Playing His Game

"Playing His Game" is a song in Death Note: The Musical.

Overview
While L and Light Yagami play their tennis match at Todai university, they sing this song about defeating each other.

Misa Amane runs into them after their match, but she's soon chased away by fans. After L leaves, Light tries to call Misa to get L's name. The song is briefly reprised as Light makes the phone call.

The English demo version features vocals for only L and Light. The productions include an ensemble of university students calling out the score and cheering, as well as sound effects for the tennis ball.

English version
The song was originally written in English. The English demo was recorded in December 2014 and released online in 2015 by HoriPro as part of the advertisement for the Musical's Tokyo production. Below are the lyrics for the original English version.

English lyrics
[Light]

Time to rethink

And begin

With a brand new game plan

Margin for error is slim

[L]

He's on the brink

He could win

I can't use the same plan

Time to start thinking like him

[Light] What would I do if I got inside his head?

[L] Thought like him instead?

[Light] Could it be

[L] Possibly

[Light & L] I'll catch him when

[Light & L]

I look through his eyes

See what he sees

And then improvise

Until I can learn what puts him at ease

I'll walk in his shoes

As long as it takes

'Til deep in my bones

I'm sure he is

One and the same as the me who is playing his game

[Light]

What does he do

Late at night

When the world is sleeping?

Does he see pixels, not dreams?

[L]

Hard to be true

Always right

All that promise keeping

Harder I'm sure than it seems

[Light] How would it be if I saw the world like him?

[L] Like a synonym?

[Light] Bit by bit

[L] Wit by wit

[Light & L] Catch him I win

[Light & L]

I'll mimic his will

And learn his routines

And feel the same thrill

Whenever my end is served by his means

I'll walk in his shoes

As long as it takes

'Til deep in my bones

I'm sure he is

One and the same as the me who is playing his game

[L]

Steady

I must be ever so careful

Don't move until you are ready

He will be careful too

[Light]

Know it

Always stay calm and collected

Don't lose your cool or you'll blow it

Then he will unravel you

[Light & L]

Get into his head

And under his skin

The things that he said

The food that he likes, the places he's been

I'll look through his eyes

And see what he sees

'Til I see the forest, not just the trees

I'll mimic his will

And learn his routines

And feel the same thrill and know what it means

I'll walk in his shoes

As long as it takes

'Til deep in my bones

I'm sure I am

Winning my game while I'm saying

I'm playing his game

Japanese version
The Japanese version of the song is titled "Yatsu no Naka he" (ヤツの中へ), which translates as "Into Him" or "Inside of Him".

Japanese lyrics
違うもっと深く踏み込んでこい　さあ何が欲しい

キラが二人組めば殺せるんだろ　さあ顔を見れば

どこまで見抜いているんだ

見せてみろ

焦り　怒り

さらけ出せ

打ち返すその力　この腕に伝わる膨れ上がる

肉体も何もかも　一つに繋がれて

この心はそのままお前だ

もうミサの事は勘付いてるか　さあ全て吐けよ

そうキラの武器は死神なんだろ

さあボロを出せよ

攻める様に見せかけて　守ってる

わかる　見える

その心

ついてこいどこまでも燃え上がれひとつの炎になれ

他の事どうでもいい、お前しか見えない

まるで今世界に二人だ

待て自分取り戻せあり得ないこれは私じゃない

何故奴はこんなにも僕を駆り立てる本気にさせる

受け止めて打ち返す　気がつけばお前は意識の中

皮膚の下潜り込み　同じ目で物を見る

混ざり合い絡み合い叫びだした意識が

求めてる狂おしくお前だけを強く

止めてやるこの手で　息の根を

Reprise Japanese lyrics
見たはずだ　ミサの目が　奴の名を　ついに勝利が

Trivia

 * In the Japanese production, L uses a blue tennis racket and Light uses a red one. This corresponds with the colors used to show the characters' inner thoughts in the Death Note anime series.