>"A fantastic performance."
>"A synonym for miracle!"
>"Günter von Goldberg II, the illusionist who stands at the top of the world, will arrive in Japan for his next tour!"
The bold headlines caught Hayashi Yoshiki's eye as he scrolled through the online promotions.
He narrowed his eyes, the glint of calculation flashing behind his calm exterior.
So... the "Spider" is finally crawling into the web.
A killer cloaked in illusion. A shadow enlisted by the mysterious organization behind Kaito Kid's father's murder. In the anime, he arrives in Japan using his public persona as the world-renowned illusionist Günter von Goldberg II.
And now, in this timeline—he was here.
According to Koizumi Akako, to divine someone's real name, you need an item carrying their aura.
A signature, for example, could qualify.
But getting a personal item or even a signature from a world-class magician, especially one as secretive as Spider, would be no simple feat.
Do I use the Death Note? Or something else...
After a moment of thought, Yoshiki picked up his phone.
"Hello, Mr. Hayashi?" A warm, familiar voice answered.
"Good evening, Miss Yoko."
"It's rare for Teacher Hayashito call me out of the blue~" Her tone was cheerful, with a hint of surprise.
"I hope I'm not disturbing you. Actually, I'm calling to ask for a favor."
"There's an illusionist—Günter von Goldberg II. I was wondering... could you help me get his autograph?"
"Eh? That magician? So you're a fan, Mr. Hayashi?"
Her surprise quickly shifted into action. "Give me just a moment. Let me ask around."
"Thank you, Miss Yoko."
Not long after, she returned his call.
"I have good news~! The performance venue is in partnership with our entertainment company. I'll be able to request an autograph for you."
"That's fantastic," Yoshiki said, his voice softening. "I really appreciate your help."
"You've done more for me," she replied happily. "But there's one thing—I mentioned it casually, and they gave me two tickets to the show."
"If you're not going with anyone yet... would you like to go with me?" she asked, a bit hesitantly.
April 21st — The Day of the Performance
The weather was bright, the breeze mild. A perfect day.
Hayashi Yoshiki, dressed in a clean shirt and tie, had carefully styled his hair before heading out.
From the underground garage, he slid into the driver's seat of his new car: a silver Mercedes-Benz E-W210, the very model driven by Natsuki's father in Initial D. Sleek and understated, yet refined.
He drove out onto the sunlit streets of Tokyo, heading to a familiar name in upscale housing: Okino Yoko's high-end apartment.
As soon as he pulled up, a fully disguised figure—hat, sunglasses, mask—stepped quickly from the shadows and entered his passenger seat.
"Long time no see, Teacher Hayashi."
"It has been a while."
"Thanks for coming to get me. I've been looking forward to this."
She clicked her seatbelt into place, then slowly removed her sunglasses and mask.
What emerged was a picture of perfect celebrity poise.
Okino Yoko, dressed in elegant casualwear, full makeup highlighting her flawless features, her smile radiant under soft curls. She was beautiful on television—but in person, she was dazzling.
Even Hayashi, whose expressions were often mild and unreadable, blinked once in admiration.
It's no wonder she's at the top of the entertainment industry.
She noticed his gaze, and her smile deepened slightly.
"What do you think, Teacher Hayashi? Not bad?"
"...Too beautiful to be real," he replied without pause. Then, with a soft laugh: "I think this is the first time I've truly understood Miss Yoko's charm."
"Hmm~ so you haven't been watching my shows?"
"Not much. I rarely watch TV. But after today… I think I may become a dedicated fan."
"That's a bit much~" she laughed, covering her mouth like a lady.
The car pulled away from the curb and merged into traffic, heading toward the venue.
Their conversation floated gently, naturally, as warm afternoon light filtered through the windshield.
While they chatted, Yoshiki's mind remained sharp beneath the calm.
The performance... it's the perfect cover for Spider.
And if all goes well, I'll have both a signature—and a firsthand look at his illusions.
He would use Okino Yoko's social capital to acquire the item. Then Koizumi Akako's magic to divine the name.
The Death Note will do the rest.
If the Spider proved himself as skilled in illusion as in the original timeline, then Hayashi Yoshiki would gain a new weapon.
One that would let him bend perception.Delay enemies.And strike.
The smile on his face never faltered.
But behind it, the noose was already tightening.