Kid has many secrets, one of which is a secret Kudo Shinichi knew he should have known from the get go.

There were two of them. And he isn't dumb, of course he knows Kid didn't clone himself. But with the elevators not functioning, and Kid's appearance in the safe room, as confirmed by both Nakamori-keibu and the commotion on his earpiece, there can only be one answer: Kaito Kid has at least one accomplice.

And that's just a royal pain in the ass. He can barely manage to catch one Kid, an accomplice is a complication he isn't in the mood to face after running flights after flights of stairs to get to the rooftop, barely avoiding the numerous canisters scattered around for fear that Kid will know his aim.

Escape Kid (which he named so to differentiate the two Kids, the other being Thief Kid), dons the exact same gaudy getup. He's sitting on the ledge, back facing the door, head tilted up at the sky.

Almost as if he's bored. Shinichi feels just a bit affronted at that. After all, he did open the rooftop door and call out to Escape Kid. Unless Escape Kid is deaf? In which case—

"You're late," Escape Kid says in a velvety voice. A feminine lilt?

The detective was about to answer, but Thief Kid lifts himself over the ledge beside Escape Kid. Clearly, Escape Kid was not talking to Shinichi. Now standing straight on the ledge and fully facing the detective, Thief Kid takes the time to reply, "No, this is perfect."

Thief Kid smirks. Escape Kid stands up as well and sighs, "You and your theatrics," then proceeds to step over the ledge to free fall. Shinichi would have been bothered not seeing a wire or anything at all to support Escape Kid's stunt, but he's far too used to Kid's antics by now. The masses are not, though. Kid's fans take it in and cheer, and the media goes wild for a Kaito Kid appearance.

Thief Kid breaks the brief silence as he eyes the jewel he just stole in the moonlight, "I see you've met me."

"An accomplice, really? You should have known better than to drag others down with your crimes, Kid."

Kid teases, "Don't be mad, detective, I'm just really shy. I'm pretty sure I didn't mean to offend you. Maybe."

None too pleased, Shinichi plainly taunts, "The police are coming up here, you have no escape."

"You underestimate me, detective," he smirks and turns his back as he looks down from the ledge. Thief Kid continues, "I don't think you'd understand, but there are impossibilities that cease to be when you aren't alone."

Quirking an eyebrow at his confidence, Shinichi replies, "I'm not alone. The entire police force will catch you tonight. Justice is with me."

"And I have my partner. That's more than enough for me. Don't you find it funny, detective? The police force you keep saying will catch me is nowhere to be found." He winks, "that's cause I am a genius."

"What do you m—"

"This," Kid effectively cuts him off by placing a very familiar canister on the ground. "Don't worry, it shouldn't cause anything but drowsiness. I made sure of that."

Almost like falling to a trance, Shinichi abruptly feels the lethargy he must have staved off while running on adrenaline. Thief Kid's monocle glints in the moonlight, and the detective swears the smile he has on his face is different—proud, with a hint of fondness, and still very much annoying.

"See you soon, detective. Pray you don't get to meet me again," Shinichi drops to his knees and struggles to fight away sleep, of all things, and he can't concentrate. He can still hear the victorious note on Kid's voice though.

"I cost incredibly expensive to bring along after all..." Shinichi swears he heard the thief mumble as he prepares his hang glider.

The last thing he hears is a big sigh before everything cuts to black.