Kaito pulled the brim of his hat lower over his face, glancing back and forth before he entered the music store. He nodded to the woman behind the counter, ignoring the smirk on her face. There was a reason he came to buy CDs in person instead of downloading the albums online. And it had everything to do with his mother's uncanny knack for getting her mitts on his purchase history, including the fake accounts he used to throw her off.

At the back corner of the room, rendered in loving detail, was a cut-out of the band ENZO. They made it big during their last year of high school, and he'd started following them after listening to their first music hall performance while waiting for the police cordon to lift. They were really good and he'd fallen a bit in love with all of them.

He settled himself in the corner of the store, grabbing one of the albums and drawing the headphones of the listening station over his ears. He leaned back on the display and closed his eyes, relaxing as they started playing.

He was only two tracks in when he felt someone grab his elbow. A long history of plummeting off the sides of buildings voluntarily and an even longer history of his father's tutelage were the only reasons he didn't start sputtering in shock.

"Excuse me, but you're blocking the display, nii-san," Edogawa Conan said, the sweet, innocent smile on his face he used to con police officers at KID's heists.

"O-oh, sorry," Kaito stepped aside quickly, eyebrows drawn up as Conan reached behind him for one of ENZO's albums. He took off the headphones and placed them back on the listening station.

"You like the band, too?" Conan asked, flipping the CD around to read the track list.

"Ah. Yes. Big fan, actually," he admitted, trying to figure out how to edge away from the child without raising any undue suspicion. Surely, some random person in a music store wasn't enough to raise the detective's instincts for trouble.

"That's cool. Not many people have heard of them. How did you?" Conan looked up from the CD, a polite look of interest replace the big smile.

"One of my friends went to their school before they were famous," Kaito spun together quickly. Technically, Koizumi Itsuki wasn't a friend, only a relative of Akako who he'd met after one of Akako's schemes to capture or kill him fell through. But Kaito figured that was enough of a bonding experience to label them friends. "I went to one of their performances on his recommendation."

"That's interesting. I didn't know KID had idols, too," Conan chirped, stepping to the side. Kaito's eyes widened at the accusation and the subtle maneuvering that had his back against the wall and Conan between him and the only clear exit.

"KID? You wouldn't mean Kaitou KID, would you? What are you-"

"You can save the protesting," Conan interrupted, folding his arms across his chest. Kaito scowled down at him. "You might not realize it, but that's the same outfit KID wore while performing his, I'm sorry, your teleportation trick. If you're going to vanish into the crowd, try not to wear something law enforcement has seen you in before."

"Oh~" Kaito took a breath to steady himself and pry his lips into a smile. Conan actually took a step back, so the smile must not have been very reassuring.

"Hey. I wasn't going to do anything." Conan brandished the CD between them. "I came to buy this. Running into you here wasn't my priority."

"And you still took the time to mock me. For shame, tantei-kun. For shame." Kaito waggled a finger in his face, drawing it back quickly when it looked like Conan might try to bite him.

"You're the one perving on a high school girl band."

"Excuse me? I'm the pervert? I seem to recall we're of a similar experience," Kaito said, somewhat offended that his interest was being so maligned. "And I am a genuine fan. I wasn't lying with that story earlier."

"It wasn't the whole truth either. Who are you thinking to kid?" Conan grumbled, face flushing as Kaito's response hit home.

"Was that on purpose?" Kaito asked, a genuine smile straining to erupt. "And of course it wasn't. I might have watched one of their performances waiting for Nakamori to give up for the night."

"The police on your tail and you decide to catch a concert. Why aren't I surprised." Conan tapped the back of the CD. "I heard about them through Ran."

"She is the type to favor girls bands," Kaito mused, thinking of what he'd learned about Mouri Ran through his varied experiences with the girl. "Not exactly one to get all starry-eyed over famous boys."

"That's more Sonoko's personality," Conan muttered.

"I do remember her being starry-eyed over one famous boy, at any rate," Kaito said, breaking his poker face and letting a devious smile curl his lips. "Enough that she'd forgive a history of jewel theft."

"Do you really want to bring that incident up right now?" Conan asked through gritted teeth, face flushed. Kaito snorted.

"I thought it was adorable, how earnestly she pleaded for dear Shinichi to give up his life of crime." Kaito paused and rubbed his hand in remembrance. "I wouldn't have wanted to stick around for her more violent persuasions."

"I'll show you violent persuasion!" Conan snarled, hand dropping to his belt.

"Wait a minute! Wait! Think about where we are! You really want to get hauled in by the police for vandalizing a music store?" Kaito asked, back hitting the wall as he stepped back. Conan appeared to consider that. Kaito pressed on. "Think about how disappointed Mouri-chan will be."

"If I'm going, I'm taking you with me." Conan stood up right and took a deep breath. "I've been working on my acting."

Kaito blinked at the non-sequitur.

Conan's face transformed into that of a hurt child, crocodile tears welling up in his eyes and great heaving sobs shaking his body. Pure alarm ran down Kaito's spine. He dropped to his knees and started trying to hush the child. Conan just stared back with flat eyes, the rest of his face the picture of an upset child.

"Hey! What're you doing to that boy?" The cashier girl shouted, already coming around the counter with an intent and dangerous look on his face. Kaito glared at the hysterical boy, face paling as the cashier girl drew closer. "Hey!"

"Sorry, sorry! Hey, Conan-kun, Kaito-niisan will buy that CD for you if you could stop crying." Kaito forced his frustration and admiration behind his poker face, pasting on a concerned expression.

"Promise?" Conan asked, voice pitched enough to be hoarse and shaky from crying.

"Promise." Kaito grit out through a smile, taking the CD with one hand and grabbing Conan's with the other. "Sorry about that, ojou-san."

"Are you alright, bouzu?" The cashier asked, dropping to her knees and offering her handkerchief.

"I'm fine, nee-chan. Kaito-nii promised to get my CD, too." Conan wiped his fake, fake tears away and handed back the borrowed handkerchief.

"Well, as long as you're fine." She stood upright, turning a cold look onto Kaito. "So you're buying two copies, then?"

"Just the one today," Kaito said, following her back to the counter and placing the CD down. He squeezed Conan's hand as the boy tried to pull away. He used his other hand to take out his wallet and count out enough money for the CD.

There went the last of his allowance for the month.

"Thank you, Kaito-nii!" Conan smiled up at him as the cashier bagged the CD and passed it down to Conan.

"Please come again," The cashier said, a more blatant lie than Kaito had ever heard. He bowed his head and muttered a few apologies, dragging Conan out of the store.

"I hope you're happy," Kaito said, dropping the detective's hand as soon as they were out of the store. "I'll never be able to go there again and get friendly service."

"I can start crying again," Conan threatened, hugging his CD to his chest.

"Don't you need to get home, bouzu?" Kaito asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Thanks for the CD, KID!" Conan grinned at him and took off into the crowd.

"Brat."