Death Note: Dreams, a Reader X L Story

L File #5 - Talent

Over the next couple of months, the computers buzzed and buzzed. In L's other free time, you noticed that the boy had started taking tennis lessons. One day, you were watching the talented, young man play with the racket.

The ball hit the ground violently as L tried to defeat his teacher. Swing after swing, sweat after sweat, this was indeed an intense match. The baggy, white shirt L always wore was drenched with sweat. His decaying shoes were untied, for this caused you to fear he would trip on the laces. The two tennis players panted as they moved in sync with the other.

"He who strikes first always wins." L's instructor insisted.

"Those who distract themselves always lose." L hit the ball with a huge amount of force; the ball flew through the air, bouncing twice on his opponent's side.

That was the first point of the match.

You realized this could take hours to complete, but fascination got the better of you. Your eyes darted back and forth as you watched the master and his trainee fight back and forth. Strength was deteriorating from both sides, but that wouldn't stop them. If you put two competitive people together, then there will be an all out war.

The instructor panted. "I do say, Mr. Smith, you do put up a challenge." Smith was L's fake name for tennis lessons.

"I've learned from the best, Mr. Cleveland." L hit the ball as hard as his pale, skinny arms could. Once again, the ball hit his opponent's side twice. L had earned yet another point, Mr. Cleveland was still at the zero mark.

Mr. Cleveland stared in shock as L smiled. The older man closed his eyes and said, "You know, Mr. Smith, you've got talent." He sighed. "At your young age, I wonder if you would be able to compete in a national tournament..." 

The two shook hands and Mr. Cleveland left. You and L walked back to the inside of Wammy's house. "___, do you think that you would be interested in tennis?" L asked.

"I'll let you play tennis. I think it's best if I stay with computers." He nodded in agreement to your statement.

Mr. Wammy walked up to you when you and L entered Wammy's house. "___. I showed someone at the Technological Institute of England. They're extremely impressed with your coding techniques. One of the workers is coming in two months to show you some new methods of coding. They'll stay here for about a week."

Excitement pulsed through your veins. You couldn't believe that you had gotten that far with coding already. The higher ups were starting to look up to you, which was nerve wracking and exciting at the same time. "Mr. Wammy, may I read the letter?"

"Of course. I'll be heading out for a while, so don't cause too much trouble while I'm gone."

You and L ran upstairs to your bedroom. L shut the door, sitting down with his knees against his chest.

Your voice trembled with excitement as you read the letter.

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Dear Mr. Wammy,

Thank you very much for showing us Miss Adamson's coding techniques and programs. The Technological Institute of England would love to have her as a programmer one day. If it is possible, I would like to meet and teach Miss Adamson on the week of May 15th, 1987. I can commute to a hotel, or stay at the orphanage. I'm terribly sorry this letter is so short, for I am very limited on time.

Hope to see you and Miss Adamson soon.

Sincerely,

Professor Margaret Thomason.

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Professor Thomason was the President of The Technological Institute of England. This was a major honour, for you weren't even ten yet. This woman could teach you many things about technology, which excited you majorly.

L stuck his finger in his mouth. "You were right...you should stick to computers." He stood up with his back hunched over as he left.

You went straight to your computer, already preparing for the visit two months away.