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Plotting || 9

Scrolling out once it was pinpointed, I feel a smile tugging at my lips while my eyes stay glued to the screen.

Finding the the train line they took and following it with my finger, I feel that smile growing while I connect from Pelican Town, to the campground that RV got stolen from. It was without a doubt. Both were in the same direction, albeit just a tiny bit north.

Found you.

I think triumphantly, relishing in my success for a few moments. But now the only question that remains is...What do I do now that I've technically found where they're going? Of course I want to be the one to take credit for this discovery, but going to Watari now with this evidence would get me in deep trouble for sure, seeing I left A and him almost entirely out of it.

On top of that, the question remains of what happens if L returns. I admit the thought did cross my mind lately that if he was gone, realistically I could step in pretty quick to fill his role...So, really...All things considered...Bringing L back might be a problem. It would bolster my rank against A, sure, but things would probably go back to normal, and I would lose my opportunity to become...Well, the next L.

Pondering this as I tap my foot on the wooden floor, I can't help but start wondering what it would be like if L was gone for good instead. Hypothetically, of course. I suppose both Watari Rodger would never allow that as long as he was still alive, which quickly led me to wonder what would happen if he and his girlfriend got into a terrible accident or something while on the road.

Matter of fact...It got me thinking.

What if I were to solve the cause of that accident? It would almost guarantee my position as L's first successor if I avenged his death in some way - not to mention, it would put him out of the way so all I needed to do was overtake A.

For some reason, I grew ever more fond of this hypothetical scenario as time went on, and I couldn't get it out of my mind...Even if at this point it was merely a question of what if.

When I finally walk down the long hallway and downstairs into the dining room for dinner, my eyes immediately trace to L's empty place at the table - lacking a placemat or setting.

I imagined if that were permanent.

If I took that place.

...I liked the idea more than I wanted to admit.

Sitting down where I normally did, I spin the knife at my setting around in my fingers, seeing A and Watari come into the dining room not long after I had. It caught my attention. It was odd that they would be arriving at the exact same time...So I try and glance over without looking directly at them.

A looked like he had been upset.

"A, would you please come help bring out everyone's plate?" Watari asks, gently placing a hand on his shoulder and smiling kindly at him.

"Y-yeah. For sure."

"Thank you. I appreciate your help very much." He says, clearly being a bit more gentle with him than usual. Something was telling me that having zero leads as L's main successor was getting to him, and he was recently at Watari's office for guidance. It certainly explained his slightly red eyes and nose. I almost felt bad for him.

Almost.

It wasn't long at all before A returned with a few plates for the youngest kids first, and he comes up behind Nate, who was holding onto a toy robot and twirling a piece of his hair around as he waited.

"Give that over please." A asks after he places a plastic plate and a cup of milk in front of the child, holding his free hand out.

"No."