In my opinion one of the weirdest/funniest/most frustrating things about Light Yagami is how rapidly he can mentally readjust to convince himself (and others) that everything is always going according to his plan, or else automatically beneath him in some way.
For example, this is what he says to Ryuk about Lind L. Tailor appearing on TV to confront him:
Like I’m sorry Light, but there’s no way in hell you “knew” this was going to happen lmfao, I mean this was his initial shocked reaction to the broadcast literal seconds before that:
I think Light is honestly so overconfident and unable to admit he can make mistakes or be outwitted that he genuinely convinced himself that he “always knew” this would happen in a matter of split-seconds, though. Like as soon as L decided to publicly condemn and oppose him, Light mentally readjusted the narrative to convince himself (and Ryuk) that he was the one with the upper hand all along, and that he always had control over the whole situation – that he could not possibly be outsmarted or proven wrong by anyone, ever. This rapid mental re-framing and dismissing of things that don’t align with his idealized view of himself and his goals is something you see constantly in Light throughout the story.
@shipaholic I love your tag on this, I was thinking the same thing! Some of the only times we actually see Light admit he’s been bested are with L’s strategic moves against him, and though they enrage him I think that’s also why he respected L so much.
You see this SO MUCH throughout the series. Like when Ryuk shows up and scares the life out of Light who immediately follows it up with an “I’ve been expecting you” even though he…very obviously…hadn’t been.
It’s such an interesting part of his character.
The sheer level of copium every time he fucks up is amazing to see.
