brother, Suzune's reaction was telling. Her demeanor shifted to a cold, tense, guarded expression before she forced herself to regain composure. It was clear their relationship was strained, perhaps even antagonistic. Any plans I'd entertained about using her to influence Manabu crumbled in that moment. It felt as if she had admired her brother in a way, but there was sense of fear in her eyes too. Whatever their dynamic, it wasn't one I could exploit in the ways I'd like.

For a brief moment, the thought of my own sibling, Sayu, came to mind, though I quickly pushed it aside. As I briefly compared our relationships.

I sighed quietly, acknowledging the futility of involving Suzune. She wasn't entirely without merit, her academic strengths were undeniable, but her attitude made her unapproachable and unlikeable to many. She wasn't worth the effort. My thoughts shifted to the other girls in Class 1-D, searching for someone who might serve a purpose Suzune could not.

Kushida came to mind first. Popular, charismatic, and seemingly kind, she was the type who could sway an entire room. But there was something off about her, an air of secrecy, as if the person she presented wasn't her true self. The risk she posed outweighed her potential, so I crossed her name out for now.

Next, I considered Airi Sakura. She was attractive, in a quiet sort of way, but her lack of confidence was glaring. It seemed deliberate, as though she were trying to fade into the background. Beyond her looks, there was little to suggest she'd be useful to me. Another name crossed off.

Then there was Chiaki Matsushita, always seen with Maya Sato and Kei Karuizawa. The trio struck me as dull and unremarkable. Kei, in particular, was off-limits; dating Hirata made her untouchable without risking my reputation. Besides, she reminded me of someone I'd rather forget, a certain blonde girl I was ashamed to have once known.

Still, I circled Kei and Sato's names. I had a plan in mind, and they might serve a purpose if things go the way I plan them to.

Disappointment did weigh on me though as I reviewed the rest of Class D. They were in this class for a reason. Most of them were utterly useless. Perhaps the "D" in Class D really did stand for "defective."

My thoughts shifted to my own classmates. Among them, Mio Ibuki stood out. She was brash, impulsive, and loyal to Ryuen, the self-proclaimed leader of Class C. Involving someone from my own class was risky, but Ibuki's connection to Ryuen made her worth considering. He was a threat, a volatile one and having someone close to him could prove advantageous. Her name received a circle.

Turning to Class B, one name stood out amongst the rest: Honami Ichinose. Their leader. She had an obvious charm, a natural enthusiasm that made her hard to ignore. Objectively speaking, we made a fitting pair, two of the most attractive students at school. But her popularity and influence meant she'd have countless suitors, and she seemed clever enough to see through any simple deception. Her name was circled, though she wasn't in my plans for now, she could be definitely a one to watch for the future.

Finally, my attention settled on Class 1-A.

Masumi Kamuro, loyal but powerless, was crossed off. Miki Yamamura, intelligent but very reserved, followed suit. I worked my way through the rest until I reached a name that gave me pause: Arisu Sakayanagi.

From the very beginning, Arisu had intrigued me. Like Horikita, her name appeared consistently on national exams, though always just behind mine. She was intelligent, undoubtedly, and appeared to be locked in a power struggle for control of Class A with Kōhei Katsuragi.

Approaching her could be strategic. Offering my assistance in her leadership battle might open doors for me that would be heavily beneficial. But she wasn't someone to underestimate if my assumptions about her was true. Arisu was a formidable opponent, and aligning with her could prove as dangerous as opposing her. For now, her name was circled.

I was about to dig deeper into my analysis when I felt a presence behind me.

"What's that?"

The voice belonged to Hiyori. She now stood at my side, her gaze fixed on my notebook. I'd been too distracted to notice her approach.

Quickly, I closed the notebook, masking my irritation with a calm expression. "It's nothing you need to worry about," I said smoothly, tucking the notebook into my bag.

Her curious eyes lingered on me. "I didn't see much, but I did notice a lot of girls' names from our year. What's that about?"

I forced a chuckle, keeping my tone light. "Just sorting out who might be trouble for me and Class C," I explained. "There's a list for the boys too, on the previous page."

"But why was my name crossed out? And why was Ibuki's circled?" she pressed, her curiosity unrelenting.

"You?" I smirked in a playful way. "You're harmless."

She frowned, not fully convinced, so I elaborated. "Ibuki's close to Ryuen. For all I know, she could turn on this class at any moment. But her connection to Ryuen is also what makes her worth keeping an eye on."

Hiyori nodded slowly. "I get that. And the others?"

"Ichinose and Arisu are leaders in their respective classes. Ichinose has befriended several people in Class C. If she's hiding a more cunning side, she could be a real threat. As for Arisu, she's vying for leadership of Class A, and that alone makes her worth monitoring. The other girls are just there because of the influence they have"

Satisfied, Hiyori backed off, though I could tell her curiosity hadn't been entirely quelled.

As the bell rang, signaling the start of class, I leaned back in my chair, letting the teacher's droning voice fade into the background. My gaze wandered to Ibuki. Could I adapt my original plan for Horikita to win her over instead?

But the thought of Ryuen's reaction lingered. If he discovered my involvement with her, he'd definitely cast her out, rendering her completely useless to me.

Class started and went, not to long after lunchtime had arrived, and I joined my study group in the crowded cafeteria. Amidst our light discussion about the upcoming test, something unusual caught my attention.

In the corner of the cafeteria sat a figure, his deep, penetrating eyes fixed on a book. Despite his apparent focus, I had the odd sensation that he was observing me and my classmates. Seizing the opportunity, I excused myself and approached him. He seemed alone, yet his presence radiated an unspoken invitation.

"Mind if I join you?" I asked, maintaining a casual tone as I gestured toward the empty chair across from him.

He glanced up briefly before nodding. As I settled into my seat, he asked an unexpected question:

"Do you believe in capital punishment?"

I noticed the book in his hand— Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky—its themes steeped into moral dilemmas.

"It depends on the crime," I replied thoughtfully. "I do believe murderers should face the ultimate consequence."

"I see. So, you have a strong sense of justice," he remarked, setting the book aside. "But why should murderers be executed?"

"If someone takes a life, they should forfeit their own. It's justice, and it brings closure to the victims' families," I reasoned, gauging his reaction.

"And what about wrongful convictions? Would it not be unjust for innocent people to die?" he probed further.

"While rare, that's a valid concern," I admitted. "But I'm focused on clear-cut cases of murder."

Satisfied, or perhaps simply intrigued, he didn't speak for a couple moments, so i decided to shift the conversation. "Why did you provoke Ryuen in my class recently?"

"Amusement," he replied, a smirk playing on his lips. "I've been evaluating each class, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and key players. You and Ryuen both caught my attention. As a student from class A, I decided it best to view the classes undertaken me." His tone was relaxed, though I detected an air of mockery with the last sentence that I decided to brush off for now.

"Why share this with me?" I pressed.

"That's classified for now," he said, smiling faintly. "But since you amuse me, I'll tell you this: the top three threats in your class from what I've observed, is yourself, Ryuen, and Tokito."

I raised an eyebrow at Tokito's mention, as he didn't seem particularly noteworthy. Before I could inquire further, I decided it would be better to ask another question.

"Rumors suggest a leadership dispute in Class 1-A. Basically I'm asking, Are you aligned with either Sakayanagi or Katsuragi?"

He regarded me, his expression unchanged. "Guess."

After a moment's thought, I deduced, "You're not aligned with either. Though If forced to choose, I'd guess you'd favor Sakayanagi, she's cunning and academically gifted, whereas Katsuragi is bound by rules due to his morality, and he seems be physically gifted by lacking pure intellect. But you not being aligned to either than raises another possibility, are you working for another class?"

An amused glint appeared in his eyes as he seemed to throw a slight curveball. "Interesting deduction. It's Much like your father, Soichiro Yagami. Though your sense of justice is slightly different from his."

His words made my breath catch. "How do you know my father?" I demanded, though an inner smirk seemed to form as him knowing that could only mean one thing.

A small, knowing smile formed on his lips. "I suppose there's no point in hiding it," he said after a pause. "I wanted to tell you, I am L."

My body stiffened. My legs trembled ever so slightly beneath the table, though after a brief moment I worked to maintain composure. It really was him. I had decided not to pursue him directly, to let him come to me. and now, he had.

"Are you all right, Light?" he asked, his tone seemingly genuine as I had closed my eyes.

"Yes, just surprised," I replied, feigning innocence. "Why tell me?"

"Hm, I'm sure you know why," he said, his gaze piercing mine. "Because I suspect you, Light Yagami, to be Kira."

"Don't be absurd. I'm not Kira," I said instantly.

He studied me, then nodded slightly. "Of course you're not. But if you're not, it means Kira is one of these students."

"One of the students? That's... unsettling," I replied, knowing he was referring to the challenge I had sent him as if it was to be believed, it meant one of the students would have to be Kira.

"Why tell me all this?" I asked again. "Don't get me wrong, I'm honored to meet the L, but do you really suspect me?"

"Yes," he answered bluntly, his eyes now fully matching mine.

"I see," I said, my tone slightly challenging. "If you're so certain, aren't you worried I now know your face, and it would only take me a few moments to find your name?"

He shook his head slightly, his gaze unbroken. "It's a possibility. My name is Rue Ryuzaki."

"Rue Ryuzaki," I repeated, suppressing a smirk. It was clearly an alias, likely a trap to mislead me. If I wrote it in the Death Note, I might inadvertently kill the pop star Rue Ryuzaki instead what would automatically prove that I was Kira.

"Oops, seems I've said too much for now," he said suddenly in a playful tone, rising from his seat. "This has been enlightening, but I have more pressing matters to attend to."

"What matters?" I asked, caught off guard by his abrupt departure.

"I must find more cake," he replied, turning to leave. "Until next time, Light Yagami."

I watched him walk away, a small chuckle escaping my lips. So, this was L. He wasn't what I had expected, but that didn't matter.

I'd show him how superior I was, and when the school years have fully ended, I'd finish him for good.

***

Just a lil chapter, how did we feel about it?