A Third Opinion

by Granate, 2005


Disclaimer: Don't own, not making any money!

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Matsuda could hear the arguing from the hallway as he passed by the room that Light and Ryuuzaki shared.

"No way, Ryuuzaki!  You're totally wrong."

"Light-kun, this is the correct way to do it."

"Are you out of your mind?  Your way is inefficient.  I honestly don't know anyone who does it that way."

"Don't you think I've thought it through a hundred times?  This is the right way."

"I cannot accept that, I won't go along with it."

"This is how it's done, Light-kun."

"You're insane!"

"That may be, but I am 100% sure that my methods are correct in this case."

Matsuda sighed to himself.  They almost never argued about the investigation itself, but everything else was open season.  Hopefully what ever this one was about, it wouldn't come to blows.  

"Front."

"Back."

"FRONT, Ryuuzaki!"

"Back."

"Ch' what kind of place did you grow up in that you learned to do it this way?"

"Hey, you don't have to say it like that."

"Well, I'm changing it."

"You can't, I already did it."

"I can change it any time I want!"

"I'm sorry, Yagami-kun, but you'll have to get by me first."

There were scuffling noises and Matsuda considered that his cue to sneak away.

"Wait, let's get a third opinion."

"Good idea."

"Not Watari."

"Not your father."

"Mogi-san is out with Misa."

"MATSUDA!!" two voices called in unison.

Matsuda sighed again in resignation.  He turned around and went into the room and found the two young detectives in the adjacent bathroom.  Light's shirt collar looked like it had been stretched and yanked to one side, and Ryuuzaki's hair looked even messier than usual.  They were so busy glaring at each other, neither seemed to notice that Matsuda had appeared so quickly.

"Uh, yes?" he asked nervously.

The two moved apart, stretching the chain between them.  Past the chain he could see a very torn up roll of toilet paper.

"Matsuda," Light said, "does the loose end of the toilet paper hang over the front of the roll or to the back?"

Matsuda just looked at them both for a moment.  Was this a joke?  Both looked back with intensity burning in their eyes, waiting for his answer.  "Uh, over the front, of course," he answered tentatively and looked at Ryuuzaki.  "I thought everyone knew that..."

"YES!" Light crowed.  "I knew it!  I knew I was right!  See, Ryuuzaki?  Over the front, just like I said."

"It appears that you win this time, Yagami Light," Ryuuzaki admitted.

"I'm going to change it."

"I suppose I can't argue since Matsuda agreed with you."

The use of his name sounded a little sarcastic, but Matsuda decided to get away before he became any more involved.  The coast looked clear, so he slunk off in the direction of the hallway again.

"Hm, I think we ruined this roll."

"Yes, we need a new one."

"But we're all out in here."

"MATSUDA!"