Warning! Spoilers ahead for chapter 2 of Show-Ha Shoten!
The hero Shijima Azemichi in School Judgement: Gakkyu Hotei, and the romantic drama Bakuma.
Obata continues to deviate further and further from Death Note by how Show-Ha Shoten!'s Shijima is nothing like Light. Most apparent is that Shijima isn't evil because writer Asakura doesn't give him the chance to be. As of chapter two (released simultaneously with the introductory installment by Shonen Jump), the manga doesn't present him with any moral or ethical dilemmas that force him to choose between right and wrong. Shijima's main choices involve whether or not to pursue comedy and to honor his father's expectations of him.
Shijima also doesn't have the drive to immediately seize his destiny when presented with an opportunity. The boy is obviously ionate about comedy and tries to put himself in positions that will help him get funnier and more outgoing. He even creates a secret identity to help him hone his craft within his comfort zone. Yet, when a highly talented student and former actor named Taiyo Higashikata actively strives to make Shijima his comedic partner, Taiyo must resort to trickery and fully leverage the full extent of his overly flamboyant and aggressive personality to overpower the bashful Shijima. Meanwhile, Light immediately takes to the Death Note upon learning of its power, a hunger that even surprises the book's owner, the Shinigami Ryuk.
Shijima's inability to act is linked to another aspect of his character that further separates him from Light. Shijima is a highly relatable character who suffers from what many people struggle with in real life. He's meek and suffers from stage fright. Shijima embodies every trait that isn't conducive to being a successful comedian. In fact, the only way he can perform is by calling into a comedic television show. The irony is that he's incredibly talented and the show's greatest contender. He is ionate about something that he can't engage in the same way as most people would because he doesn't possess the right skillsets and has already formed an opinion about his abilities. It's so bad that when he does get a chance to chase his dreams, fear holds him back. Meanwhile, Light Yagami embodies the lust many have to enforce their will on the world.
Shijima's actual goal is something that Light would never have, as he actively sabotages any chance of it happening. Shijima is driven to become funny to finally fulfill a request he initially failed to grant from his childhood friend Mizuha Tohoku, a girl he obviously has feelings for. As for Light, he uses love both as a weapon and as a tool to further his influence, going so far as manipulating a girl named Misa Amane who is obviously enraptured with him. Rather than showing any interest or kindness, he continually disrespects her and eventually capitalizes on her feelings to help ensure his survival even though it means her doom. It's obvious that as more chapters of Show-Ha Shoten! are released, Takeshi Obata will continue to bring Shijima Azemichi farther away from Death Note's Light Yagami.
