No, I absolutely cannot admit it—
Sweat trickled down Kaito Kuroba's forehead, but he still managed a dazed smile.
He was the type who thought most clearly in moments of crisis. He knew all too well that if his true identity were exposed, everything would fall apart.
His peaceful high school life at seventeen… his childhood friend Aoko Nakamori… All of it would be lost.
"Excuse me, sensei, may I speak with Kuroba-san alone?"
"Oh—of course, Mr. Hayashi. Please go ahead."
Hayashi Yoshiki's polite request prompted an unusually accommodating response from Kaito's homeroom teacher.
After all, Hayashi's name and face were all over the news—the detective who caught Kaito Kid. His photo filled every front page of every major paper.
As the teacher walked away, Hayashi looked at Kaito's poker face and smiled:
"Don't worry, I'm not here to report you. I'm not wearing a wire or anything like that."
"I really don't know what you're talking about… but thanks for the cold medicine."
"If you keep denying it, I might just suggest to Inspector Nakamori that he bring fish next time he chases Kaito Kid."
How could someone who looked so polite say something so twisted!?
How could this detective know so much in just one night?
Suddenly, Kaito realized something was off.
Unless he had known Kaito's true identity beforehand, how could he have gathered so much intel so quickly?
At that moment, Hayashi Yoshiki tossed him the cold medicine.
"Shall we go somewhere more private to talk?"
"…Let's go up to the roof."
They climbed to the rooftop of the school building.
The sun was warm, and the sky was clear.
"How did you know I had a cold?"
"Because the water in Tokyo Bay is freezing."
"...I don't know what you're talking about," Kaito stuck to denial. There was no proof.
"Fine. Then, as an apology for yesterday's punch, I'll share a secret with you, Kaito Kuroba."
"Your father, Kuroba Toichi—he's still alive."
"...What did you say?"
Kaito nearly thought he misheard.
"Say that again! What do you mean!?"
"I don't know all the details. But what's certain is that the mysterious organization you've been fighting while searching for the gem 'Pandora'—they didn't kill your father."
"You… know about them too?"
"Are you finally willing to admit who you are now?"
Hayashi smiled calmly as he looked at Kaito.
Kaito felt a knot in his stomach.
He had always fought alone. Even Hakuba Saguru had only teamed up with him once when they were attacked by the illusionist known as "Spider."
Fighting an unknown, lethal organization as a high schooler—it took a toll.
"Let's just say I'm on your side. That makes us allies."
That just made Kaito more annoyed.
"You punched me, arrested me, handed me over to the cops—and now you're saying we're allies!?"
"Well, I was hired for a job."
"Then how about I just call Inspector Nakamori and tell him—"
"I'm so sorry, Master Hayashi Yoshiki!"
"…Anyway," Hayashi chuckled. "More good news for you: that illusionist 'Spider' who tried to assassinate you? He's dead. Killed by another group."
It was hard to process death like that so suddenly. After all, he was just a high school kid.
Questions bubbled in his mind—but Hayashi interrupted with a serious tone.
"Do you remember the killer from the organization who's been tracking you?"
"You mean that guy named Snake?"
"He's extremely dangerous. Shoots on sight. Uses hostages. No hesitation," Kaito's voice dropped darkly.
"I've never heard of him before."
Hayashi pulled out a notebook from his pocket, flipped to a blank page, and handed it to Kaito.
"Draw his face and write his name. I'll look into him."
Kaito didn't hesitate. He had a strange feeling he could trust Hayashi.
So he drew a portrait of Snake: top hat, beard, and all. Then he wrote the name underneath.
He handed the notebook back.
"Alright. Go back to class, take your medicine, and behave."
"I was going to do that anyway."
Kaito walked off, still dazed—but there was hope in his heart.
Maybe... just maybe... his father was still alive.
Hayashi waited until Kaito was gone.
He tore the page from his notebook—the one Kaito had written on.
There was a rough sketch of Snake, with his name underneath.
Then, Hayashi took out a lighter.
Holding the page over the flame, invisible ink began to appear as it reacted to the heat.
->Snake->"At 21:47 on the night of April 27, I led my men into the gym at 11-chome-31, Beika Town. We entered the underground shooting range through the hidden passage behind the bookshelf."->"We shot and killed Hamada Daisei and Kamitaki Keita."->"We looted all the guns and ammunition and wrote this message on the wall: 'We've kept our distance, but this time we'll avenge the Spider. —Rum'"->"Afterward, we headed to Beika Park and shot dead Oigawa Ko."->"Died from a gunshot wound eight days later."
Using the Death Note required a name and a face. Drawn portraits wouldn't work—but Kaito Kuroba had written the name himself.
Then he picked up a pen and began writing again.
"Thank you for all the sparring, coach.""Hamada Daisei – shot to death at 21:56, April 27.""Kamitaki Keita – shot to death at 21:56, April 27."
Those were Hayashi's two trainers at the gym—now erased.
He added a few more names to the list of disposable pawns:
"Oigawa Ko – shot to death.""Hamamura Kohei – shot to death."