hi everyone so ages ago i translated watari's diary from the movie tie-in material L File No. 15 (sourced from this post by @mikami) but i just realized i never posted it here?? of all places??? so here you go! i recommend reading this translation along with the screenshots from that post since there are pictures that i did not bother actually including.
(spoilers for the live action films!)
---
QUILLISH WAMMY'S DIARY
The following diary was included in the discovered files. It is thought to have been written by Quillish Wammy (who is said to have gone by "Watari" while acting as L's intermediary), but as with the previous files, it contains information of dubious veracity.
May 7, 1973
Recently, I find myself thinking idle thoughts.
The metal I invented, which is superconducting under 28.7°C, is now used in 87% of electrical cables worldwide. It has brought me great wealth. Too much to know what to do with, I feel. No matter how much money I accumulate, there is no way to buy a human life, so I can't imagine any interesting way I could spend it.
May 12, 1973
Today, I had a revelation.
My talents mainly skew towards the sciences, and there are many things I can do with them, but also many things I cannot. But what if I use my wealth and my enthusiasm to raise new talents?
Then there will certainly be one or two who can achieve things I cannot.
Extremely interesting. To what extent can humans cultivate their talents? This is what I should dedicate the rest of my life to finding out.
I will gather children with talent and intelligence from all over the world — the brain develops very quickly from ages 9 to 13, so children around that age range should work best — and educate them thoroughly.
Eventually, I believe, they will be able to change the world.
Perhaps I will call the institution Wammy's House.
[Notes on the children]
F: Strong sense of justice, and quick to action — which is why he can make mistakes.
R: Has recently shown interest in astronomy. Has fallen asleep while looking through a telescope before, and thus contracted a cold. Twice.
K: Talented in multiple fields. Has perfectly understood almost everything I teach. I have not yet determined which area she is most skilled in — very exciting.
*1 (T/N: shaky translation): Many researchers have reason to believe members of Wammy's House are referred to by single letters of the alphabet. However, there is no consensus as to what extent these nicknames were used. Some suggest only Quillish Wammy and the person themselves recognized the nickname.
February 23, 1987
Today, I have learned a lesson.
Sometimes an overly nurtured talent goes beyond the will of the person who nurtured it. [T/N: I genuinely can't tell if he's talking about the kid raising their talent or Watari raising the kid]
K has left Wammy's House of her own volition. This is the first time something like this has happened since I founded Wammy's House.
I feel a strong sense of loss.
---
[Notes on the children, 2]
D: Mainly talented in physics. Frequently smashes radio-controlled models, possibly to conduct their own experiments. The degree of destruction is being monitored.
P: Often found with their nose buried in a novel. I think I will try teaching them psychology once they are a little older. It would be nice if they showed some interest in profiling.
L: Invests in stocks. Clearly talented, but so far an unknown variable.
July 10, 1994
Currently, out of all the children, L holds most of my interest.
While he does show interest in existing fields of study, he is even more enthusiastic about using his own methods (adjacent to statistics) to make deductions. Right now, he is spending the most time on criminal investigations. He is working against actual human beings, which is why the cases are so complex and difficult to unravel… He seems immensely fascinated by this.
L, when in pursuit of an objective, is able to immediately determine the necessary information.
L. You are my hope.
August 13, 2005
L has selected FBI agent Naomi Misora for the Los Angeles B.B. Murder Cases. It seems he did so in recognition of her bravery and deductive abilities.
L dislikes unnecessary physical exertion, since he wants to keep his mind functioning as quickly as possible.
Thus, he has to rely on others to act as his agents on the scene. Naomi is reliable.
[A photo of Naomi, along with the text:]
Naomi Misora
FBI Investigator
Achieved investigator status unusually quickly
Specialty: Marksmanship
Intelligent and passionate
---
February 26, 2006
I was present at an ICPO conference today.
The focus was exclusively on the "Kira case."
Criminals all over the world are dying of simultaneous heart attacks.
Some members of the public might call this "judgment," but it is murder.
L is very intrigued by this new type of crime.
*2: The Kira case, as detailed in the other files, refers to the phenomenon where criminals globally die of simultaneous heart attacks. Rumors flew around the Internet claiming that "'Kira' is our savior and carries out justice," and the name was attached to the phenomenon even though this was not actually proven yet. Since the case affected the entire world and was growing in momentum rapidly, the ICPO's response was necessarily rushed.
March 2, 2006
It seems Naomi Misora and Raye Iwamatsu are now engaged.
They are planning to hold the ceremony in Japan.
Naomi says she is retiring from the FBI. That took me by surprise.
I am unsure how L feels about Naomi's decision, but he has chosen her for his plan to make contact with Kira. Raye will be the driver.
I'm sure Naomi will carry out the plan perfectly.
Yes, L's choice is correct. But making a bride approach a murderer… making her groom drive her there…
L. That calmness in you is what I hoped for, what I raised.
Still. Is hesitation not an option for you?
March 10, 2006
It's been raining since morning. It's coming down in sheets. I haven't seen such weather for a long time.
L believes there is a 97% probability Kira is in Japan, so we are headed there. Even so…
Why did L say something like that?
He never says things so sentimental, so unsettling…
Could it be that he can see something I can't even imagine lurking in the future of this case?
L, why did you say, "I might not be able to come back?"
You are only in charge of directing the investigation. There's no reason to think you will come face to face with danger.
The lesson I learned from K is once again swirling in my head.
Sometimes an overly nurtured talent will go somewhere I cannot follow…
L. Tell me you weren't thinking straight.
Please. Tell me it was just the rain.
---
April 1, 2006
The twelve FBI agents who L ordered to tail the families and associates of the Japanese police have all died simultaneously of heart attacks.
…Including Raye Iwamatsu…
It was a shock, considering the pattern up to now, that Kira would kill so many human beings who weren't criminals.
I think L wasn't able to predict it either.
I tried expressing my condolences to Naomi Misora over the phone, but I couldn't reach her. I am worried.
April 2, 2006
L met the Japanese investigators in person.
Starting from now, he will work together with them to advance the investigation.
L has never shown his real face to anyone before now. I can feel his anxiety about this case radiating off this decision. Or perhaps it's impatience?
L asked them to call him Ryuzaki.
[Notes on the Japanese investigators]
Soichiro Yagami: Chief of the task force assigned to the "Kira case." Overflowing with a particularly Japanese sense of justice. Trustworthy.
Ukita
Aizawa
Sanami: The only woman on the investigation team. A little too kind.
Mogi
Matsuda: A hot-headed young man. Slightly too presumptuous.
---
April 11, 2006
L is fixated on Light Yagami. He says that the probability of Light being Kira is only around 1% to 3%, but from his behavior, I can't help but think it must be higher.
But although I suppose Light is decently intelligent, he's nothing more than a regular college student.
To even consider the possibility of him being a mass murderer, there has to be some additional factor — an inconceivable one.
What is it?
Are we fighting against something entirely new?
[A photo of Light, along with the text:]
Light Yagami
Student majoring in law at To-Oh University.
A prodigy — he has already passed the bar exam.
Hates to lose; focuses on winning in everything.
His father is the chief of the task force, Soichiro Yagami.
[Memo so I don't forget my orders]
An emergency order from L. Written below so I don't make a single mistake.
Macarons (DALLOMIU) x 12 boxes
Marshmallows (MEIGI-YA) x 12 bags
Donuts (Donkin Donuts) x 12 bags
Black tea (F and N) x 12 cans
Potato chips (Golbee) (specifically BBQ flavor) x 2 bags
[T/N: The potato chips are the type Light eats in The Chip Scene — they're consomme in the original Japanese (both manga and diary) but BBQ in the Viz translation, which I'm going with.]
*3: The Donkin Donuts company shut down all its stores in Japan in 1998. Therefore, this memo conflicts with the range of time in which L and Quillish Wammy were thought to be in Japan. Whether this is a mistake on Wammy's part or an indication that the diary is of unreliable origin is still a topic of discussion.
April 15, 2006
I think the incomprehensibility of what happened today will stay with me for the rest of my life.
Naomi Misora shot herself.
It was after she told L, "I'll use my own life to prove that Light Yagami is Kira."
But Naomi wasn't able to prove anything.
She must have, in her own way, found something confirming her theory. Considering her actions up to now, she wouldn't have made such a declaration without some kind of proof.
But she took Light's girlfriend hostage at the museum. She killed her. And then she took her own life.
Why would she do such a thing?
It wasn't like her. No matter how I think about it, it wasn't like her.
She looked almost… confused, right before her death. Not like Naomi at all.
[Photo of Shiori, a movie-only character!]
Shiori Akino
Student majoring in law at To-Oh University.
Dating Light Yagami.
Possesses a strong sense of justice and articulates her ideals clearly.
Postscript: Was shot and killed by Naomi Misora at the Oumei Museum of Art.
*4: Naomi Misora's murder of Shiori Akino and subsequent suicide is the greatest mystery of this case. As Quillish Wammy wrote here, the question "Why did Naomi kill Shiori?" is still entirely unexplained; some have even proposed that it had no connection to the Kira case at all. Also, in regards to Shiori, it bears mentioning that some believe she was dating Light Yagami while others believe they were simply classmates.
---
April 18, 2006
The construction of the Kira Response Building is complete. We will be moving the investigation headquarters there.
[Memo with cutouts so I don't forget]
[T/N: As you can see in the Tumblr screenshots, this page of the diary is entirely filled with cutouts from advertisements showing different parts of L's outfit.]
[picture of jeans]: The feeling of a new working style, a dominating sense of existence — Loose silhouette, straight frame. Its special characteristic is the five pockets it boasts on the front. Two of the pockets are integrated into the seams on the sides for a working-style taste. There is an adjuster in the back so you can adjust the size slightly.
[T/N: I tried for ages to figure out if this meant 5 or 7 pockets total, and then I decided accurate translation of an advertisement for jeans in the tie-in material for a movie spinoff for a 2000s manga wasn't worth this effort.] [No offense, L.]
[picture of sneakers]: A strong impact! Each step brimming with confidence — These shoes are made with the ripstop fabric used in military wear. It won't tear, no matter how much you wear the shoes out. Additionally, the camo pattern is piece-dyed with black and deliberately scuffed, giving it a tasteful finished look.
[picture of white sweater]: It looks good in any season: a must buy item — Silhouette is loose enough to hide the lines of your body. The neckline is also loose, so wearing it is a delightfully relaxed experience. The white color has outstanding compatibility with denim.
[picture of Hyottoko mask] Hyottoko mask
[doodle of white bag]
[picture of a chessboard] CHESS: The definitive version of the battle of minds
---
April 29, 2006
An individual calling themselves "the Second Kira" has sent video tapes to TV stations. Their patterns are clearly different from those of the Kira who has acted up to now.
According to L's theory, while the previous Kira needed a face and a name for the murder, this Kira only needs to see someone's face to kill them.
Also, Light Yagami is now part of the task force.
Light can't forgive Kira for taking his girlfriend's life. He's burning with determination to solve the case.
He really is a smart teenager.
I wonder which L feels more for him: sympathy or competitiveness.
Even I can't tell.
*5: In this time period, there were several unexplainable events, documented by the news and TV broadcasts in Japan at the time. For example, several police officers died of sudden heart attacks near the doorstep of the TV station that was broadcasting a message from the person claiming to be "the Second Kira" (including a detective whose name appeared in the earlier "Notes on the Japanese investigators"). It is thought that L's theory that "this Kira only needs to see someone's face [...]," as documented by Quillish Wammy above, was based on this incident.
May 11, 2006
Misa Amane has been arrested under suspicion of being the Second Kira. She is in confinement.
The Japanese investigators seem somewhat opposed to this method.
L is feeling cornered. It makes me anxious.
[Photo of Misa Amane, smiling in a sleeveless skull-and-crossbones shirt]
Misa Amane
Idol
There was an advertisement on the bus for fashion magazines with her on their covers. She seems to be a rather well-known figure in Japan.
Postscript: I have acquired Misa's photo albums, CDs, and DVDs as evidence. I passed them to L. L has not informed me of any new data from this analysis, but he has been playing the CD.
---
June 2, 2006
L announced to the investigators that "as of now, I have concluded that Light Yagami and Misa Amane are not Kira."
Light will still stay in the Kira Response Building to help with the investigation.
L has accepted this. Could it be that L has recognized that someone else is on his level for the first time?
I am happy for him, but also have complicated feelings about this.
Is it possible that Light has become L's first-ever friend?
June 9, 2006
The Kira murders continue.
L has been chewing his nails more often lately.
L, you should already know this: you do not need to carry the burden of all the world's crimes on your shoulders.
June 26, 2006
Light Yagami's theory may be our breakthrough in the case.
His line of investigation has turned up a name: a Sakura TV newscaster, Kiyomi Takada.
[Photo of Kiyomi Takada, smiling placidly on a news channel, hands folded together]
Kiyomi Takada
Newscaster for Sakura TV
She became the current face of the news channel EVENING SPOT after her predecessor Saeko Nishiyama's sudden death in a car accident.
She quickly began hosting segments supporting Kira.
She lives alone in a condo within the city.
---
June 30, 2006
You could say my scientific skills have started to rust, but as an inventor who tries to always think things through logically, I am feeling bewildered.
There are "Shinigami," gods of death, who exist in this world.
The Shinigami each carry a notebook, which is called a "Death Note."
And the human whose name is written in the Death Note will die.
What on Earth? We've been up against Shinigami this whole time?
L was shocked. Unusual for him.
But when I saw that surprise on his face, I actually felt relieved.
At least Wammy's House — my creation — has not taken the capability for shock away from him.
Death Note: How to Use (Rules) — a partial excerpt
[T/N: Translations mostly copied from the Death Note wiki, with minor edits]
The human whose name is written in this note shall die.
If the cause of death is written within the next 40 seconds (in human-realm units) of writing the person's name, it will happen.
If the cause of death is not specified, the human will simply die of a heart attack.
After writing the cause of death, details of the death should be written in the next 6 minutes and 40 seconds.
If the time of death is written within 40 seconds after writing the cause of death — even if the cause of death is a heart attack — the time of death can be manipulated, and the death can go into effect even less than 40 seconds after writing the name.
The note will not take effect unless the writer has the person's face in their mind when writing his/her name. Therefore, people sharing the same name will not be affected.
The owner of the note can shorten their own life by using the note.
Even someone who does not own the note can use it by writing a name and thinking of a face, with the same effect as if they were the owner of the note.
After a name is written in the note, it cannot be changed.
The time of death written in the note must be within 23 days (in human-realm units).
July 3, 2006
Misa Amane has been released from the Kira Response Building.
July 4, 2006
The strange situation of a Shinigami coming in and out of the Kira Response Building has continued.
I can't help but feel restless seeing a huge, white silhouette wandering about.
This Shinigami is not cooperating with us, but isn't trying to hinder us either, it seems.
There have been multiple persistent calls for L to assist with the investigation into Princess Joan's overturned yacht.
But L seems uninterested in any other cases right now.
I have filed the investigation requests where he won't see them.
---
July 7, 2006
[This entry was translated here by @lunalit-river. I'll copy it over, but please show some love to the original post!]
L.
Was this the outcome of giving you the opportunity to learn? Was it arrogant of me to think that I had given you everything you needed? A genius without parents or relatives, without food or education, a genius who may have had a miserable past. Was I wrong?
L wrote his name in the Death Note.
Was this all for victory? Was this all for justice?
To fight something supernatural like the Death Note, it is true that we must arm ourselves with something that is also beyond human understanding.
It is highly possible that Light Yagami will write L's name in the Death Note. In theory, L must write his name in the Death Note first to prevent Light from doing so.
But don't human emotions have a tendency to refuse to accept the truth and instead hope to twist logic and theory?
L. Don't you ever place your emotions prior to your goals?
L. I never meant for things to end this way. Your talent has surpassed mine, and now you are consuming yourself. But I…
Today I learned F's death. Am I about to lose you, too? I have never felt so powerless as I do now.
L. I am confused. When I established Wammy's House, I might not have anticipated this.
I learned a lot from being with you, L, just as parents learn a lot from their children.
L. Just one sentence is enough. Please tell me you want to live.
L. L…
July 7, 2006
L Lawliet
Heart failure
Dies 23 days from now, peacefully, in his sleep
---
July 10, 2006
This is the end of the case, isn't it? Everything has been arranged.
I will bring Misa to headquarters, and as long as Soichiro Yagami and the other Japanese investigators do as L says, everything should go perfectly. Tonight, the Kira case will be solved.
I have learned from L, who moves towards his goal still, indifferent in the face of death.
I too will not waver.
L still has 20 days left. I'll spend them with him.
Not because of everything I gave him in his lifetime, but because of everything I deprived him of. I can devote all my time to him now.
L, what do you want to do?
You can play silly games, if you want. You can go make friends.
If you don't mind my old age, I would gladly be your friend.
Or your
Do you want to see sights you've never seen before? Do you want to feel breezes you've never felt?
[T/N: He switches to polite speech just for this paragraph. Back to regular now.]
Get up from that way you always sit; let's go outside.
Everything I took from you — the small, the inconsequential, the boring things — and the beautiful, dear ones too: let's go find them together.
It's okay if you don't have any conclusions to draw. I just want you to have fun. To love the world in front of you. To savor it.
L. That's right. Just like a father and son on holiday.
I've been writing in this diary for forty years. I think I will stop in twenty days. I can't imagine anything I would want to write about, anything I should write about, would happen after that.
Alright. I'd better go and bring Misa over.
This is where the diary ends.
The Kira case has been dormant ever since the last entry here.
If you want to support Ukrainians, DO NOT donate to Red Cross. Can't speak about their work in other countries, but they're useless in Ukraine. The only trustworthy international organisation I can think of is World Central Kitchen.
Donate to World Central Kitchen
And it's even better to donate directly to Ukrainian organisations. Here are a few good legit places:
hospitallers.life - "Hospitallers", Ukrainian paramedics on the frontlines
savelife.in.ua - "Come Back Alive", assistance to the army
prytulafoundation.org - "Prytula Foundation", assistance to the army, humanitarian causes
starenki.com.ua - "Starenki", helping elderly people
everybodycan.com.ua - "Everybody Can", helping disabled children, elders and hospitals
After the confirmation of L's death, Roger Ruvie alongside everyone else had reasonably assumed that Quillsh Wammy had also been killed at the hands of Kira.
Mello ends up running away from the orphanage after being told the news, determined to become L's sole successor.
One cold winter night, he is found by the very person who brought him into the orphanage nearly a decade ago.
Quillsh Wammy has returned to England, alive and physically intact. Among all the children he has gathered, he finds that he ought to be happy, and do his best to guide the duo that is to succeed L. It would not do to show even an inkling of what the death of his most prized protege has done to him.
Even if it wounded him deeper than any physical blade could and brutally tore open decades old scars.
Even if he is slowly falling apart.
Even if the only thing that can silence the ghosts following him is a bullet straight through his head.
Roger Ruvie has loved Quillsh Wammy for nearly half a century. That is undeniable. Whether or not undying love can save a man too stubborn to admit he needs it is another question.
Basically a Death Note Roger Ruvie/Quillsh Wammy fanfiction idea that I've been polishing for nearly a decade now.
Really, it wasn't because he didn't trust Roger that he wanted to keep everything concerning the last months to himself. It was a matter of his own pride and dignity. He had no doubt that Roger would still love him; but it would still change the way Roger saw him, perhaps make him seem less reliable, and more like a burden.
the reason why god made us encounter each other on [tumblr] is because your liking for watari vs my unrestrained hatred for him would set off such a volatile reaction that us merely occupying the same space irl would make the universe implode on itself
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