Mello, originally named Mihael Keehl, emerges as one of two successors groomed to replace the detective L at Wammy's House orphanage for gifted children. After L's demise, he rejects collaboration with his counterpart Near, driven by clashing methodologies and deep-seated resentment over Near's consistent intellectual edge. This rivalry fuels Mello's solo pursuit of the Kira investigation. Abandoning Wammy's House, he orchestrates the abduction of Sayu Yagami—daughter of the Japanese Task Force's deputy director—to barter her for the Death Note held by authorities. This act underscores his readiness to deploy extreme tactics. During a standoff with the Task Force at a Mafia hideout, Mello triggers explosives to flee, sustaining severe facial injuries. A gas mask worn during the blast shields portions of his face, leaving a distinctive scar stretching from between his shoulder and waist up to between his nose and left eye. Mello embodies fierce determination and emotional impulsivity, a stark counterpoint to Near's measured calm. He habitually consumes chocolate bars, occasionally licking them before biting, and adopts L-like seated postures—such as bending one leg. His high-risk strategies aim to destabilize Kira and obstruct Near's progress, leveraging criminal networks and exploiting Shinigami Sidoh's intel on fabricated Death Note rules. In his final maneuver, Mello kidnaps Kira's spokesperson, Kiyomi Takada, to provoke Kira. Confronting Takada, he is killed when she uses a concealed Death Note paper scrap—acting on Kira's prior orders—after uncovering his real name. This intervention indirectly fractures Kira's plans, contributing to his downfall. The "Relight 2" OVA streamlines Mello's arc, excising his Mafia ties and blackmail of the U.S. president. It preserves his core attributes: the facial scar, rivalry with Near, and chocolate-eating ritual. While omitting his ally Matt and simplifying his investigative role, the OVA maintains his narrative impact on the conclusion, aligning with the original manga and anime.