Gaze



Gaze (注視, Chūshi) is the 2nd chapter of Volume three and 18th chapter overall.

Plot
Light watches the news report and sees the results. To his dismay, he only killed two minor criminals because the text was small, and the sound was off. Light figures that L might still suspect him if only minor criminals are killed when he is not getting any news. He decides to openly watch T.V. in front of the cameras, and discretely kill minor criminals. This way, minor criminals are killed when he either watching or not watching T.V. He will also remember the face and names of major criminals that he could kill outside.

Two days later, L tells the investigation force that he has found no suspicious activity in both houses under investigation. He allows the cameras and bugs to be taken down. However, L remarks that it doesn’t clear all of the suspicions because if Kira was among the families, he simply hasn’t made any mistakes yet.

L wonders how someone could commit murder in front of the camera without exhibiting any normal human reaction. He reasons that if Kira was among them, he can kill people without batting eye and judge sinners like some sort of God. However, L concludes, “This isn’t divine judgment. It’s the work of some childish killer who’s playing at divine retribution.” L decides that the best thing to do would be to get him to confess that he is Kira and carry out a murder in front of him. And he knows exactly how to do it.

Ryuk tells him that the cameras are gone, but Light doesn’t respond because he suspects the bugs are still there. Light wonders if his father is working closely with L on this investigation and if there was any way to use his father to get rid of L.

The day of the university entrance exams has arrived, and Light goes to take them at the prestigious To-Oh University. He is inside the facility taking his exams when a test proctor tells person two desks behind him to “sit properly.” Light looks behind him and sees an odd, disheveled guy sitting with his legs on his desk. It is L.

Conception
Ohba said the chapter name "Gaze" was chosen because of L's gaze at Light during his exam.