In the world where Kudo Shinichi lived, all humans were born with a timer on their left wrist that countdown to the moment when they would meet their soulmate.

Everyone thought it was a generous gift from God, some kind of convenient device so people could experience lasting marriages and happily ever afters. But to Shinichi, the only few outcomes he found coming from the cursed timer were murders, pain and foolish despair.

"S-So that's why I killed her," the murderer sniffed, casting a wry glance at the dead woman on the ground. "If she doesn't want me to be her soulmate, then nobody else can."

The sound of snapping cameras and flashes behind the police tapes intensified as the cuffed murderer was taken to the car. Shinichi could already imagine all the sensational headlines appearing tomorrow, sparking debates and splitting the world into two about how humans should or should not commit their life to the timer. But in a week or two later, he knew everyone would be back to fantasising and obsessing about the moment they would meet their destined half. It was a cycle he'd seen before.

If there was another way for Shinichi to interpret the stupid timer, it would be counting down to the end of one's freedom—ignoring other fateful encounters and hyper-fixing on the idea of that specific soulmate, as if no one else could provide the same happiness… It wasn't even true; Ran's parents were the proof of that.

Clicking his tongue, Shinichi ran a hand through his hair. No matter the facts, he still had to make sure these words were kept in his head till he died, or either way it would be Ran sending him personally to his grave.

A pat on his shoulder. It was Inspector Megure, after having sent the murderer away.

"Thanks for the hard work, Shinichi-kun," Inspector Megure said, "and sorry that we have to postpone the helicopter ride again," he ended off sheepishly, perhaps thinking it was the cause of Shinichi's dampened mood.

"No worries," Shinichi said, managing to bite his tongue in time before he commented further. One innocent person had died and it seemed less than appropriate to admit he didn't mind missing it to solve murder cases, especially when the victim's parents were crying on the park bench not far away from them.

"Next time definitely," Inspector Megure promised, before leaving to direct a couple of officers to clear the police tapes around the park and trees.

Returning to his thoughts, Shinichi flicked his gaze to his timer. He did a quick math and realized, to his mild surprise, that he'd be meeting his soulmate in a week's time. He suddenly regretted checking it.

"At the rate you're going around being a detective maniac, maybe your soulmate might actually be a criminal!"

That was one of the many teases Ran told him as she started reminding him of his impending fate, even when he had clearly stated to her before that he couldn't be bothered (why would he be when the person he regarded as his soulmate was already right in front of his eyes?). Shinichi glanced at the police car and sighed. Given the statistics of his daily interactions, maybe Ran wasn't wrong to make that guess.

Well, as for his childhood friend, her timer was still counting down and she would meet her soulmate a little later after Shinichi; she was clearly excited for that day, and it didn't make Shinichi feel any better when she had channelled some of her excitement in wondering how he would meet his soulmate too...

Forget it, Shinichi pocketed his hands and exited out of the park; flashes of red and blue lights from the police cars splashed across his broad back until he disappeared into the darkness.

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The scowl on Aoko's face disappeared as she looked up from Kaito's phone, which she'd snatched from him when he was in the middle of reading the news. "Really?" She looked at him incredulously. "You're just going to stay at home?"

Snatching his phone back, Kaito caught a last glimpse of the article before locking his phone. He had read enough of the same news anyway, about how bold and crazy Kaitou KID was as he planned to steal the Clock Tower tonight.

Bold was right, but he definitely wasn't crazy about that.

"Of course." Kaito rocked back against his chair as he looked up at Aoko with a grin. "I'm gonna sleep in early tonight."

Aoko huffed over his desk and parted her lips, but no words came, having nothing else to say after her question was answered. Kaito tried not to feel bad for the lie; it was for the greater good anyway. Rather than sleeping at the time, he would be standing on the Clock Tower's hand, writing the code and saving the—

"I hope you sleep real tight, Kuroba-kun," Akako whispered into Kaito's ear.

Kaito flinched in his seat. He rubbed the entire half of his face and ear and narrowed his eyes at the redhead in annoyance, half wondering if her voice came or her body materialised first.

"Don't do that again," he muttered.

Akako's smirk grew bigger.

Oblivious to Akako's creepy entrance, Aoko shook her head, her face still etched with doubt and worry. "But if Kaito stays at home..." Her blue eyes flicked to his phone and at Kaito's left wrist, "How is he going to meet his soulmate?!"

What? Kaito blinked. So that's what she's worried about? He thought Aoko had asked about his night plans because she wanted to know if he was going to see the last of the Clock Tower or something. But now that she said it… Kaito silently rubbed his wrist.

He had almost forgotten, even when Jii reminded him a few days ago.

"Are you sure you want to hold the heist near the hour when your timer ends?" Jii had asked worriedly behind the bar counter.

"That's the only time and opportunity I have before the demolition contract is signed." Kaito waved a hand. "Besides it's gonna be a quick one so there shouldn't be a problem."

"It doesn't matter if he's at home," Akako purred. "As long as fate has its plan his soulmate will come, even if the person has to pop right next to him in bed."

Aoko giggled at the imagery. "That's a little freaky."

"It's an understatement, Ahouko. It's freaky as hell." Kaito scorned between the two. He decided to ignore Akako. "Anyway what about you?" Kaito asked Aoko back, "What are you doing tonight?"

"Keiko and I are going to the Clock Tower." Aoko glanced over her shoulder, catching her friend's eyes as they waved at each other. "She said she doesn't mind accompanying me to show some hate for the stupid thief."

Kaito hummed, his poker face in place even with the twist in his gut. Though the annoying pain had grown lesser as the months went by, it was always there to remind him about the guilt he had yet to fix.

Aoko's head remained turned as Keiko seemed to be signalling her over to the group. She nodded before turning back to Kaito and Akako. "Anyway I'll talk to you guys later!" Her finger wagged over Kaito's face. "And remember to text me if you meet your soulmate!"

"Are you my mother?"

"I'm your childhood friend so that's enough of a reason." Aoko stuck out her tongue, before skipping away to join the conversation with Keiko and her other friends.

The silence lasted for two seconds before Akako decided to ruin it. "I am serious, you know." Akako stared down at Kaito. There was a glint in her eyes that might make all the men in the room swoon, but all Kaito felt was discomfort.

He unlocked his phone again, the article popping up on the screen. "Serious about what?" he asked, half-committed to the question.

"You shouldn't go to the heist."

"I already said I'm not."

"I'm talking to Kaitou KID." Akako leaned forward and tapped her nail on his phone's screen. "Additionally,"—she then brushed a finger across Kaito's wrist, to which he moved his hand away as though it was burnt—"your countdown coincides with the exact time when Lucifer said you'll meet your fall; it's dangerous for you to go. You should cancel your heist."

"Um…" Kaito was leaning so far back away from Akako that he was nearly falling off his seat. Ironically, was this what Lucifer meant about the so-called fall, too? "But I'm not Kaitou KID."

Akako's gaze turned even colder than possible. "If you die, Kuroba-kun, I hope your last thoughts are filled with me as you regret not heeding my words."

"Sure." Kaito gave a dry laugh and stared at his phone again, hoping it was the end of the conversation so Akako could leave. But sadly Kaito's life was not as simple as that; Akako remained standing by his seat with crossed arms, though at least she wasn't eyeing him like a hawk anymore. From his side-long glance he could tell she was staring at Aoko.

"A pity, isn't it? That she's not your soulmate." Akako sighed. "I figured if there is one worthy rival of your attention, it would be her."

Kaito fought back all the urge to not show the slightest bit of reaction. He continued scrolling through the article even though he was already sick of reading it.

"I wonder who's your soulmate instead," Akako continued.

"Pretty sure it's anyone better than you."

Akako laughed, which came as a surprise to Kaito. He was expecting more of a glare and a divine curse or something. "We shall see." She smiled, and it looked seemingly real, too.

Kaito frowned.

With that, Akako brushed her smooth hair off her shoulder and finally ambled away and out of the classroom. Suppressing a shiver until Akako was out of sight, Kaito stared at his phone again, the picture of the Clock Tower staring back at him. And only after a while did he give in to his temptation, to peek at his left wrist that was exposed out of his uniform sleeve.

It was strange how looking at the ticking numbers made him so much aware of the existence of time; 11 more hours to go before he would meet his soulmate. Honestly he'd rather it be the countdown when he would find Pandora and destroy it once and for all, though that wasn't possible for this heist. The diamonds on the Clock Tower face were fake, and the real reason why he bothered with stealing it was because...

He cast a glance towards Aoko. She had her two hands fisted and punching enthusiastically in the air at that time, her mouth moving to form words that seemed close to her usual hate speech to KID.

This wasn't the first when Kaito used Kaitou KID to handle his personal problems and he foresaw it wouldn't be the last. He knew he shouldn't do it, shouldn't intertwine the two lives he wanted to keep separate, but it was just so convenient for KID to do all the work when a civilian like Kuroba Kaito couldn't. He only wondered if the convenience was worth the risks, and the devils and angels in his head weren't the only ones arguing about it as Jii's indirect warnings surfaced in his memories too.

What if he actually encountered his soulmate while being Kaitou KID?

And what about the danger Akako mentioned? Well, that is if he should believe the witch's words in the first place.

Whatever. What was the point of worrying when nothing had happened yet? Don't run before they chase you, his dad used to advise.

So… might as well take a nap now, huh?

Pocketing his phone, Kaito stretched and laid his head atop of his crossed arms on his desk, letting Aoko's voice in the background drown away until it was gone.

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Shinichi was fully aware of his reputation—a Shinigami bringing death and murders wherever he went, which was a pretty unfair statement to make, in his opinion. First of all not all crimes he encountered involved murder. And second, be it murder or not, not all of the victims died.

Like this.

It wasn't a murder this time.

Just an innocent, no-death heist.

Interestingly Shinichi couldn't recall the last time he'd been to a heist, or if he'd been to a heist at all. And to witness it during a helicopter ride? It would be an experience he could share if his parents called; something her mom might appreciate hearing than deaths every day. That was why when Inspector Megure asked the two pilots to change the route to avoid getting involved, Shinichi stopped him. He wanted to go.

And so here he was, being very involved as he instructed the officers and guards through the walkie-talkie he had borrowed from Inspector Megure: Request for license number, seal off all exits, follow the thief into the vents...

Even when Shinichi was sitting in his seat and doing the orders, there was something about the thief's stealth and wits that pumped his heart with excitement he hadn't found in a long time; Shinichi could take his time picking up the traces after the murderers finished the race, but this was one that he had to run along with the thief in order to play.

And finally, after all the twists and deceits, the challenger of the night was right behind the white screen, which he'd smartly hung over the clock's face to trick all his audiences below. Even Shinichi for a short moment was fooled. But this was the end.

"Let me borrow this for a second," Shinichi said, pulling the gun out of Inspector Megure's brown coat.

"Shinichi-kun?!"

Ignoring the Inspector, Shinichi steadied his aim and shot, hitting one of the four strings that held the screen in place. The bottom half of the screen began flapping against the wind coming from the helicopter. Shinichi found himself smiling unknowingly, being responsible for ruining the magic as the crowd below faintly cheered after realizing what was happening. With three more shots he would tear this screen down and literally meet the man responsible for all of this behind the curtain.

Shinichi aimed again, whilst ignoring Inspector Megure's concerns behind him. But there was nothing to worry; he had this moment perfectly trained in Hawaii.

He fired again.

Consequently, another two faint shots came, and before Shinichi knew it, the thief had jumped and fallen off the clock with the screen, both landing in the middle of the wild and frantic crowd.

Damn it! Shinichi clicked his tongue. It was a lost case to try finding the thief amongst the hundreds of people...

Popping back inside the helicopter, Shinichi slumped onto his seat, the adrenaline still rushing up and through his head. He glanced at the gun in his hand.

Did he also just assist the thief in escaping?

A static came from the walkie-talkie and a loud voice boomed in the helicopter. "Megure! Is it you who fired those shots?!"

Inspector Megure winced on the seat beside Shinichi. "Well..."

Rounds of complaints later, the pissed Inspector finally climbed back into the tower, saying he would send them the picture of the code the thief had left on the clock face. As Inspector Megure booted up the computer to check the email, Shinichi returned his gun to him.

"Thanks Inspector Megure," Shinichi said.

He shook his head. "Never do that again, Shinichi-kun."

Shinichi laughed, but when he saw how strained and serious Inspector Megure's face suddenly was, he felt obliged to promise, even though he knew he'd break it in the end—

"Shinichi-kun," Inspector Megure gasped.

This seemed more serious than he thought. "Yes?"

"Your timer." The Inspector swallowed and pointed a finger to Shinichi's left wrist. "It's zero."

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This was insane. Like really insane.

Whoever the joker that shot from the helicopter was... Kaito cringed as he rubbed his shoulder, swerving his way through and out of the crowd that had gathered around the flattened screen, all of them poking underneath hopefully to see if Kaitou KID was around.

It didn't matter who that joker was for now; KID was already done and long gone and Kuroba Kaito had one last mission to do. And if he missed this chance...

Thankfully most of his fans, saved for the diehard ones that were around the screen, had dispersed, knowing the show was long over. Even so, there were still a lot of faces that Kaito had to scan through to find that one person in mind. Changing tactics, his eyes darted across the boards and banners in the air, and he spotted it—a simple white sign with a red cross over his signature Kaitou KID logo.

Kaito ran, ignoring the pain in his legs as he found Aoko alone and looking at the Clock Tower with a sad, sad smile on her face. He grinned instead, knowing with three steps more and a flick of his wrist, he would change her expression to the like of his.

"I'm Kuroba Kaito, nice to meet you," Kaito chimed.

Aoko lifted her chin and gasped, and with her own brand of magic, the chatters and shuffling from everyone around them faded into the background.

"Kaito?! Why are you..." Aoko's voice trailed off as she took the rose and twirled it in her hand almost shyly. "You remembered."

(It was then Kaito knew he was glad he wasn't Aoko's soulmate; she was better off with someone else than him—someone who wouldn't lie to her, someone who would stay by her side forever, and someone who wasn't… Kaitou KID. But even if Kaito couldn't make her happy as her soulmate, it didn't mean he couldn't make her happy as her childhood friend.)

"Of course I do, Ahouko."

Aoko's smile stayed, but in an instant after she lowered her gaze, her eyes widened almost in akin to what he imagined her to look like if she knew about the truth of his—

"Kaito!" Aoko exclaimed and grabbed his elbow.

Ow. Kaito managed to hide his shoulder aches and showed only puzzlement at Aoko's change. "What?"

"Your timer!" Aoko shook his limp arm like a doll.

Kaito blinked.

There, on the wrist of his left hand was a big, red zero.

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.

.

"You seriously don't know who your soulmate is?!"

Shinichi sighed, keeping his gaze focused on the sports hall in front of their arena seats. It had been two weeks since Shinichi discovered the end of his timer, similarly it being the last time he had his peace; he had tried to keep his wrist hidden under his school uniform to avoid having to talk about it, but it was still inevitable in the end. Ran knew, his parents knew, almost everyone at the Metropolitan Police knew, and even Sonoko knew too now.

"Yes, I don't know who my soulmate is." Shinichi checked his watch. Fifteen more minutes before the tournament starts…

Sonoko shook her head in disapproval. "Can't you use your detective sense and figure it out? I'm sure you'd guess it in less than ten minutes."

Shinichi shrugged. "Maybe this is part of fate's intention." Ironically he didn't think or believe in that, but if it could stop people from talking about his timer, he might consider using this excuse forever.

"Ran's right; you really don't care. What a wasted opportunity." Sonoko looked depressed, as if she was the one who had missed the chance-meeting with her soulmate. It was also a little weird at the same time to see her concerned over his life when the only subject and interest they had in common was Ran.

When Shinichi thought the conversation was over, Sonoko continued, "I was hoping you'll find your soulmate so you can move on from Ran too."

Shinichi blinked. He turned his neck robotically towards Sonoko. "What?"

Sonoko rolled her eyes. "You use your observation skills to solve crimes while I use mine to deduce love-sick people; we tap on our similar strengths in different areas."

Ignoring Sonoko, Shinichi checked his watch again. Twelve more minutes? Why was time passing so damn slow?

Sonoko scoffed. "Are you seeing the time when Ran is going to meet her soulmate?"

Shinichi flinched, but he quickly cleared his throat and crossed his arms, his gaze fixated on the sports hall again. He had almost forgotten about the existence of Ran's timer and her recent amplified excitement for the past few days (because why the hell would he want to think about that?).

Aside from her Karate tournament, today was also the day Ran would meet her soulmate.

"I'm not," Shinichi half-admitted. It was true at the start, but now that Sonoko reminded him, his eyes began scanning across the hall; the judges were in their place and some volunteers and referees were giving the floor mat a last check… Anyone at this given point of time could be Ran's soulmate, and he squinted his eyes, trying to catch a glimpse of their wrist, but with this distance it was a pointless effort.

Sonoko sighed and patted softly on Shinichi's shoulder. "For your sake and Ran's, I suggest that you should work on finding your soulmate."

"I don't want or need to."

"But what if your soulmate wants to find you?"

As possible as it seemed, Shinichi surprisingly never thought of that. He shrugged, also removing Sonoko's hand off his shoulder. "Then it's over."

"Heartless." Sonoko glared. "You're heartless."

"I heard you the first time."

"Thought you need to hear it twice so it gets through your head."

The sudden cheers and claps around the stadium saved Shinichi from having to reply. They then fell into mutual silence, waiting patiently/eagerly in their own style before the announcer called out Ran's name, and they immediately fell in sync as they clapped their hands until they were red and sore. As much as how Shinichi couldn't stand Sonoko sometimes, her genuine enthusiasm for Ran was enough to replace those feelings. Hopefully in the long run.

As Ran skipped out from the entrance and towards her assigned mat, she glanced around the crowd and spotted them and her other Karate club members in their seats. She lifted her left arm to wave, and for a brief moment Shinichi saw her timer as clear as day.

Five more seconds.

And then Ran stopped, her focus now on the referee assigned to her mat. The male referee, too, was looking at her with a gaze that spelt more than just a simple stare.

On the cue, they lifted their left wrist and showed it to each other, and the smiles that split across their faces were more paralleled than anything Shinichi had seen.

True to what Sonoko said, her self-proclaimed observation skills did do some of its job. She squealed and pulled onto Shinichi's arm. "Ohmygod! Do you think— Could it be?!"

Shinichi pursed his lips.

"Yeah," he said.

If Shinichi believed in the Alternate Universe, he would imagine a world where humans could live without a timer dictating them to; they would be free to love whoever they want and either learn a lesson or earn a partner for life. And in that world, he imagined having the chance to tell Ran the things he wanted to say and bring her to many aquarium and Tropical Land dates without any sort of emotional baggage or implications... He could imagine many other things in that Alternate Universe, but it all came back down to one thing—it was all an imagination, and he was still here as Kudo Shinichi in this world, sitting on the arena seat and watching the love of his life being happy with somebody else.

There were times when Shinichi wanted to defy fate and make things work his way with Ran. But he knew, deep down in his not-so-heartless heart, that this brave leap of faith needed more than just his hands to clap.

Because if Ran liked what fate had in store for her, then who was he to take her choice and happiness away?