"That's terrible! Why would anyone want to frame Kaito!?" Cried Ran.
The person mentioned replied, "Maybe they were jealous of my amazing magic skills."
"Or perhaps they were fed up with your overconfident, egotistical, and loud personality." Shinichi commented offhandedly, turning the page of his book. He looked up when he felt the magician's glare. "Of course, there is also the possibility that he was just the most convenient option."
Kaito looked at him aghast as he returned to reading. "Are you implying that I am merely a murderer's convenience?"
"He has a point. If it really was a professional like Shinichi said, and if it was a short-notice job, then convenience would be their goal." Hakuba stated simply.
Heiji sat up from lying on the floor. "It must have been really short-notice and urgent for them to make that kind of mistake."
"Perhaps they didn't expect anyone worth their job to be there, but that of course would be a stupid mistake in underestimating potential enemies." Shiho yawned.
"But it was cruel for them to make Kaito think that he killed someone!" Aoko complained.
"Obviously they didn't care. They could have scarred our friend for life." Kazuha remarked.
Kaito gave his group of friends his big trademark grin. "Not with Shin-Chan around, he was so preoccupied with proving that I didn't do it that he completely forgot bout discovering the culprit. Then he handed me his phone and told me to tell my mom that I was staying at his place."
Heiji gave a similar mischievous grin. "Planning something Shin-Chan?"
Shinichi glared at his friends from behind The Hound of the Baskervilles. "Not really, but I'm currently going through every way that I know how to murder you without getting caught. That is, if you don't stop claiming that I have uncouth reasons for bringing Kaito over and calling me by that ridiculous nickname."
"We're just teasing you, out of the group you and Kaito have known each other the longest. Then Aoko and I transferred from different schools in second grade, which is when Kazuha and Heiji met. In third grade those two moved here and we met Hakuba when he moved from France early on and Shiho, who came from America, in sixth. You two are also the only ones who aren't in a relationship." Ran pointed out.
"That's true. Heiji and Kazuha are together, Ran is with that guy Mitsuhara, Aoko's dating Takate Kotoban, and I'm with Shiho." Hakuba mused.
"And, you know, from what I've seen and heard from the others in our class you could have any one you wanted." Kazuha declared.
"But neither of you have gone for anyone. You don't even bat an eye when they start flirting with you, you just treat them with the same courtesy you give your fans and anyone who isn't specifically friend or someone who works with you." Heiji flopped back down on the soft carpet. "It's like you already have someone you like, but aren't with them in those terms. It would have to be someone you are close with and it makes the most sense with you and Kaito."
Shinichi sighed and closed his book. "Just because we have not shown interest in romantic relationships does not mean we are madly in love with one another." His words seemed to ring as though warning that the end of the discussion was to be reached immediately or there would be a great deal of suffering on the part of those who decided to continue it on that day in his presence.
"Well," Kaito broke the awkward silence. "Have you figured anything out? Did Sherlock magically help you come up with some information you needed or something?"
Shinichi shook his head. "No, But I'll still try to investigate. No one frames a friend of mine and gets off easily. The question is, who did it?"
