Kudou Shinichi is, and has always been, a performer. Sure, he's not an entertainer (though his mother would claim him to be a musician, but that was neither here nor there) but he knows how to properly build up and put on a show. He's an actor- not like his mother, not at all, but an actor nonetheless, and he is good at it.
In all honesty, his parents have taught him a good many of things.
Music.
Mystery.
Acting.
Curiousity.
Forensics.
Diplomacy.
Fear.
Piloting.
Sharpshooting.
Bomb defusing.
Fearlessness.
Sleight-of-hand.
Disguise.
Determination.
Abstract thinking.
Independence.
All in all, he has learned a lot. No matter how often his parents take off to travel, he will be thankful to them. The skills he's acquired over the years have been immensely helpful time and time again, and he's glad to have them.
Arrogance is a trait he knows how to , he takes pride in his work, and he is confident in his deductions, but it's always been more for the victim than himself. He knows better than to show any form of weakness, of hesitance, of uncertainty, in front of anyone during a case- about a case. The more confident he seems, the more likely it is for people to actually acknowledge his words, despite his age.
It's the reason he doesn't care much for catching thieves. Shinichi likes truth, likes unearthing it, polishing it, revealing it to the world. It gives people closure, it clears the way for a second chance in a way they wouldn't have had otherwise. There is no real need for truth with thieves, not like there is with death. He does help solve the occasional theft, when he stumbles across it, but his forte has always been homicide.
This doesn't change when he helps try to catch the thief in the clocktower. He never did dwell much on that case- it's not like the thief meant any real harm, anyway, so he never did anything to find out the outcome.
He had been more focused on avoiding the moonlight, either way.
Becoming a child is hell. He knew he wouldn't die, but it hurt enough that he almost wanted to.
But he and Death had- have- a complicated relationship. For every time and any time in his past, present, and future that he comes close to death, that there's a possibility of him dying, when he's on the edge of oblivion, he will survive- and there will be a case for him to solve, a soul for him to save. One could call him a shinigami. He calls it a curse.
It doesn't stop him from doing his job though, no matter how much it weighs on his conscious. He will find truth.
Shinichi may be an actor, but he knows what happens when a person engrosses themselves too far in a role. Edogawa Conan appears, but he is careful- he never spends too much time playing the role of the child.
And in all honesty? It hurts.
But Shinichi is anything but a quitter. He will walk forward, no matter what obstacles he faces, no matter how much pain he is in, always forward, endlessly. If he has to do so as Conan?
So be it.
In all honesty, Shinichi never expected the glasses to be so useful.
He never wanted glasses, but the features Agasa-hakase put into them have been very useful, and the fact that they hide the Pandora red of his eyes at night is a huge plus. That they separate Edogawa Conan from Kudou Shinichi even further is also a huge benefit, however ridiculous it seems.
Paranoia has carved itself into his bones. If something, anything can help, he'll take it.
He has no interest in thieves- except, perhaps, this one.
It's the riddle that pulls him in, really. The mystery behind the little advance notice, that's what drags him in at first.
So he waits, ready with a firework and a match, and the thief's sense of timing reminds him of his mother- almost on cue with his name, which should be impossible. But Shinichi cannot judge, for he too, is a performer.
But then KID begins to treat him like a child, and Shinichi goes from intrigued to annoyed. And then, with a flash of inspiration and a sharp grin, that annoyance turns to excitement.
In the end, Shinichi can barely find it in himself to be irritated or angry. Instead, he finds himself to be almost eager for their next meeting.
Being a child has a few... entertaining benefits.
The look on Kaitou KID's face as Shinichi shatters the engine room phone with the sheer strength of his kick to a soccer ball is one of them. It's one of wide eyed shock and thinly veiled panic, and Shinichi wants to laugh- hell, he almost does, because children can do things like that- and appreciates being a child for the first time since he was shrunken.
Sometimes, he thinks, grinning dangerously up at the thief, being underestimated is much more fun.
The entertaining factor lasts until the very last moment, and with a quick "method actor" quip, KID takes off, leaving a steaming (from both embarrassment and rage,) Shinichi in his wake.
Shinichi never imagined running across a burning bridge while woozy and sick would ever be something he would accomplish, and all in the name of justice, at that.
Unexpected as it is, he cannot be held back by such minor things like smoke inhalation and a cold.
He gets up and quickly sets to work, leading, leading, and then-
Everything comes together in an instant, like a particularly gruesome puzzle, and he's off again, walking through deductions with practiced ease.
All of his deductions- including one involving a certain thief, though that one is a much quieter, subdued deduction.
He opens the door, anxious and adrenaline hyped, finding only a smug smirk and a suave quip, and then he's gone.
