Aoko glowered threateningly at him. For such a small girl, she was awfully scary, especially with the way she was clutching that mop in her hands, Shinichi observed with a touch of nervousness.
Not as scary as Ran, of course, but pretty damn close.
"So," Aoko began, narrowing her eyes at him. Shinichi barely blinked at the look, mostly unaffected. "You're Kaito's boyfriend."
Not a question.
Still, Shinichi nodded affirmatively. "Yes. Where are you going with this, Nakamori-san?" He questioned, and Aoko grumbled.
"That baka, Kaito, is my best friend," She began, frankly. "I've known him for almost all of my life. I've watched him do stupid stunts and amazing magic tricks. I was there whenever he was sulking about not getting a new trick down pat the first time around, and encouraged him – oh, yeah, he would have kept trying anyway, even without any encouragement. He's stubborn like that," Aoko confided to him. "But he always brightens up when he knows that someone believes in him, and it makes him work twice as hard. I was there for him when Toichi-ojisan died, and I was the only one he cried in front of, because he was trying so hard to be strong for Chikage-obasan,"
Aoko sighed, frowning. "And I was there when Kaito started to get...distant. He was friendly, and still his Bakaito self. He was sadder, though – I could see it in his eyes. I knew that something...must have happened, but he refused to tell me, so I backed off, but I was there. I'll always stand by his side..."
She smiled wryly.
"Even if he is Kaitou Kid," Aoko said, and was amused with Shinichi's startled look. "Yes. I know about that. I'm not stupid, Kudo-kun. Don't tell Kaito, though. I want him to tell me himself – when he's ready."
Aoko tapped the end of the mop against the floor, frowning.
"The point is, I love that idiot. He's my annoying little brother, and I would do anything for him. You already have my approval, since you make Kaito so happy, but...I will beat anyone to death with my mop if they make him cry, or break his heart." She leered ominously at him, and Shinichi twitched. "Don't break his heart, Kudo-kun. Or I'll break you."
Shinichi considered this new threat to his person, and then he smiled at her. There was respect in his gaze, and it made her pause.
He chuckled, and held out a hand to her. "I accept your terms, Nakamori-san. You don't need to worry, though – to break his heart, I would also have to break mine."
Aoko stared at his hand, and then smiled.
"Good, because I actually like you, Kudo-kun. You keep Kaito on his toes."
They shook hands.