Chapter 31: Easy

Manga Summaries >> Chapter 31: Easy

The summary of Chapter thirty-one, written by Shu (for 3rd order contest 2006)

Basic Information

1. Chapter: 31 (Easy)
2. Characters: Light, Sachiko Yagami, Sayu, Mogi, Matsuda, L, Soichiro Yagami, Ryuuk, Misa, Rem
3. New Characters: none
4. Known # of Deaths: n/a

Summary
Misa has just gone home, leaving Light with a bunch of thoughts. Searching the Net, he finds out that Misa is quite a personality, a fashion model rather popular among teenagers; even the robbery in which her parents were killed is public knowledge, Light is nervous about this, afraid that somebody could find out about the girl and link her to him, but he has his hands tied due to Rem’s menace. However, he soon realizes he’s doing wrong: he doesn’t have to think how to get rid of Misa, but how to make her meet L and discover his true name. Next morning, we see Light asking his mother and Sayu, with a brilliant smile, not to leak out about Misa, since she’s a famous model and it would be a problem if some media found out that she has a boyfriend. Even father shouldn’t know about her he might disapprove. The two promise and so the secret is kept. At the university, Light shelters himself just like he said: he asks another girl out Kiyomi Takada, his pretty and smart desk-mate. It’s a way to confuse L’s ideas on Misa, in case someone is observing and reporting his moves. And he isn’t wrong: Mogi is following him.

Meanwhile, another message from the 2nd Kira has been delivered to the headquarters. This communication will be the last: the 2nd Kira just declares that he’s going to punish the remaining criminals, in order to get the real Kira’s approval. Showing the videotape to Light, L asks for his opinion, but first states his own considerations: since for the first time the message says nothing about meeting Kira, he believes that the two Kiras have already joined. Light is a bit taken aback, but follows the detective’s reasoning.

L goes on: if his considerations are right, the chance of Light being Kira decrease. Light would have made the other Kira send a totally different kind of message, pushing L to appear on TV, so that he could finally eliminate him. Surprisingly, Light answers back: If I were Kira, I wouldn’t do that. Because Light knows Ryuuzaki, he knows that he would never appear in public, no matter what. L has to admit he’s right (probably, he was just waiting for this reaction). At this point, Soichiro breaks in the conversation, inviting severely his son to never say things like If I were Kira again: as a father, he’s very hurt by such words. Mixing his coffee with the usual several sugars, absent-minded, L comes out with a truly stunning declaration: if really Light were Kira, he would be very sorry because Light-kun is the first friend I’ve ever had!

A Wow! comes from Ryuuk, a glint of surprise shines in Light’s eyes But the shock lasts for one moment only. Light answers affably, saying that he’s looking forward to play tennis again, and Ryuuzaki replies he’d like to, after the Kira case is solved. It’s really dreadful seeing Ligh’s soft, false grin matching with one of the few genuine L’s smiles I hope that day arrives soon.

This chapter hints another rare touch of humanity regarding our detective: L confesses his fears, he’s terrified every time that someone simply looks at him Silence falls in the hotel room and soon Light leaves. On his way home, he bumps into Misa, who missed him so much that she was waiting for him.

Light is annoyed but the only thing he can do is letting her come with him. Mogi, hidden round a corner, notices the girl. When they’re all (humans and Shinigami!^^) in his room, Light starts immediately: if Misa wants to make him happy, and then be together with him, she should ask Rem to kill L. Light and Misa can’t live happily and safely together, as long as L suspects him; plus, killing the detective won’t harm Rem at all, since it’s not relevant to the girl’s lifespan. Misa has no hesitation, she begs the Shinigami straight away and Rem agrees. Light is almost in disbelief: L is going to die just like that

Unanswered Questions
So what’s next…

1. Is L really going to die that easy? Or will Light reconsider?
2. Will L be able to figure out something, when he’ll know about Misa?