"Go Hiromi-chan! You're doing great!" The instructor Yamada-san called out encouragingly.
Aoko felt confident in her acrobatic improvement, but 'great,' was a stretch. When Chikage-san set up her training regime at Star-Set Gym, she had told her friend (one of the owners of the gym) Yamada-san that Aoko's name was Hiromi Nasagi, and she was a 19 year-old aspiring acrobat who wanted to learn it all, including self-defense. According to Chikage-san, Yamada-san would feel uneasy teaching her advanced acrobatics if she knew Aoko was still attending high school.
"Besides, isn't it safer too?" Chikage-san had asked on that first day. "Imagine your father or Kaito poking their noses around asking for an Aoko Nakamori."
Aoko thought that if they were close enough to ask about her by name they'd no doubt bring a photo of her too. What then? She hadn't dressed any differently. Only wearing trace amounts of make-up that Chikage-san assured her made her look older.
'Hiromi-chan,' was currently doing flips on a small wire hanging from the ceiling. There was a net under her just in case she fell, but she hadn't needed it in a whole month. It was a rare comfort nonetheless. She had only started taking to the gymnastic, and acrobatics portion of her training recently, despite Chikage-san giving her heaps of references and study materials. Building up the muscles to do the maneuvers took time, and only now was it paying off.
Aoko did another set of flips and balanced with one leg on the wire. Her body wasn't as fatigued as it was before but she still wasn't satisfied with her stability. It was decent, but not great, and most certainly not extraordinary.
"Wow, I can't believe just a month ago you didn't know anything!" Yamada-san clapped her hands in excitement. A beep echoed through the walls signaling Aoko's next training set. "Time for self-defense!"
Aoko balanced her way over to the side pillar where they hung a rope ladder. She climbed down, and wiped the sweat off her face with a towel. All-in-all she was proud of her progress, but she was a long way from Chikage-san's precise and graceful movements. Her shoulders slouched just thinking of the moves the older woman had showed her before she left. If Chikage-san was a graceful swan, then Aoko was a bumbling chicken. Before she could go too far down in her insecurities Yamada-san came back with her husband in tow.
The two Yamadas were as different as night and day. Kagami Yamada was a short, petite young woman who had long black hair and a contagious smile. She was Aoko's acrobatics and gymnastics coach, and perhaps the sole reason Aoko hasn't devolved into a puddle of shame. The woman had a way of making everyone's day brighter.
Yosuke Yamada was a tall, and intimidating man who was very stern. He had light blond hair and eyes as dark as fresh ground coffee beans. He was a Mixed Martial Artist champion, and the one who opened the gym first. He wasn't an unkind man just incredibly strict in his techniques and teaching philosophy. He would only ever accept someone's best performance in all practices.
When Yamada-sensei (as she differentiates) caught Aoko's eyes he gave her a brisk nod. "Ready to start?"
Aoko smiled, "Let me stretch again, first. Flexibility is really important to me after all."
He nodded in reply and headed to the net taking it down, and wheeling in the ring- or giant mat- they'll be fighting on.
Aoko began to do some stretches, and transitioned into yoga poses. When Jii-san mentioned the fact that magician assistants were some of the most flexible people in the world, Aoko began to include them in her exercises. She was already able to fit in the boxes Jii-san had collected for her training. Now she wanted to fit in an even tighter space. A suitcase perhaps?
When Yamada-sensei was done setting up, he and Aoko began their training. Aoko was still learning how to block and redirect attacks, but she would begin her transition to offensive maneuvers as soon as Yamada-sensei was confident in her kicks and punches. She knew the proper form for attacks already, as it was one of the first exercises. She had power, confidence, and speed to deliver her attacks, but her stamina proved faulty.
To improve both her stamina and her leg strength, the Yamadas have added free-running to her already stacked routine. At first Aoko dreaded the extra workload, but she quickly found herself enjoying it. The very first lesson was about falling. There were so many different ways to fall that would lessen the damage and- even though she left the gym looking as if she'd been mugged- she had a blast learning them all. On days like this one (when Aoko could manage to get a room to herself) the Yamadas would turn on some music and she'd lose herself in the obstacles they'd set up to strengthen her body. It was the only time she felt powerful, and she only wished she could feel that with acrobatics too.
"That's enough for today Nasagi-san. You've done well. Next time we will begin working on attacks."
Aoko bowed respectfully, "thank you for your instructions!" They got off the rink and moved it back into the other room. Aoko could barely contain her excitement, they'd be setting up the free-running course for her next, and she couldn't wait. They decided it was best to end her training on a high note with something that boosted her confidence, and so they saved it for last.
They were just about to take the movable walls out when Aoko got a call on her phone. Looking at the I.D. and seeing Jii-san's name she quickly excused herself from the room, and answered.
"Hello?"
"Nakamori-san, I'm sorry to interrupt you but I was wondering if you'd take a job for me tonight." His voice was calm but she recognized traces of nervousness.
"Of course Jii-san, what do you need?" She hoped her voice didn't come across too worried.
"W-well if you could stop by I'd be most grateful!"
"I'll head over there right now."
Aoko said a quick goodbye, and ended the call. The tone of Jii-san's voice had worried her. They had a Kid heist tomorrow and Kaito had something big planned. The spectacle needed two people to preform and stay in contact with each other.
After apologizing to the Yamadas for the inconvenience, she took off to the Blue Parrot.
If someone told Aoko four months ago that she'd be taking part in a Kaitou Kid heist she would probably laugh in that person's face or hit them. If someone told her last week that Jii-san would sprain his ankle and his writs while changing one of the parlor's light-bulbs she might have done the same. After all, Jii-san was always so careful with everything he did and to her, nothing would change that.
Now, suspended on a wire in the shadows double-checking all the equipment, she felt more like crying.
"You're the only one who knows the plan! Besides, you've come a long way Nakamori-san!" Aoko remembered the desperation in his face and really, how could she ever say no?
She reported everything to Jii-san who happily reported to Kaito. It was dumb luck that this trick didn't require direct contact with Kaito or else she'd be screwed royally.
"Leave no stone left unturned!" her father bellowed below her. She held her breath when they ran right past her and waited a bit before moving on to the next set up. She pushed the thought of betraying her father from her mind and continued with her work.
Kid was going to be impersonating a certain celebrity that apparently got access to the jewel viewing thanks to his girlfriend being the daughter of the owner. Going into this heist, Aoko wondered how that would work considering Kaito wasn't a person known for romance. Her traitorous mind spammed her with memories of the date-but-not-date they had during a Kid heist. She remembered how her heart skipped in front of a multicolored fountain, the insistent fluttering in her stomach, and the flush to her cheeks she had hoped the colors of the fountain and the night would disguise. He had his tender moments she supposed.
Her initial worries proved to be unfounded when she managed to get a glimpse of the happy couple as they passed through each corridor admiring the art pieces. Admiring was putting it lightly as it seemed Kid was the only one paying any attention to the installations while his 'girlfriend,' hung on his arm taking all the best pictures at all the right angles. Aoko only wished she had that much confidence, and in her opinion it was well warranted. From what she knew the owner's daughter was not only a beautiful woman but a successful university student as well. Evidently she made the best grades and had even created her own line of popular skin care products.
Aoko finished the last of her set-up, and positioned herself at the back corner of the ceiling rafters on the twelfth story. Her dark clothing and her newly acquired flexibility would prevent people from noticing her presence. At least, it was supposed to be enough. Aoko couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her. It couldn't be Kid because he had long moved on to the next exhibit, and soon he will make his move.
No one knows you're here, Aoko thought nervously. It's just in your head because this is the first time you're helping him as the heist takes place. You're only used to helping him behind the scenes. Aoko took a deep breath, and waited for Kid's signal.
Loud shouts and applause could be heard even from her perch stories above where Kaitou Kid's spectacle was occurring. Aoko shook her unease from her mind, and began her work. She needed to set up zip-lines and wires that would allow Kid to escape the police by floating around the room. The police will question how these zip-lines were assembled considering up until Kid's distraction, they had every story and every exhibit covered. She set up each zip-line and hooked it in the exact way Kid had indicated. She took great care not to even touch the ground as she traversed the newly secured rigs. She carried some extra kilograms so that she could match Kid in weight, if the rigs could hold her with little give than the wires were taunt enough to function properly.
Aoko couldn't shake the feeling of being watched even through her set-up, but no matter where she looked the room was empty. She scarcely had any time to wonder about this when she heard loud shouts, and chaos break from Kid's position down below.
She had to hurry to the next job, and secure the position for Kid's escape. He's planning on using a dummy attached to a hand glider to lure the police in the opposite direction while he infiltrates a neighboring building to wait for the police to clear some of the gathering crowd. Once the crowd is cleared he will join their group in leaving the perimeter. This means more wires that Aoko was responsible for setting, and clearing up before the police can fully get a closer look at the rigs. She had to move fast. She made it to the spot where she would be attaching the tightrope to the building for Kid to walk over when she heard hurried footsteps coming from the room she was just in.
There was a loud, thudding sound of a door slamming open followed by her father's yelling. Kid had arrived. Aoko cursed under her breath. Kid had arrived, and he was too early.
Tension sent her heart racing in panic and there was a moment where her fumbling fingers nearly dropped one of the rigs. Why was he so early!? She thought helplessly.
Almost as if reading her thoughts through the earpiece, Jii-san anxiously responded "something seems to have happened at the main entrance."
Kid had begun his flight through the room throwing glitter bombs and multicolored confetti at the officers in a grand sweep. She would only have seconds and her nerves made her hands shake. Pokerface. Aoko took a deep breath, and squared her shoulders. There was no time to think about how she could fail. She swallowed the last dregs of her doubt and set the rig. She shot the other end at the neighboring building and pulled on the wire with all she had. The tightrope snapped from her side! She'd have to rebuild from a more leveled angle. After informing Jii-san where she was at and what she planned on doing, she quickly balanced her way on the side of the building carrying the limp side of the line with her. She used two rigs this time as she set up her side. She pulled again with all of her strength and it held fast. Not wanting to risk Kid's life on an uncertainty she took another breath and began to cross over to the neighboring building. If the line snapped, she'd plummet. She vaguely heard Jii-san shout something to her over her earpiece. He was likely monitoring her movements and knew what she had decided. She was already walking the tightrope across and she wouldn't turn around or look down. It was better her than Kid.
She got to the other side with no problems, and it was not a moment too soon because just as she found a dark corner to hide while still watching, she saw Kid deploy the dummy. The police followed as expected, and after several minutes of waiting for the police sirens to fade away, Aoko saw Kid swagger his way over to the building she was hiding in.
The entire time he was on the wire she couldn't breath. Logically she knew that the line would hold. She had made sure of it herself, but this was Kid's- Kaito's- life on the line and it meant so much more to her.
Kid had safely passed over to the building and Aoko released the breath she had been holding. He was safe. She waited in the cramped corner making herself as small as possible when Kid entered the room. A small part of her yearned to reveal herself to him. To end all the secrets and lies. To stand up and prove to him how useful she could be. She wasn't the ditzy inspector's daughter she had pretended to be. She had her own identity separate from her beloved father. She was Aoko Nakamori, with her own principles, ideas on justice, and dreams. She wanted to tell him what she had discovered about herself. How she wanted to bring more light and fun into the world, and how she wanted to be a part of something bigger than herself. No matter how insistent these thoughts were she would never be able to reveal her tricks to the one and only person she wanted to confide in more than anything. An ache shot through her heart as she heard him pass by where she was hiding.
"Great work, Jii-chan! Everything went exactly as planned." Kid paused in his praise, listening to what his companion had to say on the other end. "Sorry, sorry, Jii-chan, I'll explain what happened later." He went through the door and Aoko let her shoulders slump against the wall.
He'll never know how her heart races, or what she's willing to do to help him. Her butt hit the cold tile of the floor and she hugged herself. Soon she'll have to walk her way back to the building she came from. Belatedly she realized that it was the first time she preformed the stunt without being at the gym with a net under her. She must have been too concerned for Kaito to care.
It was much later in the early morning, after she had cleaned up all the equipment, dropped them off at Jii-san's place and went home when she received a text from him. No matter how many times she re-read it she couldn't understand the implication.
From: Master Jii
Congratulations, Nakamori-san. You've passed the first trial.
Exhausted and confused Aoko felt herself drift off to sleep, promising herself to get her answers the next time she saw Jii-san.
A/N: I have finally finished this chapter after having it float around my room like a haunting ghost for too many months. I doubt I'll be able to do regular uploads considering this year will be the most difficult year I will personally face because of many different reasons. One of which is my new career opportunity than while incredibly welcomed is still a huge challenge that I do not feel the least bit prepared for.
I'd like to thank every single person who had placed this story under their favorite/ follow list and commented. I honestly don't know if I would have posted this nearly as quickly without everyone showing their support and enjoyment of this story. While I can safely say regular updates are off the table for me right now, I can say that I will continue this story when I can, provided I am still able to get inspiration. This fic has been a long time coming and planning ever since I was little. Aoko had always been in my thoughts and having her as a proud and strong assistant had been something I wanted to see in canon but never did. I was too self-conscious to try and write back then, and have only built the confidence to post my thoughts/ chapters last year. I'm so relieved you all enjoy it and have been nothing but positive. It truly means so much to me. I hope you all stay safe during this crisis. thank you again.