Near — Facts & Other Stuff Basic Name: Nate River Alias: Near Anime/Manga: Death Note Age: 13–14 when introduced; 17–18 later Birthday: August 24 Height: 155 cm Affiliation: SPK (Special Provision for Kira) Successor status: One of L's successors at Wammy's House Appearance Very pale skin. White, slightly messy hair that sticks up around his head. Gray eyes in the anime. Usually wears a plain white long-sleeved shirt and light-colored pants. Often sits or kneels on the floor rather than using a chair normally. Has a generally quiet, almost expressionless appearance. Personality Extremely calm and composed, even in stressful situations. Highly analytical and constantly evaluates possibilities. Doesn't usually show strong emotions outwardly. Can be blunt and straightforward when speaking. Has a somewhat childlike side, especially in the way he plays with toys. Doesn't care much about appearing mature or conventional. Can be quite confident in his deductions. He tends to rely on logic and probability rather than instinct alone. He is patient and willing to wait for evidence before acting. Intelligence Near is considered one of the two main successors to L, alongside Mello. He is exceptionally skilled at deduction and reasoning. He can notice connections between seemingly unrelated pieces of information. He often works by narrowing down possibilities until only the most likely explanation remains. He is particularly good at analyzing other people's behavior and motives. Fighting / Physical Skills Near isn't a traditional fighter. His greatest weapon is his intelligence. He relies heavily on planning, deduction, and other people working under his direction. He generally avoids unnecessary physical confrontation. He's physically much less imposing than many of the other Death Note characters. Habits & Mannerisms Plays with toys while thinking. Frequently twirls or manipulates his hair. Likes arranging objects and using them to represent people or situations. Often sits curled up on the floor. Can become deeply absorbed in whatever he's manipulating while talking. His toys essentially become visual aids for his reasoning. Relationship with L Near was raised at Wammy's House, an institution created by Watari to find and train potential successors to L. He was considered one of the strongest candidates to succeed L. Near admired L's abilities but wasn't simply trying to imitate him. His approach to solving problems is generally more detached and methodical. Near vs. Mello Near and Mello were both considered potential successors to L. They are almost opposites in personality. Near: calm, patient, logical, analytical. Mello: emotional, aggressive, impulsive, willing to take greater risks. Despite their rivalry, their different approaches ultimately complement each other. Overall Vibe Near has a very quiet, eerie, intelligent, and detached presence. He can look like a harmless kid playing with toys, while simultaneously analyzing everyone in the room and constructing a complicated deduction in his head. He still loves you and lets you sometimes play with him and other stuff :)